The black convoy slowed down as it approached the magnificent gates of Noble Hotel. It was one of the most prestigious luxurious hotels in the city, known for its discreet yet elegant atmosphere. The tall gates opened automatically, and the convoy cruised in smoothly. The morning sun glimmered against the marble exterior of the hotel, making it look like something out of a movie.
As the cars pulled up to the private entrance, the security at the hotel, already informed about Mr. Stephen's high-profile guests, stood by attentively. The air smelled like fresh roses mixed with something expensive, like polished wood and luxury perfumes.
The doors were opened for Bella and Kathy, and as they stepped out, they were a sight to behold. Both girls looked stunning. Heads turned,even the staff couldn't help but stare for a moment.
They paused for a second, taking in the ambiance. The large fountain in front of the hotel sparkled under the sunlight. Gold-plated signage shimmered with the words: "Welcome to Noble." Exotic flowers lined the entrance, and luxury cars were parked in pristine lines. It was everything they had imagined, and more.
Before they could even take a step forward, three tall men in black suits approached them from inside the hotel. Their steps were synchronized, their expressions calm but alert. These were Mr. Stephen's internal security, discreet, efficient, and trained.
"Miss Bella, Miss Kathy," one of them said in a low but polite tone. "Mr. Stephen is expecting you. Please follow us."
The girls nodded, exchanged a glance, and followed silently.
Inside the hotel, the luxury only doubled. The floors were marble, shining so brightly it almost looked like glass. Chandeliers hung from the ceilings, glinting with real crystals. The air conditioning carried the faint scent of vanilla and oud. Staff members moved around with grace, nodding respectfully as the girls passed by.
As they entered the lobby, Bella panned her phone around to show the marble floors, the high-end decor, and the chandelier that looked like a galaxy of diamonds hanging from the sky.
Kathy whispered, "This place is heaven. I feel like I should tiptoe."
Bella laughed quietly. "Not when you look this good."
They posed briefly under the chandelier, snapped a few aesthetic shots for their Instagram stories, and saved videos for later. The luxurious background was the perfect setting. They were glowing, and they knew it.
As soon as the guards approached to lead them to the private wing, the girls tucked their phones away and exchanged giddy smiles.
"We ate that up," Kathy whispered.
"Like royalty," Bella replied with a wink.
They were led through a private hallway that didn't lead to the public elevators. Instead, they turned left, through a more restricted section of the hotel, guarded by two other men in plain black suits. A keycard was scanned, and a private elevator opened.
Once inside, one of the guards gently pressed the top-floor button labeled "Presidential Wing."
Bella looked at Kathy and whispered, "This place is… surreal."
Kathy smiled back, adjusting her bag. "Your dad didn't come to play."
When the elevator doors opened, they were greeted with a panoramic view of the city. The entire top floor had been reserved for Mr. Stephen. A private lounge opened up to a large glass wall, displaying a full skyline. The guards motioned for them to follow again. They were led into a quieter room—rich mahogany walls, a huge library wall filled with books, and velvet couches lined the space.
And there he was.
Mr. Stephen stood near the glass window, dressed in a well-tailored grey kaftan with matching loafers, a gold wristwatch peeking from under his sleeve. His presence was commanding, yet calm. Two of his personal aides stood nearby, holding files, one of them pouring a drink into a crystal glass.
As he turned around and saw Bella and Kathy, his face lit up.
The moment Bella stepped into the private lounge and laid eyes on her father, all the emotions she had been holding back came rushing forward. Without a second thought, she ran straight into his arms.
"Daddy!" she cried, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face. "I missed you so much."
Mr. Stephen wrapped his arms around her tightly, holding her as if he'd never let go. "I've missed my darling girl even more," he said softly, his own voice thick with emotion.
Kathy, moved by the reunion, stepped forward and joined the hug. "We missed you, sir," she said warmly.
Mr. Stephen smiled at the two girls, pulling back just enough to take in their appearances. "You both look so beautiful. Look at you… all grown up."
He gently wiped the tears from Bella's cheeks. "No more crying, okay? I'm here now. ?"
Mr. Stephen had made sure everything was perfect for his daughters. Before they arrived, he'd placed an order for an array of delicacies continental and local dishes, fresh pastries, and exotic drinks all from the hotel's finest kitchen. Not long after their emotional reunion, there was a knock on the door.
Two hotel staff wheeled in golden carts stacked with covered trays. The aroma instantly filled the private suite, rich, flavorful, and mouthwatering.
"Ah, that smells like trouble," Kathy teased, already grinning as the lids were lifted.
Mr. Stephen chuckled. "I told them to bring the best. You both need to eat well."
Bella smiled. "Dad, thank you so much for everything "
"I haven't seen you in years," he said, waving a hand. "This is nothing."
They all sat around the table, plates filled with steaming jollof rice, grilled chicken, sautéed veggies, pastries, and fruity drinks in sparkling glasses. The girls dug in, laughing and chatting in between bites.
They talked about everything, from stressful assignments to group chats, strict lecturers, funny classmates, and who was wearing what for matric. Mr. Stephen listened intently, occasionally laughing at their stories, visibly proud of both girls.
They began to talk, the room filling with warmth and laughter as Bella and Kathy told him about campus life, classes, and everything they'd been up to.
Turning briefly to the well-dressed men standing nearby, Mr. Stephen said, "These are my daughters." The men nodded respectfully, exchanging polite greetings with Bella and Kathy.
Then, Mr. Stephen turned to his men. "You can give us a moment," he said. "I'll call if I need anything."
With a nod, the guards quietly exited the lounge, leaving him alone with the girls. Once the room was theirs, the conversation flowed even more freely, stories, laughter, and the simple joy of being reunited after so long.
Bella hesitated for a moment before asking, "Dad, does Mom know you're in London?"
Mr. Stephen nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yes, I told her. It's only right she knows."
Bella glanced at Kathy, then back to her dad. "Are you going to see her before you go back to Nigeria?"
He sighed softly, his expression thoughtful. "Maybe, if she's not too busy. You know how she is with her schedule. But if it happens, it'll be on her terms."
The girls exchanged a quiet look, While Bella, understanding the complicated distance between her parents without needing more words.
They continued chatting casually, laughter filling the luxurious suite. Mr. Stephen leaned back on the couch, watching the girls with a proud smile as they scrolled through their phones.
"Daddy, look!" Bella said, turning her screen to him. "This is the dress I'll be wearing for matriculation."
Kathy leaned in too. "And this is mine! We're definitely going to stand out."
Mr. Stephen took the phone, nodding in approval. "Wow… you girls aren't playing. These are stunning. Bella, this colour will pop beautifully on you. And Kathy, that design is bold, I love it!"
"We already booked our nail appointments for tomorrow," Bella added excitedly. "Then hair and makeup early Wednesday morning."
Kathy chuckled. "Everything's locked in. We even got nice heels and our wigs are ready."
Mr. Stephen grinned. "I see you both have this all planned out like a presidential inauguration."
They all laughed.
"Well," he continued, "you've done your part, now let me do mine. I'll be there on Wednesday with full security and the convoy. You'll know when I arrive." He gave a playful wink. "No hiding."
Bella's eyes sparkled. "Thank you, Daddy."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," he said warmly. "This is your moment. I want it to be perfect."
Mr. Stephen leaned back after a sip of water and looked at the girls, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "After your semester exams," he began, "I want to take both of you on a proper vacation. Somewhere calm, beautiful… just to relax and reward yourselves."
Bella's eyes widened with excitement. "Are you serious, Daddy?"
"Of course," he nodded. "You girls deserve it. You've worked hard, and I want you to finish the semester strong. Good grades first, then the trip."
Both girls clapped in excitement.
Then Bella tilted her head and smiled slyly. "Hmm… since you're in this generous mood, there's something I've been meaning to say."
Mr. Stephen raised a brow with amusement. "Go on…"
"I want to change my phone," she said, grinning.
Without hesitation, he replied, "That'll be your matriculation gift."
Bella screamed joyfully and jumped up to hug him. "Thank you, Daddy! I love you!"
Kathy laughed, watching the cute moment, until Mr. Stephen turned to her.
"And Kathy…" he said with a smile.
She looked up. "Sir?"
"I'll be getting you a new car."
Kathy froze. "Wait, what?"
"Yes. I don't like the fact that Bella is always the one picking and dropping you. You're both in different departments; I want you comfortable and independent."
Kathy covered her mouth in shock, and tears filled her eyes. "Oh my God... thank you so much, sir!" she said emotionally.
She jumped up and hugged Bella tightly, realizing her best friend had known all along.
"You knew?" she laughed through her tears.
Bella giggled. "Of course! I just wanted it to be a surprise."
Mr. Stephen chuckled warmly, looking at the girls with nothing but pride. "I'm proud of both of you. Just keep doing your best, and don't disappoint me."
They both nodded eagerly, their hearts full, their excitement even bigger than before. The love and joy in that moment were undeniable.
Time had flown by faster than any of them noticed. Between all the laughter, the stories, the delicious food, and the warm presence of Mr. Stephen, none of them had realized how late it had gotten. The golden hue of the evening sun spilled softly through the tall glass windows of the suite, casting a warm glow over their cozy gathering.
Mr. Stephen glanced at his wristwatch and sighed gently. "I think you girls should start heading back. You need to rest and get ready for your nail appointment tomorrow."
Bella and Kathy both pouted in unison. "Already?" Bella asked, leaning into her father.
"We don't want to go yet," Kathy added, her voice soft with reluctance.
Mr. Stephen chuckled at their synchronized response. "Well then…" he paused, a playful smile tugging at his lips, "would you both like to spend the night here?"
They both gasped.
"Seriously?!" Bella's eyes lit up.
"I mean, if you don't mind staying in the hotel. I'll have my men drop you off directly at your nail appointment tomorrow. You don't have to worry about a thing."
Before he could finish, both girls squealed in excitement.
"Yes! Yes, yes!" Kathy clapped her hands, beaming.
Bella hugged her dad again. "Thank you, Daddy! You're the best!"
"Anything for my girls," Mr. Stephen said with a warm smile.
Mr. Stephen, glancing at the time again and making sure everything was perfectly arranged for the girls, picked up his phone and dialed one of his men. Within seconds, two well-dressed security aides stepped into the suite.
"Kindly walk them to their private room," he instructed with a calm but firm tone. "Ensure they get in safely. That's all for now."
"Yes sir," they both replied in unison.
Bella and Kathy stood up, still glowing with excitement. "Thanks again, Daddy," Bella said with a soft smile, while Kathy waved warmly, "goodnight dad!"
"Goodnight, my girls. Rest well," Mr. Stephen said, watching them leave with a proud look on his face.
They took the private-card elevator meant for exclusive guests. The ride was smooth, and the air inside the lift smelled of expensive cologne and fresh linen. In less than a minute, they arrived at their suite. The men opened the door for them and gave a polite nod before heading back.
Once inside, Bella and Kathy gasped.
"Whoa…" Kathy muttered under her breath.
The suite was breathtaking. Massive ceiling-to-floor windows opened up to a private balcony with a panoramic view of the city. The lights were dimmed just right, giving the room a cozy yet classy ambiance. Everything smelled faintly of roses,calming and luxurious. The walls were decorated with modern art, and a huge king-sized bed sat in the middle, covered in silk sheets and fluffy pillows.
"This is giving princess," Bella whispered.
"It's giving billionaire's daughters," Kathy laughed, spinning around.
Both girls brought out their phones immediately, capturing everything. They made videos of their room tour, the elevator ride, even throwbacks of when they walked into the hotel earlier that day, posting snippets on Instagram and Snapchat with soft music and captions like "Spoiled & Soft 🥂💅"
A few minutes later, there was a gentle knock at the door.
Kathy peeked through the peephole and opened it. A young lady stood there, dressed in Noble Hotel's staff uniform, holding two luxury bags.
"Good evening ma'am," she said politely. "Mr. Stephen sent these, some clothes and items you might need."
"Wow," Kathy smiled. "Thank you."
As soon as the lady left, the girls opened the bags, inside were elegant robes, skincare kits, luxury pajamas, and even a bottle of chilled non-alcoholic wine with two golden glasses.
"This is nice, I'll text him to thank him," Bella giggled.
As the night went on, they changed into their robes, took even more pictures, then headed down to the private pool section for a late-night swim. The water was warm, the lights around the pool were aesthetic, and soft music played nearby. They laughed, splashed, posed for pictures, and posted some on their close friends story, making memories and letting the world know they were living soft.
That night, they returned to their suite, faces glowing from the swim and the joy of the day.
It was the kind of night they would never forget.