Enemies to lovers // C. Leclerc x C. Sainz

Chapter 1: The New Arrival

{{[C H A R L E S' POV]}}

The morning sun cast a golden glow over the Ferrari garage, but I couldn't feel any warmth from it. As I stood by my car, my arms crossed and my mood sour, I knew today was going to test my patience. Today, I was meeting my new teammate, and I wasn't thrilled about it. My routine, my rhythm, the familiarity of the team—it was all about to be disrupted. I watched the mechanics fuss over the new car, preparing it for its debut. The car bore the number 55. Carlos Sainz was about to make his entrance. I had heard plenty about him—fierce, determined, talented. Words that should have excited me, but instead, they gnawed at my gut, making me fume. "Charles," one of the engineers called out, pulling me from my thoughts. "Carlos is here." I turned to see Carlos walking towards me, a confident smile on his face. He exuded charm, shaking hands and greeting everyone warmly. As he approached, the smile remained, but his eyes were cautious. "Charles, good to finally meet you," Carlos said, extending his hand.

I forced a smile, taking his hand in a firm grip. "Carlos. Welcome to the team." There was an awkward silence as we sized each other up. I could sense the competition brewing, the unspoken tension. I knew I couldn't let my guard down. The day progressed as usual—practice laps, debriefings, strategy sessions. I kept a close eye on Carlos, scrutinizing his every move. The ease with which he adapted to the team was impressive and infuriating. During lunch, we found ourselves seated next to each other in the team cafeteria. The atmosphere was tense, words heavy and scarce. I picked at my food, my mind racing with thoughts of how this new dynamic would affect my standing in the team.

"How are you finding it so far?" I asked, trying to keep my cool.

"It's good," Carlos replied, with a bright smile. "Just getting used to the team"

I nodded, taking a sip of my drink. "I understand. It's always tough at first."

I forced another smile, but resentment churned inside me. Sharing the spotlight wasn't something I was ready for. I had worked hard to establish myself, and now it felt like that was being threatened. Throughout the day, I couldn't shake the unease. I watched Carlos on the track, noting his smooth driving style and impressive lap times. It was clear he was a formidable competitor. In the debriefing room, we gathered to discuss the day's performance. Carlos was seated next to me, our shoulders almost touching. I felt a wave of irritation but focused on the discussion. The engineers went over the data, highlighting areas for improvement. When it was my turn to speak, I felt the familiar surge of confidence. I knew my car, understood every nuance.

"I think we need to work on the braking," I said, my voice steady. "I felt a bit of instability in the corners."

Carlos nodded. "I noticed that too while at McLaren. Look into adjusting the setup maybe."

I clenched my jaw, feeling the tension. His insights were valuable, but it grated on me to have my observations echoed by someone else. The meeting concluded, and the team dispersed. I lingered, watching Carlos chat with the engineers. Jealousy gnawed at me, knowing I'd have to work even harder now to maintain my position. As the sun set over the garage, I made my way back to my car, a mixture of frustration and determination brewing inside me. I knew the road ahead would be challenging, that I'd need to find a way to coexist with Carlos. But I also knew I couldn't afford to let my guard down. The new teammate had arrived, and with him, a new set of challenges. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the battles to come. The game had changed, but I was ready to play.