Chapter 21

The driver was a nice person. He took time to explain a lot of things to Bella and Charlotte. He also stopped at some points to let them take pictures after confirming with them if they were not in haste.
When the car finally stopped in front of the hotel, they thanked the driver and took their bags from the booth.
Bella and Charlotte joined a few other people walking into the hotel. There were people in place already to attend to them. They just needed to show their invitation card. They went through the process and were soon on their way to their allocated hotel room.
Charlotte and Bella talked about what they thought the summit would be like considering how coordinated the onboarding process was.
On their way up, they saw a few ladies who were Charlotte's acquaintances. Some of them were good during the short time they met while others were nothing but a pain in the neck. Bella knew a few of them and what they could do.
"Do you want to talk to them or should we ignore them?" Bella whispered.
"There is no point ignoring them," Charlotte answered.
They got closer to them and one of the ladies was the first to speak up.
"Hello, Charlotte and her assistant. You are here too. I do not expect to see you here."
Charlotte groaned slightly. Gabriella and her bad mouth.
"Point of correction," Charlotte said. "Bella is no longer my assistant and you know that."
"Whatever," Gabriella mumbled. She folded her arms. "Tell me. Why are you here? You do not have a fashion school, do you? You were never interested in stuff like this. Why are you now?"
Bella scoffed. "Like she owes you an explanation."
She has always been at odds with Gabriella even as Charlotte's assistant. Bella believes Gabriella has a doubled face; she pretends to be nice in front of Charlotte and talks badly about her behind her back.
That is not all, she had tried so many times to steal contracts from Charlotte but failed.
"I am here for Bella. She..."
"Oh... I remembered. She opened a fashion school. It's been five years and there has been no news about it. Are you here to curry favor?"
There is no news about Bella's Fashion School? That's a lie.
Charlotte and Bella stared at each other and busted into laughter.
Gabriella looked at them in anger as well as confusion. Some of the other ladies were laughing too; Gabriella realized she must have made a fool out of herself.
"What is that supposed to mean?" She almost yelled at them.
"Are you in the country at all?" Charlotte asked.
"Maybe she is, but..."
"But what?" Gabriella snapped at Bella. "Who the hell do you think you are, to talk about me!"
"Hey!" Bella snapped back. "This is a formal setting and not a place for dogs. So stop barking."
Charlotte wanted to laugh but she held it back.
Gabriella frowned. "Did you just call me a dog?"
Bella shrugged. "I did not say that."
Gabriella charged at Bella. "You..."
"That's enough Gabriella. That's enough Bella. You both should not make a scene here."
Gabriella scoffed. Like she cared about that.
Bella scoffed too. She doesn't want to make a scene, Gabriella is the one who wants to.
Gabriella had not won yet so she won't back down. "You are just..."
"Thank you for stopping by to greet us, but we have to go now," Charlotte cut her short, which angered Gabriella the most.
Charlotte did not wait for Gabriella to say whatever she had to say.
"Let's go," she mumbled to Bella.
They left Gabriella, who was still ranting about how she was better than Bella in everything.
"That girl is crazy," Bella said when they were a few distance away from her.
Charlotte nodded. She couldn't agree less.
What surprises her the most is that she doesn't know about Bella's Fashion School. It's one of the best in the country.
"Do you think she knows about your Fashion school but does not want to admit it?" She asked.
Bella shrugged. She doesn't know but that is what she suspects too. And with the way Gabriella stopped her from speaking, her suspicion might be right.
"That is what I think too. Enough talk about Gabriella. Let's get to the room quickly and unpack. I can't wait to check this place out."
Charlotte nodded. She had seen a few places on the summit handbook she would like to go to before the welcome party started.
"I can't wait either."
They got to the room and Bella opened the door. They entered the room and began to unpack. They would be spending a week or two here.
After unpacking, they sat down to take a little rest before leaving. Charlotte used that opportunity to call Mia who picked up immediately.
"Charlotte," Mia called over the phone. "It's still morning over here. What time is it over there?"
"Some minutes past noon," Charlotte answered.
"That is so good. How are you? How is Bella?"
"I am good," Charlotte answered. "And Bella..."
She turned to face Bella who moved closer to her. "I am doing great. How is home? How is everyone?"
"Great."
"How is Liam. Hope he is not disturbing you?" Charlotte asked.
"Of course not. He is the best little nephew I can ever ask for. Liam, come speak to your mommy and godmother."
"Mummy!" Liam's cheerful little voice took over the phone.
Charlotte's heart melted. "Liam?"
Charlotte did not ask Liam how he was because she knew he was doing pretty well. She only spoke to him for a few minutes telling him to take care of his Aunt.
She handed over the phone to Bella, who spoke to him for a few minutes, too, after which Mia took over the phone.
"Guess who was in the house so early in the morning?" She said.
"Let me guess," Bella said. "Melvin?"
"Yes, Melvin. He did not only come so early. He also bought some things for Liam and waited back to feed him before leaving. I was shocked."
Charlotte furrowed her brows. So Melvin could feed Liam without being asked to?
"Not only that," Mia continued. "He played with him for over an hour. He left when he had an emergency meeting to attend. He promised to come back at night."
"Wow," Bella mumbled. "It seems Melvin has changed."
"I think he has," Mia answered. "But let's see how long that would last."
"My instinct tells me it's going to last for a long time," Bella said. "Or what do you think Charlotte?"
Charlotte stared at her saying nothing. She had been quiet since the conversation about Melvin began because she had a lot going on in her mind.
"Charlotte? Are you there?" Mia asked.
"I-I am," Charlotte stuttered slightly.
"Why have you been quiet?" Mia asked.
"Nothing. Did you say Melvin has been visiting Liam?"
"Yes. You haven't called him yet. Have you?" Mia asked.
"I haven't," Charlotte answered.
"Do you not plan to call him anytime soon?" Mia asked.
Charlotte sighed. Maybe she should call him after this call ends.