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@juliettebianchi:
LIKED BY @charlesleclerc, @georginageo, @f1 and 2,871,009 OTHERS
@juliettebianchi: lights out and away we go! here i come monaco <3
COMMENTS
@user1: are u gonna join mercedes or not
@f1: excited to see you there!
@georginageo: 😍😍😍
- @juliettebianchi: ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
@danielricciardo: whose garage are you gonna be in??
- @landonorris: interesting question 🤔
- @lewishamilton: u should come to the merc garage with neymar
- @juliettebianchi: NEY'S COMING?? WHY DIDNT HE TELL ME?
@brunamarquezine: see u soon babe😘
- @juliettebianchi: AHHH BRU I MISSED U SM!! u better be by my side the whole GP🤭🤭
@gabriel_ackley: hope to see u on my side of the garage😁
- @juliettebianchi: bold of you to assume i'm even gonna be in the ferrari garage
*LIKED BY CHARLES LECLERC*
@landonorris: ouch man🫣
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Friday had arrived, casting its enchantment upon the atmosphere of the Monaco Grand Prix.
It was free practice day, so it was considered more of a chill day. Juliette found herself immersed in a leisurely ambiance. Strolling alongside Suki, her PR manager, they wandered around the paddock, Juliette's hum echoing throughout the surroundings.
A strange sensation tinged her, it was weird walking around the paddock in her usual Ferrari Polo. But, since she wasn't officially driving this weekend, she didn't feel the need to sport it.
So, she opted for an outfit that enveloped her. She donned a black, tennis skirt, and accompanied it with a white-button up blouse that definitely wasn't hers, and was way too big.
To Juliette's surprise, Suki informed her that she did have some duties to tend to on the paddock today. Even though she was considered a 'guest'. One of them, was an anxiety enducing one-on-one meeting with Mattia Binotto. Suki told her that she would also be there. Juliette couldn't help but think that it was nothing good.
Juliette sighed, before speaking up. "What do you think Mattia's gonna talk to us about?"
Suki huffed, running a hand through her jet-black hair. "Honestly, since he hasn't been very kind to you this season. I don't think it'll be good. But, don't fret, you're set with Mercedes next season." Suki patted a comforting hand on Juliette's shoulder.
Juliette pursed her lips, before chewing leisurely on the inside of her cheek, millions of possible scenarios engrossed her mind as her nerves started to spike.
What was Mattia gonna tell her?
Is it something bad? Something good?
She didn't know.
Her gaze lifted, scanning the paddock in search of familiar faces, yearning for a moment of solace with a friend before having to deal with Mattia.
Juliette's eyes fixated on her teammate's familiar eyes.
He was already staring at her, while engaged into a conversation with Pierre.
His piercing emerald eyes, bore into hers, conveying a mixture of sadness and tension. His tongue brushed over his lips before he whispered something to Pierre, who swiftly turned his head to meet Juliette's gaze.
Pierre's eyes widened ever so slightly, offering a hesitant wave, attempting to remain civil with Juliette.
Those were precisely the two people she wanted to avoid, and so she did.
And if you knew Juliette well, then you knew that she was good at avoiding.
She deftly veered to the side, leading a bewildered Suki through the narrow path between the Renault and Red Bull motorhomes.
Suki furrowed her brows, puffing a hair out of her face. "What was that for? The Ferrari motorhome is that way!" She threw her arms to the left, indicating that the motorhome was still a few meters away.
Juliette sighed. "Yeah, well. Charles and Pierre are stood right in front of it, and I don't wanna talk to them."
Suki rose a brow, before clicking her tongue. "Come on, Juli. Whatever you've got going on with them is none of my business, but, you're an adult and you should know how to act professional."
Juliette pouted like a child, crossing her arms over her chest. "I don't wanna be near them, can we go from behind the motorhomes?"
Suki pinched the bridge of her nose, a huff leaving her lips. "Juliette. We can't access the meeting room from behind the motorhomes. We'll have to go in from the front. Just suck it up, and walk past Gasly and Leclerc."
Juliette muttered a few curses in French, before letting out a breath and nodding, complying with her PR managers directions.
Suki and Juliette walked out of the narrow path, revealing themselves back onto the wide paddock.
Juliette concealed grimace as she spotted Pierre and Charles, still stood at the same spot.
Charles's sharp gaze found its way back to her figure, his eyes glazed on top of hers.
She quickly flickered her eyes away, she straightened her back, before lifting her chin up, her jaw tense as she avoided their gazes.
Suki and Juliette finally approached the enterande of the Ferrari motorhome, Gasly and Leclerc were about half a meter away from them.
Juliette muzzled up enough confidence to completely ignore them. She didn't even give them a glare of some sort.
Suki on the other hand, earned a wave from Pierre, who smirked at her, she mumbled a 'hi' back, before her cheeks burned slightly.
Charles's sad eyes followed Juliette's silhouette, which disappeared into the Ferrari motorhome.
"You know, it kinda sucks that she's ignoring me during my home race." Charles frowned a little. Pierre shrugged. "We're on the same boat, Cha. Don't worry."
"Yeah, I guess. I just hoped that we would've made up by now." Charles spoke gently, his mood obviously wasn't the best. Pierre patted his back, in an attempt to comfort him. "She's got a lot on her plate right now, with her mom and everything."
"Hey, when is Isabelle's surgery? I wanna be there for it." Charles piped up, his green eyes met Pierre's vibrant blue. The frenchman tilted his head. "Are you sure you wanna be there? Wouldn't you be overstepping a little?"
"Isabelle's like my second mom. I've known her since I was a kid." Charles pointed out swiftly, his tone snappy as Pierre rose his hands, feigning innocence. "No need to get defensive, Isabelle's like my second mom too. I thought it was best to visit her after her surgery?"
"I don't know, mate." Charles chewed on his lip, before speaking up. "So, do you know when she's gonna have the surgery?"
Pierre shrugged, pursing his lips, as he arms hung lazily on his sides. "Sorry, mate. I don't. Maybe ask Suki?"
Charles rose a brow at Pierre, who furrowed his brows. "What?"
"Nothing, it's nothing." Charles shook his head in amusement, watching as his friend glared at him sassily, his hands on his hips.
"What is it?"
Charles let out a breathy laugh, before giving in. "You've just been awfully close with her lately."
Charles couldn't help but notice that Suki and Pierre spent a lot of time together. Whether Juliette was aware of it or not, Charles certainly was.
Charles constantly caught the subtle exchanges of longing gazes from across the room, and he couldn't help but notice how Suki's demeanor would transform into a charmingly flustered state whenever Pierre was near.
In all sincerity, Charles found the two a perfect match. Suki was undeniably an exceptional catch, While Pierre, on the other hand, was very charming.
The exact nature of Suki and Pierre's relationship wasn't really known, but there was undoubtedly something intriguing going on between them.
Pierre's lips played a ghost of a smirk, he rubbed the stubble on his chin, before shrugging.
"I mean, she's great." He responded plainly, Charles hit his shoulder, his brow rose in amusement. "That's it? What happened to the Pierre who would tell me all about his sex li-"
"DUDE!" Pierre interupted the Monegasque, who burst into a fit of laughter.
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Juliette scooted into the chair in the small meeting room, Suki was sat on her right, while Mattia sat in front of her.
Mattia shot her a tight lipped smile, before clasping his hands together, and leaning into the table.
"Thank you for joining me on such short notice." Mattia stated politely, as Juliette simply responded with an obviously fake smile.
"I'm just gonna get straight to the point." Mattia pursed his lips, before letting out a heavy breath. "Sebastian Vettel, was the one who recommended you to take his seat. I was hesitant at first, you were still in F2, and I wasn't so sure about you."
Juliette's heart drummed against her rib cage, as her throat went dry.
She knew where this was going.
Juliette knew this was bound to happen. Over the past season, Mattia didn't treat her right, she couldn't bear it. And as much as she complained and chuntered about it, there wasn't really anything anyone could do about it.
"I trusted Seb, and kept tabs on you. And it was safe to say that I was impressed." Mattia praised slightly.
Juliette bit back a laugh. That was probably the first compliment he ever gave her.
"And when you won the F2 championship. I knew you had to join us, here at Ferrari."
"I was glad I signed someone with such . . . passion for this team. I really was."
Juliette's chest tightened, she knew there about be a 'but' after that statement.
"But . . ."
"I knew it." She thought.
"This past season. I couldn't really see you fit into our plans and strategies. Your driving style is very unique, and it was hard to adapt to it. I mean, look at what happened in Suzuka . . . You struggled, a lot."
Juliette's jaw twitched at his mention of her crash. He was blatantly insulting her driving.
"Mattia, if I may interrupt." Juliette spoke up. Suki pinched Juliette's leg, indicating that she needed to shut up. But Juliette refused to, she was silent for way too long.
Mattia pursed his lips, before nodding slowly, giving her permission to speak.
"I could say the same for you. Ferrari was an absolute dream to join. But - and I'm gonna be brutally honest here - I don't feel appreciated here."
Mattia shifted in his seat, his face tense, as he stared at her.
"Teams that prioritize one driver over the other is not something I want to be apart of. I'm not sure what your 'plans' were, but if it was you guys undermining & disrespecting me, and pushing Charles up into the spotlight like the ' golden boy ' he is, then you've done a damn good job." Juliette stated professionally, it was as if a weight was being lifted off her chest and her shoulders.
"Juliette, if I-"
"I'm not done talking." Juliette interrupted Mattia swiftly, her eyes sharp. "I don't like being underestimated, and blatantly being disregarded. And that's what I felt like I was going through here."
Mattia remained quiet, attempting to fumble up a response. "I-I understand where you're coming from, but, I don't think that we intended to make you feel that way. You've achieved a lot this season-"
"Alright, if I've achieved a lot this season, why am I about to be let go? That's what you've called this meeting up for, right?" Juliette challenged, squinting her eyes at the man. Mattia ran a hand through his hair. "Like I said, you haven't really matched up with our plans for this team."
Juliette hummed. She didn't know where she got this new-found confidence from. Maybe it was in the rush of the moment, she didn't know. But she liked it.
"The board members of Ferrari and I have decided not to extend your contract. This will be your last season driving for Ferrari." Mattia announced. Juliette's face remained neutral, she didn't want to show any sort of emotion. "Alright. Thank you for your consideration, is there any sort of finalization processes I have to go through?"
Mattia nodded, his body tense as his body sat straight. "Yes, my manager will contact you in a few weeks time."
Suki decided to speak up now. "When will you be announcing this? I need to set some things up."
Mattia paused, before responding to Suki. "Most likely by the end of the season."
Suki nodded. Juliette fiddled with her hands on her lap.
A twinging sensation of guilt slowly started to eat at her core, as her stomach twisted in all sorts of ways.
Yes, she already signed for Mercedes next season, meaning that she would've had to leave Ferrari anyway.
Yet, a inexplicable pang of sorrow crept into her being. Ferrari had been her childhood aspration, and witnessing it go all down the drain was utterly devastating.
Especially since one of the main reasons she joined Ferrari's driver academy when she was younger, was for her Jules.
And her finally signing into Ferrari's F1 team was promise she made to Jules.
Although, another promise she made to him, was to win a WDC with Ferrari.
She knew deep down that it was impossible, but with each passing day, as the promise grew more unattainable, and ludicrous, it shattered her heart further.
Juliette was a big believer of never breaking a promise, even if it was a silly one.
However, this particular promise was one that fate had destined her to break. It was an inevitable choice she would have to confront eventually.
She just didn't want to disappoint anyone.
She didn't want to disappoint Jules.