When We Meet Again

Charlotte was so busy at work that she spent some extra hours at work after her closing hours. As she walked out of the company heading to her car, she saw Melvin's car parked in the parking lot.

Why did he stay this late at work? She wondered. He wasn't spying on her, is he?

She saw his driver coming towards the car.

"Where is your boss?" She asked.

"He left a few hours ago." The driver answered.

"Why is his car here and you are here too?"

"The car had issues. I am waiting for someone from the automobile company to pick it up."

Charlotte sighed. If someone from the automobile company is the one coming to pick the car up, it means Melvin would be getting a new car and that automatically means she has to change hers; she doesn't like the idea though. Melvin has always changed her car when he changed his without asking her if she wanted that or not; he won't ask her the brand she wants either.

"How did he go back home?" She asked. "Did he call for a taxi?"

The driver shook his head. "No, his friends came to pick him up." "How many of them?"

"Three."

Charlotte knew immediately that Melvin might not have gone home; with his three friends here to pick him up, they might have headed to the club.

"Thanks for the information." She said.

She got into her car to drive home but when she remembered that she needed to meet with her doctor for the final check-up for her arm and also remove the cast; she would have had it removed a few days ago but the doctor insisted that she leave it for a few more days; she decided to drive to the hospital, instead. At the hospital, Charlotte headed to the reception.

Good evening, nurse." She greeted the nurse at the reception.

"Good evening ma'am. How many I help you?" The nurse answered.

"I am here to see..."

Another nurse joined them. "Nurse, Kim. You are needed at ward two."

Nurse Kim sighed. "Ma'am, I am sorry I have to go."

"You can talk to me." The other nurse said.

Charlotte nodded. "I am here to see Doctor James. I have an appointment with him."

"Let me confirm your appointment with him." Charlotte waited patiently for the nurse's reply. "You do have an appointment with him but I am so sorry. Doctor James is not available right now. He is in the theater for an emergency surgery."

Charlotte sighed. "Then I might have to reschedule my meeting with him." She mumbled.

"He will be out soon. You can wait for him if you do not mind or meet with a different doctor." The nurse answered.

Charlotte furrowed her brows. Would she prefer to meet with a different doctor or wait until her appointed doctor comes out of the theater? She stared at her wristwatch.

"How long do you think the surgery will last?" She asked.

"About two to three hours."

Charlotte sighed. That is a long time for her. She would rather meet with a different doctor; it's just to change her cast, do a few check-ups, and nothing more.

"I will meet with a different doctor."

"Please have a sit over there. I will check out the available doctors and let you know."

Charlotte went to sit down while the nurse got busy with her work. Another nurse joined her.

"Have you heard the news?" she asked.

"About what?" The first nurse asked.

"About a millionaire in a rendezvous with a young actress."

"Is that true? I saw it on the internet but I thought it was one of their usual lies."

"It's not a lie, Nurse Diana. I heard they are presently at the Prestidge Hotel. A lot of reporters are outside the room waiting for them to come out."

Charlotte listened impatiently as the nurses talked about how celebrities are always causing scandals. She got tired of listening to them. Celebrities have always caused scandals now and then, most of which are either dating scandals or drug abuse; it wasn't a new thing to talk about. She only feels a bit sorry for the millionaire involved.

The nurses seem lost in their thoughts. Charlotte realized she might stay here longer than she had expected if she didn't speak to them. She stood up to move closer to them.

"Nurses?" She called but they were so lost in their conversation that they did not hear her. She tapped the table slightly and they stopped talking.

"Can I see the doctor now?"

"I am so sorry, ma'am." Nurse Diana said. "I already got you a doctor. Just head in that direction." She pointed. "The first room by your left. The doctor is expecting you." Charlotte followed the description of the nurse and was soon standing in front of the door. She tapped twice.

"Come in." She heard from inside.

She opened the door and walked in.

"Doctor Peter?" She called.

She had not expected that her new doctor would be someone she knew.

"Please have a seat." He said.

Charlotte sat down. "I am here to check up my arm and remove the..."

Doctor Peter nodded. "I know what you are here for. Doctor James already spoke to me about you." Charlotte furrowed her brow. "He did?"

He nodded. "Yes, he did. He had an emergency to deal with at home, so he put you in my care."

"I thought he was in the theater for an emergency surgery?" She mumbled.

"The nurse got it mixed up." He said. Charlotte nodded but said nothing. "Please come." Charlotte stood up to meet him. "You can sit here. I will remove the cast now."

He removed the cast and went ahead with the check-up. After that, he began to give detailed advice on the aftermath care. As Charlotte listened, her mind wandered. She thought about how he took his time to explain to her and also how careful he was removing the cast when it was obvious her arm was completely healed. Considering his status and the level of their acquaintance, she thinks he is overly generous.

Amidst these thoughts, her phone began to ring.

"Excuse me please," she mumbled, standing up. "I will take this outside."

She left the consulting room to pick up the call; it was a call from Melvin's bodyguard.

"The boss might be in trouble." He said.

"What happened?"

"I do not know the details yet. I just got a call from someone who saw him."

Charlotte sighed. "Where is he?"

"The Prestige Hotel. He is in room 301"

Charlotte furrowed her brow. Could Melvin be the millionaire the nurses were talking about?

She sighed. "I am coming over there, right now." She ended the call and returned to the room. "I am so sorry, I have to leave now." She said, picking her bag up.

The doctor nodded. "See you around."

Charlotte left the hospital and headed straight to the Prestige Hotel. A few distance away from the hotel, she parked her car to check the internet. It was already buzzing with stories of a millionaire in a dating scandal with a rising actress. Though no name was mentioned, online spectators were already connecting the dots which made Charlotte begin to suspect Melvin might be the millionaire mentioned.

**

Opera Smith was ready to head to the Hotel to meet with Michael. She was dressed in a blue dress that stopped below her thigh, her hair packed in a ponytail. "What do you think?" She asked her manager.

"Beautiful?" Tiana answered.

Opera frowned. "Is that supposed to be a compliment or a question?"

"It's a compliment," Tiana answered. "Can we leave now?" She asked with a smile. "Please say yes," she mumbled. Opera ignored her and kept on staring at the mirror. "You do not want him to leave before you get there. Do you?" Opera scoffed. She picked her bag up. "Fine. Let's go."

Tiana led her to the car and they headed to the hotel. They got to the hotel and instead of using the usual parking lot, they made use of the underground one to avoid some of the reporters.

"What is the plan?" Opera asked when the car stopped.

"You know the plans already," Tiana answered.

"You won't explain to me, would you?"

"Opera, you should head upstairs or you might miss him, and remember there are reporters outside his room. All you need to do is make the rumor already on the internet come true." Opera nodded. She stepped out of the car. "See you around. I will be here waiting." Opera ignored Tiana who scoffed. "Spoilt brat." She mumbled.

Opera hummed one of her songs as she headed upstairs to find the room. She could see a few reporters and when they saw her, they did not rush towards her. She smiled at them.

"Are you ready?" She asked and they nodded.

She opened the door and walked in. On the bed lay a young male figure. Opera moved closer to the figure and was disappointed it wasn't Michael. She moved away from him to place a call to Tiana. "Why can't I find Michael in the room?" She yelled slightly. "Did you bring me here to..."

"You should be calm, Opera. He is in the room."

"I am in the room right now and there is no Michael but..." She stared at the figure on the bed. "I do not even know who he is. I will confirm that and call you back." She mumbled and ended the call. She moved closer to him. Isn't this Melvin Miller? She thought.

She bent slightly to admire his face. She had always had a crush on him and had tried so many times to work as a model in his company to no avail. She couldn't believe he was the one in front of her right now; she could not stop staring at him.

Caught in a moment of impulse, she kissed him, waking him up and at that same moment, Charlotte walked in.