CHAPTER 2

A few weeks later Belle found herself in Danika's penthouse. The place actually belonged to her mother Rose Van Stein and her latest husband Roy. Roy Hunter's two children Derek and Jemma also lived with them, as did Danika's brother Damien. Derek was 18 and Jemma and Damien were 15. Both Belle and Danika despised Jemma. She was tall and skinny, with long platinum blonde hair and had caused a lot of problems for the pair over the past. As she found it her job to pass along information she 'overheard' during one of Belle's visits. Judd had also lived with the Hunter and Van Stein's as it was his pent house to begin with. Judd had lived there for many years with his father, Bruce. Rose Van Stein and Bruce King were married for a few months before his untimely death two years ago. Rose inherited the pent house in Bruce's will and allowed her step son Judd to live there as it was his home as well. But Judd always begrudged living there and ended up moving out when he bought his hotel.

Today, Danika was wearing her blonde hair down and her bright blue eyes glistened when Belle walked in the room. "B, you're here!" exclaimed Danika. "I'm not late am i?" asked Belle. "No not at all," said Roy "Just in time for the Hunter family Sunday brunch!" Belle laughed and took a seat next to Danika. Roy began distributing waffles, Belle knew Danika hated these family brunches and felt obligated to join her, as often as she could.

"Ah Judd, there you are!" Rose said. "Rose" he smiled kissing her on the cheek, "I'll meet you in your office shall I?" Rose nodded her agreeance. "Enjoy your brunch," said Judd sarcastically as he sauntered down the hall to Rose's office.

"You have a meeting today Rose?" asked Roy, "I thought we had lunch reservations?" "I'm sorry Roy, but we'll have to cancel, were having a bit of a crisis at the company." "Can't Judd deal with it?" questioned Roy, "He is the vice president." "I know Roy, but this is very important. Bruce intrusted his company to me, I'd hate to let him down." "So King Industries is more important to you than us?" "Today," said Rose "it is."

"I'm sorry" Danika whispered in Belle's ear, "I had no idea he was going to be here." "It's okay D," Belle whispered back "I have to get used to seeing him around." Danika squeezed Belle's knee and went back to her food. They all ate in silence until Jemma bought up the topic of college. "College offers are being sent out soon aren't they? Where did you apply again Danika?" if it was from anyone else it would have been an innocent question, but Belle and Danika both knew the only reason Jemma bought it up is because she had heard them discussing the option of Danika not going next year. "A few places, Jemma." "And what about you, Belle?" asked Rose, "any college in particular?" "Well I applied to a few, but Yale's really always been my number one choice, ever since I was a kid." "So would you'd move closer to Yale?" "Yes, me and Harriet have been looking at some places in new haven." "Have you applied in any places in the City?" "Columbia." "Oh really!" said Rose. "You know I used to be a Columbian girl." Rose continued to tell a story about her time at Columbia, but Belle had tuned out. She was fantasising about Yale, even though it wasn't far from the city at all, she was excited about the possibility of starting new and the possibility that her memories of Judd would remain in New York City.

That Thursday, Belle was woken up by a high pitched scream from Harriet. Just as Belle was getting out of bed to see why Harriet would dare wake her up, she burst through the door. "Miss Belle, Miss Belle. You have an envelope from Yale!" Belle Dumped up and snatched it off Harriet. Belle sat on her bed and opened the envelope. She read the letter silently to herself.

Dear Miss Williams,

We have given your application careful consideration and are now at the time of year when final decisions must be made. While you have been a competitive applicant, this year we have had many similarly qualified students and as a result many desirable candidates must be turned away.

We very much regret that we will be unable to offer you a place at Yale University .

Please accept our best wishes for a successful future.

"Well Miss Belle?" Belle looked up from her letter, Harriet's proud face grinned back at her. "I got in!" "Oh let me see, let me see!" "No!" barked Belle, "you'll get your greasy hands on it." Harriet giggled and began Dumping up and down singing "were going to Yale, were going to Yale!" Harriet was only 30 something, but she was like a mother to Belle. She was short and chubby, with a bob of shiny brown curls. She moved to America from Poland the year Belle was born and Winter had hired her as Belle's nanny, Harriet had been with the Williams ever since. Belle couldn't bear to tell Harriet the truth, she couldn't even bear to admit it to herself. She felt disoriented and lost. This has been her plan since she was a little girl. She'd never thought of a back-up plan because she was so sure she would get it in. What would people think? She'd gone around telling everyone she'd be at Yale next year, hell her and Harriet had already put a deposit on an apartment. Yale was her escape. A way to start over and be somebody without memories of Judd or Danika's shadow hanging over her. There was only one option for her now; Columbia. Belle would be attending college in the city next year and there was nothing she could do about it.

Belle's phone began to ring; Harriet's hushed her celebrations, winked at Belle and left the room. "Hello?" "B! It's me" Danika's cheery voice from the other end of the phone. "I heard Yale offers were handed out today." "Ah huh, yeah they were." "So? Is Belle Williams going to Yale next year?" "Belle Williams will be at your house in half an hour, we need to talk." Belle hung up. She stood in the middle of her room. She felt as if she had lost all sense of direction and purpose. Where did she go from here?

She arrived at Danika's penthouse 25 minutes later, D meet her at the lift. Her face was full of suspense and worry. "What is it Belle, what's wrong? You sounded so strange on the phone." Judd's deep voice echoed through the foyer in the penthouse. He appeared from behind the corner and he gave Belle a long assessing look. "Yes, I'll be there in an hour," he said to the phone in his right hand. Chuck smirked at Danika and Belle, "excuse me children," he said as he got in the lift, "I have errands to run." "Ugh, ignore him B. What's going on?" "Can we go to your room?"

Belle and her best friend sat in Danika's room on her bed. "So what your saying is you didn't get in?" "Yep." "But Harriet thinks you did?" "Mhmm," "and you're going to let everyone else think you did?" "Ah huh, yeah sounds about right." "But B I don't get it? They'll find out eventually. You know, when you don't actually go to Yale." "I know but by then I would have changed my name and moved to a different country to hide from the humiliation." "Belle, this isn't funny. What are you going to do?" "I don't know D. I mean can you imagine the look on Judd's face? His satisfied, cocky little smirk." "C'mon B, even though he won't tell you, you know how he feels about you. I don't think he would enjoy seeing you unhappy." "Do you know your step-brother at all?" Danika laughed, "Okay, I'll lie to Judd for you, but you have to think of a way to tell everyone the truth."

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