Apex | Charles Leclerc

Epilogue Part 1

Hello! Sorry if it took me a while since I've been preparing for a trip to Taiwan with my high school friends 🤍

Welcome to part 1 of the Epilogue which is at least 5k words. Just like in Lock Up, these will be done in Charles' POV.

Enjoy!

*****

February 01, 2025 - Monaco

"Mate, who's this?" Max asked me before sliding his phone on the table. We both just got back from our respective pre-season trainings and decided to meet up to have dinner.

I picked up his phone and saw a photo of me after dinner last night with Joris and his girlfriend, Chloé. They've been dating for three months and Joris has begun introducing her to his friends in Monaco, beginning with me. "I know I've been seen with a lot of girls lately, but she's with Joris."

The media has now labeled me as F1's Bachelor with most of them posting pictures of me around Monaco with different girls. To be fair, not all of them were girls that I flirted with and the media outlets failed to mention that I'd be going out with some of my friends as well. Half of the girls I was pictured with ended up going home with them.

I didn't exactly clear it out either. Ever since news broke out about my breakup with Rose last year, people have been assuming that every girl I'm seen with is my new girlfriend. It's fucking annoying.

"I'm so sick of people expecting me to jump into a new relationship. Maybe I should hold a press conference that I'll be single for my entire life." A second later, a pillow was thrown at my face, making my glare at Max as he went back to scrolling through his phone. "Ow?"

"Not everyone wants to be single, you know? Maybe you just haven't found the one." Max said and I raised an eyebrow at him. "What? I've been single for three years. I'm just waiting for whoever she is to arrive."

"There's nothing to wait for." I said, catching the second pillow just in time before it reached my face.

February 14, 2025 - Monaco

There was no use escaping Valentine's Day because everywhere I go, people are either all loved up or bitter about being single. I wanted to treat this day as I always do, just a regular Friday spent at Jimmy'z.

I was meeting someone and she was late. A few days ago, I came across a tourist who was exactly my type— brown hair, soft features, and brown eyes. It wasn't difficult to get her number and when I invited her to have drinks tonight, she said she was available.

Only I've been waiting for fifteen minutes and I was growing impatient. I looked pathetic waiting by the bar so I grabbed my glass of whiskey and headed out to the terrace which was thankfully empty. I took out a cigarette from my pocket and placed it in between my lips, pulling out my lighter before hovering it by the end of the stick.

I'm not a heavy smoker. I had to control my usage because driving in Formula One meant you always had to be in good shape. Usually, I'd just smoke during days or nights where I want to forget and this was definitely one of them.

Last year's Valentine's Day was spent with Rose and I celebrating at her bakery. It was the busiest time of the year for her and I decided to prepare everything by myself and surprise her with an intimate dinner and a walk around Monaco afterwards. During that night, I never expected myself to be alone the following year and staying the hell away from love.

My thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and a girl walked in.

Her dark brown hair was falling in waves until it reached her lower back. She was dressed in a black dress that was obviously not made for the February weather but it seemed like she didn't mind. When her attention moved to me, a look of surprise covered her features and I found myself solely focused on her eyes.