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Max smiles at Clarissa as she walks in. Clarissa lets herself into Max’s home the way she often does and she looks like she’s up to something. Again. His boss is often up to something and Max has stopped questioning it. She has been a life-saver. He genuinely doesn’t know what he would do without the older Omega in his life.
She kisses his cheeks, “How are my two favourite people in the world?” she asks.
“We’re okay,” Max says. He pauses dramatically. “Zoey called her teacher a dick the other day.” He glances over at his six-year-old daughter, who immediately looks indignant about the whole situation again.
“He was wrong and I told him so and then he gave me detention for being rude,” Zoey says with a pout. “I was just telling the truth when I said he was a dick. Daddy told me to always tell the truth.”
Clarissa gives her a high-five. “That’s my girl!”
“He’s this conservative dick, trying to get me to date his loser brother. He keeps telling Zoey that she won’t get anywhere in life because she only has me and not an Alpha parent,” Max says, sighing a little. Too many people still assume single parents can’t give their children a fulfilling life, especially when those parents are male Omegas. Max hates it. He knows he and Zoey are better off together, rather than being with an Alpha who doesn’t care about both of them.
“Oh so he’s a massive dick,” Clarissa says. “This deserves a treat. Luckily I have something going on that can double as a treat.”
Zoey leans forward and Max raises an eyebrow. Clarissa’s treats tend to be excessive but fun.
“We’re going to Monaco for a discussion with the Prince. He wants to invest in coastal conservation and more efficient sustainable city planning and he thinks we would be a good fit for his plans,” Clarissa explains. “He just happens to be free right before the Monaco Grand Prix and he has offered us tickets for the Grand Prix and an invitation to his state dinner. And, Zoey is welcome to tag along as well.”
Zoey squeals excitedly and then shakes Max’s arm. “I am going to see Charles and Ollie race.”
Max gives her a hug and smiles at Clarissa again. “That’s a huge treat.”
“Well, she deserves it and so do you. We’ll add on a few days afterwards, too. You deserve a holiday and you can’t say no because I’m your boss,” Clarissa grins.
Zoey starts running around the house, needing to get her excitement out. Max looks at her fondly and thanks Clarissa while Clarissa assures him she has all the planning handled, he and Zoey just need to pack their clothes and be ready a few days before the Grand Prix.
The next couple of weeks Zoey can barely contain her joy. She’s extra energetic and constantly jumping around, rushing around the house and singing excitedly. Max adores that about his daughter, how she still finds the joy in everything. As an extra treat, Max buys her the Charles shirt she’s been begging for, for months. She insists on wearing it on their flight to Nice.
“You’re going to end up with a handful of merch,” Clarissa teases Max after they landed in Nice
“I try to say no,” Max pouts, “But it makes her so happy.” His scent goes sweeter when Zoey twirls around and then gives him a hug. He picks her up as they continue to walk through the airport.
Suddenly they bump into someone.
The man turns around, looking a little annoyed, and Max squeaks. Actually squeaks. That is Charles Leclerc.
“Enchanté,” Charles says, his look softening immediately.
He holds out his hand and Max awkwardly shakes it. Then he shakes Zoey’s hand too. Zoey giggles.
“It is nice to meet you,” she says.
“Sorry for bumping into you,” Max says shyly.
Charles motions with his hands. “No worries. It has allowed me to meet you.”
Max blushes and has to look away.
“We’re coming to see you race and to do boring city planning stuff,” Zoey says.
“That’s an interesting combination,” Charles laughs. He gives Max a questioning look.
“My boss and I work in sustainable city planning and coastal conservation. The Prince of Monaco invited us and the tickets for the race were complimentary,” Max explains.
“And dinner,” Zoey adds. She pouts dramatically. “I have to wear a very fancy dress to dinner.”
Charles smiles fondly. “Then we will see each other there as well. I have to wear a very stuffy suit.” He winks badly and Zoey begins to giggle.
“See you there, then,” Max says awkwardly.
Charles smiles the brightest smile. It’s dazzling and it doesn’t feel real, especially not when it’s aimed at Max.
The next few days were surely going to be interesting.
After getting to the hotel, unpacking and changing their outfits, it is time to have the meeting with the Prince of Monaco. Max isn’t nervous. He is never nervous when it comes to his job. He knows how to do his job, he knows everything he is talking about and he knows he is a professional. The nerves and shyness only appeared in other areas of his life (like talking with beautiful Alphas).
The Prince of Monaco greets Max, Clarissa and Zoey warmly and is genuinely enthusiastic about their ideas and to learn more. Max is completely in his element, just rambling about geography and all the measures they can take to preserve the coast. Clarissa lets him take the lead, knowing he knows his stuff. This is where he shines, while she shines with all the other stuff required to run the company. She gets them in the door and Max makes sure they never want them to leave.
After a while Zoey gets a little bored, despite the colouring books and toys Max brought along. The Prince doesn’t mind at all. He offers to let her tour the palace with one of the guards and Zoey is utterly delighted about it.
The Prince, Max and Clarissa continue their conversation and Max shows the Prince some maps and charts.
Then Zoey comes back, giggling excitedly. She’d run into Charles while wandering around the palace and she’s talking his head off. Charles, to his credit, doesn’t seem to mind at all and answers all her questions very seriously, even the silly ones.
“It’s good to see you again,” Charles says to Max, giving him another bad wink. Which appears to be a feature, not a bug, and one Max is embarrassingly and ridiculously charmed by.
“Ah, you have met,” The Prince says, sounding intrigued. “Good, good. My seating plan has you sitting together during the state dinner. I’m sure you won’t mind.”
“Not at all,” Charles says, looking Max up and down.
Max’s cheeks flush. “It will be… lovely,” he says.
Clarissa and the Prince start laughing while Zoey cheers.