When We Meet Again

Melvin and Charlotte were ready to visit Alexia at the hotel but Charlotte still had a mixed feeling about it.

"Are you sure you want me to come with you?" She asked for the umpteenth time. "She might want some privacy with you."

"I do not care about that," Melvin said. "If she wants to see me, it has to be with you."

"Is that what you want?" Charlotte asked and Melvin nodded. She sighed. "Then I will go with you."

Melvin led the way as they found their way to the parking lot. On their way to the hotel where Alexia was staying, Charlotte's mind drifted back to the incident that had happened a day before.

When she had told Melvin to do what he thought was the best for him, she was sure that she would be okay with whatever decision he would choose. But after he left in the morning to meet Alexia, she could not shake off the feeling that their perfect world was on the verge of being shattered. She spent the day trying to distract herself. She tried to read, clean, and even cook. She tried out so many new recipes just to keep herself from having strange thoughts but nothing could keep her mind from wandering back to Melvin and Alexia.

She had pictured so many times how perfect their relationship was before she came into the picture. She also thought about the possibilities of Melvin taking her back. As she waited impatiently for Melvin's return, her head was filled with negative thoughts.

What if she wants him back? What if he agrees to take her back? What if she seduces him and he falls into her trap?

She had so many what if questions to ask but there was no one to answer them.

Melvin returned, looking very worried and that got Charlotte worried too.

"What is the problem?" She asked as she sat beside him, ready for the worst.

"She is in trouble," Melvin said. "She needs help, and I can't just walk away."

Charlotte's heart sank at the look on Melvin's face. She hasn't heard what trouble Alexia is into but she could tell that Melvin was very worked.

"What trouble?" she asked.

"You know she is a music artist, right?"

Charlotte shrugged. She had only heard about that. She doesn't think she had ever seen her as a musician or heard her songs.

"I heard she is. What is the problem?"

Melvin signed. "She needs financial help." Charlotte furrowed her brows. "I think she made some very bad decisions which affected her agency," Melvin continued. "They terminated her contract and asked that she pay for breaching the contract. Unfortunately, she doesn't have enough money in her account to pay for that. Her cars had been sold but the money was not enough. She has no house to sell. She probably wants me to lend her some money." Charlotte felt a surge of anger. "And you're going to do that?"

Melvin shrugged. "I don't know. A part of me wants to help her, but another part of me knows it's not my responsibility anymore."

Charlotte took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside her. "Melvin, I understand that you care about her. But you have to think about us too. I don't want to be second to your past." Charlotte was afraid letting Melvin get close to Alexia would make her lose him. Melvin's eyes met with hers, filled with a mixture of guilt and determination.

"You're not second, Charlotte. You're my future. I just need to figure out the best way to handle this without causing more harm."

Charlotte sighed. "If you think helping her is the best..." She sighed again. "Then I won't stop you."

"I feel pity for her. I might be taking her back too," Melvin said and Charlotte's eyes widened in shock.

"What?"

Melvin smiled. "I am just joking. I haven't met with her yet."

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

"I did not go to the hotel. I went to meet my friends so we could talk about it."

"Then where did you get all this information from?"

"Matthew. He did a thorough investigation on her and also spoke to her agency. They told him everything."

"Why did you not tell me that? I thought you saw her. I was so worried."

Melvin smiled. "I was curious to know what your reaction would be. I am glad you are not against me helping her, though." Charlotte sighed. She was against it but knowing that Melvin might not change his mind, she decided to support him. "When do you plan to meet her?"

"Tomorrow," Melvin answered. "I will be meeting her and her agency so I can clear her debt."

"She doesn't know about this. Does she?"

Melvin shook his head. "No. She also doesn't know that I have met with her agency."

Charlotte sighed. "I hope she doesn't disturb you after this," She mumbled.

Melvin pulled her closer to him, stroking her hair. He had heard what she said but decided not to give her an answer. They sat in silence for a while, the weight of the situation pressing down on Charlotte. Melvin could tell that Charlotte was still worried.

"How about you come with me?" He asked and Charlotte sat up.

"Y-you want me to come with you?"

Melvin nodded. "That will be good."

"I am leaving tomorrow remember?"

"You can leave a day after, right?"

"I have been away from work for too long. I..."

"Bella would return to look after the company." He placed his hands on her face. "Don't say no please. I will feel better when you are around."

Charlotte sighed. "Fine. I will go with you. I just have to inform Bella about it.""

Melvin smiled. "Please, do."

**

Alexia did not expect that Melvin would pay off her debt without asking for anything in return, despite the trouble she had caused him and ran away. She did not expect Charlotte to let him help her out too; she was never good to her. She wasn't a good girlfriend to Melvin either; she had taken advantage of his kind heart towards her and treated him badly.

She felt ashamed of herself for having the thought of seducing him and even tried to carry it out. She had thought getting him back was the only way she could get him to help her. That was the reason she called him to visit her. She had prepared herself to welcome him and then seduce him into sleeping with her. She had another plan, mapped out just in case he refused to sleep with her.

She had planned to blackmail him into giving her money and if that doesn't work, she had written down a lot of plans she would carry out if one fails. She was desperate and no one was willing to help. She also thought that Melvin would not help too; she doesn't deserve it. With help not coming from anyone, she must do all she can to get herself out of trouble.

"I am sorry," she wept. "I-I am sorry for hurting you both."

Her apologies were sincere; Charlotte could not help but pity her.

Alexia promised to turn a new leaf. She won't bother Melvin or Charlotte anymore. She will try to see a therapist over the anger issues that have just destroyed her career. After her treatment, she planned to start afresh in a small village where only a few or nobody knows her.

"I hope to find someone who will love me like you love Charlotte," she said.

Alexi knew she had lost a treasure and she was never going to get it back. She had an opportunity to make things right the last time she came but she did not. Instead she caused Melvin another pain; she almost destroyed his life. She was never there for him when he was at his lowest and whenever he needed help but Charlotte was. She was always present in his life directly or indirectly.

Alexia also knew that Melvin was already in love with Charlotte when she came the last time. That was the reason she insisted that he divorce her. It was also the reason she caused some trouble at the hotel so he could bring her back to the house. She was afraid if she let them spend a few days together, she would lose Melvin completely to her.

"I am sorry for trying to separate you."

Alexia had a lot to be sorry for and a lot of people to apologize to. She did not only apologize to Melvin and Charlotte for trying to destroy their happy home but also to her agency. She apologized to her fans for disappointing them. She apologized to all the celebrities she had hurt and also to Melvin's friends. Charlotte was happy that Alexia realized her mistake early enough and did not hurt anyone before that.

On their way back home, Charlotte and Melvin had a lot to talk about. Melvin shared his fear about Alexia to Charlotte and she assured him that she would be fine.

"She is a strong woman. She will do pretty well on her own."

Melvin believed what Charlotte had said. He hoped that Alexia would meet a man that she would love and cherish and he would also do the same to her.

The rest of their journey home was in silence. Charlotte had a lot to think about. She had kept a secret she had found out about a few days ago from Melvin. She wanted to inform him about it but due to the situation, she kept it hidden. She wanted everything to be over before she told him about it and now that it is, she thought of going back without telling him but she couldn't.

He deserves to know. She thought.

Charlotte led Melvin into the house and to the room after he had parked the car.

"I have something to show you," she said.

Melvin furrowed his brows. "What is it?"

Charlotte brought out a strip. "I do not know if this is the right way to tell you about this," she mumbled, stretching the strip to him. Moving took the strip from her, staring at it. His eyes widened in shock. "You are pregnant?"

Charlotte nodded. "I am."