"But I thought Dimitrie was going there? I have a free weekend Madelaine, please don't make me go." Fayen complains to her boss on the phone when she calls to inform her that she needs to go to Miami.
"He was, but he botched a deal last week and needs to suck up to those clients to get them to sign with us. They asked for him personally. You need to go, Fayen. This event is too important not to attend." She groans loudly. She had been planning a free weekend on the couch with wine and watching the Miami GP with Grace Sunday evening. Now she needs to take a last minute flight and attend an event that will be just as boring as ever.
"I know, I'm so sorry Fayen. I would go myself, but you know I have-"
"Yeah, fashion week prep. I know. I will go, but you need to book my tickets!"
"You are an angel, the compensation will be added to your next paycheck. I have to go now, send you the tickets in a minute." Fayen hangs up a little aggressively. She was just getting ready to have a free afternoon and weekend, but it appears that is not happening. She makes her way to her bedroom to start packing with a rush.
An hour later she is back on her way to Charles de Gaulle. She had been here just two days ago, sending her brother to Miami. After the unfortunate event of her getting locked in a bathroom with Charles that evening they had tried to make a good evening, but Fayen had stayed clear of the monegasque. She felt grateful for him trying to calm her down, but that didn't take away her anger because she wouldn't have gotten stuck if Charles hadn't wanted to talk so badly. She kept telling herself it was his fault they got stuck, although in hindsight that was unreasonable.
She looks at the tubeline and reads the stop 'Charles de Gaulle Aéroport'. The name reminds her of some other people that will be in Miami that weekend. Feeling stupid she hadn't thought of the Formula One race earlier, she takes out her phone to text her brother, mentally slapping herself.
To Pierre
Guess who's coming to Miami this weekend. Pls tell me you will be attending the JPMorgan event?
The text doesn't send as she is still in the tube and doesn't have service. She puts away her phone when she needs to get out at the last stop of the line and walks to the exit of the metro into the airport on her way to the departures. As she plops down on a chair at her gate after going through security she feels a buzz in her pocket.
From Pierre
Why are you coming to Miami now? You could've flown with us!
To Pierre
If I would have known I had preferred a private plane above business class every day. Have to fill in for a colleague last minute at the JPMorgan event. You coming or not?
From Pierre
Hold up
Then the phone rings and Fayen sighs. Pierre has never been good at texting, despite what his fans think with the whole "Liked by Pierre Gasly" thing. Yes he is on social media 24/7, but texting is not his strong suit.
"Why are you calling, I just need a quick yes or no." Fayen laughs at her phone when her brother comes into view. He smiles back at her and gives a wave. His happy face makes the idea of going to Miami so last minute a little less awful.
"True, but I am busy so I don't have time to text you for the upcoming three hours." He sticks out his tongue at her.
Fayen rolls her eyes at him. "I have to board in half an hour, so that wouldn't even be possible. What are you busy with?" She leans back in her chair, accepting she is about to fill her waiting time with facetiming Pierre, not that it is a punishment or something, but he could for once just give her the answer she needs instead of talking around the point just to be his annoying self.
He turns his camera and shows his view to Fayen. She is met with the happy face of Lando Norris sitting next to him on a golf card. Then he shows the Tee Box where two other people are getting ready to take the first swing. She recognizes Charles even as his back is turned to the camera, the posture and his shoulders straight. Messy brown hair getting ruffled by the little gust of wind. It must be him. The other player must be Carlos Sainz, as his hair is even more recognizable than Charles'.
The camera turns back and Fayen puts on a scolding face. "Shouldn't you be preparing for a race weekend?"
Pierre laughs and Lando leans into the frame, shaking his head. "We are getting through our jetlag, on order of our trainers. Media is not until tomorrow."
Fayen hums and nods. She would not want to switch with them schedule wise. Flying all around the world and expected to perform to their highest capacity, it's not easy. Fayen has always admired her brother for that aspect of his work. She comes back to the point. "That's why I was texting. Are you attending the JPMorgan event tonight?" Fayen asks her brother again.
"I am!" Lando shouts again, almost making Pierre deaf in the ear Lando had shouted in. "Thanks for that," Pierre turns to the younger man and whacks him over the head before shaking his head at his sister. "I am not, I have a meeting and an Alpine sponsor thing."
Fayen makes a pouting face at her phone and Pierre laughs. "Don't be sad, Lando will be there, maybe some others?" He poses the question to Lando who shrugs. "I don't know, me and Oscar are attending, hold up." He holds up his finger at me before disappearing and shouting something to the other two Fayen can't follow.
"If the event is tonight you will only be just in time," Pierre remarks. Fayen sighs and nods at her brother. "Yeah, it was a very last minute thing with some other client. But I will just be around for tonight and leave Friday evening, so probs gonna do a little sightseeing before flying back."
Pierre wiggles his eyebrows at his camera and smirks at her trying to convey some message she doesn't pick up on.
"Don't communicate in your weird nonverbal way, I'm too tired to think." She yawns on cue which accentuates her point.
"Cheer up, you will gain a day by flying backwards." Pierre winks. Fayen flips him off and he laughs even louder. "What I wanted to say is that you could stay the weekend. Come to the race?"
Fayen bites the inside of her cheek thinking. Flying down to Miami only for an event is actually a shame and she would like to attend a race again, it has been a while since her last live watched Grand Prix.
"I can get you a paddock-pass to get you in, it's no big deal." Pierre ads as he sees her hesitate.
"I don't want to be linked to you, you know that." She defends immediately. Pierre sighs, but before he can start an old argument he looks up to something behind his screen. Apparently Lando's coming back, because he crashes down next to Pierre again, panting a little from his sprint.
"Carlos and Charles will be there too, and probably Max and Checo as well." He smiles at Fayen, as if this is a reassuring thing. And yes she is looking forward to seeing them again, but spending another event with Charles is not a thing to look forward to specifically. The last event didn't go down well and after her panic attack in Pierre's bathroom the vibe had been weird all night. But Charles is only one man and she would mostly be working, so it should be fine.
"Nice, I will see you tonight then I guess?" Lando nods fiercely and Fayen laughs at his excitement.
"These things are always better with friends," Lando says with a wink and Fayen makes a kissing face at him. The Brit had grown on her so much over the last month. He and Grace are adorable, but on his own he is also a person Fayen would be friends with even if Grace wasn't in the picture. She is happy they met.
"You have my number? We can get in touch before it starts." Fayen nods with a smile. Pierre slaps Lando on the shoulder with bright eyes.
"You can give my sister your invitation pass for the weekend!" That is not a bad idea. As a guest of Lando my link to Pierre would go unnoticed and she can still attend. But Lando shakes his head.
"Can't, I gave mine away already." Pierre's happy face falls again and a shout is heard in the background. "It's my turn, I'll see you tonight then!" And he shoots off like a little rocket. Pierre shakes his head laughing again.
"I don't know where he finds the energy..." he shakes his head before turning back to his sister. "But about the Grand Prix?"
Fayen bites the inside of her lip thinking about the matter. She can't even take two seconds before the space Lando left empty gets occupied by Charles. He has golfing gloves on and his hair is blown out by the wind. Fayen needs to swallow an extra time to work away the dryness that suddenly occupies her mouth.
"Perfect timing, do you still have guest passes for the weekend?" Charles is focused on something in front of him. Probably Lando taking his swing and he just hums in agreement.
"Yeah, why?"
Pierre turns back to me. "See, you can come as Charles' guest. Great!"
"Wait what?" Charles turns to Pierre and then spots the phone in his hand where Fayen's face is visible. A face that is a few shades paler than a second ago but she tries to play it cool and waves at the Ferrari driver.
Pierre explains the situation quickly and closes with a wide grin. "I need to take my turn," Pierre states plainly. "I'll see you tomorrow after training. Text me!" And with that he is gone, leaving his phone with Charles.
Fayen stares at him and he does the same back. They don't speak for a full 30 seconds, yes Fayen was counting, not knowing what to say.
"Uh, okay then. Give me your details and I will sort it out with my team." Charles mutters and takes out his own phone to write everything down.
Fayen regains her ability to think after the rush in which this was handled and she starts shaking her head. "You don't need to do that, I will tell Pierre and-" But Charles cuts her off.
"It's no bother, I don't have an other use for the pass anyway. So, your information?"
Fayen acquiesces and starts listing her details while watching Charles' face, concentrating on writing everything down. She waits and when they're done she thanks him for his troubles. She wants to say something else but it hits her that she hasn't talked in a civil way one on one with Charles ever before. It feels so weird.Charles seems to feel the same way as he doesn't say anything either. They fall back into the awkward silence, just staring at each other through the screen.
"See you tonight then," Fayen blurts out and hangs up quickly, taking a deep breath when her screen has turned black. What is she getting herself into?
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