When We Meet Again
Chapter 34

Melvin's kiss was a shock to Charlotte and she was resistant at first. She had never thought that Melvin would think of kissing her let alone doing it. Melvin who had wondered if Charlotte didn't want him to kiss her tried to pull away but Charlotte stopped him with her lips. The way his lips had tried to fight for dominance over hers had sent shivers through her spine and she made up her mind to kiss him too. Whatever the consequence of the kiss would be, she was ready to take the risk. After all, he kissed her first. Charlotte was certain Melvin wasn't doing this to test her; he would never kiss her just for that.

She opened her mouth slowly giving Melvin full control over her lips. Soon her lips began to move in rhymes with his. Their tongues intertwined, as they went to war in their locked mouths, battling wildly for dominance. They could both feel their hot breath as they both longed for each other's arms.

The sound of a falling tray brought a stop to their intense moment and they both had to look at who had done that.

"I am so sorry," a waiter apologized, as he bent down to pick the tray up.

Melvin stared at him in disgust. He had just ended his moment of peace; a moment he might never get the chance to experience. Charlotte moved away from him quickly, suddenly feeling shy.

"I am sorry," the waiter said again.

"It's fine," Charlotte answered.

Melvin only nodded but said nothing. The waiter picked the tray up and left while silence took over the room. Melvin was disappointed at what happened. He regretted kissing her in the first place; he might not be able to kiss her again. Charlotte was also disappointed in herself for falling into Melvin's trap and kissing him. She had thought about how she would face him now that everything was over.

What if he blames her for kissing him? She thought. But it doesn't seem like he would. He has been treating her nicely lately.

She tapped her right foot slightly, jerking Melvin out of his thoughts. Melvin blinked. They had been standing for a while now and the silence between them had become awkward; the atmosphere felt uncomfortable too. "Would you like to sit?" Melvin asked. "Your legs must be aching."

Charlotte nodded in agreement, not because her legs ached but because she would rather sit a distance away from him than stand at such close distance with him.

"Yes, please." She answered.

Melvin gestured with his hands. "After you, please. "

They headed back to their seat and Melvin pulled the chair backward for her. This gesture suddenly felt awkward to her. She sat down quickly so Melvin could go back to his seat. After Melvin sat in the chair opposite hers, she began to look in

a different direction, avoiding contact with Melvin's eyes as much as she could. Melvin could tell she was but he wasn't going to ask her why; it was obvious what the reason was.

"Do you want some dessert?" He asked, trying to light up the atmosphere.

Charlotte sighed. She doesn't feel like eating anything. All she wished for was to leave the restaurant and return to her cabin, where she didn't have to see Melvin's face.

"Or do you want to take a walk or maybe return to your cabin to get some rest?" Melvin added.

Charlotte smiled. Melvin had been more considerate towards her. She decided to be considerate towards him too. She could tell he wanted to spend more time with her and if she returned to her cabin he wouldn't be able to spend some time with her; taking a walk would be better.

"How about we take a walk?" she suggested.

Melvin nodded. "If you want that."

Charlotte stood up and Melvin walked to her. He placed his suit jacket over her shoulder and they left the restaurant. The way Charlotte had pictured her walk with Melvin wasn't how it played out; they walked in silence instead of chatting. Charlotte began to wonder if she had made the right decision to walk with him instead of returning to her cabin.

Melvin noticed that Charlotte might be feeling uncomfortable, so he decided to start up a conversation but was not sure how. He had never been in a real conversation with her that had nothing to do with work; he didn't know what her preferences were. Melvin knew it would not be proper to talk about work now that they were celebrating her birthday.

Luck was on his side; he noticed that Charlotte was staring at the sky, and he decided to start his conversation from there.

"How about we stand over there to watch the stars?" He suggested; Charlotte nodded to it.

As they stood staring at the sky, Melvin pointed at a star.

"The star over there is shining so brightly."

"Yes, it is," Charlotte answered and silence returned once more.

"Do you like fireworks?" He asked; most of the women he knew like them.

He had broken the silence for the second time. If he had not done that, the silence would have lingered for so long because Charlotte had no plan to break the silence first. "Fireworks?" She asked and Melvin nodded.

"Yes, fireworks. Do you like them?"

Charlotte shrugged. She can't say whether she likes them or not; she has only seen fireworks on the screen and has never had the opportunity to experience watching one. She had spent her life after her mother's death to make money for the family that consisted of her father and Miss Jane, her stepmother, the one Melvin had referred to as her mother; a lot of people don't know that Mrs. Jane is not her biological mother. Charlotte's mother had died when she was ten; she had since then, lived with her father, his wife, and her daughter.

Can she forget about Mrs. Jane's cunning daughter who became her stepsister?

Thinking about them made Charlotte remember what she had passed through in their hands while they pretended to be nice to her in front of other people.

She should not think about her family. She thought. That will only make her sad.

She sighed. "I do not think I like it," she mumbled.

Melvin nodded. "I thought about that."

He had wanted to prepare fireworks as part of his birthday surprise for her; every woman should love fireworks. But when he thought of how Charlotte has always focused on work instead of fun, he decided against it; she might not be like other women; and he was right. Charlotte rubbed her hands together.

"You are getting cold. I think you should head back to your cabin," Melvin said and Charlotte nodded.

"I think I should."

Melvin followed her to her cabin and waved her goodbye. She returned his suit jacket to him and waved him goodbye too. Melvin waited until she entered her room before leaving. Charlotte who had been staring through the door hole breathed a sigh of relief after she saw Melvin leave.

A lot of awkward things have happened between them tonight. Charlotte feels relief to be back in her cabin where she will not have to feel awkward just seeing his face.

**

Charlotte and Melvin spent an extra two days on the cruise ship, after Charlotte's birthday. And those days were peaceful. Though Melvin kept having more and more surprises for her, he kept his distance except when they had to take pictures. Charlotte felt better seeing him from afar but she did wish he didn't have to be that far.

Their cruise ship vacation ended and they returned to the Hotel they were lodging. It was noon when they left and Melvin was on call all through their drive back. He did not go to the suite with her either; he remained in the car and did not tell her where he was heading too. Charlotte only watched the driver drive off. Charlotte began to wonder what the problem was. She tried to trace it back to their stay on the cruise ship and she could not help but wonder if the kiss was the beginning of the problem.

She decided not to think about it; they were meant to go back to how they used to be anyway. He will also be leaving soon and she will be all by herself. She decided it was best to plan out how she would spend the rest of the days she would be using in Paris just in case Melvin made no plans for her.

Charlotte started with a low-budget plan; the one she could afford. First, she thought about changing into a room instead of a suite. She also thought about changing to a smaller hotel that would cost her less money but if Melvin pays for the suite, she might as well stay back. She surfed the internet for places she could visit either for free or with a small amount of money.

Charlotte carefully wrote them down in her journal. She was done within an hour. Charlotte kept her journal in one of the drawers and then lay down to sleep.