WHEN THE HEART KNOWS CHAPTER FOUR

WHEN THE HEART KNOWS

CHAPTER FOUR

The few days that followed, Nma plunged herself into her work. She had found out that only that could relax her and make her forget Uche Okoha and his forgotten interest in her. Sometimes she would become very angry to think that he could just come into her life when he wanted and leave when it suited him. Was that how the rich behaved? She wondered. So they thought they could play with a woman heart just to get rid of boredom caused by their idle lifestyle. That was exactly what Uche did to her, he came into her life with a promise of excitement and romance and all of a sudden, his interest shifted.

But hadn’t he told Aher the truth when they first met that he was not looking for a whirlwind romance. His interest was in introducing her to his mother. Even that promise he didn’t fulfill or did but it made no impact to her business life. The woman took one look at her and hated her. She still wondered why. She wished she had never set her eyes on him, she wished she hadn’t gone out with him and she wished they hadn’t shared that last kiss, even the thought of it caused goose bumps on her body. She had never been kissed like that before. The kiss made her come alive; it made her aware of her body like never before. She never knew one could get so much pleasure from a kiss. She was woman enough to know that he was affected by that kiss like she was. She stopped at that thought, but if he was, why did his interest in her fade? Maybe he didn’t find the kiss that exciting but she could have sworn he did. She shook her head in self pity. It was no good; Uche was a mystery she would never unravel. He was the kind of a man no woman should attempt to understand. One minute he was attracted to her and the next he ignored her like she bored him. She stood up from her table. And just then her assistant came in Helen. Helen was a very beautiful dark complexion girl who didn’t know how she looked, so often she was careless with her looks. But no matter how careless she was, she never ceased to exude that aura of warmth and peace. She was only twenty five and she acted so matured. Helen was the type of girl she should be hanging out with. Not the foolish rich girls who thought that all the problems of this world could be solved with their daddy’s millions. Nma smiled at Helen.

“Good afternoon, I just wanted to check if you want something, I was on my way to lunch” Helen spoke

Always like Helen to look out for her. Nma thought. Helen thought she worked too hard so she took it upon herself to remind her of some necessities like food which she tended to forget while working.

“Very kind of you Helen, I nearly forgot and considering that I didn’t have breakfast, I am now very hungry”

“You work too hard Nma, slow down a bit okay, so what would you have?”

“I am so hungry that I cannot wait for you so I would rather join you” Nma smiled and got up from her chair. She took a minute to powder her nose, as she was doing that, she looked up at Helen and decided she was going to coach the girl on beauty tips.

“So what powder do you use?”

Helen looked confused for a moment but smiled.

“I am not like you Nma, it doesn’t matter if I use one or not. I am too plain to do justice to it”

“You give yourself little credit babe, you are one of the most beautiful dark complexion girl I have ever seen”

Helen smiled shyly; Nma could see that she didn’t believe her. “You have a very good shape if you would just wear the right clothes, and use the right make-up. And come to think of it, you have a very creative mind with clothes. Use it on yourself a bit”

“Do you think I am not classy enough to work here?” Nma wasn’t offended; she could only see that Helen was a bit nervous which was new to her. She had always seen Helen as a very confident girl who didn’t have time for frivolities or else she wouldn’t have survived as her assistant

“You know I am not honey, but I hate to see any beauty go through life unnoticed. Isn’t that why we make very beautiful clothes?”

Helen smiled “Guilty as charged, I promise to wear more close fitting clothes from this day forward and do up my face, shall we go and eat now?”

Helen was back to her usual cheerful nature “Yes but not before I show you some tricks” she brought out her make over kit and proceeded to turn Helen into a beauty she really was.

Uche was not having a better a day himself, he had been to the Niger Delta twice in the last few days trying to forestall potential upheavals. He had even meddled into politics which was his worst game but he had one or two satisfaction of twisting some arms and hearing them yelp. Now he was back in town only to find out that he had to be in New York and UK in the coming week. Whoever called the life of a rich man idle, he murmured. But he was glad of the challenges, they helped him forget Nma. The girl was trouble, just one kiss and he was thinking of forever with her. He had never been as scared as he was that night when he kissed her. He still remembered the kiss, it made him unbearably uncomfortable. The most annoying part was that no other woman interested him, he didn’t want another woman. While in Port Harcourt, a few had tried but he found out that he could only think about Nma. But he was determined to forget her. He wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment yet.

He looked up as his sister entered and he managed a smile for her as she kissed him and sat down on his desk.

“Star told me you have decided to kill yourself with work”

“I thought you shouldn’t have time to think about no one else but Charles” he replied a bit irritated for no just cause

“You are my brother, loving another man doesn’t take away that fact or the fact that I love you”

“How is it going at the bank?”

“Fine!” she told him “Charles and I are having a little get together to say thank you to those who graced our engagement party”

“Another party! Eva you just had one few days ago”

“Yes I did but this one is different, it is a small thing ten people max”

“If I am free I would come”

“Okay for now”

She gets up and “Bring Nma, I think I like her”

Uche tactfully kept quiet, he pitied his friend, Eva was spoilt good and proper not even him would tolerate her as a wife. Another party barely two weeks after her engagement party, he shuddered. Bring Nma she had said, that was impossible. He knew that if he made the mistake of seeing her again, there would be no turning back. He laughed silently he didn’t believe that a day would come when he would be afraid of a woman.

His mind was still clouded with the thought as he made his way home at the end of the day. He found himself contemplating stopping over at her house. For crying out loud, all he should do to get her out his system was sleep with her till he got bored because the more he resisted, the more intriguing she became.  When he couldn’t make up his mind and other road users were shouting expletives on him. He drove straight on home. He had already agreed that she was one big mystery he wasn’t ready to unravel.

Nma was closeted in her studio alone working at the office, she has been working steadily for past six hours. When her door opened, she expected Helen, the angel who always came to save her from herself. When she looked up, she saw Eva.

“Hello! They said I could find you here”

Nma was too surprised to speak, customers were never allowed into the studio not talk of her own studio. Everyone knew she preferred to work alone hiding her irritation, she commanded her brain to focus on her visitor.

“Hi!”

“Am I disturbing you? I could leave and…”

“No not at all, I was just surprised; I hardly receive visitors up here. So how are you, you came to shop?”

“Yes I came to look around the place, and I think you have a big thing going on here”

Nma smiled and realized the girl was still standing “Please sit down” she indicated a couch, where she had been forced to sleep on when she worked into the night.

“Thank you” Eva sat. There was an awkward silence while Nma wondered what the girl really wanted. She was aware that the girl was very protective of her brother and she wished for her own sake that she was not here to protect Uche, if she was, she would put her in her place in no small way.

“I know you would be wondering why I am here” Eva said

“You couldn’t be more right”

“I am having a little get together at my house tonight, I was wondering if you could come”

“Oh… well… I will come, what time is it?” Nma asked and then it dawned on her that Uche might be there, she didn’t bother to understand the mixed feeling of excitement and fear that griped her. She had stopped trying to sort out what it was she felt for Uche Okoha.

“Well six, it is not really a formal affair, I am just having a pre dinner drink with close friends and after that people can continue with the dinner engagements”

“Okay! So when is the wedding?”

“In two months time, not sure of the date yet but we are definitely getting married in two months”

Nma wanted to ask if her brother would be at the party but she didn’t want the girl to mistake her interest.

“How is it going with Uche?”

Nma was startled, how like her brother she was, confidently asking question that could embarrass.

Nma smiled “I have been very busy and so it has been difficult to see him” was it surprise she saw flicker in the girl’s eyes. She was sure no woman had spoken of her brother so flippantly.

“I am sure the party would be a good opportunity for you to spend some time together. Since I am offering only pre dinner drink, I guess you can make further plans for the evening”

Nma smiled “Contrary to what your brother told you, I want to assure you that we are not really that serious not now and I don’t see it happening in the future”

Eva laughed “Well I am glad that there is one woman on earth who didn’t think my brother walked on water, so my dear I keep my fingers crossed” she laughed again “Star should hear this, it would give her one more thing to tease Uche about” at that moment she stood up her mission accomplished. Eva was glad that she decided to invite the girl personally, when her brother had kept quiet about her, she knew that he might bring someone else and she was scared he might decide to bring Angela.

“See you Tomorrow evening” she smiled at Nma. She liked the girl and yet she couldn’t put a finger on why she did.

Nma stood up too and walked her to the door. “Thanks for coming and for taking the trouble to invite me”

As soon as she left, Nma knew that her peace of mind had gone with her. So it was again inevitable that she would see him. As she was thinking a thought occurred to her, so the man had the guts to ignore her after all the innuendoes he implied. Well she was going to make him beg for it. She was going to that party and she was going to look so good that all the men there would be salivating at the thought of her. She could probably go with Ken to add insult to the injury. She wasn’t particularly sure about that because she had been avoiding Ken and she didn’t want to give the poor man the wrong impression. If she took him along, she would become guilty for the same crime she was going to punish Uche for. She paced about, thinking of what to wear, an idea occurred to her and she picked up her sketch pad and began to sketch what she would wear. She decided on skirt and top, she wanted something modest but which would at the same time show off her finest attributes. She spent the rest of the day perfecting her attire.

Nma came out from her bathroom and patted her face in the mirror. She had spent some time on her face masking it with a marine mask, a new hundred percent natural face mask that did magic to one’s face. She was careful with her facials because she detested chemicals on the body. So she researched the product she used very well before using them. She picked up the simple top she had made. Somehow she wasn’t sure anymore. The top was shiny red peplum blouse, with empire waist and three inches band then it fell into pretty gathers with balloon puff sleeves. The top molded her perfect figure especially the band clung and emphasized her very tiny waist but the gathers gave her space so it could move on her body as she walked. She wanted to make Uche beg for it and he was going to, then she would turn him down and get the satisfaction of bursting his over inflated ego. She wore a black leather pencil skirt. The skirt molded her well round hip, which looked more rounded because of her very tiny waist. She wore black shiny stiletto shoes and matched with an over size skin colored purse. She looked at her hair and debated what to do with it; she decided to let it fall and pin a red flower. She looked at her end result and smiled with satisfaction. Who said being a fashion designer didn’t help, especially when you have a point to prove or a statement to make.  Tonight she was telling Uche that he can’t have his cake and eat it. With that she left her bedroom, she was in high spirit and she was excited.

She got the exact result she wanted when she entered the room, all the men in room gave her appreciative glances but they didn’t mean anything to her. She was here on a quest. Uche was nowhere to be seen but she was sure he was coming. Eva came to her and gave a friendly kiss, “come and meet everybody” she cued, Nma could feel disappointment sipping into her some time later as it began to look as if Uche wasn’t going to come. And she couldn’t resist asking Eva.

“I haven’t seen Uche around, is he not coming?”

Eva hid her smile, so the girl wasn’t as immune as she let on. Eva decided not to let off easily.

“My brother is never predictable; he might not show up after all”

Her heart went out to the girl when she saw her disappointment but she said nothing and drifted away to attend to her other guests. Nma was standing at a corner, when Charles accosted her.

“If this isn’t the hazel eyed witch”

Nma turned and gave him a brilliant smile

“Hello, nice party”

“Yes, Eva loves throwing parties”

“But I see you indulge her”

“When you love someone the way I do her, you would find it difficult to deny him whatever brings him happiness”

Nma smiled and thought of Uche, she wondered if he would ever come to love her the way Charles described but she bit back her sigh of disappointment. He wasn’t the man for her. There was no way a man like him would agree to her idea of relationship.  She shouldn’t even be here; she thought, who was she kidding?

“How are you enjoying the party?” Charles asked

“Fine, the people here are friendlier”

He laughed, “Because they are close friends, birds of the same feather flock together”

Nma smiled as she remembered Uche saying the same thing in his usual arrogant manner.

Suddenly she felt the hair at her back stand and she knew that only one person could have that effect on her. She couldn’t help turning around, and she saw him standing at the door with the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, she could feel her resentment for the girl wash all over her. The girl wore a short red high waist gown. The gown was so short that it left nothing to be imagined. Nma was breathless and faint and she couldn’t believe it as she looked at the girl’s cool beauty and charisma. She knew that she had once again succeeded in making a fool of herself over Uche Okoha. Her next decision was to make some polite excuse and leave. She knew the exact moment he saw her, as their eyes met her breath caught in her throat, he looked as handsome as ever in deep blue chinos and sparkling white fitted shirts open at the neck showing very tiny gold chain. She loved this man, she thought and she stopped. She could feel tears rushing to her eyes as the realization dawned on her. She was in love with a man who didn’t care if she existed. She turned back to Charles, determined to ignore Uche till she was alone again to think about her new found feelings for him.

Uche watched her talking to Charles. Was he never to be free of her? Eva had gone the extra mile to invite her. Hadn’t Star insisted on coming with him just to take a look at the girl Uche Okoha was pinning for?  He felt his blood quicken as he took in her attire. Gush! Didn’t the girl know what her figure did to every warm blooded man? Then he noticed that he wasn’t the only one looking. He glared at the man beside him so fiercely.

“That girl is something else” the man muttered before moving away.

Didn’t the girl have the good sense of wearing some loose clothes? Did she not know the kind attention she was drawing to herself? It irked him to know that all the men in the room were wishing but he was going to let them know that she was not free for taking.

“You have been looking at that girl and glaring at everyone who looked at her, is she the one?”

He glared at Star. He knew that Star turning up at his house was her sister’s way of making sure he came. He had already settled for a quiet evening when she arrived.

Just then Eva joined them. She smiled at him and gave him a hug. “People are already leaving Uche; you are becoming terrible with time”

“Why did you invite her?” he heard himself ask

“She came to my party and I wanted to thank her, after all you were the one who said I should be friendly to her.

“Who did she come with?”

“I can’t tell but I haven’t seen her chummy with anybody since she came”

“Excuse me” he said to ladies and began to approach Nma.

Star and Eva exchanged a look,

“So it happened at last” Star breathed

“I never thought I would see my brother besotted over a woman again. He cares about her”

“The whole of our specie would definitely mourn the chance we never had” Star mused

Eva turned to her with surprise “Didn’t know you are still sweet on my brother”

Star smiled “still sweet on him, no I am not” she laughed.

“What actually happened the first time?”

“Nothing happened I wanted him so much when I came to work for him and he felt the same way, so one day we were working late and somehow we started kissing but the good thing was we realized that we couldn’t do that to our working relationship and since then we feel nothing but respect and friendship for each other”

“When did you realize that, before or after” Eva asked mischievously

“He is your brother I know but if he was not, tell me do you think you would have resisted working with him everyday and not want to find out” Star smiled as she watched Uche stopped by a couple eager girls. “He can hardly make it across the room without being stopped by numerous eager girls”

“Well I hope you are satisfied with the decision both of you came to because the way I am seeing it, there is no turning back for him with Nma”

“You know me girl friend, if I still wanted him Nma wouldn’t have had a chance” she smiled “But I have found out I love my freedom, moreover I got a call from Chucks last night and when next he is town, we are hooking up”

“Star Chucks is the worst Casanova on earth” Eva exclaimed

“And sweet heart I am a definite match for him” taking a drink from a passng waiter, she sipped and smiled.

Charles turned and saw Uche approaching them except that there were so many women who wanted to talk to him. He smiled because he knew what exactly was happening to his friend and he was glad. Uche thought he should have resisted falling for his sister, and he wanted to see him resist what was happening to him. He was falling in love and hardly knew it. By the look of things he was fighting it and giving it all kinds of name that it was not. He was going to sit back and relax and enjoy this. He wanted to watch how Uche was going to come out of this one without a marriage certificate.

Nma made the mistake of turning just as Uche managed to extricate himself from a group ladies. She felt her pulse quickened and she lost the trend of the conversation she was having with Charles. She tried to give sensible answers to his questions but gave up when she couldn’t follow her thoughts through. Her whole mind was centered on Uche. She didn’t know the first thing she would say to him and she desperately searched her mind for something appropriate. A cool smile was all she could manage when he reached them.

“Glad you could come man” she heard Charles say

“Don’t let her have her way all the time” Uche laughed at his friend

“You would be doing the same for someone soon, the way I see it”

“Not very soon, maybe someday, why not go charm your fiancée and leave us bachelors to woo the ladies” he teased Charles who laughed and left.

Nma felt her heart skip a bit as he turned to her after Charles left.

“How are you?” he asked her

“Fine and you?”

“I have been very busy”

“Me too, I am getting ready for an exhibition next month and I hardly had time for myself” you are blabbing Nma, too much information, she scolded herself.

“I see your fiancé is not here” Uche asked looking around

“No he is not, I came alone”

“Does he ever go anywhere with you?”

“Not that it is any of your business, but we have different schedule and we have found a way to work around it and we love our space very much”

“Forgive me for assuming, I am yet to realize that some men are not like me. I see you are the only one without a drink, come along let me find you something to drink”

Mesmerized she followed him. She looked around when she found herself in the kitchen.

The kitchen was quite big, bigger than her living room and furnished with every gadget one could wish for in a kitchen.

“Very nice, is this Charles’s house?”

“This is Eva’s house” Uche told her and drew out a seat for her at the small dinning table.

“My parents will not permit them living together without a marriage certificate”

 She sat down and watched as he opened the well stocked fridge.

“I believe your parents are right”

He came back with a pack of pineapple juice and poured a generous amount for the both of them.

“But it is a waste of time because, they could pretend all they want before my parents that they are waiting till wedding night but I am not fooled”

Nma smiled “Has it occurred to you that you might be wrong”

“I am never wrong sweet heart”

Nma laughed and decided to change the topic.

“You are not drinking tonight”

He chuckled “I am not fond of drinking alone” he answered and sat down beside her.

“You could have told Eva about your drinking habit, she would have provided you with an alternative”

“I wasn’t going to stay long” she replied, wishing there was more space between them. He was sitting too close to her. And she could feel his strong thighs brushing against hers and it was making her nervous. What was wrong with her? She tried to ignore his muscular bicep which was directly beside her and at arm’s reach, her mind whispered.  How she loved this man, she thought. She wished things were different.

Uche watched her sip the drink, he could remember what it felt like to kiss her, he tried to stop himself from what he was about to do but there was no stopping his hands because they seem to develop a will of their own whenever he was with her. He took the cup from her.

She knew immediately that he was going to kiss her and she raised her mouth welcoming him. Then it occurred to her that the last time he kissed her, he withdrew from her and that was the last thing she wanted, not tonight, not ever. She leaned out of reach. She saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

But Uche was not having her denial he has been waiting for an opportunity to kiss her again and here it was and she was not going to deny him.

“What is it?”

“This is your sister’s kitchen and anybody might walk in”

“Are you suggesting we go somewhere more private and comfortable?”

She looked up alarmed at his suggestion and she stood up meaning to leave, shaking not with anger but she was actually excited by his suggestions and she had to get away from him before she said yes. He began to laugh as she struggled to leave. She turned to him summoning anger

“You think this is funny” she asked

But he drew her down on him, she was startled to find herself sitting on him and he placed his mouth on her. She was about to turn away but he spoke.

“Relax, you are safe, there are about twenty people in the next room who could come in anytime, I am not going to do anything that would embarrass you” then he deepened the kiss and she was lost at that instant, it didn’t matter if they were in a room filled with a crowd, all that mattered was him.

This shouldn’t feel this right, he shouldn’t feel like he has found paradise but that was what kissing her did to him. He wasn’t scared anymore, he was just plain curious to find what it would feel like all the way. There was no point denying himself any longer. He wanted her and he was going to have her and stay with her till he got bored. He was sure he would get bored but he knew it was not going to be soon.

While they were oblivious of nothing else except each other, Star came in followed by Eva but the moment they saw them, they slowly tiptoed away. Uche broke the kiss because he had to breathe. She leaned on him and he held her.

“What do you think about dinner on a beach?”

“Romantic” she murmured “but impossible” she concluded

“Never say never, and most things are possible with me” he drew her to her feet and kissed her once more. “Let’s go find something to eat”

Back in the living room they found out that most of the guests had gone. Only star and Eva were in the living room when they came in.

“I see I have been dumped” Star smiled at both of them.

Nma gasped remembering the girl, in her excitement she had forgotten that he brought a date. The girl might be just a friend to him judging from the way he spoke to her. Still it wasn’t proper for him to leave without her”

“I brought my car” Nma suggested “I could meet up with you”

“Eva would you please see that Star gets home, call her a cab” he gave the woman a lingering kiss on the cheek and said something that made her laugh and he led her out.

“What about my car” she asked as the door closed behind them.

“It would get home before you I assure you” he opened the door of yet another jeep and helped her in. Nma sat down and closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She wasn’t sure she knew what she was doing though, because if she knew, she would not be going anywhere with this man. As he drove, it occurred to her that he mentioned dinner on a beach and she wondered what he had in mind.

“So where is this beach you are talking about?”

“My house”

“You own a beach?” she asked trying not to panic because he mentioned his house. She was certain that he was joking.

“Yes I do, it is called Eden castle”

“So that’s where you are taking me?”

Uche could hear the panic she was trying to conceal and was doing a bad job of it.

“It would have been my pleasure but Eden castle would take about two hours to get to. But at my town house here, I have a beach I share with all my neighbors, if we are lucky we might find the beach to ourselves”

“Your house, I didn’t realize”

“And you are having second thoughts?”

“Well, it is just that it is getting late and I wonder…”

“Hey” he touched her knees “I am not a rapist”

She looked at him with shock “I never implied that you are”

“Then stop being afraid and let’s enjoy dinner”

“I am not afraid”

“Were you not” he asked mockingly

“Why should I be when I know I am only going to have dinner on the beach?”

Uche laughed and shook his head “Honestly I am intrigued by you, we are almost there”

She saw his house come into view. Was this what he called a house in town? The place looked more like a mansion and it glittered with lights. But so did other houses beside his. This was where the richest of the rich lived in wealth and splendor. Yet she felt that his house was more enchanting than the others. There was something gravely mysterious about the place that made it stand out from the rest. She saw him punch some numbers in the dash board and the gate opened and she was watched in awe as they drove in. as if he knew what she thinking, he began to explain.

“I have same code in all my cars, it is for security, I could open my gate five minutes to my house, it opens five second after I punch in the code and closes even faster. A man in my position can’t afford to be careless”

“Is your life constantly in danger?”

He smiled “You can never tell how many people want you dead for very flimsy excuses”

“Have you wronged so many people?”

“A business man cannot help that, sometimes you fire some lazy workers who thought you were too cruel and sometimes it might be something bigger and someone more your size. I have to apply caution”

She didn’t like it; she didn’t like what she was hearing one bit. She was very scared and concerned that his life could be in danger. As the car pulled to a stop, she turned to him

“Shouldn’t you go around with body guards then?”

Was it concern he heard in her voice, it intrigued him, none of his lady friends had shown such concern before and he hastened to assure her “I don’t need one, while I was sowing my wild oaths in America according to my dad, I was with the marine for two years, so honey I can very well take care of myself” he smiled

“Yet you should have body guards what’s one man against five men with guns”

“I do have body guards, courtesy of my mother who seemed to share the same sentiments as you. But they stay off sight” he told her. His mother employed body guards to watch him secretly she thought he didn’t know. At first he didn’t but when he eventually found out, he decided to indulge her after all she was the one paying them but he had warned them that he would fire them if he saw anyone of them near him. From then on he ignored them even when they broke the agreement.

“She must worry about you” Nma was saying as he helped her down the car. “No wonder she wants you to be serious about Angela, she wants you to reproduce more Okoha males as fast as possible seeing that you like to live dangerously”

He chuckled “My mother would love you if she gets to know you better”

Nma smiled at him, she didn’t see any chance of that happening and was going to reply but the door was opened by a teenager in pink shorts and spaghetti top. Nma wondered who the girl was and why she was so scantily dressed. She saw Uche stiffen and she had come to know that as a sign of rising temper. How fast she getting to know him she thought.

“Where’s your mother?” Uche asked

“She is putting finishing touches to dinner, she asked me to see to the door”

Nma watched the girl as she spoke and when their eyes met she was surprised to see that girl’s eyes reflected nothing but friendliness. She didn’t have time to dwell on the thoughts as Uche was leading her into the house and explaining about the girl.

‘That’s my house keeper’s daughter, they live at the boy’s quarter but I have a feeling that she is more than eager to fill her mother’s shoes”

Nma nodded, the hall way was enchanting, soft red rug, green huge plants, paintings at the adjacent sides of the white walls. “Do you care for a drink before dinner, oh? I forgot you don’t drink”

“I must have something if you don’t mind”

“Go ahead” she replied and he led her to the living room and she nearly cried out with its share splendor. It looked like nothing she had ever seen. Her entire house could fit into the living room. She thought Eva’s house was beautiful but it was nothing compared to this one. From where they stood the living room was twenty inches below it looked like a pit for orchestra except that it was much bigger and larger. She took in the stairs and looked around, she was still awe struck. The room was marbled too but it had Persian scatter rug and two ottomans, the television covered one part of the wall. She watched him pour himself a drink and wondered how someone could be so rich.

“It is very beautiful here” she said

“It is just a house, I am grateful for it but you should see my mother’s home. I still miss it” he said and turned to her again. And handed her a drink he watched her hesitate “It is very safe for you to drink, it is none alcoholic” she accepted the drink and sat down.

“Unless you prefer to be here, I would say we proceed to the beach”

She stood up and followed him to the beach.

The beach was long stretch of white sand, which was shared by other houses. It was beautiful, there was a full moon and the sky was filled with stars. She closed her eyes in share delight and took a long deep breath. It was like something out of a fairy tale.

“You might want to remove your shoes” she heard him say. She opened her eyes and did as he suggested and he grasped her wrist and led her to a patch on the sand that has already been overlaid with blanket. There was a bucket of ice containing some wine in it. She looked around the place and sighed again. If this was how he wooed his woman, no wonder they rush after him like bees to pollen.

“It’s is magical here” she breathed and he chuckled and began to pour the wine.

“I am glad you like it” he said and handed her the wine. She took it without asking him. She knew he would never give alcohol to drink. Was that the beginning of trust, she asked herself. Could she trust him? Was there any good in trusting a man like Uche, a man the world had dubbed the worst notorious play boy? But sitting with him and gazing at nothing but the stars, he didn’t seem anything like the cruel heart breaker he had been called a lot of times.

The house keeper came with the dishes distracting her, she watched the woman serve the food closed face and she wondered if someone had offended her. There was no friendly bone in the woman at all unlike her daughter.

“You will enjoy Emen’s cooking; she is a diamond of the first water in that area”

Nma smiled “I can’t wait” the food looked quite good and she didn’t know she was actually hungry until she saw the food and her stomach growled. The taste of the coconut rice with fried plantain and vegetable sauce was different from all she has ever tasted.

“You are right” she said to Uche, “that woman is a genius”

“You know every time I look at you, I am reminded of a woman, and she is one of my mother’s protégée”

“Who could that be?”

“Do you know the woman who owns BodyTalk?”

“Amber! Of course yes” she gladly said”

“Are you related?”

“No, I don’t know her one on one but she is my role model and I look up to her”

Nma had wondered at the resemblance between her and Amber but she had concluded that it was a mere coincidence.

“You share the same enchanting eyes and luscious lips and the same deadly figure, now she is in her forties but she doesn’t look a day older that twenty five”

Nma watched the way he described the woman and wondered if there was more between them other than the woman being his mother’s protégée. She couldn’t believe she was jealous of the woman. She was not only jealous of the woman, she was jealous of every other woman he might be interested in.

“You could be her lost relative” he told her

“Not a chance” Nma said, she didn’t want him to reinforcing her childhood wishes that Amber could actually be her mother. She was sure that if her mother was still alive, she would have sought her out by now.

“I see you don’t want to acknowledge the possibility”

“I have outgrown wishing that my mother would show up one day” she smiled ruefully and she immediately changed the topic.

“So what exactly do you do that gives you all these money?”

He chuckles

“I’m into a lot of things” he replied lazily raising his glass to his lips, she watched drink and swallowed hard. She couldn’t believe she found the simple task of drinking so exciting. Would she ever recognize herself again?

“But I command a good part of the oil industry in Nigeria and a good percentage around the world. Then there is shipping and manufacturing of raw materials. Then we own Silverline Bank and it is developing fine, and tourism of course, you must know dream towers. We have it spotted every where in the world and a few in Nigeria, mostly in the pacific regions and a little bit of this and that”

Nma made sure her mouth was not hanging open.  He was virtually into everything. Then she looked around her surroundings and wondered how she expected to have a serious platonic relationship with this man.

“How do you cope, it is easy to loose count”

“I have capable people working with me and they know I don’t suffer fools gladly”

She sighed in wonder and closed her eyes. Suddenly she felt inferior because she had just understood the kind of man she was dealing with and she didn’t think she could begin to measure up.

Uche knew she was overwhelmed, in his experience; this is where he began to get bored with the women he dated. Once they understood how rich he was, they became overwhelmed and too eager to please him. He wondered what was going on in her mind. Had she realized that he was too rich and was now plotting her next move on trapping him good and proper? Irritated he pushed away the food. But her next word shocked him.

“I should go home, it is getting late. It was a nice evening, thank you for inviting me”

She was leaving, no that was new. Most girls he had known became more pliant and willing after learning how rich he was. He could feel his heart jump in happiness. He couldn’t believe he was happy that she was not all like the other girls.

“But the night had just started; we are yet to swim in the ocean”

She looked up shocked “I am not going to swim in that water this night and neither are you” did the guy want to die, she asked herself. She didn’t know why the thought scared her, probably because he was a human being like her. She was sure she would feel the same if he was another human being. The truth she was too scared to face was that she wasn’t about to let him die not when she had just found him.

“Don’t tell me you are afraid of water” he laughed drawing her to her feet.

“I am not afraid of water, I just don’t like swimming when it is dark, and there could be lots different animals out there”

“This ocean is safe, I wouldn’t risk my life”

“Who is to tell the scavengers that Uche Okoha is on the prowl keep away?”

He laughed “So what do you suggest we do instead because the night is still too young”

Nma became nervous all of a sudden. She had not reviewed the situation, they were alone on the beach and only God knew what was going on in his mind.

“I really must start going” she heard herself say.

He wondered if she was really as innocent as she acted. He knew that of course she wouldn’t be a virgin but he doubted if she has had much experience with men and how to handle them, contrary to the impression she gave out about herself. Didn’t she know that the more a woman resisted, the more persistent the man became.

“Absolutely no honey, I am not letting you go anytime soon, let’s walk a bit” he suggested. He wanted to bring down her anxiety which almost resembled virginal fears. Nma found herself falling into steps with him. He took her hands and they began to walk.

“Tell me” Uche began “About the fashion industry” he surprised her by asking. She had thought that all he would be thinking about would be how to get her into his bed.

“I didn’t know you were interested in it; tell me do you have business interest in our industry?”

“It depends on what you tell me”

“It is still a growing one in this country, you know but it has got great potential because no other industry in the world can do without us”

“Is that true?”

“Can you imagine yourself going to work without clothes?”

She had to chuckle at the sight her mind had conjured

“It has happened before; the early men went around nearly naked, if the same case is applicable to us now, I’d like to think we would manage just fine”

“Well let’s stick to the twenty first century, the early days are gone and man continues to develop”

“You are right” he smiled at her “so tell me why a twenty first century man like me can’t do without you, business speaking of course”

“Well, because we give you the class and grace you need to excel in your world, you can’t go to your board room meetings in torn jeans and T shirts, and neither can you go to a beach party in a tuxedo. We define what is appropriate at any given time, we define lifestyle and we create elegance for those who can’t afford to be ordinary. Take a look at yourself and tell me that being distinct and unique doesn’t speak volume about you in any gathering you find yourself and that is what we do for you. And no one who is eager to succeed in his chosen career could afford to ignore us, and that is virtually every single person in the world”

“Wow! I am dazzled”

“So when I say the industry have potential, I am not talking about a group of select few who could afford to drive cars or own houses or go to school, I am talking about every single person in the world and think about the money to be made from about eight billion people”

“I am impressed, I am tempted to hire you” he laughed and stopped “I am impressed you are not all looks and no brain”

“The beautiful ones are the intelligent ones” she laughed easily with him.

“So what is your place in this ocean of potential you’ve just described?”

“A very small one now, but I am working hard everyday to see that I spread my tentacles by getting money magnets like you involved”

He laughed “Have you been suffering my presence because of that”

He saw the flicker of shock in her eyes and it pleased him. She was not, he concluded

“I enjoy your company Uche and that is the only reason I am here, still if you are going to invest in the industry I would rather you do it through my label”

He watched her and knew she was being honest, and then he bent down and kissed her.

“You know I have never pined for another woman the way I do you, why do you think that is?”

“I am very different from the sort you are used to dating Uche, I guess that is the reason” and then he kissed her. Tentatively at first then with so much adore that had both of them shivering.

“Let’s go inside, I want to make love to you the first time in a bed”

Her fears returned with full force. Of course she was not going to say yes, there was no way she was going to sleep with him. She had to find a way to say no without sounding like a total imbecile.

“I don’t think so, I should start going” still she sounded worst than an imbecile.

“I know you want to, are you afraid of cheating on Ken?”

She grasped the excuse he offered “Yes Ken, I can’t do this to him”

“Why do you choose to waste your time with a man who doesn’t rouse you like I do?”

“You can’t tell that he doesn’t” she replied trying to sound angry but failing.

“I can tell by the way you respond to me. Right now, your mind might be feeling a little reluctant but your body is trembling with anticipation. You wouldn’t want me this much if Ken could give you the same pleasure” he smiled at her.

She couldn’t say anything, he was telling the truth and she didn’t know how to deny it.

“Sooner or later, you are going to make up your mind who you want Nma, I don’t share and I don’t want that little of your time that Ken is too busy to have”

He kissed her again briefly. “I will let you go home tonight Nma and never again”

He began to lead her back the way they came from.

Nma was quiet through out the drive home trying to accept that this was her last time with him. She was not going to be able to give him what he really wanted, so she would stop wasting his time and her own. She was better off with Ken, at least with Ken she was in control.  But she was going to miss him terribly, she wished there was something else she could do but she knew that Uche was never going to accept a platonic affair; the man was too virile to live that way. She sighed and looked at his grim face. Was he angry that she said no tonight? Maybe he had made up his mind not to see her anymore. Well who could blame him, how could he stick with her virginal fears when millions of women all over the world were more than willing to sleep with him even it was for once?

The jeep crawled to a stop in front of her house and she turned to look at him, meaning to say a quiet good night and getting out of the car but Uche had another thing in my mind.

“I am sorry I am going to say my good bye here, I don’t trust myself to be inside your house and behave”

The way he said it brought a shiver she was fast becoming familiar with down her spine.

“I understand” she murmured reaching for the handle but he stopped her

“But that doesn't mean I am not going to say good bye at all” he drew her into his arms. “I want you to forget Ken; there is no way I am going to let him have you now that I have decided I want you”

She would have met his arrogance with hers was she with her senses but her senses were filled with him and with the anticipation of his kiss.  He kissed her, Nma should be getting used to his kisses now but each of his kiss was different from the last one. Uche groaned in frustration and let her go.

“Till tomorrow honey” he unlocked the car and she came down on shaky legs, she waved him and entered her house. She leaned on her door and wiped her tears for a love that would never be.