AMBER ROMANCE

WHEN THE HEART KNOWS

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Hello! I am still here” Helen waved a hand in front of her”

Nma smiled “I was just thinking about…” she trailed because she couldn’t just start telling Helen about her private life. “Anyway have you finished that gown what’s the name of that actress that wanted it for a premiere?”

“Right over there” Helen pointed and Nma went to inspect.

Nma inspected the evening gown that she herself had cut and sown but had given her assistant to finish up. Impressed by the work Helen had done, she turned and went to stand beside her.

“It will be sent off tomorrow morning, I have something for you, remember that Bubu we showcased sometime ago, this new boutique wants them, I hope you can cope with it” Nma said seriously.

“Certainly” Helen agreed.

“What of the damask and silk material we ordered, were they not supposed to arrive today?” Nma asked

“I’ve called them; it’s on its way.”

“Good, I’ll like to see them when they arrive” Nma instructed turning towards the door.

Nma wanted to escape to her office; she didn’t want Helen asking her questions about the gossip in the papers, was it really gossip? She asked herself. After all they were telling the truth but they were wrong when they said she was in a hot romance with Uche. She heaved sigh, she didn’t think she wanted to go into that with Helen or with Eva, not when she didn’t understand it herself.

“Okay we are done with business, you were in the papers this morning” Helen said smiling and Nma heaved a sigh “I was thinking you would take the hint that I don’t want to talk about him” she smiled at Helen.

“But why” Helen cued unrepentant “oh! But that guy is so gorgeous, what woman wouldn’t give her right arm to be noticed by him”

“This woman didn’t and wouldn’t” Nma laughed, pointing at herself. It was really hard to be stern or angry with Helen, the girl was always in a good mood and Nma could never tell why she was always happy.

“Really, well there is not a man who wouldn’t look at you twice”

Nma laughed. “All men look at women twice, if not for anything to ascertain that she is ugly”

“Uche Okoha, Rich, tall, dark and handsome’ 

Nma smiled, “you are funny Helen, don’t let what you see deceive you, they are not always s good as they look” she advised.

“I know the real thing when I see one. That guy is for real; don’t let the publicity snatch this away from you. He could be your stepping stone and you should utilize all opportunity darling. This is earth and one must survive one way or the other”

Nma was astonished by Helen’s advice so she remained silent for a few moment “I’ll think about that Helen, but sometimes one way or the other  sounds illegal” Nma finished.

Helen laughed. “You are smart, it is just like that, nothing illegal” Helen replied.

Nma shook her finger at her playfully and walked out.

As she walked back to her office, she recalled when she had first employed Helen. She was reluctant to employ her because she did her apprenticeship in a very local tailoring and with no experience in design even though the tailoring she did her apprenticeship had the name fashion and designing. She also had no experience or an idea of what it took to work in a fashion house like Nma much less as her assistant. Compared to other resumes she got from other girls she was a flop. But to her greatest astonishment, the little practical test she had given all of them, hers was the best with a very unique idea. She had employed her immediately recognizing that her talent could be improved and enhanced with time and little training and she was yet to regret that decision. Months after employing her she had improved and was almost perfect. She shook her head and walked on. It was not as if they didn’t talk and joke but it had never been about a man before. She knew nothing about Helen’s love or personal life at all. All she knew about her were written on her resume. she must have been talking from her experience. Nma laughed quietly going into her office.

At exactly one o’clock Nma entered Lawrence. A top restaurant and she glanced about looking for Eva. She spotted the girl walking towards her with a big smile on her face and dressed in deep blue skirt with nice white shirt that hung on her body displaying her perfect curves. As always, what Nma noticed first about a person was how they dressed. She knew that how a person dressed somehow told much about the person and she was impressed by Eva, she looked effortlessly alluring, Nma thought guilelessly.

“Hi dear” Eva smiled when she got to her

“Hello, it is really nice seeing you and thank you for inviting me” Nma replied smiling back

“Have you been waiting long?” Nma asked

“No, I just got here, there is our table” Eva pointed

Eva led the way and Nma followed her to a table with a nice view.

“I know you really thought I was a bitch when we first met” Eva began as they sat down.

Nma wanted to deny that fact but decided against it. Honestly she thought the girl was a snob and not a bitch, and she still did, not without reason. She felt Eva was only being friendly with her because of her brother.

“You weren’t exactly friendly when we met but I didn’t think you were a bitch, a snob would be nearer to it”

“Well, it’s just that when Uche said he was bringing someone new to the party, I really wanted to see this person he talked about so eagerly and when I saw you I was like, this is another Angela” Eva explained.

“You seem very protective of your brother”

“I know I shouldn’t be but I can’t help it. I feel like if I let him alone, he would get hurt again. Being Uche Okoha he is exposed to schemers and gold diggers, these women are expert in their craft. They deceive men with a show of love, play of emotion to blind the man and get what they want. Men can be fools at times and my brother with all his intelligence is no exception”

“My father taught me, when you see two people attracted or in love with each other and you feel they are wrong for each other, don’t be blatantly oppose  it otherwise you would only end up bringing them closer together. They would feel like it is us against them but if you leave them alone, it might just fizzle out” Nma replied.

“That is true anyway but I didn’t come here to worry about Uche’s love life anymore, now that I’m getting married you can take over” Eva joked.

“That would be an enormous assignment” Nma replied jovially.

The arrival of waiter silenced them.

Eva ordered fried rice and chicken with vegetable salad while Nma ordered pasta and croaker with vegetable salad and they both decided on locally Made fruit punch which was restaurant’s specialty

“I brought the paper in case you didn’t have time to buy it” Eva began immediately the waiter left.

“Oh, that was very thoughtful of you, I didn’t have time to go looking for one” Nma explained. “Not when I was trying to dodge those irritating men”

“Are they still camped outside your store?” Eva asked with concern.

“Some of them still are but most have left and for that I am very grateful” Nma said as

Eva handed Nma the paper, Nma slowly unfolded it almost tentatively. Then with more zeal she shook it open, she saw Uche and herself on the front page, covering the whole page with the caption, Billionaire Uche Okoha in secret hot romance. The caption was not important; it was the picture that took her breath away. They looked like two people besotted with each other completely and it shocked her. No wonder everyone was interested. She eyed her shorts that was almost indecent and the top that covered her well but molded her form, and on her feet where brown Hausa slippers, which matched her brown braids and she was looking up at Uche with adoring eyes, Uche was towering above her in his white trouser and shirts. He was looking down at her with a smile and his hand around her waist. They looked like some couple of models from a glossy magazine

“Romantic isn’t it?” Eva smiled.

“Hmm, I can only say the photographer must be very good to capture all that” Nma mumbled.

“Remind me to invite him to my wedding, he is very good with capturing the moment” Eva joked.

Their food arrived and the waiter placed it on the table quietly and efficiently.

“Speaking about wedding, Charles and I don’t want a long engagement; we want to get married as soon as we both get the chance”

“You speak like your job is too demanding, is it?”

“I’m working with the family bank here, Charles is a reputable lawyer and too busy,”

“I thought people with their own businesses can always decide when to take a break” “You should understand, you’re an entrepreneur too that it is not always like that. Charles and I are working overtime now to make sure we clear our tables by the end of the quarter and that is the main reason I called you out here this afternoon.”

“Really, I thought you just wanted a download of your brother’s latest escapade”

Eva had the grace to laugh “You are right that was the main reason but the other is I really needed to see you concerning the wedding” she said

“If there is anything I can do to help, I wouldn’t mind really”

“You see I was planning on using an international designer, one of my mother’s associates but now that I have seen what you can do, why go to Europe when I can get what I want right here and even better”

“This is getting interesting”

“The gown you wore to my engagement party was too gorgeous; and the skirt you wore to the pre dinner drink was very lovely and I am sure all your clothes are made by you because you look classy and chic each time I see you”

“You are right I wear only my clothes” Nma agreed with some element of pride and great humility. It wasn’t wrong to be a little proud of her work she thought after all she worked hard for it and when the praise was coming from someone like Eva who had traveled wide and lived with great wealth and style, it was really rewarding. She was sure the girl wore only designers label from international designers.

“I didn’t know there was someone like you until I met you but to my surprise my friends know you and actually wear your label and they are so beautifully cut and with designs out of this world.”

“All these compliments are actually getting to my head, I wonder if my head will get through this door”

“Jokes apart, I want you to design my wedding gown including the traditional wedding attire and everything that comes with it. I’ll pay anything, anything at all; you just have to mention the price”

“Well this is so thoughtful of you and it’s no problem, I can handle it and more” Nma agreed “and I appreciate your trusting NMA to do this for you”

“Oh, bless you, I thought you would be too busy to do it, what perfect sister in laws we’re going to make” she cued.

Nma was shocked at that statement and her shock must have showed because Eva started to explain

“Did I shock you? I am sorry if I did but I was speaking the truth” Eva said

“I don’t understand what you are talking about because we’ve only known each other for just a few days and…unless he said something else…” Nma said.

“Forget about what Uche told me, you only have to look at that paper good and hard to see it” Eva said and Nma kept quiet because she realized that there was no way she was going to convince the girl otherwise.

“I know my brother, he doesn’t joke with serious matters, he might not be the romantic lover, but he is the best any girl can hope for except for Charles maybe”

“But he hasn’t called to see how I am coping with all these, does that show concern? She asked

“Don’t despair about that, Mondays are tough for him, you wouldn’t want to be in his shoes” Eva said apologetically “He would be in and out of different meetings with different vice presidents of our numerous companies and most of these meeting would be through tele- conference” and with that she glanced at her watch. “I’m afraid my lunch time is over” she said signaling to the waiter.

Nma was a bit over whelmed again by how rich Uche really was but she was not going to dwell on that, she told herself. She had decided that instead of waiting for him to call, she could call him and ask how his day was going but not in the presence of his sister.

“You can just run along, I’ll stay a little while to kill time, I have one or two other appointments before I go.”

“Alright then” Eva agreed glancing at the bill, then she brought money and paid.

“No, you shouldn’t have” Nma said sharply “I was suggesting I pick up the bill when I’m done”

“I invited you remember” she smiled “So if you want to pick the bills, invite me next time”

“Is that a come on?” Nma asked

“Sure it is,” Eva laughed, waving goodbye and walking briskly out of the restaurant.

After she left Nma waited another five minutes trying to call Uche but his secretary kept telling her he was in a meeting and the girl wasn’t very polite. She decided to wait till later to try his number again, when she didn’t have to confront the rude secretary.

The day was nearly over when Nma walked into her boutique, she didn’t know that her appointments would take so much of her time. She hadn’t called Uche and he hadn’t called too. She decided she was going to do that as soon as she sat down in her office. But as soon as the swinging door closed behind her, Felix beckoned on her and knowing why he was calling her, she took a deep breath and folled him to his office

“Good evening Felix”

“What happened to your phone I couldn’t get you on it?” Felix asked anxiously

“Nothing is wrong with it” she answered and rummaged in her bag for her phone and found it switched off to her total dismay “The battery must have run down” she told him. “Is something wrong?” she asked

“I’m worried about you. You were in the papers this morning with Uche Okoha and we have about three men here with us, they said they are Uche’s security, they are to escort you wherever you go”

Nma stared at him astonished “where are they?” she asked meaning to go out and confront them.

“Where are you going?” Felix asked her

I don’t need any body guard and I want to dismiss them”

“After I talk to you” said Felix with determination.

“I don’t feel comfortable with you and Uche Okoha and it is appalling that he is already visiting you, When did that start?”

“That same Saturday”

“Don’t you think it is safer to stop seeing him, I mean the man is a world class womanizer you could get hurt and the publicity would worsen it, he is well beyond you?”

“Felix you can’t protect me from getting hurt, if it doesn’t happen with Uche it will with someone else”

“Why do I feel you were safer with Ken?”

“I don’t know, you tell me”

“I felt that you were in control of things with Ken, but with Uche you might lose control and follow your heart instead of your mind”

“I am not in danger of losing my heart; I think I’ve already lost it. You know I will never lie to you” Nma said quietly. “Felix if you didn’t follow your heart for once you wouldn’t have fallen in love with Tessy,”

“I was in control of things, I was older and wiser and I wasn’t a womanizer. Tessy and I were in the same class, with the same experience about life, love and heartbreak; we were on the same wavelength.” Felix said breathlessly.

“Are you saying that I might get hurt because he will use his experience and trick me into getting what he wants then he will dump me for another woman”

“Exactly, and at the rate I’ve seen things so far and with the look I saw in your eyes in that picture, if he leaves you or in any way hurt you the effect will be devastating on you and it will take us more time to heal you than it did when your father died.” Felix warned

“Felix, I’m worried too, this has never happened to me before but I believe I can handle it. I can take care of myself, and besides there is a first time for everything so just pray for me”

“Are you saying it is too late?”

“Did I sound like that, I feel something for him and I don’t want to lie to you and you wouldn’t appreciate it if I start hiding it from you, you are the parents I don’t have”

“Now Nma, there is a difference between infatuation, love, and lust you should know which one you feel” Felix said firmly.

“I can’t say what I feel is not love, because what I feel is strong and if it continues that way, it is love but I am also aware that it might never work Felix. So I am not starting a relationship with him”

Felix heaved a breath. “Why is that?”

“Like you said, Uche and I are not on the same level. He would never understand me” she tried to explain. She didn’t know how to explain it to Felix without mentioning the vow she took some years ago.

“I don’t get it, since you have come up with the decision that you would never be, why are you still seeing him and why did you sound like you are already in a relationship with him?” asked Felix with concern

“That is because I am human and weak. I believe I am already in love with him, even though I am fully aware that we would never be” she answered looking forlorn.

“Sweet heart, I don’t know what to say but I don’t want to see you get hurt at all. I know I should feel happier with your decision because I want to protect you from the harsh realities of life but you made me realize that I can’t protect you. But if you feel he cares for you in the least way and you are sure you love him, don’t throw the chance away. But take my advice, be a surprise to him, say no to him, wait until you are in the marriage covenant, we men can beg, cajole, seduce and even charm you to give in. We mock and ridicule you when you don’t but inside our hearts we dream of untouched brides. If you take my advice even if he leaves or hurts you in anyway, the blow would not be too devastating”

Nma was shocked by Felix’s advice, did he have an inkling of her vow or was he just being his usual protective self.  How could he have known what her greatest fear was, how did he know what advice to give her? She was close to tears but she tried her best not to let them fall.

“Sweet heart you haven’t slept with him already, have you?” Felix asked

“No I haven’t and I never will if I am not married to him” Felix that was what I meant when I said Uche would never understand mes. I have already taken the decision to be different” she said in whisper

Felix reached out and drew her into his arms in a fatherly hug.

Just immediately the door opened without warning and Uche stood there formidable and angry. He saw red when he saw her in the hands of the man he suspected to be her lover. He felt sick with jealousy and rage. He wanted to do so many things at the same time and most of them had to do with beating the man to a pulp. He stood motionless; he couldn’t believe he had been worried about her. He couldn’t reach her on her phone. He tried to reach her through his men and was told she was not around. He had waited for almost five hours for her to come back. At a point he had grown worried that something might have happened to her but he was just being a fool. The woman was receiving comfort in the hands of her lover right inside her office. He felt sick to his stomach as he waited for few agonizing minutes for them to notice him. Felix was the first person to see that they were no longer alone and Nma turned when she felt Felix’s distraction. She was taken aback by the formidable look in his face, before she could talk, Felix started, “Were you not taught manners or do you think that knocking isn’t a part of it?”

Nma gasped at Felix rudeness even though Uche should have knocked but that was no way to tell him. Felix sounded like Uche had just caught them doing something wrong and he was only covering up with a defense mechanism.

Uche couldn’t believe the man’s audacity and rudeness and he lost his sanity.

“Trying to cover your sins” he asked rudely

Nma stood motionless trying to understand what he was talking about. “What is that supposed to mean?” Nma asked, then it dawned on her that was how she and Felix must have appeared to him and Felix angry outburst didn’t help. Still Uche shouldn’t imply that she and Felix were probably doing something immoral. He should respect the fact that he was in Felix’s office.

“Exactly what I said” he replied closing the door

“Now look here Mr.” Felix began hard

“No, you look here Mr.” Uche cut in. “I recognize infidelity when I see one, you are married right?”

Nma gasped with horror. She knew that their position might have looked suspicious to anyone who didn’t know better but for Uche to actually say it was another thing and she was not going to let him get away with it, she thought fiercely.

“Uche I demand that you explain that this minute!” she said angrily

“I will oblige you. We were in the papers this morning, I was worried about you because I know you are not used to being hounded by reporters but I guess I shouldn’t have bothered. But foolishly I did. I’ve been calling you since morning but your phone was switched off.  I became more worried and sent my men to help because I couldn’t get away from my engagements. The distractions the situation caused me could have caused me millions but I didn’t care because I wanted to make sure you were alright but for what, nothing” he thundered. “You were already receiving comfort from your lover!”

Nma became speechless and overwhelmed by his confession, he cared about her, she thought. He actually did care about her or else he would not have gone through all the trouble he went through to make sure she was alright. That made his reaction nothing but pure jealousy and she was delighted because his jealousy meant he cared. She wanted to tell him he was wrong and to assure him that what he saw was not exactly how it looked. But Felix beat her to it.

“Now wait a minute” Felix began heatedly “whatever gave you the right to come in here and embarrass not only that  but insult Nma and I,  I don’t care but I want you to leave”

Uche gave a short menacing laugh and stared at Felix with eyes blazing red hot “You can’t chase me away after what you’ve done”

“I have done nothing wrong. I know you find it difficult to believe but all men are not like you, I am respectably married”

“A married man who doesn’t mind kissing his charge, as if what time you had in the morning wasn’t enough? You have to carry on in the office?”

Nma no longer found it funny, why was he refusing to listen to reason? Love or no love, she was not going to stand by and watch him levy accusations this heavy on Felix. So she did the next thing that came to her mind.

“Uche I want you to leave this minute before I call security”

“No, let him stay, you’re Uche Okoha right, let me make clear to you some things that are vital. One, Nma is my baby, she has a special place in my heart and I love her just like her father did. Two, you are arrogant, in the first place and I don’t support your association with her because from what we’ve all heard and seen about you, you are wrong for her. Three, you have a dirty mind; your suspicions are baseless and foolish because it is not true, and I wonder how you make so much money when we have just seen what kind of brain you possess. Four we don’t need to explain to you where we were this afternoon or what we did because it is none of your business. Finally if you hurt her, I will personally kill you and I mean it.”

Nma nodded satisfied, Uche’s arrogance needed some bursting and Felix did that just fine.

Uche looked from one to the other, he shuddered at the anger on Nma’s face and the calm wisdom on Felix’s and he believed them but tendering apology was not the Okoha’s way of righting a wrong, it is either a room full of flowers or a juicy offer but right now he didn’t think either of the people in the room with him would accept any.

“If you will please leave now” Nma put in harshly

He saw that as the only remedy to the awkward situation he had found himself.

“Very well” with that he left closing the door behind him.

“Oh, Felix, I feel like a fool” Nma cried as soon as the door closed

“No, don’t, you shouldn’t, you can’t judge a man when he is angry, especially anger brought on by jealousy. Moreover what you feel for him has not disappeared has it?”

“No, it hasn’t, that is the worse part of it”

“No, it is not, it is the best part of it and if this little scene here has the power to make it disappear, you would have known that it has no foundation to begin with.”

“Of all the men in this world I have the misfortune of landing this untamed gentleman”

“At least he has more wit than the limbless banker” Felix joked.

“The limbless banker you felt I was safer with?”

Felix laughed. “This one will be more of a man for you, but the banker will only end up as a remote control to you.”

Nma smiled agreeing with him and hung her shoulder bag “I’ll leave early today” she murmured, turning she gave Felix a kiss on the cheek and left with her heart burning with so much pain 

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CHIOMA ONUOHA

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