I was in Nice, standing at Charlotte's door trying my best not to burst into tears. I rang the doorbell and was greeted by Leo, he smiled wide and asked me to come in. Charlotte was in the living room with Mia, trying to get her to eat.

"You're here! Welcome home." She beamed noticing me.

"Thank you so much Charlotte, I can't possibly put into words how grateful I am." I thanked her.

"Go freshen up and settle in, third door to the left." She guided me through the bungalow.

I walked into the room, with giant windows and lots of light pouring in through them. I had a good view of the backyard. I sat down on the bed trying to compose myself, things changed so much in the matter of one night.

I freshened up and decided to block his number and delete all my social media, as I sat on my bed doing all of that I heard footsteps approaching my door.

"We are neighbours!" Mia jumped on to the bed after literally launching herself from the door.

"We are?"

"Yes! Your room is right next to mine!"

"That's great!" I smiled.

"So what are you doing?"

"A little bit of work." I set my laptop aside.

"Can I see?" She asked.

"It's quite boring." I pursed my lips.

"Oh okay, I'll tell mama you started working already she wanted to talk to you."

"I'm coming. Let's go." I smiled.

She held on to my hand just like back when we used to go on walks to get gelato or look for insects in the park. Charlotte was at the dinning table, hunched against the laptop typing away.

"I'm glad you decided to come to Nice earlier, you didn't tell me why though?"

"I'll tell you all of that but I have just one last favour to ask." I sighed taking a seat.

"Sure, what is it?" She placed her chin on her hands.

"Can you keep this a secret? I don't want Charles to know I'm working for you or the fact that I'm moving here." I said. The tears were back, my eyes were burning trying to hold them back.

"Why? What happened?"

"Oh, it's a long story." I smiled wiping away my tears.

"And I'm here to hear all of it." She comforted me.

"The usual, I was a clown and he was emotionally unavailable." I laughed like a maniac.

"Tara, tell me everything." She placed her hand on me.

"So you know how everything was a lie right?" I looked at her.

"Yeah."

"Well, I actually started falling for him...That kiss." I choked on tears.

"Are you alright?"

"He called it stupid." I let the tears flow.

I didn't have the strength to hold them back anymore, I was sobbing and telling her about how deeply I had been smitten.

Sure, I might have had a little crush on him since the start. But I got to spend time with him, see him like I've never seen anyone ever before.

I didn't just fall for him, I fell for his laugh, I fell for his actions and his thoughts. I didn't just like Charles the formula one driver, I loved Charles the family man.

Charlotte's eyes looked sad, it must be like she was just looking back at her old self. She gave me a smile and continued holding my hand as if to tell me she was here for me.

"I don't know how he managed to stay so detached." I wiped my tears.

"That's just who he is, now you're here. Now we grow and forget about a man who can't see what you're worth!" She comforted me.

"Thank you so much Charlotte I don't know what I'd so if it wasn't for you." I hugged her.

"I'm going to Monaco soon to drop Mia off before school starts, how do we expect the child to not tell her father you're here?"

"Even if he knows, he probably doesn't care." I scoffed.

"I'll tell her that she shouldn't mention you unless he asks."

"Good enough." I smiled weakly.

"I've blocked his number and I've deleted all

Social media, I can't open apps knowing very well the world thinks we're together."

"The world, it's tiring. Do what you think is right!"

"That I will."

"Also there's no need to start today, spend the day with Mia. Till then I'll get a script ready."

"Script?"

"I can't have you introduce yourself as hi I'm 24 and a failure."

"I mean I am-"

"You are not! You are a good human being with a pure heart, you have your flaws and you embrace them! You know what that is? A wonderful human being!" She smiled.

"Thank you." I hugged her with tears steaming down my face again.

"Hello mama!" Mia walked to the dining table.

"Hi baby! What are you holding?" She asked her pointing to the bowl in her hands.

"I saw Tara crying so I got a bowl." She placed it on the table.

"A bowl?"

"You always give me ice cream after I cry this badly so I thought maybe she could eat some too!" She beamed.

"How sweet!" I laughed.

"She's going to be with you for the whole of today!"

"Really? You aren't going to take her to the building with stinky Jack?"

"Stinky Jack?" I laughed.

"The receptionist, she's not a fan of him."

"Oh!" I laughed.

"Tara why are you crying?" Mia looked at me.

"Mia, you don't ask people why they're crying!"

"Okay, do you want ice cream?"

"You take care of Tara okay? Mama will be back really soon!"

Charlotte grabbed her bag, flung on her blazer and gave Mia a quick kiss on her forehead before gathering her things to leave for office. We stood at the door and waved her goodbye.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Mia looked at me curiously.

"Anything you want to do!" I smiled.

"You are having a bad day, so you pick what we should do!" She beamed.

"Should we have a tea party in the backyard?" I asked her.

"Yes! Start making the sandwiches and tea." She started running towards Leo's study.

"What are you doing?"

"Calling Leo!"

"Isn't he working? Maybe we shouldn't disturb him."

"Not when you're being invited to a tea party!"

As per her wishes, we had a tea party in the backyard. With humans, fluff toys and just about every toy she thought was worthy of attending the event.

Leo quickly whipped up lunch for everyone to eat, Mia cried about wanting to eat pizza instead but toughed down the food anyway.

He was back at work, Mia was down for a nap and I finally had time to call up my sister and fill her in. I told her that I had reached and would start work tomorrow.

After a while Mia was up from her nap. Leo told us that he had to head to the art gallery for some last minute work, he offered to drop us off at the beach.

"Yes!" Mia beamed.

"Get your sand toys quickly!" He beamed.

We walked on the beach for a while until Mia found a spot she wanted to sit down and build a castle. I sat down next to her and watch her go. Suddenly she looked at me.

"Are you going to come back to Monaco?" She asked me.

"No, I can't." I smiled sheepishly.

"Why?"

That question got me thinking, how do I tell a child what pain is? How am I supposed to explain to her that I couldn't see her father ever again.

"I'm actually hiding from Charles."

"Hiding from papa? Are you playing hide and seek?" She looked at me.

"Yes!" I lied, "but I need you to keep a secret for me."

"What is it?"

"That I'm hiding in Nice, I want to win."

"If you win, do I win? I never win against him! He always finds me." She grumbled.

"Of course! My wins are your wins!"

"Done! We will win against papa!" She beamed.

"Yes we will."

"I have a very important question." She says down looking all serious.

"Go on." I urged her cleaning the sand off her hands.

"Can we get gelato?"