When We Meet Again
Chapter 56

Bella rushed into Charlotte's office looking so happy. She pulled the chair opposite Charlotte's chair backward and sat down. "Guess what?" she said.

Charlotte furrowed her brows. "What?"

"Come on, make a guess," Bella said.

She seemed very happy that Charlotte wondered what could be the cause.

"Did you finally strike the deal with that investor?"

Bella chuckled. "You know I already did that. This is way bigger than that."

Charlotte furrowed her brows. "Way bigger?". Bella nodded and Charlotte furrowed her brows for a while. "I can't guess. Just tell me already."

"We got it," Bella said, happily.

Charlotte still could not understand what Bella was referring to. "What are you talking about?"

"The partnership job."

"You mean the one with the rude CEO?"

Bella smiled. "Can you stop calling him that?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Why should I?"

"You are being childish. Do you not know?"

Charlotte scoffed. "You must like him so much to support him."

Bella blinked. "What are you saying? I do not even know who he is. I haven't met him before.". Charlotte only stared at Bella but said nothing. "Well," Bella continued. "The manager called and he said they are ready to partner with us." Charlotte sighed. The CEO has finally made the right choice to be professional but she doesn't feel like working with him.

"Do we have to work with him?" She called.

Bella furrowed her brows. "Do not tell me you want to have a change of mind?"

Charlotte sighed. "Fine. What else did they say?"

"Well," Bella began. "The manager said that they will continue with the partnership if...". She stared at Charlotte and sighed. "If you agree to be the one speaking to their CEO."

Charlotte blinked. "Me? Why me?"

Bella Shrugged. "I do not know. I just know that he wants to speak with the CEO and not the manager."

Why did he suddenly become interested in speaking to her? Charlotte wondered.

"Isn't his manager the one who should speak to us?" Charlotte asked and Bella nodded. "And you should be the one to speak to them too?". Bella nodded again. "Then why does he want to be the one speaking to us? And why am I the one he wants to speak with?"

Bella shrugged. "I thought about it. I don't think I know the answer to that. You might find out if you talk to him."

Charlotte groaned. Why does she feel like he is doing that on purpose? She doesn't understand why he wants to speak to her. What if he is doing this to get back at her?

"I am not doing..."

Bella pouted. "You can't say no this time."

Charlotte sighed. "Fine. I will give it a try." Bella smiled. "You've made the right choice."

Charlotte scoffed slightly. "I hope so," she muttered.

**

Speaking to the CEO of Mills Boutiques was more interesting than Charlotte had imagined. Not only did she find out he was friendly, but he was also funny. They soon get very close to each other. One thing Charlotte loved about him was that he knew when to be serious and when to joke around. He is also very professional. They had a lot in common making their conversation very easy. Charlotte was always looking forward to talking to him too.

At some point, Charlotte had thought that his voice sounded too familiar for her liking and she tried to limit the way she talked to him but she soon realized that whoever she was trying to think he was, had never been this friendly with her. He had never trusted her work for once but this person believed in everything she did.

"When are we going to meet?" He asked during one of their conversations.

"That will be when we want to sign a physical contract," Charlotte replied.

"Isn't that about two months from now?"

Charlotte nodded. "Yes. Two months and a week."

He groaned slightly. "Do you think I will be able to wait?"

Charlotte chuckled. "Why not? It's not like you have fallen in love with me."

"Are you not my friend?" He asked.

"Of course, we are friends. Good friends at that. I can't believe we became friends considering how we started."

"I guess we were meant to be friends. I should see the woman that has won my heart of friendship."

Charlotte sighed. "Two months doesn't look like a long time, you know?"

"You think so?"

"Yeah. Or do you really, want to see me before then?". There was silence from his side. Charlotte waited for his reply and when she got none, she tried to clear het throat. "Are you there?" "Yes. I am. I am just thinking."

"What are you thinking about?"

"How about we meet before then? Not as partners but as friends."

Charlotte shrugged. That sounded like a good idea. "I think it's a good idea. Are you coming over?"

"Yes, I should come over," he answered.

"When?"

"Let's see... Can I go through my schedules first? I will get back to you."

Charlotte nodded. "I will be waiting. But can I at least get your name?"

"You will know that soon," he answered. "I won't be asking for your name either. And I hope you will keep our promise of not finding out about each other until the day we meet." "I will," Charlotte answered.

"I have to go. I will ask my manager to send you the new designs. Bye."

"Bye," Charlotte answered and then ended the call.

She began to think about how she would welcome him when he finally came.

"We might have to go to a restaurant," she thought.

Charlotte decided to tell Bella about it.

"What are your plans?" Bella asked.

"If I had a plan I would have told you, instead of asking you to help me," Charlotte replied.

"Tell me, how close are you both?"

Charlotte furrowed her brows. "Professionally close. Why did you ask?"

"You've been saying that so many times."

"That is because it's the fact."

Bella shrugged. "If you are only professionally close, then there is nothing to plan for. Just bring him to the office."

Charlotte scoffed. "Does that sound like an idea to you?"

"What idea do you expect me to give to you when it comes to meeting your professionally close friend? Whatever you both do should be strictly business. Don't you think?" Charlotte groaned. "Fine! He is not coming for business yet. He is coming to see me."

Bella furrowed her brows. "T-to see you?"

Charlotte nodded. "Yes. Will you give me a sensible idea now?"

"Are you both close?"

"Yes, but not like you think, okay? It's strictly business."

Bella smiled. "But I never said anything."

"You had better not."

"Someone is acting suspicious here."

Charlotte groaned. "Just tell me what you have in mind already and stop having silly thoughts in that silly head of yours."

Bella stood up and smirked. "Then I should take my silly ideas away," she said and waved at Charlotte

"Bella!!!" Charlotte called, after Bella who was already walking out of the office.

**

There was a change of plan in Charlotte's meeting with the CEO of Mills Boutique. He had a very tight schedule so they could not meet. For some reason also, they both agreed to keep their friendship, professional and did not exchange personal numbers; they always speak to each other mostly during work hours.

They always start up their conversation by talking about work. They talk about their partnership before drifting into asking after each other. No matter how long they talk, they always end their conversation, talking about work again. Speaking to him was awesome and every day, Charlotte looked forward to speaking to him. She wasn't the type to mix pleasure with work and he wasn't either.

But now, he has been very busy in the past few days and was unable to talk to Charlotte. Every day, Charlotte kept waiting for his call but none came. She began to wonder if he was tired of talking to her and wanted space.

Is he still very busy? Charlotte wondered.

It took another few days before his call finally came in, Charlotte was eager to pick it up but she decided against it.

He might think she is desperate. She thought.

Charlotte waited for the telephone to ring a few more times before finally picking it up.

"Are you busy? Did I disturb you?" He asked.

"No, you did not. How have you been?"

"I am good. How are you?"

"Good."

"Did you miss me?" He asked.

"Am I supposed to miss you?" Charlotte asked.

"You know you won't be seeing me until we sign the contract. Don't you think you should miss me? Aside from that, we've not been in contact for over two weeks. You should miss me." Charlotte smiled. "Fine, I miss you."

"And I miss you too."