When We Meet Again
Chapter 57

Charlotte will be signing a physical contract with Mill Boutique's CEO in a few days. She also needed to check out the space they would be using to build the fashion house; they had both agreed to open up a branch of Lotus Fashion House and it happened to be in the city where Charlotte had once lived with Melvin.

It's been a few months since she left; she had not thought she would return there so soon. The joyful thing about going back was that, she would be able to see Mia. She was also going to visit her ex-mother-in-law; Mia told her she had been asking after her. Charlotte doesn't know why though; they never had such a close relationship aside that she treated her well for the sake of her son. Charlotte would also meet with her ex-team members outside their working hours; Bella had informed them and they were happy and looking forward to meeting her.

"Did you book a hotel yet?" Bella asked when she walked. Into the office. Charlotte stared at her. "Are you still thinking about it? You don't have to go if you don't want to. I can..."

Charlotte sighed. "Of course I want to. I am looking forward to going back."

"I guess you've booked the then."

Charlotte shook her head. "I haven't booked a hotel yet. Do you have any in mind? I can only think of one hotel."

"Let me take a guess. The Prestige Hotel?"

Charlotte nodded. "Yes. But..."

"You do not want it because it belongs to Mr. Melvin's friend?" Charlotte nodded. "How about I look for a different hotel then."

Charlotte shrugged. "You don't have to. You can book the hotel for us."

"Are you sure?"

Charlotte nodded. "Sure. I only know that it belongs to his friend but I don't know that friend."

Bella sighed. "It belongs to Mr. Matthew. I met with him once when I had to represent you in a meeting. He is a very nice person."

"Are you coming with me tomorrow? Or will you join me the day after?" Charlotte asked.

"You are leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes. We agreed to meet as friends first."

"That sounds like a good idea."

Charlotte nodded. "I think so too."

"But you do not feel excited about it."

Charlotte. "I do not."

Bella held her hand. "You don't have to feel excited. You know what, I will go with you tomorrow."

Charlotte furrowed her brows. "You don't have any business meeting to attend?"

Bella smiled. "I have a plan. And trust me it will work out."

Charlotte shrugged. "Okay? And it won't affect your meeting?"

Bella nodded. "It won't."

Charlotte smiled. "I feel happy now."

Bella stared at Charlotte as she began to go through the documents in front of her. She has something to say to her but she doesn't know how. Bella felt guilty keeping the truth from Charlotte.

"You still haven't told me why you agreed to not knowing each other's names or finding out about each other before meeting." She began. "Don't you think it's suspicious?"

Charlotte smiled. "And you think I do not know who he is?"

Bella furrowed her brows. "You did?"

Charlotte nodded. "Of course I do. The moment I heard Mill's Boutique, I suspected it belonged to Melvin. His voice sounded so familiar but he treated me so differently, I thought my suspicions were not right until I saw the file on your table a few days ago."

Bella sighed. "I am so sorry I kept it away from you. I only found out about it a few days ago too."

Charlotte smiled. "I know."

"You did?"

Charlotte nodded. "Yes. Mia told me she was the one who told you about it. So you do not have to feel sorry for keeping it from me".

"What do you plan to do?" Bella asked.

"Play along with him, Bella."

**

Melvin will be meeting up with Charlotte in a few days and he is very worried about what her reaction would be if she found out that the new best friend she had is him. He had found out she was the CEO of Lotus Fashion House through Matthew. He was also the one who suggested that he accept to partner with them.

Matthew has always known that Charlotte owned a fashion house. He was the one who told Melvin to start a boutique and also partner with a fashion house that was just growing up.

Melvin never thought that the fashion house he was about to partner with, would be owned by Charlotte; she has always been into business. He had never heard her speak about fashion or starting a fashion house, though he knew she had a good sense of fashion. Melvin wondered how he would face her; he had told her to meet with him before the signing of the contract.

"What am I supposed to do?" Melvin asked no one in particular. "I am meeting with her in two days."

Matthew shrugged. "You just meet with her and do your thing."

Melvin furrowed his brows. "Don't you think that is not a good idea?"

"You just have to pretend you do not know she is the CEO," Ryan answered and Melvin scoffed.

"Mia knows about her. Don't you think she would know that I know?"

"I am very certain she knows you are not on good terms with Mia. She also knows that you do not mix pleasure with work," David said. "You do not have to fully pretend that you do not know she is the one. You just need to tell her that you find out too late that she is involved."

Matthew nodded. "After all. You choose her company because they are worth it. Not because it involved her."

"Do you all think that this is a good idea?" Melvin asked. "I can just cancel..."

"That will only make you a coward. Do you want to be that?" Matthew asked.

"Of course not."

"Then you face your fear," Ryan answered. "You have nothing to lose. Just give it a try."

"Or are you afraid your feelings might get in the way?" David asked and Melvin sighed.

That was one of his fears. Speaking with Charlotte in the last few weeks had rekindled the love he has for her. "I..."

"How about one of us go with you?" Matthew suggested.

Melvin shook his head. "I am meeting with her as a friend, not a partner."

Ryan smiled. "I have an idea."

The rest furrowed their brows. "Which is?" They asked in unison.

"Make sure to show your surprise first. That way she would have no option but to believe you."

"And you think this will work?"

Ryan nodded. "Trust me, it will."

Matthew nodded in agreement too. "I support Ryan on this."

David smiled. "I won't say no to it either."

**

Charlotte and Bella had just arrived in the city but the taxi Bella had booked before they boarded their flight had not shown up yet.

"Are you sure you booked the taxi?" Charlotte asked. "He should be here already."

"I did. I do not know why the taxi isn't here yet," Bella answered.

"Do we have to wait for him? I feel so tired already."

Bella smiled. "I know you are and I am sorry. He should be here soon. How about we wait..." A message popped into her phone and she checked it. It was a message from Mia informing her that she would be picking them up to stay with her but she has to keep it from Charlotte.

"Is there a problem?" Charlotte asked.

"Of course, not. He just texted me. He will be here soon."

There was silence between them; every one of them lost in their separate thought.

"I do not think anything has changed," Charlotte said, after a while of silence.

"You have been gone for only a few months. If there are any changes. It might not be obvious," Bella answered.

"Did you call Mia yet? Is she coming to meet us in the Hotel?"

Bella nodded. "Sure."

Charlottw stared af her. "What are you keeping from me?"

"Well," Bella began. "There is a change of plan."

Charlotte furrowed her brows. "Which is?"

Bella moved closer to Charlotte to whisper. "We might be staying with Mia."

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

"Mia is coming to pick us up," Bella answered.

Charlotte smiled. "That is good news. Why did you keep it away from me?"

"Mia wants it a secret. You have to look surprise when she comes."

Charlotte smiled. "Trust me, I will"

Bella smiled. "I hope you do."

Chaotte suddenly furrowed her brows. "Isn't Mia staying with her mother?"

"Does that mean we will be staying with your ex-mother-in-law?"

Charlotte groaned. Why did she not think of that?

"Did you reply Mia yet?"

Bella shook her head. "No."

"Then we will head to the hotel instead."

"But Mia is already here. Not only Mia, your ex-mother-in-law is here too. To welcome you."

Charlotte furrowed her brows. "How did you know that?"

"Mia just texted me."

Charlotte groaned. It seems there is no way she will escape this.

"Fine. We will stay for only today and head back to the Prestige Hotel tomorrow."

Bella nodded. "As you wish, ma'am."