𝐓𝐇𝐄 (𝐈𝐌)𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓.𝐈𝐈𝐈 ✦ 𝐂𝐋¹⁶
SUMMARY: Charles Leclerc, a Formula 1 star, faces the decline of his reputation after breaking up with art curator Alexandra Saint Mleux. Under pressure from his team, he is forced into a fake relationship with one of the most popular influencers of the moment.
NOTES: English is not my first language, so there might be some writing mistakes. I apologize for that, and feel free to point out any improvements.
WC: 3.4k
WARNING: teasing, fake relationship
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Monaco was especially sunny that morning, the calm sea reflecting the clear, cloudless blue sky. For Charles, the scene felt almost cruel, given the weight he had been carrying ever since Sofia and Lorenzo presented the PR plan to him. Now, the most delicate part of the operation was about to begin: the first public appearance with Y/N.
The meeting had been carefully planned to look casual and discreet, far from prying eyes. Of course, strategically placed paparazzi would make sure the moment was captured, but the idea was to create an authentic, almost spontaneous vibe. The plan was a drive through the streets of Monaco in a sports car, followed by a stop at a low-key café. Simple enough to stir up a buzz without looking forced.
When Charles arrived at the meeting point, a mischievous grin already played on his lips. He spotted Y/N from a distance, flawless as always. She wore a white summer dress that could have come straight out of a fashion editorial, paired with simple sandals and sunglasses reflecting the shimmer of the sea. She looked like part of Monaco’s perfect backdrop.
He waited for her to get into the car before greeting her.
“You look like you just stepped out of a summer campaign,” he said as she opened the door, his tone laced with a bit of teasing.
Y/N raised an eyebrow, her expression already skeptical. “And you look like you just rolled out of bed,” she replied, giving him a pointed look at his slightly messy hair and basic t-shirt.
Charles chuckled, adjusting the steering wheel. “Give me a reason to look good, and maybe I’ll make an effort.”
Not in the mood for his banter, Y/N just rolled her eyes and settled into the seat. Charles started the car and drove at a slow, relaxed pace through Monaco’s narrow streets, which seemed to irritate her even more.
“You know you’re going to have to look interested, right?” she said without looking at him, her eyes fixed on the view outside.
“I am interested,” he retorted, leaning slightly toward her. “Just not sure if it’s in the drive.”
Y/N turned her head to stare at him, her look making it clear he was already testing her patience. Before she could respond, Charles spoke again.
“I didn’t know you had a place in Monaco,” he commented casually, referring to the house where he’d picked her up earlier.
“I don’t,” she replied, returning her gaze to the road. “It’s a friend’s place. Would be weird to have a boyfriend in the city and stay in a hotel, don’t you think?”
Charles raised his eyebrows, surprised by the logic. “Your mind works fast. How did you come up with that?”
“I won’t take credit for this one,” she said, crossing her legs elegantly. “It was Sofia’s idea. Since your house wasn’t an option, my friend kindly lent me a room.”
He laughed, caught off guard by the comment. He hadn’t even considered offering his house—well, Sofia probably made sure that wasn’t an option. “Sofia really thinks of everything, huh?”
Y/N shrugged, turning her attention back to the scenery.
The comfortable silence was broken when Y/N turned on the radio and picked a random song from Sabrina Carpenter’s new album. She began humming quietly, as if she were alone.
Charles raised an eyebrow, surprised. “So you like Sabrina Carpenter?”
“I do,” she replied, not bothering to look at him.
“Great,” he said, smiling. “We should go to one of her shows on my week off. What do you think?”
Y/N turned to look at him, her gaze sharp. “Like you did with your ex?” she teased, her voice dripping with irony. “Going from Swiftie to Carpenter. I don’t think your fans will like that. I can already picture the TikToks with ‘Déjà Vu’ playing in the background. I’ll pass, but thanks for the offer.”
Charles laughed, clearly unfazed by her sharp tone. He even seemed to enjoy it.
“So you were following my old relationship? How cute. Didn’t know you were also a fan of mine.”
“In your dreams,” Y/N shot back immediately. “I’m just a chronically online girl.”
Charles laughed louder, taking the chance to tease her even more. “Well, at least you admitted you pay attention to me.”
Y/N rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile that escaped.
The café they chose was small, discreet, and strategically positioned with a partial view of the sea. The place was perfect: charming enough for a date, secluded enough to avoid crowds, but of course, there were a few paparazzi already strategically spread out.
Charles and Y/N settled at an outdoor table, the sun in Monaco bathing the area. Before she could pull out the chair, Charles jumped ahead, making sure to exaggerate the gesture as if it were a scene from a romantic movie.
“Thanks, Prince Charming,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
“Anytime, my princess,” he replied, a mischievous smile on his face, more for teasing than to please.
Y/N just rolled her eyes and adjusted her dress as he took his seat at the table.
A few minutes later, the waiter appeared with the menu, leaving them to decide at their leisure. The silence between them was slightly uncomfortable, but not unbearable—more like a tense calm.
After flipping through the menu for a few moments, Y/N closed it and made her choice. “I’ll have a lemon water and a chocolate tart.”
Charles raised an eyebrow. “Chocolate tart? For breakfast? That’s pretty bold of you.”
She smirked, challenging him. “And you? What are you going to order? Something more ‘appropriate’?”
“An espresso and avocado toast,” he answered with a touch of theatricality, closing the menu.
The waiter took their orders and left, leaving them alone again.
Charles leaned back in his chair, watching Y/N intently, and asked the question that seemed to be bothering him. “Okay, so what do we do now?”
Y/N crossed her arms, leaning slightly over the table. “What do couples usually do on dates like this?” she asked, as if it were obvious. “I believe they talk, right? At least that’s what I used to do.”
Charles let out a short laugh. “Sounds easy when you say it like that.”
“Because it is easy,” she shot back, with a superiority in her tone. “Or maybe you’re less experienced with relationships than you let on.”
He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “I’m a great boyfriend, ma chérie. I’m just trying to figure out which version of me you want the public to see today.”
Y/N gave an ironic smile, adjusting her sunglasses on her head like a tiara. “Surprise me, Leclerc. Just try not to overdo it.”
Charles flashed a mischievous grin. “Overdoing it is my specialty. You should know that by now.”
She just shook her head, murmuring something softly that Charles couldn’t hear, but it sounded like a challenge. The tension between them was almost palpable—a mix of competition and chemistry that they both stubbornly ignored.
“Are you going to want me to accompany you to the Monaco GP?” Y/N changed the subject, her tone casual. “I was thinking… I think it might be a bit too soon for me to go with you. Maybe it’d be better if I went with some friends.”
Charles raised an eyebrow, clearly uninterested in her concerns. “I think all this caution is over the top. Aren’t we supposed to make people think we’re together? So just show up with me there.”
“Yes, but there’s a difference between letting people know and rubbing it in their faces,” Y/N explained, as if it were obvious. “I’ll go with some friends and we’ll meet in more discreet parts of the paddock. It feels more natural.”
Charles sighed, a half-smile forming on his face. “I don’t get why you ask for my opinion if you’re just going to decide everything on your own.”
“I just want to be nice and make you think your opinion matters,” she replied, with a sweetness that was obviously fake.
“You’re evil,” he said, amused, but with a tone of surrender.
The brief silence that followed was broken by the waiter, who brought their orders. Y/N thanked him politely, while Charles just nodded, still observing every move she made as if he were trying to figure her out. He seemed to study her as if she were a puzzle full of unexpected twists.
“So,” Charles began, stirring the sugar into his espresso. “If we’re going to pretend to be a couple, we need some backstories. You know, those little tales that all couples have.”
Y/N cut a small piece of her pie and looked at him over her lemon water. “And what do you suggest? Should we make up a romantic trip to Paris or something?”
“Why not?” He shrugged, as if it were the most obvious idea in the world. “It’s cliché, but it works. Or maybe something simpler… like our first date?”
Y/N laughed quietly, a sound that mixed irony and amusement. “No one’s going to ask us that, but you’re right. We need to think of some details: how long we’ve been together, what we know about each other… those things real couples would know.”
Charles leaned forward on the table, his gaze full of mischief. “I could tell you all about me right now, but you’ll have to do the same. It’s a test.”
Y/N rolled her eyes and took a sip of her water. “I don’t mind telling you the basics. Now, if you really want to seem convincing, you’ll need to put in a little more effort.”
“Effort? I’m a Formula 1 driver, chérie. No one knows how to perform under pressure better than I do.”
She smiled but didn’t bother to respond, focusing on finishing her pie. Charles watched her for a moment, noticing the smile that seemed sincere, almost carefree—a curious contrast to the controlled and flawless persona she usually displayed.
“You’re taking this more seriously than I thought,” he remarked, lifting his espresso cup, a mix of surprise and admiration in his voice.
“It’s not just your image at stake,” she replied simply, but there was something in the determination of her tone that caught Charles’s attention.
The conversation took an unexpected turn. They began sharing basic details about each other—hobbies, likes, and even a few funny stories that came up spontaneously. At some point, without either of them realizing, they laughed together, as if they were long-time friends. From a distance, anyone watching would see just another couple on a casual date, exchanging smiles and light conversation.
As Charles finished his coffee, Y/N made a comment about the pie, but before she could continue, a fan approached hesitantly, interrupting their conversation.
“Charles, can I take a picture with you?” the boy asked, admiration shining in his eyes.
Charles smiled warmly and stood up without hesitation. “Of course!”
Y/N stayed seated, watching the interaction from a distance. She saw the driver crouch down to meet the boy’s eye level, exchanging a few words before posing for the picture. The scene was incredibly genuine—something she’d never admit out loud, but it made her smile faintly.
When the picture was taken, the boy looked at Y/N, hesitating for a moment before saying, “Sorry to interrupt your date. You’re really beautiful, and you make such a cute couple.”
Y/N blinked, slightly surprised by the comment, but quickly regained her composure.
“Thank you,” Charles replied, winking at the boy. “You’ve got good taste.”
The boy laughed, thanked them again, and ran off toward his parents, leaving the two in a brief moment of silence.
“Cute couple, huh?” Charles remarked, sitting back down and crossing his arms with a mischievous smile.
Y/N rolled her eyes, but a nearly imperceptible smile appeared on her lips. “Just a polite kid trying to be nice. Don’t get too excited.”
“Yeah, sure,” he teased. “But maybe he’s just saying what everyone’s thinking.”
“So that means our plan is working,” she replied, taking one last sip of her lemon water. “But for today, I’ll let you enjoy the compliment.”
Charles laughed, and for a moment, the teasing gave way to something lighter, almost comfortable.
After a few more minutes of conversation, during which Charles managed to get a few more laughs out of Y/N—to his satisfaction and surprise—they both realized that time had passed faster than expected. He called the waiter to ask for the check, insisting on paying, which earned him another skeptical glance from her.
“You know you don’t have to try to be a gentleman with me, right? I’m not impressed,” she said while he signed the receipt.
“I know,” he replied with a provocative smile, standing up to push her chair in. “But I like to keep up appearances. What if the waiter decides to tell some tabloid I’m a terrible boyfriend?”
She let out a soft laugh, grabbing her purse and adjusting her sunglasses before they headed toward the car together.
Outside, the Monegasque sun was still mild, but the sea breeze made the weather pleasant. They walked side by side, a discreet distance apart, but the curious glances of a few passersby were already starting to appear. Charles opened the car door for her, which earned him another skeptical look.
“I didn’t know you liked acting so much,” she teased, settling into the seat.
“It’s not acting,” he said, leaning in slightly to look at her closely before closing the door. “It’s natural charm.”
She rolled her eyes as he walked around to the driver’s side, starting the car with a smooth motion.
The drive back to her friend’s house was calm, but not without the usual comments. He insisted on driving slowly, claiming he wanted to enjoy the view, which left her slightly impatient.
“Are you scared to drop me off or are you just trying to annoy me?” she asked, pretending to sound casual as she fiddled with the strap of her purse. “You’re definitely enjoying pretending to be my boyfriend a little too much.”
“Maybe,” he admitted. “But you don’t seem all that different.”
Y/N just shook her head, choosing not to fuel the conversation any further.
When they finally reached her friend’s house, he stopped the car in front of the gate. Before she could open the door, Charles stopped her with a comment.
“See you at the Monaco GP? You’ll need to be in front of the podium when I win the race.”
She paused, looking at him, confused, before smiling enigmatically. “You’re way too confident for someone who’s only won once on this track.”
She opened the car door and got out, walking toward the entrance without looking back. Charles watched her for a moment, chuckling quietly to himself before starting the car again and driving back home.
Even after he had turned the corner, the interaction lingered in both of their minds—though neither of them would admit it.
The heat of Monaco was beginning to give way to a cool breeze as the sun set, painting the sky with shades of orange and pink. Y/N had just stepped out of the shower and could hardly wait to throw herself on the bed and relax. Pretending to be the girlfriend of a Formula 1 driver was proving to be more exhausting than she’d imagined.
She flopped onto the soft mattress and, almost instinctively, grabbed her phone. Among the notifications and irrelevant messages, one caught her attention. It was from Clara, asking about a picture of her and Charles kissing at a club.
Y/N’s heart sank for a moment. She clearly remembered that night. One of the few times she’d let her guard down, and Charles… well, he had been irresistible, more charming than usual. But how had that photo surfaced now?
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered to herself, sitting up on the bed and zooming in on the image to take a better look.
She let out a deep sigh and opened Instagram. The post already had hundreds of thousands of likes and a flood of comments. Some praised them, saying that she and Charles made the perfect couple, while others speculated about the “fake” nature of their relationship.
As she scrolled, a mix of discomfort and irritation washed over her. It wasn’t just the invasion of privacy; it was the fact that this could ruin all the work they’d done to control the narrative.
Meanwhile, at Charles’s house, the driver was lounging on the sofa, distracted by a game on his console. His older brother, Lorenzo, walked in with his phone in hand, wearing a mischievous smile.
“Hey, petit frère, you didn’t tell me things were going on with Y/N,” he said, plopping down on the couch next to Charles and showing him the phone screen.
Charles paused the game and looked at the photo. His expression was a mix of surprise and irritation. “Where did you get this?”
“It’s everywhere. Someone posted it just now, and it’s already gone viral,” Lorenzo replied, trying to hold back his laughter. “So… wanna tell me what happened? If you two had something going on, you could’ve told me, it would’ve made my job and Sofia’s a lot easier.”
Charles huffed, tossing the controller aside. “It was months ago, at a party. Nothing big. Just one night.”
Lorenzo raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “Nothing big? Doesn’t look like ‘nothing big’ to me when you’re kissing like that.”
“You’re not helping,” Charles retorted, rubbing his temples. “This is going to mess everything up. We had a plan, and now this photo pops up out of nowhere.”
“Well, you know how the internet works,” Lorenzo said, still amused. “But honestly, you two look pretty natural in that picture. Maybe this helps, you know? Shows you’ve been together longer than planned.”
Charles shot his brother an exasperated look. “You really think Sofia’s going to buy that? She wants everything under control, and now there’s a picture from months ago that could ruin the whole plan.”
Lorenzo shrugged. “You get yourself in trouble, little bro. Not my problem, but… just out of curiosity: was it just a kiss?”
Charles hesitated for a moment before shaking his head, a sly grin creeping across his lips. “Of course, it wasn’t just that. But she acted like it never happened. I woke up, and she was already gone.”
Lorenzo burst into laughter. “So, that’s why you’re always trying to get under her skin. It bruised your ego, huh?”
“Shut up, Lorenzo,” Charles grumbled, but there was amusement in his voice.
Back at Y/N’s house, she decided to call Sofia before the situation got any more out of hand.
“Please tell me you saw the photo,” Y/N said as soon as Sofia picked up.
“I saw it,” Sofia replied, her voice calm but tinged with concern. “I’m already keeping an eye on social media. We can’t ignore it, but we also can’t look desperate to control it. I’ll come up with a strategy, but you need to talk to Charles. You two need to align on what you’re going to say if anyone asks.”
Y/N sighed, already tired just thinking about talking to him again. “Alright. I’ll call him now.”
She hesitated for a moment but finally dialed Charles’s number.
“Y/N,” he answered quickly, his voice alert.
“So, you’ve seen it?” she asked, getting straight to the point.
“Of course, I’ve seen it. Lorenzo hasn’t stopped laughing since he found the photo,” he replied, mixing frustration with humor.
“Great. Now I have to deal with you and your brother,” she retorted, rolling her eyes.
“Look, it’s not the end of the world. We can use this to our advantage,” Charles suggested, trying to sound optimistic.
“Use it to our advantage?” Y/N repeated, incredulous. “Do you have any idea how much this could complicate everything? All the work to look like the perfect couple is going down the drain now!”
Charles paused, his voice softening. “Or it could show we really have a history, that what’s going on now didn’t just come out of nowhere. I think people will buy it.”
Y/N stayed silent for a moment, thinking it over. “Okay, maybe you’re right. But we need to make sure we’re on the same page.”
“We’re already on the same page, chérie,” he said confidently, and something in his tone, as annoying as it was, managed to reassure her in some strange way.
“So, should we meet tomorrow to iron out the details?”
“It’s a date,” he responded, and Y/N could almost picture his smug smile on the other end of the line.
“It’s not a date,” she shot back, ending the call before he could respond.
Still holding her phone, Y/N flopped onto the couch, taking a deep breath. If the day had already been long, the night was shaping up to be even longer.
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