type: one shot
word count: 1.8K
summary: You enjoy racing, just as your two brothers, however, will you be able to make it up to where they are?
requested: yes! (by @nicangelinee )
warnings: a little bit of swearing, getting turned down, possible bad mood? Overall just bad writing!
notes: I hope you'll enjoy reading this. This is my first non-love-relationship story I've ever written, so let me know if you like it! Also credits to GIF owner!
Y/N Leclerc, twin sister of Arthur Leclerc, little sister of Charles Leclerc, loving daughter of Pascale and Hervé Leclerc. Born and raised in Monaco, one of the most beautiful countries one has ever seen, at least, according to you and your brothers. Your family had grown quite a name in the small country on the south east coast of France, but not only in Monaco, also in the rest of the world. You family had become the face of racing, your older brother Charles being one of the best in the world, driving his Ferrari in Formula One all over the world. Your twin, Arthur, being accepted into the Ferrari Academy. And then there was you, Y/N Leclerc, winning championships in karting, but nowhere near the level of your brothers.
It had been a struggle, because you wanted to support your brothers more than anything, going with Charles to some of his races, helping Arthur by supporting him during his races as well. Your parents were busy most of the time, which meant they could almost never attend one of their sons races, and that’s where you came in, along with Charlotte.
Don’t be mistaken, you loved them, and you supported them, however it often meant you couldn’t chase your dreams of racing alongside them. There has never been a female Formula One driver, and as much as you wanted to change that, you couldn’t, not yet.
‘’Hey little one, guess what.’’ Charles nudged your arm gently, a smile painted on his face as he watched you take a bite of your apple. ‘’Hmm?’’ You hummed, not taking your eyes off of your phone.
‘’I talked to Mattia.’’ You looked up from your phone, an eyebrow raised as you took another bite of your apple. ‘’You can join me for a hot laps next week!’’ He was excited, because he knew you loved the feeling of the fast cars on a track, especially Imola, the Ferrari home race. However, instead of being excited, you had this bitter taste in your mouth. Of course, you wanted to be there with him, he put all the effort in making this happen and the last thing you wanted to do was break his heart and decline his offer. But the bitter feeling was created by your other appointment, a meeting with one of the scouts for the Ferrari Academy, one step closer to your dream.
‘’Arthur will be there too.’’
‘’I’ll be there, I wouldn’t want to miss it.’’ You smiled, but your mind was racing, in a negative way.
-
You cancelled it, sent an e-mail to the Ferrari Academy to cancel or reschedule your appointment, and right now you were waiting for an answer, hoping they would accept your offer to reschedule. You had your laptop on the kitchen table of your parents house, your knee bouncing nervously up and down as your eyes scanned the mail.
‘’Fucking hell!’’ You exclaimed, your hand hitting the round kitchen table probably a little too hard as you read the words. No possibility to reschedule, meaning your chance at the Academy was probably ruined, all because you didn’t want to disappoint your brothers, who you were so proud of. What you forgot, though, was the fact you and Arthur shared a laptop, not because you didn’t have the money to buy two, but call it a twin thing, you shared almost everything.
‘’Sis, I need that.’’ Arthur called from the other side of the kitchen, pointing towards the silver laptop in front of you. ‘’Why?’’ You were a little moody, which made sense because you just lost hope to achieving your dream. ‘’Because I need it, duh.’’ He walked closer, and you quickly closed your mail, not wanting either of your brothers to know you ruined your shot at getting into the same Academy as your twin brother.
‘’Just buy your fucking own laptop then.’’ You muttered, shoving your chair back from the table before getting up and walking to your bedroom, leaving Arthur with a confused look on his face.
But then, he understood, he saw the e-mail since you hadn’t logged out of your mail account, meaning he could read your mail you sent, as well as the mail you received from the Academy. ‘’Oh shit…’’ He mumbled, a frown on his face as he looked at the mail, and then to the door of your bedroom.
He and Charles talked about it without you knowing, they felt guilty, because they knew about your dreams, wanting to be the first female Formula One driver, an example for many females out there wanting to grow and become bigger in motorsports. So they arranged a new meeting, Charles and Arthur having more influence and prestige at Ferrari, going behind your back, for your own good, to make sure you could have another meeting and hopefully get accepted.
‘’You what?!’’ You were mad, pissed almost, because they did something behind your back, whilst you purposely tried to hide it from them, because you wanted to do it on your own, without having the Leclerc surname help you along the way. ‘’You cancelled it because of me, Y/N, we got you another chance, aren’t you happy?’’ Charles and Arthur looked at you, confused as to why you all of a sudden were acting this way.
‘’Right, YOU got me another chance, YOU did that, not ME, but YOU!’’ You scoffed, rolling your eyes as you crossed your arms in front of your chest. ‘’Why don’t you just understand that I want to achieve things, because of me, and not because my last name is Leclerc, or because you are my brothers!’’ You exclaimed, hands in your hair as you let out a groan. ‘’Just, let me be, okay? I’m independent! I can handle stuff on my own, without your help!’’ You sighed before walking out, slamming the door closed behind you.
You felt guilty, sure, you knew they just wanted to help, but you already knew how things would go whenever people found out the only reason you got into the Ferrari Academy was because of your brothers. ‘Privileged, spoiled, corrupted.’ And you wanted to prevent those comments, even if it meant not getting into the Academy to chase your dreams.
-
‘’Thank you for having me.’’ You shook hands with the scout, a smile painted on your face as you took a seat across the guy in the Ferrari shirt. You cancelled the appointment Charles and Arthur made, sending them an e-mail, explaining your vision and reason for cancelling the rendezvous. You received a response with a new invitation, and you never said anything to either of your brothers, wanting to surprise them, but also prove them you were able to fix things on your own, without their help. You knew you were their little sister, and they wanted to help you like the lovely brothers they were, but they had to understand you were capable of fixing your own things as a 21 year old.
-
From that moment on, things went quite fast. You got accepted almost instantly, because they really admired your willpower and dedication, as well as independence and strength. On top of that, you were one of the best drivers out there, being the best female driver, and being at the top of drivers in the Academy, along side your twin brother.
You and Arthur quickly got the nicknames of double trouble, because whenever you and Arthur were practicing, racing or training together, other people knew they’d be in trouble because the two of you together was one of the most dangerous parings anyone had to face, you were so strong together, being the fastest at almost any track, being able to just look each other in the eye and knowing the strategy the two of you had planned, call it twin telepathy, but it worked, and you both loved it.
‘’Are you serious?’’ Your heart was almost beating out of your chest the moment you received the call, eyes widening and your head nodding so quickly it was about to fly off. ‘’Yes, yes! Of course! Oh my god.’’
-
All of that, and especially that particular phone call brought you here. Charles nor Arthur knew, you managed to keep it a secret from everybody, including your twin brother. A pass around your neck, Carlos’ PR manager on your side as you made your way into the paddock, flashes around you, reporters calling your name, everybody was excited the moment they heard the news.
‘’Y/N.’’ Charles was one of the people calling your name the moment he saw you in the bright red Ferrari shirt, your drinking bottle in your one hand, your phone in the other. That one phone call you received only four days ago brought you here in the Formula One paddock, as a driver, a reserve driver.
‘’Hi Charles.’’ You laughed the moment his arms wrapped around you tightly, you returning the favour as you ruffled his hair as you always did. ‘’When I heard the news I couldn’t believe my eyes, I thought they were all pranking me.’’ He laughed, not once letting go of his little sister, his teammate during the Belgian GP.
‘’Surprise.’’
Carlos unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19, meaning he had to be in isolation and couldn’t attend the race. Arthur had his own race in formula 2, which meant he couldn’t fill in for the Ferrari driver. Antonio wasn’t able to make it either, so the people at the Ferrari Academy didn’t hesitate once to hand over your name, ‘Y/N Leclerc, one of the best drivers here at our Academy.’
-
And it’s lights out and away we go, as both brother and sister go together into turn one, Charles Leclerc taking the lead, Y/N Leclerc following her brother to possibly achieve a double Podium for the Ferrari team.
And that’s exactly what happened that day in Spa. You finished on the podium, along with your brother on the top step, Max Verstappen second and you, Y/N Leclerc, third place.
Many things were going through your mind, good things, memories of your achievements the past couple of years, your dedication, independence and willpower got you here, on the podium next to your brother Charles.
‘’Come on little sis, drink with me.’’ Clinging your champagne bottle against your brothers, using both your hands to raise the bottle up in the air to take a sip of the cold drink, that had also been poured over your Ferrari race suit. He wrapped his arm around you, the biggest, proudest smile on his face as you both looked over at the crowd. And there they were, your family, your twin, your parents and your sister in law, recording, clapping, cheering and crying. And your brother, arm still wrapped around your shoulders, his number one trophy in his right hand as the number three trophy balanced in your left. You felt a kiss being pressed against your right temple, which made you smile even wider, a tear falling out of the corner of your eye as you both rose your trophy’s up high into the sky, together.
Here’s why you don’t let two guys take care of your laundry, especially two very messy guys. ‘’Are you serious?’’ You rose your right eyebrow, holding your shirt in front of you, it clearly having turned into a cropped top by now. You were standing in front of the mirror and let out a deep sigh, deciding to confront the two guys for ruining your favourite shirt.
You knew the two guys were about to end their stream, so you decided to sit down on the couch in the living room, your shirt in front of you on the table. After watching their stream on Twitch, you saw them saying bye to chat and you prepared yourself to give the guys a speech.
You were visiting your friends, since you were in England for a few days, Max and Lando offering you to stay over at their place so you wouldn’t have to book a hotel. You gladly accepted, not turning the offer down. However, the moment you walked out of the plane, someone had bumped into you, spilling their drink on your shirt so the boys told you to throw it in the washing machine at their place since they still had to do some laundry as well. A big mistake…
‘’Do either of you read the labels of clothing you usually never wash?’’ You held your shirt up, standing up from the couch as well, watching as Max and Lando looked at each other before meeting your gaze again. ‘’Max did the laundry this time!’’ Lando defended himself as he looked at your shirt, his hands up in the air as if he was surrendering.
Your gaze went to Max, rolling your eyes as he was holding back his laughter, hitting Lando’s shoulder as a sign to help him out. ‘’I’m sure you’d look great in a cropped top as well.’’ You couldn’t help but have mixed feelings when Lando made that comment, feeling bad because your favourite shirt had just been ruined, but also feeling flattered by the comment he just made.
It was probably not the best scenario, but the moment you joined Max’ friend group you met Lando, and he turned your thoughts around. You were never a believer of love at first sight until you met him. You knew who he was, occasionally watching Formula One with Max as he was one of your childhood friends. However, you never thought you’d actually develop feelings for the McLaren driver.
Your friendship grew over time, a few holidays, parties and occasionally a race weekend with Max included Lando being there as well, but you didn’t mind. You had feelings for him after knowing him for over 2 years now, but never had the guts to actually tell him about them.
He would often drop comments like he did earlier, saying you looked good, complimenting your appearance or even your actions. Calling you sweet, caring, strong, and you appreciated it every time.
‘’Very funny Norris, but it was my favourite shirt.’’ You pouted, pushing your bottom lip outwards as you rose your eyebrows, looking directly into his eyes. ‘’I’ll get you a new one, I promise.’’ Max walked over towards you, taking your shirt in his hands. ‘’But Lando’s right, you would look good in it.’’
-
A few weeks later you found yourself sitting in Monaco, Lando invited you over to hang out with him and your friends, including Max. Just some streaming, golfing, chilling as well, just like you used to do when you were England. You were the first one to arrive, having an early flight since all the others were either way too overpriced, or extremely late in the evening.
‘’Hey, you came.’’ You smiled at the Brit, who just opened his apartment door for you to step inside. ‘’Of course, wouldn’t want to miss it.’’ You hugged him, a smile on your lips as you felt his strong arms wrapping around your body. You wanted to stay in this position longer, but you didn’t want to make it awkward so after a while you decided to pull away from the hug.
‘’Thanks, where’s everybody else?’’ You took the drink from Lando’s hand, taking a sip before putting it down on the table. ‘’They are arriving tomorrow, Max missed his flight.’’ You couldn’t help but laugh, not even being surprised by the fact Max had missed it. ‘’I’m not surprised.’’ You laughed, watching as Lando sat down on the couch next to you.
You talked for a while, bringing up memories, talking about your studies as well as his upcoming season. You kept getting distracted, never really having the opportunity to be with Lando for an entire day. Sure, you and him talked before, spending some time alone, but not an entire day, having both lunch and dinner with the two of you.
You were thinking for a while now, contemplating whether or not this would be the perfect timing to tell him about your feelings, since you were alone anyways. ‘’Y/N, you alright?’’ Lando’s voice shook you out of your thoughts, making you look up from your lap to meet his gaze.
‘’Yeah, yeah I’m alright.’’ You shot him a smile as your bottom lip got caught in between your teeth, your gaze lowering to your lap once again. So many thoughts were running through your mind, unsure of which one would be helping you, and which one would mess everything up.
‘’Are you sure? You look like you’re overthinking, a lot.’’ The calmness in his voice, the soft smile on his lips yet the worried look on his face made the butterflies in your stomach go crazy, some of them exploding as you were met by his eyes, who were looking at you, and nobody else.
You took a deep breath, your hands traveling to your legs to wipe your clammy hands on the fabric of your jeans, a sigh escaping your lips. ‘’Y/N?’’ Lando got up, moving over to the couch you were sitting on as he placed his drink on the table, a hand resting on your shoulder which made the situation even worse.
You couldn’t look at him, because you knew that if you did, you wouldn’t be able to contain yourself, you would kiss him, even though it would probably be the worst thing to do. But the moment he called your name again, his hand slowly reaching for yours, was the moment you looked up, your faces inches apart. Everything felt like a slow motion movie, your tongue licking your lips as you looked down at his soft, pink, lips, he doing the same thing. The next thing you knew, your lips were glued to his, enjoying the touch of those perfect lips.
‘’I like you, and I know it’s wrong because you’re my friend, but I have liked you for quite a while and I just didn’t want to, I mean, I just thought it would be, ehm, like, ehm.’’ You weren’t sure of what to say once you had broken the kiss, so you just rambled, hoping he’d break the awkward silence that appeared once you stopped talking. But he didn’t, he stayed silent, probably not sure of what to say either because lets be honest, you probably overwhelmed him, seeing as you yourself were overwhelmed as well.
-
Weeks had passed, and Lando and you weren’t like you used to be anymore. You had blamed yourself multiple times, but never told anyone about it. You didn’t want people to know he rejected you, as well as trying to deal with the fact he basically pretended like that kiss never happened, the words that came out of your mouth that evening almost disappearing in thin air for him.
You were avoiding him, whenever Max asked you to hang out with the group, you made up excuses, saying you had to study, work, hang out with other friends, but in reality you were just sitting in your hotel room, going over that scenario in Monaco multiple times in your head.
You shouldn’t have kissed him, if you wouldn’t have done that, things would be alright, there wouldn’t be this distance between the two of you and you could have just moved on with your life. But no, you thought kissing him would create this magical moment you see in movies, both admitting your feelings for each other, having a happy ending. But not all stories have a happy ending.
‘’Come on Y/N, you never hang out with us anymore, it will be fun!’’ Max was standing in your hotel room, ready to drag you to the club your group of friends would go to. ‘’No, Max, really, I’m not in the mood, I’m tired.’’ The look on his face was breaking your heart. You have been cancelling your plans with your friends almost every week, just to avoid Lando, and you knew Max didn’t deserve it, but it was part of your cooping mechanism now. You didn’t want to see Lando, especially not after not seeing him for weeks.
‘’Y/N…’’ Max was looking at you with puppy eyes, a sad look on his face. ‘’You’ve denied my offer to stay at Lando’s place for the weeks you’re here, please accept my offer to come party with us.’’
‘’Okay, fine…’’
So you went, putting on your tight black jeans, pairing it with your white and orange sneakers, a bright orange cropped top and your favourite jewellery. Max’ smile couldn’t have been wider when he saw you in your outfit, wearing the necklace he gave you a few months ago for your birthday. ‘’Let’s go pretty.’’
-
You knew it was a bad decision to go, not feeling confident about actually seeing Lando again, and your mood got even worse the moment you saw him, dancing with girls, having the time of his life as he finally was able to enjoy some alcoholic beverages due to his winter break.
You decided to ignore him, focussing on other guys, everyone but him. ‘’Y/N, here, have a drink.’’ Max was at your side almost the entire evening, cheering you up, dragging you to the dancefloor and making sure you were having a great time.
And you did, you noticed Lando talking to some girls, but instead of getting jealous or upset, you walked away looking for other people you were having fun with. After a while, you decided to head home, seeing as you didn’t want to be hungover tomorrow, or sleep till 2 pm, wanting to still be somewhat productive on your day off.
‘’Let me take you back to the hotel, Y/N, what if something happens to you?’’ You couldn’t help but smile at how adorable Max was being, a true friend. ‘’I’ll be fine, Max, I am still sober, plus it’s just a 10 minute walk to my hotel. I think that muppet over there needs your help getting home.’’ You smiled, pointing over towards Lando who was sitting on the couch, checking his phone as multiple girls were trying to get his attention.
You bit your lip, the sight of him, basically rejecting those girls just like he did with you made you feel better about yourself, even though it might sound cruel, you were glad no other girls would get his attention.
-
Once you were back at your hotel, you took off your jewellery, placing it on the table next to your bed. Your feet freed themselves from your shoes as you replaced your outfit for your sleeping shirt. In the bathroom, you wiped the make up off your face, throwing the cotton pads in the bin as your phone started to ring.
‘’Max? Everything good?’’ ‘’No, I mean, yes but, I can’t find Lando.’’ You furrowed your eyebrows, your heart beating quicker the moment you noticed the panic in his voice. ‘’Calm down Max, he wasn’t that drunk, was he?’’ You heard silence on the other side of the phone, followed by some voices, as well as Max back on the phone. ‘’No, he wasn’t. Oh, I’ve found Tom, hold up!’’
It was silent for almost an entire minute before you heard some fumbling around. ‘’He’s on his way home. Tom said he was tired, anyways, are you home? You are, right? Or at least, not home, but at your hotel, right?’’ You let out a laugh, shaking your head when you listened to your friend. ‘’Yeah Max, I’m safe in the hotel. Get home safe, okay?’’ You heard a distant ‘Will do muppet!’ before the connection broke. You just laughed at Max’ drunk state, the concern, yet the apathy, the chaos, but also his ability to call you, making sure you were home safe.
You were about to turn off the lights when you heard a knock on your hotel room door, your head snapping towards the door, checking the time on your phone before making your way towards the door. Instead of opening it straight away, you looked through the hole, which you could look through, thanking the hotel for not making the holes all the way up to the ceiling.
‘’Lando?’’ You furrowed your eyebrows as you took a step aside, letting the curly haired boy walk into your room without you even allowing him or giving him the permission to do so. ‘’Ehm, excuse me?’’ You closed the door behind you, eyeing the McLaren driver up and down.
‘’I’m sorry.’’ Were the first words that left his mouth, his eyes never leaving your face as you stood there, stunned by what just happened. You just rose your eyebrow, inviting him to continue speaking since you had a feeling of the direction of this conversation.
‘’I’m sorry I ignored you after what happened in Monaco.’’
‘’Lando…’’ You didn’t want to bring this up, you got over it, accepted the fact he wasn’t into you.
‘’No, Y/N, I’ve been a bad friend, a horrible friend, I kissed you back when you kissed me but I just pretended it didn’t happen.’’ He ran a hand through his hair, a sigh escaping his lips as he looked into your eyes.
‘’I don’t want to talk about it Lando, it has happened, you made it clear that you aren’t interested in me.’’
‘’We must talk about it Y/N, you need to let me explain myse-‘’ You cut him off.
‘’Explain yourself? Lando, you had two whole months to explain yourself. I got over it, I moved on, finally accepting the fact you weren’t into me and now you want to explain yourself?’’ You crossed your arms in front of your chest, looking at him with disbelief.
‘’You don’t understand, it’s a lot more complicated than what it seems.’’ ‘’No, it isn’t. You hurt my feelings. I understand the fact you aren’t into me, things like that happen, but we’re still friends. You could have at least said something about it to me.’’
‘’I am doing now, aren’t I?’’ You groaned at his comment, a heavy sigh escaping your lips. ‘’Yeah, Lando, after two fucking months. Could have done that sooner, don’t you think?’’
‘’No! I couldn’t have, and if you’d let me finish you’d know why!’’ ‘’Well, it better be a hell of a good reason then.’’ You sighed, watching as Lando stepped closer to you, the distance between the two of you being brought back down to a few inches.
‘’Tell me Norris, what has been so important or complicated you couldn’t talk to me about that kiss?’’ You almost whispered, feeling your heartbeat rise as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear.
‘’Because I actually do like you, Y/N.’’ He started, his eyes following the movements of his hand as it was going down to take a hold of yours. ‘’Wha-‘’ ‘’But so does Max.’’ You furrowed your eyebrows, a deep frown on your face as you felt Lando’s breath on your face since he let out a deep sigh.
Thing is, Max likes you, he has been for quite a while now, and the only person that knew was Lando, since he is his best friend. You never noticed, and looking back at it now, it made sense. The necklace he gave you, it was a small gold necklace with a star hanger, the cute nicknames, the fact he always called to make sure you were home safe, taking care of you whenever you weren’t feeling too great.
‘’The moment you kissed me I started to think, and I quickly realized I liked you, a lot. That’s why I kissed back, I never, ever regret kissing you back Y/N.’’ You connected the dots, realizing the only reason Lando never spoke to you about it was because of Max. ‘’And you didn’t want to hurt your best friend.’’ You whispered, making Lando nod in response.
‘’Then, why are you here now?’’ You carefully asked the question you needed to know the answer to. Why was he here, what made him change his mind. Did he talk to Max? What was the reason for his sudden confession.
‘’Because seeing you there, tonight, having fun, but ignoring or avoiding me, was killing me.’’ He moved his hand up, his thumb moving over your bottom lip which was caught in between your teeth. ‘’Don’t do that.’’ He whispered, resting his index finger under your chin to make you look at him.
‘’I want to kiss you…’’ ‘’But we can’t hurt Max.’’ You saw how he nodded, yet his eyes never left your lips. ‘’Lando…’’ Now he was the one biting his lip, trying to restrain himself, holding himself back from smashing his lips onto yours.
‘’We’ll talk to him, tomorrow.’’ And with those words he smashed his lips against yours, closing every single inch of space between the two of you. The rest of the evening was magical, Lando making you forget about the pesky conversation with Max you should have the next day.
My problem as a writer on tumblr: I write something, then get too excited and post it immediately. I should write more in advance because now people need to wait way too long for more chapters 😭
a/n: chapter 1 is finally here! It took a while, but I really want to build it up slowly and have the plot be there. I love tension and angst and confident Lando so much. It might not be a lot of racing now, but it will happen later on. Don't worry.
If you like the story, don't hesitate to comment how much you like it, that keeps me going so much and it motivates me more than anything!
Comment down below if you want to get added to the taglist
warnings: dark!lando, confident!lando, business!lando, nothing much really, just rich people stuff.
Racing Hearts Masterlist
prologue
next chapter
Olivia
‘’Now, let’s cut straight to what brought you here. Let’s talk business, shall we?’’
The sound of his deep, dark voice scattered goosebumps all over my body. The way his eyes were focussed on mine, his gaze so intense I could swear he looked straight into my soul.
‘’Of course,’’ I reached for a glass of water one of the well-dressed waiters offered. My fingers brushed against the cool glass, the cold sensation bringing me a second of relief before it vanished again. ‘’Harrington Enterprises is always looking to expand its horizons.’’
Lando Norris, twenty-eight years old and one of, if not the most successful person I’d ever meet. With his career in racing, in which he was fighting for championships, to Velocity Estates, his real-estate business that was the best of the best. Every celebrity, businessperson or even royals would name themselves one of his clients; he was a man that could do it all.
He nodded slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. ‘’And what exactly do you envision, Olivia?’’ The way he said my name sent another wave of chills down my spine. ‘’What do you and your esteemed family hope to gain from this… collaboration?’’
I took a deep breath, meeting his gaze directly despite the nerves swirling inside of me. ‘’Our goal is simple,’’ I started, my voice steady as I gathered every bit of confidence I could find. ‘’We seek strategic partnerships that are mutually beneficial. We believe that combining your recourses with our expertise can create something truly extraordinary.’’
The corner of his mouth moved up another inch, but there was a darkness in his eyes that made my heart race. ‘’Mutually beneficial, you say? And what makes you so certain that your proposal is the one I should consider?’’
My heart was full on beating against my chest, so hard I barely heard his voice over the loud drum in my ears. To say he was intimidating was an understatement. He looked like he could change the entire world in the blink of an eye. The confidence, paired with his looks; broad shoulders, a black suit that was tailored made for him, eyes so intense they could look straight through me, dark hair that fell over his head in a perfect but messy way. My mind wandered off to all the different ways my hands could be buried in his hair, tugging it, twirling my fingers around it…
A low shrug brought me back to reality, only to realise I had been staring at Lando for God knows how long. Shit, what was he talking about again? Right, mutually beneficial.
I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure. ‘’Because, Mr. Norris, Harrington Enterprises understands the value of innovation and importance of staying ahead of the curve. We’re not just another company; we are pioneers in our field.’’
His smirk deepened and he took a step closer, the space between us shrinking. I swallowed the nerves in my throat as I felt his body heat piercing through my clothes, warming my body in ways I had never experienced before.
‘’Innovation and staying ahead of the curve?’’ His voice was as smooth as silk, yet rough like a sharp diamond. I tilted my chin an inch higher, even if it was just to convince myself I wasn’t intimidated by this man in front of me. ‘’Bold claims, Olivia.’’ His voice was a whisper, standing inches away from me. I could feel his minty breath on my forehead, causing me to close my eyes for only a brief second. My breath came out as a shudder; being in close proximity of Lando Norris made my heart beat faster than it ever had before. My previous adrenaline rushes such as bungee jumping or paragliding were nothing compared to the way my heart thudded in my chest.
‘’I’ll think about it.’’ The way he spoke was so full of confidence, words so carefully chosen yet so out of the blue.
I opened my eyes after what felt like minutes, but was actually just a few seconds, only to see the perfectly tailored black suit disappear in the crowd of people, leaving my mind with a million thoughts. I replaced the glass of water I was holding with a champagne-filled one. I brought the edge of it to my lips and swallowed the sparkly liquid.
This was going to be harder than I thought.
Lando
The moment I turned away from Olivia, I could feel the intensity of her presence linger on my skin. The playful yet serious encounter buzzed through my veins, electric and alive. There was something about her that made the usual game of business negotiations feel like a boring race. She was poised, confident, and incredibly captivating – exactly the kind of challenges I thrived on.
Making my way through the crowd filled with the richest of the rich, I couldn’t shake the image of her determined eyes – she was here on a mission – and the way her voice had wavered ever so slightly, betraying the nerves she tried so hard to conceal. It was rare to find someone who could hold their own against me, who could meet my gaze without flinching, even if it was ever so slightly. And yet, there she was, standing her ground with a quiet fierceness that I couldn’t shake off me.
Olivia was right, Harrington Enterprises was a formidable opponent in the business world, and with creating a partnership nobody saw coming, we could beat every other competitor in the blink of an eye.
However, it wasn’t just Harrington Enterprises that intrigued me. Olivia Harrington was something else, and the five minutes we shared together already exposed that there was something deeper than just a casual business negotiation between us. There was a challenge, and if there’s one thing I loathed, it was losing.
As I maneuvered through the sea of overly dressed rich people, I couldn’t help but replay our conversation in my mind. Her determination and sharp intellect were impressive, but it was the subtle, almost imperceptible signs of vulnerability that fascinated me. The slight quiver in her voice, the way her eyes widened ever so slightly when our gazes locked – it all pointed to a deeper complexity beneath her perfect exterior. And that damn dress.
A waiter passed by with a tray of champagne, which I kindly declined. I needed a clear head tonight, there was no room for any slip ups or mistakes, ever. I spotted Nate Thompson across the room, his expression smug as always. Engaging in small talk with him wasn’t on my happy-things-to-do list, but as a business owner you had to make a few sacrifices here and there.
‘’Enjoying the evening, Nate?’’ I asked, keeping my tone light and casual.
‘’Always, Lando,’’ he replied with a grin. ‘’Quite the event, isn’t it?’’
‘’Indeed,’’ I said, my eyes scanning the room once more. ‘’And quite the crowd.’’ Pun intended.
Our conversation drifted to mundane topics, but my thoughts were elsewhere. Olivia had ignited a spark within me – a challenge, a curiosity, and something much deeper than a business negotiation. I knew I needed to tread carefully, but the thrill of the chase was something I couldn’t resist.
The gala was winding down, but I had no intention of leaving without another encounter with Olivia. I needed to see those determined eyes again, to hear the confidence in her voice, and to feel that spark – whether it was more that pure business for her – between us.
With a final nod to Nate, I excused myself and set off in search for her, my mind already racing with strategies and possibilities.
As I navigated through the crowd of people, my eyes finally landed on her. She was standing by the balcony, looking out at the city lights with an intensity that matched her earlier demeanour. Her emerald green dress floated around her legs, the wind moving her hair in such an elegant way. I approached her slowly, savouring the moment, the anticipation building with each step.
‘’Olivia,’’ I said, my voice low and deliberate.
She turned to face me, her eyes locking onto mine with a mixture of surprise and something else – something I couldn’t quite place. ‘’Mr. Norris,’’ she replied, her voice steady but with a hint of that earlier vulnerability.
I stepped closer, the tension between us palpable. ‘’I’ve been thinking about our conversation,’’ I began, my gaze never wavering from hers. ‘’And I believe there’s more to discuss.’’
Her eyes flickered with a mix of curiosity and wariness. ‘’More to discuss?’’ she echoed.
I nodded, a slow smile spreading across my lips. ‘’Yes. I think we both know that this partnership has the potential to be extraordinary. But it’s not just about business, is it? There’s something else at play here.’’
For a moment, she said nothing, her eyes searching mine as if trying to decipher my true intentions – which she failed at, I was too good at my game. Then, with a small, almost imperceptible nod, she said, ‘’Yes, I suppose there is.’’
For those waiting for a new chapter of Racing Hearts, it’s coming! I’m currently on holiday which means I won’t be able to write a lot as it’s way too hot here and my laptop won’t be able to handle that lol. I’ve written a few things but I’ll be back next week, so I’ll write more then!
a/n: I've spent an entire evening trying to perfect this prologue. I wanted it to give away the essence and personality of both main characters, so hopefully I made that work. I have to say that I am slightly scared, because this is my first ever multi-chapter story I'm writing, but I'm trying! Hopefully you will enjoy it.
Repost, comment or any type of support is very welcomed! It keeps me motivated 🫣
Comment down below if you want to get added to the taglist
warnings: dark!lando, confident!lando, business!lando, nothing much really, just rich people stuff.
Racing Hearts Masterlist
next chapter
Olivia
The sky was filled with a range of colours, varying between bright pinks, pastel oranges and deep, dark purples contrasting against the black from the night sky. As the wind breezed past me, the few strands of hair that weren’t tucked into my messy bun flew up in front of my face. I tightened my grip on the balcony’s railing, inhaling sharply before slowly breathing out.
I can do this. I can do this.
Tonight was one of the most important evenings of the year, the annual Charity Gala in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Me and my family lived in London, but business isn’t tied to one city, or even one country.
I’ve travelled a lot, flying to New York City for an opening of one of Harrington Enterprises newest Jewellery stores, or going all the way to Dubai to accompany my mother to one of our fabric manufacturers. They were all business trips, as was the one I’m attending on my own right now.
Monaco, home of some of the most wealthy, successful and busiest people on earth. You only lived in Monaco for two reasons. A, you were born here. B, you had plenty of money and had no idea what to do with it. Seeing as the average net worth of a Monaco citizen is above ten million dollars, I’d say ninety-nine percent of the people at this gala belonged to category B. I had to make a great impression; it was my job as the PR Director at Harrington Enterprises.
I wasn’t a stranger to a high society gala; however, I had not experienced something as extravagant as this before. High ceilings, decorated with glass chandeliers that glittered in the big open room. Waiters moving effortlessly through the crowd, holding trays with glasses filled with champagne that cost more than your average rent.
My eyes roamed the big, crowded room, searching for the man that stood number two on my list; one of the reasons my parents informed me of this Charity Gala. He was a well-known fashion icon and businessman in this world. Nate Thompson.
I spotted him at the bar, talking to the women that were nearly drooling at his feet. The man was eye-candy for every woman at this event. With broad shoulders, a sharp jawline and masculinity that made multiple men run for their money, he was one of the most successful bachelors out there.
I gathered my courage and stepped towards the man, shoulders straight with a friendly yet professional smile plastered on my lips. As I approached, Nate’s eyes met mine and he gave me one of his warm, welcoming smiles.
‘’Olivia Harrington,’’ he said, extending his hand. ‘’I’ve heard a lot about you, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.’’
‘’The pleasure is mine, Mr. Thompson,’’ I replied, shaking his hand firmly. ‘’Such a wonderful place, isn’t it?’’ I slowly let go of his hand, keeping my posture straight and professional.
‘’Please, call me Nate,’’ he said with a wink. ‘’Mr Thompson makes me feel old.’’
As the night went on, we struck up a conversation about his newest fashion items. He spoke about different designs, as well as places for shop openings. As much as I loved the fashion world – shopping at Versace, Prada and Chanel never got boring – I had to hold back a yawn once every few minutes.
‘’Your father has done a tremendous job attaining the vacant buildings at Bond Street.’’ Nate did exactly what I expected him to do, and it surprised me how little effort I had to put into this conversation. ‘’A very, very astonishing job.’’ Nate continued speaking highly of my father’s deals.
Bond Street was one, if not the most expensive street in London. My father bought most of the houses a few years back, when the house market was at it’s lowest. It was no surprise Nate Thompson was looking for the best of the best when it came to opening his new store in London.
‘’He did, indeed,’’ I reached into my designer bag, fishing out a business card of my father’s company. ‘’It would be a perfect location for Thompson’s, wouldn’t it?’’
Nate didn’t hesitate once and reached out for the card I held out with my fingers. ‘’Pleasure doing business with you, Olivia, you’ll hear from my team.’’ A satisfied smile appeared on my face when Nate gave me a curt nod, me returning the favour by raising my glass ever so slightly.
One down, one to go.
‘’Impressive.’’ The dark, smooth voice scattered goosebumps all over my skin, it made my body react in ways I hadn’t felt in quite a while.
My eyes followed the voice, and I was met by a tall figure. A tailored black suit that hugged those broad shoulders. Dark curls that looked a perfect combination of messy and neat. Eyes, a colour that I couldn’t quite decipher. Green, blue, a hint of grey or even brown, but what I did know was that those eyes pierced straight through me, looking into the depths of my soul.
The low chuckle that rose from his throat snapped me out of my thoughts. I gathered myself and lifted my chin up ever so slightly.
Let’s tackle the number one on my list.
‘’Mr. Norris, what a pleasure.’’
Lando
Emerald green never had been one of my favourite colours, it stood out great with my tan, though. It was sophisticated, elegant and not too in your face. You’d think it would be a colour that I adored, well, you couldn’t be more wrong.
Orange was more my colour, it was fierce, available in many different shades, perfect for every occasion. Mix it with a dark shade, it stood out. Mix it with a light shade, it blended in. A perfect representation of my life.
As a racing driver, you needed dark, to stand out to be the best of the best, to catch people’s attention to gain yourself a spot in the spotlight. But you also wanted to blend in, to move through the field without getting noticed, yearning for the privacy that was so hard to attain.
In the world of business, it was similar, yet different. You needed dark so you could make money, be the best of the best, without having that spotlight. Because having that spotlight in the business world meant you needed that light more than ever, needing to blend in so you wouldn’t have that target on your back.
Combine the two, and you learn to be ahead of everyone, two steps ahead to get whatever you want, whenever you want.
I reached for a glass and raise it to my lips, my eyes staying glued to the business deal being made in front of my eyes.
Everybody that attended this Gala wasn’t here for the good sake of their heart. No, a Charity Gala was the perfect way to make it look like you’re donating money for those in need, when in fact it’s the perfect cover-up for a business deal. One that was being closed a few meters away from me.
Once the deal had been made, I made my way over with a few long strides. She didn’t hear me approach, causing her body to react instantly to my voice.
‘’Impressive.’’ I never expected Olivia Harrington to strike up a deal with Nate Thompson in just under 17 minutes. The man was harder to please than a newborn baby that needed its mom. However, I suppose when you’re looking for a new location for your shop, Bond Street was the place to be, a coincidence that Richard Harrington had exactly what Nate needed? I don’t think so.
I never underestimated the Harrington family; they were one step ahead most of the time. It’s a good thing I’m always two ahead.
‘’Mr. Norris, what a pleasure.’’ I took a hold of her hand, ignoring the way her soft skin felt against my own. ‘’Ms. Harrington.’’ Her hand let go of mine, and I grinned slightly at the subtle flush of her cheeks.
‘’Surely not eavesdropping, I hope?’’ Her soft yet sharp voice was a complete contrast to the previous shock on her face when she laid eyes on me.
‘’Merely observing.’’
My gaze flew over her body, the way that emerald green dress hugged her body in the right places, the tanned legs underneath that dress going down to the Louboutin’s she was wearing. I wasn’t one to back away from a bit of flirting, I absolutely loathed the fake smiles and pretended interest at any business event. They were necessary, for the most part, and I was amongst one of many that took part in the fake contest, but that didn’t mean I enjoyed it.
‘’I see,’’ the smile on my face was less forced this time, but I blame it on how the woman in front of me swallowed hard, a clear indication of nervousness.
A chuckle rose in my chest. ‘’No need to be nervous, Sunshine,’’ I smirked slightly. ‘’I’m not as intimidating as they say.’’ I made sure my voice was smooth and filled with confidence, as always.
‘’Nervous? Is that another of your observations, Mr. Norris?’’
‘’It is,’’ I maintained eye contact as I took another sip of the Louis Roederer drink. At least they served some decent champagne. ‘’and I’m never wrong.’’
Another harsh bob of her throat.
I was aware of the fact I was on their list of business talks. Nate Thompson may be one of the most successful men at this event, but not nearly as successful as me. Like I said before, always be two steps ahead.
‘’Now, let’s cut straight to what brought you here. Let’s talk business, shall we?’’
a/n: I've spent an entire evening trying to perfect this prologue. I wanted it to give away the essence and personality of both main characters, so hopefully I made that work. I have to say that I am slightly scared, because this is my first ever multi-chapter story I'm writing, but I'm trying! Hopefully you will enjoy it.
Repost, comment or any type of support is very welcomed! It keeps me motivated 🫣
Comment down below if you want to get added to the taglist
warnings: dark!lando, confident!lando, business!lando, nothing much really, just rich people stuff.
Racing Hearts Masterlist
next chapter
Olivia
The sky was filled with a range of colours, varying between bright pinks, pastel oranges and deep, dark purples contrasting against the black from the night sky. As the wind breezed past me, the few strands of hair that weren’t tucked into my messy bun flew up in front of my face. I tightened my grip on the balcony’s railing, inhaling sharply before slowly breathing out.
I can do this. I can do this.
Tonight was one of the most important evenings of the year, the annual Charity Gala in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Me and my family lived in London, but business isn’t tied to one city, or even one country.
I’ve travelled a lot, flying to New York City for an opening of one of Harrington Enterprises newest Jewellery stores, or going all the way to Dubai to accompany my mother to one of our fabric manufacturers. They were all business trips, as was the one I’m attending on my own right now.
Monaco, home of some of the most wealthy, successful and busiest people on earth. You only lived in Monaco for two reasons. A, you were born here. B, you had plenty of money and had no idea what to do with it. Seeing as the average net worth of a Monaco citizen is above ten million dollars, I’d say ninety-nine percent of the people at this gala belonged to category B. I had to make a great impression; it was my job as the PR Director at Harrington Enterprises.
I wasn’t a stranger to a high society gala; however, I had not experienced something as extravagant as this before. High ceilings, decorated with glass chandeliers that glittered in the big open room. Waiters moving effortlessly through the crowd, holding trays with glasses filled with champagne that cost more than your average rent.
My eyes roamed the big, crowded room, searching for the man that stood number two on my list; one of the reasons my parents informed me of this Charity Gala. He was a well-known fashion icon and businessman in this world. Nate Thompson.
I spotted him at the bar, talking to the women that were nearly drooling at his feet. The man was eye-candy for every woman at this event. With broad shoulders, a sharp jawline and masculinity that made multiple men run for their money, he was one of the most successful bachelors out there.
I gathered my courage and stepped towards the man, shoulders straight with a friendly yet professional smile plastered on my lips. As I approached, Nate’s eyes met mine and he gave me one of his warm, welcoming smiles.
‘’Olivia Harrington,’’ he said, extending his hand. ‘’I’ve heard a lot about you, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.’’
‘’The pleasure is mine, Mr. Thompson,’’ I replied, shaking his hand firmly. ‘’Such a wonderful place, isn’t it?’’ I slowly let go of his hand, keeping my posture straight and professional.
‘’Please, call me Nate,’’ he said with a wink. ‘’Mr Thompson makes me feel old.’’
As the night went on, we struck up a conversation about his newest fashion items. He spoke about different designs, as well as places for shop openings. As much as I loved the fashion world – shopping at Versace, Prada and Chanel never got boring – I had to hold back a yawn once every few minutes.
‘’Your father has done a tremendous job attaining the vacant buildings at Bond Street.’’ Nate did exactly what I expected him to do, and it surprised me how little effort I had to put into this conversation. ‘’A very, very astonishing job.’’ Nate continued speaking highly of my father’s deals.
Bond Street was one, if not the most expensive street in London. My father bought most of the houses a few years back, when the house market was at it’s lowest. It was no surprise Nate Thompson was looking for the best of the best when it came to opening his new store in London.
‘’He did, indeed,’’ I reached into my designer bag, fishing out a business card of my father’s company. ‘’It would be a perfect location for Thompson’s, wouldn’t it?’’
Nate didn’t hesitate once and reached out for the card I held out with my fingers. ‘’Pleasure doing business with you, Olivia, you’ll hear from my team.’’ A satisfied smile appeared on my face when Nate gave me a curt nod, me returning the favour by raising my glass ever so slightly.
One down, one to go.
‘’Impressive.’’ The dark, smooth voice scattered goosebumps all over my skin, it made my body react in ways I hadn’t felt in quite a while.
My eyes followed the voice, and I was met by a tall figure. A tailored black suit that hugged those broad shoulders. Dark curls that looked a perfect combination of messy and neat. Eyes, a colour that I couldn’t quite decipher. Green, blue, a hint of grey or even brown, but what I did know was that those eyes pierced straight through me, looking into the depths of my soul.
The low chuckle that rose from his throat snapped me out of my thoughts. I gathered myself and lifted my chin up ever so slightly.
Let’s tackle the number one on my list.
‘’Mr. Norris, what a pleasure.’’
Lando
Emerald green never had been one of my favourite colours, it stood out great with my tan, though. It was sophisticated, elegant and not too in your face. You’d think it would be a colour that I adored, well, you couldn’t be more wrong.
Orange was more my colour, it was fierce, available in many different shades, perfect for every occasion. Mix it with a dark shade, it stood out. Mix it with a light shade, it blended in. A perfect representation of my life.
As a racing driver, you needed dark, to stand out to be the best of the best, to catch people’s attention to gain yourself a spot in the spotlight. But you also wanted to blend in, to move through the field without getting noticed, yearning for the privacy that was so hard to attain.
In the world of business, it was similar, yet different. You needed dark so you could make money, be the best of the best, without having that spotlight. Because having that spotlight in the business world meant you needed that light more than ever, needing to blend in so you wouldn’t have that target on your back.
Combine the two, and you learn to be ahead of everyone, two steps ahead to get whatever you want, whenever you want.
I reached for a glass and raise it to my lips, my eyes staying glued to the business deal being made in front of my eyes.
Everybody that attended this Gala wasn’t here for the good sake of their heart. No, a Charity Gala was the perfect way to make it look like you’re donating money for those in need, when in fact it’s the perfect cover-up for a business deal. One that was being closed a few meters away from me.
Once the deal had been made, I made my way over with a few long strides. She didn’t hear me approach, causing her body to react instantly to my voice.
‘’Impressive.’’ I never expected Olivia Harrington to strike up a deal with Nate Thompson in just under 17 minutes. The man was harder to please than a newborn baby that needed its mom. However, I suppose when you’re looking for a new location for your shop, Bond Street was the place to be, a coincidence that Richard Harrington had exactly what Nate needed? I don’t think so.
I never underestimated the Harrington family; they were one step ahead most of the time. It’s a good thing I’m always two ahead.
‘’Mr. Norris, what a pleasure.’’ I took a hold of her hand, ignoring the way her soft skin felt against my own. ‘’Ms. Harrington.’’ Her hand let go of mine, and I grinned slightly at the subtle flush of her cheeks.
‘’Surely not eavesdropping, I hope?’’ Her soft yet sharp voice was a complete contrast to the previous shock on her face when she laid eyes on me.
‘’Merely observing.’’
My gaze flew over her body, the way that emerald green dress hugged her body in the right places, the tanned legs underneath that dress going down to the Louboutin’s she was wearing. I wasn’t one to back away from a bit of flirting, I absolutely loathed the fake smiles and pretended interest at any business event. They were necessary, for the most part, and I was amongst one of many that took part in the fake contest, but that didn’t mean I enjoyed it.
‘’I see,’’ the smile on my face was less forced this time, but I blame it on how the woman in front of me swallowed hard, a clear indication of nervousness.
A chuckle rose in my chest. ‘’No need to be nervous, Sunshine,’’ I smirked slightly. ‘’I’m not as intimidating as they say.’’ I made sure my voice was smooth and filled with confidence, as always.
‘’Nervous? Is that another of your observations, Mr. Norris?’’
‘’It is,’’ I maintained eye contact as I took another sip of the Louis Roederer drink. At least they served some decent champagne. ‘’and I’m never wrong.’’
Another harsh bob of her throat.
I was aware of the fact I was on their list of business talks. Nate Thompson may be one of the most successful men at this event, but not nearly as successful as me. Like I said before, always be two steps ahead.
‘’Now, let’s cut straight to what brought you here. Let’s talk business, shall we?’’
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