𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐘.

the club was alive with the pulsing beat of music, flashing lights casting shadows across the crowd of dancers. camila stood near the bar, swirling her drink idly as she surveyed the scene. her friend chiara was already lost in the chaos of the dance floor, leaving camila to her own devices. it wasn't that she hated clubs; she just didn't see the appeal of shouting over music and dodging drunk strangers all night.

"come on, mila, loosen up," chiara had begged earlier. "you're always so serious. tonight's about fun!"

fun. sure. if fun meant overpriced drinks and sweaty strangers.

she sighed, taking a sip of her cocktail, when a ripple of energy swept through the room. heads turned, whispers spread, and phones discreetly lifted to snap pictures. camila followed the commotion to see a group of guys entering the VIP section. they were laughing, exuding the kind of confidence that came with knowing the world was watching.

"that's lando norris," someone nearby whispered excitedly.

camila frowned. the name rang a bell, but it wasn't until she caught a glimpse of the guy at the center of the group, curly brown hair, sharp jawline, and an annoyingly smug grin, that she connected the dots. formula 1 driver. chiara had mentioned him once or twice, usually while scrolling through Instagram and gushing about his smile.

camila rolled her eyes. typical. another guy who thought the world revolved around him because he drove fast cars for a living.

her thoughts were interrupted when chiara reappeared, breathless and wide-eyed. "oh my god, mils, did you see? lando norris is here!"

"i noticed," camila said dryly, taking another sip of her drink.

"isn't he gorgeous?" chiara gushed, glancing toward the VIP section.

"sure, if you're into guys who probably spend more time admiring themselves in the mirror than anything else," camila quipped.

chiara gasped. "you're impossible. he's one of the best drivers in the world!"

"and I'm sure he never lets anyone forget it," camila muttered.

chiara ignored her, her attention already back on the VIP section. camila, meanwhile, turned her back to the scene, determined to enjoy her night without getting sucked into the lando norris fanfare.

but fate had other plans.

lando leaned back in his seat, nursing a drink as his friends joked and chatted around him. he'd grown used to the attention, whispers, stares, the occasional bold fan approaching for a selfie. it came with the territory, and most of the time, he didn't mind.

tonight, though, something, or rather, someone, caught his eye. across the room, a woman stood at the bar, her dark hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders. she wasn't paying attention to him, which was unusual enough to pique his interest. most people at least glanced his way.

"what are you staring at?" his friend max asked, following his gaze.

"her," lando said, nodding toward camila.

max smirked. "she doesn't look impressed."

"exactly," lando said, standing. "i think I'll go say hi."

max laughed. "good luck, mate. she looks like she bites."

lando grinned. "i like a challenge."

camila was mid-sip when a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"mind if I join you?"

she turned to find lando norris standing beside her, his grin as cocky as she'd expected. up close, he was undeniably attractive, but the smug energy radiating off him was enough to make her bristle.

"actually, I do," she said coolly.

lando blinked, clearly not used to being turned down. "wow. that's a first."

"let me guess," camila said, setting her drink down. "you're used to women falling all over themselves to talk to you?"

he tilted his head, studying her. "only when they're as beautiful as you."

she rolled her eyes. "do lines like that actually work for you?"

"sometimes," he admitted, unfazed. "but I have a feeling you're not easily impressed."

"not by guys who think driving in circles makes them special," she shot back.

lando raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "ouch. someone's got opinions."

"someone's got an ego," camila countered.

his grin widened. "and here I thought this was going to be boring."

camila crossed her arms, her irritation growing. "look, I'm sure you're used to people fawning over you, but I'm not one of them. so if you're looking for an ego boost, try someone else."

lando leaned against the bar, undeterred. "what makes you think I'm looking for an ego boost? maybe I just wanted to talk to the most interesting person in the room."

she laughed slightly. "you don't even know me."

"not yet," he said, his tone playful.

camila shook her head, turning back to her drink. "unbelievable."

for a moment, lando said nothing, simply watching her. then, to her surprise, he laughed, a genuine, hearty laugh that caught her off guard.

"what's so funny?" she demanded.

"you," he said, still chuckling. "you're not like anyone I've met before."

"is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"it's an observation," he said. "and maybe a compliment. depends on how you take it."

camila couldn't help but smirk, despite herself. "you're insufferable."

"and you're stubborn," he shot back.

𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗴𝗮𝗱𝗼 ꗃ posted an instagram story !

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mol speaks
hellohellohello!!! 

firstly,
thank u all sm for 600!!! like wtaf?!?!?? been on this app for like 3 years now so i appreciate every single one of you!!

secondly,
chiara is gonna me mad at me bc im publishing this when she's asleep so she's gonna be pissed she's not the first but yolo 😁😁😁😁 i'll deal with the consequences 😊

thirdly,
i have no plan for this book so i'm lowkey going for some form of enemies to lovers but idk how im gonna make the meet again?!?! eh, ill figure it out

ALSO,
if the no caps pisses you off then hahahahahhahaha i'm not turing them back on AND if i sound like ai pls ignore im just so creative that my mind works the same as a computer 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

okayokay goodbye i love u all !