Chasing The Crown

Chapter 7

Belle

The day is finally here! Today is the day for the Forbes 10 Under 30:Changing The World seminar and I couldn't even be more excited. It starts at 11:00 but at 5:00am I'm already up due to excitement and I must say a bit of nerves rising to the occasion.

I make myself tea and try to relax on the couch enjoying the peace that silence brings. This is all my mom ever needed,her thoughts were all over the place and the voices in her head were always loud,so to shut them up in order to find peace the only solution she had was to commit suicide. I never understood at first I just thought she was running away from her problems and also me but now I know better,I know that she was facing it head on. Tears come to my eyes at the thought of her,maybe if mental health wasn't treated as a taboo back then maybe she would have got help,if people were more open about their struggles she would have seen that she is not alone and that there is a whole community of people who know and understand everything she is going through.

My phone rings disturbing the not so silence now because cars are now hooting,I guess people are starting their day. I quickly glance at the caller ID and it's my sister.
"Hey big sis" I greet trying to shake off the sadness from my voice.
"Hey little one and how are you feeling?" She asks.
"I'm excited,I can't wait" I lie to her.
"And I know that's not the truth so how about you tell me how you really feel huh?" She asks softly.
I let out a huge sigh. Nobody knows me like she does,sometimes it's like she is psychic.
"I'm nervous and a bit sad" I say not wanting to say more.
"Oh sis! With everything that you have managed to accomplish in such a short space of time this should be a walk in the park for you. You are Dr Belle Peters and so much more,that alone should remind you of how powerful your purpose is,that very purpose that got you invited to this seminar. I mean you are one of the two Africans on that list and that alone is a milestone. So chin up and go advocate for what you hold so  close to your heart,what makes you Belle" she says.
With tears streaming down my face I keep quiet so that she doesn't hear that I'm crying.
"And I know you are thinking of mom. Mom is looking over you and she is smiling because of how proud she is of you. You might not have saved her but you are saving a lot of children from what you went through by opening such a needed platform on mental health. This is how God intended it to be,in order to help you first had to go through it. She lives on through us and the many lives that you are touching through the foundation. So don't think of her and be sad because I'm pretty sure that is not what she wants for you,she would want us to think of her and be happy because she never got that chance she always had to pretend she was okay in front of us because of her Depression" she says.
I wipe my tears and nod rapidly like she can see me. I remember that she can't and I let out a little giggle. It's not always sunshine and rainbows,sometimes I wake up with a heavy heart and this little talk Is what I need to get me back on track.
"Thank you very much sis I needed to hear that... I always do on days like these" I say letting out a chuckle.
"I know aren't I the coolest big sister?" She says giggling.
"In the entire world!" I say giggling also.
"Anyway even though I called to check on you I also wanted to let you know that I won't make it today,We have been hired to cater for this really big event and I need to be there to make sure everything runs smoothly and also because we are short staffed. Im so sorry" she says all too quickly.
I laugh at that. Not seeing the need for an apology but what can i say that is Fridah after all.
"No need to apologize sis I understand and I wish you all the best,I'm so excited for you,I hope everything runs smoothly and if I get done quickly then I will come and assist y-..."
"Hell no that will not happen! This is my problem and we can't be having a Miss South Africa in our kitchen you will distract my employees. All you just have to do for me is take a picture with the Prince because I was really hoping to get one today" she says.
I can't help but roll my eyes.
"I'm not his groupie and I don't want to deal with some stuck up rich brat honestly" I state.
The only princes I have ever seen are in movies so I'm imagining that a real life Prince must be the total opposite of what I see on screen because we are only humans after all.
"Please! Pretty please Belle I'm begging you please. Consider it an extra early birthday present Please!" She begs.
I swear I'm not going to like this Prince at all if he makes my sister turn into such a child. Knowing that she is blackmailing me by mentioning her birthday,I let out a sigh.
"Okay but only if you tell Zack how you really feel" I say.
"Ah... Belle come on! That's not fair" she whines.
"That's the deal take it or leave it" I say.
She keeps quiet for a while before agreeing to it. This Prince must be something then for my sister to agree to such. We talk for a while and then I hang up to make myself breakfast.

After taking a long and relaxing bath with salts my doorbell rings. I check the time and it's 09:30am,great!I like people that are on time. I put on underwear and then a bath robe to cover it all up.
I welcome in my stylist and makeup artist. Mandla went out for this because I would have gladly done my makeup by myself. I take a seat and let them do their work,as one works on my face and the other on my hair,they complain about their boyfriends as they work and I break out in laughs here and there at all the madness they go through. I'm glad that I have never involved myself in such. After about thirty minutes plus,the girl who was doing my hair hands me my outfit. They give me privacy so that I can get dressed.

I look in the mirror and I can't help but smile. My hair has four half plated lines on the right which shows off my earrings. The facebeat is on point because I literally look like a living doll. I'm wearing a red power suit with a white shirt,so bold and yet I am so comfortable with that. The look is finished off with red stilleto pumps. I grab my handbag together with my phone and head to the living room to show the ladies their incredible work. They help me take pictures on the balcony which I post on social media and then we are off both heading to our different directions.

Entering the venue there is a green carpet and a lot of photographers from media broadcasters probably also awaiting the prince. I flash them my biggest smile while also answering some of the questions they have while moving inside.
I make it inside and I'm accompanied backstage where a woman fills me in about what I will be doing.Apparently there will be two sessions,the first five which includes of me and the others which I haven't met yet and then the other five later on. Since I'm the first one they all come in one by one and we are introduced to each other and then given more direction about today. We are introduced to the host which is Bonang. Then a few minutes before our makeup is retouched and microphones are attached to us. Then it's show time! As Bonang steps out to greet the audience on stage. She calls us out one by one with all our accolades and I'm the last one. By this time I feel super nervous because God these people have accomplished so much already and I have close to none compared to them. I take a deep breath in and decide to throw all this negativity in the trash as I confidently walk with my million dollar smile to take my seat completing the first five.