After two short but productive days in Monaco, we had to fly to Abu Dhabi for the final race. Our schedules were mostly busy and filled since I for example had to tie everything off for the season press wise. Max being second and so close to the title meant that interviews for him were at an all time high. We arrived there on Thursday at dawn so we slept in the plane and a few hours at the hotel until it was time to get up for track walks and press conferences. The whole day was a mess, I stayed mostly in my office until I went to the driver's conference to make sure everything was running smoothly there and then went back to a few meetings. Finally, I managed to get everything done for the day before going back to the hotel.

I hadn't seen Charles all day which made me feel some sort of way I tried to ignore. Him and I had not had the best of conversations in my hotel room a few days ago. I knew he was mad, he had expressed in a way his regret of us not being together and held on to the idea that we could still work. Making it work with him however meant blowing up my entire life, everything that in a way had made me feel secure and stable for the last couple of years. I got back to my room completely tired and texted the group chat that they could go out for dinner and I was going to call an early night.

The next day, my alarm went off later than usual. The benefits of racing here was that the events were later during the day instead of waking up early to get Max's lazy ass to the track.

I got ready with time and since there was still a few hours until we had to be at the track for Free practice, I dressed in a normal outfit and not in my uniform which I would have to come back and change for.

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story posted

Val called me and we agreed to meet in the lobby. I took the elevator from the 36th floor to the entrance and I spotted Lando. As I approached him, I also noticed he was talking to Charles. I debated turning around to avoid the run in but they had already looked in my direction and noticed me approaching.

"Hey" I managed to spit out.

"Hey" He replied also very dry.

"Well this is very awkward and I feel like I'm with my divorced parents. I'll go look for Liza, I'm out" Lando announced, running off and leaving us standing in silence.

"I wanted to apologize" He said.

"What for?" I frowned.

"Walking out like that. I mean you expressed your feelings and your way of thinking and because I don't like it doesn't mean that I had to just be so rude" He elaborated. I nodded.

"It's fine Charles, emotions run high. I can understand if you don't want to see me or deal with me, it's hard for the both of us" I said.

"It was a conversations we needed to have. It made me evaluate a lot of things with Caroline" He explained.

I raised an eyebrow. "Really? How so?"

"Thinking straight about my feelings for her, she is flying here on Saturday" He smiled.

"Do you love her?" I quietly say. I took a deep breath, I didn't have the right to even ask him about that.

"Yes" He says.

My throat went dry. "That's good. You should be with her" I'm such a hypocrite, when the man was almost on his knees convincing me to choose him I told him he was too late. I am in no right to be even remotely mad at him for loving someone else.

"Liv, you know how things are. I've always loved you and I always will and the loved I feel for her is different than the love I feel for you. Maybe you were right, maybe we would've ended up tearing each other apart, hating each other" He said.

"Yeah" I felt something crush inside of me. Maybe the last piece of hope that one day we would find our way back to each other.

"Maybe it was meant this way"  He smiled nostalgically.

"Yeah, of course" The words could barely come out.

"I hope you find your happiness Liv. I hope you do find what you're looking for" What if what I'm looking for was always going to be you?

With that, he smiled and moved along. I stood in the middle of the gigantic lobby, once again with my heart broken in half. This time because I chose for it to be that way.

Everyone joined me at the lobby a few minutes later, we went out for lunch and once we came back, I dealt with a few calls about wedding preparations with my wedding planner and then we went to the track. I watched FP1 with Val and then watched FP2 in my office since I needed to send in a report.

We went back to the hotel and decided that we would enjoy the night at the restaurant in the hotel while we had the time and the energy to do it. Celebrations were definitely going to be explosive after Sunday even if Max didn't manage to win the championship. I remembered the after party when Charles won his first title five years ago, well not really we were both black out drunk and partied until 7AM when they finally put us in a car back to the hotel. Dinner tonight was a nice way to be together but also take it easy.

I got ready for the reservation and met Lando and Liza at their room and picked up Max and Val on the way to the restaurant.

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story posted

Once we sat down at the table, Charles emerged with Pierre and the waitress directed them to our table. Of course!

I knew both Lando and Max were friends with Charles but I also knew that they were doing this on purpose. They believed that the more time I spent with Charles, the more I would realize how completely in love I am with him and how unhappy I am with my future marriage and I'm living a lie. I gotta love my friends.

They took a seat and Charles and me avoided eye contact the whole time. We ordered the food and I noticed an empty chair and plate still set up at the table.

"Is anyone expecting someone?" I asked.

They all looked at the empty chair. "No, maybe they just miscounted us for the reservation" Val said.

"About that" Lando drifted off. I narrowed my eyes at him when I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder from behind. Everyone's eyes snapped to the person standing behind my chair. I quickly turned around confused and Theo was standing in a navy suit.

"Theo? What are you doing here?" I asked extremely puzzled. He pulled down and kissed me, I avoid once again to make any eye contact with Charles even though I knew he was staring.

"I wanted to spend some time with you before all of the wedding drama, since you can't be in Monaco I thought I would come to you. Lando helped me out a little with the surprise" He explained. I smiled and he took a seat by my side.

"Well, you know those idiots" I pointed and they all pretended to look offended. "But this is Charles again you met at the dinner and this is Pierre"

Theo shook Pierre's hand first and then he reached out for Charles, giving him a tight hand shake. "Oh yeah, the one whose been kissing my fiancée"

Val choked on her wine while she was drinking, Lando and Max who were sat next to each other slapped their hands on their mouths to avoid laughing, Liza's eyes almost came out of their sockets and Pierre just looked so confused about the situation. Charles clenched his jaw but avoided saying anything.

"Theo" I slapped slightly his chest. "Don't be rude"

The whole table fell into silence after the awkward encounter and I looked at Lando desperately.

"So, Theo. I hope your flight was okay" He asked abs the conversation kinda drifted on. The food was brought out and as we ate and Theo talked about a few things with Max and Pierre, I looked up to see Charles staring at me. This time, I couldn't look away. My eyes lingered on his, I felt like we were having a conversation without speaking and my eyes were apologetic about the comment Theo had made.

There was no way I could ever look a Charles not in a loving way, I had tried but at this point I think I could just accept that I would love this man for the rest of my life.

Dinner was done and everyone went back into their rooms, Theo's suitcase was brought up to my room and we changed into pijamas and went to sleep early.

The next morning, I ran around the room trying to get ready in time while Theo took a work call. We both managed to be on time and we met with the other two couples downstairs to go to the track. Lando handed a paddock pass to Theo and we went into the circuit. I kissed Theo goodbye for the time being and I went into my office to sort a few things out. Theo and Val were going to make each other company while the rest of us worked.

I missed FP3 but managed to get out of a meeting just in time for qualifying. I looked for Val and Theo and we all watched it together. I had never really brought Theo to one of the races, once maybe to see Lando and Max but he wasn't particularly interested in the sport either way. He asked a few questions that I gladly answered and we had a great time watching. Max finished on Pole which made the whole garage erupt, giving him the chance to win the championship tomorrow. Charles was shortly behind him on the second spot of the front row and Lando was closely third and in the row behind. We all celebrated, it was a great outcome for both the teams of our boys and went back to the hotel.

We all had agreed to meet by the pool, have a few drinks, something chill. Val texted me if she could borrow a dress I had brought with me and I told Theo I would be right back. He nodded and entered the shower. I put on some slippers and dropped off the dress by their room.

I entered the room again and I heard the shower still running. I took my shoes off and began looking for something to wear.

His phone started ringing as it sat on the night stand.

"Babe, your phone is ringing" I said. There was no response, I'm sure the water was too loud for him to hear me from outside. I sighed and picked up the phone.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Theo?" A woman's voice came on the other line.

"No, Theo's not available. Who is this?" I asked.

"His girlfriend, can you tell him to call me back?" She said, my heart stopped and my legs went numb.

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author's note

shocking:) I'll be updating a few past chapters because Wattpad had decided to not show some pictures, have a great week!:)