Apex | Charles Leclerc

Chapter 55

It's Christmas time!!

Enjoy!

*****

December 24, 2025 - Monaco

Was it rude for me to pour myself a glass of wine before the guests arrived?

Yes.

Did I care?

Nope.

Charles was inside, unwrapping the food we ordered for Christmas Eve since neither of us were good enough cooks to prepare a feast for nine people. I've been quiet the entire day, the realization that it would be a year since I lost my family dawning on me when we got back from Abu Dhabi.

Naturally, I found solace in work while Charles was kept busy with his last engagements before the winter break. Every time he came home, he'd find me in the home office, folders of paperwork beside me with a fresh cup of coffee. Sometimes, he would leave me be when he notices that I want to distract myself, but there are also times where he would convince me to end it for the night.

I worked so much Adeline stopped giving me details about upcoming cases by the time the winter break began. I sent her an email asking for the following year's caseload and she replied with a simple no before greeting me happy holidays. She and Lewis were already spending theirs in Brazil with close family members, eager to get away from the loss of a championship.

Gabby was arriving in a few minutes and it didn't surprise me that Max offered to pick her up from the airport. I missed my best friend. So much has happened since the last time I saw her. It frightens me as well that she doesn't know about Monza since only a handful of people are privy to that information. Charles has asked me about it hundreds of times, knowing that I tell Gabby everything.

"Why didn't you tell her?" He asked one night while we were lying in bed, my head leaning against his chest as a movie played on the television, the volume set to a low level.

"I wanted to." I whispered, turning my head so that I could see him. "But I didn't want to relive it. Before the trial, all I wanted to do was get it over with so that I wouldn't see Manuele's face. Now, I just want to forget it ever happened."

"Do you think that's good?"

"No," I sighed and Charles pulled me closer to him. "But it's the only thing I can manage to do."

"We can still cancel for tonight." A voice from behind me said. I turned around from my position in the balcony, eyes meeting Charles'. His arms were crossed over his chest as he leaned against the doorframe of the double doors. He was dressed in jeans and a plain red sweater, his wrists covered in bracelets that were given to him by his fans.

"We won't." I said, turning back around and taking a sip of the wine, the warmth seeping into my bones to fight the cold weather. Charles was silent but his presence grew closer before I felt arms wrap around my waist, his chest against my back.

Christmas was harder for me to go through despite the one year anniversary coming up. I've spent months grieving about that day and I'm all spent. What I didn't expect was the emptiness I'd feel knowing that our usual traditions during Christmas wouldn't be done. My family didn't really celebrate the holiday, so we made our own form of celebrations. Every year, we'd find some place new in Turkey that none of us have been to. Charles suggested we do that for Christmas, but I knew he spent his holidays in Monaco with his family. Besides, we've spent most of the year traveling because of the race reason.

"Just say the word, and I'll make an excuse for them to leave."

A small smile formed on my lips as I placed my free hand over Charles' that was placed by my torso. "I hope it doesn't lead to that, but thank you."