Chapter 92 I'd like that

Chapter 92 I'd like that

\[Author's POV\]
Winter of London,
2014.

'Charlotte, baby, come on. Go grab your stuff.' Mattie hurried to where her daughter sat on the couch and nudged her up.
'Mommy, where are we going?' Charlotte got off the couch, clutching a little barbie doll in her right hand.
'We're going some place fun.' Mattie took the remote and turned off the TV.
'Is daddy coming with us?' Charlotte inquired again.
This time Mattie lost her patience. 'Just go upstairs and get your stuff, Charlotte! Now!'
Startled by her mom, Charlotte raced upstairs.

The drive was a long one. Mattie was focused on the road while Charlotte looked out the window quietly. Mattie had rolled up the window when Charlotte had tried to touch the falling snow. The car was warm and cozy but it felt cold. Both mother and child had nothing to say to each other. The only sound that was made was from the radio - A man with Yorkshire accent was talking about the weather. Mattie grew annoyed by the second. In no distant time, she turned it off.
'Hey, you okay?' Mattie asked her daughter.
'I want to use the bathroom.' Charlotte met her mom's gaze.
The car pulled over at a mall. Mother and child walked hand in hand to it.
'Excuse me,' Mattie spoke to the young lady behind the counter. 'Please, can I get directions to the bathroom? My 8 year old really needs to go.'
The girl with purple dyed hair looked up from her phone with a lazy look on her face. The dimples on both her cheeks looked like lines now. She was obviously tired out.
'It's out back to the left.' The girl returned her attention to her phone.
'Thanks,' Mattie breathed out an exhale. 'Come on, baby.'
She pulled Charlotte outside with her.

Walking to the counter was a boy dressed in black jeans and a black tank top. He was tall enough to slap the chips and candy he picked from the shelves on the counter.
The part-timer dragged her gaze upwards, obviously upset from being interrupted. 'What!'
'Aren't you supposed to tell me how I'm supposed to pay?' The boy lifted and eyebrow.
The part-timer hissed. 'You little -
'Please, excuse my brother. He's just hungry and tired. Aren't you, Jacob?' Another boy who looks exactly like the rude kid came up beside him.
A smile cracked the young lady's stern face. 'Twins. Great.'
She grabbed the chips and candy. When the boy fished out a few punds from his pocket, the lady stopped him.
'The bill's on me. Don't worry.' She handed the bag to him.
'Thanks,' The little boy beamed and tugged his brother. 'Come on, Jacob.'
Jacob rolled his eyes and walked out the door first. 'Let's get outta here, Levi.'
They were outside and Levi began his scolding.
'That lady just let us have this for free. Won't you say thank you?' Levi scoffed.
'Why should I? She handed it to us. Did we force her?' Jacob extended his hand and Levi gave him a candy.
'You're really hopeless, you know?' Levi shook his head. 'Come on. Mom's waiting for us.'
A black Audi honked it's horn twice and the boys rushed to it.
'Aunt Mary!'
'Aunt May!'
The driver leaned in to open the passenger seat. 'Kids, what's up?'
Levi took the passenger seat while Jacob got in the back.
Levi drop the nylon bag on his lap. 'We went to get snacks. The nice lady let us have it for free. I said "Thank you" but Jacob didn't. He's bad, isn't he?'
'He sure is, Levi,' Aunt Mary ruffled his hair. She turned to the backseat. 'How many times have I told you, Jacob? Be nice to people.'
Jacob crossed his arm over his chest and turned aloof.
Levi tuts. 'See? He's stubborn.'
Mary heaves a sigh. 'He'll never learn, will he?'
She pushed her feet in the ignition and clutched the sterring wheel. 'Anyways, shall we? The studio's this way, right, Levi?'
'Yeah. Mom's waiting for me.' Levi dug into the bag for another bag of chips and tossed it for Jacob at the back.
The car sped off into the distance.
Mattie merged from the door and went back to the mall. She felt it would be rude to use the mall's bathroom and not patronise them. She got chocolate chips, tissue paper, some soda, a bottle of milk and lots of chips. The girl at the counter thanked her and waved them off on their way with a cheery.
'Come on, Char. Wanna see where mommy works?' She smiled.
The dull girl brightened up. Her eyes literally sparkled like an anime character's.
'Yeah.' She bounced with joy.
'Come on.'

Joshua returned home from work only to find the house empty.
'Mattie! Charlotte!' He called for his wife and child but got no reply.
He paddled to the kitchen in hope of meeting them but to no avail. Neither were upstairs and he grew worried. He took out his phone and dialled both their numbers individually. One was switched off. The other went straight to voicemail.
'Shit. Don't let it be what I'm thinking.' He collapsed on the plush arm-chair with a thud. Something felt amiss and he sat up to find a paper behind the pillow. He flipped it open. It had Mattie's handwriting.
It said : "DON'T FIND US."
Joshua hissed and grabbed his keys, bolting through the door.

Arthur yelled instructions to all make-up artists to hurry up. The models were to walk the runway in a few minutes.
Charlotte left her mother's hand and ran to where a little boy had his face painted.
'Can you do me next?' She asked politely.
The artist, a tall, lean man with a thin moustache and dressed in black from head to toe chuckled. 'Oh, what a bonny little girl.'
Mattie came up and took her daughter's hand. 'He's working, baby. You don't wanna distract him, do you?'
Charlotte suddenly felt bad. 'No.'
'Woah,' The man suddenly exclaimed. 'That your kid, boss?'
Mattie smiled, leaning down to hug Charlotte. 'Yep. My sweet bundle of joy.'
'Aww,' The man pinched Charlotte's cheek and she giggled. 'She looks like her dad.'
Charlotte giggled and look at her mom who pulled away from their embrace. 'Mommy, where's dad?'
'Yeah. Mommy, where's daddy?' The artist grinned.
Mattie shoved her fist in the man's shoulder. 'Focus, Eugene.'
Eugene turned his focus to the child-model. 'I'm done, anyways. Come on.'
He took off the napkin under the boy's chin and helped him off the swivel chair and stood before Mattie. He was dressed in a black suit and his black hair was pulled back neatly with gel. He flashed a smile at Mattie and she knelt before him.
'There's my star.' She wanted to ruffle hair but remembered it had been styled.
'I thought you wouldn't come, Mrs Melbourne.' Levi pouts his lips.
Mattie chuckled. 'Why wouldn't I? I'm the boss around here.'
Levi smiled and looked behind her. A little girl was staring at him. 'Who's that?'
'Oh. This is my daughter, Charlotte.' Mattie looked at Charlotte.
Charlotte extended her hand and greeted just like her dad taught her to. 'I'm Charlotte Melbourne. Nice to meet you.'
'Woah. You're pretty.' Levi shook her hand.
Charlotte's cheeks turned pink. 'Thanks.'
Arthur's voice resounded in the dressing area. 'Model Number 17. You're up next.'
Eugene took Levi's hand. 'Come on, Levi. Let's show London how it's done.'
Levi went with him. He looked back to meet Charlotte staring at him then he smiled and winked at her.

Charlotte ate lots of chocolate both the ones her mom bought her and the ones she were given. Lots of people who stopped by the control room gave some to her since all she did was watch the adults talk gibberish while looking at a lot of conputer screens. A belch escaped her lips and she muttered an apology. Even though no one heard her.
'There he is.' Eugene clapped his hands together.
Charlotte looked up. Levi was walking the runway with his hands in his pockets. His steps were so magnificent she taught he'd teach a cat how to cat-walk. He walked along with other models but he obviously stood out. His ocean blue eyes sparkled, his raven-dark hair looked glossy in the flood light and the suit was sharp on him. Even when he held a pokerface, he looked more handsome. Charlotte felt her heart flutter. She was going to marry a hanfsome boy like that when she grew up. Something buzzed in her pocket and she reached for her phone. Her dad was calling. Walking out the door, she took the call.
'Dad, where are you?' She whined.
'Daddy's on his way to you. Is your mom with you?' Joshua asked.
'Not really. We're at her workplace. It's really fun.' Charlotte remembered the chocolate she's eaten and the boy on the runway.
'Okay. Stay where you are. Daddy's coming.' Joshua replied.
'Yay. I'll go tell mommy.' Charlotte turned to the room but Joshua retorted sharply.
'Don't tell mommy.' He said.
'Why?' Charlotte inquired.
'It's a surprise.' He replied.
'Sweet.' Charlotte smiled.
'Remember, don't tell mommy and stay there.' Joshua said his instructions slowly for her to understand.
'Okay. Love you, dad.' She smiled.
'Love you too, Queen.' The line went dead.

The show had come to an end and Mattie received alot of applause from the crew.
'It's no biggie.' She smiled.
'Oh it was. It's not easy to care for a kid and this project. Honestly, I don't know how you do it.' Mimi praised her boss.
Mattie placed her hand over her chest. 'Thanks, Mimi.'
Eugene held up a champaigne flute in midair. 'Let's take a picture to commemorate this moment.'
'Yeah.' They all chorused.
'Where's the little angel?' Arthur looked behind him. Charlotte wasn't where he had left her.
'Oh shit.' He muttered under his breath.
'Where's Charlotte?' Mattie asked.
'Arthur, you were told to watch her. Where's Queen?' Mimi stood up from her chair and so did everyone.
'I don't know. I swear she was just there.' Arthur became terrified. The studio was a huge one. Anyone who goes missing. Well God help them.
'Relax.' Amelia smiled. 'I'll check the security cams and see if I can find her.'
'Thank God.' Mattie exhaled softly.
Like a wizard of computers, Amelia typed away at the keyboard. The sounds "Click" and "Clack" echoed in the boardroom till she yelled.
'Got her! She's with a man in the lobby.' She zoomed. 'Jesus, he's hot.'
Eugene pushed past her. 'Lemme see.' He made way for Mattie.
'Joshua.' Mattie bit her lowerlip.
'You know him?' Amelia grinned.
'He's my husband.' Mattie walked away.
'How come she knows all the hot guys?' Amelia leans back in her seat.
'I'm a hot dude.' Eugene flashed her a smile.
Amelia shook her head. 'Like the North Pole, that's how hot you are.'
The sarcasm hit Eugene where it hurt and everyone laughed at him. He too laughed at the joke.

Mattie approached Joshua with a frown on her face. She didn't wait for hin to explain. She grabbed Charlotte's wrist and pulled her behind.
'How did you find us?' She began.
'Not here.' Joshua's eyes darted to the right. People were beginning to stare.
'Come on.' She led him to her office.
They got to the office reserved for Head Editor and went it. Before Joshua would say anything, Mattie took out her phone and dialled Eugene's.
A few minutes later, Eugene came to pick up Charlotte. To Mattie's surprise, Joshua did little to protest.
'So? How'd you find us?' She asked her question from earlier.
Joshua repkied as clamky as he could. 'I called Charlotte. She told me. Look, I don't know what my mum told you but -
'Your mom is an ass!' Mattie screamed.
Charlotte stood outside the door, her hand in Eugene's. Her parents had been yelling at each other for the past month and she didn't know why but all she knew was her dad wanted to take her away with him.
'Come on, sweetpea.' Eugene tugged her forward and she followed him.
On their way, they got cocacola from the vending machine and Eugene explained everything about the fashion studio.
'This area is the dressing room. We've got designers who make awesome clothes for every season right here. Aren't they all cool?'
'That's where the models get their faces painted. It's the make-up room. My special spcae. I'm into make-up, you know?'
Charlotte forgot what made her upset and was keen on listening to him. However, someone came to whisk Eugene away.
'Hey, pretty,' The brunette said briefly to Charlotte and turned her attention to Eugene. 'We need your hands.'
'Mattie wants me to watch her kid, Glory.' Eugene made emphasis on "kid"
Glory looked down at Charlotte and smiled. 'Great.'
'I'll help with that. I'm a great babysitter,' Levi said behind them. 'She can sit with Aunt Mary and I.'
'Great thinking, Levi. That's why you're Mattie's golden boy.' Eugene smiled then he looked at Charlotte. 'Why don't you stay with Levi? I'll come back for you. I promise.'
'Okay.' Charlotte gave him a brief hug before letting him go.
'Hey, I'm Levi. You're Charlotte, right?' He smiled.
'Yeah.' Charlotte looked down at her feet.
'What's wrong?' He asked.
'I miss my mom and dad. I'm all alone.' She sniffles.
'Hey, don't cry. You're not alone. You've got me.' He took her hands.
'Really?' She looked up at him.
'Of course. We're gonna be friends and you'll never be alone.' Levi said.
'I'd like that.'