Her || Charles Leclerc

36. Confidential Matters

"Alright, but what is your deal with signing people? According to many people you have signed enough people to Ferrari to fill the entire grid," Kevin asked Matilde.

Kevin and Matilde sat in a restaurant in Austin, Texas, USA. It had been a while since they had spoken to each other. They both had some free time in Austin, so they decided to meet and go out for lunch.

Matilde took a sip of her coffee and nodded impressively. "Well..." She took a deep breath. "Who did I sign?"

"Hamilton, Max, Mick, Ricciardo..."

"I wish," she replied. "I have to admit, I had dinner with Hamilton in Singapore to talk about it, but that's all. And the others... Nah, didn't talk to them." She smiled. "I can add you to the list as well. I am talking to you now."

"I am flattered." He shook his head. "But is someone leaving then?"

She leaned back in her chair, a playful smirk tugging at her lips as she stirred her coffee. "Now, now, Kevin," she teased. "Do you think I would spill Ferrari's secrets that easily? I like to keep people guessing."

He chuckled, leaning forward slightly. "You always were good at that. But seriously, the rumours are flying. People are convinced you're building some kind of super team."

She shrugged, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Let them talk. It keeps things interesting, doesn't it? But for the record," she added, her tone more serious now, "our current drivers are phenomenal. I wouldn't trade them for anyone. And who says I'm not building a super team? We are in the race to become world champions, Kevin, of course, I'm building a super team."

"You proved them wrong, you know. Almost everyone thought Ferrari made a massive mistake and now you are ruling the grid."

Her expression softened, her usual confidence tinged with gratitude as she met Kevin's gaze. "Thanks." She took another sip of her coffee, her fingers absentmindedly tapping the edge of the cup. "But proving people wrong isn't the goal. It's just a nice bonus. What matters is making sure Ferrari is back where it belongs; at the very top."

He leaned back in his chair, his lips curving into a grin. "And you've managed that in record time. I'll give you credit; I didn't think it would happen this quickly, no one did. You've shaken things up in ways no one expected."

She chuckled, although her eyes held a flicker of intensity. "I like to stir up things."

He raised an eyebrow. "It seems like you are the only one who keeps to a promise. I don't know what all the others said to your team, but you're the only one who actually does it."

"Oh, man, I didn't make a promise to them."

"What?"

"I don't make promises. All I told them was I would do and try my best to give them the best result we could get. Why would you make promises if you're not sure about it? Everyone can fuck it up in just a second, even now."

A thin line came between his eyebrows by squeezing his eyebrows together. "Why don't you make promises?"

She looked outside and licked her lips. "Because... I don't know for one hundred per cent sure if I can make it happen, so rather than be safe than sorry, I will say I will try and do my best. If I promise anything and won't make it happen, then I lose more than anything."

"Woman, who hurt you?" The words rolled over his lips. "A little bit of faith is healthy."

"I have been promised a lot of stuff and none of it happened, so yeah."

"Such as?"

"Parents who didn't stay together, brothers who ran away, opportunities that were taken away," she said, like it wasn't a big deal.