AMBER ROMANCE

WHEN THE HEART KNOWS

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX


Nma woke up in the morning to see Uche knotting his tie in front of the dressing mirror, she glanced at the table clock, it was barely seven and she wondered if this was the time he usually left for work or was he just trying to avoid her.
“Good morning” she greeted him, getting out of the bed in her short pink night gown.
“Good morning, hope you slept well?”
“Yes, I slept very well” she didn’t want him thinking she tossed and turned last night wanting him. Not knowing what else to say to him she walked into the bathroom to shower. By the time she came out Uche had gone to work.
That became the routine for them. Uche worked late and slept in his study then came into their room in the morning to get ready for work, sometime he would have left by the time she would wake up.
Nma was very unhappy and it showed. Even though the people close to her have mistaken her tired looks as a sign of pregnancy and teased her about it she denied their accusation half-heartedly. It was better that they thought that her tired look was a result of pregnancy than for them to guess the truth. She and Uche were drifting apart more each day. They rarely spoke to each other, and in fact he was becoming a perfect stranger to her with each passing day. She hardly knew what to do, she had no one to talk to, and she was bearing her burden alone. How could she tell someone that her marriage wasn’t working out when she and Uche behaved like they were the only two people in love in this world in public? She could only pray for a miracle so they could return as they were before Angela spoilt it for them.
The only thing that kept her sane was her work. Especially Eva’s wedding gown had kept her busy. Sometimes she didn’t have to think or worry about Uche and their failing marriage. But then sometimes in the night after they finished dinner civilly and Uche retired to his study to work, she would go to her studio and work till the wee hours of the morning. Then she would drag herself off to bed where she would sleep late and wake up tired and nauseous. She put it down to the problems and emotional aches her marriage was causing her. She hardly had appetite for anything these days; she always missed breakfast and only ate lunch when she remembered to.
“Nma don’t you think you are over doing it? With your condition you should be doing this much” Helen said worriedly some days later.
“What condition?”
“Don’t kid me, or are you saying that you are not pregnant”
“I am not, how many times will I tell you that”
“But you have it written all over you, or can’t you see the changes your body is under-going” Helen told her, she was a little upset with her friend and employer for being so wrapped in her job and loosing sense what is more important in her life right now. She should be taking care of herself, husband and their unborn child.
“I have just been working too hard, you are right, I will slow down, and I worked throughout last night”
“Nma you can’t mean that, where was Uche when you were holed up in your studio all night”
“He understands I have to work, after all it is his sister’s wedding gown I’m working on. He wouldn’t want his sister without a gown on her wedding day and he works pretty hard himself”
“Nma you are now married, you should stop working all night, you’ll kill the passion in your relationship and when that dies, the love will gradually follow suit”
Nma smiled ruefully. If only Helen knew the truth she thought and sighed.
“I’ll go home now and work on Eva’s dress so I don’t have to work tonight and thanks for everything” she left feeling very empty
Nma was still working in her studio when she heard a light tap on the door and the housekeeper came in.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if I should bring you lunch up here”
Nma was astonished and she stared Mrs. Ekpo dumbfounded.
“Mrs. Ekpo what are you doing here?”
“My sister, your house keeper, you know she is my sister right?”
Nma nodded smiling
“Her other daughter just put to bed and she got called away so filling up for her”
“Oh my goodness I am mightily glad to see you”
“You missed your breakfast and now you are almost missing lunch.
“I have not been having appetite lately”
“I understand it is usually like this in the first stages” the woman smiled.
“I’ll come down, just give me a few minutes to finish these” as the woman left, Nma burst into crying. She didn’t know why she was crying but the woman’s kindness touched her. Her head was bent on the sewing machine when the door opened the second time and Uche came in and was shocked to see her crying, he closed the door and went out feeling sad, he knew he had succeeded in turning one happy girl into an unhappy woman.
A few minutes later, Nma came down for lunch not knowing that Uche had come and gone. She only ate to please Mrs. Ekpo who has taken so much trouble to prepare the special meal in order to tempt her appetite. When she had eaten enough, tiredly she went to get some sleep. She did not get up until the next morning.
Feeling tired and nauseous, she saw a cup of cocoa waiting and blessed the Mrs. Ekpo and took a sip. Then she sat and tried to remember the last time she saw her period, it was difficult because she has never been regular, but it’s been two months since her wedding night, that’s kind of unusual even for her.  She panicked, it couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible, she thought. But it was she said to herself as she recalled her wedding night. Remembering alone filled with a longing. Was she pregnant? She asked. Were they right? She walked to the mirror and removed her clothes. Frankly she didn’t know the signs to look for. The only difference in her body was that she seemed a lot slimmer.
She sat down on her bed and felt tears on her cheeks. How was she going to break the news to Uche that she was pregnant, how were they going to bring up a baby in this strangeness that existed between. Helplessly she flopped down on the bed face down and covered her face with her pillow sobbing. That was how Uche found her when he came in to take what he had forgotten and his heart went out to her. He never knew that marriage to him would make her this unhappy. When he had forced her to marry him, he thought that in time she would come to feel the same love he felt for her but he had only succeeded in making her unhappy. He knew he made a mistake going against her wish on their wedding night but he had tried, even though it had been difficult to respect her wishes till she was ready to accept the full intensity of his passion, He thought sadly. Maybe what he should do is give her back her freedom, with that conclusion he took what he wanted and left without disturbing her.
When she calmed down she got ready for work, applying more make-up to cover her distresses. She entered the studio and caught Helen looking worried but as she saw her, she covered it and smiled airily at her.
“Now you look almost good” Helen smiled.
“I took your advice and slept half of the day.”
“I didn’t ask you to sleep, only spend some time with Prince Charming” she joked. “But anyway it did you some good; you are looking like your old self”
“Sorry, I can’t say the same for you; I caught that worried look on your face just some moments ago”
“Oh! It is just that arrogant man you call Chuck”
“Really? What about him?”
“I forgot my purse in his car and he arrogantly asked me to come and get it myself, when I asked him to bring it here”
“Hmm, so my dear girl, what’s the big deal in going to his house to pick up your purse?”
“You don’t understand, I can’t face him, not after what happened when he brought me home that night”
“Interesting, go on”
“He insisted on driving me home when we got to my place, he insisted that I give him a good night kiss, I reminded him again that I wasn’t his date but he said as far as he was concerned bringing me home qualified him as my date. So I decided to give him a peck and rest the case but somehow the kiss landed on his lips but the shameful thing is that I kissed him and when I realized what I was doing I ran out, therefore forgetting my purse”
“Why do I feel it’s my turn to start teasing?”
“Come on, I hate his guts; he makes me feel like fifteen instead of twenty five”
“You know, I will only tell you to go there with your heads held high and pretend as if you are blind to his wealth, his looks and even to the fact that he is a man, you will get even by getting under his skin. Believe me I’m talking from experience” Nma thought about her failing marriage as she spoke and wondered what moral right she had to give relationship advice to another. Well first, she had to go to the hospital to confirm her suspicions. After that she would think of what to do to salvage her marriage.
As soon as she received the news that the test was positive, she didn’t know how to feel about it. Of course she was happy that a life was growing inside her, not just any life but a life she and Uche made together. At the same time she was sad and scared because she didn’t know what kind of life the little innocent growing would be subjected to. She was sure Uche would make a good father and she didn’t doubt that she would make a good mother either, but their relationship now was not the kind to raise a child in. Then she made a resolution to take matters into her hands, they either raise this baby together in love or they would do it apart. She was going to Uche’s office. It was high time they stopped living like strangers.

In Uche’s office the secretary told her he was not around.
“But has he come in today?” she demanded firmly
“Yes he has”
“When is he coming back into office” Nma saw the woman squirming uncomfortably
“He didn’t say but I guess it will be soon”
Nma left then heading home, with any luck she would meet him at home. Even though it seemed unlikely but her hope was up
It was the first question she asked Mrs. Ekpo once she got home.
“He came home but he left again”
Disappointed she went into the bedroom. A large envelope caught her eyes and she picked it up, to her surprise it was addressed to her. Hurriedly she opened it wondering who it could be from and it looked official. She brought out the sparkling white forms and kept the envelope and carefully read the forms. The blood drained from her face and she gasped severally for breathe.
She couldn’t believe it, divorce papers. Uche has just given her di…vo…rce papers. She couldn’t believe it; she didn’t want to believe it as it all dawned on her. She started crying, she didn’t want a divorce she wanted a second chance. She sobbed as if she was dying “Oh God please” she was feeling faint. She thought of the unborn baby, and her hopeless love for him. “No!” she muttered firmly, “not without a fight Uche, for our baby and our love”
She picked up her phone and called his phones but it wasn’t going through then she called his office to ask if he had returned but the secretary said he hadn’t.
Nma rang off and waited for him to come home. Nma took a long soak in the tub later in the evening. She had already asked the housekeeper to prepare Uche’s favorite dinner; she would have done so herself but the smell of food was becoming very irritating to her. She wore a red lace and satin short night gown and left the dark wavy weave on flowing. By the time she came into the living room Mrs. Ekpo had gone for the day but the dinner was steaming and ready. She sat down in one of the Persian couches and waited impatiently for him to come back. She watched the clock tick by and worried if he would not come home at all. It hadn’t occurred to her that he might have left her already; maybe he was waiting until she packed out or signed the divorce papers before he returned home.
Anxiously she waited, closing her mind to any negative thinking and concentrating on the speech she had so well planed and rehearsed to say to him.
Time was flying from eight o’clock to nine o’clock, when it was ten o’clock she stood up and tried to walk off her anxiety. She thought of what to do, he had never returned home this late before. Then a new and a very scary feeling began to creep into her. An accident, picking the phone she called his phones again, it kept ringing but no answer, she taught of calling his friends but she didn’t know what explanations she would give them if he wasn’t at any of their houses. She dialed all his mobile phones again but none was reachable.  She also turned on the television to see if there had been any accident of any kind, by eleven thirty she was contemplating going out to look for him but she didn’t know where to look for him. She watched as the clock it ticked midnight. No, if Uche had an accident somebody would have contacted her by now, maybe he had left, waiting and giving her time to pack out or hear from her lawyer.
“I wont give up” she said “what would I do without him?” he had become an integral part of her life and she didn’t know what else to do with her life other than being married to him.
Nma woke up on the couch, the next morning, she smelled the tempting aroma coming out from the kitchen and she knew that the Mrs. ekpo was already around. She wondered what she would think finding her on the couch and dressed up, not to talk of the untouched meal. Tired and fed up with her sickness that morning she dragged herself to the bedroom.
In the bedroom she took a hot shower and dressed in a flowery fit and flay gown, minutes later the housekeeper brought her a steaming cup of cocoa and she smiled her thanks.
“What will you have for breakfast madam?”
“I’m not hungry; this drink is okay for me”
“I know just what to tempt your appetite. Banana muffins and cherry pies, now tell me you’re not hungry”
“How can I?” laughed Nma and watched as the woman left. She decided that she was going to let Mrs. Ekpo work here permanently and send her surly sister to Eden castle.
Then she looked at the helplessness of her situation, she couldn’t believe Uche wanted to divorce her. Was this the revenge he talked about, leaving so suddenly when she needed him most, Pregnant, confused and afraid? What was she going to do with herself?  She couldn’t even think of life without him, his love was the compass that directed her, now she was being forced to live without his affection. How could life be so cruel, would there never be an end to her sorrows?
“But Uche, I wont let you go” she muttered. Even if you are at the end of the world and I don’t even know how to get there, I will wander until I find you and make you mine again. With that she picked up her mobile phone and dialed Uche’s office and she was told he was not in yet, she dialed his mobile phone for the umpteenth time and it didn’t ring. Feeling dejected she dropped the phone and smiled at the housekeeper as she brought the delicacy, just the aroma watered her mouth. While she fed with eager haste, she thought of what to do, when she finished she dialed Eva, Stanley and Chuck but nobody had seen him, she lied and pretended that she was just calling to say hi and then tactfully asked
“Haven’t you seen him lately” when they asked after her husband. Assured that no one has seen him in two days, she decided to ask the house keeper if she knew anything.

In the living room, Nma saw the house keeper's daughter lying down on the couch and watching a movie, if her mind wasn’t preoccupied with her own problems she would have thought it was strange but she could only think of finding the Mrs. Ekpo.
“Where is your aunt?” she asked the girl
“Right behind you” the girl answered with a smile.
Just as she was turning, she was hit with something hard and she collapsed on the ground.



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Amber Romanx

When The Heart Knows

Chapter Twenty Five


As soon as they got home Nma went into Uche’s bedroom where all her clothes were.  She stared at the large bed longer than necessary. She could still see Angela vividly with that look in her eyes that suggested satisfaction. She herself had that look when she woke up in Uche’s arms this morning. She dismissed it from her mind.
As soon as she noticed Uche coming into the bedroom she moved away from the bed and went to the wardrobe to check where all her things have been kept. Uche moved about, removing his clothes and in order not to give into temptation of staring at him she made a great thing of inspecting and selecting which clothes to wear. She would need something that will help her move about easily. She selected a pair of black jeans and pink blouse. She turned only when she knew that Uche had gone into the bathroom, and dived into her clothes with speed, even though it seemed stupid because he had seen all there was to be seen. She applied her make over and waited for him to come out, she didn’t know why she was waiting but she knew that she couldn’t just go without telling him first. Telling him what, she asked herself. She wasn’t sure what but she knew she had to do something to mend the situation.
“I have ruined my marriage” she blamed herself, “A woman builds and makes her home the way she wants it to be” she said, but she had already destroyed her own before it even began. One mind told her to go to Uche in the bathroom and ask for another chance and as she was about to go, Uche came out of the bathroom, dripping of water and having only a towel about his waist, she swallowed hard with longing.
“Are you still here?” he asked as he ransacked the chest of drawers.
The angry look in his face made her momentarily nervous.
“I was just about leaving”
He practically ignored her and concentrated on his dressing.
“The show starts by 7pm but there will be red carpet from 3:30, by 5pm we will have a little meet and greet with our sponsors, clients, major store owner and friends, you just…”
“I don’t know if I will be there today, I believe I am going to have a busy day”
“But you have to be there. It will look odd if you don’t show up and after our wedding; people will naturally expect you to be there”
“Look, I’m a busy man. I thought you are supposed to be in a hurry and from all indication whether I’m there or not doesn’t make a difference”
“I’ll come back before 12 pm to get ready and leave by 2 in case you change your mind” she said as she left
As she got to the venue of the exhibition, Helen waved her and she started moving towards her.
“How has it been going?” Nma asked as she caught up with Helen
“Fine, the models are just arriving. So how is the honeymoon babe? I thought you wouldn’t come here today, certainly not this early”
“Why not?”
“I never thought prince Charming would let you up this early”
Nma laughed nervously and painfully too.
“You have forgotten this show is my baby and honeymoon can wait”
“All the same everything is going on fine, no mishap; you shouldn’t have come this early”
“Don’t feel sorry for me, for me everyday is my honeymoon”
“I wasn’t feeling sorry for you, just prince charming. The poor man”
“Helen, I came here to put finishing touches and not to discuss Uche with you” Nma walked on to meet the models.
She had a quiet lunch with Helen and after making sure everything thing was set. When she got home, she rang the bell many times before the housekeeper opened the door. Nma was hot with anger when she opened the door, Nma regarded her coolly. “Does this house have some spare key?”
“Yes it does” the woman sulked, eyeing her hardly
“I want the spare key to this door”
“But… Mr.….”
“Look, Mr. Uche happens to be my husband and I don’t care about waiting for eternity to go into my own home” she walked past the woman “and if you are going to continue being surly I suggest you start looking for a new employment”
The woman gasped “Mr. Uche would never let you do that” the woman claimed
“When it comes down to a choice what do you think he would do” Nma smiled as she looked at the woman’s fear “I haven’t forgotten that scene with Angela and please serve me a chilled drink in the room and while you are at it bring me the spare keys”
She left the woman starring at her and ran into her teenage daughter in her usual skimpy wear, Nma stopped and turned to the woman.
“One more thing, I believe your daughter is in need of some new and modest clothes or you find her another home, the choice is yours” she left the mother and child gaping after her.
She dropped her bag on the bed and walked into the bathroom for a long soak in the tub. She knew she was hard on the woman but all she could think of then was the role the woman played in the Angela incident.
When she came out of the bathroom she found the chilled drink on a stool and the keys beside it. She took a long drink and glanced at her watch, where was Uche? She asked agitated. She hoped he would change his mind and come to the event, she thought sighing helplessly because if he didn’t it was nobody’s fault but hers. She walked into the closet and took out the clothes she was going to wear to the occasion and she glanced at her watch again before she sat at the vanity table to apply her make over.
The cell phone rang and she picked it up “hello”
“Nma run when you see me because I am going to kill you”
“Eva, when did you get back into the country?”
“This morning, only to hear of your wedding, I can’t believe you did this to me”
“It was your brother’s fault, he rushed the whole thing. He didn’t see any point in asking you to come because we planned a very private wedding but your mother waylaid us.”
“Remind me to kill him when we see this evening”
“And talking about this evening can I ask you a favor? Remember you owe me one?”
“Ask away”
“Can you do a little modeling for some extra cash you may not need”
It was settled then and she dropped the cell phone and glanced at her watch, she had only about one hour to get to the venue. Uche wasn’t still home, she stood up from the vanity table and picked the skirt she was going to wear, it was a black and silver glittering akwuete material. She had the material made especially for this occasion. The top was a simple cut blouse which emphasized her curvaceous body; the neck was slanted to one side. At her knee where the skirt ended, it had short tassels to cover the bare flesh that showed as she moved, then she put on her silver drop earring, a big silver bangle and she was set. Anxiously she glanced at her watch
“Where is Uche for goodness sake” she cried. She had just about forty five minutes to get to the exhibition.
Uche walked in just that minute in his dark suit and briefcase. Slowly he regarded her.
Nma turned at that minute her relief so evident.
“We have barely thirty minutes” she smiled at him
“Uche glanced at his watch and walked into the bedroom, dropped his briefcase on the bed and began to strip himself of his clothes as if she wasn’t there.
“I’ll have a quick shower” he said as he walked into the bathroom. Happily Nma picked up his scattered clothes and folded them neatly on the bed. She was glad he decided to come and maybe they could talk tonight.
Uche came out of the bathroom in his underwear. He went to his closet to find the right clothes. Nma saw his confusion in choosing what to wear and he glanced at her several times as if trying to choose something that would match what she was wearing. Nma walked past him and stood beside him examining the contents of his wardrobe. From experience she knew Uche didn’t like wearing native clothes because he found them too confining but she had sown him several traditional wears during the good old days which he pushed to the back of his wardrobe. Then she brought out a simple caftan.
“This is better don’t you think?” before he could answer Nma bent low and urged him to step into the trousers, and then she tied the rope on his waist. Uche pulled the caftan over his head; she fused over him trying to adjust the clothe
“I’m not some kind of model you know, you don’t have to deck me up like one”
“I was just helping and it looks perfect and trendy” she said still fingering the caftan. “Trust me this is my field”
By the time Nma finished dressing her husband she had about 10 minutes left. “You will do” she said as she admired her work.
A cream colored limousine was waiting for them in front of the house.
They almost missed the red carpet. Yet as soon as the reporters saw them they went into frenzy as if competing who would take the best shot of them.
Walking into the hall, all eyes turned on them. Several people in glistering dresses were already mingling waiting for the show to start. People from almost all the sector of the economy, she had used her husband’s name as an edge.  Just then Helen waved her and she beckoned her to join them, not without noticing that she came alone, Helen was looking breathtaking in a simple blue gown that molded her figure and still gave her space to move around.
“You look fantastic” Nma cried excitedly.
 “Thank you” she replied while greeting Uche shyly
“Back stage calls” Helen smiled
“Meet and greet for half an hour first darling” Nma replied
“Here come Stanley and his date” Uche said
Nma saw the receptionist who worked for Uche, draped on Stanley’s arm and they were walking towards them. The girl was wearing an Nma label, a short mini gown sown with greenish Ankara and leather material. She let her waist length braids down while Stanley wore a sparkling white caftan. After the introductions were made they sat down.
“The down side of marrying a fashion designer is that you get to dress uncomfortable” Stanley teased Uche.
“I am beginning to think I am someone else” replied Uche trying to get comfortable.
“Oh! But you look real good sir, Nma you are such a genius!” IJ said, Nma quickly turned to Uche to see how he was taking his staff blatant display of familiarity but he seemed not affected by it. Nma looked at the girl and she recognized her type, she was the kind of girls who were too ambitious and hungry for good life and she shook her head in pity. She pitied Stanley and wished he would come to his senses before the girl totally ruined him. She looked at the girl’s skimpy dress and smiled. That clothe was one of most expensive she had made and she wondered just how much the girl was milking Stanley with his good heart.
Then she saw Eva and
“Eva is here” Nma said with excitement. Eva and Charles saw them and started towards them.  Eva was dressed in a black flowing skirt and shimmering gold top which she held together with bold black belt and clung to her figure perfectly. Her whole accessories were black while Charles wore black trousers and white tux, both were Nma’s labels.
“Wow! Uche you look breathtaking in that, your handiwork darling?” Eva said as she gave him a hug “I’m going to kill you after this occasion” she whispered to her brother but everybody heard anyway.
Nma could see that Helen wasn’t comfortable being the only girl without a partner and her heart went out to her, she was quiet throughout the conversation buzzing around them. She was sure Helen couldn’t wait for them to go back stage. Nma smiled and gestured for Helen and Eva to follow her back stage. But to her greatest surprise, Chuks appeared on the doorway in boot cut jeans and T shirts.
“Why is he dressed like this?” she asked no one in particular.
“What a ….” Charles couldn’t finish his exclamation
“Wonders shall never cease” Stanley whistled, Eva continued to laugh while Uche kept quiet.
Nma looked at the scowl in his face; he looked like a bear with a sore head.
“Eva” he shouted as soon as he neared them.
“What?” Eva snapped back at him
“Just tell me where I can find that psycho you call your friend and I will be on my way”
“What happened? And by the way what way is that to address someone” Charles jumped to her defense.
“I don’t care about your protective instinct now, the crazy woman just bashed my new car, not only that she nearly killed Collins, she ran right into him in front of my house, if Collins didn’t jump fast enough he would have had more than a broken arm to contend with right now”
“Is Collins alright?” Eva asked
“Inconvenienced according to him but he will be”
“What did you do to make her crazy enough to make an attempt on your brother’s life?” Stanley asked perplexed
“She knew right from the start that I wasn’t going for happily ever after”
“That’s what you get for messing with the wrong woman” Eva replied
“That is no reason to do something that crazy; she could have killed Collins and herself”
“Eva, you had better think before you introduce me to another of your crazy” with that he turned to go
“Your manners are zero Chuks; no hi to the ladies” Stanley interjected
As if he just realized, he turned to them with an apologetic face.
“My apologies Nma I didn’t mean to spoil your day”
“Why don’t you join us then?” Nma smiled at him
“Like this” Chuks looked at his clothes
“Come on, it doesn’t matter, you carry it off better than most of the guys in tux tonight” Helen looked at Nma in panic and Nma winked at her. Helen was suddenly nervous because now that Chucks wasn’t complaining he was taking notice of the people standing in the group. He was standing beside her and he was wrecking havoc on her nerves. She turned to him with a smile meaning to greet him politely but he gave her a scowl instead and she looked down embarrassed. Of course she wasn’t the kind of girl who would attract his attention. She thought ruefully.
“You are the girl who caught the flowers” he said to her
Helen couldn’t believe it; he had already forgotten that they have been introduced. Helen turned to him and decided to be as impolite as he was being.
“Yes I am but it’s a mere superstition, is it not?”
He looked at her with a glimmer of amusement “what?” He asked
“Superstitious, you know the belief behind catching the flower and stockings”
He laughed and looked at her “If you really believe what you are saying, why are you twisting your fingers”
Helen didn’t know that she was doing that, she had always done that whenever she was nervous but to do so in the presence of the man she was trying to put in his place was very silly of her. She stopped immediately and looked up at him with a frown
“Do you know what I think?” Chucks asked after a while
“No, but I guess you would tell me”
“I think you are hoping I would contradict you” he gave her that charming smile that made him the sexiest man on planet earth
“What exactly is that supposed to mean?”
“Nice try girl but you can stop holding your breath, I am not interested” with that he turned his attention to Stanley. Helen could only stare at him with dismay and embarrassment. Why was Nma wasting time here?
“If your mother was younger, I would have asked her out” Stanley said
Mr. and Mrs. Okoha have just arrived and Rose was dressed in golden off shoulder long evening gown that molded her body and fished out at her ankles. She waved and they started towards them. Nma noticed Chuck squirm uncomfortably as if he wanted to hide.
“Good evening everyone” Rose smiled. She bent and kissed all the ladies.
“Oh my goodness Chuck what are you wearing?”
“The latest style by Armani”
“It bleeds my heart when I think of the energy and time I spent you yet you turn out this way, ”
“He turned out alright I would say mom” answered Uche
Just because you had the good sense to marry a fashion designer doesn’t make you better but Charles and Stanley have always remained good boys”
“Uche chuckled, Chuck scowled and Rose swept away to meet her husband who was now talking with some friends.
Nma turned to Helen then thinking it was time to go back stage, she was just delaying so she would give Helen and Chuks time to get reacquainted but there was a mild commotion at the door stopped her. Everyone turned as Amber entered in a midnight blue gown, which did nothing to hide her tantalizing body. Nma felt her anger rise, just for once she wanted perfect night with friends. She didn’t know how she got in because no one invited her but she guessed no one at the gate would turn her away. Especially now the rumor was out that she was her mother.
Amber walked towards them, anybody looking at her would see only a confident and beautiful woman used to being centre stage, but inside she was quaking. She never knew she wanted her daughter, she was never quite sure she was capable of loving her as a mother should until she met her at Yemi Yem engagement party. And since then all she wanted was an opportunity to be a mother to her only child. And she won’t go away until she achieved that. Nma had a right to be angry, she thought. Who wouldn’t be if they were faced with a mother who never wanted them but she was determined to earn her forgiveness.
Amber came to the table and greeted everybody, Nma watched the men almost come apart at her presence.  Then their eyes locked and Amber smiled at her.
“I can’t wait for the show to start, but I am sure it will be wonderful”
“Thank you” Nma murmured. And looked about for a means of escape, she could feel the awkwardness in the air, every one waited to see what will happen between mother and daughter. Luckily she caught one of her assistants giving her signals to come back stage and she nodded and glanced at Helen to gain her attention, but she was busy arguing heatedly with Chuks who looked unconcerned regarding Helen lazily.
“It is amazing what threat a little girl like you can issue” He said
Nma saw Helen blazing with anger and called it beginning to what she had in mind.
“Excuse me Helen, we are wanted and you Eva” Nma could see the relief in Helen’s face
“What kind of a monster is that?” Helen asked as soon as the three of them were on their way back stage
“Chuck is a nice guy but he doesn’t trust women” Eva answered
“Can you imagine how arrogant he was, he had the gut to tell me he was not interested as if I was giving him the green light”
Eva laughed “That is the Chuck I know. He is an enigma, I don’t understand him myself. When the four of them were growing up I was their baby sister and I tagged along behind them wherever they went or whatever they did much to their irritation. I was a tomboy and did all sorts of wrong things. He was the only one who had the heart to spank me, yet when they were doing the boys’ thing and didn’t want to include me, he was the one who took pity on me and asked for my inclusion in the game.”
“Quite an enigma, tall, rich and handsome what more does a lady want?” Nma asked
“I hate his audacity” Helen said
Eva turned to Nma “So is true, she is your mother”
“I have no mother” Nma answered very quickly
“I know you are hurt but a mother would always be a mother”
Nma turned to Eva eyes blazing but Eva smiled “it is a free advice, so what do you want me to do”
On getting back stage everything was going on smoothly. Nma instructed her girls who were going to help the models in and out of their dresses. The models were found in different stages of dressing. The first dresses to be modeled were the casual clothes. Then she introduced Eva and told everyone her role.
The show began not long after that, first casual dresses. People gasps with admiration as the models came one after the other, the reporters snapped photographs energetically as if it was going out of fashion. The next line of dresses were cooperate wears. They were ranging from western styles to native material. A lot of sighs of amazement and pleasure rang through the crowd. There were corporate skirts with silk blouses, even kente corporate waist coats and suit. People couldn’t contain their pleasures as models paraded evening gowns mostly in native materials a lot of Ij’s kind of skirt with cute tops, asoke evening gowns, even shining brocade and adire were used in making good gowns and other evening attire.
“Your wife is good” Stanley said “I wonder how she does it”
“I didn’t know what she was capable of till tonight”
“It is in the blood” Chucks said “she is Amber’s daughter”
“Where is Eva?” Charles asked worriedly
“Don’t worry about her much; I don’t think my wife would do her any harm” Uche answered.
The men chuckled at the ridiculous idea.
Uche was quiet through it all, watching with ever growing respect for Nma and her work. She was actually good, talented and creative. If she would apply some of the creativity to their marriage, he thought ruefully.
As the models started modeling the wedding gowns and the wedding attires, people could only stare unbelievably from the little brides to pageboys, to bridesmaid and groom men attire. When all the wedding attires have been paraded, The MC announced the last item but not the least and he termed it the master piece.
Just then Eva stepped on the runway in the sparkling white satin and lacy affair sown in the eighteen century style. The gown was an off shoulder long sleeved gown which molded her burst and clung to her waist , then belled out in a big skirt and it swept the floor as she moved, her veil was a short one designed so it won’t cover the flesh the off shoulder barred.
Beside her was a male model dressed equally in eighteen century attire, a black tail coat upon tight white trousers with long black boots, the trousers were tucked into it and he held a short staff on his arm. This time around the crowd couldn’t help standing up to clap.
“Eva!” Charles exclaimed looking at others to make sure his eyes weren’t deceiving him. They smiled and nodded. He was very proud of Eva as she cat walked slowly down the walkway. When the couple got to the center stage, the groom lifted Eva’s veil and kissed her briefly on her lips.
“Now that is over doing it” Charles fumed
Chucks laughed and Uche smiled quietly he wasn’t sure of what he would have done had it been Nma kissing the model. Chuks turned to Uche at that moment and said “You know, you’re in for a lot of competition, your wife is very beautiful and talented”
“Yeah, she is, why do you think I rushed her into marriage”
“Wise guy, but the kind of look she has been getting from these men seems as if they couldn’t careless if she was married to a dragon”
“I trust my wife” Uche said meaning it
Just then all the models came out one last time including Eva and formed a double line, made an isle for Nma as she came out and waved the guest and the people clapped harder, some even had to stand up as a mark of respect for her, she waved Uche and blew him a kiss before she went back stage.
Shortly after that she, Eva and Helen came out to join the men. As the three ladies came out, Uche hugged his wife to show her he was very proud of her. Nma raised her face for a kiss but it never came and she was highly disappointed.
As people moved around greeting acquaintances but above all wanting to exchange greetings with Nma, Nma spotted Tessy and waved her and Tessy started towards them in a red chiffon knee-length evening gown.
“Oh! Nma, I am so proud of you, you can’t believe the praises people have been heaping you” Tessy hugged Nma excitedly.
“You were marvelous, I’m thrilled” she continued
Then she stopped suddenly as if noticing the others around. She greeted Uche and his friend excitedly
“Who is this lovely lady?” Chuck asked, smiling for the first time since he came into the room
Tessy turned and regarded him obviously taken aback by his looks
“Nma you should introduce us”
“Sorry Mr. she’s already taken” Felix said circling Tessy’s waist from behind drawing her to rest on him, Nma saw as Tessy relaxed on him while Felix nipped at her bare neck.
Tessy introduced Felix as her husband to everyone jovially
“I told you all the nice girls are taken” Chuck smiled
“Hungry?” Felix asked Tessy, sitting her down. “Wait here, I’ll go and get you something to eat”. “Felix, I can get my own food and I’m not sick, just pregnant” Tessy protested.
“Doctors advice” he winked at her and left
As if Felix had reminded them of food, Charles led Eva to the buffet table. One by one they all dispersed in search of food leaving Helen alone with Chuck. Helen didn’t understand what she was waiting for, she didn’t come with the guy so she couldn’t probably be expecting him to lead her to buffet table. Just as she was about to move away, he said to her “I didn’t come here with you so stop acting as if I’m your date” there was amusement in his eyes but Helen was blind to it.
“You flatter yourself Mr.” Helen walked out towards the buffet seething.

Everything went well Nma thought as she kicked off her shoes tiredly, she was tired but she wanted to talk to Uche first. She watched as he undressed un-self-consciously and she followed suit blocking her shyness. But to her surprise Uche was pulling on an old jean and polo Tee shirts and she wondered where he was going. “Where are you going?”
“To my study, I have work to do”
“I thought you would be tired after tonight” Nma was pleading with her eyes.
“Don’t worry about me I’ll survive and besides you would prefer to have a more peaceful night rest without worrying what I’m going to do next” with that he left for his study.
Nma felt tears run down her cheeks, crying as she got ready for bed and slipped beneath the sheets, she remembered the affection Felix and Tessy shared, Charles and Eva and even Chuck and Helen were showing signs of romance but she and Uche were another story. To everybody tonight they were one happy and lucky couple but that was because they didn’t know the gulf that existed between them. If only she hadn’t acted as if he had raped her last night, things wouldn’t have gotten to this extent. Maybe she should give him time to mellow down before she tried talking to him again. She didn’t know what else to do other than making amends, they were already married and they might as well live in harmony if not love. But she must extract a promise from him that what happened with Angela would not repeat itself either with Angela or any other woman. Having come to that conclusion she willed herself into sleeping.

She watched and vowed to end the life of the one who took away her happiness.




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AMBER ROMANCE

WHEN THE HEART KNOWS

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR


“What’s so funny” Uche asked puzzled
“Your friends, they are so unpredictable, especially Stanley he is so naughty” she laughed
He smiled at her “Naughty but good, I hope he ties the knot this time around”
“Is he seriously dating someone?” she asked
“Hard to believe but he is dating my receptionist, they seem serious. He brought her to my wedding. That looks like a sign” he explained leaning back. “But as you said my friends are very unpredictable and Stanley is a typical player”
“Just like you” Nma wanted to say but caught herself in time. “Where are we heading? She asked instead
“I thought we should stay the night at one of our hotels, it is our honey moon after all and a honeymoon suite has been prepared for us”
“Uche this is not a real wedding, it is a sham, why do we need honeymoon suite”
“I thought you understood the man at the court. Open your eyes babe; this is as real it can ever get”
“The circumstance we got married under…”
“The fact still remains that we are now husband and wife and I will demand and have all my conjugal rights. So don’t start getting funny ideas”
She stared at him, what was going on? She knew all along that he wasn’t getting married to her because he couldn’t bear being separated from her.  But it didn’t lessen the pain of finally accepting that he married her to get what he had set out for in the first place, her virginity. The thought alone was chilling and scary but she was not going to go down without a fight. She vehemently vowed
“How am I supposed to get ready for my show, my bag and clothes are all in your house?
“You will have time enough, your exhibition is in the evening and it is not as if we are miles away”
She kept quiet and watched as they drove into the five star hotels. A door man opened the door for them ushered them into the hotel.
“Congratulation sir” the man greeted them. It was the same greeting they got as they walked through the hotel and into their suite, a cold shiver ran through her spine and it dawned on her what was going to take place here. Nervously she turned to Uche; he was tipping the bell boy who had carried their luggage. As soon as the boy left she glared at him.
“Uche what is the meaning of all these? She asked angrily “Is it not bad enough that we have to come here and stay when this is not a real marriage, do you have to deck the whole place up as if we are still in love?”
Uche’s eyes lazily followed the deck up from the flower filled and scented room to the Champaign sitting in a bucket of ice, to the dinner waiting in silver dishes and complete with candle light. Yes, he agreed, she was right the place was meant for newly married couple who are in love. But he did it because he was hoping that they would recapture the love they once shared. He looked at her angry face and answered “it is our honeymoon we have always wanted it be like this”
“That was before…when I was in love with you” she shouted at him
“So you are saying you are no longer in love” asked Uche calmly.
“If you really love me in the least way, you would not have helped me without blackmailing me into this marriage” she said in a whisper
“Maybe one day I would explain it to you and you would understand but right now I would just be wasting my time”
“…because you know I won’t listen to any more lies from you!”  She shouted and ran towards the bedroom but she stopped when she opened the door. What greeted her eyes was a big double bed with pure white satin sheets. There were rose petals scattered all over the top of the bed. She stood there transfixed and watching dumbfounded.
“The dinner is getting cold, you should use the bathroom” he touched her and she jumped away from him looking at him with wide confused eyes.
“I won’t do anything you don’t want to do, but let us at least pretend for this single night that we are happy as happy as we once were. I’ll sleep here in the living room, you can have the bedroom” he smiled to reassure her “but hurry up, the dinner is getting cold and I am hungry”
“Promise me you won’t touch me, not tonight, not ever”
He could see the fright in her eyes and his heart went out to her. “I promise I won’t touch you tonight or ever unless you want me to”
Reassured she walked into the bathroom to take her bath, she sat beside the bath tub running the bath, a light tap came on the door and Uche came in bearing an overnight bag in his arms, “I guess you’d be needing this, Tessy helped me pack it” he dropped the bag and left.
After that Nma took her time in taking her bath trying to calm her nerves. Then she realized that she was more afraid of losing everything to him than she was angry with him for setting all these up. Already she has lost her heart and mind and her body was the only part of her she could still call her own, she thought. Who was she kidding, she lost her body a long time, if she didn’t ever sleep with him, then she would die a virgin. She could never bear the thought of being touched by another man. The thought was not a satisfying one, she reasoned as she came out from the bathtub and began to dry herself.
She brought out the only clothing in the bag and shook it out. It was a white night gown. Where did Tessy get this? She asked herself puzzled and her eyes widened as she saw the style of the gown. How could Tessy do this to her? She asked, how was she supposed to wear this before Uche after all she had said to him? She wore the night gown experimentally and faced the mirror, she wouldn’t. She couldn’t possibly wear this before Uche. She turned and looked at pure white silk gown. The slit at both sides ended at her hips and it dipped so low at the back that it left nothing to be imagined. Her worst problem was the front; it was made of lace and bared all. Where did Tessy get this? This wasn’t one of her design, though she seemed to recognize Helen style in the design. There was no way she was going to wear this.
“I can’t” she said aloud, shaking her head. And it had no coat to cover it. Well face it, a voice said in her mind, it is either you go back to Uche in your wedding gown or wear this. Wouldn’t it be childish and ridiculous if she came out in her wedding gown? As she was thinking a bang came on the door, Uche was growing impatient.
“It is time you come out, you know I am not going to jump you and besides you can’t hide in there forever” he shouted through the closed door.
Reluctantly she opened the door and stepped out in the night gown. “I wasn’t hiding” she snapped at him to cover her embarrassment and walked straight to the table set for two without waiting to see his reaction.
Uche gaped at her, he was dumbfounded. This woman was really out to torment him, he thought. Was this her way of punishing him for forcing her into marriage? How was he supposed to keep his hands off her when she was wearing that that flimsy excuse for a night gown? Dazed he went to sit opposite her and that didn’t help at all because through the lacy cup of the night gown, he could see everything. He prayed for strength but he wondered how his prayers were going to be answered with the kinds of thoughts that were going through his mind. Didn’t she realize what a bundle of temptation she was to any warm blooded man and here she was wearing practically nothing and expecting him to be a saint.
Nma ate in silence, the food was quite delicious but in her mouth it tasted like dust, she prayed for time to fly so she could escape to the sanity of the bedroom.
When they were done with eating, Uche took her hands and led her to the couch where he opened the Champaign. It was a non alcoholic brand, she didn’t take alcohol and he knew it. She watched as he poured the wine, she was mesmerized by the mood. It was complimented by the sound of soft love song coming from the musical set. How was she going to say no to him if he made a move towards her, not when she had to link her hands together to keep them from reaching out towards him? She wanted relax on his body, she wanted close her eyes and feel his heart beat with his powerful hands around her. How she wished she hadn’t gone to his house and found him with Angela? This could have still been the honeymoon of her dreams. She could hardly control her overactive imagination which has been conjuring pictures of what it would feel like to be loved by him. Without being aware of what she was doing, she raised her cup as Uche made a toast.
“For us tonight and ever” he toasted and she echoed him and sipped from her cup. She smiled boldly at her husband who was looking breathtaking handsome. How did she ever think she would be able to resist him, when she was dying with disappointment at the thought that he might stay true to his promise. He only needed to look at her as he was doing to melt all her defenses if she had any left.
“It would be a waste not to dance to this song, it happens to be my favorite” it was another of west Life songs. It was also her favorite from their latest album. He stood up and offered her his hands. And she put her hands in his and stood up. As they danced, the lyrics of the music wafted from the set and sipped into their bone marrow. Uche said a silent thank you to west life for helping him to say the very word he couldn’t say but wanted desperately to say because he wanted Nma to hear. As the music expressed his feelings, he drew her closer into his hands, she tightened her hands around his neck and he felt her shiver from the sheer closeness and he couldn’t resist planting a kiss on her head and her neck, instinctively she raised her face for his kiss. He couldn’t hold himself back, at the back of his mind was the promise he made to her, and he didn’t want her to wake up beside him in the morning with anger and hatred but she wasn’t helping at all as she raised her lips for his kiss and he couldn’t resist. As he placed his lips against hers, they both sighed with pleasure simultaneously and he kissed like he had never before. And just then the music changed to Whitney Houston “HOLD U” so he remembered, Nma thought, she had always wanted to play this song on her wedding night and she sighed her pleasure as the kiss continued. All thoughts of why Uche shouldn’t touch her flew out of her mind. How could she not want this? She reasoned and when he lifted her in hands and started striding towards the bedroom not one single protest escaped her mouth. Not even when he laid her down on the white satin bed covered with red rose petals but she knew a moment of panic then but it was momentarily, this was her husband and she wanted him and there was no way she was going to deny herself. She watched impatiently as Uche joined her on the bed and all her reasoning ability went to the winds.

Nma woke up in stages; she felt Uche’s hands tighten around her waist and that brought her back to the events of the past day. She was now Mrs. Okoha, Uche’s wife and this was her honeymoon. Last night came back to her, she couldn’t count how many times his searching hands woke her during the night. What beautiful experiences it was, she sighed with smile. It was everything she had imagined. The gentle way he had loved her, taking his time to please her without frightening her and drawing her out of her shy inhibition to match his pace. She could still remember his passion laden deep voice as he told her
“I will hurt you only this first time and never again” she smiled happily, thinking how lucky she was to be his wife. She wondered if she pleased him as well. She was shy and nervous the first time but thinking of the things she had done subsequently out of her own volition, she cringed inside.
She never knew she was that passionate, she never knew this wild side of her nature until last night with her husband. Without meaning to, she began to feel jealous of all the other women who had been touched by him. Those women who must have felt the way she was feeling now, like Heaven was breath away. She remembered Angela and the satisfied look she saw in her eyes that morning and her happiness crumbled.
Angela was the only other woman she knew who must have felt like singing just like the way she was feeling now, she thought hurt and angry. She looked at herself lying naked beside Uche who was sleeping soundly; he looked relaxed and a bit exhausted. She remembered Angela telling her how virile he was and how high his libido was and she sighed in shame. Angela couldn’t have known unless from experience and experience has shown her that indeed Angela was right.  And she wondered angrily what happened to her resolve not to let things come to this.
Then she remembered the sophisticated way he had seduced her with wine, flowers, good food and soft music after he had promised he wouldn’t touch her. Angrily she slowly removed his hands from her waist and stood up; she picked up his robe from the floor and belted it around her. She walked over to the window feeling like a fool. He once told her that if he wanted to sleep with her, he only needed to use his experience to overwhelm her and get her to do what he wanted her to do and the fool she was she fell for it, but never again she vowed. But could she honestly say it was entirely his fault? She reasoned. She wanted to be loved by him desperately and he didn’t have a prayer not with that night gown. She had thoroughly enjoyed it and still wanted to be with him again, her eyes widened in surprise at the thought of still wanting him. she was not in denial that she loved him and wanted him but she didn’t want to make it easy for him after he cheated with Angela and didn’t have the guts to own up to it. It would be after he had owned up to his sins that she would give in to her own desires and passion to make love to him once again.
She felt a gentle pressure on her shoulders “Good morning” Uche breathed drawing her into his arms. Without meaning to she relaxed on body and sighed with pleasure, enjoying the warmth and comfort his body represented.
“Did you sleep well?” he asked
“I can’t say for sure, someone woke me up every time I tried aside from that it was wonderful”
Uche turned her around and peered into her face as if to make sure she was alright. Nma smiled up at him a bit shy with his intense gaze and he smiled relieved and then he kissed her softly and slowly deepened the kiss. She was lost again and she gave herself up to the pure pleasure she was feeling inside. He loosened the robe and kept kissing her. “Come back to bed” he urged her in a whisper.
At that instant reality set in and she remembered what she had vowed to do, never to give in to her desire of being held in his hands again till he proves to her that he wouldn’t cheat on her again.
“No I don’t think so” she replied and stopped kissing him.
Taken aback, he asked “Why?”
“I don’t have the time, I need to get to my boutique very early this morning” she turned away from him and began walking towards the bathroom.
“But the sun hasn’t risen yet it is not even day” his words stopped her and she stood at the bathroom backing him turgidly, you have to be strong, she said to herself. Don’t allow your treacherous body or the love you have for him to bring you down.
“There is still time but I don’t want to waste it lazing in bed with you. I have better things to do with my time” and she walked into the bathroom, leaving him there standing with awe.
Uche sat down hurt and angry. It was no use, he told himself. It was high time he stopped loving this woman. She was never going to love him or forgive, he thought. Who was he kidding, did she ever loved him at all, if she did, she would have believed him that he never cheated on her and she wouldn’t ever say things that would bleed his heart. Never again would he open himself to be hurt by her action. End of fantasy it was high time he took some serious decisions. He was ending the marriage, he would not take this anymore. He wondered what he did to deserve this uncaring woman who didn’t understand the meaning love. If you love somebody, you would not deliberately hurt that person, he thought. Nma didn’t love him and he would never live with a woman who didn’t. But you forced her to marry you, a voice taunted inside his head. He stopped and considered that and brushed it aside, it was obvious to everyone that he loved her. Though he forced her to marry him, it was so they could be together and learn to trust each other but he was through loving her if he wanted some peace.
Nma came out of the bathroom in her wedding attire, Uche was already dressed in wedding trouser but he rolled up the shirt revealing powerful biceps. At that moment she wanted him more than any other thing in the world and regretted her earlier attitude and decision. She has been censuring herself since then. She took a deep breath and walked to him to apologize. He raised his face when he heard her and the anger she saw in them shocked her and she stopped in her tracks.
“Breakfast has been served that if you have enough time for it” he added sarcastically
“Are you not hungry?” she asked quietly, searching for the opportunity to apologize and breakfast seemed a good one.
“what would you care if I was, all that matters to you is your show, you even got married to a man you didn’t care for just for it” he told her “And don’t ever make it look as if I seduced you because you would have given it as a price for your show if I had asked”
“Uche…I…” she began
“Please” he cut in “If we can hurry through this breakfast thing, we have wasted enough time as it is” he walked away into the living room.
She stood there perplexed and confused, she tried to blink back her tears “what have I done?” she cried silently. She had never seen him like this before. “I have chased him away but oh... she gasped for breath. How were they going to live together after this, or has he decided against that too. How could she have been so stupid, without this man her life would come to nothing, without him there will be no her. Now she had gone and blown up the only chance at happiness they had. Feeling hurt and dejected she left the bedroom. She found Uche facing the window and nursing a mug in his hands. She was torn between going to him and not going to him. This was a side of him she had never seen before. Where did the besotted guy go?  This Uche standing there would not listen to her, she thought. She would wait for a more convenient time to talk to him. With that decision she surveyed the contents of the tray with little interest and no appetite rather she poured herself a mug of chocolate drink. As she drank she watched his rigid posture and wondered if it would not be too late if she left off talking to him till later. She took a deep breath and approached him. He didn’t acknowledge her presence but she was determined to talk.
“Uche…” she waited for him to turn but when he didn’t, she continued. “I am sorry I talked that way, I wasn’t thinking at all”
Slowly he turned and walked over to table to drop his mug, only then did he look at her and she was frightened by the lack of emotions in his eyes. “I am sure you were thinking of your exhibition, I won’t keep another minute” he picked up the car keys
“I…just….
“Please I have things to do, things I have neglected these past days chasing shadows”
“I know I have hurt you, please forgive me. I wasn’t only thinking…” she began
“I am sure you were also thinking of how expertly I used your body but I assure you that as desirable as you are, you won’t find me camping outside your room, you are free of my unwanted attention, and shall we leave”
She had to blink back her surprise and she stood up after that “I’ll get my bags” she started towards the bedroom.


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AS THE STORY WHEN THE HEART KNOWS GRADUALLY COMES TO AN END WITH ONLY A FEW CHAPTERS LEFT, THIS IS AN EXCERPT OF WHAT WILL COME NEXT.

And what she saw took her breath away. 
On the bed was six feet four of her every desire. He was lying on top of the bed spread; bare chest wearing only his jeans, the top button was undone. His long hair was unbound and spread all over the pillow. She swallowed hard. No one had the right to be this beautiful in sleep. One muscular hand was beneath his head and the other on his flat and hard stomach. She took a step forward, she couldn’t help herself. She could see herself leaning down to kiss those lips that usually appeared hard and stubborn but in sleep looked soft and beckoned on her to lean over. She took a step backwards, breathing hard. What was she doing? She should leave…at that particular time, she knew as she was sure  of the existence of a supreme being governing the whole universe that he was the only man for her. 
Should she wake him? She thought against it. She didn’t have the heart to wake him, he looked so peaceful, and ruggedly sexy that she was afraid of what she would happen if she touched him, she knew that she wouldn’t stop at a mere touch. She would want to explore that beautiful body. What wouldn’t she do to have him open those metallic green eyes and smile her welcome? She shook her head. The reality was if he woke up he would be mad at her for intruding on his privacy. Geez he could have been with a woman! The best thing to do she thought was look around for the purse and leave before he could wake up. With her mind made up, she walked to the first drawer and opened it and began to search them one after the other. So she didn’t notice him stir and wake.

Chucks woke to the feeling that he was not alone. Geez he couldn’t remember coming into the room let alone falling asleep. What a day, he had a lot planned, first he wanted drop in on Stanley and see which of his friends was up to some exercise, these days Stanley was almost his only pal with Uche and Charles succumbing to married lives. Still he hated going to Stanley’s house because he didn’t like his gold digger live in girl friend. He looked at his watch and knew that going over to Stanley’s house was out question. Stanley would be at work. That was when he heard the noise. He slowly looked and saw a girl going through his drawer. Chuck couldn’t believe it, maybe he was still dreaming, so he closed his eyes and opened them again but the girl was still there. How did she get in. slowly he sat up
“Found what you looking for?”
She froze with horror! Oh! Please this can’t be happening, what was she going to do? Run, run, her mind screamed at her. It echoed all around her. She could hear her mind screaming the same words to her some other time when she faced another man what seemed like two life times ago, the faceless man in her dream. Slowly she turned to face him and the look she saw in his eyes frightened her. she was not seeing chuck but she was relieving a horror that had remained blank in her mind. the man moved and she panicked and she made a sudden mad dash for the door but Chuck was anticipating that exact move and he was on her before she could open the door but to his surprise the girl started fighting with all her power to escape him. He restrained her as best as he could but she proved to be quite strong for the slender girl that she was. In her struggle the two of them fell to the ground. Chucks found himself landing on top of the girl and she winced loudly with pain because of the impact of his weight. She quit struggling
“You are crushing me you moron”
Chucks couldn’t believe it, the girl had the audacity to speak let alone call him names. She tried to struggle again
“It won’t do you any good” he told her “I am not letting you up till you tell me who you are and what you are doing here?”
She was breathing hard, trying to catch her breath before she tried explaining but it was difficult to draw a breath let alone speak, the guy was resting his whole weight on her…but somehow it felt nice to have his hard body pressing down her. How many times had she dreamed of this?
"Answer me!”
“First of all” she began “you are killing me and I have not mastered the act of staying in this kind of provocative situation with man while I tried to explain myself to him”
Chuks then noticed their position. He was lying fully on top of her and she was really too small and very soft. He felt a stirring in his loins which quite surprised him. He looked at her face. She had very beautiful lips, quivering and begging to be kissed. Without thinking he swooped down and stole her lips in a kiss.
At first she was too stunned to react, her first instinct was to protest and she opened her mouth to do exactly but that was exactly was Chucks was waiting for. As he deepened the kiss, Helen felt her control slipping away and she held on to him.
Chucks knew the exact moment he won the battle, so he relaxed the hold he had on her lifted her to the bed.
Helen didn’t notice when he lifted her. So lost was she in the soul searing kiss. But when her back touched the soft bed and when she felt his hands searching for her zipper, reality returned. What was she doing? 
“Where is the zipper?” chucks asked huskily
“Get off me! What are you doing?"
Her words didn’t register at first so he bent to kiss her some more. He had never felt like this before with any woman . But she turned her face away
“Is this how you treat all who come to steal from you or is it just me?”
He stopped immediately and gave her the full impact of his green eyes. At that point it had gone several shades of deeper green and smoking hot.
“Well not all my thieves are this hot and begging for it”
“I am begging for nothing except that you get off me so I can draw a good breath”
It hit him all over again how small she was against his body and how well she fit in there. But he must be crushing her as well. So he shifted his weight a little. And exhaled, what just happened, he asked himself. The girl was a thief for crying out loud…she came to steal from him and all he could think was tossing her skirts over her head and making mindless love to her? Disgusted with himself and got up from bed and walked round to face her.
She stared at him and dropped her eyes unfortunately they landed on the unbuttoned  jeans and she wondered if she had done that in frenzy to to…she couldn’t even say what possessed her to jump Chucks Obi the way she did. Now he must think she was a thief and worst a whore too. She shuddered again and wondered if it was still possible to escape.
Chucks followed her eyes to the door 
“Don’t even think about it, or this time around we might not stop at just a few kisses”
“Why did you kiss me?” she didn’t know who was more shocked at her words where did that come from. She asked herself, calling herself all kinds of fool.
Good question chucks thought but irrelevant at the moment. In his saner moment he could ask himself that
“Don’t play smart because I am the one asking the questions, how did you get in here?”
“Through the gates”
“You expect me to believe that the security allowed you in without my permission”
“No they didn’t but your brother allowed me”
“Why would he do that?”
She shrugged “I guess you should ask him”
“So who are you and what do you want to steal from me?”
“I assure you I am not a thief and it is your fault that I am here looking through your things”
Chuck couldn’t believe it, “so how is it my fault that you sneak into my house and go through my things”
“Well you don’t recognize me, we have met severally and this is not the first time you are stealing a kiss from me. The first time I left something behind, I came to get it.
His eyes dropped to her lips again.
“Who are you?”
She stood up “Helen Nma’s co designer” she smiled as he looked at her with recognition.
“Mousy Helen?”
It hurt that he called her that; she wanted to hurl herself at him. But then she felt a kind of confidence that was foreign to her
“Mousy must be to your liking then honey because you keep stealing kisses from me, and I know I should be flattered that Chucks Obi is having some kind of romantic affair with my lips but the fact that he kisses anything in skirt takes the romance out of it”
Chucks was shocked speechless for the first time in his life, he could only stare at her
“I came for my purse; I shall need it this evening for Nma’s son’s party”
Chucks chuckled and went to a drawer and brought out the purse. 
Helen became a little disappointed, just like that; he was going to hand the purse over just like that. But wasn’t that what she wanted, she asked herself. No she answered herself she wanted more, but she couldn’t put her finger on what exactly is more.
“Here you go” he handed her the purse but took it back as she was about to take it from him.
“it seems as if you have gone through so much trouble to get this purse or is it to get kissed but I think you enjoy the fact that I steal kisses from you” he gave her that bone melting smile of his, his green eyes flashing mischievously.
What are you talking about?
“I think it is only fair you get all that you came here for today”
Helen began to shiver but she didn’t know if it was from fear or excitement.
“I only came to get my purse and I thought I could look for it myself instead of waking you”
“You are not a good liar”
He came to stand very close to her, she backed away and he followed, she continued to back away till her back touched the wall and her breath quickened when she saw the intense way he was staring at her.
“Ever since I stole that first kiss, you have not forgotten it, part of you came here today hoping I would kiss you again” he smiled when he saw her swallow
“Am I right” he asked and rubbed her lips with his thumb
Helen couldn’t have denied it if her life depended on it.
“Am I right because if you don’t answer I will not grant you your wish, I may have stolen two kisses from you before but I am yet to kiss you the way I kiss my women? So what is it going to be?”
The thought of him not kissing her was unbearable. Helen wasn’t thinking straight, all she wanted was to be held in his hands and she couldn’t remember a time she didn’t want that very thing since she saw him on television.
He kissed her eyes, her fore head, the side of her mouth, she turned her face to his lips, and he evaded her
“I need to hear the words first”
“Kiss me please”
And he kissed her, crushed her against the wall with his full weight. She clung to him because it felt like all her bone has melted. She felt like she was floating through galaxies bursting with lights and magic. She held on and tried to get closer to him as much as she could.
What started as punishment for her changed  and he couldn’t tell who was punishing who? He wanted more than this kiss, he wanted this woman more than he wanted to breathe. He had never wanted like this ever in his life, not from any woman he had known. Yet in her hands he felt like he depended on her for breath. He wanted her forever; somehow the thought brought him back to life. He wrenched his lips from hers. They both stared at each other, breathing heavily.
Wordlessly he handed her purse and turned away from her. Helen looked at the purse and shame washed all over her. What possessed her to act like a cheap hussy? She wanted to say something; she wondered what was going through his mind. What would he think of her?
“I…I” she didn’t know what to say or what she wanted to happen
“You should leave, unless you want to spend the whole day on my bed” he turned to look at her then, smiling coyly all traces of passion gone “as much as I would like that, I have other things to do that are far more enjoyable”
Helen was shocked as shame washed over her anew. Without another word, she turned and left. Chuck sat down and closed him eyes, he wondered what was wrong with him? Who could have known that mousy Helen was this soft and yielding and giving, that she could make a man mindless with lust? He chuckled and that exact moment he remember how she got in…he grabbed a shirt and went to see his fool of a brother.

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Chioma Onuoha

Hello readers, rewriting this because of typos. 

As this beautiful love story gradually comes to an end, I will post an excerpt of what to expect next. You will love it I assure you. Uche and story will soon end but has not ended yet. So please don't just read and go, don't enjoy alone. Share with others on social medias and in person

Love you all 

Chioma

Amber Romance

When The Heart Knows

Chapter twenty three


“Sorry I’m late” Uche said as soon as she opened the door.
“No problem, come in”
Uche came in stopped short as he saw Mike relaxing on a cushion.
“Hi! We meet again” greeted Mike with smiles.
Uche ignored him and turned to Nma in anger. “What is he doing here?”
“He just came to visit” she answered
He turned back to Mike with a glare “Look Mr. whatever your name is, I have had a hard and long day and all I want is some quiet and peace with my fiancée. If you will please leave before I throw you out and never dream of coming back here”
“Mike is like family to Felix”
“Sorry honey but I am not in the mood for a family get together right now”
“Oh! Don’t worry, I will just leave” Mike interjected standing up “But think about what I told you, you are an independent woman, don’t let anybody push you around” with that he left.
“I hope you are now satisfied with yourself and your action” she fumed
“I was only trying to save you from him” he told her quietly.
“What makes you think I needed any saving from him, if there is anybody I need to be saved from, it is you?”
“Now listen, I can smell his kind from a distance, they are sulkers for rich women. Have you told him about your bankruptcy?
She stared at him blankly
“I guess you haven’t but tell him and see if you will see him anywhere around you again”
“Yet you didn’t have to be so impolite” she censured calmly
“I did not come here to discuss Solomon or David or whatever his name is, I came to see you” he interjected. He drew her into his hands and gave her a good kiss.
“What’s cooking?” he asked when he let her go “I am really hungry” he continued sniffling the air.
“I made dinner, nothing really that much but you can stay if you want to” replied nervously
Uche walked to the dinning table and started opening dishes. “You call this nothing much. You cooked for two, me or David?
“I was expecting you, do the math”
“I am flattered and lucky that David didn’t talk you into giving him my share” he said mockingly
“Are you implying I am hare brained?”
“Not in the least way, but that looks like what David would do”
“His name is Mike! Don’t tell me you are suffering lapses in your memory”
“I seem to remember something dinner or that you made one”
She smiled tiredly, it was no use arguing with the man, he was so impossible when he wanted to, she thought.
“I made dinner” she began to rearrange the dishes nervously
“Leave the dishes as they are, you are not nervous are you? I have eaten your food before and I remember I gave a good verdict”
“I am not nervous” she snapped at him and sat down, she opened one of the dishes, revealing the contents
“Wow! Am I hungry for this?” he whistled. “Have you told Felix that we are back together?”
“Yes I have”
“I take it he wasn’t overjoyed over it”
“Everyone is not supposed to like you and not when you have given them little reason to do so”
“I guess you are right… I also talked to him” he told her
She looked up startled “I see”
“He told me about your mother”
“So he did”
“Now I see what he was worried about, I guess you are still in shock realizing she is really your mother after years of idolizing her”
“I am not in shock; it is just that I am so used to not having a mother that I don’t care for one now”
“She is your mother; it is never too late…”
“And it is my business, please if you have nothing else to discuss, I would love to catch up on much needed sleep”
“Felix agreed to stand with us on Friday.”
“For what?” then understanding dawned on her. The man was moving too fast for her.
“You are not paying attention”
” Nma asked alarmed. “Which Friday?”
“This coming Friday to be precise” he enlightened her eating cheerfully, he was enjoying her reaction it was just as he had imagined.
“You can’t be serious! I have my exhibition on Saturday!” she shouted at him.
“I am not asking you to stop your exhibition now, am I?”
“It is not possible; I don’t have the time…”
“You had best make the time or I will withdraw my help”
“Uche you can’t do this to me, I have things that can’t be cancelled. This exhibition means so much to me. Don’t you care that it does?”
“We are going to get married on Friday and it is very simple what you would do, find something appropriate to wear, a car will be sent to pick you. We will have a small reception at my house afterwards. Your things mostly your clothes would be moved by Friday morning. It is very simple and you have the rest of Saturday for your exhibition”
Calm down, calm down, she cautioned herself. This was not the time to disagree with him. She needed him more now than he did her. “Tessy will be thrilled, but I can’t say for Felix” she was sure he must be surprised at how calm she was taking it all, she thought. There was no need to protest anymore, he had the upper hand and he knew it.
“So it is clear, we have an understanding, you will still have your exhibition on Saturday. The only difference is that you’d be going from my house as Mrs. Okoha”
“Well understood” she replied calmly “I only have one question” she stared him firmly.
“Fair enough, what is the question?”
“Why the rush?” she asked
“One day I believe I’ll let you know” he answered dropping his fork and knife and wiped his mouth.
Nma who had been finding it difficult to eat got an excuse to stop eating and stood up with him.
“I will give you a call tomorrow to finalize things” Uche said kissing her softly and started towards the door.

They had a quiet wedding at the registry; it was as quiet she had imagined it would be, even though the whole Okoha clan was present except for Eva. Nma couldn’t believe it as people called her Mrs. Okoha, the name felt so strange to her but in her mind she adored the name. It had been the name she had dreamed of bearing ever since she met Uche. She stared at him as he held her, guiding her out of the court house where Felix and Tessy had stood as witnesses. Her husband, she thought awed. It was so hard to believe. Then again if only they were happy like they used to be, if only this wasn’t a business arrangement. How ironic that their wedding day came and went like that after all they had planned, A mere business deal, she thought but she was yet to know what he was gaining from it. What was he gaining from the deal, then she remembered, just so that it won’t be said that Nma dumped the formidable Uche Okoha.
She blinked as they came out in the open. She was greatly astonished by the reporters fluttering around them and asking them questions. She felt Uche’s hands tighten around her and he ignored their questions and shielded her from the reporters into the waiting Cadillac stretch limousine as if it was an everyday experience for him. It must be an everyday experience, she thought. After all he was Uche Okoha, the richest and most eligible bachelor in town.
“Are you okay?” he asked her concerned as they settled inside the limo.
“Yes I think so, how…. And where did they all come from?”
“News must have gotten out that the notorious play boy Uche Okoha is getting married to Nma of Nma collection”
“For a minute there I thought it was the beginning of third world war”
Uche laughed and looked out of the window. “You are going the wrong way Jacob” he said.
Nma noticed then that they were not heading towards Uche’s house.
“Acting on instructions my boy” the driver told him cheerfully
“On whose instruction?” he asked angry
“Your mother’s instruction and remember I don’t work for you so I take orders from her alone”
“Jacob I know you don’t work for me but this is not my mother’s wedding and I have planned a small reception at my house. You turn the car around now before I lose my temper”
Nma watched the man laugh heartily “I assure you boy, there has been a change in plans”
Nma was confused and felt that there was more to the relationship between Uche and this man; he didn’t jump at the sound of his voice like the others did.
Uche knew he was not going to get Jacob to turn the car around. If there was anybody who didn’t jump at his orders, it was Jacob. And he didn’t demand it, not when the man had been with the family longer than he could remember. He was there in his boyhood, teaching him all the tricks, it was Jacob who thought him to drive, and he smiled. It was very clever of his mother to ask him to do her dirty job. She knew very well that only Jacob could get away with this. “Sorry honey” he turned to Nma “My mother has decided to do things her own way”
“No problem, I just wonder what her plans are”
“I hope she didn’t invite the whole town because if she did I am going to give her a piece of my mind”
Nma smiled understanding how Rose must have felt.  Uche is her only son and there was no way she was going to allow her only son to have a mushroom wedding just in the name of peace. As the huge car glided to a stop and they came down, Uche still needed make way so they could walk into the hall without bumping into the reporters. In the hall, there were already more than sixty guest drinking wine and talking in small groups. Uche stopped, looking at them with irritation. “I am going to have my mom’s head for this”
“Just let the woman enjoy her only son’s wedding, it is her right for bringing you up well” Nma said smiling as Rose came towards them.
“Why are the two of you standing around like statues? It is your wedding for crying out loud” Rose commented as she came towards them. “If I had known about this, I wouldn’t have let you wear this today” she told Nma smiling
“The wedding was sudden” she smiled at her and looked at her wedding attire, a simple white gown that stopped at her knees. It was a last minute creation. The satin clung to her body enhancing her perfect curves and fishing out on her knees. It had a wide neck and simple sleeves that perched on her shoulders. It was the best she could do at such short notice with all the other things she had to do. She looked up as Uche addressed his mother
“What is the meaning of this?” he asked angrily
“What are you talking about?” Rose asked faming ignorance.
“This whole crowd you invited here”
“What’s eating you up? Even on your wedding day, I can’t believe it! Angry at your mother on your wedding day of all days?
Nma wanted to laugh at the astonished look on Uche’s face “what are you talking about?” he asked puzzled
“It is your wedding day and you are standing around like a guest and frowning at everybody who glances your way. You have a beautiful bride at your side but you are not smiling down at her or kissing her!”  She told him firmly and smiled mockingly “Rather you are angry at your mother for trying to help. You should have known that there was no way I would allow my son to wed like a pauper”
Nma couldn’t help it anymore she began to laugh, very clever of Rose, she managed to heap the whole blame on Uche
“One day mom I am going to get through to you”


 She was amazed and glad that things turned out the way they did. A wedding was a once in a life time thing, and should be celebrated to the fullest. She liked the whole idea, even though their marriage was not going to last because as soon as Uche was done salvaging his lost pride, he would not have need for her again. Yet she was grateful to Rose for making this day a day to remember. The day she got married for a while to the man she loved. That was exactly how she was going remember it.
“Lost, are you?” Uche asked and she looked
“Just tired” she replied
“Would you like to sit for a while?”
“If you don’t mind” she smiled at him.
Uche led her to the seat arranged for them. “Are we not supposed to wait till we are called up?
He sighs. “I don’t know how these things are done and everybody is staying away till I have gotten a firm grip on my famous temper”
Nma said nothing wondered what was going on, they should be taking pictures. Pictures were supposed to be first thing to be done. She sighed tired, if this was a real wedding, or if she at least felt like it was her wedding, she would have commented on the lapse. She was sure the guests felt more at home than she did in her own wedding.
“Uche the photographers have been waiting for ages” one of Uche’s aunts said in an American ascent.
“What photographers?” he snapped at her
“Well honey there is something called a wedding album” she snapped right back
Uche stood up reluctantly and they walked outside to take pictures. There were more reporters than there were photographers and she forced herself to smile and look the happy bride picture she was supposed to paint for everyone to see as cameras flashed before them. The only true smile came to her face when Felix and Tessy stood with them to take a picture, again she realized how satisfied she was with the decision she made. The group went back to the hall and the party began then. The reception made up for the glamour that was lacking in the wedding ceremony. She began to enjoy herself despite her inner turmoil. Everyone who was prominent in the country attended the wedding and this Nma didn’t expect, not with the short notice and they all commented on her beauty and Uche’s wise choice. When it was time to dance, she sighed and relaxed in her husband’s arms as they danced to the instrumental of one of west life songs played by a live band. They painted a picture of what people read in fairy tale stories, she in her white gown and him in his dark suit. Soon the band changed into something faster and other people joined.
Nma begged to sit down after a while and she also yearned some time alone to think. Yes she was a married woman but she knew that was hardly the end of the story. She turned to Uche with huge smile.
“I would love to go to the ladies for a while” she whispered
She saw him looking at her as if trying to sniff out the real reason why she wanted to leave but she was unwavering in her smile.
“That would be second floor; I keep it especially for my guest”
She turned to look at him with surprise.
“My family owns this place” he told her
“I will be back shortly” she told him
“Take your time” he told her as she left.

From the door of the well furnished room, all she could feel was that the interior decorator must be very practical minded. It was a room meant to house business associates visiting from far places that was what he or she did.  She wrapped her hands around herself, thinking how far she had come since the first day she met Uche Okoha, she had fallen hopelessly in love with him, lost that love and trust, she had nearly lost her business and he came to her rescue, she was now married to him. She laughed sadly, forced to marry him was more like it and the most painful part was that it was not a real marriage. It was a marriage that would end when he got tired of her body. Maybe there was a way after all, maybe if she denied him her body, the marriage would last until they could rebuild their love for each other again. She laughed sadly again, who was she kidding? Uche would never agree to wait not after waiting this long. Maybe if she was wise she could be so good to him that he would never think of leaving her. Still she felt the only way was to make sure he didn’t get his hands on her body. She was sure that would prolong his getting tired of her.
From the corner of her eyes she saw Helen below, sitting all by herself. Then she also saw Chucks standing almost in front her and if not that he was surrounded by other girls, it would have been easy for him to notice the quiet beauty sitting before him. Nma smiled, she promised Helen she was going to get her an introduction and that she would do. She turned swiftly from the from the window to do just that, smiling and devising a means to achieve what she was going to do. But she stopped and the smile left her face, standing at the door and quietly looking at her was Amber.
“I am sorry” Amber began “I didn’t mean to disturb you”
“You didn’t” Nma replied meaning to walk past her.
“Nma…” Amber called but trailed off, it was obvious that the woman didn’t know what to say and Nma vowed she was not going to help her, if the woman didn’t know what to say to her daughter then it was nobody’s fault but hers.
“If you will please excuse I have to rejoin the ceremony” Nma nearly got to the door before her mother’s next words stopped her.
“I don’t deserve to be forgiven or to be called anyone’s mother so I am not going to insult you by asking for either but I just want to ask that you hear my own side of the story”
Nma could feel her temper rising at the woman’s arrogance.
“Like you said I do not owe you anything, and I already know your side of the story, you left your eight months old baby to build your dreams. When your chose Amber I wasn’t given a choice or consideration so tell me why should I accord you the same?”  She asked harshly
“No matter how you look at it, I gave you life and believe it or not I have looked out for you. I never forgot that I had a child but I can’t deny that I have been selfish and I have always dreaded this day, the day I will have to explain myself”
“One thing is clear, this is not the day. Today is my wedding day”
Nma walked out and continued walking. There was no way she was going to make it easy for her. She gave her life indeed, what type of life was that at eight months when she still needed her.
She ran into Helen as she rejoined the party
“I was beginning to worry” Helen said to her
“I was at the ladies”
“I saw that woman who looks exactly like you go in after you”
“Yes Helen the rumors are true, Body talk is my mother”
“Oh!” for once Helen was speechless
“Close your mouth Helen, here comes Chucks and I think I still owe you an introduction”
Nma watched fascinated as a different kind of shock overcame Helen. She adjusted her clothes self consciously.
“You didn’t really take me seriously Nma, I mean, he came with that beauty queen” Helen said worried
“Don’t worry dear, it is not always about beauty and I can tell you Helen you don’t give yourself much credit”
Helen was very beautiful, she possessed a chocolate complexion and a bone structure every model would have been proud of and she was slim with a good height and fair enough curves for a slim girl. She will do, Nma thought, she looked at the flashy beauty queen in the company of Chuck, the girl with all her pampering didn’t hold a candle to Helen, and she didn’t care if she was biased.
Chucks walked up to them and she could feel Helen become more fidgety with nervousness.
“If this is not the girl that caged my friend” he laughed
“And he is hardly complaining” she threw back at him
“Congratulations! Never thought I would see the day but of course what man wouldn’t pray to shackled if the woman is you”
“Flattery but thanks all the same”
The dratted man looked through her, Helen thought. She could have been one of the decorations for all he noticed. She wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. She didn’t realize Nma was making the introduction till she touched her. Helen managed a smile for the conceited man; she knew what a catch her smile was, let me see you look through that handsome, the smile seemed to say.
Chuck hadn’t noticed the girl or thought to give her a second look till she smiled and her face seemed to come alive, he couldn’t help it, he smiled back.
“I am a big fan yours” she heard herself say and wondered where such sophistication came from.
“Really, I am glad” Chucks returned politely, he felt something pull at his heart, something strong and foreign and was gone immediately before he could truly feel it.
“Actually I was coming to make my excuses, I have to leave now. You know how busy and rough it is going to be for us tomorrow” Helen said surprising herself by such regal sophistication. Before Nma could respond, Helen turned to Chucks, “It was nice meeting you, I hope you would come to the exhibition”
“Wouldn’t dream of missing it”
“Very well if you will excuse me” Helen walked out.
Chucks watched her go and chuckled, “What does she do?”
“We are in the same line of business” she told him, still a bit confused at the new Helen and the drama she had just pulled off. Nma was pleased, she didn’t know if the girl did it on purpose but she had given a challenge to Chucks and Nma was sure that Chucks was intrigued. Nma felt a hand around her waist and she knew it was Uche.
“I thought you have lost your way”
“I was just talking to Chucks” she managed a smile.
Chucks was already being distracted by his beauty queen girl friend.
“I believe we should thank our guests and leave” Uche said
“The party is hardly over” she replied alarmed
“We don’t have to wait for it, I have had enough” he replied and began to lead her out, her heart pounded and she was suddenly very afraid.
Uche thanked the guest for coming on such a short notice, and he wished them safe journey back to their various homes.
Nma waited to throw the flowers at the waiting spinsters. She threw the flower and there was a mad rush for it but Helen raised it up smiling at her. Nma smiled back.
Then the bachelors began to urge Uche to throw her hose at them. She said no to him, shaking her head slightly but he laughed and drew her closer to him. She was very embarrassed as he lifted her gown slightly up.
“Higher! Higher!” they shouted at him
“Sorry guys that’s all the peeping you are getting” he murmured and they were more cheers as he slowly pulled down one of her stockings and threw it at them. They made a rush for it but it landed where Chucks was sitting quietly on his seat, drinking wine and he looked puzzled. Uche began to laugh “I hope I didn’t throw that in vain” he said
“Sure you did, I wasn’t among the aspiring” he smiled at her “Unless the girl who caught the flowers is cute” he said obviously bored
“Sure she is and she is over there” Uche told him
He turned to where Helen was smiling and talking to one of the girls working for Nma. He raised his eyebrows and smiled
“Not the finest one I have ever seen but she is okay” he then laughed and got up to slap Uche at the back. The cheering began again. Nma smiled secretly, her plans for Helen and Chucks seemed as if it was going to work after all. She doubted if Helen knew the first thing to do with a man like Chucks. But it would be fun to wait and see what happens.
“Hope you can tame this untamed gentle man” chucks asked her smiling.
The guy was very handsome, she gave that to him, and the only other man that beat him was her husband
“Are you kidding, that’s what makes him so endearing” she smiled back at him.
“Now that’s a girl to tempt me to the altar” he laughed
Next thing Uche grabbed her hands and made a run for it and rushed into the waiting Rolls Royce that brought Uche to the church and it was only then she found out that it was just Uche’s friends chasing them with rice, flowers and confetti. And she burst out laughing

Hey guys as the beautiful gradually to an I would post next an excerpt what to expect. But don't just read and go. Don't enjoy alone. Read, share and subscribe to the blog. Tell me what you think of the story so far. I would really appreciate your comments


Thanks and be blessed

Chioma