AMBER ROMANCE

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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