When We Meet Again
Chapter 32

Charlotte opened her eyes, holding tightly the book that was about to fall off her hand. She stared at the wall clock and it was a few minutes past midnight. For how long has she been asleep? She wondered.

The last thing she remembered was that she was reading a book while trying to stay awake until Melvin returned; she must have fallen asleep. She looked at the bed Melvin was supposed to be lying on but he wasn't there. Did he not return last night? She wondered. Could he be in the bathroom or the living room?

Charlotte stood up from the bed and moved closer to the bathroom. She could not hear the sound of the shower running.

Maybe he is not in the bathroom? She thought.

Charlotte headed to the living room and Melvin wasn't there either.

Did he not really, return as he promised? She wondered. But why is she bothered about him? She sighed. She should worry less about him. She thought.

Charlotte returned to the bedroom and sat on the bed. She tried to sleep but when she could not, she stood up and returned to the living room. She served herself a glass of wine from the bottle of wine she had kept in the fridge a while ago. She headed to the balcony to sit and take some fresh air. She could still hear the movement of cars.

Charlotte sipped from her wine, staring at the busy street. Charlotte wondered what she would be doing now that she was in Paris.

Melvin must have some things planned out, right? She thought. He won't let her stay here doing nothing, right?

Charlotte had a lot going on in her mind; two weeks was going to be a long one if she had nothing to do. Charlotte could feel the cold weather on her skin; she rubbed her hands together.

She should have gotten a coat. She thought.

Charlotte thought about going back to the room and covering herself up with a blanket but someone covered her with a coat. She turned to see who it was. "Melvin?" She cooed.

"Do you not know that the weather is cold?" Melvin asked. "You should cover yourself up properly".

Charlotte took the coat away from her body and handed it back to Melvin. "Thanks, but you don't have to."

"You can't fall sick while you are here," he stretched the coat to her. "Take it,"

Charlotte sighed and took the coat from him. She covered herself up.

"Thank you," she mumbled.

Melvin only nodded but said nothing. He stood beside her staring at the busy street too.

"Did you eat?" He asked.

"Yes," Charlotte mumbled and Melvin nodded.

Silence lingered in as they kept staring at the busy street while being lost in their separate thoughts. Charlotte kept wondering while Melvin treated her so nicely today.

She did not expect him to cover her up with his coat when there was no one here. If he had done that with people around, she would have understood his reason but now she can't.

What could be his plan? She thought. What does he have up on his sleeve?

She was certain that Melvin would not be this nice if he had nothing on his sleeve. She stared at Melvin wondering what could be going on in his mind. Melvin's face showed no emotion. The silence was taking too long; Charlotte wondered if she should break the silence or not. She decided it was better to break the silence; it was becoming uncomfortable.

"Are you just returning?" She asked. "I mean did..."

Melvin nodded. "Yes, I just returned. I had a lot of things to do, I could not come back in time. Were you waiting for me?"

Charlotte shook her head. "No, I wasn't. I woke up a while ago and decided to get some fresh air on the balcony." Charlotte answered.

"But the weather is cold," Melvin mumbled.

Charlotte furrowed her brows. "What did you say?"

"Nothing," Melvin answered. "I am heading back to the room to wash up. You can come in when you want to. But do not stay out for too long. It's cold."

Charlotte nodded but said nothing. Melvin left her on the balcony and headed to the bathroom to take his bath. Charlotte watched him leave and she sighed. She picked up her glass cup and returned to sit in the living room. She wasn't feeling sleepy at all; she had slept all through her flight and had slept after she got settled down here. She decided to watch a movie instead.

Melvin brought her some cookies and a bottle of orange juice he had brought for her on his way back.

"Do you mind a midnight snack?" He asked. "I brought you some. It's your favorite flavor."

Charlotte furrowed her brows. Did he just say her favorite flavor? How is he supposed to know that? Charlotte took the bag from him and mumbled a thank you.

"I am going in to sleep," Mwlvin said and Charlotte nodded.

She brought out the pack of cookies and also the bottle of juice. She opened the pack and brought a cookie out. It was a chocolate cookie. Charlotte tasted it and her eyes widened in shock.

She wasn't only shocked that Melvin brought her some snacks, but she was also shocked that he knew her favorite flavor.

She smiled. This is so unlike Melvin.

**

Charlotte had thought the snacks and juice were the only surprises Melvin had in stock for her but it wasn't; he had more.

"Get dressed in something more covered and comfortable. And come with me," Melvin said the moment he walked into the room.

He had left the suite before she woke up and did not return until noon. Before he left, he dropped a note to inform her that he had some things to take care of and Charlotte did not have to look for him; she had no plans to look for him though. He also told her that he had helped her order something to eat.

Charlotte could not help but wonder why Melvin wanted her to come with him.

What is he up to?

"Where are you taking me to?" Charlotte asked.

She was dressed in a casual dress and seated on her bed with her phone in her hand. She had been surfing through the internet with nothing much to do. "It's a surprise," Melvin answered.

"Are you not going to tell me where you are taking me to?" Charlotte asked and Melvin nodded. "Can you at least tell me what we are going there to do?" Melvin shook his head. "I can't tell you. If I do. It won't be a surprise anymore."

Charlotte sighed. Melvin was determined not to tell her what he was up to and there was no way she would find out if she did not go with him. "Fine, I will get dressed."

"You should pack some clothes too. We will not be returning today."

Charlotte furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?"

"We are going to spend a few days away from the Hotel. Are you going to be okay with that?"

Charlotte furrowed her brows. Why does he suddenly care if she will be okay with that?

"You must have a reason for that," she answered. "Give me a few minutes and I will be ready."

"Take your time," Melvin answered.

Charlotte stood up from the bed and headed to the closet. She came out half an hour later already dressed. She had a small box containing all the things she would need with her. Melvin stared at her. Charlotte could not understand the look on his face, it made her so uncomfortable.

"C-can we leave now?" She asked.

Melvin could not stop staring at Charlotte. This wasn't his first time seeing her pack her hair in a ponytail but she looked different; maybe that is because he had never had the time to look at her for this long. Charlotte flicked her fingers across his face and Melvin blinked.

"I said can we go now?"

Melvin nodded. "Yes, please. Where is your coat?"

"Here," Charlotte raised her coat.

"Then we can leave." He took her box from her. "I will help you with this."

"You do not..."

Melvin headed to the door and Charlotte sighed. They left the suit together. Melvin was kind enough to open the door for her which was so unlike him. Charlotte could not understand Melvin's new attitude towards her. During their drive to wherever Melvin was taking her, Charlotte kept staring out of the window. She was seated in the back seat with Melvin but she felt so uncomfortable with the way he was staring at her. The way he had been treating her also made her uncomfortable. Charlotte hoped that they get to wherever they were going as soon as possible.

The car stopped and they stepped out. Melvin led her to a place where they got tickets.

What are the tickets for? Charlotte wondered.

A young man led them to the cruise ship they would be using. Charlotte was surprised that Melvin wanted to take a ride on a cruise ship with her.

"Do you like it?" Melvin asked. "It's one of the things you want to do on your birthday."

Charlotte furrowed her brows. What did he say?

"Happy birthday," Melvin said, and Charlotte blinked.

How did he know about her birthday?