clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

independent (private/highly selective) multi-muse muse blog, home to muses written by Laura. 25+ only please. minors dni.

[wheatfieldss]

Welcome to WHEATFIELDSS, a highly selective, independent blog home to muses created and written by 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 ( 34 | she/her | cst )

𐚁⊹₊ ⋆ 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒 𐚁⊹₊ ⋆ 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐒 𐚁⊹₊ ⋆ 𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

[wheatfieldss]

˗ˏˋ 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐎𝐗 ˎˊ˗

full name: captain michaela gabriela maddox

nickname(s): mickey, mouse (call sign), mick, mad dawg

gender / pronouns: female / she/her

sexuality: heterosexual

age / date of birth: 33 / february 16, 1993

hometown: san diego, california

location(s): weatherford, texas

occupation: naval aviator @ united states navy

relationship status: in a relationship with aslan demirci

𐚁⊹₊ ⋆ 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒

musings⠀ || ⠀ interactions ⠀ || ⠀ playlist ⠀ || ⠀ pinterest ⠀ || ⠀ social media⠀ || ⠀ visuals

𐚁⊹₊ ⋆ 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

trigger warnings: none.

Michaela was supposed to be Michael, and the only reason her parents even managed to survive the disappointment of having a daughter was because they had three boys ahead of her. She was also supposed to be the last baby, but before her father’s vasectomy, they conceived her little sister, Madison. Where Michaela was something of a let down, Madison was everything a parent could hope for in a daughter: beautiful, poised, polite, and always wonderful at conversation — and that was all before she even started school. Michaela had grown up tagging along behind her brothers, learning to brawl and bust lips like the best of them, and she never really seemed to fit in to her mom’s world of dress up and fancy teas like her little sister would. Thankfully, instead of fighting to get her to sit up straight and stop picking at the rosettes on her dress, Michaela’s mom learned to ignore her.

She was a tomboy, of course, but that didn’t mean she was ever quite going to fit into her daddy’s world either. Where her older brothers were perfect little soon-to-be soldiers like their dad, Michaela was prohibited from playing sports alongside the boys. It didn’t matter that she could tackle a boy twice her size better than any of the linebackers on her school’s football team, she never once got the chance to play. She also never got to play pilot whenever they’d visit their dad’s office at the U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, where he trained the Navy’s top flyers to become even better. No, Michaela was always the designated “secretary” among her brothers, and she hated it. As the boys graduated, each followed their own path to the service, but Michaela shocked everyone when she was the first to earn her spot at STFI. Did that earn her any real recognition from her dad? Not at all, but by the time she’d gotten herself there, Michaela had moved on from needing her parents’ support.

She’d felt the high of beating the boys all her life, but somehow, after being dubbed ‘Mouse’ by one of her flights school peers, Michaela fell deeper into the hole of her competitive nature. These days, she’s gunning for her dad’s old gig as a TOPGUN instructor, thinking that he’ll have to admit he should’ve supported her more if she can be the most promising child he has. Well, that is if you don’t count Madison getting second runner up in the Miss America pageant a while back.

After a string of extremely toxic relationships and a handful of terrible summer flings, Michaela has resigned herself to remaining single forever. She’s accepted that romance will be limited to hook ups, but there’s no shame or disappointment on her part. If she’d ever stood a chance at dating successfully, it was ruined the day she signed her life over to the Navy. It was impossible to imagine finding someone to love when most of your conversations about work were deemed classified, and the likelihood of ever falling in love with another pilot was nothing short of a joke, because Michaela knew most of these guys couldn’t handle the idea of sharing their bed with a girl who could fly circles around them any day.

𐚁⊹₊ ⋆ 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒

Mickey drives a 2025 Porsche 718 Cayman that's obnoxiously red and goes very fast and she loves it to pieces!!!

She talks like a damn sailor and has such a dirty mouth, so please forgive her in advance for her choice of language. She's not trashy, just very authentic and true to herself. Blame the Navy?

Mickey has MAJOR!!! DADDY!!! ISSUES!!! Where some girls love and admire their dad, Mickey has idolized hers at an unhealthy level, which is compounded by the fact that he can’t give her an ounce of praise or recognition even though it’s clearly due.

Mickey has a tattoo on her collarbone of the plane she was flying when she graduated from TOPGUN.

Her current plane is named Barbara, but lovingly goes by Babs.

[wheatfieldss]

[wheatfieldss]

˗ˏˋ 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐋𝐄𝐘𝐋𝐀 𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐑𝐂𝐈 ˎˊ˗

full name: leyla defne demirci

nickname(s): ley, ley ley, kırmızı, demolition demirci (don't ask)

gender / pronouns: female / she/her

sexuality: heterosexual

age / date of birth: 32 / may 5, 1994

hometown: ızmir, türkiye

location(s): travels the globe, but has a place in istanbul

occupation: owner @ turkish airlines bayram formula one team

𐚁⊹₊ ⋆ 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒

musings⠀ || ⠀ interactions ⠀ || ⠀ playlist ⠀ || ⠀ pinterest ⠀ || ⠀ social media⠀ || ⠀ visuals

𐚁⊹₊ ⋆ 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

trigger warnings: cancer mention.

Leyla's life didn't have much room for flexibility or decision-making. She was the only child born to a wealthy couple whose business partners also had an only child, and it was clear from the start that their plan was for the kids to inherit the family business someday. It didn't help that Hamit and Leyla were constantly pushed toward one another over their teenage years, either, because the idea of them someday getting married also didn't feel like one they had much say in. Leyla didn't mind it all so much, really, at least not until they had both graduated and started working in the company. It was clear to Leyla that Hamit's true love was his job, and she was merely a box that he felt the need to check.

After waiting seven years for him to propose to her, Leyla realized it wasn't going to happen. Hamit didn't know how to truly love someone, and he was constantly reaching for the next business venture, the next acquisition, the next successful deal. Leyla ended things with Hamit and, despite her own broken heart over it all, tried her best to move on. There was no shortage of eligible bachelors looking to marry a woman with such powerful business connections, but Leyla's heart was harder to secure. Finally, Leyla found herself engaged to Sedat, a man who knew the weight of carrying a family's expectations on his shoulders. The night of their engagement party, Hamit introduced them to his new partner to whom he'd just gotten engaged.

It was clear to Leyla that the engagement was nothing more than a ploy to win her back, and that made her even more confused than ever. After all, if Hamit truly loved her this much, why wouldn't he have proposed sooner? Sedat, on the other hand, seemed to be more jealous of her ex-partner than ever, and it became a real point of contention in their relationship. She wasn't able to avoid Hamit, not when she managed public relations for their company, and no amount of reassurance seemed enough for Sedat. Additionally, Hamit seemed to be more charming and romantic than ever, and the idea that nearly losing her had shown him her worth made Leyla even more certain they could never really work together without tension and jealousy.

When Sedat demanded they move the wedding up, Leyla finally understood what the rest of her life would look like. No matter who she chose, neither man would ever truly love her for who she was, and she was destined for a life of double-dealing and unfulfilled promises. Instead of supporting her, Leyla's parents pushed her to return to Hamit or marry Sedat immediately, and Leyla got sick of it all. She would no longer live this life. Selling her shares in the company to Hamit, Leyla moved to Texas to spend some time deciding what her next move would be. A year into her stay there, bartending for her cousin, she got a phone call that answered the question for her.

Leyla's maternal grandfather was the owner of a Formula 1 team. While Leyla's cousins were all avid motorsport fans, Leyla had never really been that interested in it. She'd assumed the day would come where her grandfather passed, leaving the team to her cousins—or at least giving her a stake she could sell off. Instead, her grandfather was calling her up with a life-altering update: he'd been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and had less than a year to live, at most. Somehow, that wasn't the biggest bomb he dropped, though. He was going to leave the team entirely to Leyla, and he wanted her to come run it with him in the last few months of his life. She couldn't turn down a dying man's wishes, especially not her grandfather's, so Leyla packed her life up once again and moved to Istanbul. The ink has barely dried on the paperwork naming her as owner, and if she fails at this, she'll never forgive herself... but Leyla's grandfather chose her for a reason, and she's determined to figure out why.

𐚁⊹₊ ⋆ 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒

coming soon.

[wheatfieldss]

I start my new job one week from today, and my goal is to finish every reply I owe currently by then... Fingers crossed the brain participates in this endeavor and doesn't hinder me!

[shcrpshooter]

It felt wrong, even if truth by omission wasn’t exactly lying, but Aslan had told Mickey whatever he’d needed to in order to ensure that he had plenty of time to prepare the bar for her surprise birthday party later on that night. He’d chalked it up to boring managerial work, but work that came with a deadline– which was true, but not his central focus for the day. She’d seem satisfied enough with his excuse not to press him on it, though, and for that, Aslan was grateful. Had she pivoted the other direction and asked him about specifics, he felt sure he’d have crumbled and ruined the surprise at some point. 

But instead, everything had gone off without a hitch. He’d decorated, he’d prepped food and drinks. He’d invited everyone he could think of– friends, family, her squad, and other co-workers– and led them all to the bar’s basement floor, the red, dim lit speakeasy portion that was sometimes rented out for parties on nights when there wasn’t a live music showcase. They were all waiting there while he went back upstairs and outside, knowing she was due to arrive at any time now. Spotting the familiar red Porsche pull in, Aslan grinned, and had to keep himself from excitedly shifting his weight between his feet while he waited for her to approach.

His breath hitched in the back of his throat when he saw her– a black dress and heels were the quickest way to get to him, and he knew that she knew that. But tonight wasn’t about him, and he could hardly wait to show her what was waiting downstairs. Wrapping his arms around her frame, he tipped his face into the crook of her neck, savoring the closeness just for a moment before easing back and catching her quick kiss. “You could say that, yeah,” he nodded, his smile taking on a mischievous tilt. “You look beautiful, by the way,” he added, pausing and holding up a hand. “–and don’t say I know.” Aslan was only teasing, of course, and reminding her of her response the first time he’d dared to call her beautiful.  

“C’mon,” he motioned, slipping his fingers through hers and leading her inside the bar. It was empty– something he hoped wouldn’t tip her off right away. But he’d closed the bar for the night, determined to have the focus solely on her and actually be there to enjoy it with her, rather than serving customers. “Gotta check on something downstairs– real boring work shit,” he continued, guiding them into the elevator. Pressing the appropriate button, he tugged her into his arms, “I love you,” he started, though it sounded more like a friendly warning more than a declaration, “Just remember that.” 

And then the doors opened, and the whole room erupted with one, singular word–

SURPRISE.

[wheatfieldss]

Mickey laughed when Aslan held up his hand, knowing exactly what he was about to say. Instead of replaying their first time together, she gave him an innocent nod, accepting defeat. “Thank you,” she said back before sinking her teeth into her bottom lip. That mischievous smile of his would never not stir something up in her, and she was fully aware that Aslan was probably up to something—though she had no idea what exactly that something was. Her mind went somewhere else entirely, of course, letting him pull her through the vacant bar—she didn’t miss how empty it was, but just when she was opening her mouth to ask him about it, there he went again with his distractions.

“Downstairs, hmm?” Mickey nudged him playfully with her shoulder as she followed him into the elevator. She wasted no time, of course, letting him push the button and pull her close. “I bet we can come up with a way to make it a little less boring,” she teased, her mind assuming that was what his mischievous smile had been all about. As soon as she was close enough to him, Mickey moved her lips toward Aslan’s ear, beginning to detail a laundry list of ways they could spice things up complete with locations and positions she was dying to have him in.

Just remember that.

If she wasn’t halfway through dropping a load of filth in Aslan’s ear, Mickey might’ve caught the weight of that phrase. Instead, she was locked and loaded, her hands moving to undo a button on Aslan’s shirt already. She barely noticed the elevator coming to a halt, convinced that leaving the logistics to Aslan was better in a moment like this. After all, he’d never let her down yet.

The safety Mickey always found with Aslan wasn’t a surprise, not anymore. In the beginning, it’d come before she could name it: the way he was the only person she wanted to see when she’d felt off after going out with her friends. There it’d been in the morning, recognizing that he moved into a protective position as soon as someone entered his apartment unexpectedly. It had been swift, the way she let her guard down with him around, and Mickey hadn’t bothered to pump the breaks once she began to catch on. That was the only reason she hadn’t been on guard, which was precisely why the sound of the room behind her bursting into one cohesive scream sent a jolt through Mickey.

It was obvious to everyone that they’d surprised her—that was the point, right?—but Mickey didn’t care. She jumped, spinning around immediately with adrenaline coursing through her veins, taking in the scene before her. It was the bar downstairs, of course, but it was filled with all of her favorite people. Mickey’s brother, cousin, friends and coworkers were all standing there with giant smiles plastered on her face, and it hit her: Aslan had planned a surprise party. For her.

The shift of her face from shock to gratitude was immediate, and once the expletive she’d dropped at the initial shock was lost in the laughter and cheers of the people waiting for her, Mickey turned back to Aslan. “You put this whole thing together just for me?” It was a simple question, soft and sincere, and she hoped he understood the weight it carried. “You dirty, sneaky liar,” she teased, her tone so obviously playful that there was no doubt she held zero anger toward him. Slipping one arm around his waist, Mickey leaned into his side as she turned to face the small crowd gathered there to celebrate her. She waved at everybody, not quite sure what to do in the moment, but not daring to leave her boyfriend's side. “You know what? This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. I don't even want to think about how scary it is that your sister can keep this whole thing a secret for so long.”

[oceanscaped]

ARVID PLEASE LMAOOOOOOOO

[wheatfieldss]

𐚁 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𐚁

Thank you for taking the time to read these guidelines! I appreciate your interest and consideration. If you have any questions regarding the following information, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐘: I reserve the right to not interact with certain blogs, muns, or muses. Please do not take this personally, as I lean heavily on chemistry-based writing, both platonic and romantic. 𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒: I will not write with muns or muses under the age of 25. As this blog may contain NSFW content, I kindly ask that minors do not interact with content here whatsoever. 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆: I do not prioritize shipping, nor do I jump into any ships without chemistry and interest on the part of my muses. While I am happy to test out pairings, I ask that any writing partners understand that I reserve the right to back out at any point or shift the dynamic based on my muse’s respective feelings. I also promise to extend the same courtesy to those I write with. 𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐒: OOC drama is not appreciated, and IC drama should be handled respectfully. I will not tolerate any kind of homophobia, transphobia, racism or sexism from muns. While those topics may be part of backstories, they should be handled appropriately and with sensitivity in writing. Adult content will be written on this blog, including some smut, so please take that into account when following. 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐋𝐘 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒: I do not expect that replies match length or come in any sort of time frame. I do ask that my writing partners put effort in where possible, and I promise to do so myself. However, length and time of response do not directly reflect interest or investment.

Ultimately, I ask that you don’t be an asshole and I’ll do the same. We’re adults, and this is supposed to be a hobby. Let’s focus on having fun and not make things weird, deal?

[wheatfieldss]

𐚁 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐬 𐚁

BENNY HERRERA: pedro pascal | 42 | bar owner

KIT MCGRADY: michael vlamis | 35 | ranch hand/rodeo cowboy (also travels a lot)

MICKEY MADDOX: monica barbaro | 33 | naval aviator

MITCH MADDOX: peter gadiot | 37 | naval aviator

TATE MEDINA: michael trevino | 32 | high school varsity football coach

𐚁 𝐍𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞, 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐞 𐚁

LOU DUNN: katherine mcnamara | 29 | dir. of operations, whiskey hollow rescue

MARTI GARCIA: jeanine mason | 34 | music producer

RYLAND JENNINGS: nathan dean parsons | 31 | songwriter

𐚁 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𐚁

DAVID MORGAN: paul mescal | 27 | male | lead singer/rhythm guitarist | nyc, ny

MAGGIE BARNES: coming soon.

𐚁 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚 𝟏 𐚁

ANDREW REDDING: jesse lee soffer | 40 | f1 race engineer

JACK HARDING: lucien laviscount | 28 | male | f1 driver

KIRAZ KARGA: hande erçel | 29 | female | f1 mechanic

LEYLA DEMIRCI: başak gümülcinelioğlu | 32 | team owner

ODETTE CLEMENT: dua lipa | 31 | female | fashion designer @ ferrari style

[christinaguilera]

Monica Barbaro out in New York City (July 15, 2026)

[frcnniebridgertons]

Oliver's eyebrows furrowed together as Mitch casually name dropped his sister's title on him, as if that'd make him go easier on her. "Captain, huh? Then she ought to know the seriousness behind false reports," he grumbled as he took a seat in his chair. He motioned for Mitch to take the seat opposite him. "Look, I get the protective big brother thing. I'm the second of four kids. Got a younger brother, and then my sister. She may be a pain in my ass, but honestly, I wouldn't trade her for anything," he chuckled. "Hell, I actually did try to sell her once after she tried selling me herself to one of her little cheerleading friends in the neighborhood. Made her cry and everything," he laughed at the memory. Even though Stella was a pain in his ass, he really did love her more than anything and he and his brothers would honestly do anything they could to protect her as the baby of the family. "I get wanting to protect her though," he sighed. leaning back in his seat, "I'm especially protective after she got hurt by the asshole of a quarterback when he went out of state for college and went to the NFL before coming back to town with nothing but his pride like a puppy with it's tail tucked in between it's legs. In all seriousness though, I'm willing to look the other way about the false report and not press charges," he began, crossing his arms on the desk. "But only if she steers straight and doesn't do it again. Understand?"

[wheatfieldss]

"I think she probably didn't expect you'd take it serious at all," Mitch admitted, knowing his sister. "She very likely thought you'd brush it off, maybe call to inquire at best. She's been stationed at a lot of places around the country, but nothing quite like Texas. I'm sure she's not used to your diligent police work." He gave Oliver a quick smile before lowering his gaze. It wasn't that he thought cops elsewhere didn't do their jobs as well, or that Texas cops were necessarily podunk. He just knew cities like San Francisco and Virginia Beach had a lot of intense cases going on. Reports like this wouldn't make their way to the top of anyone's desk.

"I'm the second, too," Mitch said as he met Oliver's gaze. "Well, it sounds like she deserved it, if you ask me." He was, of course, joking. He'd pulled similar pranks on his siblings growing up, probably more so than any of his other siblings. Mitch earned his spot as the family jokester early on, and he never let anyone forget it, not even Mickey. "Wait, hold on," Mitch said, his brows furrowing together slightly. "Quarterback broke her heart? NFL guy. Let me guess, he's got a 'real punchable jaw', doesn't he?" Shaking his head, Mitch rolled his eyes. Of fucking course, he thought to himself, recalling the woman Mickey had talked about setting him up with. "Your little sister wouldn't happen to be a kindergarten teacher, would she? Named Stella?"

[shcrpshooter]

WHERE: Şerefe, Mickey's Birthday WITH: Mitch Maddox @tcxasforever

When it came to keeping the party a secret from Mickey, Aslan was about as calm as he could get. Sure, he’d felt wrong not clueing her in on what he was doing, but he wasn’t nervous. No, the reason why he was fidgeting while he was arranging champagne flutes on the bartop downstairs was because of something much more serious– and life-long. Spotting Mickey’s brother off to the side, Aslan blew out the breath that had damn near burned a hole in his lungs after he’d been holding it for so long and decided there was no time like the present. Mickey would arrive soon enough and he knew he’d miss his window if he chickened out for any longer than he already had. 

Abandoning the champagne flutes, he walked over to Mitch, “Hey, man. You got a minute?” He prompted, clearing his throat like it might help coax out the words he needed to get started, “Wanted to talk to you about something before Mick gets here. It’s…it’s pretty important.” Like asking for permission to marry her important– but Aslan kept that bit to himself, at least for now. “Walk with me?”

[wheatfieldss]

Mitch liked Aslan. It didn't surprise him, really, because he'd always noticed that he and Mickey had a knack for running in very similar circles. Military types did a lot of that. He'd been a little shocked when Mickey first started mentioning a guy, but knowing his sister the way he did, Mitch knew this guy wasn't just any guy. The more Mick told him, the more he'd come to understand that Aslan Demirci was the kind of person he'd like his sister to settle down with—if she wanted to, that is. Down the line, maybe. It wasn't like he could really say much in that arena, seeing as his dating life was such a drastic failure in his mother's eyes.

The surprise party was going to be a blast, Mitch knew. It was already going perfectly and his sister hadn't even shown up yet. He found himself standing with some of her squad, sharing stories about people they'd crossed paths with over the years and trying to see just how small the Navy world really was. He'd offered his help more than once, but it was clear that Aslan, Bobby, Leyla and Azra had it under control. He knew better than to force his way into that crowd. They were the types who knocked shit out with ease and efficiency, and he'd probably just end up breaking shit if he offered too much assistance. He saw Aslan coming before he heard him, a brow quirking up as soon as he met the man's gaze.

"Yeah, of course," he offered up immediately, nodding to the pilots he'd been chatting with and lifting a finger. They'd barely notice his absence, truth be told, and Mitch didn't mind at all. Mitch could tell something was off, and it was very much not like Aslan to let something get him down. "Hit me with it," he said before his mouth twitched upward at one end. "Unless, of course, you're planning on telling me that you're madly in love with me and you want to run away together. I'm afraid I'd have to shoot you down out of respect for my sister. After all, she can kick my ass." Reaching a hand up to scratch the beard he'd started growing—oh, the freedom that came from leaving active duty, even if it was only temporarily—Mitch studied Aslan's face. "You're not worried she's going to be mad about this whole surprise thing, right? Mick's smarter than that, she knows this isn't the same as lying. Not really."

[wheatfieldss]

casually wasted a night I could've spent writing on refreshing my blog as though anyone actually cares lmfao okay laura sure

[celebadmiration]

[wheatfieldss]

[poms-resources]

i'm okay with:

starting over - are you a little overwhelmed with where our thread is going? let me know, and i'd be happy to start a new one with you!

pausing - if you're feeling one thread more than another we have going on, that's perfectly fine! you're welcome to let me know if you'd like, but it's not a necessity.

multiples - if we have a ship that you love and you have many ideas for them, always feel welcome to throw them at me no matter what! while it may affect my reply speed due to having more, it doesn't affect my interest at all!

regrouping - maybe we initially had an idea that didn't pan out but you don't know how to say it? just shoot me a message and let me know you'd like to plot further/something else.

anything else - have we not talked and you want to? shoot me a message! send in a meme if you don't know where to start! ask for my discord! i may not initiate too often myself, but i love being able to love our threads together!

[shcrpshooter]

Standing back, Enzo straightened the silky black bow tie around his neck before reaching out and knocking his first two tattooed knuckles against her hotel room door, then waited with baited breath for the mechanic to answer. For a fleeting moment, he couldn’t help but wonder yet again if this was a horrible idea, or if it really was the public relations miracle the team was hoping it’d be. As far as he was concerned, his image had taken a backseat the moment this whole charade had been proposed. Enzo no longer cared about that, not when hers was at stake. But…the team had pressed, and she’d agreed to it. And so now all Enzo had to do was hope that he wouldn’t end up dragging her down with him along the way.

A flicker of a smile creased the corners of his eyes as she opened the door, ushering him in with the sort of greeting that was perhaps the antithesis of one between lovers– and that made it all the more amusing to him. At least here, they didn’t have to pretend. He stepped inside, letting the door fall shut behind him. “Take your time,” he murmured, dark eyes darting around the hotel room while she finished up. It was exactly like he’d expected– neat, minimalistic, sharp to a militaristic degree. He smiled more fully then– both because he’d been right in his assumption of how she traveled and because she couldn’t see him grinning from where she was in the bathroom. He filed it away– something else to note about the woman who was supposed to be his girlfriend. 

Catching her words, Enzo chuckled softly and cleared his throat, “Trust me, despite being all about money, they’re the least pretentious events we’ll have to go to.” On the surface, fundraisers didn’t appear that way, but the truth of it all was somewhat different. Most people were gathered there in good faith, raising money for something that mattered. They hardly cared what anyone looked like. No, he hadn’t seen her outfit yet, but Enzo would argue that Kiraz could go dressed in a burlap sack and she’d still be the most beautiful woman in the room– but he’d never admit that, largely because he doubted she’d believe it if it came from him. 

When she did emerge, Enzo swallowed thickly, momentarily at a loss for words as his dark eyes drank her in, studying her from head to toe. “Wow,” he managed, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, “You look beautiful.” He followed her line of sight then, eyeing the heels in question. Wordlessly, he made his way over to them and crouched down, “Excellent touch,” he agreed with a laugh– and then the idea struck him. “Come here,” he prompted, taking one of the Louboutins in his hands, hoping that alone would make his intent known. If anything, he was armed with the excuse that if they were going to convince anyone that they were a couple, then she’d have to get used to random acts of kindness, or daresay chivalry, and her expressions would have to match– meaning, she couldn’t glower at him like he assumed she was at his attempt to put her heels on for her. “We have to sell this,” he reminded her, tipping a glance up at her, a smirk forming on his lips, “so you can’t scowl at me when I do something nice in public– practice makes perfect, right?” He was teasing, mostly. He didn’t doubt Kiraz’s ability to play her part. But most of all, he was just using it as an excuse to get close to her– to learn more about what made her tick. 

He sobered slightly though, shifting gears to the very real nature of the agreement they’d settled on, “You sure about this?” Enzo asked, giving her one last chance to back out of all of it before it became the hard launch that the F1 community would salivate over for months to come. The speculation had already been planted, but this event would confirm all of it. Was she really alright with tethering herself to him in that way? “Because once we step out like this at a fundraiser, it’s a lot harder to backtrack. I just need to know that you’re sure.” And if she wasn’t? She’d walk away unscathed, no questions asked. Fuck the team’s plan.

[wheatfieldss]

She was a little surprised that this wasn't going to be some kind of flashy, snobby event. They always looked like that, at least whenever she'd seen photos of similar events cross her social media feeds. Then again, she hadn't ever attended one, and that was what made all the difference, wasn't it? Being in the room with those people was a far cry from what they shared on social media.

She'd barely looked at him when she opened the door, but that had been somewhat intentional. Kiraz knew what Enzo Pavarotti looked like, at his best and his worst. She'd seen him in-person more times than she could count, and she'd had to deliberately avoid looking at him any time they were in a debrief meeting for fear of falling into a pool of desire she couldn't get out of. However, taking in the handsome man before her made all that effort dissipate as though it'd never bothered in the first place. She swallowed back as much desire as she could, hoping to heaven above that he didn't hear her heartbeat kick up a notch. Being the center of his attention was not new, but it certainly was something she was still figuring out how to manage. "Thank you," she replied, only half a beat too late, forcing herself to smile despite the urge to turn away before he noticed the blush creeping onto her cheeks.

Come here.

It wasn't so much a command as a polite request, but Kiraz had a hard time convincing her brain of that. Her body responded instantly, moving over to where he was crouched next to her bed despite everything in her brain screaming not to get too close. It wasn't fear or hatred that warned her off, it was pure desire. If she closed the gap, Kiraz wasn't certain she could stop herself from doing more—but that didn't matter. Her body did as it usually did in a situation as intimate as this one felt: it obeyed the command silently and swiftly. Her heart was beating so loud in her own ears that she wondered if Enzo would hear it himself, but then his words swam past the noise.

If Enzo expected a scowl, the look on her face would be nothing short of a surprise. Her face was soft, eyes almost timid while her teeth sank into the perfectly stained lips she'd traced so carefully in the mirror just before his arrival. "Right," she said, breathlessly sitting on the bed before him, "of course. Practice." She nodded once, focusing on her breathing while she smoothed her hands over the bedspread, determined not to let him see the way they twitched in desperation to reach out and touch him. Lifting her foot, Kiraz let Enzo have his moment of practice, of chivalry, of whatever the hell he wanted to call this move that was slowly tearing down every bit of her resolve.

She was lost in thought, watching his hands on the shoe with more focus than entirely necessary, when Enzo spoke again. "Hmm?" Brows twitching slightly in question, Kiraz let his words settle in her mind. Finally, it seemed, he was throwing her a lifeline—giving Kiraz a chance to regain her composure and right the ship. Leaning back, Kiraz rested both hands on the bed behind her. She tilted her head to one side and quirked a brow upward, daring him to doubt her. It didn't matter if he did or not, really, the simple dare alone felt like enough of her old self to give her the strength to continue. "Do I strike you as the sort of woman who does things I'm not certain about, Enzo Pavarotti?" She used the toe of her foot to nudge him in the chest playfully. "I've weighed all the outcomes, trust me. If I'm here, I'm here because it's what's best for me, what's best for my team, and what's best for my driver. You're not trying to back out now, are you? Because I spent entirely too long getting ready just to have you bail on me now."