WHEN THE HEART KNOWS

THE ENIGMA

CHAPTER FOUR

She found it difficult concentrating as she drove home. She could not make up her mind about the man. Common sense told her to go but she couldn’t bring herself to accept. She could take it as a working night, she decided and considered it. And use the night to do some serious networking with the rich. The Okohas have been rated as the richest in the continent and Uche Okoha sat at the head of the vast rich empire since his father retired. So everyone who would be at the party could be useful to her. If they don’t end up as customers, they could end up as sponsors or investors. She made up her mind to go. It was a good business move. Yet her heart was beating frantically and she didn’t know if it was from fear or excitement. But didn’t they say fear is a form of excitement. Most girls would give their right hand to be with him, to be seen with him. He was every girl’s dream come true, how she wished she was one of those girls who thought looks and money were all they needed. She was brought up to believe that self respect was better. Had she not worked hard at becoming independent so she would not depend on men? But this was different she thought, she was not running after the man, neither was she going out with him for his money or looks, rather she was going to use this opportunity to get to know the right people for her business. Mrs. Okoha was one of such people and she hoped she would impress the woman tonight. Happy that she had resolved the problem, She turned her mind to more practical matters. What was she going to wear? That was another dilemma. She had a closet full enchanting clothes but choosing the right one would be a big problem she thought. Seeing no way to resolve the problem while driving she decided to wait till she got home.

Uche relaxed on his balcony overlooking the beach, he’d been working steadily for a couple of hours so he guessed he deserved a little reprieve to stretch his legs and look at the wonderful view. A smile of satisfaction was playing at the corners of his mouth. He didn’t even deny the fact that he was going to have his first date with Hazel eyes was responsible for his satisfaction. He glanced at his Rolex and saw that he had little time to get ready for his first date with the witch. He turned around to get a quick shower but stopped. Did he stare longer at the bed or was it his imagination. He shook his head in self pity. He hadn’t gotten the girl yet and he was already picturing the two of them between the sheets. He laughed and pulled the T shirt off his head. He wasn’t going to deny that he was going out of mind wanting her, and if it was possible tonight, he scolded himself at the thought. When did he become this shallow? Behaving like a teenager who had just had his first promise of the forbidden. He laughed and walked into the bathroom. Well at least Eva would be happy, she was getting what she wanted, she wanted a new girl in his life and she had gotten it. The problem still remained, what was he going to do about Angela? The girl acted like a psycho, was she possessed? She conveniently forgot that he didn’t make any promises to her. He thanked his lucky stars she was not going to be there tonight.

Meanwhile back in her house Nma went to the studio first and dropped her baggage. She glanced at her watch and realized she had barely an hour and half to get ready, she thought as she headed to the bathroom. As she turned the door knob she remembered that she didn’t give him her address nor did he ask for it. He acted like he already knew her place very well, she thought shocked as she opened her door and collapsed on the bed. The thing was he acted like he knew a lot about her, her name, her work and even about Ken. “How come” she asked herself? Had he been watching her or asking questions about her, but why? She reasoned. She didn’t mean anything to him at all; she didn’t know anything about him but was written in magazines and newspapers.

Okoha was a name she saw in the dailies or magazine or heard over the radio and TV. He didn’t mean anything to her. So why would he waste his time digging about her. Surely Uche Okoha, the heir to the vast empire wouldn’t waste time doing all that, she thought. And surely wouldn’t waste time asking any woman out like he did her. Women were always swimming around him, falling over themselves to get his attention. Was he really Uche Okoha or any Okoha for that matter, or was this just a trap? She asked herself tentatively. She would be a fool if she didn’t consider the fact, there were crooks. everywhere and the most annoying of them all were the local ones who beguiled innocent people and defrauded them of their money. Well if the man was after her money, he was in for a terrible disappointment. But she doubted the man would be a fraudster. He didn’t have the look of it. The man looked wealthy enough to be Uche Okoha and he certainly looked handsome enough. She was probably the only girl on earth who wouldn’t recognize Uche Okoha. She never really cared before then. .

“This is ridiculous” she told herself, standing up to undress. When did she become such a coward? This was a challenge, she told herself and she thrived on challenges. This was an opportunity to take Nma higher and that had always been her prime goal. She was more than willing to risk tonight for that purpose. She might not understand his interest in her. He said he was not asking her out to start an affair with her, which meant he was not interested in her as a woman. The thought met with a little disappointment. This was the first time in her entire life a man didn’t find her interesting enough. Men were always after her, she had never for once lacked date or an admirer, they were always there, if not interested in her then they would be in her business? She almost laughed her head off. What interest would Uche Okoha have in a business as meager as hers? Compared to his vast empire hers was a little anthill. Getting hold of her thoughts, she marched into the closet to scan for what to wear.

In her closet hung many enchanting evening gowns, She pushed through them one by one deciding against most of them, then she got to the last gown and stopped.

“No” she muttered, I can’t possibly wear this” she protested, already she had extracted the gown and was inspecting it. “This is too much” she said. But she had never won any battle against wearing a beautiful dress. Nma carried the dress to the mirror and placed it in front of her. it was a green Grecian gown with wide neck and short puff sleeves, the gown clung to her upper body emphasizing her very tiny waist then fished out at her ankles “This is overdressing, come on I’m not the celebrant” she told herself in another attempt to keep the exquisite dress down. Running her fingers through the soft and smooth material, she couldn’t put it back, not when she was already thinking of how she would look in it. This gown she had designed for herself for a friend’s party, but she had found it too dressy for the occasion and had decided against wearing it. But tonight she was going to wear it and knock all those rich ladies out of their minds that they would start screaming Nma the next day, she dreamed. And Uche Okoha, she thought. He asked for a date right? Well tonight he had bitten more than he could chew, She thought making up her mind to wear the gown and damn the consequences. She laid the dress on the bed and went into the bathroom to have a shower. She would have loved to soak herself in the scented water, but there was no time for that. A glance at her watch told her she was running late, so she settled for a quick shower. Nma sat on the stool in front of her mirror and applied her makeup carefully not wanting any flaws tonight. Then she got into the dress and stood in front of her mirror and zipped the dress, it clung to her waist, emphasizing how tiny her waist was. She did a twirl in front of the mirror and held her breathe as her dress whirled around her, swaying at her ankles. She then braided her hair and piled it up in a perfect chignon, slipping her slender feet into high heel sandals. She took another look at herself in the mirror. Then she walked majestically into the living room to await her handsome stranger. This must be exactly how Cinderella must have felt when she met her prince charming, she thought. Only that she was not about to meet her prince charming. At few minutes to eight, she was sitting in her living room waiting for him to come while her mind jostled between his coming or not. She wondered how it would feel like if he didn’t come, she would just walk back into her bedroom feeling dejected. Maybe he had found someone else to accompany him, like the elegant woman he had lunch. Why didn’t he ask the woman instead, the thought occurred to her? Anyway he didn’t say he couldn’t find anybody to ask out, but he did say the woman he wanted was her. That should answer her question, she assured herself. Again she wondered if the woman would be at the party. She hoped she was not the type that could create ugly scenes, the thought alarmed her.

At eight o’ clock she went back into the room to check herself in the mirror once again. She looked at her bare neck and considered wearing something; Her only jewelry were her gold and diamond stud earrings, her Christmas gift to herself last Christmas.

Deciding against any other jewelry, she left the room, as she entered the living room she heard a knock on the door and her heart skipped a beat in anticipation but stilling her emotions she went to open the door for him.

She opened the door and stepped back to allow him come in.

“Whoa! He exclaimed, did your fairy god mother visit you?” he asked jokingly

“Yes, you are right she did” she laughed.

“You look enchanting, did you design this?” he asked

“Yes, and you’re not looking half as bad, the jacket is becoming on you” she complimented sincerely. He looked real stunning in the tux.

Uche chuckled in his deep voice,

Nma was mesmerized at his deep throaty chuckle. “We should get going” she said, trying to distract her errant mind and also because her living room had become too tiny with him inside it he was just too close to her excited body for comfort.

“Shall we?” he said, courteously indicating the door.

Nma picked up her wrap and purse and followed him. They stepped out into the cool air and she shivered, wondering if it was the cold or because of this creature walking beside her.

Nma was taken aback by the huge limousine packed outside and a chauffeur was already opening the door for them. Well she expected nothing less from Uche Okoha, he would go anywhere in style including a family party, She thought.

The chauffeur closed the door behind them and walked to the driver’s door.

Nma looked around in excitement at the spacious interior of the car, and the cream leather bucket cushion.

“This is very comfortable” she murmured under her breathe

“Did you say something?” Uche asked.

“I said it is comfortable here” she answered.

She noticed the satisfied look on his face and wondered what gave him the satisfaction. Was it the fact that he succeeded in getting her to accompany him tonight or was life just too comfortable for him to worry about anything? She thought.

“Yes it is, I find it more comfortable moving around in this car than any other car”

“Even in the heavy traffic?” Nma asked

“This town can be very discouraging for that” he answered. “Moreover, I also like to drive myself in the afternoon; I get too impatient with the drivers driving too slow when sharp move could have gotten us out of traffic

“Was that how you found out where I live and other things about me?” she asked sarcastically.

“I made it my business to know about you” he said innocently

“Is that how you pursue your women, by digging about them?”

“Pursue is not exactly the word I would use”

“What would you call it then?”

“I saw one beautiful woman and decided to get to know her and how beautiful she really is”

“To know if she was good enough for Uche Okoha?” she retorted sharply. “What a fool I’ve been” she said silently.

“Spoiling for trouble, are you?” he mocked.

“I don’t like it, knowing you’ve been digging into my private life and finding out things you have no right to know”

“The deed has already been done; don’t let it spoil the night”

Nma’s anger wasn’t spent yet, and she was dying in the frustrating silence. He was right, she shouldn’t spoil the night, but the night was already spoilt, she wasn’t in that good spirit anymore, not when she kept asking herself what she was doing with this stranger.

“You’ve gone very quiet, are you still angry with me?”

“I was not angry with you, just disgusted at your audacity” she retorted.

“Good, because we will soon be there” he answered smiling.

“Where is the party taking place, your family house?” she asked. She had heard so much about their family house and what its worth.

“Yes it’s taking place in my parent’s house” he answered.

Nma watched the splendid environment in awe, from the lighted fountain to the glistering courtyard. Even as they walked she couldn’t help looking around the compound, the house itself was something out of a fairy tale, and it was something that could put the ancient Grecian castles to shame. It stood there proud, a modern day castle.

“Oh, this is lovely” Nma cried excitedly as she walked beside him.

Uche smiled in satisfaction over her excitement and drew her close to him.

In that split second Nma forgot he was a stranger, she felt like she had known him all her life and that he was her prince charming leading her to his castle. She relaxed, enjoying the powerful male strength of the hard body and strong hands that held her tiny waist. Dreamily she closed her eyes and sighed blissfully. “This is life” she said silently, refusing to listen to warning voice inside her head, telling her that it wouldn’t last. Yes it would not last, but she wanted to enjoy it while it lasted. She thought happily.

Suddenly they stopped and Nma saw a woman standing at the door, beaming at Uche.

“Now I was thinking you would dare miss it” the woman cued.

“No way kid, now why would I want to dare the temper of a fiery dragon” he laughed, grabbing the girl and kissing her.

Nma saw what Uche would have looked like had he been a female. The only difference was that the girl’s features were softer and lacked the hard lines of Uche’s.

“I want you to meet someone” Uche began, cutting into Nma’s thoughts as he drew her nearer to him and in the circle. This is a friend of mine Nma, CEO of NMA collections, and this is my sister Uju, the celebrant.

The girl brought out her hand and shook hers coolly. “Please I’m Eva not Uju” she corrected. “This man would never get that into his head” she smiled.

Nma smiled knowingly and wondered if anybody could get anything into his head.

“Did you design this?” she asked coolly.

“Yes I did,” Nma answered, not missing the note of suspicion in the girl’s voice and it surprised her.

“The party is almost half gone darling, leave your brother alone” a man admonished, coming to join them.

“Now where did you find this goddess?”

The man Nma came to know as Charles laughed with Uche who was going to become his brother in law. Nma liked him immediately he seemed so jovial and free unlike his fiancée who seemed suspicious of her. She dismissed it from her mind.

Just then they moved along, going into the party proper. Uche led her through the stairs and when they got to the landing, she saw about a hundred guests mingling below, all in different, glittering, eye catching attire.

“Well this is it” he laughed. “Nervous?” he asked. “No, you shouldn’t be but they are so haughty and proud but then you are who you are and I chose you.” he said as they began the descent.

Nma didn’t understand what he meant and she didn’t dwell on it, because she was trying to be careful of her dress so she wouldn’t trip. She looked up as she felt a kind of calmness from the people below, and it was as if everybody was looking at them. She wondered what it was they were staring at; it wasn’t as if the host and hostess were coming down. What she didn’t know nor did she see was what lovely plus romantic picture they made or how lovely and innocent she looked in her Grecian dress. Moreover she wasn’t just with any body but with Uche Okoha, the most sought after bachelor both by daughters and their match making mamas and if she had looked well enough she would have seen that part of the silence that descended on everybody was envy.