Chapter 3

Later that evening, Charlotte stride to the girl's room to check up on them. They had spent so much time together after having lunch, and played hide and seek.

Spending enough time with them was one of the most imperative reasons she had to switch her night shift, and she is thrilled she's playing her role as a mother.

Charlotte pushed the door open, she came into view with them laying on the bed, already fast asleep, and she smiled.

'Thought as much, I knew they were sleeping, they must have been tired after all the play' Charlotte thought, and closed the door back.

She walked to the other room, and knocked on the door. After waiting for about some seconds, and she got no response, she pushed further into the room, and came into view with an empty room.

Charlotte closed the door, she knew her mother must be in the kitchen ready to prepare dinner. As she walked into the kitchen, Matilda was engrossed chopping off some onions.

Charlotte sighed, she closed her eyes for some while and smiled. She can't bring up the conversation from earlier. She forced a smile on her face, and marched further.

"Mother, why didn't you call me to help out?" She asked, as she pushed further into the kitchen.

Matilda couldn't stay mad at her for too long. Charlotte is the only child she has gotten, and she felt it's wrong to always be mad at her over their predicament.

It's nobody's fault that Charlotte lost her father. Life makes decisions for us, and we have no choice than to accept it.

Charlotte is doing the best she can to keep up with the everyday family expenses, and she's great full to her.

She spun around to look at her daughter, and held her hands into hers.

"I'm sorry about earlier, I don't mean everything I said, I just feel if you had a better job…" She trailed off.

"Mother it's going to be okay, I believe we will overcome this, I don't want you sad please."

Matilda smiled, and pulled her into a hug for a few seconds, before she disentangled the hug.

"I believe in you, and I believe in what you can do. Please keep in mind, I will always stick with you." Matilda said, and ruffled her hair.

"Thank you mother. I'm about to head out for work, the girls are sleeping, I will see you when I'm back."

"Wait, before you leave, drink this, I made you your favorite pineapple juice. Drink it before you leave." Matilda responded, and spun around to get her the juice.

Matilda thought Charlotte would be mad at her, so to make up for what she did, she prepared pineapple juice for her.

She handed it over to Charlotte, who couldn't stop smiling. Pineapple juice is one of her favorite, and taking it before going out would definitely energize her.

Matilda watched as Charlotte gulped down the whole glass without taking it off her mouth.

"Thank you mother, I will take my leave now." Charlotte said, and dropped the glass inside the sink.

"Take care of yourself, and please be safe, okay?" Charlotte bobbed her head in response.

She strode back to the bedroom, and dressed into her costume for tonight. After putting on the dress, Charlotte painted her face with her usual touch of make - up, that changes her face from being beautiful to ugly.

For the past two weeks, she has been going to the bar to sing, and each time she plans to go, she changes her features to someone whose ugly to avoid attention.

Immediately she was ready to leave, She picked up her bag, and strode out of the house.

~

Xavier was at the airport, waiting for his cousin Tyler to arrive at the airport. While he waited, the ladies couldn't take their eyes off him. They kept squealing in excitement and whispering to themselves.

It's not something new to him, he doesn't give a damn about it. Ladies can't stop drooling over him, each time he appears in public.

Xavier isn't just known for his handsome features, but also known as one of the young richest CEOs in the whole California.

A lady, who had been staring at him, mustered the courage to go strike up a conversation with him, thinking it will cause no harm to try.

"Hello, can I have a word with you please?" She asked, diverting his attention from the entrance.

He didn't look at her immediately, and thought of how courageous she must have been to come talk to him. Most Ladies, squeak and squeal whenever they see him, but never approach him.

Xavier spun bit to look at the figure who just spoke to him when his gaze landed on a lady.

"Yeah, what for?" He asked, not taking a look at her for the second time…

"I was thinking If you could give me your contact, so I can invite you for dinner." She said, but before Xavier could respond, his guard standing three steps away from him, stride closer and whispered some words in his ear.

Xavier nodded to the whispering, and turned to the lady.

"No, thank you." He responded, and marched on his heels. He sighted his cousin coming already, so he left to welcome him.

"Brother Xavier." Tyler said, grinning from ear to ear, clutching tightly to his backpack.

"Welcome back to California, how was your fly? And how's Paris?" Xavier asked, as they exchanged pleasantries, shaking hands.

"My fly was fine, and for France, it's there, I'm back to California." Taylor replied, and continued.

"I can see you're still the center of attention, can't you just give your heart a chance to love someone?" Tyler asked, and nudged him, but he didn't budge.

Xavier isn't interested in women. He has a best friend who is his opposite, a bad player.

"I'm certain that's not why you are here, quickly, let's go home." Xavier said, and marched on his heels, with his cousin trailing after him.

They got to where they had parked the car, and the guard opened the car door for them to hopped inside. He placed the trolling into the boot before he hopped into the car.

"Brother Xavier, let's go to the imperial bar before we head home, let's have some fun." Tyler said.

Xavier knew the kind of person his cousin was, an unruly being. So instead of opposing to his request, he just cajoled to it.

"Take us to the imperial bar." Xavier ordered, and the guard made a U-turn.

They had some little chat as they drive to the bar, until a few minutes later, they arrived.

The guard opened the door for them to step down, and they lead their way into the bar.

As they stride into the bar, they were greeted with the sound of a melody voice singing. Xavier's gaze traveled to the stage, but because the place was a bit dim, and they were far from the figure, he couldn't see the person singing.

They marched towards the front seat, and took a seat. Tyler saw a waitress passing by, he stopped her, and ordered for some beer.

They diverted their gaze to the stage to see an ugly figure singing. Tyler got interested in the figure, while Xavier retracted his gaze.

He is not interested in women, so there's no reason for him to like such an ugly figure, even though he admits her voice is great.

"She has a very sweet voice, I wouldn't mind coming to listen to her everyday." Tyler said, but got no respond.

He shrugged, and fixated his gaze back to the lady on the stage. A few minutes later, their order arrived.

"Let me pour you some beer." Xavier insisted. Tyler picked up a glass, and he poured them some, and placed the bottle down.

"Cheers to me, brother Xavier." Tyler said. Xavier just cooed, their glass clinks, and they began to sip from it.

Tyler diverted his attention to the figure singing, while Xavier's gaze wandered around, looking at some figure on the other side of the bar.

The imperial bar isn't meant for commoners. You have to be high in status to get a pass.

Some minutes later, the lady stopped singing, and the crowd applauded loudly.

Tyler made a gestured at the figure, to come forward, and she slowly marches her way to meet with them.

"Hello, I'm Tyler, such a sweet voice you have got." He complimented, with his hands out to shake her.

Charlotte wasn't moved by his compliment, but still, she smiled and outstretched her hands out.

"Thank you. I'm charl…." She was cut off before she could finish.

"Do you always come here to sing?" Tyler asked.

"Yes. I come here every day, except for weekends. But sporadically, you can find me here on weekends." Charlotte replied, looking at Xavier, who seemed uninterested.

'That voice sounds familiar, do I know her? It's like I have met her somewhere' Xavier thought, and turned to look at her.

"Alright, I hope to see you here, each time I come around." Tyler said, and she nodded.

"Excuse me, I have to take my leave." Charlotte responded, and spun around to leave.

'He looks familiar, but I can't just picture where I have seen him before' Charlotte thought, as she walks away.