Apex | Charles Leclerc

Chapter 45

I didn't speak, raising an eyebrow at him as my right hand held the doorknob while the other was placed on the wall beside the door. Charles stood there, holding a cup of coffee which I was sure was just the way I liked it. Neither of us spoke, testing who was going to speak first.

Turns out we're both very intact with our pride.

He didn't speak but he did step forward and offered the cup of coffee. I glanced at the coffee cup, debating if I should accept it because I've never denied an opportunity to have my favorite drink.

When I accepted it, I saw his lips slightly turn up but it only lasted for a second before it transformed into a frown when I took a step back and slammed the door into his face.

*****

"Are things alright with you and Charles?" Daniel asked me when he joined me at the deck. We were currently at Cannes where we'd be meeting the usual captain that the boys would work with whenever they went on these kinds of trips. He used to live in Monaco but recently moved to Cannes, and they decided it'd be more practical to make a stopover here rather than making him drive.

We were spending the first two nights in Saint-Tropez, followed by a night in Hyères, another two in Marseille, and the last one in Cannes before heading back to Monaco. I'm sure it was going to be a very eventful week not to mention combining the three party animals— Gabby, Max, and Daniel.

I bet if it weren't ten in the morning, they'd be serving cocktails by now.

"Nope." I said, my voice nonchalant as I flipped through my book. I saw Daniel's surprise at my blunt answer as he lied down on his stomach beside me. "You're not going to get any details from me."

"Come on, Nads. I need some gossip." He groaned, leaning his head on my shoulder and I laughed before pushing him away. He had just come from the jacuzzi and his wet hair was leaving droplets on my skin.

"Isn't there an F1 gossip account?"

"Yes, but those are just theories and most of the time, they're far from the truth. Besides, I have a direct source which is you."

"Charles is also a direct source." I said, turning back to my book and Daniel sighed deeply, making me look at him again.

His bottom lip was jutted out in a pout and he looked like a five year old kid. "I know, but as soon as I asked about you, he glared at me. I feel like if I continued, I'd be swimming with the fishes by now."

"What makes you think I wouldn't do the same?" I raised an eyebrow at him and I smirked upon seeing the brief blur of fear in his eyes before he glared at me upon realizing that I was joking.

"You two are meant for each other." He mumbled, getting up and giving me a pat on the head before returning to the upper deck.

When the boat started moving again, I transferred to the sofa inside, just a few feet away from the deck so I still had a view of the water. I switched my book with a case file, knowing that it was a good decision to bring it. I don't want to come back from summer break with a mountain load of work to do and then spend the first few days pulling all nighters with the team. That may have been how I used to work before, but not anymore.

When I heard footsteps walking down the stairs, I sighed, knowing that Daniel was going to bug me about Charles again.

"Daniel, I said I'm not talking about it." I said, and eyes skimming over the words one more time before I wrote a note on the margins for an edit.

"I'm not Daniel." I looked up to see Charles standing there, changed into a simple blue shirt and swimming shorts. He was standing by the stairs as if he feared taking one more step closer would push me to make him leave. I went back to the case file I was holding, not saying another word as if I never saw him there. "You brought work?" He asked and I only hummed in response, not lifting my eyes. A few seconds passed before he spoke up again. "Are you really going to act like you don't know me?" He asked, voice filled with irritation and sadness.