CAUGHT IN THE MOMENT
Written by: Onyeneka Abel
***EPISODE 21***
Ok here it goes..David explained..
“My mom had her problems in raising this fashion house, there was a time she gave up and decided to sell it off to an interested buyer..Joanne’s father bought it..but just as she sold it..sales bubbled up and she regretted selling it off, despite her plea to buy it back, he refused.. He later had to strike a deal that I would marry his daughter to keep the family in business”
Oh so that was why he wants to marry Joanne?
“So so, you don’t love her?”
I know that’s not the question I was supposed to ask but it came out anyway..
“Of course not..I was able to make her sign a contract, if we can raise 10million dollars in 1month..she would sell it back to us David explained further.”
My eyes widened, there is no way we could raise that in one month nah..
“I know that, but there is a competition that holds in Europe, the winning is 15million dollars”
I stood up and gasped in shock
“I5million what?!”
Was I supposed to ask again? Ok I am supposed to ask..the money is way too huge!
“We would participate in the competition David, we would win”
Of course I had high hopes, there is no way we wouldn’t win, I would make sure of that
“That’s the problem Bukky, we participated in that competition every year, and we’ve never won Bukky”
My hopes died down immediately, he killed it..
“So you’re giving up, just like that?”
“No Bukky I am trying to think here”
He fired back and stood up to pace round..
“There is nothing else we can do, we have to participate and win”
“Bukky that competition consists of different fashion house from different countries all over the world, what makes you think Nigeria would even win, what makes you think we would even stand a chance?!”
I was a little disappointed, he didn’t even have a single faith in us
“Because I believe in myself, I believe in every model in this house, and I know that when they are aware that they are participating in this competition to save the House Of Earl, they would fight with everything they have got”
He went quiet again, so I gently walked out, and then I met Vodka, we need to work together here and save this house.
“How much so you love this house Vodka?”
I asked her as we walked to the hall room to address the models”
“It’s my life”
I smiled, that’s the spirit. I explained everything to her.
“Well before we go in to business, there is just a name we should crush too”
She smiled that her devilish smile
“Just say the name”
“Joanne”
Hmm, Vodka seemed so ready..and yes! Let the fashion begin!
****************
I decided to confront Joanne, I knew her to be this sweet clinging friend back then, what happened? I was curious
“Joanne, what happened to you, you were…”
She didn’t even let me finish
“David happened, he thinks he can just shove me aside right?”
I was quiet for a while..but I really thought she didn’t really love him like that
“But I was thinking you really didn’t like him that much, you were telling me of one guy like that back then”
She smiled and stared at me till I had to wondered if I had a bug on my face
“Oh so you could have him to yourself”
I stood up immediately
“What? You think I do not see the way you look at him..you think I didn’t see you both when he kissed you in the hallway!”
I attempted to say something but she interrupted me
“If I can’t get him, you won’t either, leave now!”
I stepped out and sighed in relief when I was safely metres away..OK I get it if she has an issue with me, but that doesn’t mean I would let her have the house.
“Bukky”
It was Jeremy..oh he travelled and had just returned, he claimed he needed to clear his head out, I’m guessing he really didn’t know the issue at hand
“You didn’t even call”
He complained..how could I explain what had kept me occupied?
“I understand you were broken too but I just wished you were there for me too”
Before I could mutter something he hugged me
“I’ve missed you”
Well as for me, I had peace when he was away, no struggle, no guilt..now he is back and I have to deal with that all over again I thought to myself..
************
I later met with Vodka
“How about our plan”
She smiled and whispered
“Don’t worry, its all done”
Ok, I would explain later, for now something else came up..David.
David called me up so I met him in his office
“I heard you would still push through with the competition”
I nodded in affirmation, he wanted to say something else but I interrupted him
“David you’ve not shared a tear since we lost mom”
His word got stuck, and just like I broke free a dam, his eyes brimmed up as tears flowed down..I hurried to him and hugged him..
“It’s OK David, let it out”
Jeremy had to walk in on us again, God after all these weeks of peace
“Dave I..” His words got stuck..he drew me out like I was a puppet to him..
“What are you doing you s–t Jeremy asked!”
What? Did I just hear that?! My head sparked..I gave him a piece of my angry mind, just that I shouldn’t have added
“I would never love you!”
He hurried off, broken after I told him that, I realised I had said too much because minutes later we received a call that Jeremy had an accident while he drove off in anger..
**************
Oh my God! We just lost Madam Clara..this is not just happening..Not now..David drove to the hospital, Vodka tagged along, seems she really cares for Jeremy..no one said a word, till we got to hospital.
“He is in the emergency Ward”
The nurse who hurried out with blood in her hands answered us. My heart missed..God I caused this, I went too far, I should have known he was still depressed because of Madam Clara’s death, he just wanted comfort, and not only did I push him away, I made him feel neglected.. Oh God, if anything happens to him I don’t know if I would be able to forgive myself..Vodka was quiet all through. An hour later she drew me near..I observed she wanted to say something else to keep her mind off the pending issue
“I got the files”
Ok that was our plan, but I didn’t know she would get it that fast and easy
“What? How?”
I asked in a whisper, and spied at David if he was listening..he was lost in thoughts
“I Drugged her and while she slept, I collected her fingerprint and opened the safe where she kept the documents, it seemed her father bought the house in her name.. She wouldn’t know it is gone for a while”
This Vodka is indeed a devil
“But she must surely find out nah”
She nodded
“Well, I’m guessing she would have to travel back to get another copy if there is, that would buy us enough time and this is our plan B, just in case the competition doesn’t work out..the competition is this month end”
I didn’t know when I hugged her..
She smiled and talked about other things, I knew she was just trying to get her mind off Jeremy.
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