viv. off to the races
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ITS OFF TO THE RACES
By Althea Perez | June 21st 2018.

The F1 paddock is buzzing with scandal as two of its most talked-about relationships—or lack thereof—took center stage this weekend. Augustine Slade, the British supermodel and London's darling, was spotted spending suspiciously cozy moments with Carlos Sainz during race preparations. The pair were seen laughing and deep in conversation, their chemistry hard to ignore.

But that's not the only drama unfolding. Just a few garages down, Max Verstappen was caught in the company of Lenore Slade, Augustine's half-sister. The pair looked closer than expected, fueling whispers that their connection might have started before Max and Augustine's recent breakup.

While no one's confirming anything, insiders are suggesting Max's relationship with Lenore may have crossed a line long before Augustine walked away. "The timing doesn't exactly look innocent," one source hinted. "It's not like Lenore hasn't done this kind of thing before."

With the gossip swirling, fans can't help but speculate if Augustine's apparent closeness to Carlos is a move to heal—or to hit back. As one paddock insider put it, "It's all starting to look like a game of who can sting the other more."

Whatever the truth, it's clear the drama isn't staying off the track. The Slade sisters and their tangled ties to F1's biggest stars are setting the stage for a season as explosive off the grid as it is on it.

𓏲ּ ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃

Max finds himself taking quick and long strides towards Carlos, finding him leaning against a counter of a vendor on the paddock, a cup of espresso in his hands exuding a calm and nonchalant aura — the hum of the paddock was audible but muffled as Max couldn't care less about the buzz from within. His jaw is clenched and his gaze icy and cold as he approaches the Spaniard, his voice clipped and left no room for pleasantries and formalities, "Carlos."

"Max." Carlos replies taking a long and slow sip of coffee, an eyebrow cocked as if Max had interrupted a peaceful moment.

Max doesn't waste any time, "Are you seeing Augustine...?"

Carlos doesnt immediately respond but a smirk forms on his lips, his expression unreadable as his voice is taunting, "Funny." he says, his tone light but laced with something meaner and sharper, "I didn't realize you still had to be in the know about what Augustine does." a brief pause and a flicker of amusement in his eyes, "Last I checked... she's not your girlfriend anymore."

Max's jaw clenched further, his tone cool and even, "that's not what I asked." he says dryly.

"No," Carlos said smoothly, tilting his head to the side, "but it's the answer you need to hear. She's not yours, Max, not anymore. You don't get to dictate who she talks to, or... whatever else she does. Maybe you should focus on that instead of worrying about me."

Max's nostrils flared, his voice low and dangerous. "If you're doing this just to piss me off—"

Carlos cut him off with a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Not everything's about you, mate. Maybe you should think about why Augustine doesn't seem to care what you think anymore."

For a moment, Max's silence held, but then he snapped back, his voice defensive and sharp. "This isn't about loyalty or control. I just don't think it's a good look for you to go after her right after everything that's happened."

Carlos tilted his head, his smirk fading into something colder. "Oh, is that it?" he said, his tone laced with disbelief. "You're worried about how it looks?"

Max stepped forward, his tone hardening. "She's been through enough already. I don't think she needs—"

Carlos cut him off, his voice rising slightly, enough to break through Max's self-righteousness. "Enough? Don't you dare act like you're worried about her now. You slept with her sister, Max. Her sister. The moment she walked out of your life, you went and burned what little respect she still had for you."

Max faltered, his jaw tightening, but Carlos wasn't finished. He took a step forward, his voice calm but biting. "So don't come to me with this act like you're the concerned ex. Augustine owes you nothing—not her time, not her loyalty, and definitely not her heartbreak. She's free to be with whoever she wants. And if that bothers you, maybe you should think about why that is."

Max seems stunned — Carlos is right. Augustine owes him nothing. Absolutely nothing. The weight of Carlos' words hit him hard, almost as if Carlos had punched him in the stomach, actually, Max might prefer that even more.

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Max watched as Carlos walked up to Augustine, her face lighting up at the sight of him. The way she smiled—soft and unguarded—made something twist deep in Max's chest. He clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms as he tried to ignore the ache that had been gnawing at him since their breakup. Augustine leaned toward Carlos as he said something, her laugh carrying over the hum of the paddock.

It was a laugh Max used to hear. A laugh he used to cause — a laugh he thoroughly loved, because it was loud and sweet and it spread a pleasurable warmth through his being.

Before he could spiral further, Lenore appeared at his side, her presence like a sharp jab to his already raw nerves. She slid next to him with her signature smug smirk, following his line of sight. "Still hung up on her, are you?" she asked, her tone dripping with mock concern, it's a taunt even.

Max didn't reply, his jaw tightening as he watched Carlos lean down, his hand brushing against Augustine's back. She didn't flinch, didn't pull away, and Max's stomach churned.

Lenore chuckled softly. "She's quite the performer, isn't she? Laughing at his jokes like he's the funniest man alive. It's almost... cute, how hard she's trying to move on."

Max finally turned to her, his expression bored. "What do you want, Lenore?"

She tilted her head, her smile widening. "Oh, I'm just here to help. You're clearly still in the game, Max, but let me guess—this whole pining-from-a-distance thing isn't working out for you?" She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Maybe I can give her something to look at."

Before he could overthink it, Max grabbed Lenore by the waist and kissed her. The move was calculated, fiery, and meant for one purpose: to get under Augustine's skin. Lenore responded immediately, leaning into him, her hand sliding up his chest. When they broke apart, Lenore glanced toward Augustine and Carlos with a satisfied smirk.

"Well," Lenore said, her voice light and mocking, "if that didn't get her attention, nothing will."

Max didn't look at Augustine; he didn't need to. He could feel her gaze like a dagger in his back. "You think this is about her noticing?" he asked, his voice colder than Lenore expected.

Lenore arched an eyebrow. "Isn't it?"

Max's jaw tightened, his eyes flicking toward Augustine briefly before settling back on Lenore. "It was always Augustine," he said flatly, his voice low but sharp enough to cut. "And we both know it."

Lenore's smirk faltered, her hand slipping from his chest. "Well," she said after a beat, her tone turning defensive, "if she was so important, maybe you shouldn't have—"

"She was," Max interrupted, his gaze piercing. "And you were just... convenient."

For a moment, Lenore was silent, her confidence shaken. She quickly recovered, smoothing her hair with a forced laugh. "Careful, Max," she said, her voice icy now. "You might make me think you actually regret this."

Max didn't respond, his attention drifting back to Augustine, who was now walking away with Carlos, her head tilted up toward him as she laughed at something he said. The ache in Max's chest deepened, and for the first time, he realized the truth: no matter how much he tried to make her jealous, Augustine wasn't coming back.

𓏲ּ ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃