Summary: You reminisce about the start of your relationship with Carlos, which he likes to call "the smooth operation."
Words: 1.1k+
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Present
"Remember when we first met?" you randomly asked Carlos as you were laying on the couch together, watching the new season of the Formula 1 Netflix documentary.
"I do, why?" he asked, confused.
"Just thinking about how far we've come" you shrugged, snuggling further into his warm chest.
"I did make you a deal that you just couldn't refuse. The Smooth Operation of Carlos Sainz was a success" he proudly stated, making you laugh.
"That was the farthest thing from smooth, mi amor" you said between giggles, watching his now offended face.
"How dare you, I was the smoothest gentleman ever" he tried to sound serious but you knew he was trying to hold in his laughter as well.
"Whatever you say, amor"
"Do you remember when...?"
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Flashback ~ 4 years prior
The paddock was busier than you ever expected. If you thought the teams looked busy on the livestreams and TV, it was nothing compared to real life.
"Hello, can I help you?" a red-haired woman snapped you out of your thoughts, looking at you with a confused face as to why you were in the Ferrari garage.
"Sorry, my name is Y/N, I'm the PR intern. I was supposed to find-"
"Me. You were supposed to find me. Welcome aboard, Y/N. Buckle up, this is going to be a bumpy drive" she said and motioned for you to follow her.
You took one last glance at the busy garage full of engineers back and forth before you followed the woman.
Having been so focused on not getting lost, you didn't even realize where you were going which led to you crashing into a very toned body. You would've fallen had the stranger not caught you.
"Careful there, Miss" the strong Spanish accent spoke in your ear, instantly making your eyes widen.
You could've recognized that voice in a million, the accent making it obvious. You had just crashed into Carlos Sainz, the Ferrari driver.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't watch where I was going" you excused yourself once you stood on your two feet, finally looking up into his warm chocolate brown eyes.
"I haven't seen you around here" he noted, his expression cutely confused.
"I'm the PR intern. I was supposed to follow this red-haired woman down to her office but I lost sight of her and now I don't know where I'm supposed to go" you smiled sheepishly, making Carlos chuckle and nod.
"I can take you there, come on" he put a hand on the small of your back and started walking with you.
He didn't realize it, but his hand on your back was making you lose your mind. THE Carlos Sainz was actually talking to you. No, he was TOUCHING you.
You could've fainted at that alone.
"You don't have to, I'm sure you're busy with other stuff. I'll manage on my own" you hurried to say, knowing he most probably had better things to do than parade around with you.
"Nonsense, it would be my pleasure" he explained, flashing you a big smile as you continued to walk through the garage.
After a minute, you stopped in front of an office, and you could see the woman you had talked to earlier sitting at her desk and talking to someone on the phone.
"Thank you for showing me around" you said, turning to face him.
"No need to thank me, it was my pleasure. I'll see you around" he said and leaned in, kissing your cheek before walking away.
Your face was red as the Ferrari colors, your cheeks were warm and your eyes were wide, staring at the spot where he last stood.
You reached down and pinched yourself, making sure that what just happened wasn't all in your imagination.
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Flashback - 4 years ago, 2 weeks after meeting
Your belly hurt because of how much you had been laughing, Carlos following suit.
He had asked you out for dinner a couple of days prior after he had won a race, and you didn't have the heart to refuse him and celebrating his win with him.
"I don't remember the last time someone made me laugh so much" you said once your laughter died down, the smile still prominent on your face.
"I could say the same, it's been a while since I've been out with someone" he confessed, leaning back in his chair.
You admired him for a moment, taking in his beautiful facial features, admiring the way his white shirt hugged his toned body, the way his hair looked so soft and fell so beautifully on his eyes.
In your opinion, he looked just like Prince Eric from the Little Mermaid, your favorite childhood story.
"You're an amazing man, Carlos" the words rolled off your tongue before you could even realize what you were saying.
The smile that appeared on his lips was so radiant, making you feel all fuzzy on the inside knowing you were the one who caused it.
"You're the most wonderful person I have ever met" he took your hand that was resting on the table and brought it to his lips, kissing it lovingly.
Your eyes were stuck on his, a subtle blush coating your cheeks.
Before the night ended, Carlos walked you to your hotel room where you were staying, wanting to make sure you got there safely.
"I had a wonderful time tonight" you confessed once you stopped at your hotel room door, leaning back against it.
"Me too. I hope we can do it again" he proposed, making your heartbeat quicken and your palms sweaty.
"What will the team think of this? I practically work for you, this goes against work ethics. They'd make us stop seeing each other" you wondered out loud, the question having been nagging at you ever since you agreed to go out with him.
"They wouldn't and they won't. If they see we are happy together, they will leave us alone. Plus, they know better than to piss me or Charles off. We could walk away any time, they wouldn't risk it" he explained, making you bite your lips and chuckle.
"Okay then" you said and leaned up, pecking his lips slightly before hurriedly opening your door and stepping inside the room.
Once inside, you rested your back against the door and bit your lips, trying to suppress the stupid smile that was fighting its way to your lips.
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Present
"We've come a long way since then" you commented as you found yourself back in the arms of the man you love, smiling at all the memories.
"We have. And the future is only just beginning" he said and kissed your head, burying his face in your hair.
Maybe your relationship wasn't the most perfect all the time, but it was yours, and you wouldn't trade it for the world.
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