Starting Again (A Charles Leclerc Fic)

035 : bear-y big opportunity

Max Verstappen's victory celebration after his Bahrain win was in full swing. Drinks flowed freely, and the music pounded through the nightclub. Amid the lively atmosphere, Katrina and Charles found themselves dancing closely together.

"Have you seen Mavi?" Samara asked them as they returned to the lounge.

"No, I haven't," Katrina replied. "The last time I saw her, she was with Heidi and Daniel before Charles and I went to the dance floor."

"That's strange. She usually stays in the lounge," Samara remarked.

It was indeed unusual. Mavi was an introvert, and the only reason she even attended these parties was to keep an eye on Samara—and occasionally Katrina if she decided to drink. She was their designated driver at nearly every event, so disappearing without letting them know was out of character.

"I texted her, and she said she's fine. She just stepped out to get some air," Katrina reassured Samara. The younger girl nodded before accepting Lando's invitation to dance.

As the night wore on and more bottles of vodka and tequila were consumed, the group finally decided to call it a night. They each took a cab back to their respective hotels, too drunk and exhausted to notice the absence of a certain Formula One world champion and a French producer.

────୨ৎ────

The day after the Bahrain Grand Prix felt like sheer torture for everyone. The aftereffects of a night filled with celebration, loud music, and an abundance of drinks were evident as they sluggishly navigated the morning. However, there was no time to nurse hangovers—most of them had to return to their team headquarters to begin preparations for the upcoming Jeddah Grand Prix.

Katrina had been hoping for at least a few days of uninterrupted time with Charles, but Ferrari had other plans. Both Charles and Carlos were required to fly directly to Maranello for simulator sessions and briefings, leaving her no choice but to say goodbye much sooner than she had anticipated.

As they packed up their things, Katrina let out a dramatic sigh. "I swear, Ferrari has a personal vendetta against my love life."

Charles chuckled as he zipped up his bag. "I'll make it up to you in Jeddah, mon amour." He leaned in to press a soft kiss on her forehead. "I'll be counting the days."

"You better," she teased, nudging him playfully.

Once again, Max stepped in as their savior, offering her private jet to make their travels smoother. This time, they gladly accepted. The farewell was especially emotional as Mavi and Katrina bid goodbye to Samara, who had to return to Korea.

"I'll visit as soon as I can," Samara promised, hugging them tightly.

"You better. Or else, I'm kidnapping you next time," Katrina said, her voice thick with emotion.

"Take care, okay? And don't let Charles distract you too much," Samara teased with a wink before heading off toward her gate.

With that, Mavi, Charles, Katrina, Ollie, and Arthur boarded the jet and set off for Monaco. Initially, Charles and Max were supposed to go directly to Maranello and Milton Keynes, respectively, but they both requested a brief stop in Monaco—something their teams reluctantly agreed to.

Since the small get together in Katrina's Monaco Apartment, Ollie had become somewhat of a permanent fixture in her life. Along with the other Formula 2 drivers, he had grown into the role of an honorary little brother to her. What started as him tagging along whenever Arthur visited had turned into something more. He began dropping by on his own, something that had initially surprised Katrina.