DR's back in Red Bull 👀 Thoughts on that?
Btw, I only used google translate for this so please forgive me if there are any errors during that part :))
Enjoy!
*****
March 21, 2025 - Monaco
I never saw myself as someone who was glamorous. Growing up in Turkey, we were never rich. Esma and I studied in a public school and I had to work on the side during college just to have enough funds to go to law school in Boston. Despite being on a scholarship, I had to save up for food, rent, and books.
When I became a lawyer, I wasn't the type to spend as well which I'm thankful for. The firm was within a walking distance from my apartment and most of my clothes were pieces that I could mix and match with one another. I've already saved up a lot but upon seeing the price tag of the dress Charles sent me, I couldn't help but curse at how expensive it was.
It was in the color black, matching the low heels I had on. The neckline was a simple halter top which exposed my back, the top part of the dress hugging my waist before flowing down until mid thigh. I'm glad he chose not to get me a dress that was extremely tight, especially with us going to a Japanese restaurant. I was a big fan of sushi and the loose bottom part of the dress wouldn't be restricting me from breathing normally.
I was surprised when the owner of the apartment, Sir Henri, stopped me when I was walking across the lobby. He held the paper bag and passed it to me, showing a smile before saying, "Monsieur Leclerc left this for you."
I was currently fixing my make up and a few strands of my hair that had gone loose, my hair sleeked back with a low ponytail. We were expecting to be photographed tonight so I get the need to look good.
A knock came from the door and I knew that would be Charles. I grabbed my purse and made sure everything was set in the apartment before pulling the door open. He was dressed in black jeans, a white hoodie, and a black jacket over it. I raised an eyebrow at him when my eyes landed on his shoes and I didn't see his signature Converse. As I let my eyes roam over him, I felt him do the same to me, so I couldn't help but smirk at him when his eyes lingered longer on my legs.
"Ready to go?" He asked after clearing his throat.
"I should be asking you that." I teased as I stepped out of my apartment and locked the door behind me.
Charles glared at me when I turned back to him and I couldn't help but laugh. "Shut up."
Instead of heading to the basement parking, we went straight through the lobby. The confusion within me was answered when I saw his car already up front, a valet stepping out and passing him the keys. Ever the gentleman, Charles opened the door for me before heading to the other side as I rubbed my palms together, the exposed back from my dress not helping me with the night breeze.
"It's unfair how I'm wearing this dress— which will lead me to freeze to death, by the way— while you're all wrapped up and snuggled over there." I said as he began driving towards the restaurant.
"Ah, that's all part of the plan, Nova. We have to show that chivalry is very much alive." He winked at me before turning his eyes back to the road.
I looked at him for a few seconds before I caught on. "You're planning on giving me your jacket, aren't you? And then you're hoping someone will take a picture of it."
His eyebrows raised up in amusement before smiling at me. "You catch on pretty fast."
"Are you indirectly calling me stupid?"
"We both know you're far from that."
We arrived at the restaurant in fifteen minutes, the maitre d' leading us to a table outside that was within the vision of almost everyone eating in the restaurant. Charles grinned at me upon seeing my glare when a wind passed by and goosebumps appeared on my skin. He chose this perfect time to pull my chair out for me and take off his jacket, placing it over my shoulders before kissing my forehead.
He ordered for us after asking me what I wanted from the menu. I gave him free reign to choose since it seemed like he's been here before but I explicitly told him that we need to order sushi or else I'll be walking out.
You can't eat at a Japanese restaurant and not order sushi.
What I liked most about Charles, apart from the obvious good looks, is his capability to read the situation. We've never really sat down together like this for a casual meal, most of our meetups either filled with planning for the first half of the season or being occupied...with other things.
As the waiter left us, he leaned both of his elbows on top of the table as he looked at me. I copied his position and raised an eyebrow at him, welcoming the challenge. His eyes moved over my face, lingering on my red painted lips, before moving to my eyes without even blinking once. With the kind of intimacy we've both established, I already had a few tricks up my sleeve when it came to him.
He was sitting across from me which gave me the perfect opportunity to slightly lift my heeled foot. The table was fortunately covered with a long table cloth that reached all the way down to the floor so the other customers wouldn't see what I was doing. I saw the change in his face upon feeling my foot brush his ankle and he bit his lip when I touched his calves. He ended up blinking due to the distraction and I pulled my leg away, smiling triumphantly at him as he ran a hand over his face but I could see a small smile gracing his lips.
"You're insufferable." He whispered, leaning over the table and taking a huge gulp of the glass of water set in front of us.
"You're insufferable, too."
He rolled his eyes as I grinned at him. It's been a while since I've felt this comfortable around someone. It's also been a while since I've gone out not because I was craving for an escape. I mean, putting up a front for the world of Formula One wasn't all that great either but I'm just looking at it this way– I get free dinner and maybe even a night that ends up better when we leave.
"Before the food arrives and you get all crazy with sushi," Charles began and I threw the place card that was on the table, the words Reserved printed on it. "the team wanted me to push you to make an Instagram."
I groaned, giving him a look as he only shrugged in return. "That would just feed me to the wolves."
"I knew you'd decline which is why I asked them to give you full control over it."
"What's the catch?"
"Make it public and post about the races." He replied and I thought it over. There was no specific clause about what kind of post so maybe I could just post some stories. Even if I were to make an actual post, I think it'll just be something very vague or a view of some place I find. "Oh, and add a little bit of your life, too, so that people won't say that you just made the account to promote F1."
"I thought I had full control?" I taunted and he smirked back at me.
"Correction– majority control." I didn't get to reply because the food had arrived. As the waiters placed the food in front of us, Charles whipped out my phone from my purse and turned it to me to unlock it. I watched him download the app before tapping the screen a few times. "Email?" He asked and I dictated it, already eyeing the sake nigiri.
"Can you please hurry up?" I asked, ignoring the chuckle that escaped his lips and prepared my chopsticks.
"Just start eating." He said, waving a hand in the air.
"I can't."
Charles looked up from my phone and gave me a curious look. "Why not?"
"Because I don't like it when people use their phones during a meal." At a young age, Esma and I were taught by our parents to be attentive during a meal. Whenever we ate together, we had a no phones rule which I came to appreciate as I grew older. My father used to say that if you can't manage a meal with comfortable silence or have anything to talk about with someone, then you're just wasting your time and the food in front of you. "So, just hurry up."
When I met Charles' eyes, there was a look of amusement in them. I raised an eyebrow in return and he only shook his head at me, smiling down at my phone. It took him about ten more seconds before he passed me back my phone. "Okay, I'm done."
Surprisingly, the dinner wasn't spent in complete silence. Charles asked me about the UN and was genuinely interested on the cases I was working on. There was one in particular about the environmental implications of an industrial company in England and he shared his thoughts about it, saying that there has been some talk of changes in the motorsport industry, particularly racing since all of the cars run on petrol.
In return, he talked about how he began his life in motorsport. Turns out this guy has been a Ferrari fan before he was even born, saying that both his parents were avid supporters of the brand. From what I've seen on the internet as well, it looked like he was one of the favorites.
While I was grabbing another piece of sushi from the new plate we ordered, this time mixed with scallop and tuna, Charles brought out his phone and pointed it at me. "What do you think you're doing?" I asked him, chopsticks paused mid-way as I reached for the food.
I heard the sound of the camera clicking continuously. "I need a picture for Instagram." I pouted and Charles laughed behind the phone. "Stop pouting and just smile, Nova."
Knowing he wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted, I posed for a few shots. When he finally put the phone away, the smile on my face dropped as I mumbled under my breath. "Stupid social media. All I want is to eat."
"You're such a child." He said upon hearing my ramblings and I only stuck my tongue out at him.
An hour later and after a round of dessert, Charles and I made our way out of the restaurant, fingers linked together. As we waited for the valet to get his car, I noticed a few people looking our way. They looked like tourists and confirmed it when I heard one of the girls speak Turkish. There were three of them– two girls and one boy– all of which looked like they were in their early twenties.
I caught the eye of the boy and inclined my head to the side, gesturing to Charles who was looking in the other direction. The young boy blushed and shook his head shyly, but I waved them over with my hand which one of the girls caught. Her eyes brightened and she glanced at where Charles was before grabbing the hands of her friends and pulling them towards us.
"Incoming." I said softly to Charles and he turned his head, a smile plastering on his face as soon as the three of them were within earshot.
"Hello." He smiled. I took a few steps back to give them some space. The boy and one of the girls started gushing about him in English while the other one just smiled.
"Herşey yolunda?" [Everything alright?] I asked her and she looked surprised for a second when I spoke in Turkish. When she realized what I said, she gave me a small smile and nodded her head. From the corner of my eye, I could see Charles glancing in our direction as he signed the piece of paper the boy brought out. "Senin için çevirmemi istediğin bir şey var mı?" [Is there anything you'd like me to translate for you?]
"Önemli değil." [It's nothing.] She said but I could see it in her eyes that she wanted to show her appreciation to him. My eyes caught her arm where I saw a tattoo of a checkered flag and at that instant, I knew she was a huge fan.
I stepped near her and spoke in a low voice in case she was a bit shy for Charles to hear. "Eminim seninle tanışmayı çok isterdi." [I'm sure he'd love to meet you.] She glanced at him hesitantly at first before smiling at me and nodding her head.
For the next five minutes, I served as a translator between the two and I couldn't help but feel a warmth pass through me when Charles hugged her after she got a bit emotional. I could see the words had affected him as well especially when she talked about karting as a kid and mentioning someone named Jules. I saw how something changes in Charles' eyes after hearing that name and I made a mental note to pen that for later on.
When Charles' car arrived, they bid us goodbye and the girl I helped even asked for a picture just with me. Charles grinned at me the entire time as one of her friends took the photo, obviously enjoying it.
"Teşekkürler." [Thank you.] She said after taking the picture and I gave her a warm smile.
"Rica ederim." [You're welcome.]
Charles opened the door for me, grabbing my arm before I could bend my leg to get into the car. "I gotta say, Nova. I never knew hearing you speak in your mother tongue would sound that good." He said, a familiar glint in his eyes.
I smirked up at him when I felt his hand loosen its hold, fingers moving up and down my arm. "Are you getting all hot and bothered right now?" I teased and he rolled his eyes at me. I was expecting for a remark on return but he caught me by surprise when he leaned in and planted a soft kiss by the corner of my lips.
"Interpret that all you want." He said lowly when he pulled away and I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
"I'll take that as a yes."
I got into the car and he shut the door behind me, walking to the driver's side. As Charles pulled away from the restaurant, a message from Gabby went through.
Gabby: I've been bothering you about making an Instagram account for years and you're telling me that all it takes was meeting Charles Leclerc 😂
She attached a link and I opened it, leading me to Charles' post which contained the photo of me that he took earlier.
charles_leclerc: someone finally has an Instagram @n.kaplan 🍣🥢 🖤
*****
What's your favorite sushi?
✧Reese✧