It was a bright Monday morning. The sun streamed gently through the blinds, casting golden streaks across the cream-colored walls. Bella's eyes fluttered open around 7 AM, and without wasting time, she rolled off the bed with a giddy smile. Today was the day. Everything felt too good to be true.
She walked over to Kathy's room and gently tapped her. "Wake up sleepyhead," she whispered playfully.
Kathy groaned, pulling her duvet over her head. "Five more minutes," she mumbled.
"Nope!" Bella yanked the duvet away and grinned. "Let's get ready. We need to look hot!"
That statement worked like magic, Kathy sat up with a sleepy but excited smile. " I almost forgot we're going to Noble Hotel today and also seeing Mr Stephen."
Despite how early it was, neither of them felt hungry. The butterflies of excitement had replaced their appetite. They skipped breakfast and went straight to preparing.
Bella pulled out her selected outfit, a classy, fitted white jumpsuit with gold zip detailing and a low V-cut that wasn't too revealing, but enough to command attention. It hugged her curves perfectly and paired effortlessly with her nude stilettos and soft gold earrings.
Kathy, on the other hand, went for a bold, body-hugging black mini gown with rhinestone straps and a side slit. Their outfits screamed sophistication and youth. The curls on their wigs had bounced back perfectly after being wrapped the night before, and their faces still held a soft glow from the skincare routine they'd been religiously following.
After ironing and laying everything out neatly, Bella picked up her phone and called her dad. He answered almost immediately.
"Good morning, Dad." she said, smiling.
"Morning, Bella," Mr. Stephen's voice came through warm and composed. "Hope you girls slept well?"
"We did," she replied. "We're just getting ready to go for our class now."
"Alright. My guys will be at your place before 11 AM to pick you both up. Be ready, and don't forget to pick you ID card in case of anything," he said calmly.
"Okay, Daddy. Thank you. See you soon."
"Best of luck at school today," he added before ending the call.
Bella turned to Kathy, who was now admiring her reflection in the mirror. "They'll be here before 11. We need to be done on time."
Kathy nodded. "Let's go finish this class thing quick. Today's not the day to stress."
They giggled and began packing their bags, both of them glowing with anticipation for what the rest of the day would bring.
In less than 10 minutes, they arrived at the campus gates. Bella, now very used to the route, expertly navigated through the internal road toward Kathy's department. As usual, she dropped Kathy off first.
"You got your ID?" Bella asked, pausing the car as Kathy opened the door.
"Yep," Kathy said, patting her bag. "Text me if your class is over"
Bella nodded and watched Kathy disappear into the building before pulling away and heading for her own department.
As she parked just a few meters away from her lecture hall, a group of guys nearby turned their heads. Bella stepped out gracefully, her perfume lingering in the air, her heels clicking softly against the pavement. Heads turned, eyes widened, and some whispered to one another.
"Damn, who's that?"
"She's in our set, right? From one of the departments?"
"Bro, that smell? That's class!"
"Wait… isn't that Bella?"
Bella didn't need to respond to any of the murmurs; she simply smiled politely and walked confidently towards her department. Compliments trailed behind her like perfume.
"You're glowing this morning."
"I love your outfit!"
"Girl, what perfume is that?"
Her mood lifted even more by the attention, though she remained composed. It wasn't pride, it was poise.
Walking into the classroom, she was relieved to find that the lecturer hadn't arrived yet. A few students were already seated, chatting, eating light snacks, or scrolling through their phones.
Bella slipped into her usual seat near the window and brought out her phone. She quickly sent a text to Kathy:
Bella:
Lecturer hasn't arrived yet. Fingers crossed this class gets canceled 😩
Just a few seconds later, Kathy replied:
Kathy:
Lucky you! My lecturer's already here but thank God he said he's using only one hour because of staff meeting 😭.
Bella smiled at the text, then glanced around the class. A few students acknowledged her with waves and friendly smiles. She nodded back, leaning into her seat and enjoying the small breeze coming through the open window beside her.
Her mind drifted briefly to the rest of the day, her father's men would be arriving to pick them up before 11. She and Kathy had to make sure they were back in the apartment and freshened up before then. Their outfits were already ironed and set aside, and they were planning to go for a simple yet elegant look for the meeting.
Her phone buzzed again.
Kathy:
By the way, that outfit is giving rich auntie vibes. I felt underdressed beside you this morning 😂.
Bella laughed softly to herself, typing back quickly.
Bella:
Shut up 🤭. You looked hot too. You saw the way those guys were checking you out.
Just as she sent the text, the class door opened, and a few students looked up expectantly, but it was just the course rep, not the lecturer.
"Still not here," someone whispered behind her.
Bella checked the time, 9:35 AM. The class was scheduled for 9:00 AM. She looked around at the restless faces. Some students were already packing up, ready to leave if the lecturer didn't show up within the next 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, across campus, Kathy's class was already in full swing. Her lecturer was strict but not unreasonable. He stood at the podium, teaching his planned topic with clarity, but paused midway.
"I have a departmental staff meeting at 10:30 AM, so I'll round this up quickly. We'll do the rest next class," he announced.
A wave of silent relief passed through the class.
Kathy scribbled the last bit of notes and sighed. Perfect timing, she thought. We'll be out of here early enough to get ready.
She checked her phone and sent a message to Bella.
Kathy:
We'll soon round up here. We'll Start heading home once you're sure your class is canceled.
Bella saw the message, and as she looked up again, the course rep who had walked in earlier stood at the front of the class.
"Good morning everyone," she said, clearing her throat. "Dr. Felix just called. He won't be making it today. He had an urgent meeting. So… class is canceled."
The classroom instantly became lively,?students murmuring, some even cheering softly. Bella smiled and gathered her things, replying quickly
Bella:
Canceledddd! I'm out 😭😂.
She stood up and headed out, slipping her phone into her bag as she walked briskly out of the building.?She could already imagine how the rest of the day would go, an exciting visit to Noble Hotel, seeing her dad again after years, and of course, the buzz around campus when everyone finally found out who she really was.
But first, she needed to get home, freshen up, and maybe, just maybe, sneak in a quick call with Justin before the car arrived.
The day had only just begun.
As Bella stepped into her car and shut the door, she exhaled deeply, tossing her bag onto the passenger seat. The car interior was cool from the AC, the soft scent of vanilla and roses lingering in the air. She reached for her phone, ready to plug in some music when it buzzed.
Kathy:
Class is over! Where you at?
Bella smiled. Perfect timing
She buckled her seatbelt, fired up the engine, and reversed smoothly out of her parking space. As she drove through the familiar turns of Lifetime College, students moved about, some heading to the cafeteria, others toward lecture halls. Her car moved like a whisper amidst the noise.
Within minutes, she arrived at Kathy's department. Kathy was already standing outside the entrance, looking effortlessly stylish in her fit. She waved as she spotted Bella's car.
Bella pulled up beside her. "Hop in, madam!"
Kathy slid into the front seat, tossing her bag behind. "You won't believe how fast I ran out of that class the moment the man said 'we're done"
Bella laughed as she pulled back into the road. "Same here. Our class was canceled. That's why I left earlier."
"Thank God, imagine if we were stuck in class while your dad's men were already waiting," Kathy said, checking the time. "It's already 10:09. We should be home in 7?minutes if there's no traffic."
Bella nodded, her fingers gripping the wheel as she took the exit out of the campus, heading toward their private hostel estate. "We'll make it. Good thing we ironed everything yesterday."
"Yup! I just need to retouch my edges and maybe change my lip gloss," Kathy said, already going over her look in her head. "We're meeting dad in a few."
Bella grinned, her heart thudding a little faster. "I still can't believe he's here. It's been so long…"
"I know," Kathy said softly. "This is big, Bella."
The car sped along the smooth route, the gates of their estate visible in the distance. Excitement buzzed in the air, it was almost time.
They got back to their apartment in a rush, kicked off their shoes, and immediately sprang into action. Both girls freshened up quickly, did a few touch-ups on their faces, and began changing into their dresses. Bella slipped into her fitted emerald yellow satin gown with a thigh-high slit that hugged her body in all the right places. Her curly wig was voluminous and elegant, with a soft bounce that framed her face beautifully. Kathy, on the other hand, wore a sleek off-shoulder wine-red midi dress with subtle rhinestone details that sparkled under light. Her jet-black bone-straight wig cascaded down her back like a waterfall.
By the time they were both done, the apartment smelled of expensive perfume and hair spray. Bella picked up her phone and quickly sent Justin a text.
Bella:
"Hey, we'll be leaving soon for Noble 😊"
She had barely put her phone down when it rang. Her dad.
She picked up immediately. "Hi, Dad."
His voice was calm and deep. "Just letting you know, the guys just left Noble now. They'll be there in a few minutes. Full escort. I don't want to take chances with security."
"Alright, Dad. We're ready," she replied.
At exactly 11:05 AM, a loud but calm honk echoed outside their apartment. Both girls turned and glanced at each other, they knew who it was.
Bella rushed to the window and pulled the curtain. "They're here," she whispered.
Parked in front of the apartment were three all-black luxury SUVs, gleaming under the morning sun, engines humming quietly. The vehicles screamed power. Two huge men in black suits stepped out from the front vehicle and walked up to their gate.
The girls stepped outside, the sound of their heels clicking on the concrete. The sight of Bella and Kathy made even the guards blink in admiration for a second. They looked stunning, confident, radiant, and graceful.
"Good morning, ma'am," one of the suited men said with a polite bow. "We're here on Mr. Stephen's orders."
"Thank you," Bella said with a small smile.
Another man opened the back doors for both girls simultaneously. With class and elegance, they stepped into the back seats of the middle car , the lead of the convoy. The doors shut with a smooth thud, and within seconds, the convoy began to roll out, flanked in front and behind by the other two vehicles.
It was official , they were on their way to Noble Hotel.