Corrode - [Charles Leclerc]

𝙐𝙣𝙤

      Joanne smiled and waved as the kids ran out of the classroom, leaning against the door as they jumped into the arms of their parents. Being a teacher of a bunch of children at the primary school of Monaco wasn't always easy, however Joanne loved her job a lot. The spring had arrived and the weather had been beautiful. She had taken the kids outside to the playground in the break this afternoon and they had loved it. "Mum? Are we having pizza for dinner?". Joanne looked down at her seven year old, who was looking up at her with big eyes and he fiddled with his fingers. "We can make some pizza when we get home, Liam". She smiled at her son, ruffling his black hair. Joanne moved to her desk and took her phone from the drawer, taking the list of students with her and putting them in her shoulder bag.

"Mum?". Liam tugged on the skirt of her dress and she looked up again, seeing him point at the little boy in the doorway. "Hi, Ms. Hinds". Joanne looked at Jules Leclerc who stood there with a trembling lower lip and his eyes threatened to fill with tears. "I-I was supposed to be picked up". He started, the tears falling down his cheeks. Joanne made her way to the small boy and she kneeled in front of him. Her fingers wiped away the tears from his face. "They didn't come to pick you up, love?". Joanne asked and he shook his head. She had been clearing the room for quite a while already, so his parents were either late or forgot about him. "Can't I come with you till my dad or his assistant picks me up?". Jules asked and her eyebrows furrowed together. She knew that his father wasn't exactly working for his money like any other citizen in Monaco.

She had sometimes seen Mr. Leclerc's assistant when he picked up Jules and she had noticed the sharp way he was always looked, the suit he was wearing and if the wind blew across his jacket, it would expose the gun tugged in the back of his slacks, the small pocket of knives around his chest. It all pointed to that the work of Mr. Leclerc was something completely different than hers. Joanne had never seen him pick up his son and she felt for the little boy that his father never seemed to have time for him. "Please, mum? Can he come with us?". Liam excitedly asked, his arm wrapping around his friend and the pair giggled, already planning out the afternoon together. "Well, you can't come with us without your dad's permission, Jules". Joanne sighed gently. "You can call him, right?". Jules hopefully proposed. "You're right". Joanne said and stood up.

She moved back to her desk and rumbled through the drawers, getting to the map with the addresses of the children and the phone numbers of their parents. Joanne took her phone in her hand and dialed the number attached to Jules' name. She pressed the device to her ear, awaiting if someone would pick up. "Who is this?". The voice barked and she was briefly startled at the sound. "Hi, it's Ms. Hinds". She gently said. "Jules wasn't picked up from school today". She explained. "Bloody hell, I fuckin' forgot". The voice snarled. "Charles will end me". He muttered next. "Who am I speaking with?". Joanne blinked. "Pierre, Mr. Leclerc's assistant". He sighed. "Well, Jules and Liam planned for him to come with us this afternoon". It was briefly silent. "Is that okay?". She asked. "Yes. Someone will pick him up around six". He snarled and then cut the line. Joanne frowned slightly, yet lowered her phone.

"You can stay with us Jules, you will be picked up after dinner". Joanne smiled and the boys happily cheered, giggling together while she took her belongings. Joanne locked the door of her classroom behind her and they made their ways to the exit of the school.

Charles sat behind the massive, mahogany desk of his office. His fingertips massaged his forehead while he looked down at the papers in front of him. He had a long day of non-stop meetings and he hadn't had time to eat or relax yet. The knock on his door made him lift his head and he waited till the person came in. His eyebrows rose as he saw Pierre, coming in with a slight pale look on his face. "What's wrong?". Charles asked right away. "Well ehm, you see...". Pierre's hand moved to the back of his neck. "Where is Jules". Charles commanded as he stood up, looking down at the Richard Mille around his wrist that told him Jules' school time was already over. "I forgot to pick him up". Pierre spilled with a sigh. "My fucking god, Pierre". The mobster snarled, his hands throwing up and the papers flew from his desk. Pierre flinched slightly when his boss neared him, grabbing onto the lapels of his jacket.