Reflections-C.L

Let's meet again, for the first time

January 14th, 2022
Lydia's apartment, Athens, Greece

Lydia was watching some family show on the tv. Lying on the couch, covering her body with a blanket. The weather was really cold. It may even snow in the next few days, Lydia had heard saying on the news that day. Greece was hot at summers and cold at winters, but that winter was even colder than the past years. Climate change, she heard everyone saying.

Christmas break ended a few days ago and everyone returned back to reality. Schools had opened again and people had gone back to work.

But Lydia's work never ended. She always had to work out and be careful of what she ate. She spent many hours on the simulator trying to get better and better every time, correcting her times and picking up her pace.

She was more than ready for the new season. She was in a top team this year, ready to get more wins. Lydia was more than excited for the 2022 season, but the thing she was the most excited about was seeing the green eyed man again.

Of course they talked everyday, he kept his promise, but she wanted to see him again. This time in person. She wanted to see his mesmerizing green eyes that she got lost in, she wanted to see the dimples that formed on his face as he smiled. She wanted to kiss him, to feel that feeling when his lips touched hers. She wanted to hug him, she craved his touch. She was missing him more than she thought she would. Even if they talked every day he still was wandering on her mind all the time.

On Charles's side wasn't any different. He wanted to see her pretty face again. To sit with her underneath the night sky and listen to her talking about the stars. He wanted to play the piano while she cooked, just like they've talked about. He wanted to dance with her on the rain. He wanted to kiss her and hug her and touch her. He wanted to feel her. But it was too soon. Everything would come at its own time.

Lydia smiled as she saw the notification on her phone screen.

"Charles Leclerc sent you a message: Can I call you? I'm bored"
She opened her phone, opening the message he just sent her.
"Yeah" she responded back, closing her phone, and biting her lip as she waited for him to call her. After a few seconds she heard her phone ringing. Taking a deep breath she answered the call before putting the phone on her ear.

"Hi" she told him.
"Hello beautiful" she heard that familiar voice saying.
"How do you know I look beautiful right now?"
"You looked beautiful all the time" damn, you know what you are doing Leclerc, she thought as she felt her cheeks getting red.

They talked a bit about each other's day. Him complimenting her in between their conversation, her cheeks getting more and more red after each compliment.

"So when will I see you again?" she asked him.
"I'm going to Maranello next week for five days, for meetings. I'm assuming you are coming too"
"I do"
"So. I guess I'll see you in Maranello." "Yes,but we have to be professional. No laughing and talking with each other except if it's about work"
"You are right. We have to be careful. What we have mustn't affect our job."

They kept talking until both of them felt sleepy and closed the call to go to sleep. The last thing Charles thought that night was that he was going to see her again next week . Finally.

A week later

 21st January, 2021
 6:05 p.m Ferrari Facilities, Maranello, Italy

They were sitting opposite from each other. Both of them trying to focus on the meeting as they turned their heads, excanging glances from time to time, pretending to stretch or to talk to someone else, careful not to grow any suspicions. They haven't talked about what they have between them is so the last thing they wanted is to create new rumors.

"So that's all for today. Thank you all for coming. I will see you everyone tomorrow here again at 8:00 a.m"

Everyone got up starting to collect their things, leaving as Charles started doing the same. Oh, finally. It's been 9 hours.

He looked at her one more time, mentioning to wait for him. She went out of the room and turned left into a hallway hiding on an empty spot, waiting for him. He got out of the meeting room, carefully looking left and right before going where she also went.

He hugged her from behind whispering in her ear. " I missed you".
She turned to look at him. Their eyes now meeting each other's. "I missed you too, but we have to be careful."
"I know, sorry"
"It's okay." she said wrapping her hands around him, bringing him into a hug. He hugged her back. Her perfum coming into his face, filling his nostrils with her smell.
"You know I have to take you on a proper date" he said pulling away from her arms.
"You think?"
"Yeah. And I think we are on the best place."
"What if someone sees us?"
"We are going to be discreet"
"But-"
"I don't hear anything. I will come and pick you up at 9. Text me you hotel address."
"Okay." she said finally caving in.
"Get ready Hatzi. I'm taking you out tonight" he told her before starting walking away.

She watched him walking towards the exit door, turning to look at her and winking before he opened the door getting out of the building. A big satisfied smile on his face.

8:57 p.m ,Lydia's hotel room

Lydia looked herself in the mirror one last time. She was wearing a short, satin black dress with her high heeled pumps. Her hair on lose waves. Light make up on her face.

"I've arrived" Lydia saw the message on her phone as she put her black coat on, taking her bag and leaving her hotel room, heading towards the first floor. As she saw him standing outside, his body resting on the car, with a small bouquet of white roses on his hand she couldn't stop but smile. All the nervousness leaving her body.

"You look amazing" he said as she got closer to him.
"You don't look bad yourself" she said back.
"These are for you" he said, handing her the bouquet of roses. "I got you white roses. You are too special for red roses. They are too common" he continued.

They got inside the car, a few seconds later driving off. She looked outside through her window. Oh how much she loved Italy.

After a few minutes he stopped the car turning to look at her.
"We have arrived"
"Where are we?" she asked him looking around.
"It's a surprise. You will find out in a while. Now wear this" he said giving her a blind fold.
"I'm scared Charles." she said taking the blindfold from his hands and wearing it. "Don't be" he assured her. "Do you trust me?" he asked one more time.
"I do" she told him taking a deep breath.

He got out of the car, going to her side, opening the door and carefully taking her out too. They got somewhere , where Lydia thought was a building and then into an elevator. Coming out of the elevator they walked a little bit more. He always behind her with his hands on her shoulders leading the way.

Lydia suddenly felt a cold breeze on her face.
"You can take the blindfold off now" she heard him saying.
Lydia took the blindfold off instantly feeling amazed from the view in front of her. They were in a kind of rooftop. People all around eating while they watched the breathtaking view. You could see the whole town from up there. The stars of the night sky shinning bright above their heads.

"Wow Charles. It's beautiful" she told him as they sat on their table, still in shock. "I'm glad you like it"
"I don't just like it. I love this place" Charles smiled. She loves the place.
"I wanted our first date to be somewhere special." he said, making eye contact with her.
"Well. It is really is special." Lydia said smiling at him.

They rest of the night they talked and laughed and ate. After a few hours they got up, leaving the beautiful restaurant and went for a walk in the town.

"You know you haven't kissed me the whole night" she told him, pulling his hand, getting his attention as she stopped walking.
"You want me to kiss you? " he asked, smiling at her.
"Yes" she replied back. Her eyes looking at him.
" You want me to kiss you?" he repeated walking towards her.
"Yes" she said, now both of them smiling. "Then I'll kiss you" he said connecting his lips to her. He picked her up, spinning her around. Both of them laughing.

"We have to go back" she told him kissing him one more time.
"You are right. It's late. We work tomorrow" he said as he took her hand in his.
"I'm always right " she said laughing as they started walking back, where he had parked the car.