#larvotto

[imaginaryf1shots]

You’re Mine | Charles Leclerc

WC: 6K

Possessive!Charles x Innocent!reader

Summery: You’re Arthur’s childhood BFF, you’ve been around the Leclerc for years before you had to move away. But now you’re back for a few months, not knowing that you’re here to stay.

Warning: Manipulation, jealousy, toxic relationships, more things to come.

AN: Honestly I have no idea what I feel a bout this, I’m not 100% satisfied. I may delete it later. my fist attempt at a dark fic.

Also, this was requested a very long time ago, I lost the request, though.

Masterlist

Charles Masterlist

Growing up in Monaco, you went to the same school as Arthur Leclerc. Arthur, with his messy brown hair and infectious laughter, was your closest friend. Your friendship began in a playground and quickly formed an unbreakable bond. You’d always race your bikes down narrow lanes, building sandcastles on Larvotto beach, or exploring the markets with insatiable curiosity. You two were inseparable.

Your families met because of your bond, and they formed their own friendships. It was due to the closeness that your families formed that you got to meet his brothers.

You saw Charles and Arthur karting, and you;d go with them from time to time, but while they were competitive and wanted to do it for life, you just wanted to join them and have fun. One of the reasons you and Arthur got so close is because you got into what the other liked and had fun while doing it.

Yet, in the background of your friendship with Arthur was your crush on his older brother, Charles. Charles is older by a few years and carried an air of confidence that captivated your young heart. He always seemed so cool, had that unattainable air around him, his striking looks and natural charm didn’t help. He was the epitome of everything you admired, but to him you were just his little brother’s friend, a mere child.

Charles has always been so sweet with you, and no matter how much time passed the blush that always graced your cheeks around him always stayed, it was permanent whenever he was in the same room as you.

You remember vividly the simmer afternoons spent at the Leclerc household. Arthur would always drag you along to play video games or just spend time together, while Charles, often busy with his racing aspirations, would give you a smile. Those moments, however brief and meaningless in the scheme of things, fouled your childish infatuation. You watched him from a distance, never expecting to actually catch his attention one day.

You thought you were discreet with your crush, but once you’re out of earshot, the adults would always joke about it, your mums dreaming of being one family one day and planning the wedding. It amused them to see how much you hung on every world Charles said and looked at him as if he was an angel, and how oblivious Charles was.

You remember the day your world turned upside down very well, it’s etched in your memory. Your father announced out of the blue, “We’re relocating to New York.” He said, excitement in his voice. The news felt like a punch to the gut. You were only twelve, but the thought of leaving Arthur and your familiar world behind was devastating.

“We’ll stay in touch, promise?” Arthur, who was equally crushed by news said his voice was shaky but he was determined. You both exchanged trinkets as tokens of your friendship. A bracelet from you and a racing car from him.

“Always.” You replied, tears brimming your eyes.

The move was a whirlwind, and soon you found yourself in the concrete jungle of New York City, a stark contrast to the serene beauty of Monaco. Despite the distance, you and Arthur remained in touch. Long phone calls, video chats, and countless messages kept your friendship alive. You shared your experiences, your struggles, and your triumphs, growing up together despite the miles between you.

Years passed, and your infatuation with Charles dimmed to a fond memory as you immerse yourself in your new life. But as you matured, you often wondered how different things might have been if you had stayed in Monaco. The thought lingered in the back of your mind, a faint but persistent echo of your childhood dreams.

Now, at twenty-one, you stood at a crossroads, ready to reconnect with the past. The opportunity to return to Europe for a summer was too enticing to pass up. Once Arthur heard about it he was ecstatic at the prospect of you two meeting again, and plans were quickly made for your grand reunion. The anticipation of seeing him again, of revisiting the places that shaped your childhood, filled you with excitement and a touch of nostalgia.

Little did you know, this trip would be more than just a walk down memory lane. It would be a journey that would intertwine your fate with Charles once more, in ways you could never have imagined.

The plane descended towards the Côte d'Azur Airport, and as you gazed out the window, your heart raced with anticipation. The Mediterranean's blue expanse sparkled below, the coastline of Monaco coming into view. It had been a decade since you'd seen these familiar sights, but they felt like a distant yet vivid memory.

After clearing customs, you wheeled your suitcase through the bustling terminal. Your excitement was palpable, mingled with the nervousness of reuniting with a childhood friend after so long. Would Arthur have changed much? Would your bond still be as strong? It has been the same online but, being face to face could be different.

Stepping out into the arrivals area, you scanned the crowd. And there he was, Arthur Leclerc, standing tall with that same mischievous grin you remembered. His hair was a bit shorter, his features more mature, but the spark in his eyes was unmistakable. A spark that video class couldn’t carry.

“Y/N!” Arthur called out, his voice filled with joy. You waved back, and in moments, you were enveloped in a tight hug.

"Arthur! It's so good to see you." You said, pulling back to take in his appearance. “You’re so tall now.”

"It’s good to see you! You look amazing." He replied, his eyes shining with genuine warmth. "I can't believe it's been ten years, I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too.” You say tearing up, Arthur’s eyes get glossy as well, and you’re hugging once again, this time you stay in each other’s arms for a bit longer.

“Come on, let's get you out of here and catch up." Arthur says after you pull back, he takes your bags and heads to his car.

The drive from the airport to Monaco was filled with laughter and stories, both of you eager to fill in the gaps of the years apart, things that haven’t been said on calls. Arthur had grown into a confident young man, his passion for racing more intense than ever. You shared your adventures in New York, the highs and lows, and the dreamlike quality of returning to Europe.

As you arrived in Monaco, a wave of nostalgia washed over you. The narrow streets, the bustling harbour, the luxurious buildings. It was all like you remembered, yet with a sense of newness. Arthur drove you to his family's home, where you'd be staying.

Stepping inside, you were hit with memories of your childhood. The familiar scent of the house, the photos on the walls, it was like stepping back in time. Arthur took your bags to a room in a house, before you followed him.

“Y/N!” A delighted voice came from the kitchen as you walked in. Pascale Leclerc, Arthur’s mother, emerged with a warm smile. She looked hardly changed, still radiating the same kindness and elegance you remembered.

“Mama Pascale!” you exclaimed, rushing to hug her.

“It’s been too long, mon ange” She said, hugging you tightly. “Look at you! All grown up and even more beautiful.”

You blushed at the compliment. “Thank you. It feels like coming home.”

“We’ve missed you around here. Arthur has talked non-stop about your visit.” Pascale’s eyes twinkled.

Arthur rolled his eyes playfully. “Well, she’s finally here. And I’ve got big plans to show her around.”

“I’m sure you do. But first, let’s get you settled in.” Pascale laughed. Arthur led you to your room.

“You’ll be staying in Charles’s old room.” He said, opening the door. “He moved out a while ago, but we’ve kept it nice for guests.”

The room was spacious and neatly arranged, with a large window offering a stunning view of the city below. It felt both strange and intimate to be staying in Charles’s old room, surrounded by remnants of his past, trophies, posters, and photos of his racing career.

“Wow.” You said, looking around. “This is amazing.”

Arthur grinned. “Glad you like it. Make yourself at home. We’ve got dinner in a bit, and then I’ll show you around the house.”

After freshening up, you joined the Leclerc family for dinner, minus Charles and Enzo who were out of Monaco for a race. The meal was filled with laughter and stories, and you felt a warmth that you’d missed in New York. Pascale’s cooking was as delicious as you remembered, and the conversation flowed easily, with Arthur and his mother making you feel like you’d never left.

Later, Arthur gave you a tour of the house. As you walked through the house, memories flooded back, each room telling a story of your shared past. You spent the first week catching up, going to your favourite sports when you were young, going into Nice, meeting his friends and having the time of your lives.

"Guess what?" Arthur said with a twinkle in his eye as you joined him in the living room, one afternoon. "I've got a surprise for you."

"A surprise?" You echoed, curious.

“Charles got us tickets for the Spain race next weekend.”

“Race?” Your heart skipped a beat. “That sounds incredible, thank you Arthur.”

“Don’t thank me, thank Charles when we see him.” Arthur shrugged off your gratitude.

”I will.” You say softly, a hint of nervousness hits you.

That evening, you and Arthur walked along the promenade, reminiscing about old times. The city was alive with activity, the sound of laughter and music filling the air. You couldn't help but feel a deep sense of belonging, a feeling you'd missed more than you realised, making you want to move back here and not return to New York after the summer.

You flew to Spain with Arthur, it was like going on a trip with your best friend after speaking about it for years, the trip made it out of the chat. You made it for qualifying day, you dressed casually, but delicately. Your style is very feminine, yet stylish, and you weren’t afraid to show some skin here and there.

You followed Arthur through the vibrant energy of the race circuit. The roar of engines, the cheers of the crowd, it was electrifying. Arthur was in his element, greeting fellow racers and team members with ease.

As you walked through the paddock, you felt a pair of eyes on you. Turning, you met the gaze of the one and only Charles Leclerc. He was standing with his team, his attention focused entirely on you. Time seemed to freeze. The boy you once had a crush on was now a strikingly handsome man, exuding charisma and confidence.

Charles hadn’t looked you up on social media so he had no idea how you looked after 10 years. Yet, he had no doubt in his mind that the female Arthur was walking with is you. His eyes ran over your cream sundress with small flowers on it, the straps were thin and there was a slit up your thigh. With every step Charles could see your leg peaking through.

Charles approached, his eyes never leaving yours.

“Arthur, who's this?” He asked, though his gaze suggested he already knew.

”Y/n, you remember her from school, she moved to New York.” Arthur grinned.

"Of course, Y/N. You've...changed a lot." He said, his voice heavy, thick.

“Well, I’m not eleven anymore.” You say with a sweet smile.

”Clearly.” Charles says under his breath, you’re more beautiful up close. “Welcome back.”

”Thanks, Charlie, it’s good to be back.” Your heart fluttered, the old nickname slipping so easily from your lips. Charles had to swallow and force a smile, it’s been seconds since he saw you again, and you already have some type of effect on him.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of excitement. You watched the quali with Arthur, cheering loudly as cars zoomed by, the drivers skillfully navigating the track. It was exhilarating, a stark reminder of the world you'd once been so close to. Charles qualified P2. You weren’t able to see him for the rest of the day, due to briefing, and strategy meetings.

The next day during a break, Arthur introduced you to some of his friends, including a few drivers. You chatted amiably, feeling the warmth of their welcome. But all the while, you were acutely aware of Charles' presence. His gaze followed you, filled with something more intense.

At one point, you found yourself alone with him in the team’s hospitality area. Charles leaned against the table, his eyes locked onto yours.

"So, what do you think of everything so far?" He asked, his voice smooth.

"It's amazing." You replied, trying to steady your nerves. "I've missed this energy."

"I’m glad you’re enjoying it. It’s good to see you again, Y/N. You’ve grown up." He smiled, a slow, deliberate smile that sent a shiver down your spine. The way he said it, made your heart race. There was a hint of something possessive in his tone, but you couldn’t pinpoint what it is.

"Thank you, Charles. You’ve...changed too."

”Here give me your phone, so I can put my number in.” Charles held out his hand and you gave him your phone. Charles quickly punched in his phone number and saved it. You were distracted by some shouting some people were doing and didn’t see what he was doing, giving Charles the perfect opportunity to send himself your live location and delete it from your chat. “Here you go.”

”Great.” Before you could delve deeper into the conversation, Arthur returned.

"Ready to head back?" He asked, looking between you and Charles with a knowing smile.

"Yeah, let's go." You said, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment.

Back in Monaco the days flew by in a whirlwind of races, dinners, and nostalgic explorations with Arthur. Yet, no matter where you went, you couldn’t shake the feeling of Charles’ eyes on you. Always watching you.

Charles would appear at the cafe where you and Arthur were having lunch, or join you for a spontaneous outing. His attention felt flattering, a validation of the childhood crush you’d once harboured.

One afternoon, you were walking around Monaco, before you had to meet Arthur after his appointment. While you were walking Charles found you and took the liberty to stay with you. Charles suggested a walk along the harbour, and you agreed, enjoying the idea of catching up with him.

As you strolled along the waterfront, Charles’ hand brushed against yours. The first time you deemed it an accident, but as it kept happening, that childish blush you used to have in his presence reappeared.

“You know.” He began, his voice low and serious. “I’ve been thinking a lot about you since you came back.”

”Really?” You looked up at him, surprised by his tone.

”Yes.” He said, his eyes darkening slightly, but he gave you a slight smile to cover up his inner thoughts from showing. “I can’t help but feel protective of you, you’ve grown up so much, and… well, I don’t like the idea of you being here alone, so just whenever Arthur is busy just call me, yeah?”

”Yeah, I will.” You continued walking with Charles, when a store caught your eyes. "Charlie, can we go into that store?"

“Of course.” You and Charles head into the boutique. Charles places his hand on your back as he guides you in the shop. Your cheeks flushed, you thought he'd remove his hand once you're inside the shop but his hands stayed there. Charles followed you around the shop as you looked at all the trinkets, a vintage jewellery box gaining your attention.

“Charlie, look, isn't it cute?” You pick up the box and open it, turning to show the man behind you, Charles's hand stays on you, but it moves from your back to your waist.

“It's very cute.” You look up only to see him looking at you, you bite your bottom lip to stop the smile from forming on your face, Charles' eyes fall onto your lips before they go back to your eyes. You turn back around and look through the shelves, smiling to yourself now that he couldn't see your face. Or so you thought, Charles caught your smile in one of the mirrors on the shelf. He was happy that he made you smile, your smile is so sweet he wants it all to himself. After a bit of browsing you end up with a couple things that you liked. The guy at the till smiles at you, Charles' jaw clenches. Charles' hands drop from your back to his pocket he takes out his card and hands it

to the guy.

“Charliee, I can pay.” You whine and try to give the guy your card, but Charles takes your hand in his and drops it.

“You're never paying when I'm with you, amour.” You pout but put your card back in your small bag you carried with you, trying not to over think the pet name he called you. Charles takes the bag from the cashier and you both head out, this time Charles' arm is around your shoulder. You're walking closer to each other now. Closer than before for sure.

“Thank you.” You tell him after a moment of silence, you look up at him and his face is much closer to yours now with his arm around your shoulder. “F-for buying me this, and-and for keeping me company with Arthur being busy.”

“Any time, whenever Arthur is busy just call me I'll always keep you company.” Charles says with a charming smile, reiterating what he said earlier. “Even if you want to take a break from him just tell me."

“I will.” You say with a giggle.

It was another race week and you're invited, Arthur was with his friends in F2, and so you decided to stick with Charles for most of the day. He introduced you to Rebecca and so you sat with her for lunch before KiKa also joined you and soon also Lily came. The girls were super polite they didn't ask you what your relationship with Charles, they all went through fazes of wanting to keep their relationship private, and

not confirming anything. Charles knew what he was doing, he was walking through the paddock to go from one place to the other when he saw the female gathering, he walked up behind you placing his hand on your shoulder. You look up startled before smiling when you see Charles, he greets the ladies. He leans to whisper in your ear.

“Do you need anything?”

“No thank you, don't worry about me.”

“Hard not to.: He says before he gives everyone one last smile and he leaves. The girls all share knowing looks, but keep their thoughts to themselves. It's been a while since Charles has been in a relationship, but they can see the signs.

When Charles finished his duties and heads back to where you are, he stops dead in his tracks. You're talking with Lando, smiling at what he's saying.

"Come on, mate, it's just Lando." Carlos who was walking with his teammate said seeing the look on Charles' face. He's not happy, at all. Why is Lando talking to you? Didn't he know you're with him? What could he be saying that's so funny? Lando isn't that funny. Charles walks up to you and places his hand around your shoulder, Leaving Carlos to go talk to his own girlfriend.

"Hey, I see you met y/n." Charles says with a cold smile.

"Yeah, I was telling her about Quadrent." Lando said, he picked up on Charles' demeanour and it left him confused, Charles is always kind, and easy going. He's never cold or standoffish.

"Why?" Charles asks and you look up at him confused.

"Charlie." You mumble softly, he glances down at you before his eyes settle back on Lando, who looked very uncomfortable at the moment like he wanted to be anywhere but here. "I asked him what he does when he's not racing."

"Hmm, okay, we have to go." Charles says and doesn't leave room for argument before he steers you away from the conversation and Lando.

"That was a bit rude." You mumble to Charles, he sighs and looks at you for a moment.

"I was just trying to protect you."

"From what?"

"Look, stay away from Lando, he was only talking to you because he wants to be with you." Charles tells you with so much assurance, like what he's saying is a fact.

"What? I don't think so." You frown, going over the conversation you just had with the British man, nothing standing out to you.

"Amour, I know Lando, believe me when I say he had anterior motives." You weren't 100% convinced, Charles stopped and turned you to face him, his hands on your shoulders. "Who knows Lando better?" He asked you.

"You do."

"Who knows his history with women?"

"You do.”

"Then believe me, when I say him talking with you wasn't innocent." You nod, believing him. I mean why would he lie to you? There's no reason for him to do that. You trust Charles.

The sun dipped low over Monaco, casting a warm golden glow across the city. You were sitting with Arthur at a cosy café near the harbour, sipping on an iced coffee and catching up on the latest gossip. Arthur was recounting a particularly amusing story from the paddock when you felt a familiar presence approaching.

Charles strolled up to your table, his smile bright and confident. "Hey, Arthur. Y/N," he greeted, his eyes lingering on you. "Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all, pull up a chair." Arthur waved him over.

As Charles sat down, you couldn't help but notice the way his gaze seemed to drink you in. It was intense but not entirely uncomfortable. You smiled shyly, feeling a blush creep up your cheeks.

"So, Y/N." Charles began, leaning forward slightly, "I've been thinking. You've been back in Monaco for a while now, and I haven't really had the chance to take you out properly."

"Oh?" Your heart skipped a beat, is this really happening?

Arthur grinned, sensing what was coming. "Sounds like someone has an idea."

"I was wondering if you'd like to go out with me this weekend.” Charles nodded, his eyes never leaving yours. “Just the two of us. I want to show you around, maybe take you to a nice dinner. What do you say?"

You felt your cheeks flush with excitement. The boy you had once idolized was now a man, standing before you and asking you out on a date. The crush you thought you'd outgrown resurfaced, stronger than ever. You bit your lip, trying to contain your giddiness.

"I'd love to." You replied, your voice almost a whisper.

Charles' smile widened, his eyes sparkling with genuine happiness. "Great. I'll pick you up at seven?"

"Seven it is." You agreed, your heart fluttering.

Arthur chuckled, giving you a playful nudge. "Looks like you have a date."

”Shut up.” You say under your breath fighting the blush that was a permanent fixture on your face. Arthur laughed and wiggled his eyebrows at you.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur of conversation and laughter, but you couldn't shake the excitement bubbling inside you. Charles' invitation had lit a spark in you, one that had been dormant for years. You felt a renewed sense of anticipation, eager to see where this evening would lead.

When the weekend arrived, you found yourself nervously preparing for the date. You chose a dress that was elegant yet understated, wanting to strike the perfect balance. As you applied the finishing touches to your makeup, you couldn't help but smile at your reflection. This was it, the night you had been waiting for.

Right on time, Charles arrived at the Leclerc home, looking effortlessly handsome in a tailored suit. He greeted you with a warm smile, his eyes filled with admiration.

"You look stunning." He said, offering his arm.

"Thank you." You replied, feeling the blush return to your cheeks.

As you walked to his Ferrari, you felt a mix of nerves and excitement. The car roared to life, and soon you were speeding through the streets of Monaco, the city's lights twinkling around you. Charles drove with ease, occasionally glancing over at you with a smile.

He took you to a luxurious restaurant perched on a hill, offering breathtaking views of the city below. The maître d' greeted Charles warmly, leading you to a private table by the window. The ambiance was perfect, soft music, candlelight, and a stunning vista.

Throughout dinner, Charles was the perfect gentleman. He asked about your life in New York, genuinely interested in your stories. You talked about your friends, and the adventures you'd had. In turn, he shared his experiences on the racing tracks, the highs and lows of his career. The conversation flowed effortlessly, the connection between you growing stronger with each passing moment.

After dinner, Charles suggested a walk along the harbour. The cool night air was refreshing, and the city seemed to glow under the moonlight. As you strolled side by side, you felt a sense of contentment, like everything was falling into place.

Charles stopped by the edge of the water, turning to face you. "I've really enjoyed tonight," he said softly. "It's been wonderful getting to know you again, Y/N."

"I've enjoyed it too." You replied, your heart racing.

"I hope we can do this again. Soon." He took your hand, his touch gentle but firm.

“I'd like that, Charles." You smiled, your heart swelling with happiness.

As he walked you back to his car, you felt a sense of warmth and belonging. Charles opened the door for you, and as you slid into the seat, you couldn't help but feel that this was just the beginning of something special.

The drive back to the Leclerc home was quiet, filled with comfortable silence. When you arrived, Charles walked you to the door, his hand lingering on yours for a moment longer than necessary.

"Goodnight, Y/N." He said, his voice filled with promise.

"Goodnight, Charles." You replied, your heart full.

As you watched him drive away, you felt a sense of joy and anticipation. The night had been perfect, a dream come true. And as you lay in bed, replaying every moment, you couldn't help but smile.

Waking up the next day you open your phone and find your social media accounts which are private and full of follow requests and DM requests. You’re so confused, before you open Twitter and see pictures of you and Charles last night on a the date everywhere. You groan and lean down in bed closing your eyes.

Charles is happy with himself, those paparazzi he leaked his date info to, did a good job, taking pictures in angles that made it look like you two were kissing at one point, and much closer than you were. Now everyone will know that you’re his. His plan is working, now what he has to do is get you to come stay at his house.

One evening you found yourself at a glamorous cocktail party, filled with drivers and Monaco's high society. You wore a stunning dress that hugged your curves in all the right places, leaving very little for the imagination. Many eyes looked your way when you passed. And of course, Charles was by your side, his arm firmly around your waist.

As you chatted with one of the drivers from F2, you felt Charles' grip tightening. His jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened. The driver complimented your dress, and you laughed lightly, thanking him, a slight blush covering your face. A blush that has always been meant for Charles only. Before you could continue, Charles interrupted.

"y/n, can I speak with you for a moment?" He said, his voice strained but polite. You excused yourself, following Charles to a quitter corner.

"What's wrong?" You asked, noticing the tension in his posture. Charles takes a deep breath, his eyes locking with yours, in an interlock that had you shivering.

"I don't like the way he was looking at you."

"He was just being friendly, Charlie, it's a party." You say looking up at him through your lashes, Charles just wants to pull you closer and crash his lips on you in a heated kiss.

His expression darkened further. "Friendly or not, I don’t want anyone looking at you like that."

The possessiveness in his voice sent a chill down your spine. "Charles, you’re overreacting. We’re just talking."

"I don’t care. You’re mine, Y/N.” He leaned in, his face inches from yours. “And I won’t have anyone thinking otherwise."

You opened your mouth to protest, but the intensity in his eyes silenced you. It wasn’t just about protectiveness. There was a dark edge to his possessiveness, something you hadn’t seen before.

“Okay.” YOu agree meekly, Charles kisses your cheek right next to your lips, and smiles oh so sweetly at you, lacing your hands together.

“Come stay with me.” You look up at him, surprised with your eyes wide.

”What?”

“Come stay with me, I want to spend as much time with you as I can before I have to get back to Marnello.” He looks at you pleading. “Pretty please.”

”Alright, might give Arthur free time to hang out with his other friends.” You say convincing yourself that it’s a good idea, you look at your best friend and see him talking with a woman by the bar. “Or someone else.” You say with a giggle, Charles sees Arthur and smile. Good, if Arthur finds and lady friend then that would give him more time to spend with you, this sis going better than he expected.

You moved in with Charles, you had the spare room. Charles tired to convince you to stay with him, but you wanted things to go slow. But more often than not, you fell asleep on the sofa while watching something together and Charles would put you in bed with him.

Most nights will end with you sipping on a drink he makes for you, always insisting that he just wants to spoil you, after a while you’d start feeling exhausted, and fall asleep.

The next mornings, you’d usually wake up in his bed, with him laying next to you, the times you woke up after him, you’d see him awake and watching you with a deep in thought look on his face, the moment he notice you’re awake he’d smile and press a kiss to your forehead.

"Good morning.” He said, brushing a strand of hair from your face.

"Morning." You replied groggily, a strange sense of comfort washing over you.

You were browsing through a quaint boutique downtown. Charles had suggested you update your wardrobe, and you were eager to please him. As you moved between the racks of clothing, you found yourself drawn to a beautiful blue sundress. It was light, airy, it’s something you’d usually buy without a second thought.

You held the dress up to yourself, admiring it in the mirror. It was perfect for the warm weather and would look great with the sandals Charles had bought you last week. But as you stood there, a familiar uncertainty crept in. Would Charles like it? Would he think it was appropriate?

You pulled out your phone and took a quick photo of yourself holding the dress. Your fingers hovered over the send button as you debated whether to ask him. The decision felt simple enough, yet you couldn't shake the need for his approval.

Finally, you texted him: "What do you think of this dress? Should I get it?"

You waited anxiously, your heart pounding. Within a few moments, your phone buzzed with his response: "It's pretty, but I think the neckline is a bit too low. How about looking for something else?"

You sighed, feeling a mix of disappointment and relief. Charles always knew what was best, you reminded yourself. You put the dress back on the rack and continued browsing, looking for something that fit his description of appropriate.

As you moved through the store, you picked up a simple white blouse and a pair of high-waisted jeans. They were nice, but they didn't make your heart sing like the sundress had. Still, you knew Charles would approve, and that was what mattered most.

Later that evening, you returned home with your purchases. Charles was waiting for you in the living room, his eyes lighting up as you walked in.

"Hey, how did the shopping go?" He asked, standing to greet you.

"It went well." You replied, holding up the blouse and jeans. "I found these. What do you think?"

He inspected the clothes, nodding with approval. "Good choices. They'll look great on you."

His praise filled you with warmth, and you felt a sense of accomplishment.

"Thanks. I'm glad you like them."

He pulled you into a hug, kissing your forehead. "I always want you to look your best. You know that, right?"

“I know. Thank you for helping me." You nodded, resting your head against his chest.

As you stood there, wrapped in his embrace, you realised just how much you had come to rely on his guidance. Even for something as simple as picking out a dress, his opinion was the deciding factor. It was comforting, in a way, to know that he was always there to help you make the right choices.

Gradually, your independence faded. Charles' influence seeped into every aspect of your life. You stopped wearing the dresses you loved, opting for the ones he chose. You stopped going out with friends, preferring to stay home with him. Your world narrowed to the confines of his desires, and you didn't even realise it was happening.

Before making any decision, you looked to Charles, waiting for his approval. If he nodded, you felt reassured; if he frowned, you felt anxious. Your happiness hinged on his reactions, your self-worth tied to his validation.

Charles marked you in other ways, too. He began leaving hickeys on your neck, a visible sign of his possession. "I want everyone to know you're mine." He would whisper, his voice both tender and possessive.

You accepted it, feeling a strange sense of pride in his attention. The marks he left were a symbol of his love, and you wore them like badges of honour. When people asked, you smiled and brushed it off.

But it wasn't just protection. Charles' control over you deepened, his possessiveness consuming him. You found yourself agreeing to everything he asked, trusting his judgement over your own. He convinced you that he knew what was best for you, and you believed him.

Charles made sure you stayed close. He monitored your phone, controlled your social interactions, and kept you under his watchful eye. You didn't see it as manipulation; you saw it as love. He was protecting you, caring for you, making sure you were safe.

As the months passed, you lost sight of who you were outside of Charles. Your dreams, your desires, your sense of self, all became secondary to his needs and wishes. You became a shadow of your former self, a puppet dancing to his tune.

But you didn't see it. You were blind to the darkness that had enveloped your life, the possessiveness that had taken root in Charles' heart. You were happy, in a way, content in the illusion of love and security he had created.

Charles had what he wanted: you, completely and utterly his. And you, in your innocence and naivety, believed it was exactly where you were meant to be.

Taglist

@gnatthefly . @mochimommy2002 . @llando4norris . @mrswolffs-blog . @barcelonaloverf1life . @c-losur3 . @xoscar03 . @schniti-is-in-the-house .

[lovings4turn]

୭ 🗝️ ✧ ˚. 🪩 puppy love . . . (l.h.)

— the last thing that you expect to find when wandering around monaco is a lone dog also exploring the streets. your search for his owner proves far more successful than you could have imagined.

+ requested by a lovely anon! this idea was so so cute so thank you sm for sending it in, i hope you enjoy! banner from cafekitsune!

+ pure fluff, roscoe is the ultimate match maker here.

monaco was truly everything you could have dreamed it would be, and then some.

for the past few days, you and your friends had frequented the glorious larvotto beach, explored the overly lavish stores and casinos, and had even been convinced to walk the length of the famous race track that encircled the streets.

meanwhile, your nights were spent in fancy restaurants and expensive clubs, the over-priced champagne giving you a real taste of the opulent lifestyle of those who lived there.

months and months of extra shifts at work had finally paid off, and so you were determined to make the absolute most of every last minute of the trip. not a moment was to be wasted, which was exactly why you and another friend were wandering around the city whilst the rest of your group slept off an awful hangover.

it was as you lifted a hand to adjust the sunglasses that were slipping from your face that you caught sight of a flash of brown in your peripheral vision. confusion prompted your brows to furrow, a feeling that only heightened as you realised what the flash actually was.

seemingly on his own was a large bulldog, pink tongue lolling out of his mouth in a display of happiness. a brief survey of your surroundings confirmed your suspicions that the dog was unattended, and your frown deepened. 

unable to leave the poor thing by himself in the middle of such a busy place, you began to walk over, taking slow, tentative steps in an effort not to startle the animal.

“hello,” you cooed, voice heading up an octave as you held out a hand in a gesture of friendship. “oh you are gorgeous, aren’t you?”

your friend stifled a laugh at the sight of you, crouched down and offering your hand for the random dog to sniff, an experiment to decide whether or not he would deem you worthy of his companionship. 

“what are you doing here, hm?” you continued, more to yourself than the dog. “where’s y’parent?”

as the dog tilted his head in search of gentle pats, he had also inadvertently revealed the collar sitting around his neck, complete with a silver tag that, thankfully, appeared to be engraved.  

still cooing and fussing over the animal, you gently plucked the tag between your fingers. you manipulated the metal away from the sun in order to make out the letters printed there, and sighed in relief as you read.

ROSCOE. IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL XXXXX-XXX-XXX.

bingo.

“don’t worry, roscoe,” you hummed. “gonna get you home.”

your fingers danced across the keypad of your phone. as the familiar sound of the dial tone rang out, you gnawed at your bottom lip, anxiously awaiting an answer.

not wanting to let him out of your sight, you remained in a squat position despite the burn building in your thighs. the feeling of soft fur against the palm of your hand turned out to be one hell of a motivator. 

“hello?”

the voice on the other end of the line was, undoubtedly, male, and also undoubtedly breathless. a pang of sympathy struck you as you noted the worry in the stranger’s voice, as if he’d been hunting for the dog for a while before your call came through.

“hello! sorry to bother you,” you started, tongue poking out to wet your lips before you continued. “but i think i’ve got your dog with me. he’s a bulldog? roscoe?”

“oh thank god,” the stranger rushed out, a thankful chuckle rumbling through your phone’s speaker. “i’ve been all over looking for him, i was starting to get worried.”

“he’s okay, i’ve got him here and he seems… pretty happy, actually,” you assured, unable to keep a smile out of your voice as roscoe’s tail began to wag a little faster. 

scanning your surroundings in an effort to find some way to mark your location, you noted a café with a name emblazoned above their doorway.

“i’m right next to a roca, the little café?” you explained. "i don't know if it would be easier for you to come to me. not sure how i'd get him to follow along with me, is all," you laughed.

"a roca," the man mumbled, an affirmative tone in his voice. "give me five minutes, i'll be there as fast as i can. thank you so much, seriously. i don't know what i would have done if you hadn't found him."

your face flushed a little at the appreciative tone and high praise, and you struggled to keep the smile out of your voice as you replied.

"it's really no problem. i'd want someone to do the same for me."

after exchanging quick goodbyes, and not before being thanked another three times, you and your friend managed to coax the dog a little closer to the café, wanting to find the quietest spot possible on such a busy street.

"he said he was coming?" your friend confirmed.

"in about two minutes."

"did he sound cute?"

"seriously?"

your friend only laughed, shrugging her shoulders in nonchalance. in her eyes, the question was fully justifiable, and you would have happily answered it if the answer had not been yes.

a few more minutes passed before a familiar voice met your ears, prompting you to look up in search of roscoe's owner.

what you weren't expecting was to meet the eyes of a man who was downright beautiful. he was practically divine, his deep, tattooed skin glowing under the sun as though it had been crafted purely to highlight his biceps.

his braids were pulled back into a ponytail, and as he smiled at you in thanks, you caught sight of the slightest gap between his bright teeth.

you'd stumbled across the dog of a fucking god.

"hi!" you greeted, hoping that your cheeks didn't look as warm as they felt.

judging by the smug look that your friend was giving you, it seemed that pure hope wasn't enough. luckily, the man was far too preoccupied in attaching a lead to the collar of his dog, enthusiastically stroking him as he gently chastised him for running off.

"thank you again, seriously. i swear this has never happened before," he said with a chuckle, hand scratching at the back of his neck.

"really, there's no need to thank me." you dismissed his praise with a wave of your hand, though your smile was practically splitting your face into two. "anyone would've done the same."

"maybe, but it was you who did, so thank you..." he trailed off as he spoke, a clear prompt for you to give your name.

"y/n, i'm y/n," you responded, cringing as you instinctively provided a small wave with your name.

"y/n," he repeated, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "i'm lewis. 's nice to meet you."

before you could say anything else, the man began digging through the pockets of his trousers, clearly hunting for something.

"i almost forgot. let me repay you, thank you, whatever you want to call it," he mumbled, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth as he hunted for his wallet.

"stop, really, it's okay!" you assured, not needing money for the simple act of being a decent human being. you hadn't exactly done anything heroic. just kept a cute dog company until his even cuter owner arrived to reclaim him.

"fine," the man, lewis, agreed, laughing slightly as he took his hand from his pocket. "at least let me take you out to dinner?"

if you were in a cartoon, you're sure that your jaw would've hit the floor in shock. a soft, subtle nudge from your friend was a sharp reminder that you should actually answer the man instead of simply staring in surprise.

"i'd like that," you responded, biting back the wild grin that threatened to spread across your features.

"great. tonight, maybe?"

"sounds perfect to me."

"i'm looking forward to it," lewis said, the corner of his eyes crinkling playfully. "give me a text. you already have my number."

he shot you a wink and, thankfully, decided it was time for him to depart. though you were sad to see him go so soon, it served as a blessing in disguise. you were allowed to keep your cool, as he didn't get to see the sight of you and your friend freaking out, crazed grins and loud laughs escaping you at the absurdity of the situation.

you'd gotten a date with the most gorgeous man you'd ever seen, and it was all thanks to a dog.

monaco truly was a magical place.

🏷️ : @faerieroyal @starriesworlds

add yourself to the taglist here !

[totowlff]

a monegasque horror story

➝ in the sun-soaked streets of monaco, you cross paths with a mysterious man named toto. drawn to each other by a shared love of classic cars, you quickly form an intimate bond, but beneath toto's charismatic exterior lies a web of secrets. as your relationship deepens, you discovers a chilling truth: toto isn't who he claims to be.

➝ word count: 2,9k

➝ warnings: mentions of death

➝ author’s note: i wrote this one shot for a little competition in the wolff pack server in discord. maybe it's a different tone that you are used to read here, but i hope you enjoy it!

It was a warm summer night in Monaco when you saw him for the first time. He was standing next to your car, looking at it closely. It wasn't unusual for the vehicle to attract attention, especially considering the model, which was only produced for a short period in the 1950s. After a few moments of silent observation, you cleared your throat.

— Is there a problem?

He lifted his head toward you, a shy smile appearing on his lips. In the dim light from a nearby streetlamp, you could swear he was blushing.

— Oh, well, no — the man stammered — Is it yours?

— Yes, it is.

Running a hand through his hair, he seemed a bit flustered, which was funny considering how imposing his presence appeared.

— A 1955 300 SL, right?

— That's right — you said, still feeling a bit tense in your shoulders — Have you seen one before?

— I had one — the man replied — Silver, with an all-red leather interior, a true work of art.

You nodded, agreeing with him. That was definitely your favorite car out of all the ones you'd ever owned, not just for the design, but for its personal meaning.

— I like it too. It was a gift…

— Oh, so it has sentimental value as well — he smiled, causing you to smile back. In your chest, you felt something different, but not uncomfortable. A kind of strange calm.

— Yes, my dad gave it to me when I moved here.

— So, you live around here? Not long, right? I’d remember seeing you, especially with a car like that…

— Yeah, not long. Just last month, actually.

— Ah, that explains it. By the way, what’s your name?

— Y/N — you replied, walking toward the driver's door and opening it — Well, I have to go…

— You can call me Toto — the man said, slipping his hands into the pockets of his jeans — See you around, Y/N.

Your second encounter with the man — Toto, as he’d introduced himself — was at a café on Plage du Larvotto, just over a week later. You had parked out front and were watching the movement on the boardwalk in front of the beach when a familiar voice called your name. Turning, you found him standing there, wearing the same white shirt and the same smile on his lips.

— Good morning, Y/N — Toto said, approaching you — What a coincidence seeing you here…

You shifted slightly in your chair, a small smile on your face.

— Well, it’s one of the most popular cafés in Monaco, isn’t it?

— True, but I thought you preferred quieter places. At least, that was the impression I got from the restaurant you were at that day — he replied, in a good-humored tone — But maybe I got it wrong…

— No, actually, you're right. But the coffee here is good enough to deal with all this movement.

Toto laughed, resting his hands on the back of the chair in front of you.

— It is, I really like this place. I used to come here a lot with my friend Flavio.

You raised an eyebrow.

— You don’t come here anymore?

He hesitated for a fraction of a second before smiling again.

— Not as often. But maybe I'll start coming again — Toto replied — I have a good reason now.

His words made your cheeks warm. You weren’t the shy type, but something about having a man like him focus on you made you feel different.

Special, that was the word.

The casual encounters around town soon turned into an invitation to dinner at a small restaurant in Port de Fontvieille. Of course, the night had its hiccups, like the maître d’ claiming there was no reservation in Toto Wolff’s name, which meant you had to wait almost an hour for a table.

However, nothing made you feel less excited about getting to know the man in front of you. Between sips of wine — which Toto politely declined — and bites of Parma ham bruschettas, he told you more about his life, his passion for cars, and how he almost became a race car driver.

— Clearly, I didn’t have the talent for it, so…

— So, you just stayed a spectator? — you suggested.

— Exactly — he answered, giving you a smile that made your heart skip a beat.

After dinner, you drove him back to Monte Carlo in your car — something that might seem unconventional, but perfectly appropriate considering you had met because of it — feeling a certain anxiety. You had never gone out with anyone since arriving in Monaco, making the whole situation feel brand new to you.

And the exact opposite for Toto.

— Well, here we are — you said, parking in front of Plage du Larvotto, where you’d met him earlier that evening.

— Yeah, we are — he replied, resting a hand dangerously close to your leg, exposed by the edge of your dress. That simple proximity sent a shiver through your skin, anticipation crackling at the back of your neck.

— You sure you don’t want me to drop you at your house?

— No, no need, I don’t want to take you out of your way…

— I don’t mind — you quickly replied — Besides, it means I can spend more time with you, right?

The corner of Toto’s mouth curled into an almost mischievous smile, his fingertips brushing against your thigh.

— How about spending the rest of the night with me, then?

That was the first time you had taken someone to your place after a date. It was also the first time you had slept with someone after a first date. And, even though every code of conduct and feminine etiquette said you shouldn’t, you couldn’t resist the desire to feel his touch against your skin.

The next morning, you woke up in Toto’s arms, feeling the warmth and softness of his skin. His calm breathing and the relaxed expression on his face made you certain there was no better place in the world to be than right there, in that bed, beside him.

— Good morning — he murmured, his voice husky with sleep — Did you sleep well?

— Good morning, yes, I did. And you?

— It was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years — Toto chuckled, pulling you closer — I think I’ll start sleeping here with you every night.

— I wouldn’t mind — you replied, giving him a soft kiss on the lips.

And so it happened. That same week, Toto began sleeping at your place almost every night. Though, of course, his presence wasn’t exactly well received by your neighbors, who seemed to find it strange that a man suddenly appeared by your side. Maybe it was the fact that he was older or made little jokes in your ear that made you laugh loudly, which provoked suspicious whispers and disapproving glances.

— Let them look — Toto would say, kissing your forehead after you spent long minutes venting about how one of the neighbors suggested you see a psychiatrist to “deal with the man you were seeing” — Let them think what they want. What matters is what you think, right?

— Yes — you replied, nodding.

— And what do you think?

— That you’re the man of my life.

A smile of approval appeared on Toto’s lips. However, in the back of your mind, the voice of your neighbor still echoed in your ears. The concern in her eyes was burned into your memory, as if she knew something you didn’t about the man lying next to you.

Staring at the way Toto’s chest gently rose and fell, you felt like you were standing in front of an incomplete puzzle, with pieces that had gone missing. He was a good man, polite, sincere, no doubt about it. But the gaps in the story he had told you were too glaring to ignore.

Where did he live? What did he do for work? Where was his family from? Why didn’t he like having meals with you? How many white monogrammed shirts did he have? Why didn’t he have a phone?

Theories raced through your mind at an absurd speed. Maybe he was hiding from someone or from some organization. Maybe he had done something terrible and needed to keep a low profile. Had he killed someone? No, Toto wasn’t that type of person; he had always been so kind to you…

It was those questions that led you to type his full name into your work computer, your fingers trembling against the keyboard. The page took a few seconds to load images of Toto at luxurious events, accompanied by the last words you expected to read.

“Search for missing businessman called off.”

You clicked on the headline, hesitant. "This is impossible," you thought to yourself, your stomach churning.

In the article, the journalist wrote that, after a month of searching the Mediterranean Sea, the Monaco police had called off the operation, citing the strong coastal currents and the low likelihood of recovering the body.

The following paragraph was dedicated to Toto, referred to only as Christian Wolff, and his life. According to the article, he was a successful Austrian businessman whose investments in technology companies had made him a billionaire. Charismatic, he was a prominent figure in Monegasque society, along with his wife, Susie, and their son, Jack.

The discovery that the man you had been sleeping with for months was married with a young child made you want to vomit. Closing the page, you stood up from your desk and, with your bag over your shoulder, furiously drove back to your apartment, tears streaming down your face.

You wouldn’t be “the other woman.” You refused to be her.

When you opened the door, you found him sitting on the couch, reading a book. Upon seeing you, a wide smile appeared on his face.

— Ah, meine kleine! — Toto said, putting the book down on the cushion — You got back early…

— I left earlier — you managed to say, your voice trembling. You wanted to confront him, but the words wouldn’t come. All you could feel was the sensation of having been deceived all that time, of being just a toy. That realization made more tears run down your face, causing his smile to fade.

— Are you crying? Y/N, what happened?

— You lied to me.

His posture stiffened.

— Lied?

— Of course! — you shouted — You’re married!

— Y/N…

— Worse, you faked your own disappearance so no one would find you — you continued yelling, your sobs becoming deeper — You did it to restart your life with a new identity! You abandoned your family, you piece of shit!

Toto pressed his lips into a thin line.

— You don’t know what you’re talking about, Y/N.

— Don’t I? — you asked, in an ironic tone — How do I not know? I read it, Toto, I saw your pictures with her, with your son! You have a son, a wife, and you’re fucking another woman…

— I had! — he shouted, making you stop, your cheeks completely wet. Your breathing was shaky, as were your hands — I had, Y/N.

— What do you mean? — you stammered, sniffing — What are you talking about?

Toto stared at you for long seconds, as if trying to find the best way to explain it all. In your mind, you believed it was just a lousy excuse, a way for him to buy time to get away with it. "Typical scoundrel behavior", you thought to yourself, clenching your fists.

— Y/N, I had a family — he began, slowly approaching you — I had a wife, Susie, and a son with her, Jack. They were the people I loved most in the world, Y/N. I don’t think I ever loved anyone more than those two.

Your bottom lip trembled, your eyes filling with tears again. How could he say he loved them and betray them like that? How could he be so cynical?

— But they — Toto hesitated, placing his hands on his face. The words wouldn’t leave his mouth, as if they were too difficult to say. After a few seconds, he exhaled deeply — I can’t, Y/N.

— Can’t? What are you talking about?

— I need to show you, Y/N — he replied, his eyes full of sadness — You need to come with me.

An incredulous laugh escaped your lips.

— I’m not going anywhere with you, Toto. You lied to me, deceived me — you replied, anger seeping into your words, along with the tears.

— Please, you’ll understand, let me show you — Toto begged, desperation evident in his tone and the way his hands held your face — You need to hear me, Y/N. Please, meine kleine.

You couldn’t process anything after he called you by the affectionate nickname he had given you. Maybe it was his tone, or simply the desire to end all of this, that made you give a small nod, agreeing to let Toto take you to the place where everything would finally be revealed.

The drive was a blur. The curves of the French Riviera were blurred by your tears, but you held back the urge to sob. Until the car pulled over, the engine silencing, leaving only your breathing in the air. Wiping your eyes, you realized where you were; it was a spot where tourists usually stopped to take poetic pictures of the Mediterranean and the setting sun.

But at that moment, there was no poetry to be found.

Standing before the horizon, you heard Toto’s footsteps on the gravel. When he placed a hand on your arm, your skin tingled.

— Y/N — he murmured, his tone tense.

— Did you bring me here to try and convince me to keep being your mistress? To continue ignoring your family? — you retorted, staring into the void ahead. You knew that if you looked at Toto, you would start crying again. However, he didn’t back down, nor did he reproach you for the harsh tone.

— No, Y/N. I brought you here to tell you everything you need to know about me.

— There’s more I need to know besides what I already know?

— Yes — Toto said seriously — And the first is that Susie and Jack are dead.

You blinked, showing no reaction.

— They died five years ago in a car accident. Susie was driving back from the airport with Jack; they had gone to Scotland to visit her family. She lost control of the car and it flipped — he continued — They died instantly, there was no time to save them.

You stared at him for a long moment, searching for any sign that he might be lying, but all you found was sincerity.

— So, they’re not here?

— No. They’ve been gone for a long time, Y/N.

— Did they die here?

— No — Toto answered seriously — I died here.

Your heart skipped a beat, your eyes widening. Taking a step back, you were sure you had misheard. He couldn’t have said he died; it couldn’t be true. How could he be dead if he was standing right in front of you, breathing and full of pain in his eyes?

— What...

— I couldn’t bear living without them. I couldn’t handle the emptiness they left behind, Y/N. I wanted to see them again, so I took that car — he said, pointing to your car — And I came here.

— You jumped?

Toto nodded, stepping closer to you. The coastal wind tousled his hair, while the sun made his brown eyes gleam. How could he be dead when he was standing there, so alive and real in front of you?

— But you survived — you stammered.

— No. My body is trapped in a tangle of seaweed inside a cave down there. No one ever found me, despite the searches.

Your mind couldn’t process it; it felt completely surreal.

— But you’re here, standing right in front of me…

— Because I’m trapped, Y/N. Since no one found me, I’m stuck in this world, unable to move on, unable to reunite with my family.

— Toto — you murmured, tears streaming down your cheeks.

— You were the first person to see me since that day, Y/N — he said, caressing your face — I didn’t realize how much I needed to be seen until that day. You made me feel joy, hope…

— But you’re not here, Toto. You’re not, you’re not — you kept repeating, through sobs — I’m crazy, those people were right, I’m crazy.

— You’re not crazy, Y/N.

You stepped back, sniffling.

— How am I not, Toto? You don’t exist, you’re not here, I shouldn’t be able to see you!

— But you do, you hear me, you make me feel alive again — he said — You’re my salvation.

— I can’t…

Once again, he approached you, placing his hands on your face. They were strangely warm and comforting, despite belonging to a dead man. That word sent a shiver down your spine. Dead, he was a dead man. He had never been there, despite you seeing him.

— You can, meine kleine, I know you can. Trust me.

Feeling your heart pounding heavily in your chest, you simply nodded. You could, you were the one who could save him. You were the one who would save him.

Only you.

SEARCH FOR YOUNG WOMAN SOLVES ANOTHER COLD CASE

Monaco police announced today that the body found during the search for Y/N Y/L/N is that of Christian Wolff, an Austrian businessman and billionaire who lived in the principality. Wolff, who had been missing for about four years, was located in a rocky formation near Cap-d'Ail. Authorities stated that the discovery was an unexpected development in the search for Y/L/N, who remains missing.

The billionaire, known for his ventures in the financial sector, had mysteriously disappeared, sparking speculation about his whereabouts. The police have reopened the case and are now investigating the circumstances of his death; at the time, criminal involvement was ruled out as his car, a 1955 300 SL, was found near the location where he was last seen.

Authorities also confirmed that the search for Y/N Y/L/N continues, with the hope of finding her alive.

[pickingupmymercedes]

Late-Night Walk: • “You’re stumbling. We should head back.” • “I don’t mind. Being with you is worth it.”

for a blurb?

This was the cutest thing to write, hope you like it bestie!!

“You’re stumbling. We should head back.” and “I don’t mind. Being with you is worth it.”

The cool Mediterranean breeze whipped Y/N's hair as the moon cast a silvery sheen across the calm waters. Monaco, usually a hive of activity, was cloaked in its usual midweek almost-midnight stillness.

Y/N and Lewis strolled hand-in-hand along the Larvotto promenade, just by his apartment, the cool night air carrying the faint scent of salt.

"Did you get a chance to see that new art exhibit at the Grimaldi Forum?" Lewis asked, his voice a low murmur against the gentle lapping of the waves.

Y/N shook her head, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Nope. Someone dragged me to that three-course gourmet lunch that took forever? My stomach was a happy camper, but my art gallery visit was a casualty."

Lewis chuckled. "That risotto was life-changing! Can’t promise shorter meals next time though, I quite enjoyed having you only to myself for almost three hours."

"I’m all yours for the next week, Lew." Y/N mused, her eyes flitting from him to across the water where a lone sailboat glided silently under the pale moonlight.

"No amount of time is ever enough. But I’ll take these next few days as a peace offering from your boss" Lewis chuckled, squeezing her hand.

They continued their walk, their conversation weaving between shared memories of their past getaways and lighthearted plans for the next few days Y/N would be in Monaco. Lewis, free for the week, was relishing this stolen time with her, one of few they managed to schedule down time, together.

Stopping at a lookout she leaned into his embrace, his arms holding her close to his chest. Y/N yawned as the sea lulled her, a long, extended yawn that brought a smile to Lewis's face. "Tired, love?" he asked, his voice laced with warmth.

"A bit" she admitted, blinking her sleep-heavy eyes. "But I don't mind. Being with you is worth it."

His cheshire smile gave away his love. The love of how her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled, and how her voice softened when she was truly at ease.

They started walking in a comfortable silence, the only sounds the gentle lapping of the waves and their contented breaths. His hand never once leaving hers.

As they turned a bend Y/N stretched dramatically, almost stealing a chuckle from Lewis as her eyes momentarily fluttered shut. But in that split second, her foot caught on a loose cobblestone, and she stumbled.

Thanks for Lewis's reflexes, he reacted, catching her arm before she could fall, his eyes opening up in worry.

"Whoa there" he said, his voice a low rumble as he steadied her. "See? You're stumbling. We should head back."

Y/N chuckled, leaning into him, a hint of drowsiness to her speech. "Thanks for the save, hero."

He wrapped his arm around her waist, making sure he had both of his hands on her, their bodies radiating warmth against the cool night air. "Always" he replied, leaning down and brushing a quick kiss against her forehead.

______________________________________________________________

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[formulauno98]

A Birthday to Remember - Part One - Toto Wolff x Reader

Originally written as an OC, inspired by an amazing request from @latte-luxe, I have rewritten this to a Reader POV, no descriptions and no use of your name. The only brief description is of a butt (you can probably guess why).

Word Count: 4k

Warnings: Caution may contain spice. 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Author’s Notes: Disclaimer, purely fiction, no-one is married in this alt-universe.

THE MORNING

It was Saturday morning and stepping out onto your balcony at the Fairmont Monte Carlo, you swept your eyes over the spectacular view. It was a pinch yourself to check if you’re dreaming kind of view of sparkling blue waters, peppered every so often with a gleaming white yacht.

“Good morning, birthday girl.” murmured a husky, heavily accented voice from behind you. Before you even had the chance to turn around, a pair of muscular arms swooped around from behind, coming to rest on your hips, large hands gently squeezing your curves.

“Good morning to you too,” you said, turning around and leaning up to kiss your tall towel-clad Austrian companion, resting your hand on his bare chest as he pressed himself tightly against you. It was yet another pinch me I’m dreaming moment. If someone had told you this time yesterday that this was how you would be spending your Saturday morning you would have laughed and called them crazy, but sometimes life could be crazy.

THE NIGHT BEFORE

It was a sunny evening and you were standing out on the balcony with a glass of wine in your hand, gazing across the Mediterranean whilst waiting for your three best friends to get ready. As a lifelong Formula One lover, a weekend trip to Monaco had been on the cards for a while so when your friends asked where you wanted to go to celebrate your special birthday it was at the top of the list. Turning the dream into reality was another thing altogether and you still couldn’t believe that the trip had materialised. A trip had finally made it out of the group chat.

Dinner was due to be lowkey as Saturday was going to be the big night out, with dinner plans at Elsa, a Michelin-star establishment, followed by a night on the tiles at Jimmyz, a club frequented by the world of Formula One. Although you couldn’t afford to come for a race weekend, this was truly a bucket list trip and you hoped to catch a glimpse of some nice cars, the iconic track and if you were lucky maybe even a driver or two… A wild Charles Leclerc sighting in Monaco was like spotting Mickey Mouse in Disneyland.

Friday night’s restaurant of choice was Song Qi, an upscale Chinese restaurant in Larvotto that had come highly recommended. You were looking forward to seeing what made Monaco so special and couldn’t wait to hit the town.

“How long is the walk?” A voice called out from your suite.

“About five/ten minutes.” You replied, sighing, as always the mom of the group.

“Medium heels it is then,” your friend Olivia replied.

“We can always get a car,” you suggested.

“No, let’s conserve the taxi budget for tomorrow night,” Olivia said, stepping out onto the balcony to join you, “Laura and Becca are almost ready.”

“Good idea,” you replied, “You look gorgeous by the way.”

Olivia beamed with the compliment, stepping back to twirl in her pink minidress and sparkling sandals, “I try my best, although I can’t compete with you.”

You blushed, not used to the compliments. You’d chosen a simple white dress with gold sandals for the evening’s dinner, perhaps a risky move in a restaurant serving noodles but you felt fabulous. It wasn’t long before Laura and Becca also emerged, both looking as beautiful as ever. The four of you had treated yourselves to two adjoining suites and opened up the connecting door to create a mega-suite.

“Oh la la, give us a twirl,” you said, looking your elegant friend up and down as she dutifully spun around.

“Beautiful!” Now it was Laura and Becca’s turn to blush. “Ditto! Shall we get going?”

“Sounds like a plan.” you agreed, the four of you making your way off of the balcony.

——

Song Qi turned out to be an excellent choice, with the table weighed down with baskets of dim sum and bowls of noodles, crispy beef and endless wontons. The restaurant was decadent but comfortable and as you sank back into your sumptuous green velvet chair you spotted a strangely familiar face at the table across from you. He was dark-haired, handsome with chiselled features and although he was sat down, tall, as he towered above the two men he was dining with.

It took you a moment to realise that it was none other than Toto Wolff, the affable Mercedes Formula One team principal. Although you thought it was only for a moment, you must have stared for a while as he briefly met your eyes and shot you a charming smile. Smiling back like a fool, your friends whipped their heads around to see who you were smiling at, fortunately, Toto not noticing as he had returned to his plate.

“Damn girl, he’s kinda hot, in that old businessman kind of way,” said Olivia, turning back around to face you.

“Well yes��” you stuttered, “He’s also one of the team principals in Formula One.”

“Huh?” Asked your three friends blankly, not followers of the sport.

“Kind of like the equivalent of a football manager,” you explained, “Except he owns some of the team as well.”

“Fancy, well he’s pretty. You should go and talk to him.” Said Laura, all formula one facts going straight over her head.

“Oh my god, no,” you said, “I’m sure he was just being polite.”

As if on cue, Toto looked up and locked eyes with you once again, his deep brown eyes crinkling. You gulped, returning his gaze with a smile once again.

Dinner continued, with the girls chatting away as every so often you met Toto’s eyes across the crowded restaurant. He looked to be in some kind of business meeting as the two men with him were dressed smartly and looked serious while conversing with them.

It wasn’t long before dinner had been cleared and a smiling waiter emerged with a chocolate cake laden down with a sparkler and numerous candles, Olivia, Becca and Laura looking at each other mischievously before breaking into a rousing rendition of the Happy Birthday song. You felt your cheeks reddening as you realised the entire restaurant, including Toto and his business associates had joined in the song. As you blew out the candles, you once again locked eyes with Toto who was grinning away while applauding.

“You guys are the worst,” you said, half joking as you shook your head at your friends. “But that’s why I love you.”

“Aw, well we had to do something,” said Laura, “It’s not every day you have a big birthday like this and although I still don’t understand why you love your car racing so much, I’m happy that we came here.”

You smiled at your friends, appreciative of them enabling your desire to walk around the Formula One track and visit the car museum despite the fact they really weren’t interested. Just as you were musing how ironic it was that you’d even seen Toto Wolff, their waiter reappeared with a tray of drinks.

“Oh, I don’t think we ordered those,” said Olivia politely.

“Yes Madame, in fact, the gentlemen over there sent them alongside their birthday wishes.” The waiter replied.

You were floored, Toto Wolff had sent you birthday wishes. An interesting turn of events.

“Well, then that’s very nice of them,” said Olivia, as the waiter set them down, nudging you before adding, “You should go and say thank you!”

“Oh my God, yes, go!” Said Becca, egging Olivia on.

Sighing, but also buoyed by your friends’ enthusiasm, you relented, “I’m going to go but only to say thank you.”

Your three friends squealing with excitement, you took an extra sip of your drink for courage before standing up and sauntering over to where Toto and his associates sat. His interest piqued immediately as he noticed you making your way across the restaurant.

“Good evening, sorry to interrupt but I just wanted to say thank you for the drinks, it was very kind of you,” you said, a little too quickly due to nerves.

“Well, it’s not every day you celebrate a milestone like that.” Replied Toto kindly, standing up to hold out his hand to shake yours, “I’m Toto by the way, and this is Jean and Sebastian,” he gestured at the older gentlemen he was dining with.

Struck by the almost comical height difference you introduced yourself and looked up at the tall Austrian in front of you as he gripped your hand very tightly, “Nice to meet you all.”

The other gentlemen smiled politely, wishing you a happy birthday before picking their conversation back up. Toto, however, remained stood up, his eyes raking your curves. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. It’s nice to meet you too.”

Now you really were blushing, “You’re far too kind.”

“Not at all,” he said, “I hope you do not think this forward but would you like to join me for dinner one evening?”

Once again, your eyes widened, how was this man asking you out? Pulling yourself together, you knew you had to politely decline, you were here with your friends after all, “I would love to but unfortunately I’m only here until Sunday so I’m not sure if I’ll have time.”

Toto looked disappointed but pressed further, “Well then, how about a drink later this evening?”

Trying your best to stay calm, you tried to play it cool, “I’m not sure, it’s a girl's trip and I don’t want to ditch my friends, I really would love to though. Maybe can I get your number and text you once I’ve figured out their plans?”

“Understood,” replied Toto, looking down, gazing into your eyes with an unreadable expression, “It would be my pleasure, give me your phone.”

With that, you handed your phone to the tall Austrian in front of you who deftly punched in his contact. “Thank you, I’ll check in with the girls and let you know. I’ll leave you to your dinner for now but I hope to see you later,” you said with a smile.

Toto turned to glance at his dining companions who were still deep in conversation, and dropped closer down to your ear, keeping his voice low, sending a shiver down your spine, “It’s okay, I don’t think they missed me. I hope to see you later too.”

Looking up at Toto with a smile, you replied “I’m sure they did. See you, Toto.” As you turned back towards your table you glanced back over your shoulder and saw Toto’s eyes were locked on you as he returned to his seat. He was undeniably hot and as much as you always abided by the golden rule, chicks before dicks, this was special circumstances.

Sitting back down with your friends, they immediately leaned in to get the lowdown.

“What did he say? He didn’t take his eyes off of you!” said Laura excitedly.

“He just wished me a happy birthday… and asked me out,” you said blushing.

“No way!” exclaimed your three friends in unison.

“You’re going to go right?” said Olivia, looking at you in concern.

“I’m not sure, I don’t want to ditch you all for a man but equally he’s hot as fuck and it would only be for an hour or so.”

“An hour or so?” said Becca, raising her eyebrows, “I doubt this, but you should go, make it a memorable birthday!”

You looked over once again at where Toto sat, he was a striking man, pushing all of his success to one side. “What the hell, I’ll message him now. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Your friends squealed with excitement in unison.

You grabbed her phone and nervously began typing your message to Toto.

It’s all good for tonight, we’re almost done eating so I’m free whenever you are.

You could see Toto excuse himself and take out his phone, shooting a grin from across the restaurant before looking down to type a response.

Sure enough, your phone buzzed.

Perfect, so are we. Shall I meet you outside in ten minutes?

You replied excitedly, still not believing you were texting Toto Wolff of all people. 

Sounds like a plan.

——

You were nervous but excited as you saw Toto and his associates pay their bill and head off, Toto shooting you a wink as he jostled his way out of the restaurant.

Settling their own bill, your group were close behind and as you exited the restaurant, sure enough, you saw Toto standing outside waiting, leaning casually up against a column.

Bidding your friends goodbye, you made your way towards your date for the evening. “Hi,” you said somewhat awkwardly, knowing that your friends were likely watching from where they were ordering a taxi to return them to the hotel.

“Hi,” he said, glancing down fondly, “How was your dinner?”

“So good!” you said, “How was yours?”

“It was okay, my dining companions weren’t as lovely as you but I think my evening is improving,” he said with a rakish grin.

You smiled, “You’re a charmer, Toto. Where were you thinking of heading?”

“I know a place a few streets behind, it’s not so fancy but they have an excellent selection of wine if you like it?”

Knowing that you were already a little tipsy, you were grateful that he’d suggested wine, “Sounds good to me, lead the way, Mr Wolff!”

Toto whipped his head around, “I never told you my surname.”

Feeling you’d made a huge error of judgement, you stuttered, Toto’s dark eyes intimidating you before you decided the best course of action was to fess up, “Well it took me a moment but I recognised you. Guilty as charged.”

Musing quietly, Toto’s expression softened, “So you know a little about me, tell me about yourself.”

As you made your way around the twisting streets towards the bar, you filled Toto in on your background, your blossoming career and your plans for the big birthday weekend. He was an engaged listener, asking you questions and interjecting with his own anecdotes. Certainly surprising for a man of his stature.

Soon enough you arrived at your destination, Toto taking the lead and speaking with the Maitre D’ who promptly led you to a secluded table towards the back of the bar.

Settling down on the chair opposite Toto, you were suddenly much more nervous. 

“You look nervous,” Toto said, his eyes softening.

“Well, this is not how I thought my evening was going to pan out. The ruse is up in that I recognised you so I may as well tell you that we came to Monaco because I love Formula One.” you blushed furiously as your words tangled into one.

“Relax, so you know about Formula One?” he said, reaching across the table, taking your hand in his and tracing small circles with his thumb on the back of your hand.

“Well, probably not as much as you.” you laughed, breaking the tension and gazing into his eyes.

“You’d be surprised,” said Toto shrugging with a smirk. “I just got lucky.”

——

As the evening went on, you discussed everything under the sun, the wine helping you feel less awkward and forget who you were talking to. Toto was funnier than you expected and you spent half the evening giggling at his stupid remarks. He’d regaled you with stories of his travel adventures, driving mishaps and various other anecdotes, whilst you’d filled him in with tales of your own travels and some embarrassing childhood moments. You’d even bonded over your love of all things with an engine. Time had flown by and you didn’t want the evening to end.

“Ahem.” Your conversation was suddenly interrupted by a waiter, “Monsieur, Madame, I am sorry to say that we are closing in ten minutes. Can I take one last order?”

Knowing that you were well beyond tipsy, you shook your head, looking at Toto to check if he was in agreement. Looking somewhat bleary-eyed himself he shook his head as well, “Just the bill please.”

Soon enough the cheque had been settled and you found yourself once again wandering the moonlit streets of Monaco with Toto, this time your hand firmly encased in his.

“Where do you need to go?” Toto asked kindly, “I can drop you back.”

“I’m staying at the Fairmont,” you replied.

“It’s not so far, are you happy to walk?” he asked, squeezing your hand.

“Sure, it’s just up there,” you replied gesturing at the bend in the road where the hotel was perched, “As long as you can get home okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” said Toto, a dark look in his eye. “Remind me, when do you leave again?”

“Sunday afternoon,” you said sadly, wishing you were staying for longer.

“Well, you’ll have to come back next year for the Grand Prix,” he said, a twinkle in his eye.

“Maybe if I rob a bank!” you said with a chuckle, “One day.”

“I don’t like to boast, but I might know someone who can get you in without having to resort to organised crime,” he said, laughing with a deep rumble.

“Oh really?” you said, turning to face Toto in the inky moonlight, “Is he nice?”

“Very,” said Toto, dropping your hand and placing his hands on either side of your waist, swaying slightly in his merry state.

Laughing, you stretched up to look Toto in the eye, “I’ll have to meet this guy, he sounds great.”

At that your lips met, Toto bending down to plant a soft kiss on your lips, the height difference making it slightly a challenge but one that neither of you seemed bothered by. As the kiss deepened, Toto began to run his hands down towards your perfectly rounded ass, squeezing gently as he found your curves.

Breaking apart for air, you glanced around, luckily there was no one in the empty street but you didn’t want to risk being caught making out in the street with a famous face and it being splashed across the tacky tabloids.

“Do you fancy a nightcap at mine?” you asked, looking up at Toto through your fluffy long lashes. As a rule, you never normally brought men back on a girls' trip but you decided tonight was a special circumstance. 

Toto’s eyes lit up, “Well, I have heard the view is nice.”

You laughed, grabbing Toto’s hand once again and leading him towards the corner entrance to your hotel. As you crossed the lobby you had a sudden panic that Olivia was in your room, and as you made it into the elevator, sent a frantic text knowing your friends would still be awake, waiting for the post-date debrief.

Red alert, I’m bringing him back, please can you vacate?

Sure enough, the replies came back instantaneously.

Oh la la of course birthday girl! 

Get it girl! 

Knew it!!!!!

Smiling as Toto rested his hand on the small of your back in the elevator, you looked up at him before he once again swooped down to catch your lips with his.

The elevator dinged before things could get too heated but it didn’t stop Toto wrapping his arm tightly around your waist as the pair of you stumbled towards your room.

“Here we are,” you said, scrambling to find your keycard in your bag before popping open the door to unveil your impressive suite. Thankfully your friends must have tidied as the detritus from getting ready for the evening was nowhere to be seen.

“Nice,” said Toto before bending down once again to continue kissing you, turning you around to face him as you closed the door. Pressing you against the wall with his leg, he continued to deepen the kiss, his hands starting to explore more of your body.

“As soon as I saw you I knew I had to have you,” he said, his lips resting against your ear, his deep Austrian accent rumbling.

You gulped, you never would have thought it but his voice roused something deep within. Your lips stretching up and finding the crevice of his neck, you replied in a low voice, “Then have me.���

Toto needed no invitation, scooping you up into his arms, he carried you over to the bed, throwing you down before leaning over and continuing to kiss you, his strong arms either side, pinning you down.

Emboldened by his eagerness, you wrapped your legs around his thick torso, pushing yourself against him, not surprised to find a growing bulge. As he ground his hips into yours, he started to explore your curves with his large hands, ghosting your breasts and waist and reaching around to caress your ass once again.

Reaching up, you started to unbutton Toto’s shirt, exposing a surprisingly muscular frame. Impatient, he leaned up and divested himself of the shirt as well as the rest of his clothes, leaving him in nothing but boxers. You couldn’t help but smile at the view that greeted you as he once again lunged down to kiss you, this time, his hands making quick work of pulling your dress off, leaving you exposed in nothing but lingerie and heels.

“You are ridiculous,” he said, his eyes hungry with desire, gazing into your eyes and gently kissing your neck.

“I could say the same about you,” you replied breathily, your back arching in pleasure as Toto kissed his way along your neck and across your collarbone.

Melting into each other’s arms, you began to grind back against his now prominent hardness, feeling yourself getting more turned on by the second.

“Toto?” you asked, gasping for air, “Will you fuck me?”

Toto’s eyes lit up, “I thought you’d never ask.”

Smiling at each other, Toto reached down to unhook your bra, releasing your pert breasts, “Fuck,” he said, lifting his head to marvel at them, “Even better than I imagined.”

You blushed at his words, not used to such attention. Growing impatient you ghosted your hands down Toto’s abs, hooking your fingers into the waistband of his boxers.

“You’re an impatient little thing aren’t you?” he said, leaning back suddenly and hooking his arms underneath your legs, gripping your thighs and bringing you closer. “I want to taste you first.”

Gulping you leant back, allowing Toto to bring his mouth to where you needed it most. As his tongue lapped gently, he brought his hand along and began to stroke your clit, slowly but sensually.

It wasn’t long before you were writhing in pleasure, tugging Toto’s dark locks as he pumped a finger in and out, continuing to expertly lick.

“Toto, I want you in me,” you said, seeing stars as you were so close.

Pausing his ministrations, Toto was more than happy to oblige, kissing his way back up your torso as he replied, “I want to do everything with you.”

At that, you melted, the evening had turned into one that was beyond your wildest dreams. As Toto swiftly undressed you both, you gazed into his intense chocolate eyes as he slipped on a condom and began to line himself up, unsurprisingly intimidatingly big.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle,” he said, pressing a kiss to your forehead as he pushed in, slowly but surely. Gasping, you shifted to adjust to his size. True to his word, he took it easy and entered tantalisingly slowly, an inch at a time.

“Fuck, Toto.” you said breathily, “You’re so big.”

Smiling, he pulled back out before pushing in once more, “Tell me if it’s too much.”

“Not at all, it feels good,” you said, feeling pleasantly stretched in places you’d never felt before.

“Good,” he said with a grin as he began to thrust in and out lazily, continuing to kiss you.

It wasn’t long before you were a tangled mess of arms and legs, both nearing completion. “Fuck, Toto, I am so close,” you said, your eyes rolling back in pleasure.

“Close isn’t good enough,” said Toto, smirking as he reached down and found your clit once again, his thumb circling gently as he continued to push in and out, speeding up.

“That feels so go…” you couldn’t even finish your sentence as Toto hit the sweet spot with expert precision. 

“Fu…” was all Toto managed as he thrust in and out a few more times, chasing his own high before collapsing on top of you, his body heavy.

“Ooff,” you said, crushed by the weight of the muscular man on top of you.

“Sorry,” he said sheepishly, flashing a shy grin as he rolled off to lie beside you.

“Well… that was not how I expected my birthday to turn out,” you said, feeling like you were in a dream.

Toto laughed, stretching a strong arm across your stomach to pull you in for a cuddle. “There’s still a few hours of your birthday left.”

Your eyes widened once more. This was certainly a birthday to remember.

[emjayewrites]

All For Us - Pt. 3 (Lewis Hamilton SMAU)

SUMMARY: Lewis Hamilton secretly dates an older woman with a daughter and the public slowly starts connecting the dots. [smau w/narrative]

PAIRINGS: Sir Lewis Hamilton x influencer!OC Bree King (faceclaim is Sasha Exeter)

WARNINGS: verbal/emotional abuse from an ex, drama, age gap romance (Bree is 2 years older than Lewis), difficulty conceiving/geriatric pregnancy/IVF, formula one b.s., pre-established relationship, step-daddy Lewis. PLEASE READ THE WARNINGS!!

READ THE PREVIOUS PART: here.....epilogue coming soon

TAGLIST: @cocobutterqwueen @httpsserene @galatially @pausmoon @a-moment-captured @yeea-nah @melodichaeuxx-lacritquexx @weetjy @lewisroscoelove @hxneyclouds @questionable-behaviour @lovebittenbyevans @alika-4466 @saintslewis @cherry2stems @woderfulkawaii @d3kstar @scorpiobleue @certifiedlesbianbaddie @blveeeeeee @sugardontbesweet @omgsuperstarg @bluesole16 @serpenttines-library @peyiswriting @jasmindaughteroftheworld @motheroffae @hrlzy @xoscar03 @xsweetdellzx

A/N: Read the warnings!! Please let me know if you want to be added/removed from the taglist. The headers/dividers are by @inklore

Bree sat in the bathroom of Lewis' penthouse in Monaco, staring at yet another negative pregnancy test. Even though they weren't actively trying to conceive, she had officially been off birth control for almost six weeks. Despite assurances that everything seemed fine with her ovaries, the lack of results was disheartening. Bree was approaching her 41st birthday, and she knew that conceiving at her age would be challenging, with options like IVF potentially necessary.

A knock on the bathroom door made her jump.

"Bree? You in there, baby?" Lewis's concerned voice came through the door.

She quickly flushed the toilet and washed her hands before hiding the pregnancy test, wrapped in a washcloth, in a cabinet below. "Y-Yeah, I'm here," she managed to reply, her voice thankfully steady.

The door opened and Lewis poked his head in, eyeing her carefully. "You've been in here a while. Have you been crying, baby?" he asked worriedly.

Bree forced a smile onto her face as she turned to him, wiping away stray tears. "No, no, allergies," she lied effortlessly.

Lewis stared at her for a couple of beats, then nodded. "The car's here."

The ride to the house they were viewing was silent, with Lewis drawing small circles on Bree's hand as he scrolled through his phone with the other. They were in the process of looking at homes in Monaco to move into after their marriage. Bree's wants were rather simple: a large kitchen, proximity to a park and good schools, and space nearby for Sloane's pony, Buttercup. However, Lewis had a long list of requirements that seemed unattainable in the small principality.

They arrived at the house, where a realtor decked out in Chanel greeted them. It was a luxurious 21 million dollar, 5-bedroom, 6-bathroom penthouse in the district of Larvotto. As they walked through the home, Bree found herself liking it, while Lewis had a bit of doubt, especially regarding some of the design choices.

The realtor showed them the spacious living room, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of the Mediterranean. The kitchen was a chef's dream, with top-of-the-line appliances and ample counter space. The bedrooms were sumptuous, each with an en-suite bathroom and walk-in closets.

Bree could envision herself cooking in the kitchen, entertaining guests in the living room, and watching Sloane ride Buttercup in the nearby horse stable. However, Lewis seemed less enthused. He frowned at the marble floors in the foyer, commenting that they would be slippery and hazardous. The artwork adorning the walls didn't match his taste, and he found the color scheme in the master bedroom too muted.

As they wrapped up the tour, the realtor looked at Lewis and Bree expectantly. "Well, what did you think? Isn't it just gorgeous?"

Bree opened her mouth to respond, but Lewis beat her to it. "It's certainly…impressive," he said slowly, glancing at Bree. "But I'm not sure it's quite what we're looking for."

Bree frowned slightly. "I thought it was lovely, Lewis. The kitchen was amazing, and the views were incredible."

Lewis shook his head. "The layout didn't flow right for me. And did you see those tiny closets in the guest bedrooms? Completely impractical."

The realtor jumped in, trying to salvage the potential sale. "But Mr. Hamilton, those were simply the secondary closets. Each bedroom has an enormously spacious walk-in closet as well."

"Even so," Lewis said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I think need more than that."

Bree couldn't help but roll her eyes a little. "Lewis, I'm sure we could make it work. The important things are there - the kitchen, the location near parks, stables, and schools."

Lewis turned to her, his expression serious. "Sweetheart, this is our forever home we're talking about. Our family's sanctuary. It has to be perfect." He took her hands in his. "Money isn't an object here. I want you and Sloane to have everything you could possibly want or need."

Bree's features softened at his words. "I know, baby, but…perfection is awfully hard to attain." She managed a small smile. "However, I do appreciate you trying to give us the world."

Lewis pulled her in for a warm embrace. "For you and our little girl? I'd hang the moon if I could." He kissed her forehead tenderly.

Clearing her throat, the realtor chimed in again. "If this particular property wasn't quite right, I do have some other listings that might be a better fit…"

Lewis looked over at her. "Yeah, yeah send them over. Though I have a feeling we may need to explore expanding our search beyond Monaco." He gazed at Bree. "No sacrifice is too great."

New York City was abuzz with excitement as Lewis, Bree, and Sloane strolled down 5th Avenue near the iconic Empire State Building. A large crowd had gathered, eagerly awaiting Lewis's arrival to show off his driving skills by taking his Mercedes F1 car for a spin up the iconic street. The unveiling of the new WhatsApp and Mercedes partnership, complete with a new F1 car emoji, had taken place the previous evening. But today promised even more excitement.

"Lewis, can we get pizza after this?" Sloane piped up, skipping alongside Lewis and Bree. "I want the one with pineapple and Canadian bacon!"

Lewis shot Bree an exaggerated look of disgust. "Ew, Princess, I don't think that's the type of pizza you should happily tell people." He feigned worry, causing Sloane to swat at him playfully, throwing a flurry of fake punches.

Bree tried to step in, almost slipping into mom mode to calm her daughter's silliness, but as always, Lewis handled it gracefully. He scooped up the nine-year-old, slinging her over his shoulder as they approached the sleek Mercedes F1 car sitting idly nearby.

"Lewis, put me down!" Sloane squealed amid peals of laughter that drew smiles from the crowd.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Hamilton crew!" a familiar voice called out.

Gayle King approached, her warm smile brightening as she took in the happy scene. "Don't you all make a beautiful family?"

"Gayle!" Bree greeted with a hug. "So good to meet you."

"Likewise, my dear." Gayle's gaze landed on Sloane, still dangling upside-down. "And hello there, Miss Sloane. You know, with a name like King, we might just be cousins!"

Sloane's eyes widened comically. "No way, really?!"

The group shared a laugh before Gayle turned her attention to Lewis. "I hear you're bringing this lovely family of yours to the Miami Grand Prix later this week?"

Lewis grinned, finally setting Sloane back on her feet and wrapping an arm around Bree. "You know it. Got to celebrate my favourite lady's birthday in style." He pressed a loving kiss to Bree's temple as her cheeks warmed faintly.

"Well, you let me know if you need any Miami recommendations," Gayle winked conspiratorially. "A lady's gotta properly celebrate, am I right?"

As the crowd began to swell in anticipation, Gayle gave Lewis an inquisitive look. "Speaking of celebrations…the Met Gala is right around the corner too, yeah? Can we expect to see you two making your grand debut on the iconic steps?"

Lewis replied with a vague chuckle. "You know how I keep things tightly under wraps, Gayle, but you'll just have to wait to find out."

With a wink, he gestured for them to find their places as event staff began ushering him toward the idling race car. The roar of the powerful engine echoed through the streets as Lewis put on a show, leaving the crowd ecstatic over his impressive driving stunts.

After bringing the beast of a car to a smooth stop, Lewis hopped out, waved to the fans then made his way back over to Gayle for his scheduled interview segment.

"Well, that was certainly a show-stopping performance!" Gayle grinned at Lewis as he joined her. "Though I have to say, I'm a little surprised you didn't bring your lovely wife-to-be out for a joyride too."

Lewis let out a warm chuckle, shaking his head. "Are you kidding? And risk messing up that gorgeous hair of hers before the big day? No chance!"

They shared an amicable laugh as Lewis took a seat across from Gayle. Bree and Sloane watched on proudly from the sidelines.

"So let's dive right in - this incredible new partnership with WhatsApp. How are you utilizing their platform in your day-to-day life?" Gayle asked.

"It's been a gamechanger, honestly," Lewis replied easily. "Just trying to stay connected with friends and family; WhatsApp makes it all flow so seamlessly. The voice notes, video calling, it's brilliant."

Gayle nodded conspiratorially. "I can only imagine how invaluable that's been with wedding planning too. Sending photos back and forth, keeping the bride and stepdaughter-to-be in the loop…"

Lewis's smile widened at the mention of his upcoming role as stepfather to Sloane. "You know it. I actually FaceTimed Bree on WhatsApp just yesterday to go over the finishing touches for the floral arrangements."

"Speaking of family…" Gayle's warmth was evident as she redirected the discussion. "There've been whispers that after this fairytale wedding, an exciting new legacy-cementing phase of your life is on the horizon. Perhaps an autobiography to inspire the next generation? Or even theatrical re-enactments of your most legendary races?"

Lewis laughed heartily at the speculation. "You know I can never reveal my cards too early, Gayle. We'll just have to wait and see what unfolds." His gaze drifted meaningfully over to Bree and Sloane. "But I can say with certainty that whatever comes next, my newly-minted family will be right there alongside me every step of the way. That's what grounds me and inspires me to chase bigger and bigger dreams."

The profound adoration in Lewis's expression made it evident how much his home life meant to him beyond fame or accolades. Clearly this side of his world - the personal family man - outshone any trophy or championship.

"Well, I have to ask about those bigger dreams then," Gayle transitioned seamlessly. "We know your creative pursuits extend far beyond racing - from musical ambitions to fashion investments to philanthropic endeavors. What excites you most about that creative realm these days?"

A pensive look crossed Lewis's face as he considered his response. "You're right, I've been so fortunate to explore so many artistic outlets. And they each allow me to use my platform to uplift voices that need to be heard." He continued, sincerity ringing in every word. "But I think what truly sets my soul on fire most is getting back to my roots - uplifting and empowering kids from underserved communities through increased educational opportunities. Removing those systemic barriers to success…that's the ultimate dream."

Gayle gave an admiring nod. "It's that drive to create positive change that made you such an inspirational force in the first place. No wonder the world can't get enough of you, Lewis."

As their interview segment wrapped up, Gayle made one final request. "Before I let you go, when can we expect to see you tearing up the streets of New York again? Maybe next time with a bonafide grand prix!"

Lewis threw his head back with a rich laugh. "You know I'm always game to put on a show for my fans. But I'll let you in on a little secret…" He winked roguishly. "I'm working on making that Grand Prix dream a reality soon enough. You'll just have to stay tuned."

The vibrant North Miami streets were alive with the sounds of laughter, music, and clinking glasses as Lewis's Almavé pop-up tasting event was in full swing. Under the warm sun, guests sampled the brand's premium, non-alcoholic offerings while mingling around lush, tropical decor.

Bree sipped an Almavé margarita mocktail, feeling light and carefree as she watched Lewis in his element, that megawatt smile never leaving his face as he worked the room like the natural-born charmer he was.

As she watched him greet adoring fans, Bree was approached by a woman she didn't recognize. The stranger's expression was polite enough, but there was an unmistakable hardness in her eyes.

"Excuse me," the woman said in a saccharine tone that immediately set Bree on edge. "But aren't you the woman not allowing her child to visit her father?" Before she could even formulate a response, the insult continued. "Just using Lewis for his money like some gold-digger ho', huh? I don't see why he's with you."

The accusatory words felt like a slap across Bree's face. She was utterly speechless, mouth working soundlessly as a torrent of shock, anger, and distress washed over her. "Listen here, bit—"

Seemingly from nowhere, Lewis's bodyguard appeared, placing himself firmly between Bree and the rude "fan." With a few low, authoritative words, he swiftly yet discreetly ushered the woman away from the event.

"Are you alright, Mrs. Hamilton?" another bodyguard quickly checked in, and the new honorific title made Bree's head spin dizzily. "Do you want me to get Lewis?"

She managed a weak nod as she calmed her emotions. "I'm fine, thank you. Just some crazy ass fan."

"Yeah, they get like that sometimes," the bodyguard said with a nervous chuckle. "They don't call them a cult for nothing."

A possessive one at that, she thought. Bree's eyes connected with Lewis who was speaking with his co-founder, Ivan. He gave her a small smile and flirtatious wink, and that unpleasant incident was soon forgotten.

------------------------------------------------------------

Race day at the Miami Grand Prix was an electric, vibrant spectacle that swept away any lingering dark clouds from that encounter with the rude "fan."

Bree and Sloane had prime viewing spots, courtesy of Lewis. The little girl was practically vibrating with enthusiasm, decked out in a custom varsity jacket honoring her soon-to-be stepfather's new NASA-themed collection from his merchandise line, Plus 44 World. Iridescent patches were stitched into the deep blue fabric, giving the appearance of a star-studded night sky.

"This is so cool! I love the planets and rocket ships, Mommy," Sloane gushed, smoothing her hands over the intricate designs as they waited for the race to start.

Bree beamed proudly. "Lewis really went all out for his biggest little fan, didn't he?"

The roar of engines drowned out Sloane's enthusiastic response as the F1 cars lined up in their designated spots. Leaning over, Bree typed a quick "Good luck!" text to her fiancé, accompanied by a selfie of her and Sloane's matching eye-crinkling grins.

From there, the next couple hours passed in a whirlwind of screeching tires, broadcasted commentary, and Sloane's adorably invested shouts of encouragement. Despite a somewhat disappointing 6th place finish for Lewis, his exuberance was undimmed as he bounded over to greet them after the race.

"There are my two favorite ladies!" His warm voice carried over the roar of the crowd.

Sloane practically vibrated with glee as Lewis swept her up into his arms, squeezing her tightly before sharing an equally euphoric kiss with Bree. They were a picture-perfect family portrait amidst the ecstatic chaos.

As if the celebratory scene couldn't get any sweeter, some of Lewis's racing peers and crew unexpectedly gathered around to serenade Bree with an impromptu chorus of "Happy Birthday." Her cheeks warmed slightly, and she ducked her head against Lewis's chest as Sloane beamed at her adoringly.

Hand in hand, the three made their way through a gauntlet of celebrities and racing elite congregating around the paddock club's VIP area. Bree couldn't help but feel like a queen with her husband-to-be and cherished daughter by her side as they were enthusiastically congratulated and fawned over at every turn.

-----------------------------------------------------

A pleasant, mellow heat still clung to the early evening air as they eventually escaped to a more private beachfront setting. Bree and Lewis stretched out on a plush lounger and watched Sloane blissfully chasing waves along the shoreline.

Lewis studied Bree's contemplative expression. "What's on your mind, baby? You've seemed a bit…off the last couple of weeks." Concern furrowed his brow. "Please don't tell me you're still feeling ill from that food poisoning in Shanghai?"

Bree shook her head. "No, I'm fine physically. Just…a lot on my mind with the wedding, moving, everything."

Lewis took her hand reassuringly. "You can tell me anything, you know that."

After a steadying breath, Bree revealed, "I took a pregnancy test when we were in Monaco."

Lewis's eyes brightened with cautious hope. "Were you…are you pregnant, then?"

"No." Bree's voice was small. "It was negative. And I'm scared, Lewis. Scared that I won't be able to give you children of your own."

He squeezed her hand. "Then we'll explore other options - IVF, surrogacy, anything. And if none of that works?" Lewis stroked her cheek tenderly. "Then I'm more than happy with just you and Sloane. She's my daughter in every way that matters."

But then Sloane, sandals abandoned, came running over barefoot to gleefully hurl herself into Lewis's arms. "What're you two talking about?"

"Just grown-up stuff, Princess," he replied easily, tickling her sides until she squealed with laughter. Bree watched the joyful scene with a warm smile, her worries momentarily forgotten.

As they settled back against the pillows, Bree remarked, "The Met Gala is right around the corner. We'll need to finalize our fitting schedules the second we're back in New York."

Lewis grinned. "You know I live for a moment to get all dolled up with my ladies." He winked rakishly. "Those steps won't know what hit them when we strike a pose."

Laughing, Bree swatted him playfully. With Lewis's steadfast love and Sloane's infectious spirit, she felt optimistic about tackling any challenges their future held. This little family of hers made her so incredibly proud.

Bree settled back on the plush hotel sofa, tablet propped up as she initiated a FaceTime call to Sloane back in Toronto. After a few rings, her daughter's bright face appeared on screen.

"Mommy! Hi!" Sloane waved excitedly before turning the camera to show off her ballet recital dress hanging nearby. "Isn't it so pretty? I can't wait for you and Lewis to see me in it when I perform next week."

"It's absolutely beautiful, baby girl," Bree enthused, admiring the delicate embroidery and ethereal colors. "You're going to be such a little princess on that big stage."

"Speaking of princesses…" Sloane's nose crinkled mischievously. "When are you gonna let me see your Met Gala dress, huh?"

Bree laughed. "Nice try, little miss. But you'll just have to wait and see mine and Lewis's outfits like everyone else!"

After extracting a dramatic pout from Sloane, Bree asked her to grab her dad so they could go over the upcoming week's schedule. Moments later, Tom appeared looking rather disheveled.

"Hey Bree," he mumbled distractedly while sinking onto the couch beside his daughter. "What's up?"

Bree relayed the key details - Sloane's science fair on Wednesday, ballet practice the next day - which Tom acknowledged with a weary nod, but his glassy gaze and fidgeting demeanor set off internal alarms.

"Tom? Is everything okay?" She asked with a furrowed brow. "You seem…off."

Running a hand through his unkempt hair, Tom sighed heavily. "Yeah, I…I kinda got myself into a bit of a pickle here, Bree."

Her stomach twisted apprehensively. "What kind of pickle are we talking about?"

Tom shot a glance at Sloane, ensuring she was engrossed in a video on his phone, before continuing in a low mutter. "You remember Talia? That woman I was kinda seeing for a few months?"

Bree's brows lifted but she remained silent, allowing him to go on.

"Well, uh…she's pregnant. With my kid."

Her eyes widened at the unexpected bombshell. She knew Talia was quite a bit younger than Tom - practically fresh out of college, if memory served. And now she was expecting his baby despite their evidently casual entanglement?

"How…how do you feel about that?" Bree asked carefully once she recovered her voice.

Tom dropped his head into his hands with a tortured groan. "Excited, I guess? In theory? But Talia…she doesn't want to keep it, Bree."

Just then, a knock sounded on Sloane's end of the call. Tom cut off abruptly, pasting on an overly bright smile as his daughter skipped back over.

"Sorry about that," he said with forced levity. "But I should let you two ladies get back to your girl time. I'll make sure everything goes smoothly on this end for the week, don't you worry."

After hanging up with Tom and Sloane, Bree sat back on the sofa, her mind still processing the weight of Tom's revelation about Talia's unexpected pregnancy. So much uncertainty and turmoil swirled in the air between her ex and his new fling.

Before Bree could get too entrenched in worrying about their complicated situation, the hotel room's door opened and Lewis strode in. Sensing her preoccupied state, he wordlessly crossed the space to stand behind the sofa. His strong hands slipped around her neck from behind as he bent to press a tender kiss against the side of her face.

The simple gesture immediately grounded Bree in the moment, chasing away her swirling thoughts. She instinctively relaxed into Lewis's embrace, grateful for his stabilizing presence. No words needed to be spoken - they understood each other on a deeper level.

Turning her head, Bree met Lewis's warm gaze with a grateful smile. His thumb stroked along her jawline as he returned the look of pure adoration. In that shared gaze, she found reassurance that no matter what turbulence life threw their way, they would face it as the formidable partnership they had become.

"I love you," Bree murmured, the words seeming inadequate yet carrying profound meaning.

Lewis's response was to capture her lips in a lingering, romancing kiss that conveyed everything his heart felt. When they finally parted, he let out a contented sigh.

"I love you too." He stood up and walked around to the other side of the couch where she was sitting. Gently, he helped her stand up as well. "Let's go," he said with a sly grin, "I think we have an hour before Eric and everyone else shows up."

She playfully responded, "For what, sir?" knowing fully well what he had in mind.

Lewis smirked, his eyes dark with lust. "For whatever my lady desires," he replied, trailing his fingers down her arm.

"Oh, is that so?" Bree teased, her own fingers dancing along Lewis' chest.

"Absolutely," he confirmed, swooping in to capture her lips once more.

"Let's make the most of this hour then," she suggested with a mischievous glint in her eye.

Lewis chuckled and scooped her up in his arms, carrying her towards the bedroom with ease. As they disappeared behind closed doors, their laughter and passion echoed through the quiet hotel room.

Time seemed to stop as they lost themselves in each other, their bodies tangled together in a heated dance. At this moment, there was no race or fame or anything else - just the two of them and their all-consuming love. When they finally emerged from their cocoon of love and pleasure, it was with satisfied smiles on their faces.

"I can't believe we used up our entire hour," Bree joked as she snuggled against Lewis' bare chest.

"We'll just have to make up for it later," he replied with a wink.

Bree laughed and playfully swatted at him before getting out of bed to freshen up. As she brushed her teeth in front of the bathroom mirror, she caught sight of herself wearing Lewis' satin robe.

Glancing over at him lying naked on the bed with his tattoos on full display, she couldn't help but feel incredibly lucky. They were from completely different worlds but somehow managed to find each other and create something beautiful together.

"What are you thinking about over there?" Lewis asked, propping himself up on his elbows.

Bree smiled and turned to face him. "Just how grateful I am for you," she replied, walking over to the bed and climbing back in beside him.

Lewis wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "I feel the same way about you," he said sincerely.

------------------------------------------------------------

The Met Gala was in full swing, with celebrities strutting their designer looks on the prestigious carpet. Bree watched from the sidelines, content to let Lewis bask in the spotlight. He looked devastatingly handsome in his all-black Burberry ensemble, the intricate floral details on the long overcoat and the flower-themed gold jewelry adding an elegant flair.

"You should be out there with me, love," Lewis said as he rejoined Bree after posing for what seemed like a million photos.

Bree shook her head with a smile. "Tonight is your night to shine, my star. The cameras want you."

Lewis leaned in to nuzzle her cheek. "As long as I have you by my side, I'll shine twice as bright."

Warmth bloomed in Bree's cheeks at his words. "Flatterer. Now go dazzle them all."

With a wink, Lewis swept back towards the carpet, greeting fans and stopping for interviews. Bree watched with immense pride as her soon-to-be husband commanded the attention with his charismatic presence.

Once inside, the gala was a whirlwind of glamour, music, and mingling. Bree found herself snapping photos with celebrity after celebrity, a permanent smile etched on her face.

"Bree! You two made it!" Sarah Jessica Parker pulled her in for an air kiss. "Let me get a picture with the future Lady Hamilton."

They posed together, all smiles and glittering gowns. As Sarah pulled back, she eyed Bree knowingly. "You're just glowing, honey. Love looks amazing on you."

Hours later, as an exclusive afterparty at a trendy Manhattan club began to wind down, Bree and Lewis emerged into the crisp night air. Bree took a deep, contented breath.

"You know what I love about New York?" she asked as they strolled, arm in arm.

Lewis looked over at her with an indulgent smile. "What's that, darling?"

"You can get food at any time, day or night." Bree's eyes lit up. "Ice cream sound good? I could go for some ice cream right about now."

Chuckling, Lewis tugged her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Lead the way, baby."

They found a quaint ice cream parlor still open, allowing them to indulge in towering sundaes piled high with toppings. Lewis watched in amusement as Bree dug in with unabashed delight.

"Someone's enjoying herself," he teased gently.

Bree grinned around a mouthful. "You know what else I'm enjoying? The idea of being your wife. Lady Hamilton…"

Lewis reached across to take her free hand, his expression softening. "I can't wait for you to be Lady Hamilton, my love. Saying those words will be my greatest honor."

Under the warm glow of the streetlights, they came together in a tender kiss, the city that never sleeps celebrating alongside their everlasting love.

Lewis, Bree, and Sloane arrived at the prestigious International School of Monaco for the viewing day. The campus was impressive, with modern buildings and lush green spaces.

"Wow, this place is huge!" Sloane exclaimed, her eyes wide as she took in the sprawling grounds.

Lewis chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Just wait until you see the inside, princess. This is one of the best international schools in the world."

As they entered the main building, they were greeted by a smiling administrator. "Welcome to ISM, Mr. Hamilton, Ms. Jamison, and Miss Sloane. We're honored to have you here today."

The woman proceeded to give them a comprehensive tour, showing off the state-of-the-art facilities. The classrooms were bright and airy, equipped with the latest technology. The library was a book-lover's dream, with floor-to-ceiling shelves and cozy reading nooks.

"And this is our world-class performing arts center," the administrator said proudly, leading them into an auditorium that could easily seat five hundred people.

Sloane's eyes grew even wider. "No way! This is so cool!"

Lewis grinned down at her. "You'll have to put on a show for us when you start here."

They continued on, visiting the Olympic-sized swimming pool, the indoor basketball courts, and the expansive playing fields.

"We really do have everything a student could possibly need or want," the administrator commented. "Our goal is to provide a well-rounded, global education."

Bree couldn't help but be impressed. "It's amazing. Sloane is going to thrive here."

As if on cue, Sloane tugged on her mother's hand. "Can we see the stables next? I want to make sure there's enough room for Buttercup!"

The group chuckled, and the administrator nodded. "Of course, we have some of the finest equestrian facilities in the region."

As they followed her outside, Lewis leaned over to murmur in Bree's ear. "Well, what do you think, darling? Is this the place for our little princess?"

Bree smiled, giving his hand a squeeze. "It's perfect. Though I have a feeling she'll be more excited about seeing the ponies than anything else!"

The tour continued as they made their way towards the stables and equestrian facilities. Sloane practically bounced with excitement at the prospect of seeing where her beloved pony Buttercup would be staying.

As they walked, the administrator began discussing tuition and fees. "Our annual tuition for the primary school is 37,800 euros," she stated matter-of-factly.

Bree couldn't help but inwardly cringe at the exorbitant number, despite having researched the costs beforehand. Even expecting the steep price tag, hearing it out loud was still a bit jarring.

Lewis, however, didn't even blink. He simply continued smiling politely as if the administrator had commented on the lovely weather.

"Of course, that covers the full educational experience here at ISM," the woman went on. "From classroom instruction to extracurriculars, field trips, and the use of our exceptional facilities."

Bree felt Lewis's hand give her arm a gentle, reassuring squeeze. He leaned in close so only she could hear. "Nothing but the best for our girl, remember?"

She managed a small smile and a nod, knowing he was right. This was an investment in Sloane's bright future, one they were incredibly fortunate to be able to make.

The administrator led them through a arched entryway into a beautifully manicured area where sleek stables and paddocks awaited. Sloane's delighted gasp was all the confirmation they needed that this was indeed the right choice.

"There's room for twelve ponies here on site," the woman said. "And of course, the full-sized stables are just a short distance away for our competitive equestrian teams."

"Did you hear that, Mommy?" Sloane looked up at Bree with shining eyes. "Buttercup is going to love it here!"

Lewis crouched down to Sloane's level. "What do you say we get Buttercup settled in and then you can take her for a ride, hmm? Test out these facilities properly."

Sloane flung her arms around her father's neck with unbridled joy. "Yes, please! This place is the best!"

Straightening up, Lewis winked conspiratorially at Bree as if to say 'I told you so.' Her heart swelled with love for her family. The astronomical price tag was meaningless when she saw how happy her daughter was.

"Well, ISM certainly seems to have made quite the impression," the administrator said with a warm smile. "Should we continue on to discuss the enrollment process?"

The group followed the administrator back inside the main building, where they were ushered into a beautifully appointed office. Leather chairs surrounded an impressive mahogany desk, giving the space an air of understated sophistication.

"Please, have a seat," the administrator gestured. "Let's go over the enrollment details."

Bree and Lewis settled into the plush chairs, with Sloane nestling between them, still buzzing with excitement over the stables. The administrator opened a file and began explaining the process.

"First, we'll need to formalize Sloane's application with some additional paperwork…" She slid a small stack of forms across the desk.

Lewis leaned forward, all business. "Of course, whatever you need. I want to ensure we have everything properly in order."

As the two went back and forth discussing requirements like transcripts and academic records, Bree felt Sloane fidgeting beside her. She gently brushed a stray curl from the girl's face.

The paperwork continued, with discussions of schedules, extracurriculars, and payment plans. Bree couldn't help stealing glances at Lewis, amazed by his effortless handling of all the meticulous details.

Finally, the administrator leaned back with a satisfied smile. "Well, I believe that's everything then. We just need your signatures and we can get Miss Sloane officially enrolled at ISM for the upcoming term."

Lewis reached over to squeeze Bree's hand, his eyes shining with a mixture of pride and love. "You ready for this new adventure, ladies?"

Sloane was already nodding vigorously, but Bree took a moment to savor the profound warmth filling her heart. This was their family's newest chapter, and she couldn't wait to see what amazing experiences awaited them.

"More than ready," she replied, locking eyes with her husband-to-be. "Let's do this together."

As their names scrawled across the enrollment forms, cementing Sloane's place at the elite academy, Bree knew they had just opened up a world of possibilities for her daughter's bright future.

TO BE CONTINUED......Epilogue coming soon...

[freeuselandonorris]

i was tagged by the lovely and absurdly talented @dumbf1sketches to post your wallpaper, your homescreen, last song you listened to and a pretty picture 💕

1. my lockscreen is just some vaguely cyberpunk art i found on pinterest. i tend to switch it out pretty often but its usually some kind of art - it was a noelia towers painting before this.

2. my homescreen is deeply boring lol. i have my calendar front and centre because otherwise i forget everything (hence why i have a reminder about my fitness app renewing so i’m not blindsided by £100 leaving my account at once, not that i have budgeted in any way for it lmao) plus my fitness tracker connected to my watch, period tracker and apps i use a lot that aren’t socials in a desperate attempt to stop myself checking them so much (doesn’t work)

3. i’m heavily back in my lana feels since going to monaco

4. speaking of which, here’s a photo of the very pretty japanese garden in larvotto, one of my favourite bits of monaco.

tagging @glasscushion @strawberry-daiquiris @goingxmissing @scenetocause @monacotrophywife @bright-and-burning @vroombeams if u wanna!

[milo-miriam]

larvotto beach

[leqclerc]

You were in Monaco? I’ve always wanted to go even just because I love microstates! Did you stay overnight or just pop over the border?

Hello! 😊

Yeah it was just a day trip!

We actually went about it in a really roundabout way, because we were coming from the Italian side (having spent a few days in Venice and Verona initially, then getting a train to Milan, and from Milan another train to the border town of Ventimiglia. From there we took – you guessed it – a 20 minute train over to the French coastal town of Menton, where we stayed for two days) rather than, like, the usual route of Nice -> Monaco. But Monaco has always been a bucket list location/experience for me so I knew I wanted to go, even just for a day. And I mean, Menton in itself is gorgeous, so I highly recommend visiting it or using it as a "base" if you're heading to Monaco. They've got trains running basically every few minutes so it's super easy to get to Monaco (and beyond) and enjoy some Riviera views on the way. We got in around 9am and left around 9pm. It was a regular day and not the race weekend so it was a lot quieter than it would've been otherwise, but yeah.

Then from the Monte Carlo train station we mostly walked. Though we did take the red tour bus, right from the first stop, and did the full loop just to get a feel for where everything is. We then ended up getting out by the casino and kind of exploring on foot from there. At one point we also took the little shuttle boat that gets you from one side of the harbour to the other. I had some stuff that like, I knew I wanted to do or see or had tickets for (Prince's car collection) but for the most part we just kind of wandered around and took it all in. Cons: as walkable as it is, it can still be kind of tiring and time consuming so in hindsight honestly I kind of regret we never researched the city buses. I feel like that would be a good option to get around quicker and also kind of get a feel for how the locals live rather than just doing strictly touristy things (I say this as someone who was on a packed city bus from Maranello to Modena with a bunch of local school kids and honestly it was An Experience and like sometimes it's fun to do stuff like that). Also the lack of wifi/phone data was definitely an issue. I mean they do have like, public free wifi spots in some places (definitely works at the train station and also the hairpin) but not everywhere so the rest of the time you're kind of going in blind unless you've downloaded offline maps or tickets or made notes or something. I'm sure there's a way around that – like how all the international journalists go there to cover the F1/FE/etc races – but I haven't found any solid solution for this online. My phone network provider didn't have a data package for Monaco specifically so that was a no-go. Ultimately it didn't matter all that much for one day but if I were going for longer I'd probably like to have some backup on top of like those free wifi spots.

But yeah, if you ever get the chance to go I recommend it! I honestly wish I could've stayed for longer and maybe had a "slow" kind of holiday because as small as it is there were still places I didn't get to see or experience (Larvotto beach for example) but even just being there for a few hours felt super satisfying and fulfilling after watching it on TV for years. ❤️

[transparentgentlemenmarker]

M O N A C O 🇲🇨

1. Monaco est le deuxième plus petit pays du monde, après la Cité du Vatican, et est connu pour son style de vie glamour, ses casinos de luxe et sa côte méditerranéenne pittoresque.

2. Le Casino de Monte Carlo, situé dans le quartier de Monte Carlo à Monaco, est l'un des établissements de jeux les plus emblématiques et prestigieux au monde, attirant de grands rouleaux, célébrités et royauté.

3. La famille Grimaldi de Monaco a dirigé la Principauté depuis plus de 700 ans, le Prince Albert II règne actuellement à la tête de l'État.

4. Le Grand Prix de Monaco, organisé chaque année sur le circuit de Monaco, est l'une des plus anciennes et prestigieuses courses de Formule 1 au monde, avec des rues étroites, des coins étroits et des vues à couper le souffle sur la mer Méditerranée.

5. Malgré sa petite taille, Monaco est l'un des pays les plus riches du monde, avec une économie forte motivée par le tourisme, la finance, l'immobilier et les biens de luxe.

6. La Principauté n'a pas d'impôt sur le revenu pour les résidents, ce qui en fait une destination populaire pour les particuliers et les célébrités qui cherchent des avantages fiscaux et un style de vie luxueux.

7. La vieille ville de Monaco, connue sous le nom de Monaco-Ville ou Le Rocher, est un charmant quartier médiéval perché sur un promontoire rocheux surplombant la Méditerranée, avec des bâtiments historiques, des rues étroites et des vues panoramiques.

8. Le Palais Prince de Monaco, situé à Monaco-Ville, est la résidence officielle de la famille Grimaldi au pouvoir et est ouvert au public pour des visites guidées de ses chambres, cours et jardins opulentes.

9. Le musée océanographique et l'aquarium de Monaco, fondé par le Prince Albert Ier en 1910, est un établissement de recherche marine de renommée mondiale et une attraction de visiteurs, présentant diverses expositions sur la vie marine et l'éducation.

10. Le Monaco Yacht Show, qui se tient chaque année à Port Hercules, est l'un des plus grands et prestigieux salons de yacht au monde, avec des superyachts luxueux, des voiliers et des technologies marines.

11. Le Grand Prix Historique de Monaco, une manifestation biennale organisée sur le même circuit que la course de Formule 1, met en valeur des voitures de course anciennes et attire des passionnés et des collectionneurs du monde entier.

12. Le Rallye Monte Carlo, l'un des plus anciens et les plus célèbres rassemblements au monde, a lieu chaque année à Monaco et sur la Côte d'Azur environnante, avec un terrain difficile et un paysage à couper le souffle.

13. Le Casino de Monte-Carlo, conçu par l'architecte renommé Charles Garnier, est un chef-d'œuvre de l'architecture Belle Époque et dispose d'intérieurs somptueux, de décorations ornées et de salles de jeux emblématiques.

14. La plage de Larvotto à Monaco, située dans le quartier de Larvotto, offre des rivages sableux immaculés, des eaux cristallines et des vues imprenables sur la Méditerranée, attirant les demandeurs de soleil, les nageurs et les plages toute l'année.

15. L'équipe nationale de football de Monaco, bien qu'elle ne soit pas membre de la FIFA ou de l'UEFA, dispute à l'échelle internationale des matchs amicaux et des tournois, représentant la Principauté

16. Le Gala annuel de la Croix-Rouge de Monaco, qui se tient au Monte Carlo Sporting Club, est l'un des événements caritatifs les plus prestigieux au monde, auquel participent la royauté, les célébrités et les philanthropes pour collecter des fonds pour des causes humanitaires.

17. Le Grand Prix Historique de Monaco, une manifestation biennale organisée sur le même circuit que la course de Formule 1, met en valeur des voitures de course anciennes et attire des passionnés et des collectionneurs du monde entier.

18. Le Marathon de Monaco, qui se tient chaque année le long de la côte panoramique et des terrains montagneux difficiles, est un événement sportif populaire attirant des coureurs de tous niveaux du monde.

19. La population multiculturelle monégasque comprend des monégasques, des Français, des Italiens et des résidents de plus de 100 nationalités différentes, créant ainsi une communauté diversifiée et cosmopolite.

20. L'Orchestre philharmonique de Monte Carlo, fondé en 1863, est l'un des plus grands orchestres européens et donne régulièrement des concerts et des récitals au prestigieux Opéra de Monte Carlo et dans d'autres lieux.

21. Malgré sa réputation de terrain de jeu pour les riches et les célèbres, Monaco s'engage également à promouvoir la durabilité de l'environnement, avec des initiatives visant à réduire les émissions de carbone, à promouvoir les énergies renouvelables et à préserver les habitats naturels et la biodiversité.

[royal-hair]

Princess Charlene of Monaco at her Foundation's Water Safety Day at Larvotto Beach in Monaco - 22.06.23

[megtdsullivan]

Stop 7: Monaco

Monaco was a quick stop in between France and Italy! It is it’s own principality and while it is attached to France, does not belong to France. We just had a quick 2 night stay to see some of the sights before heading to Italy!

Where we visited:

The Princes’ Palace of Monaco

The Princes’ car collection

The Oceanographic Museum

The tourist section of the Monte-Carlo Casino

The Champions Promenade

Larvotto Beach

[amittarora]

@amittarora /WINTER 2023-2024' *The MONOCIAN' Way! Out Soon, in Stores Globally & on- www.AmittARORA.Luxury

Being in a playful and colorful mood of a Haute French #Winter Soiree. Inspired by the High Life, this our FALL/WINTER Season emphasizes it on, thus these Exotican patterns, Felidae prints, Sensuous silhouettes, Eclectic visualistic Musical energy levels in them, Super exotic Machines seen n driven, etc, all structured.

Yes, it's #MONACO again, the inspiration behind, this time on too! Principality of Monaco, being a sovereign city-state,

country, and microstate on the French Riviera in Western #Europe, bordered by #France to the north, east and west, and by the Mediterranean Sea to the south.

MONACO is widely recognized for being one of the most expensive and wealthiest places in the world, thus relating strongly to our very Haute Luxury Brand too!

So French, Monégasque, Italian, and English we talk in this Collezioni! Chill at de highest points thru Chemin des Révoires on the slopes of Mont Agel, in Les Révoires Ward, it's most populous Quartier- #MonteCarlo and the most populous Ward- Larvotto/Bas Moulin,

the Beaches of #LARVOTTO, de Deck's, the Docks, the #CASINO Monte Carlo, #OPERA de Monte Carlo, etc etc., you thrive to be at!

And also with the hosting of the annual street circuit motor race Monaco Grand Prix, since 1929, being one of the original #GrandPrix's of #FormulaOne, watch it all adorning #AA.

Then the Famous club #Football team, AS Monaco, who have become #French champions on multiple occasions, viewed on Us! The Monte Carlo Rally, Monte Carlo Masters, Rugby, all traditionally inspired too in these our very Collezioni's.

And so befitting it all into our F/W 23-24' Collezioni, with #Ancient French & distinct Italian culture too, & Colour scheming in Golds, #Diamonds, #Wines, #Silver, Blacks, Whites, Browns, Greens, Fuchsia, Ultra Violet, Scuderia Red, Floreale & Metallic predominantly.

*All in this very "Amitt ARORA® FALL/WINTER 23-24 Collezioni", The Monocian' way! 'Bonghjornu'. #Amitt

#AmittARORAFallWinter #2023-#2024 #FallWinter2023 #FallWinter2024

(#HauteCouture/#PretAPorter n #RtW/#Luxe/#Bespoke & #TapisRouge) *Present!

#AmittARORA

[haywire4]

staring at maps and decided to improve the monaco gp circuit by finding places where you could theoretically pass a car

hit the first left after turn one and bypass the casino entirely, then hang a right and hit a narrow, but long DRS zone along boulevard de moulins/italie, then go through some mid/high speed corners that will look good on camera

then finagle around the weird elevated roundabout on the french side of the border, and follow the twisty road down to to boulevard de larvotto, and hit another long, *very* narrow drs zone before bearing right onto a street that takes you up to the shopping mall

after that, take two lefts and rejoin the normal circuit (maybe go the wrong way around the roundabout before the main tunnel so you get more of a run up at it)

there are some problems:

a lot of arguments for preserving the monaco gp circuit as it is boil down to tradition, and making the track longer than spa isn't very traditional

a bunch of roundabouts and medians with trees in them would have to be flattened and replaced with movable planter boxes. many useful pedestrian blisters would also have to be eliminated and replaced with removable solutions

boulevard de larvotto would have to have its sidewalks converted into additional tarmac for the road, with removable curbs to delineate pedestrian areas on non-race days, otherwise it's straight up macau width through there

even with the widening of boulevard de larvotto, you might end up having to implement special overtaking rules where you straight up just stay in the right lane unless you're hitting the DRS, it is very narrow

also, the stretch of boulevard de larvotto/avenue de grand bretagne would effectively be a straightaway as long as the main straight at fuji but only 2-3 car lengths wide, which would be frowned on by anyone who cares about safety

the biggest obstacle would be the bit where the course briefly crosses the french border, which would be a bureaucratic nightmare thanks to this tiny city-state's existence

outside of these minor details i think it would be fun

[gbemiwrites]

14 Countries You Never Knew Existed

Over one hundred and ninety countries have been recognised all over the world. Some, like a neon light shining upon them have continued to remain visible while others, as if covered by a fog have less people being aware about them.

1. Seychelle

One of the world's smallest countries. Seychelles is an island on the West Indian Ocean, off East Africa. Its capital - Victoria is located on the island of Mahé. Seychelle has no official language but English, French and Creole languages are more prominent. Although Seychelle is known as one of the least populous countries in the world, it boasts of the finest beaches in the world. The presence of its beautiful climate all year round makes it a place of attraction every time. If you would like to visit Seychelle, the Mahé island, Saint Anne National Park and Anse Georgette, which is a very great tourist centre for couples, are places you must visit.

2. Cyprus

Cyprus, officially called The Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The citizens mainly speak Greek and Turkish although other minor languages like Cypriot Arabic exist.

Cyprus, which is a highly religious country is famous all over the world for its beauty, littered along its streets are sanctuaries, cathedrals, monasteries and old fortresses. One of the "must-visit" places in Cyprus is the Argos village. 

As a tourist, you do not need to worry about the hospitality of the Cypriots as they are known worldwide as approachable, friendly, loyal to friends and traditions and also, lovers of entertainment.

3. The Principality of Monaco

Monaco which is situated at the north of the Mediterranean Sea surrounded on land by France and Italy being about 16 km away. The country which is the second smallest country in the world has been tagged as "the playground of the rich and famous" because of the presence of beautiful man-made beaches, clubs, designer malls and casinos. French is the official language in Monaco but other languages like English and Italian are spoken by the minority. 

As one of the safest countries in the world, visiting Monaco as a tourist will be incomplete without your visit to the Oceanographic museum, Larvotto beach and Prince's Palace of Monaco where the rulers of Monaco live.

4. Armenia

One of the most beautiful and unique countries in the Middle East is Armenia. Being the first country to adopt Christianity, some of the world's oldest churches and monasteries grace the scenic view in Armenia. As one of the oldest countries in the world, the people boast of their unique alphabet, cuisine and rich history. Armenia is also recognised worldwide as one of the safest places to be and everyone who has not been there should ensure they do so.

5. Cambodia

Cambodia is a Southeastern Asian nation on the Indochinese mainland and is largely home to a lot of plains and rivers. Dubbed one of the poorest and most unsafe countries in the world, Cambodia has witnessed the incidence of wars in its recent history. Although Khmer is the official language in the country, English is also widely spoken. Tourists have been advised to remain security conscious in their visit to the country because Cambodia boasts of beautiful sceneries in the world. Places like Angkor-Wat are a must-see because the sunrise looks exceptionally beautiful there.

6. Serbia

Serbia is a landlocked country in South East Europe and also, one of the developing countries of the world. Loaded with diverse religions, fortresses, palaces, traditions and folklore, Serbians have been recognised as being lively and laid-back people.

Interesting places to visit in Serbia include the Church of Saint Sava which is the largest Orthodox church in the world so far and has not yet been fully finished.

7. Kosovo

Officially recognised as the Republic of Kosovo, Kosovo is a relatively new country which declared its independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008. Although the country is small, it was beautifully formed by the creator and has the youngest populations in Europe with its official languages as Albanian and Serbian. If you are visiting Kosovo, remember to enjoy the panoramic view of Prizren, the exciting exhibits of the Ethnological Museum and the monasteries which seem to become more beautiful as the years go by.

8. Romania

Another location where travellers never seem to get tired of visiting. Romania is a beautiful Eastern European country which is recognised everywhere as a place where the cost of living is low, good and healthy life is spinal, a top destination for music and art and a fast-growing international hub.

The official language of the country is Romanian and the main religion practised is Christianity. Although "Romance" could be culled from the name of the country, romance seems to be a far-fetched idea as Romanians have been discovered to be formal, suspicious and reserved with a strong need for privacy. However, Romanians admire modesty, humility, discipline and loyalty.

Read the others at:

https://www.gbemiwrites.com.ng/2022/12/14-countries-you-never-knew-existed.html

[formulauno98]

A Birthday to Remember - Toto Wolff x OC

My first attempt at a one-shot, based on this glorious request from @latte-luxe:

If you can, could you please write a short, but spicy🌶️🌶️🌶️ one shot of a young, crazy, yet loveable 5'2 Maestra who is celebrating her 30th birthday in Monaco, and a certain 6'5 F1 team principal laid eyes on her and knew he just had to have her. 😅😅😅🙏🙏🙏

Word Count: 4k

Warnings: Caution may contain spice.

Author’s Notes: Disclaimer, purely fiction, no-one is married in this alt-universe.

THE MORNING

It was Saturday morning and stepping out onto her balcony at the Fairmont Monte Carlo, Fernanda swept her eyes over the spectacular view. It was a pinch yourself to check if you’re dreaming kind of view of sparkling blue waters, peppered every so often with a gleaming white yacht.

“Good morning, birthday girl.” murmured a husky, heavily accented voice from behind her. Before she even had the chance to turn around, a pair of muscular arms swooped around her from behind before coming to rest on her hips, gently squeezing her curves.

“Good morning to you too,” she said, turning around and leaning up to kiss the tall towel-clad Austrian, resting her hand on his bare chest as he pressed himself tightly against her. It was yet another pinch me I’m dreaming moment. If someone had told Fernanda this time yesterday that this was how she would be spending her Saturday morning she would have laughed and called them crazy, but sometimes life could be crazy.

THE NIGHT BEFORE

It was a sunny evening and Fernanda had stood out on the balcony with a glass of wine in her hand, admiring the view whilst waiting for her three best friends to get ready. As a lifelong Formula One lover, a weekend trip to Monaco had been on the cards for a while so when her friends asked where she wanted to go to celebrate her thirtieth birthday it was at the top of the list. Turning the dream into reality was another thing altogether and she still couldn’t believe that the trip had materialised. 

Dinner was due to be lowkey as Saturday was going to be the big night out, with dinner plans at Elsa, a Michelin-star establishment, followed by a night on the tiles at Jimmyz, a club frequented by the world of Formula One. Friday night’s restaurant of choice was Song Qi, an upscale Chinese restaurant in Larvotto that had come highly recommended. 

“Fernanda, how long is the walk?” A voice called out from the suite.

“About five/ten minutes.” She replied, sighing, as always the mom of the group.

“Medium heels it is then,” her friend Olivia replied.

“We can always get a car,” Fernanda suggested.

“No, let’s conserve the taxi budget for tomorrow night,” Olivia said, stepping out onto the balcony to 

accompany her friend, “Laura and Becca are almost ready.”

“Good idea,” Fernanda replied, “You look gorgeous by the way.”

Olivia beamed with the compliment, stepping back to twirl in her pink minidress and sparkling sandals, “I try my best, although I can’t compete with you, my spicy little Salma Hayek twin.”

Fernanda blushed, everyone always compared her to the diminutive Mexican actress and truth be told, it wasn’t the worst comparison in the world. She’d chosen a simple white dress with gold sandals for the evening’s dinner, perhaps a risky move in a restaurant serving noodles but she felt fabulous. Her dark hair was slicked back into an elegant bun and she’d highlighted her tanned skin with golden shimmering oil, a move that always brought the compliments.

It wasn’t long before Laura and Becca also emerged, both looking as beautiful as ever. The four friends had treated themselves to two adjoining suites and opened up the connecting door to create a mega-suite.

“Oh la la, give us a twirl,” said Fernanda, looking her elegant friend up and down as she dutifully spun around.

“Beautiful!” Now it was Laura and Becca’s turn to blush. “Ditto! Shall we get going?”

“Sounds like a plan.” Fernanda agreed, the four of them making their way off of the balcony.

——

Song Qi turned out to be an excellent choice, with the table weighed down with baskets of dim sum and bowls of noodles, crispy beef and endless wontons. The restaurant was decadent but comfortable and as Fernanda sank back into her sumptuous green velvet chair she spotted a strangely familiar face at the table across from them. He was dark-haired, handsome with chiselled features and although he was sat down, tall, as he towered above the two men he was dining with.

It took a moment to realise that it was none other than Toto Wolff, the affable Mercedes Formula One team principal. Although she thought it was only for a moment, Fernanda must have stared for a while as he briefly met her eyes and shot her a charming smile. Smiling back like a fool, her friends whipped their heads around to see who their friend was smiling at, fortunately, Toto not noticing as he had returned to his plate.

“Damn girl, he’s kinda hot, in that old businessman kind of way,” said Olivia, turning back around to face Fernanda.

“Well yes…” Fernanda stuttered, “He’s also one of the team principals in Formula One.”

“Huh?” Asked her three friends blankly, not followers of the sport.

“Kind of like the equivalent of a football manager,” Fernanda explained, “Except he owns some of the team as well.”

“Fancy, well he’s pretty. You should go and talk to him.” Said Laura, all formula one facts going straight over her head.

“Oh my god, no,” Fernanda said, “I’m sure he was just being polite.”

As if on cue, Toto looked up and locked eyes with her once again, his deep brown eyes crinkling. Fernanda gulped, returning his gaze with a smile once again.

Dinner continued, with the girls chatting away as Fernanda every so often met Toto’s eyes across the crowded restaurant. He looked to be in some kind of business meeting as the two men with him were dressed smartly and looked serious while conversing with them.

It wasn’t long before dinner had been cleared and a smiling waiter emerged with a chocolate cake laden down with a sparkler and a golden thirty-number candle, Olivia, Becca and Laura looking at each other mischievously before breaking into a rousing rendition of the Happy Birthday song. Fernanda felt her cheeks reddening as she realised the entire restaurant, including Toto and his business associates had joined in the song. As she blew out the candle, she once again locked eyes with Toto who was grinning away while applauding.

“You guys are the worst,” Fernanda said, half joking as she shook her head at her friends. “But that’s why I love you.”

“Aw, well we had to do something,” said Laura, “It’s not every day you have a big birthday like this and although I still don’t understand why you love your car racing so much, I’m happy that we came here.”

Fernanda smiled at her friends, she was appreciative of them, enabling her desire to walk around the Formula One track and visit the car museum, despite the fact they really weren’t interested. Just as she was musing how ironic it was that she’d seen Toto Wolff, their waiter reappeared with a tray of drinks.

“Oh, I don’t think we ordered those,” said Olivia politely.

“Yes Madame, in fact, the gentlemen over there sent them alongside their birthday wishes.” The waiter replied.

Fernanda’s eyes widened, Toto Wolff had sent her birthday wishes. An interesting turn of events.

“Well, then that’s very nice of them,” said Olivia, as the waiter set them down, “Fernanda, you should go and say thank you!”

“Oh my God, yes, go!” Said Becca, egging her friend on.

Sighing, but also buoyed by her friends’ enthusiasm, Fernanda spoke, “I’m going to go but only to say thank you.”

Her three friends squealing with excitement, Fernanda took an extra sip of her drink for courage before standing up and sauntering over to where Toto and his associates sat. His interest piqued immediately as he noticed her making her way across the restaurant.

“Good evening, sorry to interrupt but I just wanted to say thank you for the drinks, it was very kind of you,” Fernanda said, a little too quickly due to nerves.

“Well, it’s not every day you celebrate a milestone like that.” Replied Toto kindly, standing up to hold out a hand to shake, “I’m Toto by the way, and this is Jean and Sebastian,” he gestured at the older gentlemen he was dining with.

Struck by the almost comical height difference Fernanda looked up at the tall Austrian in front of her as he gripped her hand very tightly, “I’m Fernanda, nice to meet you all.”

The other gentlemen smiled at her politely, wishing her a happy birthday before picking their conversation back up. Toto, however, remained stood up, his eyes raking her curves. “Fernanda?” He asked, “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”

Now Fernanda was really blushing, “You’re far too kind.”

“Not at all,” he said, “I hope you do not think this forward but would you like to join me for dinner one evening?”

Fernanda’s eyes widened, floored that this man was asking her out. “I would love to but unfortunately I’m only here until Sunday so I’m not sure if I’ll have time.”

Toto looked disappointed but pressed further, “Well then, how about a drink later this evening?”

Fernanda’s eyes went even wider before she managed to answer, “I’m not sure, it’s a girl's trip and I don’t want to ditch my friends, I really would love to though. Maybe can I get your number and text you once I’ve figured out their plans?”

“Understood,” replied Toto, looking down, gazing into her eyes with an unreadable expression, “It would be my pleasure, give me your phone.”

Fernanda’s eyes lit up as she handed her phone to the tall Austrian in front of her who deftly punched in his contact. “Thank you, I’ll check in with the girls and let you know. I’ll leave you to your dinner for now but I hope to see you later,” she said with a smile.

Toto turned to glance at his dining companions who were still deep in conversation, and dropped closer down to Fernanda’s ear, keeping his voice low, sending a shiver down her spine, “It’s okay, I don’t think they missed me. I hope to see you later too Fernanda.”

Fernanda looked up at Toto with a smile, “I’m sure they did. See you, Toto.” As she turned back towards her table she glanced over her shoulder and saw Toto’s eyes were locked on her as he returned to his seat. He was undeniably hot and as much as she always abided by the golden rule, chicks before dicks, this was special circumstances.

Sitting back down with her friends, they immediately leaned in to get the lowdown.

“What did he say? He didn’t take his eyes off of you!” said Laura excitedly.

“Just wished me a happy birthday… and asked me out,” said Fernanda blushing.

“No way!” exclaimed her three friends in unison.

“You’re going to go right?” said Olivia, looking at her friend in concern.

“I’m not sure.” said Fernanda, “I don’t want to ditch you all for a man but equally he’s hot as fuck and it would only be for an hour or so.”

“An hour or so?” said Becca, raising her eyebrows, “I doubt this, but you should go, make it a memorable birthday!”

Fernanda looked over once again at where Toto sat, he was a striking man, pushing all of his success to one side. “What the hell, I’ll message him now. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Her friends squealed with excitement in unison.

Fernanda grabbed her phone and nervously began typing her message to Toto.

It’s all good for tonight, we’re almost done eating so I’m free whenever you are.

She could see Toto excuse himself and take out his phone, shooting her a grin from across the restaurant before looking down to type a response.

Sure enough, Fernanda’s phone buzzed.

Perfect, so are we. Shall I meet you outside in ten minutes?

Fernanda replied excitedly, still not believing she was texting Toto Wolff of all people. 

Sounds like a plan.

——

Fernanda was nervous but excited as she saw Toto and his associates pay their bill and head off, Toto shooting her a wink as he jostled his way out of the restaurant.

Settling their own bill, Fernanda and her friends were close behind and as she exited the restaurant, sure enough, she saw Toto standing outside waiting for her, leaning casually up against a column.

Bidding her friends goodbye, she made her way towards her date for the evening. “Hi,” she said somewhat awkwardly, knowing that her friends were likely watching from where they were ordering a taxi to return them to their hotel.

“Hi,” he said, glancing down at her fondly, “How was your dinner?”

“So good!” she said, “How was yours?”

“It was okay, my dining companions weren’t as lovely as you but I think my evening is improving,” he said with a rakish grin.

Fernanda smiled, “You’re a charmer, Toto. Where were you thinking of heading?”

“I know a place a few streets behind, it’s not so fancy but they have an excellent selection of wine if you like it?”

Knowing that she was already a little tipsy, Fernanda was grateful he’d suggested wine, “Sounds good to me, lead the way, Mr Wolff!”

Toto whipped his head around, “I never told you my surname.”

Feeling she’d made a huge error of judgement, Fernanda stuttered, his dark eyes intimidating her before she decided the best course of action was to fess up, “Well it took me a moment but I recognised you. Guilty as charged.”

Musing quietly, Toto’s expression softened, “So you know a little about me, tell me about yourself.”

As the pair made their way around the twisting streets towards the bar, Fernanda filled Toto in on her background, her career as a teacher and her plans for the weekend.

Soon enough they arrived at their destination, Toto, taking the lead and speaking with the Maitre D’ who promptly led them to a secluded table towards the back of the bar.

Settling down on the chair opposite Toto, Fernanda was suddenly much more nervous. 

“You look nervous,” Toto said, his eyes kind.

“Well, this is not how I thought my evening was going to pan out. The ruse is up in that I recognised you so I may as well tell you that we came to Monaco because I love Formula One.” Fernanda blushed furiously as her words tangled into one.

“Relax Fernanda, so you know about formula one?” he said, reaching across the table, taking her hand in his and tracing small circles with his thumb on the back of her hand.

“Well, probably not as much as you.” Fernanda laughed, breaking the tension and gazing into his eyes.

“You’d be surprised,” said Toto shrugging with a smirk. “I just got lucky.”

——

As the evening went on, the pair discussed everything under the sun, the wine helping Fernanda to feel less awkward and forget who she was talking to. Toto was funnier than she expected and she spent half the evening giggling at his stupid remarks. He’d regaled her with stories of his travel adventures, driving mishaps and various other anecdotes, whilst she’d filled him in with her tales of teaching and embarrassing childhood moments. They’d bonded over their love of all things with an engine and time had flown by.

“Ahem.” Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by a waiter, “Monsieur, Madame, I am sorry to say that we are closing in ten minutes. Can I take one last order?”

Knowing she was well beyond tipsy, Fernanda shook her head, looking at Toto to check if he was in agreement. Looking somewhat bleary-eyed himself he shook his head as well, “Just the bill please.”

Soon enough the cheque had been settled and Fernanda found herself once again wandering the moonlit streets of Monaco with Toto, this time her hand firmly encased in his.

“Where do you need to go?” Toto asked kindly, “I can drop you back.”

“I’m staying at the Fairmont,” Fernanda replied, not wanting the night to end.

“It’s not so far, are you happy to walk?” he asked, squeezing her hand.

“Sure, it’s just up there,” she replied gesturing at the bend in the road where the hotel was perched, “As long as you can get home okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” said Toto, a dark look in his eye. “Fernanda, when do you leave again?”

“Sunday afternoon,” she said sadly, wishing she was staying for longer.

“Well, you’ll have to come back next year for the Grand Prix,” he said, a twinkle in his eye.

“Maybe if I rob a bank!” she said with a chuckle, “One day.”

“I don’t like to boast, but I might know someone who can get you in without having to resort to organised crime,” he said, laughing with a deep rumble.

“Oh really?” Fernanda said, turning to face Toto in the inky moonlight, “Is he nice?”

“Very,” said Toto, dropping Fernanda’s hand and placing his hands on either side of her waist, swaying slightly in his merry state.

Laughing, Fernanda stretched up to look Toto in the eye, “I’ll have to meet this guy, he sounds great.”

At that their lips met, Toto bending down to plant a soft kiss on Fernanda’s lips, their height difference making it slightly a challenge but one that neither party seemed bothered by. As the kiss deepened, Toto began to run his hands down towards Fernanda’s perfectly rounded ass, squeezing gently as he found her curves.

Breaking apart for air, Fernanda glanced around, luckily there was no one in the empty street but she didn’t want to risk being caught making out in the street with a famous face and it being splashed across the tacky tabloids.

“Do you fancy a nightcap at mine?” she asked, looking up at Toto through her fluffy long lashes.

Toto’s eyes lit up, “Well, I have heard the view is nice.”

Fernanda laughed, grabbing Toto’s hand once again and leading him towards the corner entrance to her hotel. As they crossed the lobby she had a sudden panic that her friend Olivia was in their room, and as they made it into the elevator, sent a frantic text knowing her friends would still be awake, waiting for her post-date debrief.

Red alert, I’m bringing him back, please can you vacate?

Sure enough, the replies came back instantaneously.

Oh la la of course birthday girl! 

Get it girl! 

Knew it!!!!!

Smiling as Toto rested his hand on the small of her back in the elevator, Fernanda looked up at him before he once again swooped down to catch her lips with his.

The elevator dinged before things could get too heated but it didn’t stop Toto wrapping his arm tightly around Fernanda’s waist as the pair stumbled towards her room.

“Here we are,” she said, scrambling to find her keycard in her bag before popping open the door to unveil her suite. Thankfully her friends must have tidied for her as the detritus from getting ready for the evening was nowhere to be seen.

“Nice,” said Toto before bending down once again to continue kissing her, turning her around to face him as she closed the door. Pressing her against the wall with his leg, he continued to deepen the kiss, his hands starting to explore more of her body.

“As soon as I saw you I knew I had to have you,” he said, his lips resting against her ear, his deep Austrian accent rumbling.

Fernanda gulped, she never would have thought it but his voice roused something deep within. Her lips stretching up and finding the crevice of his neck, she replied in a low voice, “Then have me.”

Toto needed no invitation, scooping her up into his arms, he carried her over to the bed, throwing her down before leaning over and continuing to kiss her, his strong arms either side of her, pinning her down.

Emboldened by his eagerness, Fernanda wrapped her legs around his thick torso, pushing herself against him, not surprised to find a growing bulge. As he ground his hips into hers, he started to explore her curves with his large hands, ghosting her breasts and waist and reaching around to caress her ass once again.

Reaching up, Fernanda started to unbutton Toto’s shirt, exposing a surprisingly muscular frame. Impatient, he leaned up and divested himself of the shirt as well as the rest of his clothes, leaving him in nothing but boxers. Fernanda couldn’t help but smile at the view that greeted her as he once again lunged down to kiss her, this time, his hands making quick work of pulling her dress off, leaving her exposed in nothing but her lingerie and heels.

“You are ridiculous,” he said, his eyes hungry with desire, gazing into her eyes and gently kissing her neck.

“I could say the same about you,” replied Fernanda breathily, her back arching in pleasure as Toto kissed his way along her neck and across her collarbone.

Melting into each other’s arms, Fernanda began to grind back against his now prominent hardness, feeling herself getting more turned on by the second.

“Toto?” she asked, gasping for air, “Will you fuck me?”

Toto’s eyes lit up, “I thought you’d never ask.”

Smiling at each other, Toto reached down to unhook Fernanda’s bra, releasing her pert breasts, “Fuck, Fernanda.” he said, lifting his head to marvel at them, “Even better than I imagined.”

Fernanda blushed at his words, not used to such attention. Growing impatient she ghosted her hands down Toto’s abs, hooking her fingers into the waistband of his boxers.

“You’re an impatient little thing aren’t you?” he said, leaning back suddenly and hooking his arms underneath Fernanda’s legs, gripping her thighs and bringing her closer. “I want to taste you first.”

Gulping Fernanda leant back, allowing Toto to bring his mouth to where she needed it most. As his tongue lapped gently, he brought his hand along and began to stroke her clit, slowly but sensually.

It wasn’t long before Fernanda was writhing in pleasure, tugging Toto’s dark locks as he pumped a finger in and out, continuing to expertly lick.

“Toto, I want you in me,” she said, seeing stars as she was so close.

Pausing his ministrations, Toto was more than happy to oblige, kissing his way back up her torso as he replied, “I want to do everything with you.”

At that, Fernanda melted, the evening had turned into one that was beyond her wildest dreams. As Toto swiftly undressed them both, she gazed into his intense chocolate eyes as he began to line himself up, unsurprisingly intimidatingly big.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he pushed in, slowly but surely. Gasping, Fernanda shifted as she adjusted to his size. True to his word, he took it easy and entered her tantalisingly slowly, an inch at a time.

“Fuck, Toto.” she said breathily, “You’re so big.”

Smiling, he pulled back out before pushing in once more, “Tell me if it’s too much.”

“Not at all, it feels good,” she said, feeling pleasantly stretched in places she’d never felt before.

“Good.” he said with a grin as he began to thrust in and out lazily, continuing to kiss her.

It wasn’t long before they were a tangled mess of arms and legs, both nearing completion. “Fuck, Toto, I am so close.” said Fernanda, her eyes rolling back in pleasure.

“Close isn’t good enough,” said Toto, smirking as he reached down and found her clit once again, his thumb circling gently as he continued to push in and out, speeding up.

“That feels so go…” Fernanda couldn’t even finish her sentence as Toto hit the sweet spot with expert precision. 

“Fernanda…” was all Toto managed as he thrust in and out a few more times, chasing his own high before collapsing on top of Fernanda.

“Ooff.” said Fernanda, crushed by the weight of the muscular man on top of her.

“Sorry,” he said sheepishly, flashing her a shy grin as he rolled off to lie beside her.

“Well… that was not how I expected my birthday to turn out.” said Fernanda, feeling like she was in a dream.

Toto laughed, stretching a strong arm across her stomach to pull her in for a cuddle. “There’s still a few hours of your birthday left.”

Fernanda’s eyes widened once more. This was certainly a birthday to remember.