Apex | Charles Leclerc

Chapter 37

Hi guys!

I decided to start uploading Lock Up in AO3. I won't be able to post all the chapters at once since I still don't know how to properly navigate it 😂 But when it's all posted, you can save the book as an epub and read it like an ebook instead hehe

We're going to be moving at a faster pace from now on since there's still A LOT to go through during the present timeline.

Look out for some typos! I'll be editing once the book is done dunno when that will happen 😂

Enjoy!

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June 03, 2025 - Monaco & USA

Ever since the Monaco Grand Prix, I haven't experienced a night where I slept alone.

My days were spent either in the office or at The Meeting Grounds. Majority of my day was occupied with meetings and caseloads especially when Adeline decided to add more to my list of duties. Before going home, I'd buy my second cup of coffee from the cafe, bringing home whatever pastry they had and reserving it for for the end of the day.

Charles' days were spent training with Andrea and attending meetings. Sometimes he'd have shoots with Carlos for Ferrari or his other sponsors. There was one day where I knew he was supposed to be in Maranello but he said there were a change of plans and it wouldn't push through.

Our nights, however, are different. He always arrives at the same time— nine in the evening. By this time, I had just finished eating dinner and was cleaning up the dishes. A knock would come from my door and I'd open it, not bothering to check who it is because it's always Charles. Normally, he would give me a smile, close the door behind him, drop his backpack in the living room, and head for the fridge to grab the pastry I bought.

It all felt so domestic. He's already memorized where everything was in the kitchen, acting as if he's lived here for months. Tonight, we were both standing on opposite sides of the kitchen counter, a box that had two slices of chocolate cake in between us.

"What time do we have to be at the airport?" I asked, grabbing two glasses and a pitcher of water for us.

"In an hour." He said, voice muffled because of the food inside his mouth. "Are you already packed?"

"Yeah. My suitcase is in my room."

The Canadian Grand Prix was happening this weekend and since I've only been to three races, I have three more to go to before the summer break. I already talked about it with Adeline and we agreed that I can fly out during the race weekends in the UK and Hungary. The last race before summer break was Hungary and I found it ironic to be the last one I attend as well.

Charles was planning to spend a day in New York before heading to Canada which was why we were taking a red eye to the city tonight. I've only been to New York twice— once for work and the other for a short trip with Gabby.

The eleven hour flight was spent sleeping and watching movies in between, only a small amount of conversation between us. It was obvious that we were both tired, the heaviness of our careers catching up to us whenever we get an ounce of rest.

He's never been to New York which was why he left the itinerary up to me. The hotel we were staying in had a beautiful view, the Empire State Building, topping it all up. The room was inclusive of a veranda that was big enough to have a table and two chairs.

"So, what do we have planned for today, Nova?" He asked, plopping down beside me on the sofa as I went through my phone, making sure everything was all set. The day I planned wasn't necessarily down to the minute since I just had a list of places we should visit. Honestly, I don't know if we could cram everything into one day but if we do, I'm sure our feet would be deadass tired by tonight. Everything was within the city and I didn't hire a car because of the traffic and the fact that it was an unnecessary cost.