The convoy rolled back through the grand gates of Noble Hotel, the sun casting golden rays on the pristine marble entrance and gleaming windows of the luxurious building. The sleek black cars moved with grace, immediately drawing attention from onlookers and hotel staff alike. As the doors were opened by the hotel's uniformed doormen, Bella and Kathy stepped out, elegance wrapped in youth and confidence.
Inside, they were welcomed once again by the familiar faces of Mr. Stephen's security team, who led them silently toward the private elevator reserved for VIP guests. The girls shared a look, this wasn't just a visit anymore, this was home for now.
The elevator doors slid open into the private executive lounge, Mr. Stephen's personal suite. The lounge oozed sophistication. Tall glass windows overlooked the cityscape, expensive art pieces decorated the walls, and every corner whispered wealth.
"Daddy!" Bella called, already walking into his arms.
"My angel," Mr. Stephen hugged her tightly, then turned to Kathy with a warm smile. "You girls are glowing."
"Guess what?" Bella said with a huge grin as she and Kathy held up their freshly done nails, showing off the clean, glossy designs that perfectly matched their upcoming outfits.
Mr. Stephen smiled proudly. "Absolutely beautiful. Looks like you both are ready to steal the spotlight tomorrow."
They all laughed before he added, "Alright, go freshen up. When you're done, come back here so we can chat properly and I can see those matriculation dresses of yours."
"Yes, sir!" Kathy chirped, giggling.
With a nod, he signaled two of his men, who respectfully gestured for the girls to follow them.
As they walked through the elegant hallway, back toward their suite, Bella turned to Kathy and whispered with a grin, "This is going to be the best matric ever."
And Kathy, just as giddy, replied, "We're not just attending, we're making history."
Back in their suite, the room looked even more luxurious than they'd left it. The air was scented with soft floral notes, the bed was freshly made, pillows fluffed, and their bags neatly arranged to one side , clearly, the hotel staff had come in to clean and reset the space to perfection.
Bella tossed her bag gently on the bed, pulled off her sandals, and flopped back with a satisfied sigh. "This place is heaven," she murmured, smiling up at the ceiling.
Kathy walked over to the wide balcony, sliding the glass doors open to let the breeze in. "Everything smells so good," she said, "I'm not sure I ever want to leave here."
Just then, Bella's phone buzzed in her hand. She opened it and smiled. "Wait," she said, sitting up. "I need to call Justin, we haven't spoken all day."
She tapped the video call button, and after a few seconds, Justin's face popped up on the screen.
"Hey baby," Bella said sweetly, her face lighting up. "I miss you."
Justin smiled at the sight of her. "Hey you… wow, look at you. You look like you're living in a movie."
Bella laughed. "It actually feels like one. This hotel is insane, you need to see it. Everywhere's just glowing."
Justin nodded. "I saw some of the videos online. Noble Hotel? Girl, you're trending."
Bella rolled her eyes playfully. "Stop it. How's everything?"
"Chill," Justin replied. "John and I just got back from picking up a few things. Can't wait for tomorrow. You'll go crazy when you see my fit."
Bella smiled. "I hope you're not trying to outshine me."
"Oh no," Justin said with a grin. "You already won."
Kathy peeked into the frame. "Hey Justin!"
Justin waved. "Hey Kathy! How are you doing, i can see you both are living the best of your lives!"
They all laughed, the mood light and cheerful. They chatted a little longer about their excitement for matriculation, Bella's dad, and the plans for the next day. Justin told Bella how much he missed her and how he couldn't wait to see her all glammed up.
"You better be ready to take a million pictures," she said.
"With you? Always," he replied.
Eventually, Bella ended the call with a warm smile, her heart full.
She looked at Kathy, who had gone back to arranging her things. "Tomorrow's going to be everything."
Kathy turned and nodded. "Let's make it unforgettable."
After a little rest, the girls decided it was time to freshen up and head back to Mr. Stephen's suite. Bella grabbed her towel and disappeared into the bathroom first, followed by Kathy. They both took quick showers, letting the warm water relax their bodies after the long day. Once done, they changed into matching sweatpants and stylish crop tops, casual but still classy, effortlessly blending comfort with style.
Kathy pulled her hair up in a messy bun while Bella touched up her lip gloss in front of the mirror.
"You ready?" Bella asked, slipping on her slides.
"Yup. Let's go," Kathy said, grabbing her phone.
As they opened the door to step out, they paused, two of Mr. Stephen's men were already stationed by the door, waiting patiently like silent statues.
Bella leaned close to Kathy and whispered with a soft laugh, "This is not necessary at all… we could totally walk alone."
Kathy tried to hold back her giggle. "VIP treatment, babe."
The men gave them a slight nod and gestured for them to lead the way. As they walked down the luxurious hallway, one of the men carried their bags, which included the girls' dresses, shoes, and a few extra essentials they'd brought back from the apartment.
They stepped into the private elevator again, the sleek glass and chrome walls reflecting their relaxed figures. Everything was silent except the soft hum of the elevator as it ascended.
When they reached Mr. Stephen's private lounge, the door was opened for them, and they walked in, greeted by the faint scent of rich cologne and soft jazz playing in the background.
Mr. Stephen looked up from the large table where he was sipping on fresh juice and reviewing something on his tablet. When he saw the girls, he smiled warmly.
"There you are," he said, standing up. "Looking all comfy now."
Bella walked up and gave him a quick hug. "We're back!"
Kathy followed, smiling. "Hope we didn't keep you waiting."
"Not at all," he replied. He gestured for the men to drop the bags near one of the side sofas, then nodded at them. "You can leave us now."
The men quietly exited, closing the door behind them.
"Now," Mr. Stephen said, rubbing his hands together. "Let me see those dresses you've been hyping."
They unzipped the garment bags carefully, pulling out their pieces like fragile treasures. Bella's dress shimmered under the fading sunlight , a curve-hugging champagne gold gown with hand-beaded embellishments and a sleek slit. Kathy's dress was no less stunning, a custom-fit emerald green corset gown with silk draping and a crystal neckline.
They tried them on right there, their excitement too high to wait. Even in their casual hairstyles and without makeup, they looked absolutely stunning , like royalty in the clouds.
A few minutes later, Mr. Stephen walked back in and stepped onto the balcony.
He stopped in his tracks. "Wow. You two look like you're about to step onto a red carpet."
Bella blushed and twirled. "Really, Dad?"
"I'm not even joking," he smiled, clearly proud. "Those dresses are perfect. You both chose well."
Kathy grinned. "We're ready to break necks tomorrow."
Mr. Stephen laughed and then asked, "By the way, have you told your makeup artist and hairstylist that they're meeting you here at Noble and not your apartment?"
The girls froze for a moment. "Oh my God," Bella said, wide-eyed. "We didn't!"
Without wasting time, Bella dashed inside to grab her phone. She immediately dialed the makeup artist's number.
"Hi! Just a quick update, you'll be glamming us up at Noble Hotel instead of our apartment tomorrow," she said.
The makeup artist sounded excited. "Oh! Okay, no problem. Same time right?"
"Yes. 7 a.m., please."
"Got it. See you both then!"
Right after, Kathy called the hairstylist, explaining the change of plans. The stylist confirmed her arrival at 5 a.m. sharp, saying she wanted enough time to get both girls ready perfectly.
"Thank you so much," Kathy said, relieved. "We'll see you bright and early."
Hanging up, she turned to Bella. "That was a close one."
Bella nodded. "Imagine if they went to the apartment tomorrow morning and we were here."
"Disaster," Kathy laughed.
After the excitement of trying on their dresses and soaking in their father's compliments, Bella and Kathy carefully slipped out of their gowns and placed them neatly back into their garment bags. The last thing they wanted was a stain or wrinkle ruining their big day
Once everything was packed up and the dresses were safely tucked away, they slipped back into their matching soft lounge sets, sweatpants and crop tops, and finally settled into the plush sofas in Mr. Stephen's private lounge.
With steaming cups of herbal tea placed on the table in front of them, the atmosphere mellowed. It felt like a rare, peaceful moment, just the three of them.
Mr. Stephen looked at Bella and said, "You've really grown, you know? I still remember dropping you off at Heathrow the first time. You were so little."
Bella smiled warmly, "I was scared. Everything was new. I was so mad at Mom for not even showing up."
He nodded slowly, expression unreadable. "She's always been that way. Prioritizes work over everything."
At that moment, he pulled out his phone and looked at Bella.
"I should try calling her again. Maybe she'll pick now."
Bella sighed but nodded.
Mr. Stephen dialed and put the phone on speaker. It rang once… twice… thrice… and then, voicemail.
He hung up and set the phone down. "Still the same," he muttered.
Barely a few minutes later, a text popped up on his screen. He glanced at it and turned it toward Bella.
"I'm in the middle of something. Can't talk right now."
Bella stared at it for a few seconds, her expression a mixture of disappointment and resignation.
Kathy leaned over slightly, reading the message. "Wow."
Mr. Stephen shook his head. "I told her I was in London. I even mentioned I'd be seeing you and your matriculation was coming up."
Bella shrugged, trying to brush it off. "It's fine. I'm used to it."
He looked at her gently, "I know, sweetheart. But it's not okay. You deserve better."
Kathy tried to lighten the mood. "Well, at least we've got you now."
Mr. Stephen smiled, "And you always will."
They leaned back, finally able to talk freely about school, about their plans for the semester, about how crazy everything was leading up to the matriculation. The conversation lasted hours, full of laughter, warmth, and genuine connection.