A Promise From My Heart

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I watched Amy as she twirled in her dress to show me how gorgeous it looked on her. The dress I had gotten for her was a white A-line gown, full sleeves with sliver works and stones around it. It looked beautiful on her and I could not say anything but stare.

"You look.....I don't have a right word to say because you are not beautiful, gorgeous or breath taking right now" I said. She stopped twirling and looked at me with surprise and quick anger. "I meant I can't find the right words to use because you are more than what I have mentioned" I strolled towards her. The corner of her lips curled up into a smile that showed her perfectly aligned teeth.

"I was thinking about how I am going to strangle you when you said that" she held the loosened tie around my neck.

"Really?" I lifted an eyebrow as my hands snaked around her thin waist pulling her closer.

"But you saved yourself" she smiled gazing down at my chest as she removed it.

"I know you can't strangle me"

"Really?" her upturned eyes glanced at me then she threw the tie on the bed.

"Yes" I answered confident.

"Just do something that displeases me and I will surprise you" she wrapped her hands around me.

"And why did you remove my tie?"

"Because I think you look better without a tie. I find you hot without it. I love you Yusuf" she said into my chest.

She was bipolar. One minute she was threatening me another minute she was saying I love you. My lips curled up into a smile as I looked down at her. The thumping of my heart was due to the joy she gave me. I hugged her back pulling her closer to my chest.

"I love you too wura mi" I breath in her fragrance which did some things inside me.

She looked up at me. With a smile, she pressed her lips on mine into a gently lingering kiss which I replied to.

"We should leave now" She said walking away from me to tie her hijab.

I licked my lips which were sticky from her lip gloss. I picked a dirty shirt from the laundry basket and wiped my lips. I would not want to go to a party with lip gloss glistening on my lips.

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"Assalamu alaikum brother" I beamed when I sighted Salim with his wife Teslimah as Amy and I walked into the large garden where the birthday party was taking place.

"Walaikum salam" Salim answered hugging me.

Salim had been my friend for so long and my cousin from my maternal side. Both our wives hugged each other smiling and giggling at whatever they said to each other. Teslimah and Amatullah had been friends since childhood.

"How have you been Salim?" I asked pulling Amy closer to me.

"I am fine Alhamdulillah" he answered.

"I will just enjoy the party with Teslimah" Amy slipped out of my arm. "You men should talk" she grabbed Teslimah's hand and disappeared into the crowd.

"How is business dude?" I asked Salim.

"Alhamdulillah it is fine" he answered.

We spoke and chatted greeting familiar people from our working place or community. Mr Okoye is a distant relative of Salim. I greeted my boss and his wife and congratulated his wife handing her the gift we got for her. The night went slowly and I caught no glimpse of Amy or Teslimah. Only Allah knows where they disappeared to. Salim seemed troubled. Even though his face showed nothing, his eyes said a lot of things. I knew him. He was my brother from another mother. We had gone to the same nursery, primary and secondary schools.

"Yusuf" a very familiar feminine voice screeched. I cringed at the voice and looked ahead of Salim to see Victoria running towards me.

Victoria was a colleague of mine with no shame or dignity. She was the type of woman who throws herself on men. Before I could stop her from hugging me, she already had her hands over me. So disgusting. I pushed her away but she clung harder.

"Tori" I called my voice stern. "Don't ever place those filthy hands on me again" I said, my voice cold.

"Oh Yusuf" she giggled slapping my arm. "Don't put on such look for me" she winked.

"I am serious" I gritted.

"Just put that aside. How are you?" she held my arm.

"Tori" I slipped my arm away from her.

"Why are you acting like this? I heard your wife is here. Is that the reason you are acting like this? Where is she?" she placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I am here" I heard Amy's voice.

Tori and I twirled to look at Amy who stood behind Salim holding Teslimah's hand "You know laying a hand on Yusuf is like putting your hand inside fire" She said, her voice calm and cold as she walked towards us. Her eyes were blank.

I understood that voice and look on her face. I understood the meaning behind those words. There was a very great meaning behind those words. I could see fire already growing on the mountain. Amatullah never liked Victoria. It was hatred at first sight.

"Amatullah" Victoria's lips curled up into the fake sweetest smile I had ever seen. "How are you?" she asked almost pressing her body to mine. I moved away from her watching my wife's face.

The look on Amy's face was not appealing at all. I could see the fury burning in her eyes. She is so going to kill Tori.

"I am not fine" Amy answered.

"Why?" Tori asked clueless.

"Because you are standing very close to my husband" Amy wrapped her hands around her chest.

"Is there anything bad in it" Victoria moved closer grabbing my hand.

"There are lots of bad things in it" Amy grabbed her hand with so much force that Tori staggered. She pulled Tori along with her as she marched out of the garden.

I could see the fire on the mountain going wild. I knew my wife to be very jealous and possessive. She had beaten and disgrace ladies just because they touched and flirted with me. I could imagine what she would do to Victoria. She might snap her neck or break her bones without mercy. I followed them. Amatullah threw Victoria releasing her hand when we got to the parking lot. Victoria almost fell but got hold of herself.

"What is wrong with you crazy woman?" Victoria barked grabbing the sides of her short dress.

"I should ask you that" Amy took a step closer towards an angry Victoria. "I know you to be a shameless woman with no dignity. You throw yourself on good looking men and trapped them in your little trap. I know Yusuf is attractive. They say not everything that glitters is gold. Getting attracted to Yusuf is like entering a big dungeon which you can't come out from. It will lead to your death. The reason is I am his wife. I had said laying a hand on him is like putting your hand in fire. I am Yusuf's wife and I don't spare women who touch or flirt with my man." Her voice was thick with possessiveness.

"So I will give you a clear and serious warning" she took a step closer to Victoria and folded her arms around her chest "If I ever see you walking towards my husband again, I would make sure those skinny legs of yours never function again. If you ever lay your hands on him or look at him the wrong way, I will make sure you would forever see darkness and chop those hands off. And if you ever grind your body to his" her lips curled up into a smirk "I will break those bones of yours into tiny pieces. Mark my words, you desperate woman. I will advise you that whatever you do with my husband should be professional. Nothing more" Amy said, her voice calm and cool but cold like an iceberg.

"You are kidding right?" Victoria snorted.

I watched them not amused by my wife's action or words. Victoria looked so dumb to me. No! She has always been a dumb person. No lady would look at Amatullah's face and not have her legs shake.

"You think so?" Amy raised an eyebrow. "He is standing there" she turned to look at me. "Go ahead and do what I had told you not to do" Amy dared.

I prayed silently Victoria does not so that because I don't want to pay anyone's hospital bill. With a smile, Victoria walked up to me and laid a hand on my shoulder before I could stop her.

"I just touched him. What can you do?" she shrugged smiling.

A sounding slap echoed through the quiet parking lot. I watched with wide eyes, my breathing hitched as I gazed at my wife who stood, fury contoured her face, her eyes blazing with anger. The vein in her forehead stood against her skin.

"You think I was joking?" She barked finally letting out her anger. Another sounding slap followed before I could speak. "I could have disgraced you inside and smash the little ego you have left but I am not ready to ruin someone else's party. You dey craze? Have you gone nut? The look wey dey my face show sey I dey play?"

"Amatullah please" I begged taking her hand.

"Leave me alone" she barked, yanking her hand from my grip.

"How dare you?" Victoria lifted a hand to slap Amatullah but Amatullah grabbed it and gave her another slap.

"You shameless rat! Broom stick! Alapa stainless! Oloshi! Ashewo! Gbokogboko! I warned you but you are taking my words for granted" she pushed Victoria to the floor. "I will skin you alive next time I see you near my husband. If you have no dignity or pride at least have some little shame" she spat and kicked Victoria's legs. "Oshi! Make una try am next time, I will claw that ugly face of your" She hissed. I cringed almost feeling the pain those four inches heels will inflict on Victoria's slim legs.

Victoria groaned in pain, whimpering. I smiled at my wife's action. I was proud of her. She did what I could not do. "We are leaving now Yusuf" Amy glared at me. "I will wait in the car for you. I feel so sick" she matched to where our car was parked.

I walked back inside to inform my boss I was leaving. I congratulated his wife and told Salim and Teslimah I was leaving that Amy feels so sick. I knew I had a great job to do with Amatullah's anger as I marched back to the car. Oh Allah, please help me.