He won. He freaking won!
Ava really was his ultimate inspiration—the fire that fueled his motivation. Before stepping onto the podium, he had sent her a text, claiming his date. But she hadn't seen it yet. After that, he was swept up by the media, interviews, and endless celebrations, leaving him little time to think about Ava.
This was his third year in Formula 1, and last season, he had finished in the top three. But today, he was the winner. James Maddon had nearly cried when he touched the trophy. After a long night of celebrating, he called it a day at 10 PM. His body was completely worn out. On the way to his hotel room, flanked by his bodyguards, he checked his phone. His notifications were flooded—DMs, sponsorship emails, and, most importantly, two messages that caught his attention.
The first was from his beloved Ava Sinclair. 'All day tomorrow as you wish.'
He chuckled, feeling a rush of excitement in his chest. He could practically feel the butterflies fluttering in his stomach. Does he actually have some feelings for Ava? More than just his teasing?
The second was from Mr. Rodrigo, the owner of La Galerie Noire. 'I got intel that Stars is offering another painting for bidding—Flotante.'Attached with the picture of the painting. The auction will start at €10,000, half the price of the last painting. It will be held on Monday at 6 PM at La Galerie Noire. No online bids will be entertained. Thank you.'
Leo groaned.
He wanted the painting—no, needed it. But a real-life date with Ava took precedence. Maybe Stars would auction another masterpiece in the future. Right now, his priority was Ava.
A second text from Ava made his heart race.
'Can you meet me tomorrow at 9 AM sharp at Lake Como?'
His lips curled into a grin as he typed back. 'Absolutely. See you there.'
Immediately, he informed his driver to have the helicopter ready for an 8 AM departure. The driver nodded, already used to Leo's spontaneous plans. 'What exactly had Ava planned?'
The next morning, Leo woke up at 6:45 AM, startled, thinking he had overslept. His excitement made it hard to think straight, but he calmed himself, heading for a shower. He wore a short-sleeved zip-up sweatshirt, black slacks, and Nike sneakers, layering with a jacket and an overcoat. To stay incognito, he added a mask, sunglasses, and a cap before sneaking out through the fire escape to avoid the crowds.
By 8 AM sharp, he was in the car, heading to the chopper with two bodyguards, while another pair remained at his hotel for distraction.
At 8:55AM, they arrived at Stadio Comunale Giuseppe Sinigaglia. He spotted Ava standing there with a small lunchbox and wearing a backpack, looking absolutely stunning. His heart pounded.
"Morning, my love," he greeted, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
She blushed. "Morning. And congratulations on yesterday."
"Thank you, my love. I specifically dedicated my winnings to you. So my lovely Ava,..what exactly are you planning for me today?" he teased, trying to ease her shyness.
She just smiled, leading him toward a small cabin at Jardim de Flores, where a man was waiting. "Hi, Matthew. Thanks for doing this. I owe you." Ava said while shaking the man's hand as she took a set of keys. Leo narrowed his eyes. 'Dude, stop staring at my girl.'
Ava turned to him, grinning. "You always drive, but today, you're riding with me. So, Mr. Leo, would you like to be the driver or the passenger prince?"
His pride flared for a second—he had never ridden a scooter before—but before he could protest, she said, "It's okay. Everyone has their strengths. Today, I'll drive for you, okay?"
He chuckled, nodding in defeat. "Fine."
Ava drove them to Caffè Varenna, where they had breakfast by the lake. The morning breeze was crisp and cool. Ava sipped on hot tea while he enjoyed a cappuccino and freshly baked pastries. As he lowered his mask, he noticed a few people whispering and glancing in their direction. Ava giggled.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"I've never been friends—let alone have a date with—someone this famous. I can check this on my bucket list." Ava said to him.
Leo burst out laughing. "You really have a bucket list? I've got to see it! And for me, I've never dated someone so gorgeous, funny, and so smart at the same time. Such a rare combination." Her cheeks turned pink.
After an hour, they headed to Villa Balbianello, where Ava took photos and sketched. While most women admired dresses and jewelry, Ava was mesmerized by buildings. She was completely still, awestruck, and Leo found it adorable.
At the top floor of the villa, they took a selfie together with the romantic lakefront as their backdrop. Even though he often teased Ava, he had never touched her without permission especially when he noticed how she blushed every time their hands accidentally brushed.
By midday, they rented a private wooden boat to cross the lake. The sun was high, but the wind was chilly. Leo lay back, and Ava rested against him. He wrapped his arms around her, letting the peaceful rhythm of the water lull them into silence.
She did smell incredible. The soft scent of red rose and strawberries mixed with the fresh lake air. Slowly, he ran his fingers through her hair, his touch lingering against her neck. She shivered, not from the cold, but from his touch. His lips hovered near her ear as he whispered, "Are you cold?"
She turned slightly, her lips just inches from his. "No, I'm warm enough," she murmured.
His hand trailed down her spine, resting on the curve of her waist. The closeness, the intimacy—it was intoxicating. He wanted more but before he could take it further, the boat reached Bellagio.
Ava silently held onto his hand the entire way to lunch at La Terrazza. Over seafood and cold iced tea, Leo found himself unable to stop staring at her. The way she bit her lip. The way her skin glowed under the sunlight. Her dark brown eyes—slightly almond-shaped, deep, and mesmerizing.
She caught him staring. "What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You 're so beautiful," he said simply. Ava blushed again.
The day continued with a hike to Castello di Vezio, followed by a sunset view at Il Sereno. As she gazed at the horizon, completely absorbed in the golden hues, he could only stare at her.
"How lucky am I to be here with you?" he murmured.
She turned to him, tilting her head. "You missed the sunset."
"That's okay. You 're a much better view." he said and smiled.
She rolled her eyes, laughing. "Oh yeah? Why are we here then? Let's go home. You can watch me 24 hours."
He chuckled, but eventually he then texted his driver to pick them up at 11 PM. The date is almost over.
Dinner at the Michelin-starred Ristorante Mistral was exquisite. When he went to pay, the owner refused—an F1 fan who recognized him. Taking a few selfies with him would be sufficient with him. Leo thanked him and had a few talks before walking back to Ava.
Ava smirked. "Must be nice."
"I am nice, thank you." he teased.
She playfully punched his shoulder.
At 10:30 PM, as they walked along the promenade, heavy rain poured down suddenly. "Come on, I saw a hotel earlier," Leo said.
Ava hesitated.
"I won't do anything unless you want me to," he promised, holding out his hand. After a moment, she grabbed it. They ran through the rain, laughing, until they reached Vista Palazzo Lago di Como. Drenched and shivering, eventually, they checked into a suite.
Inside the room, Leo touched her ice-cold hands. "Take off your clothes—I'll put them in the dryer. Then, go take a hot shower." Ava hesitated before slowly removing her scarf on her neck, then her jacket. She looked at him, her cheeks flushed.
His breath hitched. 'She really is breathtaking..'
Turning away, he took their wet clothes and started the machine, covering himself with only a towel. Meanwhile, Ava went to the bathroom. Then, the sound of the shower filled the suite.
Leo exhaled deeply, running a hand through his damp hair. His body was on fire, but he had to control himself. He distracted himself by scrolling through his phone, checking race highlights, but his thoughts kept drifting to Ava.
Fifteen minutes later, she stepped out, her cheeks pink from the warmth. She was wearing the hotel's robe, her damp hair framing her face. Leo looked up, momentarily forgetting how to breathe.
"Your turn," she said softly.
He nodded, standing up and grabbing the towel and another hotel robe before heading into the bathroom. The hot water barely helped.
His body was still tense, still restless from the race. But this wasn't it, it wasn't just desire—it was something deeper. When he stepped out, towel-drying his hair, he found Ava already curled up under the blankets. She had turned off the main lights, leaving only the soft glow of a bedside lamp. Her breathing was even, her body still. She was already asleep.
Leo let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. She must've been exhausted. Carefully, he slid into bed beside her, lying on his back. His eyelids felt heavy, and soon, sleep claimed him. Then the dream came.
Ava stood in front of him, laughing, glowing under the soft light. But then, out of nowhere, another man appeared. Leo couldn't see his face, but he saw Ava smiling at him—leaning in—kissing him.
A sharp pain stabbed through Leo's chest. He tried to move, tried to call out to her, but his body wouldn't obey. It was suffocating. He jolted awake, his heart racing.
Disoriented, he turned his head, his breath still uneven. Ava was right there beside him, sleeping peacefully. The soft rise and fall of her chest, the way her lips were slightly parted—it was real. Relief flooded through him.
He exhaled slowly and leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. Just as he was about to pull away, Ava stirred. In her sleep, she shifted closer, wrapping her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his side.
Leo froze for a second, then smiled. Carefully, he draped an arm around her, letting her warmth soothe the last remnants of his unsettling dream.
This was going to be a long night for sure.
He won. He freaking won!
Ava really was his ultimate inspiration—the fire that fueled his motivation. Before stepping onto the podium, he had sent her a text, claiming his date. But she hadn't seen it yet. After that, he was swept up by the media, interviews, and endless celebrations, leaving him little time to think about Ava.
This was his third year in Formula 1, and last season, he had finished in the top three. But today, he was the winner. James Maddon had nearly cried when he touched the trophy. After a long night of celebrating, he called it a day at 10 PM. His body was completely worn out. On the way to his hotel room, flanked by his bodyguards, he checked his phone. His notifications were flooded—DMs, sponsorship emails, and, most importantly, two messages that caught his attention.
The first was from his beloved Ava Sinclair. 'All day tomorrow as you wish.'
He chuckled, feeling a rush of excitement in his chest. He could practically feel the butterflies fluttering in his stomach. Does he actually have some feelings for Ava? More than just his teasing?
The second was from Mr. Rodrigo, the owner of La Galerie Noire. 'I got intel that Stars is offering another painting for bidding—Flotante.'Attached with the picture of the painting. The auction will start at €10,000, half the price of the last painting. It will be held on Monday at 6 PM at La Galerie Noire. No online bids will be entertained. Thank you.'
Leo groaned.
He wanted the painting—no, needed it. But a real-life date with Ava took precedence. Maybe Stars would auction another masterpiece in the future. Right now, his priority was Ava.
A second text from Ava made his heart race.
'Can you meet me tomorrow at 9 AM sharp at Lake Como?'
His lips curled into a grin as he typed back. 'Absolutely. See you there.'
Immediately, he informed his driver to have the helicopter ready for an 8 AM departure. The driver nodded, already used to Leo's spontaneous plans. 'What exactly had Ava planned?'
The next morning, Leo woke up at 6:45 AM, startled, thinking he had overslept. His excitement made it hard to think straight, but he calmed himself, heading for a shower. He wore a short-sleeved zip-up sweatshirt, black slacks, and Nike sneakers, layering with a jacket and an overcoat. To stay incognito, he added a mask, sunglasses, and a cap before sneaking out through the fire escape to avoid the crowds.
By 8 AM sharp, he was in the car, heading to the chopper with two bodyguards, while another pair remained at his hotel for distraction.
At 8:55AM, they arrived at Stadio Comunale Giuseppe Sinigaglia. He spotted Ava standing there with a small lunchbox and wearing a backpack, looking absolutely stunning. His heart pounded.
"Morning, my love," he greeted, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
She blushed. "Morning. And congratulations on yesterday."
"Thank you, my love. I specifically dedicated my winnings to you. So my lovely Ava,..what exactly are you planning for me today?" he teased, trying to ease her shyness.
She just smiled, leading him toward a small cabin at Jardim de Flores, where a man was waiting. "Hi, Matthew. Thanks for doing this. I owe you." Ava said while shaking the man's hand as she took a set of keys. Leo narrowed his eyes. 'Dude, stop staring at my girl.'
Ava turned to him, grinning. "You always drive, but today, you're riding with me. So, Mr. Leo, would you like to be the driver or the passenger prince?"
His pride flared for a second—he had never ridden a scooter before—but before he could protest, she said, "It's okay. Everyone has their strengths. Today, I'll drive for you, okay?"
He chuckled, nodding in defeat. "Fine."
Ava drove them to Caffè Varenna, where they had breakfast by the lake. The morning breeze was crisp and cool. Ava sipped on hot tea while he enjoyed a cappuccino and freshly baked pastries. As he lowered his mask, he noticed a few people whispering and glancing in their direction. Ava giggled.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
"I've never been friends—let alone have a date with—someone this famous. I can check this on my bucket list." Ava said to him.
Leo burst out laughing. "You really have a bucket list? I've got to see it! And for me, I've never dated someone so gorgeous, funny, and so smart at the same time. Such a rare combination." Her cheeks turned pink.
After an hour, they headed to Villa Balbianello, where Ava took photos and sketched. While most women admired dresses and jewelry, Ava was mesmerized by buildings. She was completely still, awestruck, and Leo found it adorable.
At the top floor of the villa, they took a selfie together with the romantic lakefront as their backdrop. Even though he often teased Ava, he had never touched her without permission especially when he noticed how she blushed every time their hands accidentally brushed.
By midday, they rented a private wooden boat to cross the lake. The sun was high, but the wind was chilly. Leo lay back, and Ava rested against him. He wrapped his arms around her, letting the peaceful rhythm of the water lull them into silence.
She did smell incredible. The soft scent of red rose and strawberries mixed with the fresh lake air. Slowly, he ran his fingers through her hair, his touch lingering against her neck. She shivered, not from the cold, but from his touch. His lips hovered near her ear as he whispered, "Are you cold?"
She turned slightly, her lips just inches from his. "No, I'm warm enough," she murmured.
His hand trailed down her spine, resting on the curve of her waist. The closeness, the intimacy—it was intoxicating. He wanted more but before he could take it further, the boat reached Bellagio.
Ava silently held onto his hand the entire way to lunch at La Terrazza. Over seafood and cold iced tea, Leo found himself unable to stop staring at her. The way she bit her lip. The way her skin glowed under the sunlight. Her dark brown eyes—slightly almond-shaped, deep, and mesmerizing.
She caught him staring. "What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You 're so beautiful," he said simply. Ava blushed again.
The day continued with a hike to Castello di Vezio, followed by a sunset view at Il Sereno. As she gazed at the horizon, completely absorbed in the golden hues, he could only stare at her.
"How lucky am I to be here with you?" he murmured.
She turned to him, tilting her head. "You missed the sunset."
"That's okay. You 're a much better view." he said and smiled.
She rolled her eyes, laughing. "Oh yeah? Why are we here then? Let's go home. You can watch me 24 hours."
He chuckled, but eventually he then texted his driver to pick them up at 11 PM. The date is almost over.
Dinner at the Michelin-starred Ristorante Mistral was exquisite. When he went to pay, the owner refused—an F1 fan who recognized him. Taking a few selfies with him would be sufficient with him. Leo thanked him and had a few talks before walking back to Ava.
Ava smirked. "Must be nice."
"I am nice, thank you." he teased.
She playfully punched his shoulder.
At 10:30 PM, as they walked along the promenade, heavy rain poured down suddenly. "Come on, I saw a hotel earlier," Leo said.
Ava hesitated.
"I won't do anything unless you want me to," he promised, holding out his hand. After a moment, she grabbed it. They ran through the rain, laughing, until they reached Vista Palazzo Lago di Como. Drenched and shivering, eventually, they checked into a suite.
Inside the room, Leo touched her ice-cold hands. "Take off your clothes—I'll put them in the dryer. Then, go take a hot shower." Ava hesitated before slowly removing her scarf on her neck, then her jacket. She looked at him, her cheeks flushed.
His breath hitched. 'She really is breathtaking..'
Turning away, he took their wet clothes and started the machine, covering himself with only a towel. Meanwhile, Ava went to the bathroom. Then, the sound of the shower filled the suite.
Leo exhaled deeply, running a hand through his damp hair. His body was on fire, but he had to control himself. He distracted himself by scrolling through his phone, checking race highlights, but his thoughts kept drifting to Ava.
Fifteen minutes later, she stepped out, her cheeks pink from the warmth. She was wearing the hotel's robe, her damp hair framing her face. Leo looked up, momentarily forgetting how to breathe.
"Your turn," she said softly.
He nodded, standing up and grabbing the towel and another hotel robe before heading into the bathroom. The hot water barely helped.
His body was still tense, still restless from the race. But this wasn't it, it wasn't just desire—it was something deeper. When he stepped out, towel-drying his hair, he found Ava already curled up under the blankets. She had turned off the main lights, leaving only the soft glow of a bedside lamp. Her breathing was even, her body still. She was already asleep.
Leo let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. She must've been exhausted. Carefully, he slid into bed beside her, lying on his back. His eyelids felt heavy, and soon, sleep claimed him. Then the dream came.
Ava stood in front of him, laughing, glowing under the soft light. But then, out of nowhere, another man appeared. Leo couldn't see his face, but he saw Ava smiling at him—leaning in—kissing him.
A sharp pain stabbed through Leo's chest. He tried to move, tried to call out to her, but his body wouldn't obey. It was suffocating. He jolted awake, his heart racing.
Disoriented, he turned his head, his breath still uneven. Ava was right there beside him, sleeping peacefully. The soft rise and fall of her chest, the way her lips were slightly parted—it was real. Relief flooded through him.
He exhaled slowly and leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. Just as he was about to pull away, Ava stirred. In her sleep, she shifted closer, wrapping her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his side.
Leo froze for a second, then smiled. Carefully, he draped an arm around her, letting her warmth soothe the last remnants of his unsettling dream.
This was going to be a long night for sure.