Butterflies | Charli Damelio

ch.10

Here's a more detailed version of the chapter with added dialogue and descriptive elements:

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**Charli's Arrival**

The family chauffeur pulled up to the office, and Charli hesitated for a moment before getting out of the car. Despite being 19, the thought of driving still made her uneasy. She adjusted her sunglasses, gave Rebel, her dog, a quick pat, and walked inside the building, where her parents were already waiting.

As she entered the conference room, she spotted her parents, Marc and Heidi, sitting at a large glass table, surrounded by documents and coffee cups. They both looked up and smiled when they saw her.

"Hi, honey," Marc greeted warmly. "Where's Dixie?"

"She's on her way," Charli replied, offering a small smile as she hugged her parents. "Hi, Mom."

"Hi, sweetheart," Heidi responded, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "How are you holding up? How's your heart?"

Charli sighed softly, taking a seat and reaching for a bottle of water. "I'm... alright, I guess," she said, trying to sound more convincing than she felt.

Heidi exchanged a concerned glance with Marc. "You sound a little down. What's going on?"

Charli hesitated, playing with the cap of the water bottle before speaking. "Bella's been pushing me away," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's been really hard."

"Oh no, why?" Heidi asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

"She's dealing with a lot... like, emotionally draining family stuff. I think she's coping by isolating herself, and I don't want to push her too much, you know? But I feel awful because I just want to help her, and she won't let me."

Marc leaned forward, his expression softening. "Honey, it sounds like she's just trying to process everything on her own. Sometimes people need that space."

Charli nodded, though her eyes were fixed on the table. "I know, but it's hard. I just wish she'd talk to me."

"I'm sure she will," Heidi reassured her. "She sounds like a good person, and she'll come around. Just give her time."

Marc added, "Maybe she doesn't want to overwhelm you with her problems. You could send her a text, just letting her know you're there for her. Or maybe even something simple, like flowers or a card."

Charli considered this, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe... I don't know. I just don't want to make things worse."

Before they could continue, the door to the conference room swung open, and Dixie breezed in, her energy filling the room.

"Hey guys, what did I miss?" she asked, sliding into a chair and looking around.

Charli glanced at Dixie and then sighed. "We were just talking about Bella."

"Oh," Dixie said, her tone more subdued as she caught on to the mood in the room. "Got it."

Heidi smiled sympathetically at Charli. "Honey, follow your gut. You know what to do."

Dixie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, listen to Mom."

Marc chuckled, raising an eyebrow at Dixie. "You just walked in, and you're already agreeing?"

"Because Mom's wise," Dixie retorted playfully. "Whatever Mom said, Charli, do that."

"What about me?" Marc asked, feigning a pout.

Dixie grinned. "And take into consideration what Dad said, too."

Charli couldn't help but smile as Marc made a funny face at Dixie, who laughed along with Heidi. The lighthearted moment eased some of the tension Charli had been feeling.