Forever and always

Chapter eleven

Olivia's pov
April 2021

The early morning light streamed softly through the curtains, the sun rising lazily over the rooftops of Imola. The room smelled faintly of fresh linen and the tang of coffee brewing from somewhere down the hallway.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling me from my sleep-induced haze. I stretched and groaned, reluctantly pushing myself upright and squinting at the time. The clock read 7:15 am.

The formula one weekend in Italy had arrived. The air was thick with the excitement that always came before the start of a race weekend, and I was eager to be immersed in it. I reached for my phone and immediately checked social media, where the usual flood of updates had begun.

Teams were posting practice shots, track conditions were being discussed, and fans were already speculating on race outcomes. Even here, in this little corner of Italy, the intensity was palpable.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and padded to the bathroom, brushing my teeth and splashing my face with cold water to shake off the last remnants of sleep. In the mirror, my reflection looked a little disheveled but ready to face the day.

After a few more minutes, I threw on a casual outfit—black leggings, a simple grey hoodie, and sneakers—and quickly packed the essentials into my bag. The rest of the morning was spent checking emails, running through the schedule for the day, and ensuring everything was set for my media duties.

Charles's pov:

The streets of Imola welcomed me with their cobbled paths and historic architecture as I jogged through them. The crisp morning air cut through the thin fabric of my workout gear, invigorating my senses. It had become a ritual, running early before the world truly woke up. The peace of the city before the F1 circus took over was something I relished.

I could feel the quiet hum of the upcoming weekend—a storm of energy, anticipation, and competition just waiting to explode. The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was always a special race for me.

The Italian fans had always supported me, even when I was with Sauber, and now, with Ferrari, it felt like something deeper.

As I finished my run and neared the hotel, I slowed my pace, stretching my arms above my head to release the tension in my shoulders. I was heading toward the entrance when I spotted Olivia standing near the hotel lobby, a few steps ahead.

"Morning, Charles" she greeted, flashing me a smile.

"Morning" I replied, a bit breathless. "Just finished my run"

"I can see that" she grinned, her eyes sparkling. "Want to join me for another one?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're up for it?"

She laughed. "You might be faster, but I think I can keep up"

We both made our way to the elevator, and then she threw me off guard with a request.

"Actually, can we take the stairs? I prefer it" Olivia said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. I raised an eyebrow. "Stairs? Are you serious?"

"Absolutely" she said, her voice teasing. "I need to work off those carbs" - "Right" I replied, trying to suppress my grin. "Alright, let's go"

I followed her into the stairwell, and soon enough, we were both running down the stairs of the hotel. Olivia kept a steady pace beside me, her breath controlled, her body clearly well-conditioned.

"You're not bad" I said after a few months, glancing over at her.

"Not bad?" She replied, mock-offended. "You think you can beat me that easily?"