the charity gala
910 Words
CHAPTER NINE
The Charity Gala
The invitation arrived the next morning in an elegant gold envelope.
The Lagos Children's Hope Foundation cordially invites Miss Agatha Williams to its Annual Charity Gala as Guest of Honor.
Agatha read the card twice before setting it on her desk.
It had been years since she had attended a public event in Lagos.
The last one...
She pushed the memory away.
"Some memories deserve to stay buried," she whispered.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Madam Ebele entered with a smile.
"I heard about the invitation."
Agatha nodded.
"I'm thinking of declining."
"What?"
"I don't feel ready."
Madam Ebele sat beside her.
"My dear, you've spent three years hiding from your past."
She gently squeezed Agatha's hand.
"You can't hide forever."
Agatha stared at the invitation.
"What if he's there?"
Her mother knew exactly who she meant.
"If Jeffrey is there, then let him see what he lost."
Agatha smiled faintly.
"You always know what to say."
"So..."
"Will you attend?"
After a long silence, Agatha nodded.
"Yes."
---
Across town, Jeffrey received the same invitation.
Tony leaned against his office door.
"I suppose you're going."
"I have to."
Tony folded his arms.
"Because it's a charity event..."
He paused.
"...or because Agatha will be there?"
Jeffrey smiled weakly.
"Both."
Tony shook his head.
"You really are hopeless."
"I've been hopeless since I was seventeen."
They both laughed quietly.
It was the first genuine laugh Jeffrey had managed in years.
---
That evening, preparations for the gala filled the Grand Imperial Hotel.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated the magnificent ballroom while guests from across Nigeria's business and political circles arrived one after another.
Luxury cars lined the entrance.
Television cameras flashed continuously.
Inside, Chief Clement Eze adjusted his tuxedo and admired the room.
Everything was going according to plan.
His assistant approached.
"Sir."
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes."
"And Beatrice?"
"She's here."
"And Jeffrey?"
"He arrived five minutes ago."
Chief Clement smiled.
"What about Agatha?"
Before the assistant could answer, murmurs spread across the ballroom.
Heads turned toward the entrance.
Agatha had arrived.
She stepped gracefully into the hall wearing a stunning emerald-green evening gown that shimmered beneath the lights.
Her hair rested elegantly over one shoulder.
She wore almost no jewelry except the silver bracelet Jeffrey had given her years ago.
Jeffrey noticed it immediately.
His heart tightened.
She still wore it.
After everything that had happened...
She had never taken it off.
Tony followed Jeffrey's gaze and smiled quietly.
"Maybe all hope isn't lost."
Jeffrey didn't answer.
He couldn't.
His eyes remained fixed on Agatha.
---
Agatha greeted several guests before the event host welcomed her to the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our Guest of Honor, Miss Agatha Williams."
Applause filled the ballroom.
Agatha accepted the microphone with a graceful smile.
"Good evening, everyone."
"It's an honor to stand before you tonight."
She spoke about hope.
About education.
About giving children opportunities they never imagined possible.
Her words were heartfelt.
By the time she finished, the audience rose to its feet in a standing ovation.
Jeffrey applauded with everyone else.
Pride filled his heart.
That was the Agatha he had always believed in.
Strong.
Compassionate.
Extraordinary.
---
As the evening continued, the orchestra began playing a soft waltz.
The host smiled.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for our first dance."
Couples slowly walked onto the dance floor.
Jeffrey watched Agatha from across the room.
He knew he shouldn't.
But something inside him refused to let the opportunity pass.
Ignoring Tony's warning glance, he crossed the ballroom.
He stopped a respectful distance from her.
"Miss Williams."
She turned.
"Mr. Chima."
His lips curved into a small smile.
"May I have this dance?"
Agatha looked into his eyes.
For a brief second...
The ballroom disappeared.
She remembered another dance.
Another night.
Another promise.
Then reality returned.
"I'm sorry."
She shook her head gently.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
Before Jeffrey could respond, another voice interrupted.
"If the lady doesn't mind..."
Unduka stepped forward with a warm smile.
"...may I have the honor instead?"
Agatha looked from Jeffrey to Unduka.
After a moment, she smiled politely.
"I'd like that."
Unduka offered his hand.
She accepted.
Together, they walked onto the dance floor.
Jeffrey stood frozen.
The music began.
Unduka and Agatha moved gracefully across the ballroom.
Guests admired them.
Some even whispered that they looked perfect together.
Across the room, Chief Clement watched with satisfaction.
Exactly what he had hoped for.
He turned to Beatrice.
"Now."
Beatrice nodded.
Quietly, she slipped away toward the ballroom's control room.
Moments later...
The music stopped abruptly.
The ballroom lights dimmed.
A giant projector screen flickered to life.
Guests looked around in confusion.
Then...
A photograph appeared on the screen.
It was Jeffrey.
Holding Beatrice in his arms.
A collective gasp echoed through the ballroom.
Agatha's face turned pale.
Jeffrey looked up in horror.
"No..."
Another photograph appeared.
Then another.
And another.
Each one carefully selected to make it seem as though Jeffrey and Beatrice had been lovers.
The room erupted into whispers.
Chief Clement smiled.
But what he didn't know...
Was that the final photograph in the slideshow had been loaded by someone else.
And when it appeared...
His smile vanished.
Because standing in the background of the image—
Clearer than ever before—
Was a face no one expected to see.
A face that had been hidden for three years.
Chief Clement Eze.
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