Chapter Summary: What motivates one to accept such high risk?Nothing to lose and all to win? You could learn how some can be very persuasive.
Multiple drivers + Fem!reader ( AU)
Genre: Action, drama, suspense, with just enough pinch of romance.
Chapter Warnings: Mentions of car crash and death.
♕ September 10th - 19h48 - Paris
You stared at the eviction order in front of you, displayed on your kitchen table like the bane of your existence. Months. For months you've been working day and night, as a waitress in a Paris café. Earning just enough to pay the most important bills and one meal a day. And now the owner couldn't even pay you anymore. An 80 years old woman who had hired you to help since her son moved away. Unfortunate, but you can't blame her.
Is this the adult life you wished for as a kid? The Paris dream life you idealized your entire life. You risked everything coming to Paris.
You're remembering your teenage years, with big dreams, and eyes on the easy way, the years in which you made the wrong decisions. The friends you had were your older brother's group of friends. After your brother's funeral you lost touch with most of them. About the ones you still know…one is in jail, one is doing mandatory service and the one you're still in contact with is Charles, whose brother, Jules was also in the car with your brother when the crash happened.
Charles is...well, Charles is still trying to make a life restoring works of art, safe to say is not going that well, coming from a small family, with no contacts, there is nowhere much he can go, Paris was his best option. And yours too, at that time.
Speaking of Charles, you check your message's app again. His invitation for a coffee next weekend is nothing new, being old friends, some casual coffee meetings once or twice a month were normal for you. His partner, now fiancée Alex, almost always joins you two, she's sweet, and soon after you'd met, she became, basically your big sister.
How is it that so many things could crumble at the same time? A small part of you considers “Maybe I should create an OnlyFans”. You laugh at your own intrusive thoughts, because you can barely get naked in front of a partner, let alone a camera for strangers on the internet.
You sigh with finality and open your laptop, mind set on finding a new job that actually pays well. Scrolling through the options, waitress in a small bar, it pays the same as your current position, so maybe, in the last case. Babysitter for three kids, 24/7 and as much as you don't mind kids..you have no patience to deal with three of them. You stop, eyes furrow, fingers hovering the mouse button.
“General staff for La Joliette Event 's company. No degree required. Must speak English fluently. €16.80 per hour”
You stare at the offer. It's just above the minimum salary in France. But as you read the job description you consider it. Because as much as the payment it's not a big deal, it's “fair”. Serving drinks, helping with events organization, guide guests or cleaning kitchen's supplies. And for someone who used to get paid less than the minimum, it's for sure, an upgrade…
You don't think too much before clicking on the link and writing an email with your details to schedule an interview with the company.
~~~~~~~◇~~~~~~~
Half an hour later you're making tea on facetime with Charles and Alex explaining your jobless situation and how you just applied for working as a staff. Paying attention to the mug in your hand, you didn't notice the couple exchanging glances when you mentioned the company's name.
After hanging up the phone and taking a shower, you go to sleep thinking of what clothes to wear in the job interview. Not knowing that your name became a crucial topic of the discussion between Charles and his associates in a warehouse close to the outskirts of the city.
“Charles, we are eight already, nine if you count your fiancée. The more people involved the bigger the chances of this going wrong, more variables, meaning more risk...” The young man is skeptical after hearing the Monegasque's idea.
“Mate, she's going to be on the inside. It would simplify the plan by miles. System data, location, time schedules…Putain. Think about it…she could get it all. And I trust her with my life.”
“Charles got a point…as much as I'm an excellent hacker, the less digital trace we leave, the better, this would be our helping hand..” Another one chimes in.
“I mean. If you trust her that much…I trust your judgment. But would she accept it? The stakes are higher than any of us could crumble at it if all goes south.” One of the older men in the room added to the discussion.
“We'll never know if I never ask..”
The Strategist in the room sighs
“uhmm…okay. Then it's settled. If she gets the job. I'll rearrange the plan and plot how this could strategically make it work for everyone, and Charles is in charge of convincing the girl.”
Charles nods.
“I can go with you if that helps?” The older man rested his hand on Charles' shoulder as the younger man nodded in appreciation. “Bring your fiancée too. You said they're friends. She might be more willing if she knows Alex is alongside the plan.”
♕ September 16th - 14h24 - Paris
You just wanted to ‘celebrate’ the news of getting the job. Now you sit frozen in the Café's chair. It's a cheap and old chair, just like the establishment itself, located in a tight alley from a small neighborhood.
The elderly man who works in the balcony barely heard you when you placed your order. You had to awkwardly raise your voice for him to understand. The embarrassment of ordering was for nothing, really. Because now your coffee sits cold on the table, you took only two sips before being in too much disbelief to even touch the cup.
Besides you, it's Alex, calmly resting her hand on top of yours. Across from you sits Charles, who's staring at you expectantly, as the stranger man who sits beside him is calmly sipping his coffee without a care in the world. Lewis, he introduced himself as.
“Let me get this straight. I just got a job and you…who's been secretly planning a big scale robbery for months, want me to participate by basically infiltrating and stealing data from the Louvre. So we can hypothetically, get in and out without anyone even realizing what happened..?” Your voice is surprisingly normal despite your disbelief.
Charles gives you that stupid smile he would always throw at you when you were younger, the one he used when he wanted you to join him with his stupid plans so he wouldn't get in trouble alone.
“Uhm…yes, pretty much simplify that's it.”
“Charles… This is madness. Your plan in theory sounds cinematic, yeah. But in reality so many things could go wrong!” You whispered. “You, me and your friends would go to prison for life and for what? A couple thousand euros-”
“Millions.” Lewis interrupts you, for the first time since the discussion started, softly adding something to it. “More specifically, 10 million for each one of us.”
Your breath hitched.
“Think about it, ma petite abeille.” Charles says softly.
Shit, ‘my little bee’
Him and Jules used to call you that when you and him were just 10 and 17.
“You're playing dirty.” You murmur, brows furrowed.
“A bit, yeah. But we will let you think, ok? No pressure..You're always welcome to stay with me and Alex in our apartment too. You already know that.” Him and Alex stand up, the latter giving you a warm hug before both leave the Café. Leaving you to think.
Lewis is still there, sitting with an impeccable posture, staring at you with intense brown eyes. But not unkind, just…curious, maybe?
“You're scared. But interested in it..aren't you?” He finally talks. You take notice of the strong British accent.
“It's a lot of money, but pure madness and a lot of risks.” You murmur.
“All big prizes come with proportional risks.” The corner of his mouth tilts up as you stay quiet, contemplating his words.
“Am I obligated to say yes? I mean, you told me your plan…and it makes me a witness.” You blurted it out.
He laughs.
“Not at all. Besides…we didn't tell you the details. You know no date, time, names…If you're not in, you walk away and we carry on without you. Charles trusts you with this secret and I trust him. So I'm giving you the benefit of doubt.” He answers peacefully and you nod before he continues.
“But…what do you have to lose?”
You lower your head, eyeing your hands as they play with your bracelet. Thoughtful of his question.
“Allow me to admit that I did a background check on you.” Your head snaps back up at his admission. Eyebrows furrowed, suspicious now. “Childhood normal, average student, but your stepdad…”
Your fingers freeze on your bracelet at the mention. And if he notices, he doesn't show, he just keeps talking.
“He was a kind man…but he was addicted to gambling, wasn't he? Died leaving loads of debts for your mom. Your brother was helping her pay them…and then the accident happened. Now your mom has to work twice as much to pay those. That's why you left, right? You didn't want to be another thing for her to- ”
“Stop.” He obeys you. “I get it, already.”
“I'm not trying to be the bad guy, love. If you want to do it the hard but conventionally honest way. You can, no one will hold you onto that. But…if you think about it..those jewelry were stolen in the first place. With stolen gold and stones, blood of slaves and hundreds of deaths…We won't hurt anyone with this plan, besides…there is a popular saying that: A thief who steals from a thief…”
You sigh. Defeated.
“...Is forgiven for a hundred years.” His smile widened as you completed the phrase. “To deceive a deceiver is no deceit, right?” You add.
It happened on the night of December 7th, during a luxurious gala ball. Under the nose of 300 guests and unsuspecting walls of the Louvre museum, intruders stole around 90 millions euros in jewelry.
Nine individuals, from different backgrounds, together planned and executed what might have been one of the most intricate robbery of the generation.
The Promoter, the Strategist, the Mole, the Hacker, the Performer, the Acrobat, the Artist, the Security and the Getaway driver. Each and every one of them was assigned a role in a meticulous plan that could either make or ruin their lives.
Between blueprints, security cameras, getaway cars, suits and dresses, love can bloom in subtle ways.
Four parts' story ~
Multiple drivers + Fem!reader
Genre: Action, drama, suspense, with just enough pinch of romance. ~
C.W: Strangers to allies to lovers; Robbery; Illegal activities(obv); inaccurate descriptions of the Louvre museum.
Summary: Max Verstappen recognized the pharmacist helping him as one of his old classmates from secondary school, but she was surprised because when did the weird ugly kid from school become a sexy man.
Notes: In honor of Max's birthday and inspired by Sabrina Carpenter's song.
Genre: Fluff + Comedy
Cw: none
Max Verstappen was many things. World Champion race driver, focused, aggressively talented, and sharpened tonged.
But beyond all that, he was a dotted and careful cat dad to Jimmy and Sassy. The latter that recently started acting a bit weird, more than usual for a cat, and after an 40 minutes appointment with one of the most expensive Veterinarians in Monaco, said cat was diagnosed with an urinary tract infection, causing the poor cat to be in pain.
That being the reason as to why the 4th time World Champion was on the balcony of a pharmacy while a young intern was separating the drugs prescribed to Sassy. Well...trying to. Apparently, the calligraphy of the veterinarian was making the prescription look like a bunch of hieroglyphics. It's short to say Max was getting impatient.
"Hm, sorry sir, I'm just an intern. Let me check with the head pharmacist." The young boy quickly retreated into a white door behind the balcony with the prescription paper before Max could even say anything.
No longer than 2 minutes later, that felt like an eternity for the man, a woman came out through the door probably in her 20s, reading the prescription mumbling to herself and walking straight towards the medicine shelf behind the balcony. Quick small hands moving boxes back and forth. Finally, she grabs the correct one and turns to him.
"Alright, bad calligraphy in prescriptions are the final bosses in pharmacy, but I got you, Mr. Verstappen" She smiled, looking up at the quite attractive man and then back down, typing down numbers and batches on a laptop, trying to stay professional, not noticing Max eyes subtly widening in recognition.
She only looked up when he said her name in quiet a doubtful way.
"Hum...yes. That's me? Have we met before?" She smiles awkwardly.
"We..uhm...studied together on Secondary school, 6th grade, right?" He asks calmly.
She looks at him, and then at his name on the prescription and then at him again, but this time with eyes wide open.
"Maxie?" She confirms lowly, but high pitched.
His smile hearing the nickname was wide and too much adorable for a man his age. He nodded quite proud of himself. Her face was still shocked and surprised, mouth open, not a single thought in her head but:
"When did you get hot?!" She blurted out. Immediately slapping her mouth and widening her eyes in horror for what just came out of her mouth.
The embarrassment gets her face burning red, especially hearing the loud laugh that Max let out hearing that.
"Uhm...probably after the so-called second puberty?" He answered sarcastically, but still smiling, clearly enjoying the situation.
"Heaven's sake...I am so sorry. That was not professional nor appropriate of me to say." She admits hiding her face with both hands. Subtly peeking between her fingers to find him smiling softly at her.
"That's alright. It made my day, actually." He affirms, grabbing the medicines boxes carefully extended for him.
"Here are the medicines. Were you instructed how to administrate them to your pet?" She asks solemnly, trying to save whatever dignity she still had.
"Yes, the vet explained everything." He contemplates for a second. "Though I might appreciate your contact info for...you know...future questions?"
"Oh...oh yeah, sure! Here is my card with my number and email, I'll answer as soon as possible." She nervously extended the card between them.
Max takes the card and medicines boxes to the cashier, paying for it while not so subtly eyeing the pharmacist who was even less subtly taking short peeks at the handsome man a few meters away.
Poor intern printing Max's receipt looks between the two, raising his eyebrows, thinking about how ridiculously obvious they looked. Shaking his head at his superior as soon as Max left.
"You're hopeless, ma'am." He jokes quietly.
"Go clean the storage room, kid." She deadpan and laughs when his groans echoes on his way there.
A few hours later, while taking her white coat off and grabbing her things to go home, her phone's notification went off once, and then twice.
Summary: She is the social media manager for Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel has a personal mission to take her on a date, but at first it seems his attempts are unseen or ignored by the woman. His teammate is bored out of his mind seeing his friend lovesick.
Genre: fluff + friends to lovers.
Cw: Seb being a flirty menace as usual, the reader is a bit oblivious(is she?). This is around his time in Ferrari. No descriptions or name for reader.
Notes: Finally!! Probably the last piece of TLOAS specials. Something Short an' sweet;) Again, English is not my first language. Thank you for reading my fics and patience for the waiting. Enjoy♡
✨️The life of a Showgirl's masterlist ✨️
-> Main Masterlist
You can call me honey if you want, because I'm the one you want.
"Good morning, Honey!"
You, wearing black pants and Ferrari t-shirt, turned around with raised eyebrows to stare at the blond man who just came into the Ferrari Headquarters smiling like he owned the place. Besides you, the hum of the elevator indicates it's coming down while you watch a full-grown man basically skip his steps towards you with that stupid grin. You laugh, shaking your head at the driver's antics.
"Really, Sebastian?" Your voice is neutral when he reaches your side, and his hand lightly squeezes your shoulder in greeting.
"Yes! Always. How are you this morning, lovely? Ready for the first work week after summer break?" He wiggled his eyebrows with those stupid smiles that screamed. I'm a menace
"Are you gonna make me work extra hours, or you'll actually be pr trained?" You're staring with raised eyebrows and a smile that clearly says I know you, gremlin.
"Me? I'm an innocent man. I always behave, honey." He mockingly puts his hand on top of his heart, his face holding a piss poor excuse of a horrified acting that anyone could tell was fake.
"Yeah, and I'm Adriana Lima. C'mon, mister pr nightmare." Your sarcarm is clear even though there's a twitch in your mouth, discreetly smiling as the elevator door opens, Sebastian holding the door open and motioning for you to go first, ever the gentleman, he quietly presses the 2nd floor button and stare at the elevator doors in front of him.
For a second, you think he's done with the daily morning teasing.
"For what's worth it... I would choose you over Adriana any day." he smiles, winking like the idiot he is. You scoff, shaking your head slightly, of course.. You should've known it was coming. Should've known by now how the German seems to enjoy having the last word every. time.
You parted ways without another word, him to the sim racing room and you for your small office, your day went normally.
You checked Ferrari social media and posted some 'tbt' pictures from last year race calendar. Interacted with some fans' comments and send some raw videos for the editors so they can do their magic and post on YouTube.
You also made a small list with media content ideas to record with both Sebastian and Kimi this week.
Give me more, buy the paint in the color of your eyes
Later that day, you stood in front of the sim racing room. Phone and small ring light in hand ready for content recording. You knocked softly and quietly opened the door, not wanting to disrupt the drivers' focus.
Sebastian was sitting on the hydraulic platform, discussing something with the engineer beside him, clearly occupied. So you looked around searching for your other victim.
The iceman himself noticed you the moment you crossed the door and silently stared as you made your way to him.
"Morning, Kimi.." You smile sheepishly. He just nodded his head in greeting.
"You want to record more videos, don't you?" He deadpan quietly, like usual, and you gave him that awkward smile whenever you annoyed him with this.
"You know it's not my fault, Kimi.. I'm just doing my job." You try to reason. "It's nothing hard or prolonged, just some content for youtube.."
He sighs, ready to crumble, but a familiar voice cuts you both.
"She's trying to kidnap you, kimi?" Sebastian is suddenly just besides you both. The German rested his arm on Kimi's shoulder, still smiling and energetic as always.
"Good news, Kimi. I'm volunteering myself to be kidnapped in your place."
You sigh defeated.
"Alright. I'll be in the main lobby with the camera ready while you go change into a Ferrari shirt, please." You inform the older man in front of you.
"I'll be there, sweetheart!" He says cheekly while watching you walking towards the door.
"Don't push it, Sebastian!" You shout over your shoulder.
As the door closes behind you, Sebastian looks beside him to find Kimi staring at him. Expression is blank. The Finnish man raises an eyebrow, and then:
"You look like a puppy in love. It is amusing to see." He says, looking bored despite his words.
"You see, I've seen guys try to use petnames with her. She professionally cut them off, like...immediately, always. But never when I say it, she just laughs or gives me a sarcastic comeback. I have a chance, no?"
Kimi deadpan stares at him.
"Ferrari is finally making you delusional."
"It's called hope! And Goal setting!"
"Okay, Sebastian. I have some questions fans sent to you on Twitter, so you're just gonna answer them normally, easy peasy, good?" You inform sitting on a bench besides the tripod that's pointing in his direction. The man himself is comfortably sitting on a red sofa.
"Perfect! Shoot them, Honey!" She gives him a deadpan stare, and he just smiles innocently, looking like a kid that's about to receive treats.
"First one was sent by a fan from Canada. He wrote: Vettel, How do you manage your health to perform well on racing? I'm an athlete too and you're my biggest inspiration."
He's now more focused. A few seconds of reflection before answering.
"First of all, thank you. It's important to balance mental and physical health, so I eat healthy, train, of course. Also, I spend time with family and friends, I try not to take everything so seriously because I race for love. At the end of the day, I should enjoy what I'm doing. " He smiles at the camera. And you nod encouragingly.
The questions flow easily. He's in professional mode. He jokes a bit when the question is funny. You like seeing him enjoying himself. He likes his fans, which is clear.
"Okay, last one..this fan from Brazil wrote: Seb, if you could ask for anything, knowing the answer would be 'yes'..what would you ask?" As you finish talking you take your water botter from beside, and take a few sips while he thinks of an answer.
There is a smile creeping on his face as he makes eye contact. You clock it immediately. Sending your best 'I dare you' look to him.
He seems to understand because he smiles even bigger.
"I would ask you on a date." He firmly says. Smiling big, teeth showing proudly like a kid who just won something.
"Oh my God" You sigh. "Why are you like this? The editors are definitely cutting this.." You murmur embarrassed as you cut the camera.
"Would you, though?" He looks hopeful.
"Hm? Would what?" You ask while absently checking the video tape on the equipment.
"Say yes..for a date?"
He sounds so serious now that the camera is off that you pause and peek at him. He is leaning a bit, elbows on his knees and hands crossed. His eyes are hopeful and less joking.
"Hypothetically asking?" You sigh and raise an eyebrow. Defeated.
He smirks creeps in slowly.
"Hypothetically asking.." He looks smug now, as if he already know the answer.
"Then, hypothetically... I would say yes." His grin gets impossibly bigger.
"Well, hypothetically, I would pick you up on friday, at seven?"
You finally laugh out loud at the situation. Standing up with your papers and the cameras. He quickly gets up to follow you.
"Make it half past seven and it would be deal. Hypothetically."
"Yes, honey. Whatever you say." He's beaming.
Safe to say..the editors did not cut the last part before posting. The internet had a blast with it.
Summary: Wishes come true. You get what you want, sometimes not the way everyone expects it. But in the end, only one can decide what truly makes them happy. They can get what they want because you and Daniel now have it as you want.
Genre: Bit angst at first + Comfort + Fluff + domestic love. A happy ending bcs Daniel deserves it.
Notes: Inspired by the song. Since it came to me, there is a scarcity of Danny x reader here on tumblr, I took the matter in my own hands.
The life of a Showgirl's masterlist
☑ I made wishes on all of the stars... Please, God, bring me a best friend who I think is hot..
"On September 23, 2024, at 1:46 a.m., Daniel Ricciardo left the paddock for the final time as a Formula One driver following the Singapore Grand Prix. His departure marked the end of his Formula One career."
Those words, date, and hour are engraved on many hearts. But what actually changed the course of fate was the afternoon following the September's 24.
All because of a wrong coffee order in a tiny and hidden café in Singapore. She remembers clear as daylight even now almost a year later. He was wearing an oversized hoodie, a cap covering his red eyes and sweatpants. If you ask him at that time, he would've denied until death, but his eyes were puffy and achy from the ordeal that took scene the night before.
She mistakenly received his black coffee, and he got her caramel latte machiatto. Both in front of the café are now realizing the wrong order in both of their paper cups.
Some would say the devil works fast, but that mouth of hers works faster. She was about to give his order back, but took one look at him and blurted out..
"You know, I think you need the sugary coffee more than I do, though. looking like a kicked puppy there, mate." Her eyes widened, immediately horrified by what just came out of her mouth, but instead of looking upset, the taller man in front of her thrown his head back, laughing out loud. She was so shocked that the young woman burst out laughing too.
"I am so sorry! That was so rude of me! I mean, you do look like a kicked puppy, but I shouldn't have said that out loud.I am incredibly apologetic." She started mumbling apology after apology. And Daniel just looked at her with the softest incredulous smile in the world.
He told her it was okay.
And yes, he indeed felt like a kicked puppy, but he would prefer his coffee black anyway.
She asked him if she could make his day better in another way other than sugary coffee.
"I mean...like taking you to some parks, I learned the best spots in Singapore that won't charge your food extra just for being a tourist." She complement. He smiled at that.
"Are you asking me on a date?" He asked casually. She felt her cheeks hot but managed to nod her head awkwardly.
That day, they both laughed until bellies hurt, ate delicious treats from local food trucks, and both talked like old friends. She told him about herself, where she's from and that she currently lives in London, what she was doing in Singapore, and how she knew him vaguely but didn't really accompany the sport.
He was hesitant at first but told the woman about what had happened, how he felt, and how everyone was trying to contact him for an interview and asking him if he would return to Formula 1... and to her credit, she listened, didn't judge, didn't offer pity, just sat there quietly chewing on her chicken rice and in the end blurted with a half full mouth..
"Fuck them." He laughed at her muffled voice, picking a grain of rice from the corner of her mouth and throwing away casually.
"Yeah... fuck them." He softly concluded smiling, staring for a second before putting a spoonful of his own dish in his mouth.
☑ Want that freedom, living off the grid. We tell the world to leave us the fuck alone, and they do
Months later, even though the scar was still fresh and tender, Daniel had been healing, slowly but surely.
After Singapore, both found themselves in Korea, drinking Soju in Itaewon and singing terribly off key karaoke at midnight.
And then, in Brazil, enjoying the sunset in Genipabu, eating warm coconut treats made by a lovely old lady who was feeling lonely without her sons at home.
A routine slowly and surely took roots in their lives, traveling together around the world and some weeks resting in between London and Australia, sharing a bed, cooking together, and learning more and more about each other.
His house in Australia has more of the young woman belongings than her own house did at the 9 month's mark.
On the 11th month, the two adopted a dog. A cute puppy who cuddled in her chest in Mexico, during an adoption event, the lass fell in love instantly and looked at Daniel with pleading eyes that almost made him melt right there.
"C'mon, Daniel...look at him." She motioned to the puppy between both. The said dog just waged his tail and wiggled out of her arms to try and lick the man's face as if he knew Daniel was the one that needed convincing.
"Al- Alright! Alright. Let's bring him home." He conceived finally playing with the dog who got excited for finally getting Daniel's attention.
She laughed, scratching behind the puppy's ears.
☑I hope I get what I want. 'Cause I know what I want.
That's how Daniel could be found now, in London, laying on the sofa of her small apartment with a puppy named Peanut and his girlfriend napping on his chest.
He is absently playing with her hair and staring out the window when her raspy voice from sleep reaches his ears.
"What's on your mind?" Her cheek is mushed against his warm chest, not planning on leaving any time soon.
He looks down, laughing quietly at the view, raising a hand to wipe the drool from the corner of her mouth.
"An year ago, I thought I knew what I wanted. Maybe I did, at that time. But now I'm realizing I have new plans... I know what I want after all."
Her eyes crinkled as she smiled up at him.
"What are your new plans?" She answered simply, expecting more travels or bying a new motorcycle.
"Marry you."
Her breath hitched. Her gaze burning on him, eyes blurred, but he didn't notice and kept talking.
"I'm not proposing yet. I plan on making it special, but I'm letting you know beforehand... You're what I want. You. Peanut. Maybe a couple of kids that look like us.. or not. We could adopt too. Then we buy a house. A big one... wherever you want -"
"Daniel." Her interruption made him freeze. Now worrying that maybe he went too far but when he looked down. Seeing her teary eyes and kind smile, he relaxed.
"You deserve everything you wish for, my love. And I'll be very happy to be part of that with you." She caressed his cheek. The man's beard tickles her palm. "We need a pool too, for our house." She jokes finally.
He laughed, leaning down to kiss her lips softly and then deepen it, biting softly, tongues meddling with familiarity.
Bark.
Peanut, previously napping, awoke from the fuzziness of his parents, and it's now fervently craving attention now. Both who laughed and were very happy to provide the attention for the furry family member.
Summary: It's easy to be loved, but one single drop, and you're off the roaster. Being under media attacks can be hard, but it teaches you who exactly your friends are. Turns out the ones with matching histories are not here for judgment.
Genre: Comfort + romance/suggestive.
CW: False accusations; alcohol consumption, social media scrutinization; non explicit sex; Reader is a public figure. No use of Y/n or physical descriptions for the reader.
Notes: inspired by the T.S song. WC: 2.1k
The life of a Showgirl's masterlist
⏭ The situation could be saved, of course, but they'd already picked out your grave and hearse.
If someone told you that on a friday night you would be in a pub drinking a lemon soda, scrolling through social media because thousands of people are simultaneously tearing your career and life down over false rumors...you would laugh. Full belly laugh.
You're always honest and respectful. Funny but never overbearing. So where did it all go wrong?
You've been working as a journalist for years now, starting as an intern in 2020, now being one of the responsible for the main and most significant articles and interviews involving Formula 1. Now, your perfectly built professional castle seems to be crumbling before your eyes. Rumors of manipulated articles, mistreatment in the workplace, and unprofessional relationship with superiors.
They don't have solid proof, of course, because it's not true, but blurry pictures of you hugging one of your bosses, some anonymous accusations and forged articles by someone else pretending to be you, seems to be enough to the public. Your editors already sent an email, communicating that they believe you and the PR team are doing as much as they can, but you are under 'investigation' from the public eyes, and for now you should lay low and not post anything.
You turn off the phone screen sighing just as you see in your peripheral vision, someone sitting beside you. A warm hand on your shoulder, squeezing softly once before letting go.
"You know, usually when you go to a bar to forget problems, you get alcohol, not a Sprite." the low and familiar voice greets you kindly. You huffed sarcastically, but a tiny smile escaped you.
"Hi, Lewis." You take notice of your long time friend's outfit, oversized tshirt and baggy black jeans, with multiple silver chains and rings, stylish as always, you smile at that. "You saw it."
"I did. The poorly written articles that people are claiming that belong to you? Please… I've been reading your articles since you were just an intern... comparing that kindergarten writing to yours should be a crime." His distinguished laughter makes you laugh too. "You didn't answer though..no alcohol?" He sits sideways resting one arm in the back of his seat while keeping warm eyes on you.
You laugh, shaking your head.
"Not sure if I should, but I want to."
"What about drinking and dancing? The night is young, and you deserve a bit of a distraction, no?" Your friend wiggles his eyebrows jokingly, making you laugh. Lewis has been an older brother figure since you first did an interview with him back in 2020, always checking up on you and giving the best material you could possibly ask for writing technical articles about Formula 1.
"Alright, alright...What do you have in mind then? Jimmy'z?" You conveyed.
"You know it, darling. C'mon." He stands tapping his hand on the balcony one last time, raising his other arm to guide you towards the exit.
⏭ Good thing I like my friends cancelled.
You smile noticing his car, the silver Ferrari is luxurious and exuberant, fitting the owner. Ever the gentleman, Lewis opens the door for you before getting himself on the driver's side.
The tight roads of Monaco are alive and shining with fancy cars. He parks a few meters from the nightclub and you both stand on the sidewalk, it's warm and windy. The glamorous vibes of Monte Carlo never ceases to amaze you, men in fancy shirts and expensive shoes, women in silk dresses or glittery pants. You eye your grey tailored pants and white buttoned up tucked shirt a bit doubtful, your work clothes don't fit the scenario you're about to be in.
Lewis seems to read the doubt in your eyes because he raises both hands.
"Can I?" He motions to your shirt. You nod absently, believing his fashion sense is better than yours will ever be. And you're proven right when untucks the shirt and open some buttons on the end, quickly taking the sides and tying a knot with both ends of it. Making it cropped. He's not done, it seems. "Open that top button.." You smile and raise an eyebrow doing as he said.
As you watch him fully concentrate on your outfit. You think he's done now. But as he accesses the look, the man in front of you frowns. Suddenly he raises his arms to his own neck, absently taking off one of his fancy and shining chains, he steps around, now standing behind you, his hands going above your head, placing the jewelry softly on your neck and clasping it.
When he's back in front of you, he smiles knowingly, nodding satisfied.
"There you go. It goes well together."
"Hm?"
"Gucci and scandal. Exactly how I like my friends." He winks cheekly and you huff a laugh, a bit of tension leaving your shoulders.
⏭ They stood by me before my exoneration. They believed I was innocent. So I'm not here for judgement. Can't you see my infamy loves company?
Your cup of gin and tonic is half empty by now, sitting on the VIP section. It's been a few hours since you both got your drinks and danced to the beat with the DJ.
“Are you sure? I'm very happy keeping you company and chatting with you” Bless his heart and manners, but you shaked your head.
A few minutes ago you notice a gorgeous blonde woman in a fire red dress eyeing Lewis not so subtly from the dance floor and as the nice friend you are, you encouraged him, signaling him to go with her.
“Lewis, that woman is gorgeous and has been eyeing you for God knows how long. If you don't go, I will make fun of you for the rest of our lives for missing the opportunity” you joke, grabbing his glass from the table to put it on his hand and gently push him towards the supermodel lookalike.
He laughed but complied.
“If you need anything call me, and if you leave early send me a text so I know you weren't kidnapped.” He concluded before turning and confidently walking up to the woman who immediately smiled when he got close. They seem to hit it off immediately. You laugh a bit at the man's antics, he can't resist a blondie. You can't blame him.
You slowly make your way through the crowd and open one of the side doors, one that leads to the open area, more secluded and quieter.
You sighed, relieved from the loud bass that was coming from inside the club. Barely noticed the figure already there nursing a glass of what seems to be whiskey. You take a step back, ready to leave.
“Oh, sorry to interrupt. I'll just go- Max?” The man in question looks up. His attire catches your attention, a black hoodie, backward cap, and, surprisingly, a not so skinny jeans. He looks relaxed.
“Look at that…Hello, Miss journalist.” He jokes with the nickname he gave you back on the first time you interviewed him. The raspy and low voice is familiar in your ears. The driver has always been easy to work with, despite what everyone used to say about him.
“Hi, not so, Mad Max.” Your smile is small and timid as you slowly approach him. The man in front of you leaning on the balcony frowns a bit at your tone.
“Bad day?” He asks bluntly even though he already knows the answer. He has seen the posts a friend of his sent him earlier, but he wants to hear it from you, because even though he doesn't care what people have to say about him, he knows what they can do to a person. To a career, especially.
“You saw it?” He simply nods in silence at your question
"Do you believe it..?" Your voice is flat, tired and defeated.
"No." His answer comes straight and certain.
"Why not? They got receipts and proof, no?" He smiles hearing the sarcasm in your tone, simultaneously drumming his fingers on the glass before taking a sip.
“I have your word. It's enough for me.” His voice carries no room for doubts.
“Wow, big thing to have The Max Verstappen's trust. Can I record that and use you as my witness?” You joke approaching in slow steps to stand closer. His taller figure serves as a warm barrier against the cold breeze. His laughter is boyish but quiet in the night.
“I kinda owe you that, no?” His voice is soft as he answers. And you look up into his eyes, puckered eyebrows in confusion. His ocean eyes stare intensely at yours when he answers.
“Back in my early years, when everyone portrayed me as the villain..with rumors of me being the devil on earth. You believed I was innocent and stood by me when most just wanted to force a headline out of me to prove their narrative.” His hand raises slowly and puts a stray hair behind your ear before he continues. “Now they're trying to break you, like they broke me. So yes, I'll stand by you.”
“Even if I'm cancelled and hated by half of the internet?” You joke lowly.
“I like my whiskey sour anyway, but I'm not here for judgment.” He smiles.
⏭ But if you can't be good, then just be better at it, soon you'll learn the art of never getting caught..
You didn't notice his hand on your arm.
“Cold? You got goosebumps..” The hand previously holding his whiskey is softly resting on your back. You don't have courage to admit that it's not the cold causing those, but him. So you just nod.
When you look up to thank him, his eyes are on your lips. Staring at it, his Adam's apple moves up and down when he gulps. For the first time tonight, he seems troubled between going for it or not. You decide for him.
His hands leave you alone just for him to pull his hoodie off and hold it open, signaling for you to put your head and arms through it. It's warm and smells faintly of alcohol and expensive cologne.
Your hand reaches up the back of his neck and softly guides him down to meet you, lips crashing against his, no force was needed. Your touch on his neck was enough of a message to him because he immediately responded with one hand on your jaw and the other on the back of your head. Holding you. Guiding you.
His lips are a bit chapped, his beard is rough on your skin and his movements are borderline desperate. But still oh so gentle…He tastes like whiskey and mint gum.
He is taking steps, guiding you backwards until your back hits the wall. You gasp from the cold surface and he take his chance, clashing his tongue with yours. His hand is now on your waist and the other resting on the wall behind you. Kisses now dropping to your jaw.
“Max…someone could come any moment. It's a bad idea to do this here..” you whisper breathless.
“Very...very bad idea…” He mumbles against your neck between kisses that slowly stop as he rests his forehead on your shoulder. “Let me take you home then...” His lips touches your collarbone when he speaks.
You don't remember the way to his shining and imponent car parked in the back of the club. You don't remember the button he pressed on the elevator or how long it took to reach his penthouse. You don't remember who got naked first or where you left you purse. What you do remember is the feeling of soft sheets under you, of his calloused hands going through your body reverently, how his lips dragged along your skin and how they made you see stars. How his sweaty chest felt against yours... That you remember with details.
When he raises his posture to look into your eyes you can see his flushed cheeks and dilated pupils.
"Please?" He begs.
⏭ Come with me, when they see us, they'll run. We're the ones with matching scars.
It took 3 weeks for the rumors to be cleared up, and 2 more for the public to finally settled down, 5 weeks of you and Max hiding from the media, in both of your homes, in his yacht, in his sheets between races. Acting normally in front of the cameras during the last few races of the season, but loving each other quietly and surely behind them.
The day you decided to expose yourselves was on the Formula 1 Annual Awards. Him getting off the car and reaching his hand back to help you out. Your glittery dark blue dress and gucci jewerly reflecting the thousands of flashes from cameras, you both smile at the gasps coming for the crowd in front of the avenue. He winks at you as you both walk confidently inside with his hand on your lower back.
The night ends with him kissing you proudly in front of the cameras after receiving his fourth championship prize.
Oscar Piastri x fem!reader oneshot - The Life of a Showgirl's special.
Summary: Reader is a new Mclaren engineer, currently dating another engineer, who is no good for her, but Oscar ever the focused and patient man he is, he's there, ready to save her from the fate of drowning in betrayal and heartbreak when the moment comes.
Genre: Comfort + fluff.
CW: Reader wears glasses, but otherwise, no physical descriptions. English is not my first language.
Notes: inspired by the T.S song.
The life of a Showgirl's masterlist
Act 1 ~ Right before you lit my sky up~
Oscar would 100% consider himself observant, calculating and focused on his objectives. And when he put his mind on something, he would do what it takes to achieve it, no cheating or corruption, just pure focus and smart playing.
And his current objective? You. One of the engineers at Mclaren, he once, a few months ago bumped accidentally on and for the following months he couldn't forget, the smile, the soft voice while apologizing and the cute orange pen with a papaya charm glued to it that was on your t-shirt pocket.
Act 2 ~Ophelia lived in fantasy but love was a cold bed full of scorpions. The venom stole her sanity ~
Oscar noticed you're shy at first, a bit closed off, but he has seen how you act with that close friend of yours from HR, both giggling and talking about nail designs you would choose for the next GP.
Oscar also noticed his one and only obstacle...your boyfriend Luke, an engineer who also works with him. He seems to treat you ok, for the eyes of everyone else he's an average boyfriend. But to Oscar? He observed what most didn't see.
For months, he notices the way he grims discreetly when you're happy about an achievement. The way he always has something to say about your work. The way he once interrupted you in a meeting, to simply say what you just said, again. The way you were slowly retreating, quietly watching from the side as your boyfriend destroys your hard work and your smiles. Oscar wants to intervene in it, before you let that man slowly burn you down.
Act 3 ~ And if you'd never come for me, I might've drowned in the melancholy. I sat alone in my tower, you were just honing your powers.~
In a meeting, you started explaining some calculations for a new way of managing the overheating of the tires in the car during races. And once again, Luke interrupted you, basically repeating what you said in other words. You just sighed, and Oscar? He just casually interrupted him back.
"That's what you were saying before, right?" He asks solemnly, looking directly at you. "That's a great idea, tell us again about your plan." He nodded and felt pure satisfaction in his chest when your eyes lit up a bit and you slowly started explaining your plan to everyone on the table. Your boyfriend at that barely glanced up
Once everyone was leaving the meeting room. He waited, quietly watching you packing your notebook and the orange pen you seem to always carry with you. You raised from your chair
"Thanks, for...you know, giving me the speech back there." Your voice has deemed since that first time he met you, you were more cautious, more closed.
"He's your boyfriend, isn't he?" He asks lowly. "It's not cool what he does to you, you work hard, don't let him take the credit."
"He just...He just gets excited..." you tried to reason.
"Doesn't make it right. You gotta stand your ground, or else one day he will take the glory that should've belonged to you." Oscar concludes gently before nodding softly and opening the door, motioning for you to go first. Down the hall you both walked talking about more work, the team, the sky, the vibes of the next race GP.
Act 4 ~ It's 'bout to be sleepless night you've been dreaming of The fate of Ophelia~
Around a week later, Oscar had just finished the SIM racing tests this morning. He was on his way to the cafeteria when he heard the whispers, your name on it, quiet gossiping from some workers there. He paid close attention while sipping his coffee.
"They broke up after he was fired, of course. Good for her! I didn't know he was an asshole like that."
"No one knew, I guess. I mean, he stole her work and then threw a tantrum when he exposed himself by not even erasing her email and personal ip from the files he sent."
"Poor her, she was devastated this morning. At least she got professional justice."
Oscar left after that, to his own apartment, he wanted to contact you, but also give you space. He didn't want to meddle and poke a fresh wound so soon.
For now, he would support you quietly. He still talks to you through meetings, and puts your favorite coffee on the table in front of you when you appear a bit more tired in the mornings. Leave a chocolate snack on top of your notebook when passing your work table once or twice.
Act 5~ Late one night, you dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia~
Three weeks later, he found the opportunity. End of working shift, night already when he saw you, in your car behind the steering wheel. Doing nothing but staring at it.
Two knocks on the car window were enough to get your attention, the glass slowly coming down to reveal your red and slightly puffy eyes.
"Yes, Oscar? Can I help you..?" You tried to smile but the sadness and melancholy in your voice were undeniable.
"I should be asking you this... I heard about...uhm...him. How are you coping with it?" He feels extremely awkward but he can't stand there and watch you drown in it alone.
"I'm not." You snorted quietly at your own misery. "I mean..I am the 'all or nothing' kind of person. I pledge allegiance to him, to us. And all I got was betrayal...at least it hurts less knowing he was actually a douchebag and I didn't see it, you did...and- Good grace. Now I'm venting to you, I'm sorry..."
Oscar quietly looked at you and made his decision in a blink of eyes, opening your car door and motioning for you to go to the passenger seat.
"Move." He shooed you, who confusingly followed his instructions, eyebrows furrowed while staring as he sat on the driver seat, closing the door and putting his seatbeat. "Alright, we're going somewhere, put on your seatbeat."
"Oscar..? What has gotten into you?" You laughed softly, but followed his order fasting the seatbelt. Oh how he liked hearing you saying his name with a smile on your face, he wanted more of that."What about your car?"
"I can pick it up tomorrow." He nodded to himself while pulling off the Mclaren parking lot. "Now...tell me, how do you feel about karting?"
You looked at him like he had grown a second head.
"Uhm..it's cool I guess...why suddenly you're ask-" He's smiling now. "Oh. OH. Oscar it's late, are there even karting centers open now?" Your snorted, shaking your head in disbelief. His laughter is soft and quiet as he peek at you before focusing on the road again.
"I know a place...and the owner is an old friend"
Act 6 ~ Keep it one hundred on the land, the sea, the sky. Pledge allegiance to your hands, your team, your vibes.~
"Alright, this feels like vandalism." Your voice echoed a bit in the empty and dark Karting Center parking lot.
Oscar snorted as he walked up to the entrance.
"Technically, it's not vandalism..." he raises one of the fake plants that decorate the 'employees only' door. His hand going in and out the pot, now holding a bunch of keys with a victorious smirk. "..If you have the keys." He concludes by raising his eyebrows.
"Oscar Piastri...I didn't know this side of you!" You giggled, shaking your head and following him inside.
With a bit of struggle, Oscar managed to find the lights switch. The entire place lit up and you finally were able to take a good look at the place. The fair amount of karts placed on the side of the track, with a bunch of tires delimiting the small but curvy track. You didn't hear when Oscar got behind you.
"Nice, huh?" You nodded "Turn around."
He had a simple helmet on his head already. Holding a similar one in his hands. He elevates it above your head and points his chin subtly at you.
"Take the glasses off for me, please" you do as he asked, quietly taking them off and waiting patiently as he lowers the helmet on your head, bending down a bit to buckle it carefully.
"Ok in there?" He asks while simultaneously taking the glasses of your hands and softly putting them back on you. Smiling when you nodded in confirmation.
"I'll either go too slow to be fun or cause a yellow flag in turn one" You blurted, eyes creasing inside the helmet when he laughed out loud.
"You won't cause a yellow flag...since I'll be driving. You'll get a hot lap experience."
He walks toward the line of karts with double seats. He turns suddenly. "Unless you want to drive one, of course." He smiles reassuringly and you shake your head, smile hiding inside the helmet.
"Nah, I get a hot lap with a f1 championship leader? That sounds cooler."
He holds out his hand, standing beside the passenger seat on the kart to help you before getting in himself, his hand even though calloused is soft against yours.
After both seatbeats are buckled. He turns to you, his eyes smiling mischievous inside the helmet. The kart roars into life as he turns the engine on.
"Should we have a safe word?" He blurted cheekly
Your head is thrown back in full laughter and soon it turns into screaming as he presses the gas suddenly, not even giving you a countdown.
"Oscar Jack Piastri!!! oH mY GOd!" Your voice cracked embarrassingly as the kart sped up through the track with Oscar laugher echoing. "Slow down, Aussie!!" You screamed holding the side of the kart to brace for the first curve.
"You mean full push?!" He jokes loudly through the wind as he makes it to the first turn. The force suddenly pushes you into his side, out of instinct you fist the fabric of Oscar's shirt.
"I'm sending the hospital bills to you!!"
Oscar laughter was so genuine and loud that you started laughing too. In the empty Karting center, both of your laughter echoed every time Oscar breaked a little bit late.
Act 7 ~ No longer drowning and deceived, all because you came for me. I can see it now. You saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia~
When the last turn came the kart was slowing down bit by bit and when finally came to stop you both removed your helmets, bellies hurting from all the laughing.
Oscar was in a trance. Your hair was a mess, a bit of it was sticking to your forehead from sweat, your cheeks were flushed red. You're panting and your smile is as bright as opalites.
"You should be like this all the time." His voice came out soft and solemn.Your turn towards him, brows furrowed in confusion but still smiling.
He raises a hand casually and with a ghostly touch he takes a sweaty piece of hair out of your face.
"Happy." He is serious now. "You should be happy, smiling. Never suffering...especially not because someone tried to extinguish your shine."
Your breath hitched softly. Brain fog cleared. Now realizing how easy happiness comes to you when you're with Oscar. All these months. Every time you were with him, your heart was at ease. He was always there, in the most simplest ways, when no one saw the melancholy you were drowning in.
"Let me kiss you, please?" His forehead was almost touching yours as he whispered. His warm breath against you raised goosebumps on your entire body. "If you'll let me..I'm pledging allegiance to you..." his eyes are pleading now.
"Please do it."
His lips were warm, gentle, polite even. Just like his hands as he cupped your jaw, warm and thumbs softly caressing your cheeks.
When your lungs asked for air you pulled back a bit, opening your eyes soon enough to see his still closed and lips chasing back yours. You smiled giggling softly, he shortly followed your giggles. Holding your face he smiled fully now, looking into your eyes.
Chapter summary: Last time decisions can ruin or make a night. And only those who are brave enough, get to fully live the extraordinary, in more ways than you think. W.C: 4.5k
Multiple drivers + Fem!reader (Heist!AU)
Genre: Action, drama, suspense, romance, found family.
Warnings: tension, drama, fluff, Heist(obv); Long chapter, but contemplates, closure, romance and much fluff.
December 7th - Louvre Museum
Time is a funny thing. Some days time forgets how to behave. When you need it the most it goes unbearably slow and when you want to stay there forever it goes stubbornly fast. Sometimes those two happen simultaneously.
The clock never stops ticking, but the heartbeats get out of sync, the chest feels constricted. It all feels distorted. Like you're not really there. Not on your body, just a spectator watching everything and not being able to react voluntarily as reality bends its way around you.
You don't know what exactly you had in mind when you moved. But your feet just carried yourself. The tray, even though it was full of champagne glasses, felt ironically light in your hand as your trajectory made the side of your body collide with the IT guy.
Hard.
The noise echoed loudly through the ball room as glasses shattered hard on the floor from the impact. Broken shards spreading out around you both. A woman who was close by took a step back raising her long cream sequin dress hem to not get it wet on the bubbling golden liquid quickly spilling on the pristine porcelain tiles of the Louvre.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Followed then by the weight of every stare settled on you both on the floor.
You both fell on your knees from the impact. Well, you made sure he “tripped” over your awkward, but strategically positioned high heel. You could feel the stinging sensation on your hands from the cold shrapnel on the floor digging into them, some warm blood pooling on your palms and painfully bringing you into your senses to finally speak.
“Mon Dieu! I’m so sorry! Are you alright, sir?” You verbalized to the young man in front of you, who seems distressed as he stands up clumsily, cautious of the glass shards close by.
Max was already beside you as soon as you fell, hands supporting your forearms to help you up too. His expression furrowing slightly, immediately concerned by the sight of the vibrant red pooling slowly on your skin. It wasn’t much in your perception, but enough for a few drops to fall between your fingers on the floor.
“Uhm…I’m alright. You should g-get that checked. That’s a lot of b-blood.I have to go..uhm” The IT guy looks deeply disturbed by the sight of your bloody hands. Pale and wide eyes. He shakily stumbles a step sideways.
Bingo. You accidentally hit Bulseye. He’s afraid of blood.
You feel terrible using this against the poor guy, but it’s the only way out that you could think at this point. The stinging sensation clouding your thoughts a bit, but the desperation was even bigger than the pain in that moment
“It’s nothing, it barely hurts, see?” Your lips lift up in a not entirely fake sympathetic smile while showing both palms up.
The reaction was even more exacerbated than you calculated, from seeing your open hands you could say his face became green, body swaying briefly, eyes becoming unfocused and orbs rolling to the back of his head, his body betraying him, knees giving up under him. Both you and Max reached to try and hold the guy but someone appeared behind him just in time.
“Gotcha, man.” George luckily got close enough just as gravity decided to claim the young man. The tall British barely flinches from the weight of the limp unconscious body, politely and casually putting the pliable arm around his shoulder to support the body
Max’s elbow pinches your elbow soft but urgently. It takes you a second to process what he means with it.
“What is going on here?” John Elkann himself must have seen the commotion and came to see and deal with it.
You pray to whatever or whoever could hear that in that damn hall Kimi was already closing the last display and tying the cables on his waist as fast as he can to get out. You look at the man who keeps both hands behind his back and stares at you and the unconscious IT guy in George’s arms, waiting for an explanation.
Bless Charles, who kept playing the piano, so even if people could see, the conversation wasn’t exactly flaunted to the entire ball. Some of the guests were still curious, but most of them went back to drinking and pretending this was nothing but idling in their night.
“Sir, I was serving champagne and I didn’t see him and-” You start explaining yourself, when the older man stops you.
“I saw that, woman.” He is not loud. But you can feel the judgement of his icy cold tone. You see Max tensing slightly beside you, ready to take a step in front of you. “That doesn't explain why he is unconscious. Just go straight to the point. So you can get those hands checked in the infirmary. I have things to do.” Your throat works over nothing, cold sweat forming, you could feel it, dribbling slowly down your back inside the dress.
“The young lady stumbled across him and they both fell, I believe he got sick at the sight of blood, Mister.” George spoke up for you. Still holding the guy. “He will most likely wake up in a few seconds or minutes, maximum. This happens to people with hematophobia and it’s quite common and...”
George’s accent is strong as he keeps talking with the man in front of you all, giving mindless explanations and useless facts about the phobia of blood and how his sister is a medical student so he knows quite a lot about it. John looks bothered and impatient, but somehow awkward enough not to interrupt a seemingly guest of the ball.
Your savior wears a black suit with a matching tie. Light brown hair swooped impeccably on his forehead. Nonchalantly holding a cold champagne glass. Steps measured. Your heart warms at the sight of the multiple little moles spread across his neck and face. His mask of impenetrable calm and deliberately eyes are the same as always. The only thing that gives away his stress is how his jaw is clenched. The small facial muscles tensed. Subtly, but you've been living around him long enough to recognize it.
He always has a plan. You hoped now wasn't the exception.
Oscar passes as a curious guest approaching slowly from the northwest, behind John.
His eyes trails lazily and nonchalantly on the older man's back. When close enough, he acted. If you weren't paying attention, you would have missed. It was so discreet, barely a heartbeat, just a disturbance in time.
Without faltering his steps or even looking down. The Australian man moves his hand casually, at the same time his glass of champagne touches his lips. Swiping a finger and softly tapping something on John’s back, before he even swallows the champagne that was swirling around inside his mouth.
The tablet.
Elkann was holding the tablet behind his back
Your throat works around nothing. Dry like sand as Oscar just keeps walking.
A second passes before Lando's voice is soft and almost unheard in the group comms.
“Clear. Kimi's in the air duct a few meters from the exit and the alarm deactivated. Oscar turned off the notification on Elkann's tablet.”
Just a few steps ahead, but still close, Oscar lazily turns, his gaze meeting yours as he raises his glass of champagne close to his face, one side of his lips twitching upward before taking a sip. Gaze steady as he nods at you.
You exhale the air you didn't even notice you were holding. Staring at him for a beat before averting your gaze to Max's wrist. You check his watch. Six minutes. That's what it took for everything to almost crumble down, six minutes that felt like eternity.
“Well, is there a sofa or a chair I could put him in? He is regaining consciousness now.” George finally stopped his rant and asked John as he noticed the IT guy finally twitching
“Right…yeah, of course…There is a small infirmary in the staff area." He looks at you and your hands “You too, miss. go clean those hands. If you think you can't keep working after getting those fixed, speak to your superior before leaving. And you go back to your post, security.” He pointed his finger at Max. Who was ready to contest, but you didn't let him.
“Alright, sir. I'll just get them cleaned and some bandages and I'll probably be back to working with no stitches needed.” Your voice crackles a bit.
The older man just nods, pointing into the direction of the infirmary to George and the IT guy who has finally woke up but it's still confused and groggy. John then says he's getting someone to clean the mess after he checks something. Finally leaving us behind and walking toward the jewelry hall in hasty steps. Fortunately, he's too late. The air in your lungs leaves heavily.
“Are you sure you're good alone, schatje?” Max turns to your hands. Carefully holding them up to inspect the damage caused by shards of glass. Most of the cuts has stopped bleeding by now.
You're about to respond when you feel another presence beside you. You didn't notice him getting there.
“I’ll go with her.” Oscar nods at you before looking at Max, his hand softly landing in the middle of your back. “I think the worst has passed but we should keep the vigilance high…” He murmurs softly to the blond man, who seemed to realize we're not done yet and squared his shoulders firmly and nodded.
“Make sure she's okay, ja?” Max asks, taking a step back. Taking a quick look at me before his gaze went back to Oscar. Something you didn't recognize passed through his eyes.
Oscar nodded and quietly whispered.
“Always.”
His hand was warm on your lower back as he walked with you to the infirmary. His steps were measured. Slow enough to not attract attention and for you to keep up in your heels.
As you walk towards the staff area, one of your colleagues gives you a pitiful smile and moves her lips soundless, asking if you're okay, you just nod and smile softly.
The black door with “Staff Only” closes behind you and Oscar. Your shoulders sag pathetically as your back rests on the wall closing your eyes. Now that the adrenaline boost is finally dropping you can feel the headache coming and the faint stinging in your hands. Dress’ hem sticky with champagne from when you fell. Oscar asks for the first aid kit and you point to the cabinet on the corner of the room.
You both sit on the small old sofa that smells a bit like mold. His hands are methodical as they work. Cleaning, checking, ointment and small bandages on each cut. Not even ten minutes on it and he was done. None of them was deep enough for stitches, the bleeding had stopped some time ago.
None of you says a thing as you watch him putting the things back in the first aid box. When it's done you both stand up. You adjust your dress as he puts the box where it previously was before turning to you
He looks at you. Wordlessly, he comes a bit closer and raises his hands, fixing the little hairs that fell off of your bun. Carefully, but not hesitant.
Then his lips twitched upward, a smile gradually growing as he takes you in and is finally satisfied with your hair. He cups your face with a feather light touch, shaking his head softly.
“Perfect. What you did was perfect. Saved this whole thing, Bee.” His voice crackles a bit. Still smiling, his bunny teeth peering through his lips as his eyes basically shine staring into yours.
Your own smile gets bigger as your hands reach to hold his forearms, careful of the bandages, and soon you're both giggling like children hiding from their parents.
“Me? I was just a distraction. You turned the alarm off! By the way, it was just like in spy movies! So fast I barely noticed!” Your voice is soft, but excited. Barely containing yourself.
“I just finished up what you started. But you? You were creative and oh… you did so good! I'm so so proud, I could kiss you right now!”
“Do it.” You spoke without thinking. You blink once. He does too. He raises an eyebrow, still smiling, a little more exacerbated now. “I mean.. yeah…you could...if you want?”
“Yeah?” He laughs at your embarrassment.
“Yeah..” His thumb caresses your cheek softly.
His gaze drops to your lips slowly, his torso slowly leaning towards you. His nose brushes yours barely. The air is warm between you. Just an inch. An inch for your lips to touch.
Someone knocked twice before opening the door suddenly.
You both took a step away from each other, but the predicament was obvious. Your colleague's eyebrows are almost as high as her hairline. Her smirk slowly but surely formed.
“Came to see if you needed help, but apparently you're more than fine…” she scoffs lightly, clearly joking. “The headstaff was asking about your whereabouts, but I can cover for you for a few minutes, if you both can be fast, although you as a guest shouldn't be in this room…” she addresses Oscar.
You can feel your ears getting warm. Beside you Oscar coughs suddenly, clearing his throat twice.
“No! That's not what…that won't be necessary. I'm going back now.” You explain, shaking both hands in front of you nervously.
“Alright..” She wordlessly leaves the room. The door closes behind with a soft click.
“We should…uhm..” You awkwardly point towards the door.
“Yeah..yeah...right. We still gotta finish this up officially and leave.” He nods. Opening the door and motioning for you to go first before following you back towards the ball room.
----------
Two years later. Monaco - South of Europe.
You dip the tips of your fingers in the hair gel, spreading a bit before applying. Your other hand struggles just a bit to hold the hair tightly in a ponytail.
Alexandra sits in front of you, impeccable posture, facing the mirror and patiently watching as you tie everything together. You smooth her baby hairs methodically with an expensive but very worthy hairbrush. Rolling the hail tail into a medium bun.
It's been two years and 28 days. No one has suspected that the jewelry in the museum are now just cheap replicas. Lando makes sure to check the media and news constantly.
It took almost 2 months to get everything. Lewis and Charles were methodical and careful in disassembling the jewelry, assessing the market value with different experts for each separate part under the pretense that they are family heirlooms, then selling them separately on the international market. To put it simply, it was a lot of work.
None of you live in Paris anymore. There is still a group chat for contact. But everyone is living their lives and fulfilling their plans and dreams, in your own ways. You're excited to see some of them again.
Today the group is reunited completely. For a good cause.
You raise your hand wordlessly, palm up as Alex obediently gives you the hairpins to hold everything together. The little white flower pins come next, as the final touch. A nice contrast with her dark hair.
You wipe your hands on a baby wipe before looking at her through the mirror. Her smile is soft as she takes in her appearance, the makeup she'd done herself a few minutes ago and the bun you just did. You meet her gaze.
“You did it just like I dreamed. I feel pretty and still myself.” She murmurs so softly, but in the quiet room you heard perfectly.
“You are indeed, very pretty. I'm glad I could do justice to what you dreamed. That's what maid of honors is for, right?” You caress her robe covered shoulder affectionately. Her hand covers yours in gratitude.
Leo barks from the feet of her chair where he'd been napping the whole time. You both laugh. The little dachshund was adopted by her and Charles right after everyone got their parts of the money.
“Let's get you in your dress now, hm? So you don't keep Charles waiting.” You give your hands to help her stand up from the chair before going to the bed to collect the heavy, embroidered white dress. You and her mom opted to help her before putting yours on.
Your phone on the table vibrates once. Then twice.
From Oscar:
“Are you both ready?”
“Everyone is waiting. I think Charles is on the verge of a breakdown…” 17h34
To Oscar:
“Yeah, I'm coming down in a bit! :)” 17h36
“Abeille, viens nous aider! Tiens le chiot, s'il te plaît!” Alex's mom calls from where they're putting the dress on.
~~~~
As you walk down the stairs 10 minutes later with a very energetic Leo in your arms, he's there. Waiting. Wearing beige social pants paired with a light blue button up shirt. His calming presence contrasts with your more exacerbated energy.
“I know! I know. We're ready! It was a bit of a challenge to close her dress. It was me and her mom struggling, and Leo was nibbling her heels and-”
“Hey.” He interrupts you. Hand going to your upper arm, squeezing softly in comfort. Smiling a bit at the puppy in your arms, petting it before focusing on you again. “Breath, yeah? It's alright.” His voice is gentle, calm and grounding as always. You take a deep breath, the air filling your lungs slowly and calming your nerves.
The light pink dress is soft against your skin. White kitten heels are surprisingly comfortable on your feet. His eyes trail down your body. Quick and discreetly. Before going back to your face. He smiles.
“You look beautiful.”
You sigh, lips stubbornly tilting up as you take his appearance as well.
“You clean up real nice, too.”
Leo wiggles aggressively in your arms so you just put the overly excited puppy on the ground, and just as soon, you see a small golden ball of energy running through the door straight to the back garden. You hear some of the guests laughing. It's a small ceremony. Just Alex and Charles's family and some close friends. Your mom is here too. She's been friends with Pascale, Charles’ mom way back in time. Her debts? gone. You made a deal with her where you promised no one got hurt and she promised to never question it.
“Everyone is waiting, the marriage officiant is ready, Charles is there in the altar trying not to tear up before he even sees the bride, and you're just…” He raises his wrist, checking his watch. “4 minutes late. Everything is fine.”
“I know…I'm excited. Seeing Charles marrying feels…weird. A good weird I think. I can't see my big brother marrying, but I can see Charles do, and that's close enough.”
“He'd be proud. Of you both.” He nods seriously.
You smile.
~~~~
A collective celebration was heard as Charles kissed Alexandra before the officiant even finished ‘you may now kiss the bride.’
You're pretty sure you heard Lando sniffing behind you as you all clapped, Max made fun of him. Kimi sat beside you, carrying Leo in his arms and whistled very loudly since his hands were too busy for clapping.
The newlyweds had cut and distributed cake slices for everyone. The group sits together on one table. The cake is fluffy and filled with strawberries, all of you waste no time in eating the sweet treat.
Someone tinkle a champagne glass to gather attention. Charles.
“Everyone…Please. We are very grateful for your presence today. We all come a long way. One way or another you contributed to our lives. As friends, family, workmates…” He winks at your table. Lando literally giggles. Lewis and George are smiling proudly at their friend. Fernando nods in appreciation. Kimi is too busy struggling to stop Leo from stealing cake from his plate. Max is trying to hide his lips twitching. Oscar is quietly picking the strawberries from his slice of cake and putting on yours as you happily eat them while Charles continues.
“Being in love is scary, we do things without thinking and we give up things we like just because it makes the ones we love happy…I was a bit scared to ask her hand in marriage, wanting or not, it is a big change, out of our comfort zone. But I stopped and reflected…we never know tomorrow. And only those who take risks, deserve to live the extraordinary that comes with courage…and loving you, Alex…is for sure my best win in life.” Charles’ voice crackles a bit in the end and Alex giggles at it, softly pecking him. You all clap at the end.
“Alex! Alex!! Are you gonna throw the bouquet!? Please do it. I need my future husband!!” Alex's younger step sister asks as soon as the clap ceases. The sixteen year old girl has stars in her eyes. You all chuckle at her excitement. Cute.
And she got what she wanted. The small number of women present started gathering in the middle of the backyard and the two elders, moms of the newlyweds joined them, just for the fun.
“Off you go, kleine bij!” Max taps your shoulder and motions for you to stand up.
“Me?!” You ask, hand covering your mouth as you still chew on the strawberries from the cake.
“Yeah! Go see if you're lucky.” Kimi chimes in.
“True. You and Osc here have been traveling together around Europe for about a year now, right? Maybe it would be fate telling you something, huh?…” George wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
Lando laughed out loud at that. Lewis smirking at you two.
Oscar choked on his champagne glass and you promptly pat his back softly, asking if he is okay, he just nods and taps his chest a few times. You silently take notice of his red ears as the guys laugh and tease him, before you stand up, smoothing your dress in defeat.
“Alright, gentlemen. Let's see how my luck is today. For fun.” You announce playfully. Going towards the other women. Standing in the back of the group.
Alex looks at all of you before turning around.
“Ready?” Her soft voice is a bit louder now.
“Just throw, my dear!” Her mother whined and all of you laughed.
The bouquet flies in a beautiful arch. Just for a moment. Before falling right into your hands. Quite literally. You didn't even have to raise your arms or put any effort.
You breathe in surprise, giggling a bit when the women around you whoop and celebrate. You can hear the guys laughing and peek at them clapping Oscar on his back, who is quite definitely flustered. Ears and cheeks flaring up like tomatoes, but when his gaze lifts and meets yours, there is only a soft smile there, small and gentle as always. You turn back around to accept hugs from Alex and some other girls. You notice one quietly smiling a few steps away.
“Take it, so we can share the luck.” You offered. Smiling softly.
Even though you catch it, you push the beautifully arranged lilies into the 16 years old girl's hands who was standing a few steps away from you. Her face lit up instantly.
“Does luck work like that?” She laughs, taking the flowers from your hands.
“It won't hurt to try, no?” Her arms wrap around you in a quick hug.
~~~~~
The sun slowly sets as you all eat your hearts out, Lando is excitedly telling about his new twitch streaming account. You all update each other and go on a nostalgic trip back in time to remind the chaos back two years ago. How Kimi tripped while getting out of the building. How the van engine took three or four tries before turning on. How you, Max and Charles had to stay until the end of the party to avoid suspicion. How Charles and Alex adopted Leo as soon as they moved to their new apartment. How Lewis invested on a new motorbike. Max is opening a charity boxing gym for children in the neighborhood where he lives in Zandvoort. Alonso has been traveling central america in an all inclusive cruise.
You and Oscar paid your debts. Both started traveling around one year after the ball. He did in fact buy his sports car. A very slick dark blue model that has comfortable seats and a big trunk to carry your backpacks as you mindlessly travel around Europe. Meeting tourist points and relaxing in fancy hotels. Halfway through somewhere in Belgium, you stopped booking different rooms. No awkward talks. It came naturally, comfortable. You just became a pair without any fuss. Slow and steady.
As you said your goodbyes and hugged everyone, you and Oscar walked hand in hand towards his car. He closed your door for you. Rounding the front to get on the drivers side and laughing when he noticed you already took your heels off.
“Where are we going now?” You ask suddenly.
His lips tilt up on one side,
“We got drunk in Belgium, ate lots of stroopwaffles in the Netherlands and skied in Switzerland. I was thinking maybe…Italy? Eat some pasta and pizzas until we're sick of it..”
“I do love a good pasta.” You sigh dreamily.
“I know.” He smiles softly. “Italy it is then. Let’s just get our things and take a shower in the hotel.” You open the sun visor to check your hair and fix the rebel strings as his hand reaches to turn the engine on, but pauses. He stares at the steering wheel in front of him. His mouth opens and then closes, hesitating for a second. He then opens the center console between you two and pulls something.
“Talk about great timing…you catching that bouquet…today.” He murmured slowly.
It takes you two seconds. Your hand on the sun visor freezes. Slowly turning your head towards him. He puts the opened dark blue velvet box on top of the console.
The ring stares at you, just like the man sitting there in silence.
Oh. Oh
The diamond sits perfectly on the silver arc. Surrounded with tiny gems creating an intricate, yet minimalist design.
“I was planning on doing it after Italy, but I got…pensative after Charles’ speech…about never waiting because we never know what comes tomorrow. So…uhm…yeah…Would you-”
“Yes! Yes. Good grace, yes.” You interrupt suddenly. Hand going to his face and leaning in with the biggest smile you could. He met you halfway. Lips warm, soft and so inherently him that you swear you could have melted right there. Because now you’re going to Italy, with your newly fiance.
It happened on the night of December 7th, during a luxurious gala ball. Under the nose of 300 guests and unsuspecting walls of the Louvre museum, intruders stole around 90 millions euros in jewelry.
Nine individuals, from different backgrounds, together planned and executed what might have been one of the most intricate robbery of the generation.
The Promoter, the Strategist, the Mole, the Hacker, the Performer, the Acrobat, the Artist, the Security and the Getaway driver. Each and every one of them was assigned a role in a meticulous plan that could either make or ruin their lives.
Between blueprints, security cameras, getaway cars, suits and dresses, love can bloom in subtle ways.
Four parts' story ~
Multiple drivers + Fem!reader
Genre: Action, drama, suspense, with just enough pinch of romance. ~
C.W: Strangers to allies to lovers; Robbery; Illegal activities(obv); inaccurate descriptions of the Louvre museum.
Chapter summary: Last time decisions can ruin or make a night. And only those who are brave enough, get to fully live the extraordinary, in more ways than you think. W.C: 4.5k
Multiple drivers + Fem!reader (Heist!AU)
Genre: Action, drama, suspense, romance, found family.
Warnings: tension, drama, fluff, Heist(obv); Long chapter, but contemplates, closure, romance and much fluff.
December 7th - Louvre Museum
Time is a funny thing. Some days time forgets how to behave. When you need it the most it goes unbearably slow and when you want to stay there forever it goes stubbornly fast. Sometimes those two happen simultaneously.
The clock never stops ticking, but the heartbeats get out of sync, the chest feels constricted. It all feels distorted. Like you're not really there. Not on your body, just a spectator watching everything and not being able to react voluntarily as reality bends its way around you.
You don't know what exactly you had in mind when you moved. But your feet just carried yourself. The tray, even though it was full of champagne glasses, felt ironically light in your hand as your trajectory made the side of your body collide with the IT guy.
Hard.
The noise echoed loudly through the ball room as glasses shattered hard on the floor from the impact. Broken shards spreading out around you both. A woman who was close by took a step back raising her long cream sequin dress hem to not get it wet on the bubbling golden liquid quickly spilling on the pristine porcelain tiles of the Louvre.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Followed then by the weight of every stare settled on you both on the floor.
You both fell on your knees from the impact. Well, you made sure he “tripped” over your awkward, but strategically positioned high heel. You could feel the stinging sensation on your hands from the cold shrapnel on the floor digging into them, some warm blood pooling on your palms and painfully bringing you into your senses to finally speak.
“Mon Dieu! I’m so sorry! Are you alright, sir?” You verbalized to the young man in front of you, who seems distressed as he stands up clumsily, cautious of the glass shards close by.
Max was already beside you as soon as you fell, hands supporting your forearms to help you up too. His expression furrowing slightly, immediately concerned by the sight of the vibrant red pooling slowly on your skin. It wasn’t much in your perception, but enough for a few drops to fall between your fingers on the floor.
“Uhm…I’m alright. You should g-get that checked. That’s a lot of b-blood.I have to go..uhm” The IT guy looks deeply disturbed by the sight of your bloody hands. Pale and wide eyes. He shakily stumbles a step sideways.
Bingo. You accidentally hit Bulseye. He’s afraid of blood.
You feel terrible using this against the poor guy, but it’s the only way out that you could think at this point. The stinging sensation clouding your thoughts a bit, but the desperation was even bigger than the pain in that moment
“It’s nothing, it barely hurts, see?” Your lips lift up in a not entirely fake sympathetic smile while showing both palms up.
The reaction was even more exacerbated than you calculated, from seeing your open hands you could say his face became green, body swaying briefly, eyes becoming unfocused and orbs rolling to the back of his head, his body betraying him, knees giving up under him. Both you and Max reached to try and hold the guy but someone appeared behind him just in time.
“Gotcha, man.” George luckily got close enough just as gravity decided to claim the young man. The tall British barely flinches from the weight of the limp unconscious body, politely and casually putting the pliable arm around his shoulder to support the body
Max’s elbow pinches your elbow soft but urgently. It takes you a second to process what he means with it.
“What is going on here?” John Elkann himself must have seen the commotion and came to see and deal with it.
You pray to whatever or whoever could hear that in that damn hall Kimi was already closing the last display and tying the cables on his waist as fast as he can to get out. You look at the man who keeps both hands behind his back and stares at you and the unconscious IT guy in George’s arms, waiting for an explanation.
Bless Charles, who kept playing the piano, so even if people could see, the conversation wasn’t exactly flaunted to the entire ball. Some of the guests were still curious, but most of them went back to drinking and pretending this was nothing but idling in their night.
“Sir, I was serving champagne and I didn’t see him and-” You start explaining yourself, when the older man stops you.
“I saw that, woman.” He is not loud. But you can feel the judgement of his icy cold tone. You see Max tensing slightly beside you, ready to take a step in front of you. “That doesn't explain why he is unconscious. Just go straight to the point. So you can get those hands checked in the infirmary. I have things to do.” Your throat works over nothing, cold sweat forming, you could feel it, dribbling slowly down your back inside the dress.
“The young lady stumbled across him and they both fell, I believe he got sick at the sight of blood, Mister.” George spoke up for you. Still holding the guy. “He will most likely wake up in a few seconds or minutes, maximum. This happens to people with hematophobia and it’s quite common and...”
George’s accent is strong as he keeps talking with the man in front of you all, giving mindless explanations and useless facts about the phobia of blood and how his sister is a medical student so he knows quite a lot about it. John looks bothered and impatient, but somehow awkward enough not to interrupt a seemingly guest of the ball.
Your savior wears a black suit with a matching tie. Light brown hair swooped impeccably on his forehead. Nonchalantly holding a cold champagne glass. Steps measured. Your heart warms at the sight of the multiple little moles spread across his neck and face. His mask of impenetrable calm and deliberately eyes are the same as always. The only thing that gives away his stress is how his jaw is clenched. The small facial muscles tensed. Subtly, but you've been living around him long enough to recognize it.
He always has a plan. You hoped now wasn't the exception.
Oscar passes as a curious guest approaching slowly from the northwest, behind John.
His eyes trails lazily and nonchalantly on the older man's back. When close enough, he acted. If you weren't paying attention, you would have missed. It was so discreet, barely a heartbeat, just a disturbance in time.
Without faltering his steps or even looking down. The Australian man moves his hand casually, at the same time his glass of champagne touches his lips. Swiping a finger and softly tapping something on John’s back, before he even swallows the champagne that was swirling around inside his mouth.
The tablet.
Elkann was holding the tablet behind his back
Your throat works around nothing. Dry like sand as Oscar just keeps walking.
A second passes before Lando's voice is soft and almost unheard in the group comms.
“Clear. Kimi's in the air duct a few meters from the exit and the alarm deactivated. Oscar turned off the notification on Elkann's tablet.”
Just a few steps ahead, but still close, Oscar lazily turns, his gaze meeting yours as he raises his glass of champagne close to his face, one side of his lips twitching upward before taking a sip. Gaze steady as he nods at you.
You exhale the air you didn't even notice you were holding. Staring at him for a beat before averting your gaze to Max's wrist. You check his watch. Six minutes. That's what it took for everything to almost crumble down, six minutes that felt like eternity.
“Well, is there a sofa or a chair I could put him in? He is regaining consciousness now.” George finally stopped his rant and asked John as he noticed the IT guy finally twitching
“Right…yeah, of course…There is a small infirmary in the staff area." He looks at you and your hands “You too, miss. go clean those hands. If you think you can't keep working after getting those fixed, speak to your superior before leaving. And you go back to your post, security.” He pointed his finger at Max. Who was ready to contest, but you didn't let him.
“Alright, sir. I'll just get them cleaned and some bandages and I'll probably be back to working with no stitches needed.” Your voice crackles a bit.
The older man just nods, pointing into the direction of the infirmary to George and the IT guy who has finally woke up but it's still confused and groggy. John then says he's getting someone to clean the mess after he checks something. Finally leaving us behind and walking toward the jewelry hall in hasty steps. Fortunately, he's too late. The air in your lungs leaves heavily.
“Are you sure you're good alone, schatje?” Max turns to your hands. Carefully holding them up to inspect the damage caused by shards of glass. Most of the cuts has stopped bleeding by now.
You're about to respond when you feel another presence beside you. You didn't notice him getting there.
“I’ll go with her.” Oscar nods at you before looking at Max, his hand softly landing in the middle of your back. “I think the worst has passed but we should keep the vigilance high…” He murmurs softly to the blond man, who seemed to realize we're not done yet and squared his shoulders firmly and nodded.
“Make sure she's okay, ja?” Max asks, taking a step back. Taking a quick look at me before his gaze went back to Oscar. Something you didn't recognize passed through his eyes.
Oscar nodded and quietly whispered.
“Always.”
His hand was warm on your lower back as he walked with you to the infirmary. His steps were measured. Slow enough to not attract attention and for you to keep up in your heels.
As you walk towards the staff area, one of your colleagues gives you a pitiful smile and moves her lips soundless, asking if you're okay, you just nod and smile softly.
The black door with “Staff Only” closes behind you and Oscar. Your shoulders sag pathetically as your back rests on the wall closing your eyes. Now that the adrenaline boost is finally dropping you can feel the headache coming and the faint stinging in your hands. Dress’ hem sticky with champagne from when you fell. Oscar asks for the first aid kit and you point to the cabinet on the corner of the room.
You both sit on the small old sofa that smells a bit like mold. His hands are methodical as they work. Cleaning, checking, ointment and small bandages on each cut. Not even ten minutes on it and he was done. None of them was deep enough for stitches, the bleeding had stopped some time ago.
None of you says a thing as you watch him putting the things back in the first aid box. When it's done you both stand up. You adjust your dress as he puts the box where it previously was before turning to you
He looks at you. Wordlessly, he comes a bit closer and raises his hands, fixing the little hairs that fell off of your bun. Carefully, but not hesitant.
Then his lips twitched upward, a smile gradually growing as he takes you in and is finally satisfied with your hair. He cups your face with a feather light touch, shaking his head softly.
“Perfect. What you did was perfect. Saved this whole thing, Bee.” His voice crackles a bit. Still smiling, his bunny teeth peering through his lips as his eyes basically shine staring into yours.
Your own smile gets bigger as your hands reach to hold his forearms, careful of the bandages, and soon you're both giggling like children hiding from their parents.
“Me? I was just a distraction. You turned the alarm off! By the way, it was just like in spy movies! So fast I barely noticed!” Your voice is soft, but excited. Barely containing yourself.
“I just finished up what you started. But you? You were creative and oh… you did so good! I'm so so proud, I could kiss you right now!”
“Do it.” You spoke without thinking. You blink once. He does too. He raises an eyebrow, still smiling, a little more exacerbated now. “I mean.. yeah…you could...if you want?”
“Yeah?” He laughs at your embarrassment.
“Yeah..” His thumb caresses your cheek softly.
His gaze drops to your lips slowly, his torso slowly leaning towards you. His nose brushes yours barely. The air is warm between you. Just an inch. An inch for your lips to touch.
Someone knocked twice before opening the door suddenly.
You both took a step away from each other, but the predicament was obvious. Your colleague's eyebrows are almost as high as her hairline. Her smirk slowly but surely formed.
“Came to see if you needed help, but apparently you're more than fine…” she scoffs lightly, clearly joking. “The headstaff was asking about your whereabouts, but I can cover for you for a few minutes, if you both can be fast, although you as a guest shouldn't be in this room…” she addresses Oscar.
You can feel your ears getting warm. Beside you Oscar coughs suddenly, clearing his throat twice.
“No! That's not what…that won't be necessary. I'm going back now.” You explain, shaking both hands in front of you nervously.
“Alright..” She wordlessly leaves the room. The door closes behind with a soft click.
“We should…uhm..” You awkwardly point towards the door.
“Yeah..yeah...right. We still gotta finish this up officially and leave.” He nods. Opening the door and motioning for you to go first before following you back towards the ball room.
----------
Two years later. Monaco - South of Europe.
You dip the tips of your fingers in the hair gel, spreading a bit before applying. Your other hand struggles just a bit to hold the hair tightly in a ponytail.
Alexandra sits in front of you, impeccable posture, facing the mirror and patiently watching as you tie everything together. You smooth her baby hairs methodically with an expensive but very worthy hairbrush. Rolling the hail tail into a medium bun.
It's been two years and 28 days. No one has suspected that the jewelry in the museum are now just cheap replicas. Lando makes sure to check the media and news constantly.
It took almost 2 months to get everything. Lewis and Charles were methodical and careful in disassembling the jewelry, assessing the market value with different experts for each separate part under the pretense that they are family heirlooms, then selling them separately on the international market. To put it simply, it was a lot of work.
None of you live in Paris anymore. There is still a group chat for contact. But everyone is living their lives and fulfilling their plans and dreams, in your own ways. You're excited to see some of them again.
Today the group is reunited completely. For a good cause.
You raise your hand wordlessly, palm up as Alex obediently gives you the hairpins to hold everything together. The little white flower pins come next, as the final touch. A nice contrast with her dark hair.
You wipe your hands on a baby wipe before looking at her through the mirror. Her smile is soft as she takes in her appearance, the makeup she'd done herself a few minutes ago and the bun you just did. You meet her gaze.
“You did it just like I dreamed. I feel pretty and still myself.” She murmurs so softly, but in the quiet room you heard perfectly.
“You are indeed, very pretty. I'm glad I could do justice to what you dreamed. That's what maid of honors is for, right?” You caress her robe covered shoulder affectionately. Her hand covers yours in gratitude.
Leo barks from the feet of her chair where he'd been napping the whole time. You both laugh. The little dachshund was adopted by her and Charles right after everyone got their parts of the money.
“Let's get you in your dress now, hm? So you don't keep Charles waiting.” You give your hands to help her stand up from the chair before going to the bed to collect the heavy, embroidered white dress. You and her mom opted to help her before putting yours on.
Your phone on the table vibrates once. Then twice.
From Oscar:
“Are you both ready?”
“Everyone is waiting. I think Charles is on the verge of a breakdown…” 17h34
To Oscar:
“Yeah, I'm coming down in a bit! :)” 17h36
“Abeille, viens nous aider! Tiens le chiot, s'il te plaît!” Alex's mom calls from where they're putting the dress on.
~~~~
As you walk down the stairs 10 minutes later with a very energetic Leo in your arms, he's there. Waiting. Wearing beige social pants paired with a light blue button up shirt. His calming presence contrasts with your more exacerbated energy.
“I know! I know. We're ready! It was a bit of a challenge to close her dress. It was me and her mom struggling, and Leo was nibbling her heels and-”
“Hey.” He interrupts you. Hand going to your upper arm, squeezing softly in comfort. Smiling a bit at the puppy in your arms, petting it before focusing on you again. “Breath, yeah? It's alright.” His voice is gentle, calm and grounding as always. You take a deep breath, the air filling your lungs slowly and calming your nerves.
The light pink dress is soft against your skin. White kitten heels are surprisingly comfortable on your feet. His eyes trail down your body. Quick and discreetly. Before going back to your face. He smiles.
“You look beautiful.”
You sigh, lips stubbornly tilting up as you take his appearance as well.
“You clean up real nice, too.”
Leo wiggles aggressively in your arms so you just put the overly excited puppy on the ground, and just as soon, you see a small golden ball of energy running through the door straight to the back garden. You hear some of the guests laughing. It's a small ceremony. Just Alex and Charles's family and some close friends. Your mom is here too. She's been friends with Pascale, Charles’ mom way back in time. Her debts? gone. You made a deal with her where you promised no one got hurt and she promised to never question it.
“Everyone is waiting, the marriage officiant is ready, Charles is there in the altar trying not to tear up before he even sees the bride, and you're just…” He raises his wrist, checking his watch. “4 minutes late. Everything is fine.”
“I know…I'm excited. Seeing Charles marrying feels…weird. A good weird I think. I can't see my big brother marrying, but I can see Charles do, and that's close enough.”
“He'd be proud. Of you both.” He nods seriously.
You smile.
~~~~
A collective celebration was heard as Charles kissed Alexandra before the officiant even finished ‘you may now kiss the bride.’
You're pretty sure you heard Lando sniffing behind you as you all clapped, Max made fun of him. Kimi sat beside you, carrying Leo in his arms and whistled very loudly since his hands were too busy for clapping.
The newlyweds had cut and distributed cake slices for everyone. The group sits together on one table. The cake is fluffy and filled with strawberries, all of you waste no time in eating the sweet treat.
Someone tinkle a champagne glass to gather attention. Charles.
“Everyone…Please. We are very grateful for your presence today. We all come a long way. One way or another you contributed to our lives. As friends, family, workmates…” He winks at your table. Lando literally giggles. Lewis and George are smiling proudly at their friend. Fernando nods in appreciation. Kimi is too busy struggling to stop Leo from stealing cake from his plate. Max is trying to hide his lips twitching. Oscar is quietly picking the strawberries from his slice of cake and putting on yours as you happily eat them while Charles continues.
“Being in love is scary, we do things without thinking and we give up things we like just because it makes the ones we love happy…I was a bit scared to ask her hand in marriage, wanting or not, it is a big change, out of our comfort zone. But I stopped and reflected…we never know tomorrow. And only those who take risks, deserve to live the extraordinary that comes with courage…and loving you, Alex…is for sure my best win in life.” Charles’ voice crackles a bit in the end and Alex giggles at it, softly pecking him. You all clap at the end.
“Alex! Alex!! Are you gonna throw the bouquet!? Please do it. I need my future husband!!” Alex's younger step sister asks as soon as the clap ceases. The sixteen year old girl has stars in her eyes. You all chuckle at her excitement. Cute.
And she got what she wanted. The small number of women present started gathering in the middle of the backyard and the two elders, moms of the newlyweds joined them, just for the fun.
“Off you go, kleine bij!” Max taps your shoulder and motions for you to stand up.
“Me?!” You ask, hand covering your mouth as you still chew on the strawberries from the cake.
“Yeah! Go see if you're lucky.” Kimi chimes in.
“True. You and Osc here have been traveling together around Europe for about a year now, right? Maybe it would be fate telling you something, huh?…” George wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
Lando laughed out loud at that. Lewis smirking at you two.
Oscar choked on his champagne glass and you promptly pat his back softly, asking if he is okay, he just nods and taps his chest a few times. You silently take notice of his red ears as the guys laugh and tease him, before you stand up, smoothing your dress in defeat.
“Alright, gentlemen. Let's see how my luck is today. For fun.” You announce playfully. Going towards the other women. Standing in the back of the group.
Alex looks at all of you before turning around.
“Ready?” Her soft voice is a bit louder now.
“Just throw, my dear!” Her mother whined and all of you laughed.
The bouquet flies in a beautiful arch. Just for a moment. Before falling right into your hands. Quite literally. You didn't even have to raise your arms or put any effort.
You breathe in surprise, giggling a bit when the women around you whoop and celebrate. You can hear the guys laughing and peek at them clapping Oscar on his back, who is quite definitely flustered. Ears and cheeks flaring up like tomatoes, but when his gaze lifts and meets yours, there is only a soft smile there, small and gentle as always. You turn back around to accept hugs from Alex and some other girls. You notice one quietly smiling a few steps away.
“Take it, so we can share the luck.” You offered. Smiling softly.
Even though you catch it, you push the beautifully arranged lilies into the 16 years old girl's hands who was standing a few steps away from you. Her face lit up instantly.
“Does luck work like that?” She laughs, taking the flowers from your hands.
“It won't hurt to try, no?” Her arms wrap around you in a quick hug.
~~~~~
The sun slowly sets as you all eat your hearts out, Lando is excitedly telling about his new twitch streaming account. You all update each other and go on a nostalgic trip back in time to remind the chaos back two years ago. How Kimi tripped while getting out of the building. How the van engine took three or four tries before turning on. How you, Max and Charles had to stay until the end of the party to avoid suspicion. How Charles and Alex adopted Leo as soon as they moved to their new apartment. How Lewis invested on a new motorbike. Max is opening a charity boxing gym for children in the neighborhood where he lives in Zandvoort. Alonso has been traveling central america in an all inclusive cruise.
You and Oscar paid your debts. Both started traveling around one year after the ball. He did in fact buy his sports car. A very slick dark blue model that has comfortable seats and a big trunk to carry your backpacks as you mindlessly travel around Europe. Meeting tourist points and relaxing in fancy hotels. Halfway through somewhere in Belgium, you stopped booking different rooms. No awkward talks. It came naturally, comfortable. You just became a pair without any fuss. Slow and steady.
As you said your goodbyes and hugged everyone, you and Oscar walked hand in hand towards his car. He closed your door for you. Rounding the front to get on the drivers side and laughing when he noticed you already took your heels off.
“Where are we going now?” You ask suddenly.
His lips tilt up on one side,
“We got drunk in Belgium, ate lots of stroopwaffles in the Netherlands and skied in Switzerland. I was thinking maybe…Italy? Eat some pasta and pizzas until we're sick of it..”
“I do love a good pasta.” You sigh dreamily.
“I know.” He smiles softly. “Italy it is then. Let’s just get our things and take a shower in the hotel.” You open the sun visor to check your hair and fix the rebel strings as his hand reaches to turn the engine on, but pauses. He stares at the steering wheel in front of him. His mouth opens and then closes, hesitating for a second. He then opens the center console between you two and pulls something.
“Talk about great timing…you catching that bouquet…today.” He murmured slowly.
It takes you two seconds. Your hand on the sun visor freezes. Slowly turning your head towards him. He puts the opened dark blue velvet box on top of the console.
The ring stares at you, just like the man sitting there in silence.
Oh. Oh
The diamond sits perfectly on the silver arc. Surrounded with tiny gems creating an intricate, yet minimalist design.
“I was planning on doing it after Italy, but I got…pensative after Charles’ speech…about never waiting because we never know what comes tomorrow. So…uhm…yeah…Would you-”
“Yes! Yes. Good grace, yes.” You interrupt suddenly. Hand going to his face and leaning in with the biggest smile you could. He met you halfway. Lips warm, soft and so inherently him that you swear you could have melted right there. Because now you’re going to Italy, with your newly fiance.
♕ November 28th - 22h38 - Paris - One week before the Ball.
The worn out fabric of the sofa from the warehouse is rough on your skin. The black kitten heels sit upside down on your legs as you open the clear nail polish calmly. The man beside you reviews the strategy out loud, with time and variables from his tablet. Step. By. Step. For the second time tonight.
It became a routine for you both. When most of the group went home or were crashing in one of the rooms from the warehouse, most likely asleep or doing their own thing. You two would quietly sit on the old couch at the rooftop and discuss the plan. Well, mostly…Sometimes you would sit in silence or just chat about anything unimportant.
Oscar once said it's to keep you company while you wait for Max to come from his training to walk you home. But you just know that he stays awake even after you go. He has some issues with sleeping, like he never seems able to get enough rest. He never mentioned it. But you see it. It's a bit hard not to, really.
You're vaguely paying attention as you lift the brush from the nail polish glass, your fingers firm as you meticulously apply the clear base on the back sole of the footwear. You don't hear him hesitate in his speech, you don't notice he stopped talking, you don't notice when he lifts his eyes to see if you're paying attention. But you hear him sighing.
“Bee..? Are you listening to me?”
You hum nonchalantly, putting the brush back in the glass while blowing carefully the sole. His eyebrows furrow.
“Are you…painting the sole of the heel?” From the time you've been spending together, you learned that his accent gets thicker when he is extra tired. “Why..?”
You finally raise your head to meet his gaze. There are bags under his eyes and his lips are chapped. But his gaze is curious on the high heels resting on your lap.
“The heel..” you raise the one you haven't coated in nail polish yet and lower it to the ground tapping twice on it. “Makes a lot of noise when I walk…So I put a bit of nail polish on the sole, it helps to stifle the noise. And it also makes it less slippery.” you take the brush again to apply a second layer.
Oscar sits there, not saying anything. Just watching you work.
His tablet sat forgotten on his lap. The device screen went black after a few minutes. It's when you noticed he wasn't talking anymore, just watching. Calmly. Not bored. But he is blinking very slowly.
“You should sleep.” He blinks twice when you speak, realizing he's been distracted.
“I will…After Max comes to pick you up.” He nods.
“Tch…are you trying to convince me or yourself?” You raise your eyes to meet his gaze. He opens his mouth to refute, but you don't let him. “We both know you won't sleep until at least 2 in the morning, Oscar.” He winced at your words, almost imperceptibly.
He opens his mouth to defend himself but you cut him off again before he has the chance.
“Why don't you try now with me?”
“Come again?” His eyes widen a bit, before his eyebrows become furrowed. His mouth opened.
“Here. Lay down on the couch. I'll keep you company” You nod your head to the pillow beside you, patting it. “Go ahead, lay your head here, I'll talk while you rest.”
He is frozen. Shoulders a bit tense, and knuckles white gripping the tablet. He is skeptical, but he knows you're insistent.
“So you won't put red nail polish on my nose like a clown…?” He raised an eyebrow.
You scoff.
“Charles had it coming, ok?! He ate my lunch that was on the refrigerator and it had my name on it! It was just payback!” Your voice comes out defensive.
Oscar quietly laughs before sighing defeated. The tablet is wordlessly put on the coffee table in front of the couch.
“You won't mind?” He asks unsurely.
“I wouldn't have offered it if I did.” You pat the small squared pillow that sits beside you, it's old and not the softest, but it's the only pillow at disposal.
He grunts quietly as he lowers himself sideways on the couch. His head landed carefully on the pillow. The light brown hair barely touches your arm, softly tickling the skin there. But you don't move. You just take the nail polish and go back to painting the heel sole.
“You said you would pay your student loans with the money, and help one of your sisters with her dream bakery…” Your voice interrupts the quietness. “But what do you plan on doing after it…?”
The question lingers for a moment. You keep applying the nail polish while waiting for him to answer.
“I want to buy a car..a fast one, maybe blue.” You raise an eyebrow at that. You think that's all he would give you but, he keeps going. “I have liked fast cars since I was a kid. I went Karting with my dad as a child back in Australia, before it became too expensive for us and I had to stop. My parents worked hard to send me here and I worked two jobs to help afford the Engineering degree. And we still have a huge debt with the University. So uhmm…yeah. Pay the debt, help my younger sister who wants to open her bakery in Australia and then get a fast car and travel Europe with it.”
“That's a good plan. Travel around and meet new places. I like it, maybe I'll do something similar.” You say softly. Before blowing carefully the heel and finally screwing on the nail polish cap and putting on the coffee table
“You could go with me…” He murmurs quietly. His voice was a bit slow and dragged. “I would drive us around…”
You pause. The high heels you were lowering to the ground paused too. Mid-air. Your fingers tighten a bit around the straps.
You blink. Once. Twice. A second too long. You finally put the high heels on the ground slowly. Without making a sound. Before raising your torso and resting on the back of the couch.
“Would you..?” You ask almost whispering now. There is this tiny light feather warm feeling in your stomach. When you get no answer you look at the man's head laying beside your leg.
His eyes are closed. Breathing evenly. Lips parted. You exhale slowly. He fell asleep.
Your fingers slowly raise, trembling slightly as you carefully move the hair a bit from his forehead. He doesn't react. At all.
He doesn't wake up when you pick the blanket from the back of the sofa, he doesn't react when you cover him with it. He doesn't notice when you adjust yourself to get more comfortable. And he definitely doesn't move an inch when you take your phone to send a message to Max.
To Max: “Hey, you can go straight to your house, I'm staying at the warehouse tonight.” 22h59
From Max: “You sure? Just got finished here.” 23h01
To Max: “Yeah, Thank you! Gnight :)” 23h02
From Max: “You too. Text me if you need anything.” 23h02 message liked
♕ December 7th - 17h50 - Paris - The day.
Staring at yourself in the mirror. Exhaling with finality.
Your point finger is still stained with the red tint you applied on your lips. Your lashes curled with just a tiny bit of mascara. Your eye bags are unnoticeable under the concealer and your cheeks rosy from the blush.
Your hair, carefully pulled into a low and elegant bun. Simple and small earrings clasped on your ears already. Put it together. Professional.
The carefully ironed black dress is pulled from the hanger. Your legs step into it and you slowly pull until the modest cleavage was perfectly sat on your collarbones.
Sighing to yourself when neither of your hands could reach the zipper on the back. Right when someone knocks on the door a few steps beside where you stand in the mirror.
“Come in.” You turn to see who it is.
The wood creaks when it's moved and Max's blondish hair peaks before he walks completely into the room. He's wearing a black suit. Simple black tie. The door clicks softly behind him.
“You clean up real nice, Maxie.” You compliment gently and he smiles, his ears getting red at it.
“Thank you, the suit is a bit annoying though.” He complains, moving his arms as if it could stretch the fabric, laughing while doing. “You ready, bij?” His voice is soft now, as he takes in your appearance. Dress, hair and makeup on. Only shoes are missing.
“Almost. I just can't reach the zipper..” He just nods.
“Turn around.” He motions and you do as he says. Now staring in the mirror.
Max raises his hands aiming for the zipper. But he hesitates.
“Excuse me, liefje.” He murmurs just before you feel him taking the zipper and holding the fabric just below the ending of the zipper opening with his other hand.
The tiny plastic goes up slowly and carefully. His face is pure concentration. You watch silently through the mirror as his eyes deliberately follow the little plastic thing until it's fully closed. Ending just below your shoulder plates.
He doesn't let go of the dress.
Your eyebrows furrow when he doesn't move. Still close, still enough to feel his warmth.
He's staring at something. Head tilted.
“Max…?” He barely twitches at your call.
“You have a tiny birthmark here..” His fingers touch your skin softly, the point just above the fabric. You don't react much. It's not like he hasn't touched you before. “It's vaguely shaped like a heart…”
Through the mirror you see his lips twitching up. His gaze finds yours when he looks up. Before he looks down at the said birthmark.
"It's cute...” His throat works around nothing. Before he pats your shoulder softly before walking towards the door. “Go on, Bij. Put your shoes on. I'll be waiting with the others so we can adjust our earpieces.” He finishes and then closes the door quietly.
You nod to yourself. No time to overthink. High heels. Earpieces. And showtime.
10 minutes later the ‘gang’ is gathered in the main room of the warehouse. Most of them in their tuxedos. Except you, Kimi who's wearing his elastane jumpsuit, Lando and Fernando the two last wearing simple hoodies with bright safety vests on top of it.
Lando is handing everyone their respective earpieces. His eyes crease with a smile as he finally hands yours.
“And finally yours, Bee. Ready?” He smiles excited. But you can see him picking at his cuticles and tense shoulders.
“Let's do this.” You nod.
“Aright, everyone!” Oscar interrupts, calling everyone's attention. “Like planned, Max, Charles and Bee are going earlier, since they're security and staff, they will check if everything is like we predicted and we come in later, the van will be parked two streets away with Fernando on standby and Lando will do his magic with the cameras. Remember, steady and quietly, no rushing, no weird interactions, we come in, we take the jewelry and we come out, no one notices.”
“Let's do it!” Lewis chimed in.
“Ninõ, you have the jewelry with you, right?” Fernando's strong accent addresses Kimi.
The Italian boy firmly nods and points to the fanny pack firmly strapped around his torso.
“Hell yeah, our adapted version of La Casa de Papel” Kimi jokes and some chuckle, George tickles the boy's waist making him yelp.
~~~~~~~~~~☘~~~~~~~~~~
♕ December 7th 18h40 - Louvre Museum
As soon as you three make it to the museum separately, identities are checked and you all are safely inside. Max follows the others from security, Charles goes with the sound/music people and you go meet the others from the La Jolliette staff.
“Here you guys will have a support table for the champagne glasses for the guests and the bottles will be stocked in the refrigerators, appetizers will have to be rotated through the main hall every 10 minutes, you seven with champagne and the rest of you with the appetizers…”
You’re vaguely paying attention as the head staff explains and distributes the functions, pointing fingers and giving orders. The guy is okay, truly, the big boss who’s above him not so much. John Elkann, one of the event organizers and the second biggest sponsor for this ball. That man is a handful to put it simply. Rude, controlling and narcissist to the maximum, but you haven’t seen him yet, so he might not be a problem.
As you all round the hall, the group paused right beside the restricted corridor where the jewelry sat. The hall had been separated by long velvet red curtains. You carefully position yourself on the blind spot of the security cameras. The tiny imperceptible usb feels heavy on your fingers as you take it from your pocket, Without anyone paying attention, you plug the dispositive on the internal router, placed on the wall beside the curtains, slightly hidden. Checking your watch as you follow the other staff to another area.
15 minutes. That's what Lando takes to get into the system without being noticed.
You wait 5 minutes more. 19h00 on the dot and the gates open officially. Guests slowly entered the hall. Charles is sitting at the grand piano sitting at the center of the hall, he started playing something soft and melodic.
As more and more people fill the main hall, you circled it with a tray full of champagne glasses. Often pausing to serve guests and refilling the tray ever so often. Polite smiles being thrown every time. You serve George and you both share a secretive smile. Right as Lando's voice reaches your ear.
“Got it, Bee. Get the usb back. and I’ll be turning the loop in a minute. Standby.”
As you pass Lewis, who's close to the internal router, you nod discreetly to him; he casually changes positions so the couple he's talking to turns their back towards you. Again on the blind spot you swiftly take the usb before turning to Lewis and the unknown couple to offer champagne. They all accept it. As he takes the glass you smile at him, your hand reaching his pocket to drop the usb in it.
You sigh a bit dramatically as you pass Max whose lips tilt up at one side briefly, but he remains focused on his security role.
You find Oscar in one corner of the hall, following everything with his brown attentive eyes. His gaze meets yours as you approach him, offering a glass of champagne from your tray. He politely takes one smiling softly. You murmur softly that Lando is “on it” before stepping aside to serve more guests.
You’re on your way to refill your tray with champagne glasses when Lando’s voice echoes in all of your ears.
“We’re in. Camera’s loop… starting now.”
You exhale the air from your lungs. The show is on.
~~~~~~~~~~☘~~~~~~~~~~
Outside the museum in the back alley sat Fernando in the driver seat keeping an eye out and Lando in the back with his laptop and 2 extra monitors, all connected and showcasing all the cameras and security system setup from the museum, including the loop and the actual vision of the cameras inside the jewelry corridor, side by side.
He clicks on the mic to speak on the group comms.
“Alright, everyone. I’m tracking the airtag on Kimi’s jumpsuit. He’s in the air ducts, 2 meters away from the jewelry room. The camera loop is on and working as expected.” Lando speaks as he checks the cameras from the security room, seeing the security guard barely batting an eye to his monitors. On his laptop, the blue dot slowly but steadily moves through the air ducts virtual map before stopping right above the display cases covered in glass.
“I’m here” Kimi’s whispering voice sounds through the comms. “I can see the two display cases where the four pieces of jewelry are sitting. The three necklaces are together and the bracelet is in another one, waiting for the order.”
“Got it. I’m turning off the display alarms right…now. You’re free to act, Acrobat.”
Secured through resisted and malleable cables Kimi descends slowly until he’s on the ground, right in front of the displays.
The young boy’s breath is uneven as his gloved hands reach carefully to remove the glass protection, nothing happens. There is a drop of sweat forming on his forehead as he smoothly takes the real necklaces into his fanny pack and substitutes with the replicas, just like it was before, change unnoticeable. Three done, one to go. He takes the glass cover again arranging it perfectly like it was never touched, the fabric gloves leaving no trace behind.
The bracelet next, cover out, real one in the bag, replica in the display and lastly, the glass cover goes back and…
Beep.
Kimi stopped breathing. Hands frozen. The tiny beep signal was low, but in the empty hall it was dreadful in the young boy’s ears.
“Lando..!? What was that?” He whispered desperately as he looked around himself desperately.
~~~~~~~~~~☘~~~~~~~~~~
Lando heard Kimi, but was focused on the screen with cameras. He noticed the glitch. The moment the loop failed. Barely two seconds. He counted. But one second and a few tenths was too long.
The guy in the security room stopped, his hand bringing the coffee cup to his lips, paused halfway, before putting the cup back on the table to look closer to the monitor.
Lando's throat was dry, opposite to his hands that suddenly felt sweaty as he watched from his laptop.
He typed fast on his laptop, checked the loop, and it was intact. Back to what was supposed to be. But it was too late. The security IT technician was already texting on his phone, alerting someone and standing up, leaving the security room and walking into the main hall where the party was happening. Lando moves his eyes through the monitors. The hacker eyes scan through the guests and staff. Stopping at one, who took his phone out.
John Elkann. Fuck.
John, who arrived 15 minutes after the ball began, checked his phone and immediately turned to look at the tablet in his hand. Frowning.
“Guys, John Elkann is suspicious! The loop glitched for a second and one micro alarm we didn’t know about was activated. The IT guy noticed and alerted him!” Lando had a thin edge into his tone. “I repeat. John is suspicious, he is by the sculptures on the west side of the hall, he is looking in the corridor direction, the IT is going there too! Kimi is still there!! Intercept them!” His words spilled in a rush.
~~~~~~~~~~☘~~~~~~~~~~
Inside the ball you all tense.
Charles’ missed a key in the piano, softly, barely noticeable for most, but you know him, he never misses on this song. He knows it
Oscar’s fingers tightened around his champagne glass as he stared at the man’s back, he’s too far. You meet Max’s eyes as you two are not close either, not really sure what to do without looking suspicious.
John deliberately excuses himself from the conversation he was having with a sponsor. His steps are tormenting as you watch. froze in place not reacting.
Lewis is walking in John’s direction, but he’s too far. He won’t make it in time.
The IT security guy is getting closer to you and Max.
You look around, finding George closer to Elkann. He makes eye contact with you. He touches his ear, a sign for the “drunkly bump into” plan, but you know it won’t be enough, it will slow him down but just for a few seconds, not enough for Kimi to climb the cables.
Time faltered, any hesitation shattered as you saw the IT guy getting close enough to you and Max, The decision came before thought had time to catch up.
Summary: She is the social media manager for Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel has a personal mission to take her on a date, but at first it seems his attempts are unseen or ignored by the woman. His teammate is bored out of his mind seeing his friend lovesick.
Genre: fluff + friends to lovers.
Cw: Seb being a flirty menace as usual, the reader is a bit oblivious(is she?). This is around his time in Ferrari. No descriptions or name for reader.
Notes: Finally!! Probably the last piece of TLOAS specials. Something Short an' sweet;) Again, English is not my first language. Thank you for reading my fics and patience for the waiting. Enjoy♡
✨️The life of a Showgirl's masterlist ✨️
-> Main Masterlist
You can call me honey if you want, because I'm the one you want.
"Good morning, Honey!"
You, wearing black pants and Ferrari t-shirt, turned around with raised eyebrows to stare at the blond man who just came into the Ferrari Headquarters smiling like he owned the place. Besides you, the hum of the elevator indicates it's coming down while you watch a full-grown man basically skip his steps towards you with that stupid grin. You laugh, shaking your head at the driver's antics.
"Really, Sebastian?" Your voice is neutral when he reaches your side, and his hand lightly squeezes your shoulder in greeting.
"Yes! Always. How are you this morning, lovely? Ready for the first work week after summer break?" He wiggled his eyebrows with those stupid smiles that screamed. I'm a menace
"Are you gonna make me work extra hours, or you'll actually be pr trained?" You're staring with raised eyebrows and a smile that clearly says I know you, gremlin.
"Me? I'm an innocent man. I always behave, honey." He mockingly puts his hand on top of his heart, his face holding a piss poor excuse of a horrified acting that anyone could tell was fake.
"Yeah, and I'm Adriana Lima. C'mon, mister pr nightmare." Your sarcarm is clear even though there's a twitch in your mouth, discreetly smiling as the elevator door opens, Sebastian holding the door open and motioning for you to go first, ever the gentleman, he quietly presses the 2nd floor button and stare at the elevator doors in front of him.
For a second, you think he's done with the daily morning teasing.
"For what's worth it... I would choose you over Adriana any day." he smiles, winking like the idiot he is. You scoff, shaking your head slightly, of course.. You should've known it was coming. Should've known by now how the German seems to enjoy having the last word every. time.
You parted ways without another word, him to the sim racing room and you for your small office, your day went normally.
You checked Ferrari social media and posted some 'tbt' pictures from last year race calendar. Interacted with some fans' comments and send some raw videos for the editors so they can do their magic and post on YouTube.
You also made a small list with media content ideas to record with both Sebastian and Kimi this week.
Give me more, buy the paint in the color of your eyes
Later that day, you stood in front of the sim racing room. Phone and small ring light in hand ready for content recording. You knocked softly and quietly opened the door, not wanting to disrupt the drivers' focus.
Sebastian was sitting on the hydraulic platform, discussing something with the engineer beside him, clearly occupied. So you looked around searching for your other victim.
The iceman himself noticed you the moment you crossed the door and silently stared as you made your way to him.
"Morning, Kimi.." You smile sheepishly. He just nodded his head in greeting.
"You want to record more videos, don't you?" He deadpan quietly, like usual, and you gave him that awkward smile whenever you annoyed him with this.
"You know it's not my fault, Kimi.. I'm just doing my job." You try to reason. "It's nothing hard or prolonged, just some content for youtube.."
He sighs, ready to crumble, but a familiar voice cuts you both.
"She's trying to kidnap you, kimi?" Sebastian is suddenly just besides you both. The German rested his arm on Kimi's shoulder, still smiling and energetic as always.
"Good news, Kimi. I'm volunteering myself to be kidnapped in your place."
You sigh defeated.
"Alright. I'll be in the main lobby with the camera ready while you go change into a Ferrari shirt, please." You inform the older man in front of you.
"I'll be there, sweetheart!" He says cheekly while watching you walking towards the door.
"Don't push it, Sebastian!" You shout over your shoulder.
As the door closes behind you, Sebastian looks beside him to find Kimi staring at him. Expression is blank. The Finnish man raises an eyebrow, and then:
"You look like a puppy in love. It is amusing to see." He says, looking bored despite his words.
"You see, I've seen guys try to use petnames with her. She professionally cut them off, like...immediately, always. But never when I say it, she just laughs or gives me a sarcastic comeback. I have a chance, no?"
Kimi deadpan stares at him.
"Ferrari is finally making you delusional."
"It's called hope! And Goal setting!"
"Okay, Sebastian. I have some questions fans sent to you on Twitter, so you're just gonna answer them normally, easy peasy, good?" You inform sitting on a bench besides the tripod that's pointing in his direction. The man himself is comfortably sitting on a red sofa.
"Perfect! Shoot them, Honey!" She gives him a deadpan stare, and he just smiles innocently, looking like a kid that's about to receive treats.
"First one was sent by a fan from Canada. He wrote: Vettel, How do you manage your health to perform well on racing? I'm an athlete too and you're my biggest inspiration."
He's now more focused. A few seconds of reflection before answering.
"First of all, thank you. It's important to balance mental and physical health, so I eat healthy, train, of course. Also, I spend time with family and friends, I try not to take everything so seriously because I race for love. At the end of the day, I should enjoy what I'm doing. " He smiles at the camera. And you nod encouragingly.
The questions flow easily. He's in professional mode. He jokes a bit when the question is funny. You like seeing him enjoying himself. He likes his fans, which is clear.
"Okay, last one..this fan from Brazil wrote: Seb, if you could ask for anything, knowing the answer would be 'yes'..what would you ask?" As you finish talking you take your water botter from beside, and take a few sips while he thinks of an answer.
There is a smile creeping on his face as he makes eye contact. You clock it immediately. Sending your best 'I dare you' look to him.
He seems to understand because he smiles even bigger.
"I would ask you on a date." He firmly says. Smiling big, teeth showing proudly like a kid who just won something.
"Oh my God" You sigh. "Why are you like this? The editors are definitely cutting this.." You murmur embarrassed as you cut the camera.
"Would you, though?" He looks hopeful.
"Hm? Would what?" You ask while absently checking the video tape on the equipment.
"Say yes..for a date?"
He sounds so serious now that the camera is off that you pause and peek at him. He is leaning a bit, elbows on his knees and hands crossed. His eyes are hopeful and less joking.
"Hypothetically asking?" You sigh and raise an eyebrow. Defeated.
He smirks creeps in slowly.
"Hypothetically asking.." He looks smug now, as if he already know the answer.
"Then, hypothetically... I would say yes." His grin gets impossibly bigger.
"Well, hypothetically, I would pick you up on friday, at seven?"
You finally laugh out loud at the situation. Standing up with your papers and the cameras. He quickly gets up to follow you.
"Make it half past seven and it would be deal. Hypothetically."
"Yes, honey. Whatever you say." He's beaming.
Safe to say..the editors did not cut the last part before posting. The internet had a blast with it.
Summary: social media as the time goes...just a closure for them✨️
Notes/Cw: pictures from pinterest🫶🏻
F1gossipofficial🔹️
Liked by user1, f1fan1 and others
F1gossipofficial. After xoxoloveslattes posted pics of her and maxverstappen1 hanging out on a boat 2 weeks ago, these two apparently have been spending quite some time together. The f1 champion and the famous VA had been spotted together around Monaco a few times... new couple? Or just friends? PR stunt?
user1 pls the invasion of privacy wtf
user2 good for them?
user3 she's just a gold digger
↳ user4 she's rich too, tf?
user5 cutiess❤️
user6 two worlds colliding✨️
View all comments
~~~~~~~♡~~~~~~~
maxverstappen1 🔹️
Liked by xoxoloveslattes, charles_leclerc, and others.
maxverstappen1 🐈🐈❤️🐕 Coco, the new addition.
user5 Oh Max, you're not slick!!
xoxoloveslattes cuties ♡ by the author
user6 That's a woman👀
charles_leclerc Leo and Coco should have a play date! ♡ by the author
user7 Omg a new pet! And it's a dog
↳xoxoloveslattes omg yes!🥺
user7 we saw that👀
View all comments
~~~~~~~♡~~~~~~~
F1gossipofficial 🔹️
Liked by Lando and others.
F1gossipofficial After meeting in the Brazil GP and being spotted a few times together in Monaco. xoxoloveslattes and maxverstappen1 were seen in the airport together again on the f1 champion private jet in Nice this morning. The couple(?) landed today in Qatar for this weekend grand prix.
user8 tagging them on a borderline stalking post is shady asf.
user9 My goodness I like seeing them happy, but this lack of privacy is so f*cked up.
user10 mama & papa.
user11 cough cough PR
user12 Lando we see you in the likes u muppet
user13 I'm kinda enjoying them together, hope is not a pr stunt🤡
View all comments
~~~~~~~♡~~~~~~~
2025 ~ Qatar GP
victoriaverstappen posted a story
~~~~~~~♡~~~~~~~
xoxoloveslattes🔹️
Liked by maxverstappen1, oscarpiastri, redbullracing and others
xoxoloveslattes You did it, Maxie! P1!! One more win and counting! Immensely proud of you! 💙
Also, congrats on P2, Oscar! Lovely meeting you and Lily!✨️
Tagged: maxverstappen1; oscarpiastri
maxverstappen1 💙❤️ ♡ by author
↳xoxoloveslattes ❤️💙
↳user13 the hearts😭
user14 Post race Max is ethereal!
↳xoxoloveslattes for real tho👌🏻
↳user14 omg queen, you answered!😍
user15 He kissed you after the race, what a way to hard launch, ma'am this man is in LOVE!
lilyzneimer 🥰🥰
↳xoxoloveslattes 🫶🏻
oscarpiastri thank you! ♡ by the author
oscarpiastri And congrats, Max👍🏻 ♡ by maxverstappen1 and xoxoloveslattes
↳user16 it's Oscar and the thumbs up emoji against the world.💀
user17 A HARD LAUNCH EVERYONE IT'S HAPPENING
View more comments
~~~~~~~♡~~~~~~~
January 1st 2026(2 months later)
xoxoloveslattes🔹️ & maxverstappen1🔹️
Liked by oscarpiastri, kikagomes, charles_leclerc and others.
xoxoloveslattes Yay, what a wonderful year! With ups and downs, but we made it! And with lots of love from me and Maxie, we wish you all a gentle and happy 2026!
Thank you, Maxie. For sliding into my dms that night. For being you, for loving me in the gentlest way possible and for giving Coco, 3 little cat friends to complete our family!
maxverstappen1 I love you, Schatje!
↳ xoxoloveslattes I love you, too! Always!
user18 my parents🥹
kikagomes Fofíssimos!
user19 Shirtless Max mein got we've been blessed! Thank you, xoxoloveslattes!
user20 I want what they have!😭
user21 Max you didn't win your 5th championship but you won in life!! ♡ by maxverstappen1
Okay... So I might have done something. With the whole "Oscar has bottom yearning eyes." chaos🤓☝🏻
Seminarian!Oscar x Luxury escort!reader? Anyone?
My fellow Brazillians(or not) might recognize the miniseries Hilda Furacão/Hurricane(1998)...I made a moodboard... maybe I might come with a fic...what do u think? Yay or nay? I'm this🤏🏻 close to saying fuck it, and doing it.
Anie's writings @pharmasennawrites - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag