Chapter 18 Part Two

PART TWO

Happily Ever After?

In which she gets her happily ever after.

Chapter Fifteen

"Enjoy the calm before the storm  when the storm comes, someone will be get hurt"

***********

Somewhere in Jos, Plateau,

Nigeria.

Amanda.

"You look gorgeous, oh my God look at your head band... isn't it beautiful?" Konye gushed taking in the pearl embedded headband that was attached to the veil on Amanda's head.

Amanda grinned and twirled around. "How do I look, how do I look?" Amanda asked excitedly.

Davina rolled her eyes because it was the umpteenth time Amanda was asking them that question.

"You look beautiful, you look like a woman getting married in the next thirty minutes. What else do you want to hear?" Davina asked eliciting a glare from Amanda.

Ignoring Davina,  she picked up a compact mirror and turned to Konye,  who was the second person her wedding invitation had been extended to.

"I think my make up is too simple, I don't like heavy make up but it's my wedding day and it's a one time thing. I think I should go a little extra , can you do my eyeshadow again? Add a little glitter this time" Amanda said.

Konye nodded and gestured for Amanda to sit down.

She turned to Davina who was pining a rose to her yellow dress. "Davina, do you mind checking on the groom? Tell him we're almost done, he needs to be at the gazebo with pastor Paul before we finish up" Konye instructed.

Davina nodded "Okay,  sure" she said before walking out of the hotel room.

Once she was out of the room, Amanda turned once again to Konye nervously.

"I don't support this, I don't want you to get married to that man" Konye murmured upset.

"Everything will be fine Kay, I need to do this. Not just for me,  for both of you too.  We need the security and we also need the money.

The Mayfairs are one of the most influential families in Lagos, if he should ever find out I'm married to a Mayfair....he wouldn't dare do anything to hurt me" Amanda said leaning closer to Konye.

"And what role does Davina play in all of these?" Konye asked.

"I needed a new identity...like you.  You've done quite well for yourself too... Konye....that's quite a name" Amanda said playing with her pearl earrings.

"Does Davina know everything?" Konye asked curiously.

Amanda shook her head "I didn't tell her everything, just bits and bits, someone else was also close to finding out my identity. I have that covered" Amanda said.

Konye hissed "I told you Lagos was a bad idea, somewhere hidden would have been better. You should have come here with me" Konye said.

"We can't be together, I don't want you to get hurt again....just in case he finds me.  You're safe here and I'm safe now" Amanda said taking Konye's hand.

"I hate that we have to live like this, so many lies and secrets" Konye said sorrowfully. Sadly they couldn't help it, it was either this or worse.

"We don't have a choice, for now. I'm trying to get Denola to leave his family, so we can leave this country. If I succeed, then I'll tell him everything and bring both of you along with me. We won't have to live like this again." Amanda said.

Konye nodded thoughtfully "What if you don't?" she asked, she hated to be so pessimistic but she'd seen so much negativity that it was hard to be optimistic about things like this.

Amanda sighed, she would succeed. She had to, Denola listened to her. It was already working.

"I'm doing everything I can" Amanda muttered. She had to be optimistic, she had to remain hopeful.

"Do you love him?" Konye asked hoping her sister would shake her head or say she didn't.

"I...couldn't...I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't help not fall in love with him. He's like a breath of fresh air for me, a ray of sunshine in the dark." Amanda said.

"You're smarter than that, you know what's best for us. You were supposed to use him,  that's all! How can you fall in love with a man who knows nothing but the lies you've told him. He will hate you when he finds out and you will be hurt again" Konye said sternly.

Amanda refused to believe that, no matter what....Denola could never hate her. He would be furious, hurt but he'd forgive her.

"Let's not talk about this,  walls have ears" Amanda whispered to Konye, it wasn't about the listening walls,  she just wanted to end the topic. It was too depressing for a day like this.

Konye nodded. "And...where did you leave it?" Konye asked.

Amanda felt her heart contracting. "It's safe, I handled it.  Don't worry about it till the right time" Amanda murmured right before Denola's shrill ringtone rang out.

Amanda hissed and snatched it off the table top.

It was Jadesola calling this time, Amanda ignored the call. Already, there were six missed calls from his previous assistant, his mother and father had called him countless times, his grandmother too.  Hakeem and Jadesola had sent several messages too,  Amanda had deleted everyone of them without checking them.

Denola didn't need to know anything, whatever they wanted from him would wait till they got back.

Konye didn't say anything when Amanda turned off the mobile but she felt a tinge of worry in her mind. What if she was getting herself into a bigger problem.

*

"Wow...You look dapper Denola, nice ensemble. I'm guessing Amanda had this put together" Davina complimented Denola when he answered the door.

Denola sighed and rolled his eyes. "Of course,  the only thing she didn't pick out was my underwear. You know how she is, she always likes everything done her way" Denola said.

He said it in a playful manner but Davina could also tell there was also an underlying irritation in his voice as if he wasn't happy about Amanda's arrangements.

Denola carelessly pinned a boutonniere  to his jacket and ran his hand over the arms of the jacket.

Davina smirked before moving closer to him. "Let me help you pin that properly" She said referring to the boutonniere.

"Thanks" Denola said gratefully. Davina wasn't just Amanda's friend, she was his too.  Time had brought them closer to each other.

"You know Amanda just likes everything being perfect, she can't help it.  I'm not supposed to tell you this because she hates discussing her private life with everyone but I think you should know this. Amanda was raised in a dysfunctional family, I don't know the details but she was very troubled while we were in school. She is this way now because she doesn't want to end up like her family. She really cares about you and she's afraid that your family will ruin everything. Amanda isn't big on family so you can't blame her for not wanting to get close to your family. Her family did a number on her,  you have to understand this" Davina said pining the boutonniere properly.

Denola sighed, he had always suspected that her past had a hand in the way she acted most times but she never discussed it.

"How am I supposed to know these things when she doesn't talk about it,  she only told me she doesn't have any family. I feel like I'm playing a risky game blindfolded, I don't know what to do" Denola said.

"You're doing well, trust me Denola. You're doing better than any man Amanda could ever hope for. Anyway.... I was asked to tell you to go to the gazebo. Your wife to be is almost ready" Davina smiled cheerily.

"Thanks a lot Vee...by the way did I get any message or call from anyone?" Denola asked.

Davina wanted to nod but she knew Amanda would lose her shït if she told Denola that his phone had been ringing nonstop all night.

She didn't understand why Amanda had insisted on keeping the phone and ignoring the calls and messages.

"I'm not sure, you should ask Amanda" Davina smiled before walking out of the room.

Denola sighed, he was sure his family hadn't called or texted. Amanda would have told him if they had.

• • •

"Cheers to new beginnings, enjoy the bliss that comes with the present. Anticipate the future, but don't forget the past....it may surface at any time"

******************

Somewhere In Jos,

Plateau.

Amanda.

'I now pronounce you husband and wife' those words remained stuck in Amanda's head even thirteen hours after the wedding. The wedding had been small but beautiful most importantly it had been peaceful due to the absence of Denola's toxic family.

Amanda smiled victoriously as she looked down at her ring finger again.

The band in her hand did not just signify the bond between her and Denola,  or the strength of their love,  it signified security also.  Security and protection she had desperately craved for all her life.

Amanda's hand curled around Denola's arm as she looked up at him, a sign of possesion. He was her husband, she was his wife. He was hers, she owned him.  She sighed deeply and nestled closer to him in the comfy queen sized honeymoon bed.

She closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep but thoughts of the Mayfairs kept invading her mind.  She could almost imagine the shocked looks that would appear on their faces when they found out that Denola had married her secretly.

"What's making you smile so sheepishly?" Denola asked peering into her face,  he had woken up before her but he'd remained still, feigning sleep when she'd woken up minutes ago.

Amanda shook  a little surprised then she rolled her eyes because it was very typical of him to pretend to be asleep. "Creep" she sneered.

She felt his body vibrating with laughter as he pulled her closer to himself. "What's my sneaky wife up to this morning?" he asked pecking her lips quickly.

Amanda smiled a little and buried her head in his chest, she faked a yawn.

"Nothing....I'm so tired baby. You wore me out last night, what did you take last night for that kind of stamina, something those Hausa mallams sell perhaps?" Amanda teased.

Denola flushed before pinching her cheeks playfully.

"You have no filter Amanda" Denola said. Amanda sent him a cheeky smile "If you say so" she said.

Denola pulled away from her slowly and sat up to look at his wife intently as if he could unravel her secrets simply by looking at her.

She was dressed in a sheer white night dress that revealed more than it concealed.

Facing forward, he sighed because for once,  his mind wasn't clouded with thoughts of her body and the wonders it performed.

Now, he was more concerned about his family, he couldn't shake thoughts of his parents off his mind.

They should have called or texted by now,  or perhaps they were angry at him for not coming to dinner.  Denola's countenance dropped immediately.

"Why so sad?" Amanda asked flippantly, they were so close that she could tell every of his thoughts simply by looking at him.

"Where's my phone Amanda?" Denola asked immediately.

Amanda groaned and rolled her eyes again. "Babe we've talked about this, you aren't getting your phone till we get back to Lagos. No one has called yet, relax" Amanda said sitting up.  She eyed his back,  his shoulders were so tense. She could tell something was brewing within him.

"I need to call them Mandy, we're married already. What's the problem again?" Denola asked looking back at her.

He saw the pissed off look on her face and waited for the storm.

"Seriously Den? We're still in honeymoon phase, is this when you want our first fight as a couple?" Amanda asked crossing her arms against her chest.

Denola took in a deep breath. "We aren't fighting Amanda, I simply asked a question" Denola said.

Amanda glared at him.  "I thought once we got married, I'd be your main priority. But,  we are barely out of the bed and you are all about your parents again. I'm not surprised Denola, just disappointed. Apparently your family is always going to come before me" Amanda hissed before getting out of bed.

She walked to the large wardrobe planted in one corner of the room and threw it open. She pulled out a white sweater and a grey colored knit leggings from her bag.

Denola sighed and buried his face in his palm.

"Amanda...I'm..." he said intending to apologize when Amanda shot him down. "Don't!" she said sharply.

"When are you never sorry?  for once Denola just focus on me,  forget your family.  For once, you do everything for them. What about me?" Amanda asked angrily.

"I do things for you too,  I agreed to get married without my family's blessings for you" Denola said.

Amanda turned and glared harder at him. "The only reason you even married me was to get me closer to them not because you were actually ready for marriage!" Amanda screamed back.

Denola got out of the bed and stormed over to her. "I asked you to marry me because I love you, and yes I also married you so that my family would accept you because you wouldn't stop complaining about how they treated you!" Denola yelled.

They stared at each other angrily for a few seconds that felt like hours before Denola looked away. "For the sake of my sanity, give me my phone Amanda" Denola said calmly.

Amanda nodded "I left it in Davina's room" Amanda responded before walking back to the bed.

She sat down wearily and looked up at the ceiling, she'd picked this particular room because of the decor but now everything just irritated her.

"Thank you" Denola murmured.

Amanda shook her head " I want to leave Denola, I want to go back to Lagos. And please don't come to the house with me. I need space this time, just go and stay with your family okay?" Amanda said.

Denola stared at her perplexed. "What the hell Amanda, are you going to push me away every time we have a little argument? We're not dating anymore, we're married" Denola said.

"Exactly! We're not dating anymore, we're married. You should start taking me seriously, what kind of husband picks his family over his wife on their honeymoon?!" Amanda asked outraged.

"I'm not picking sides, I'm only trying to call them to check on them.  Why are you so upset?" Denola asked overwhelmed.

"Fine! call them,  do whatever you want. Just leave me the fück alone, I can't stand you at all right now" Amanda spat.

Denola swallowed hard. "Fine, I will do whatever I want Amanda and I will leave you alone...for now. But remember this, I do almost everything for you no matter the risks. What risk are you taking for me?" Denola asked.

Amanda bit her lip and refrained from telling him that there were lots of risks she'd taken for their relationship, he didn't have to know anything.

"I thought so too." Denola murmured coldly before walking out of the room and into the bathroom.

Right there in honeymoon avenue, they'd crashed.