Chapter 29

5"They won't do that," he answered. "We might have to go to the restaurant. What do you think, Bella?"
Charlotte nodded slightly and Bella smiled. "Then let's go to the restaurant."
They left the dining hall and headed to the restaurant. Jade kept asking Bella questions about fashion; Jordan had to shut her up at some point.
They got to the restaurant and Jordan picked a table close to the window; he wanted them to enjoy a good view while they ate their food.
They sat down and Jordan passed the menu to Bella. "Do you mind ordering first?"
At first, Bella was a bit reluctant but Charlotte nudged her slightly, encouraging her to go on.
"It's just a meal," she mumbled.
Bella sighed. Of course, she knows that, but she can't explain why she felt nervous about it.
She took a deep breath and began to choose. After picking a few dishes, she asked Charlotte if she wanted something different. Charlotte added a few dishes, and Jade did too, from another menu, but Jordan did not.
The waitress left, and they began to talk about the summit until she returned a few minutes later with their food.
They began to eat in silence and were done about thirty minutes later. Bella and Charlotte thanked Jordan for the meal. And while they sipped on their wine, they talked about a few random things.
"Time up," Jordan announced.
He had just checked his watch and noticed it was a few minutes before the summit began.
Bella checked her phone and nodded in agreement that it was time to go back to the hall.
"I am going to use the restroom," Charlotte whispered to Bella. "I will meet you in the hall."
Bella nodded and Charlotte left. Jade also excused herself, leaving for the restroom too.
"You do not plan to use the restroom, do you?" Jade whispered when she caught up with Charlotte.
"You don't plan to use it too, do you?" Charlotte asked back.
Jade nodded. "Thought about giving them some time alone."
"Same here," Charlotte answered. "How about we go get some cookies after they leave?"
Jade chuckled. "That sounds like a good idea."
They waited until Bella and Jordan were out of sight before heading to the cafe.
After Bella and Jordan left the restaurant, they walked in silence, and Bella had to break the silence by thanking Jordan again for the meal.
"My pleasure," Jordan answered with a smile. "I am glad you love it."
Bella only smiled but said nothing and they had to walk to the hall in silence.
"I will head to my seat," Bella mumbled when they got to the hall.
Jordan nodded. "I will walk you to..."
"No!" Bella almost yelled. "I mean thank you. That won't be necessary," she added quickly.
Jordan smiled. "See you around then."
Bella nodded. "See you around."
Bella returned to her seat, feeling a bit nervous.
Would Jordan feel offended that she yelled at him? Or has she just been nervous for nothing?
She had a lot going on in her mind but when Charlotte finally showed up, she breathed a sigh of relief.
With Charlotte around, she won't be lost in thought.
"How was the time spent with Jordan?" Charlotte asked with a smile.
Bella furrowed her brows. "Did you leave on purpose?"
"No?" Charlotte answered. "I-I..."
"I guess you did. You're stuttering," Bella answered. "Jade did, too, right? I had my suspicion when you both left together."
"We only wanted you both to spend some time together," Charlotte answered. "You looked nervous with us around."
"I wasn't," Bella denied.
"You were, Bella. It was written all over your face."
"It was?"
"Yes, it was. So tell me, how was the time we created? Was it worth it?"
Bella shook her head. She wished it were.
"We were in silence most of the time," she answered. "And one of the very few times we spoke, I almost yelled at him."
Charlotte raised her brows. "You did?"
The summit was already starting, so Bella quickly explained what had happened to Charlotte.
"I don't think he is angry," Charlotte answered. "You are just nervous."
Bella nodded. Maybe Charlotte is right.
The summit started and they had to end their conversation. For the rest of the summit, Jordan kept staring at Bella and was caught a few times by Charlotte who could not help but chuckle about it.
"What's funny?" Bella whispered most of the time Charlotte chuckled.
"Nothing," Charlotte will always reply, and then urge her to keep listening to the speakers.
The summit finally ended for the day and it was time to socialise. Charlotte excused herself to talk to Mia and Liam while Bella spoke to a few people. Before Charlotte left, she encouraged Bella to talk to Jordan about it, and Bella agreed she would do that.
"Send my regards to Mia and Liam," she told Charlotte.
Charlotte left the hall and went to a quiet place to speak to Mia and Liam.
"Has my brother called yet?" Mia asked, after they had exchanged greetings.
"He did. Why did you ask?" Charlotte asked.
"I thought he did not. What about Bella? How was her speech?"
"It was awesome. I will send you the video when I've got the time. You will love it."
"I guess I will," Mia answered. "Liam is here."
Charlotte spoke to Liam for a few minutes, after which she spoke to Mia again.
"I have to go back to Bella now. I will speak to you when she is free," Charlotte said.
The call ended, and Charlotte returned to the hall to meet Bella, but she wasn't in the place where she had left her.
She began to look for her and after a few minutes of searching, she decided to look for Jordan or Jade instead.
Maybe they would know where she is.
It did not take long before she found Jade who was talking to a few girls around her age.
"Looking for Bella?" Jade asked.
"Yes, please. Have you seen her?" Charlotte asked.
"She left the hall with my brother to look for you."
"Have they been gone for long?"
"A few minutes ago," Jade answered.
"Thanks, Jade. I think I should go out to look for her."
"How about you call her to know where she is?" Jade asked. " It might be difficult to find her."
Charlotte smiled. That should have been the first thing to do when she could not find Bella but that skipped her mind.
"Thank you, Jade. I will do that."
"Then I will leave you to do that," Jade answered. "I have a few others to speak to."
Jade left and Charlotte placed a call to Bella. Bella told her where she was and she headed to meet her.
"Spoken to Jordan yet?" Charlotte asked.
Bella was standing alone, so Charlotte suspected he must have left.
Bella nodded. "I did and just like you said, I was nervous for nothing. Spoken to Mia and Liam yet?"
Charlotte nodded. "They send their regards."
Bella yawned. "Do you think we should head back to our room?"
Charlotte nodded. Just what she wanted.