AMBER ROMANCE

AMBERROMANX

WHEN THE HEART KNOWS

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Nma plunged herself into her work trying to forget Uche. During the days she busied herself by working till Helen or Felix dragged her home. Once she got home she hid in her studio, trying to avoid looking into the living room where Uche sat the last time he was in her house. She didn’t come out of the studio till the wee hours of the morning and even that was spent tossing and turning and missing Uche and by the time she woke up she would be tired and limp. Then she would drag herself to the bathroom to get ready for the day. Most days she went without food, because each time she entered her kitchen, the first thing she would see was standing in that room with Uche happily cooking for him. At work she preferred the enjoyment her work gave her than searching for food. It was Helen who always came to her rescue, she would bring her some take away each time she was coming back from lunch. Uche never called, though she denied it even to herself but she waited silently in endless torment for his call to come. To apologize to her and tell her he had realized he loved her too much to let her go and that he was willing to wait till their wedding night to consummate their love. That was the secret thought that kept her going and that prevented her from going totally insane.

She wondered what he was doing now. Was he suffering the way she was, no she didn’t think so. If he was in the least way feeling a little bit of she was feeling, he would have called her by now. If for nothing to stop this burning pain, this pain which felt like her heart was being ripped into two, this pain which was pushing her to fall into nothingness where she would not think or feel. Into oblivion where there will be no painful thoughts of Uche to rip her heart apart. No foolish imagination of him with another woman who wouldn’t mind giving him everything he wanted in bed and out of it to fill her with livid rage. Where there would be no self pitying and wondering how he could forget so completely after all they had shared to bring her to tears. She wiped the tears rolling down her cheeks. She wondered when she was going get over him. Somehow she knew that might not be possible. She was in love with Uche Okoha and it seemed as if God created only him for her. She wondered if it would not be wise to go to him but she shook that thought out of her mind and wiped her tears. She loved the man but he cared only for her body and if she accepted that and went back to him, what would happen when her body tired him. She could not tell except that the pain would be twice the one she was then feeling. It was better this way she assured herself. It might look impossible now but with time she would get over him. Didn’t they say that time healed everything. She hastily wiped her face as the door knob moved and Helen entered bearing a take away nylon. Nma smiled kindly at the girl.

“Thank you Helen but you shouldn’t have bothered”

“Someone has to bother about you since you couldn’t careless about yourself” Helen sounded a bit angry and Nma understood,

“You are a good friend Helen, thank you” she said and opened nylon, the aroma of the food wafted through her nose, her stomach growled and she sighed in anticipation.

“Nma what is wrong? Helen startled her by asking

“Nothing, the food is perfect, I can’t believe how hungry I am”

“That is not what I mean, for the past couple of weeks; you have been acting like you are on a suicide mission”

“Well I… you see, sometimes I go into these kinds moods to get enough job done. You know I have bitten more than I can chew in this business” she smiled trying to ease Helen’s concern. “But really I am fine now, and that means anytime you are going for lunch, call me and we would go together”

“If you are sure, look you can tell me anything and it won’t get out of this door”

“I know but there is nothing to tell” she managed another smile and went back to her food.

“And here I was worrying thinking Prince charming has called his signature tune”

Nma managed a laugh to cover up the instant pain that hit her. She didn’t get angry with Helen; there was no way she could have known the kind of pain any reference to Uche’s name brought her. It was even more shocking that everyone believed that her relationship with Uche was short-lived. Well everyone knew Uche was a play boy who went through women like they were nothing but water yet she blinded herself to that fact just because she believed what they had was different. Well it served her right to find out this way, she looked at Helen and forced a smile, “Is that what you call him now?” she asked Helen jovially

“Well you would agree with me that the guy is the latter day prince charming and both of you would make a good fairy tale couple”

Nma hardly smiled this time around, she was concentrating on swallowing the pain in her throat so it doesn’t come out in tears.

“I guess you are right but you also mentioned his signature tune Helen, I am well prepared for that could happen anytime”

“My guess is if he is still with you this long, he might not be going anywhere else in a long time” Helen answered

Nma chuckled “I hope so” she bent down to hide her face and concentrated on the food.

“I’d better leave you to eat, see you later”

As soon as she left, Nma breathed a sigh of relief calling herself different kinds of fool for not coming out and telling Helen that she had already been dumped, that Uche had already called his signature tune. But it was really shameful to sit here and admit it to Helen that Uche dumped her, her pride would not let her descend that low. But was she not a fool for hiding it. Very soon they would find out anyway, Uche would start dating other women and he would take them to places people would see them or the press might snap a shot of them for the tabloids. And Helen and every other person would find out the truth. So she was a fool for not opening up to Helen who had nothing but her best interest at heart. She sighed and pushed the food away. She had lost all appetite for the food. What did she care about when people find out, she wasn’t the only girl dumped by Uche nor would she be the only girl he would ever date. Then she smiled because she would remain the only one who refused to sleep with him even after knowing how rich he was. She was different and some how he would always remember the one who was different, the one who didn’t let his wealth and position sway her and the only one who loved him more than life itself. Maybe one day he would realize that and probably it would be too late.

She stood up and looked around her studio, she must stop mourning. Uche should be the one mourning her loss. Any man who married her at last would have peace of mind. He could trust her completely. She would spend the rest of her life making him happy and these were what Uche had lost because he couldn’t see beyond his lust. No he should be the one mourning because he had lost a virtuous woman whom all his money could never buy. God help him because he might just settle down with one of those women he dated often and then he would realize what he lost when he let her go because he couldn’t understand virtue.

She wiped her tear and looked ahead determined. She was done bemoaning her loss. She was not the one who lost out here. Money could be made and there are thousand and one handsome men but virtue cannot be bought. She packed her bags, heading for home.

Meanwhile Uche was at work, he had been listening to two men to talk about a business deal for one hour and he still did not comprehend what they were talking about. He had this irritating head ache that had refused to go away since it started a couple of week ago when he walked out Nma life. He rubbed his fore head and tried to concentrate on what the men were talking about but the head ache grew even  more severe. He wished he had not taunted her, He could still see the forlorn look on her face as she watched him say hurtful words to her. He shook his head and tried block her out from his mind. He reached to his phone and called Star, she should take over this meeting probably she could make some sense out of what the men where saying. Besides he needed to rest, he had the feeling that he was coming down with some kind of ailment and he needed to see his doctor. Just at that moment Star entered, she took one look at Uche and understood what was going on. She has been suspecting that he was unwell and she worried that he was working himself to death but anytime she tried to talk to him, he brushed her aside.  She could see very well that what was bothering him had reached his limit. She smiled at the men

“Sorry gentlemen you are going to have to finish up this meeting with me, Mr. Okoha has another pressing appointment he can’t miss. The men nodded and Uche smiled at her secretly and stood, he nearly sat back down because all of a sudden he felt dizzy but his stubborn will kept him from staggering as walked through the room and out. Star followed him because somehow she knew something was wrong.

“I’ll just be a minute” she followed Uche.

“Uche” she called as he \was about to press the button for his private elevator, he frowned at her.

“Are you alright?” she asked with concern

“I am fine” he replied and entered the elevator.

Star went back to the men still worried about Uche.

His private elevator opened to the underground car park, he knew what he needed, a weekend at Eden castle. Could it be that he was suffering from heart break? He stopped shocked. He didn’t love the girl to begin with. But it was glaring right there before him that he was missing Nma. He shuddered again, he couldn’t believe it. He was actually thinking that marrying her would not be such a bad idea. She was not the kind of woman he would have picked out for a wife. He had always thought that his wife would be attractive, soft spoken, gentle and well bred. Her manners would be impeccable and she would have gone to an expensive finishing school. He wanted a woman who would be content being his wife, handling his personal and social life and keeping out of his business. Nma was the exact opposite. She would not be content being a wife, mother and a great hostess. No she was ambitious and knew what she wanted and how to get there. There was no doubt that she would make a good hostess but she was too independent and ambitious. Those were the qualities he preferred in a mistress rather than a wife. He laughed out aloud as he threw in his brief case at the back seat of his car. He should have realized that he was only fooling himself when he had separate qualities for a wife and mistress. He got into this car and squeezed his eyes shut rubbing his eyes, he was not missing Nma it was just this irritating headache he told himself. Once he took care of it, he would be fine.

Nma opened her door for Eva and she smiled in spite of her pain. She didn’t want to see Eva; she didn’t want anybody reminding her of Uche.

“Hello” Eva said smiling, “so this is where you stay, it is very cozy and beautiful”

“I know it is nothing compared to your house”

“Oh there is a difference, everything here you worked for, and so you can truly enjoy their value”

“Sit down may I remind you that if you are not working hard at the bank right now, you probably might not afford all that”

“You are right but my trust fund alone is more than enough even if I didn’t ever work” she smiled at Nma. “Sometimes I envy women like you who didn’t have everything given to them”

“I am sure you didn’t come here to bore me with regrets, so what do I offer you, I made a mean pot of banga stew and I have this native rice I could boil”

“No wonder my brother loves you, I can’t cook yet Charles thinks the moon and sun rise and set in my eyes” she smiled “but you are right, I came here because I was thinking we should hang out tonight”

Nma was taken aback, she wasn’t the hanging out type and why would Eva be asking her? She was sure it was not for lack of friends. She was sure the girl felt that she and Uche were still seeing each other, and she was probably trying to draw her into their circle of friends. Nma heaved a sigh looking for a way to reject the invitation without seeming rude.

“Please don’t say no, please, this is one of those rare evening at the bank I get some time off and I really want to enjoy it” Eva pleaded

“I thought you might want to spend it with Charles, he would be thrilled”

“He is out of town. Please say you’d go please”

Nma smiled at the girl pleading “Ok but it takes me ages to get ready and I need to know where exactly we are going”

“It is a house party with lots of interesting people”

It was at the tip of her tongue to ask the girl if Uche was going to be there but she stopped because she would only succeed in pricking Eva’s curiosity. She didn’t want the girl asking uncomfortable questions about her relationship with her brother.

“Just grab a jeans a tank top and wear some mean bikini, you might never know”

Nma turned to look at her “Seriously where are we going to?”

“Let’s say I like surprises but don’t worry you will enjoy it. Wouldn’t it be nice to relax and be yourself without my jealous brother scaring off all the other guys?”

Nma stared at her curiously “why do I get the feeling that I am not going to enjoy this evening”

“You know Uche is out town, he should be somewhere in Europe, but I am sure you know that. Charles is out of town too, I am just saying we should do something more exciting than missing them” Eva laughed and Nma smiled. Truly the girl was spoilt good and proper, Nma thought but she was right on one thing though. It was high time she did something more exciting than wallowing in self pity and missing Uche.

“You want to come help me look for what wear?” Nma asked Eva and the two of the left for Nma’s bedroom.

Nma decided she was going with her car after what happened with her friends the last time she hung out; she didn’t want to get stranded in a strange place. But Eva wouldn’t hear of it, she insisted that where they were going was very safe and she would bring her home. Nma wasn’t up to much argument so she agreed and took one last look at her deep blue pencil jeans and red T shirt.

Nma saw the other part of Eva as she drove. For someone who was in the mood to party she was unbelievably careful and patient with other road users and very quiet as opposed to the talkative female who convinced her to come party.

“I like driving at night because there is no traffic or impatient drivers. You can just let the car glide without hearing curses behind you.

“Strange because other people I know enjoy driving at night because it is about the only time they can speed. They like the feeling of flying that comes with it”

Eva smiled and made a turn and she found herself in Uche’s neighborhood.

“Don’t tell me we are partying in this neighborhood”

“I asked you to bring a bikini; where else would we find a private beach”

“I… I think you should tell me what this is all about”

“Ok I just want to use my brother’s house since he is out town, it is going to annoy him when he comes home for sure but who cares”

“Turn the car around, if you want to annoy your brother fine but I don’t want to be part of it”

Eva smiled “Don’t worry, I will not name you if it goes wrong, besides Uche already knows I would be here today, in fact he expects it, calm down sugar”

They drove into the compound and Nma heart lurched into her throat as she remembered the last time she was here. She could feel the pain tearing in her heart. She should tell Eva the truth; she should let the girl know that she was no longer seeing her brother. Then again she reasoned. What was the point, Uche wasn’t around, and besides she didn’t want to be the jilted girlfriend in the presence of other girls, who might have had something with him before or who were still dreaming. Tonight she wanted to be the envy of the other girls. She wanted the other girls to look at her in awe and whisper about her and Uche.  “You go on, let me park the car well before I join you”

“Ok” Nma stopped as a thought occurred to her. “You never told me how many guest you have here”

“Just like five of us, all girls, and every single one of them of them is crushing on my brother and they are dying to meet you, the one who won the battle”

“I am not sure I like that, being the object of scrutiny and envy, can I go home please”

“Not a chance, besides you are already here. Are you not curious about the kind of the girls Uche may have been attracted to in the past?”

“Not really” she smiled at Eva

“Oh quit being a chicken and run along, while I park this car”

Nma walked up to the door and knocked, still shaking her head. She couldn’t believe she was here, in Uche’s house and in his absence. What temporal insanity drove her to do this, was she so desperate to be near him? What would he think when he heard she was one of those partying in his house in his absence? She shuddered at that and was just about to leave. She didn’t care what Eva said, she was leaving. This was stupidity. She was not going to let Uche think she couldn’t survive without him or that she was desperate for his presence that she would sneak into his house and party. No way, she had got some dignity. But the door was suddenly opened and she had to turn back to the person at the door and the person turned out to be Uche. She stared at him astonished. He too was looking at her surprised. Nma turned back to Eva but she was driving out already and waving at him.

“What in the world are you two up to?”

At that point she would have given anything for the ground to open and swallow her.

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AUTHOR

CHIOMA ONUOHA