When We Meet Again
Chapter 65

"What are you talking about?" Charlotte asked. "Why are there pictures of me and Matthew? Why would they think that I am cheating on my husband?"

This was the first time Charlotte was naturally calling Melvin her husband without adding the word ex. During her interview where she told everyone that she was still married to him, she never called him her husband. She only told them they were still married and she had to leave for a reason.

"Well," Bella began. "The pictures were taken yesterday when we stopped by a restaurant before heading to the Fashion House location."

"But you were together with us," Charlotte said.

"Did you remember when I stood up?"

Charlotte nodded. "Yes, when you need to use the restroom."

Bella nodded. "The pictures were taken in my absence."

Charlotte groaned. Why would they think she is cheating on Melvin because someone saw her with his friend and took pictures of that?

"Are they being serious? Is that enough to think I am a cheat?"

"There is also a picture of you and Matthew at the boutique," Bella answered. "You were walking alongside Matthew while Melvin was pictured to be some distance away."

Charlotte groaned. Does she not have a right to walk with another man just because she is married to Melvin? She is not even married to him again.

The door to Melvin's office opened and he walked out. "Matthew just called me. The media are on their way here. You have to leave before they get here."

Charlotte furrowed her brows. What was going on now? Why is the media heading to the company? Was it because of the information Melvin shared with them? Or is it because of the news about the relationship between her and his friend that is now circulating?

Melvin's phone began to ring. "Sorry, let me quickly pick this up. It's Matthew calling," he said. He placed his phone on his ear. "What is going on?"

"The media are already at your company," Matthew answered. "You can't let Charlotte go through the front door. I have also scheduled an interview with a TV station. I will be explaining things to them to clear the air. We can't let it affect your stock again."

Melvin sighed. "Thank you, man."

The call ended and Melvin announced the presence of the media outside the company to Charlotte and the rest.

"We can't leave," Mia said. "What are we going to do now?"

"You do not have to go out through the front door. You will go through the underground parking lot," Melvin answered. "A car will be waiting for you."

"That is a..." Mia's phone began to ring too. It was a call from her mother to inform her that some reporters were lurking around the old family house, so she would return to her mansion. She wanted to let Mia know that the reporters might show up at the mansion too, so they might have to find a safer place to stay.

"Melvin will keep you safe," Mrs. Miller told her. "Tell him he has to keep Charlotte safe."

She told Mia a few things before ending the call. Mia conveyed her mother's message to them. She made sure to emphasize that Melvin has to keep Charlotte safe like their mother had said. Melvin also assured her that he wouldn't be keeping just Charlotte safe but also Bella and her.

"So where are we going to head to now?" Mia asked.

"You will stay in my safe house. I can't suggest that you go to my house or a hotel. They are both not safe," Melvin answered.

Mia smiled. "I have missed the safe house."

It was their daddy's safe house before he died and after he died, it became theirs. Mia doesn't know why Melvin personalized it as his own though.

"I am not talking about Daddy's safe house," Melvin answered to make Mia understand.

Mia furrowed her brows. "What safe house are you talking about then? Don't tell me you have a safe house?"

Melvin nodded. "I do."

Mia frowned. But Melvin had never talked about it. Why did he keep it away from them?

"But you never told me or mom about it."

Melvin smiled. "That is why it is called a safe house."

Mia scoffed. He would have told her about it if he could not tell their mom. She rolled her eyes. Melvin has always been filled with secrets. She doesn't know what more secrets he has hidden from her and their mom.

"Fine. It is called a safe house because the location isn't revealed without reason so it remains hidden and safe. But that doesn't change the fact that you were supposed to tell me about it. You do not have to tell me the location", "Do you remember the playhouse I took you to when you were ten?" Mia nodded. "I bought the playhouse and turned it into a safe house."

Mia blinked. "Are you for real?"

Melvin nodded. "I wanted it to be a surprise to you. Too bad you have to find out like this."

Mia chuckled. She just took back the fact that she said that her brother likes to harbor secrets. She was wrong! He is just good at surprising others.

"You might need to stay there for a few days until everything is over."

"What about you?" Mia asked.

"I can always stay with my friends. You know I won't be able to stay hidden. I can't just leave the company. My frequent moments might expose your location. I do not want any of you to get hurt."

Charlotte blinked. Is this Melvin putting others' safety before his?

"Anderson will take you to the safe house," Melvin added.

Charlotte sighed. She doesn't want to have anything to do with Melvin, but things have already gotten out of hand, and she has no choice now.

"Then we should leave," Mia said.

Melvin nodded. "Yes, please. But I am sorry I can't see you off to the parking lot. I have to talk to my Secretary," Melvin said. "Charlotte you should take Mia and Bella to the parking lot. I am sure you know where it is. Anderson is already waiting."

Charlotte rolled her eyes. Everyone knows where the parking lot is. If there is anyone who might not know, that should be Mia; Charlotte doubts she doesn't though.

Why does he have to call her name? She wondered. Can he not ask Bella instead? She was once a worker here too.

She sighed. "Mia, Bella. Let's go."

Mia and Bella followed her while Melvin returned to his office with Samuel. With a new scandal about his family taking over the internet, the board of directors would be after him soon.

The first thing Melvin did when he returned to his office was to tell Samuel to schedule an emergency meeting with all the workers. He needed to speak to them first, before speaking to the board of directors. He also asked the manager who had joined them a few minutes ago, to join him in speaking to the clients. Melvin must join him to speak to them. He must convince them that this scandal will not affect their business with his company; he doesn't want Charlotte's help this time.

"Tell the PR department to prepare a speech concerning this. We will schedule an interview too and tell them everything."

Melvin has made up his mind to tell them everything they need to know. He is not going to hide the truth and let Charlotte suffer anymore.

**

Charlotte watched Melvin on the screen as he told the world the truth about their marriage and their divorce

"She was true to me," he said. "But I treated her badly."

"He is finally facing his fear," Mia said with a smile.

Despite her smile, she was sad. Melvin had just announced that he was going to leave the president's office and join the new branch in France.

"I will work hard in France while thinking about the things I have done and working on myself to be a better person."

When he told the board of directors the news of his marriage, they were angry. He had lied to them and took advantage of them; they were furious. A lot of people suggest that he steps down but in the end, they agree that he goes to France to start up a new branch. He had a great impact on the company; they did not want to lose him. He is to stay there until the branch in France can stand on its own.

"And one more thing," one of them told him. "You need to get your wife back. She is a good woman."

Melvin announced during his interview that he had fallen in love with Charlotte for the second time. First, after she left the marriage, he realized he was already in love with her. And the second, when he didn't know she was the CEO of Lotus Fashion House. He made it clear to everyone that Lotus Fashion House was chosen because of their good works, not because she was once his wife.

It was a fair-blind election. Those who applied did so anonymously. They only worked with numbers. He had already chosen the company before he found out she owned it.

"I am still in love with her and I am going to pursue her legally until she becomes mine. I won't back off this time," Melvin ended his speech with this.

His words were so real and sincere that everyone began to root for their love again but to Charlotte, he is a past she doesn't want to go back to.