The next morning, after breakfast, Leo drove Ava to the airport, his heart heavy. He promised her he'd come as early as possible so they could spend a full week together in Milan. As she disappeared into the crowd at the boarding gate, he waved, feeling an unfamiliar ache settle in his chest.
With a sigh, he turned back to his waiting fans, flashing his signature grin as he took selfies, signed autographs, and exchanged a few words with them. Afterward, he slipped on his sunglasses and headed to the circuit for a series of interviews. Once done, he retreated to his hotel, exhausted.
As he stepped into his room, his eyes landed on one of Ava's dresses draped over the chair. A sharp pang of longing hit him. Without a second thought, he pulled out his phone and texted her immediately.
That night, they video-called. Ava: "Hi, how were the interviews today?" Ava asked while her head still focused on the sketch book.
Leo: "Tiring. Look at my face—it shows how much I miss you." he tried to make Ava look at him.
Ava giggled. "Then come here."
Leo: "I would love to, but I have another interview tomorrow, plus I need to attend Ferrari's launch party. After that, I'll be there—hugging you, kissing you."
Ava: "Yeah, yeah. I get it. You miss hugging me, kissing me, but do you actually miss me?"
Leo: "I miss you so bad, baby."
Ava: "Hmm... okay. I'll accept that for now, but you 'll have to make it up to me when you come."
Leo: "Deal. Anything for you, baby. So, what's your plan
for tomorrow?"
Ava: "I've got a meeting with the Palazzo Hotel board, then I'm meeting Maya. The morning after, I have a supplier meeting, but after that, my schedule is clear. All yours."
Leo: "Perfect. Good luck with your meeting, love. Sleep well."
Ava: "Good night, my Leo."
It was nearly midnight when Leo finally dozed off, only to wake up early for Ferrari's friendly practice session and an interview with People magazine. They were considering nominating him as Sexiest Man Alive 2024.
Later, he leaned against the bathroom sink, gripping the cool marble edge as he stared at his reflection. Under the bright vanity lights, his sharp cheekbones and defined jawline stood out, but his golden-brown eyes flecked with hints of blue, looked distant, almost hollow.
A faint shadow of stubble lined his jaw, a testament to restless nights and early mornings. His dark curls were tousled from running his fingers through them too often, and the scar near his brow, a reminder of an old racing accident—added to the rugged charm the world admired.
Yet, as he held his own gaze, he saw past the carefully crafted image—the playboy, the F1 star, the man who never let anyone too close. Tonight, the mask felt heavier. He exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair. No matter how fast he drove or how many cities he left behind, there were some things he couldn't outrun. And right now, the most important person in his life was Ava. He would do everything in his power to make her happy.
The next morning, he completed his final practice session before preparing for the Barcelona Grand Prix. With the rest of the day free, he was eager to head to Milan and see Ava .Leo had been with many women before, but nothing had ever been official. He always kept things casual. But with Ava... he knew she wouldn't settle for a fling. And after everything he'd been through, he thought he had closed off his heart for good. Yet now, he felt himself falling—truly falling—for her. Who would've thought Leo Vargas-Clairmont would be tied down?
After finishing the race and having lunch with the crew, he received a text from his manager: "Monster Energy wants you as their ambassador. $100k per ad. You in?" Leo stared at the message, conflicted. He needed to think. And when in doubt, there was only one person he wanted to call.
Ava picked up immediately. "Yes?"
Leo: "I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want first?"
Ava: "Bad. That way, I'll end up happy."
Leo: "I have a meeting with Monster Energy tomorrow—they want me as their ambassador."
Ava: "Oh! That's amazing! Why is that the bad news?"
Leo: "Because it means I won't see you yet. But the good news? After that, I'm all yours. No excuses."
Ava: "Hmm... don't make promises you can't keep, Leo."
Leo: "I wouldn't. See you soon, my love."
And for the first time in a long while, Leo knew that when he made that promise, he meant it. He hung up the phone, feeling a pang of guilt. He called Monster Energy and requested to change the meeting to an online format. After some negotiation, they agreed, on the condition that Leo would complete the photoshoot in Montreal by that evening. Leo accepted the terms, got ready, and headed to La Grande Roue de Montréal, a towering 200-foot Ferris wheel offering panoramic views of the city.
When he arrived, his bodyguards escorted him through a crowd of fans who had already gathered. He waved politely before making his way to the fitting room.
The ad concept was simple. They had footage of him racing in an F1 car, which would transition to him in a sleek sports car, holding a can of Monster Energy. All he had to do was deliver the line, "Stay in action, stay fast only with Monster."
This wasn't his first time doing such shoots, so he handled it with ease. The filming wrapped up in about two hours, and after shaking hands with the director, Leo headed back to his hotel. He had a flight at 9 a.m., with an estimated eight-hour journey that would get him to Milan by dinnertime.
He packed the essentials, leaving the rest of his belongings to be sent to Barcelona by Ferrari's cleaning crew. To maximize his rest, he checked into an airport hotel and requested a wake-up call for 4:30 a.m., giving him about four hours of sleep. He planned to catch up on more rest during the flight. It had been a while since he'd flown commercial—his private jet was undergoing maintenance to prepare for the upcoming Barcelona Grand Prix.
For this trip, he booked a first-class ticket to Milan on the spot. Leo arrived in Milan around 6 p.m., just in time for dinner. When he called Ava to ask where she was, she mentioned she was on her way back to the office after finishing meetings with suppliers and contractors.
Eager to surprise her, he stopped to buy a large bouquet of roses and a diamond bracelet he'd spotted at the airport. He walked into her office, knocked on the door, and was greeted by a starstruck staff member who recognized him instantly.
"Is Ava here?" Leo asked, and the young man nodded, leading him inside. As they walked in, Leo overheard Ava discussing architectural details with a group of colleagues.
Suddenly, she paused and called out, "Who is it, Milo?" She turned around, and her eyes widened in surprise before breaking into a wide smile.
"Surprise," Leo said, holding out the roses. But before Ava could respond, a man standing beside her rose to his feet. He was broad-shouldered, dressed in a tailored suit, and had a striking face that hinted at Italian and perhaps Asian heritage. His voice immediately reminded Leo of the man he'd seen with Ava before. 'So this is the infamous Ethan,' he thought.
Ava introduced them, and the two men shook hands, though the tension between them was palpable. Ethan's demeanor made it clear he hadn't given up on Ava, despite her rejection. Leo could sense the unspoken challenge in the air.
Ava then suggested they all go to dinner together, but Leo couldn't shake the feeling that Ethan was still vying for her attention. 'Not a chance,' Leo thought. He wasn't about to let anyone take Ava from him.
The tension didn't end at the office—it spilled over to the dinner table. Even when Leo tried to sit next to Ava, Ethan didn't budge, his expression firm and unyielding. It was as if he didn't care about Leo's presence at all. The situation escalated when Ethan casually mentioned that he would accompany Ava to Nice because her house had been broken into. Leo was stunned.
"Why is he the one taking you? I can take you," Leo said, his voice tight with frustration.
Ethan smirked, pointing out that he had offered first and that Leo likely knew nothing about Nice since no races were held there.
"I don't care. I'm taking her," Leo insisted.
"No way. I am," Ethan shot back.
The two bickered for nearly ten minutes before Ava let out a small cough, cutting through their argument. Both men turned to her, their voices falling silent.
"You know what? I'm not taking either of you. I'll go alone," Ava declared, standing up and heading toward the cashier to pay the bill.
Leo followed her, his tone pleading. "Babe, I'm your boyfriend. I should be the one going with you."
But the argument flared up again, and Ava finally snapped, yelling at both of them before storming out, making it clear that neither of them would be joining her in Nice.