Chapter Text
Part 5
“There are two more things we need to talk about,” Gemma said carefully.
She didn’t want to talk about more. Quite frankly, all Ariel wanted was to hug Max tightly. He had this unreadable expression on his face that told her that a storm was raging inside him, something they had only scratched the surface off.
She had never wanted to make him choose between her and his father…but this was what had happened regardless.
Hadn’t this been enough?
“First of all, do you want to give out a statement?” Gemma asked Max.
Max's expression darkened at the question, his jaw clenching a little. ”I don’t think it’s a question of what I want,” Max gave back.
She agreed.
Whatever Max said would be all over the media in no time…but saying nothing at all…wouldn’t go over well. The media would spin it into something worse.
Max would look like he didn't care, like he was trying to hide something, even when she knew the truth.
He sighed in irritation. "What do you suggest?" he asked Gemma.
Gemma seemed to understand his hesitation and frustration.
She sat up a little straighter in her seat, her expression professional.
“The press will know if you try to bullshit them,” she said drily. “Go with the truth. It was a completely inappropriate incident. And you ask for privacy at this time. Nothing too concrete.”
Max let out an annoyed huff, but nodded slowly.
"Yeah, let's go with that," he said in a resigned tone. "The last thing we need is the media speculating and starting another rumor."
Ariel sat quietly, still leaning against Max's chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing.
She could hear the irritation in his voice, could feel the tension in him as he talked to Gemma about their next course of action.
She couldn't help but feel guilty that he was in this situation because of her. Because of what had happened earlier. She hated that he had to be dealing with this mess instead of enjoying the win he deserved.
“They are still running with the pregnancy…speculation,” Gemma said. “I need to know…Is it true? Is Ariel pregnant?”
This whole pregnancy question was a ridiculous thing to ask, but she understood why Gemma had brought it up.
She was trying to cover all the bases, to make sure that there weren't any unexpected surprises that could make the media circus even bigger.
“Nope,” Azriel said drily popping the p.
“Are you…sure?” Gemma pressed carefully.
Ariel suppressed a snort at Gemma's skeptical look. "I'm absolutely sure," she confirmed, her tone firm. She could sense the disbelief in Gemma's question, and she couldn't help but add with a hint of humor, "I've been celibate for the past year, so there's absolutely no chance that I'm pregnant. None whatsoever."
Now Gemma stared at her like she was insane.
“You want to tell me that the two of you haven’t…” Gemma said carefully.
“Gemma, for fuck’s sake, we haven’t even kissed!” Max snapped. Ariel couldn't help but laugh softly at Max's blunt response.
She could see the skepticism on Gemma's face, the disbelief that she still wasn't fully convinced. And she couldn't help but smirk a little.
“Just for the record, we figured things out 3 hours ago,” Max said drily.
Ariel had to suppress a laugh at Max's dry statement.
Three hours.
They had figured things out and confessed their feelings for each other, and here they were, dealing with the media fallout and questions about pregnancies.
She couldn't help but find the whole situation slightly absurd and amusing. It was just a perfect example of how ridiculous the media could be sometimes.
One minute, they were obsessed with every little detail of her relationship with Max, and the next, they were asking if she was pregnant, even though they hadn't even had sex yet.
Ariel felt Max's arm tighten around her a little, and she knew he was probably thinking the same thing.But amidst all the absurdity and the media frenzy, one thing was clear to her.
She and Max had finally taken that crucial step, confessed their feelings to each other.
She felt warm, safe, and loved in his embrace. He was her rock, her pillar of strength.
She didn't care about the media, about their questions or speculations. Not when she had Max by her side.
Ariel leaned into his chest a little more, her body fitting perfectly in his arms. She could feel the warmth of his chest against her side, could hear his steady heartbeat.
Ariel knew they were in for a bumpy ride, especially with the media. They would be all over them, asking questions and speculating about every little detail.
But she didn't care. As long as she had Max, as long as they were together, they could weather any storm.
She felt Max's hand move, gently caressing her shoulder, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. She looked up at him, a small, tender smile playing on her lips.
Despite the chaos and the uncertainty of the situation, she felt a sense of calmness and peace. She knew that no matter what happened next, they would face it together. They were in this together now, no going back.
“...finally,” Gemma breathed.
Ariel chuckled at Gemma's relieved sigh.
"Finally indeed," she echoed in agreement.
She looked up at Max, his arm still wrapped around her. He seemed a little more relaxed too, his body less tense than before.
"Took us long enough, hm?" Max teased with a wry grin.
Ariel couldn't help but roll her eyes playfully at his comment.
"Is it serious?" Gemma asked carefully.
"As serious as can be," Max replied immediately, his tone firm and resolute.
Ariel knew that Max didn't do anything halfway, he was all-in when he committed himself to something. And when he said 'as serious as can be', he meant it wholeheartedly.
And still…she could feel a little shiver run through her at his words.
She knew Max meant every word he was saying. He was all in, and he was serious about them being together.
There was a certain charm in Max's blunt and decisive nature.
He wasn't one to sugarcoat things or beat around the bush.
He meant what he said, and he said what he meant. And when he said that he was serious about them, he meant it.
There was no room for speculation, no room for doubts.
And Ariel loved that about him.
She trusted him blindly.
"We've been dancing around each other for ages, and I'm done wasting any more time," Max stated firmly.
Ariel could hear the determination and certainty in his voice.
He meant it, he was done playing around.
Ariel felt her heart skip a beat at Max's declaration, her stomach fluttering with excitement and anticipation.
It was the last push she needed, the final confirmation that she wasn't the only one feeling this way.
Max was all in, and he was serious about them.
She felt a surge of happiness and relief wash over her, the truth of his words sinking in. They were doing this, they were really doing it.
She leaned into him, her body pressing against his, seeking his warmth and comfort.
Ariel could feel the firmness of his chest against her, his arms strong and protective, holding her close to him.
"I am happy for you both, but this does complicate things," Gemma said carefully. "The fact that he is your boss..."
"She works with me, not for me," Max cut her off.
Ariel suppressed a smile at Max's quick correction.
She felt a warm flutter in her chest as he spoke up to the defense, setting the record straight instantly.
And to be honest, she couldn't help but find it just a little bit hot, how he was so quick to correct Gemma, how he was always so quick to stand up for her.
“You are the ones paying her salary,” Gemma correcte him drily.
"We haven't let our relationship interfere with our professional lives before, we won't start with it now," Max continued. "And yes, I do pay her salary. Which means she works for me and not for Re Bull. So I don't really care what you have to say about this, she doesn't fall under company policy."Ariel felt a surge of pride and affection for Max as he spoke.
His words were firm and determined, leaving no room for arguments.
And hearing him defend her, hearing the certainty in his voice…Ariel looked up at him, admiring the strength and resolve in his eyes.
She knew he would always have her back, always stand up for her.
"We've been able to separate our personal relationship from our work," he continued, his voice steady and unwavering. "We've always been professional and respectful in the workplace, and that's not going to change."
He paused for a moment, his gaze shifting to Ariel, his expression softening ever so slightly.
"We know how to work together effectively, without letting our personal feelings interfere,” he continued, his voice firm yet caring.
“I agree,” Ariel said calmly. “We can manage. We always have.”
“I can already see, it doesn’t matter what I say,” Gemma said with some amusement.”
“No,” Max agreed flatly.
“What else?” Ariel asked with a grimace.
Gemma let out a long sigh, her expression becoming a little more serious. She ran a hand through his hair, clearly contemplating how to phrase the second matter.
"Have you checked social media yet?" she asked with a grimace
Ariel's stomach immediately dropped at the question, a sense of foreboding creeping up inside her.
She had a feeling she knew where this was heading, and she already didn't like it.
"Do I actually want to know what happened?" Max asked drily.
"Well, the press thought that whatever happened between Ariel and your father was much more interesting than actually asking the other drivers about the race...and they mad had a few...thoughts on that?"
Oh god.
"I think you'll want to see this?" Gemma said, as she handed over her tablet.
It was a clip of Pierre Gasly, clearly taking at the after race press interview, with the interviewer posing the question: "Do you happen to know if Max Verstappen is in a romantic relationship with Ariel Cane?" And Pierre actually answered, "Not as far as I know...but if they do become a couple in the next few weeks, I would win the bet, so if they could get on that, that would be great!"
"What bet?" Ariel asked weakly as she watched the clip run out.
She could already see where this was going. And she didn’t like it.
Were the other drivers betting on her relationship with Max?
"Who exactly took part in that bet?" Max asked, his voice fierce.
"...The whole grid?" Gemma answered with a grimace. "Apparently there is a whole betting pool according to Lando Norris?"
Ariel couldn't believe her ears.
The whole grid? Seriously?
She felt a mix of anger and incredulity at the revelation. Everyone, literally everyone on the grid, had been betting on her and Max getting together?
"This is ridiculous," she grumbled, her irritation reaching a boiling point.
The media and now the other drivers, all speculating about her and Max like they had nothing better to do.
She could feel Max's annoyance radiating off of him, and she knew he was just as fed up with this nonsense as she was.
"I can't believe they're all betting on our personal lives," she continued, her frustration growing with each word.
She could understand that the media loved to pry and speculate, but for the other drivers to also partake in this absurd gossipmongering... it was simply infuriating.
"Have they got nothing better to do than speculate about what's going on between us?" Max growled.
"And to think that even the other drivers are placing bets on us," Ariel said, her tone filled with disbelief.
It was one thing if the media was gossiping, but for the drivers to be involved in this ridiculous betting pool... it just seemed so juvenile.
"I mean, what is this, high school?" Max huffed, his irritation evident in his voice.
He was clearly as fed up with this whole situation as she was.
She couldn't believe that the other drivers had nothing better to do than bet on her and Max's relationship status.
"Also Lando Norris is apparently worried that he won't get Christmas Cookies from you this year?" Gemma continued with a grimace.
Ariel almost burst out laughing at the news about Lando Norris.
Was he seriously concerned about not getting her Christmas cookies?
"Lando is worried about the cookies?" she repeated, a mixture of amusement and disbelief in her voice.
She couldn't help but find it a bit ridiculous that the most pressing issue on Lando's mind was whether he'd be receiving her Christmas cookies or not.
"Seriously, that's what he's concerned about?" Max chimed in, his tone filled with a mix of irritation and amusement.
He seemed just as flabbergasted as she was that Lando was more worried about the cookies than anything else.
"I mean, I'm flattered that he enjoys my cookies so much," Ariel said, trying to keep a straight face.
She was finding this whole situation more and more absurd by the minute. It was like they were in some kind of soap opera or something.
"But the fact that he's more concerned about missing out on a batch of my cookies than anything else is just... I don't even know what to say," she continued, shaking her head in disbelief.
It was ridiculous, but also kind of endearing in a way. She couldn't help but find Lando's preoccupation with her cookies just a bit adorable.
"I swear, the drivers these days have their priorities all mixed up," Max chimed in, a hint of mock irritation in his voice.
He was trying his best to maintain a stern expression, but Ariel could tell he was secretly amused by Lando's obsession with her cookies.
"One minute, they're focused on the race, and the next, they're worried about the possibility of missing out on some homemade treats and having betting pools about my private life," Max continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Gemma let out a sigh, rubbing her hands together nervously.
It seemed like there was still more.
Ariel could feel her irritation rising once again as she prepared herself for more ridiculous gossip and speculation.
"Anything else?" Max asked clippedly.
"Charles Leclerc may have said that it was obvious that the two of you were in love?" Gemma offered.
Ariel nearly choked on her own spit.
She glanced at Max, seeing how his jaw was clenched tightly, his irritation evident.
Ariel couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Seriously? Charles Leclerc was now an expert on her and Max's relationship?
"Max. Charles and I are going to have an inchident the next time we meet," she said, as she closed her eyes.
Max chuckled, a hint of amusement in his voice. "We need him in one piece for the next race, you know," Max said, a hint of humor in his voice. “So go easy on him please.”
"Anything else?" Ariel asked nearly begging. Please let that be all?
"I think that's it," Gemma said quickly, as she gathered herthings to leave.
Ariel let out a sigh of relief, glad that the barrage of ridiculous gossip seemed to be over.
She sank back into the sofa and against Max, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and irritation.
Ariel was so tired of the media and the drivers prying into her personal relationship with Max.
"You know what, I'll deal with them tomorrow," she said with a sigh.
Max gave her a hum of understanding, his expression sympathetic.
"And Lando is not getting any christmas cookies any time soon," she muttered, making Max laugh.
"We both know that you don't hold a grudge that long," he teased her.
Ariel shot Max a mock glare, but she couldn't help but smile at his comment.
He knew her too well.
"Shut up," she muttered, shoving him playfully with her shoulder.
She tried to maintain a stern expression, but she couldn't help but feel a hint of amusement in spite of herself.
She looked at Max, giving him a weary smile.
"I swear, it's like the whole world has nothing better to do than gossip about us," Ariel muttered, her frustration still evident in her voice.
She shook her head, still finding it hard to believe that the other drivers had been betting on their relationship status.
Max chuckled darkly, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Well, they're all bored and have nothing better to focus on," he said dryly.
"I swear, the next time I see Lando, I'm gonna smack him upside the head," Ariel grumbled.
She was still irritated at Lando's statement about missing out on her Christmas cookies.
“Come on, let’s get you to bed,” Max said softly. “You are threatening violence, so you need sleep.”
He was probably right about that.
She was tired, both mentally and physically, and she knew that a good night's sleep would do her some good.
Ariel got up from her chair, stretching her arms slightly.
"Yeah," she agreed, her voice soft. "Bed sounds good right now.Will you…keep me company?” She asked him, biting her lip.
She wasn’t sure why this was making her nervous…
Maybe because they had never actually share a bed before… but Max smiled at her, his eyes softening at her request.
"Of course I will," he replied softly. His voice was warm and reassuring, filled with unspoken affection.”You still owe me cuddles after all,“ he teased her and she snorted.
Ariel did snap a picture of the saltines and ginger ale on the bedside table as she connected the phone to her charger. While she didn’t theoretically fall under the purview of Gemma, she still send off a quick text about the instagram post she wrote, not wanting to stub any toes. Ariel was not going to let that ridiculous pregnancy speculation go on any longer.
She also texted Emma, not wanting her sister to be worried.
And then she slid under the high thread count sheets and glomped onto Max.
Max just laughed softly as he felt her snuggle up against him, her body molding perfectly against his.
He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close, and she relished in the feeling of her head resting against his chest.
He nuzzled his face against her hair, taking a deep breath, inhaling her scent.
Ariel still couldn’t quite believe this. Not really. It felt utterly and completely…magical.
But here she was, curled up with Max in his bed, one hand of his gently tracing her spine and him pressing kisses to her hair.
“Did you…did you mean what you said?” Ariel asked him hesitantly.
“What?” Max wondered.
“That I am the woman you…you love,” she answered weakly. Did he mean that or had it just been the heat of the moment or… Max stopped his caresses for a moment, sensing the uncertainty in her voice.
He pulled back slightly, looking down at her, his eyes meeting hers.
His expression was gentle, filled with warmth and sincerity.
“Of course I meant it, Schatje” he said quietly, his voice soft and reassuring.
He reached one hand up, gently stroking her cheek.
“You’re the woman I love, Ariel,” he repeated firmly, as if trying to hammer the point home.She couldn’t believe it. It was jsut…
It was everything she had ever wanted right there for her taking.
“Good,” she whispered. “Because we really took long enough and I love you too.”Max's expression softened as he heard her words, a slow smile spreading across his face.
He couldn't help but feel a wave of relief wash over him as she confirmed her feelings for him.
He pulled her closer, holding her tightly against him.
"We really did take long enough, didn't we?" he murmured, his voice filled with amused affection.
He ran his fingers gently through her hair, his touch gentle and tender.“Only five years,” she joked.
Max chuckled, shaking his head slightly.
"Right," he said with a grin. "Only five short years."
He pretended to sound annoyed, but the amused sparkle in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.
He pulled her even closer, their bodies now pressed fully against each other.
"We really are idiots, aren't we?" he teased, his lips grazing her forehead.She hummed her agreement, tipping up her face.
“Don’t make me ask,” she requested softly.Max chuckled softly, sensing her unspoken plea.
He knew exactly what she wanted, and he was more than happy to oblige.
He cupped her chin gently, tilting her face up towards his.
"You don't have to ask," he murmured, his voice low and husky.
Without further ado, he lowered his head and captured her lips in a soft, tender kiss.
Ariel melted into the kiss, her body molding against Max's.
