Chapter 20

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It was a wonderful Saturday. It was the 4th of April 2015. The weather was bright and fair. Chinwem sat afore her mirror, putting the finishing touches to her makeup. She ran a comb once again through her natural brown hair which she hardly wore out of her home. She had also not worn her contact lens. She wanted to look herself tonight. Something about the way clement had been talking all week made her realize that the birthday party was a big one and it was important to him. She didn't know if he wanted to show her off, but she wanted to look worthwhile on his arms, not some stupid eye candy. She stood and picked her purse. She made out of her bedroom, stopping to stare at herself in the full length mirror.

Her emerald green sequence gown screamed wealth. She had purchased it with a whole month of her Nwabuagu's allowance. It was a turtle neck long sleeved right off shouldered gown. She had paired it with hot jade green stilettos, eight inches. She had on a few golden bangles on both wrist and a jade green chain on her left leg. Her nape length brown hair was hanging on either side of her face, parted neatly in the middle. She hooked it behind her ears, revealing her matching jade green earrings. It accentuated her green eyes. Her makeup was flawless, just a touch of eyeliner and its twin sister, eye shadow, a bit of oxblood lipstick on her upper lip and fucial pink on the lower lip. Her foundation was neatly and evenly applied and powder was used to smoothen it out. She had dusted her cheeks with blush then topped the whole look with mascara. She smiled afore the mirror, liking the image she would present to those in attendance. It was the image of a sure accomplished woman.

The sound of a car pulling up front made her hurry out, sure that it was Clement. She hurried out to her porch, locking the door and keeping the key in the usual place. He was standing afore her when she turned. He was in a deep blue tuxedo that fit him like a glove. He looked magnificent. He stared at her thoroughly, captivated by her.

'Chloe,' he said coming to her. He fingered her hair softly. 'This is you, isn't it?' he asked her. 'Yes, it is really you. This is not Samantha,' he answered his own question before she could do so. She smiled. 'I like the colour of your hair,' he said, 'your real hair,' he continued. 'It's a lovely shade of brown. It reminds me of chocolate milk shake, of fine freshly baked biscuits. His fingers traced her face as if mastering every contour and feature of it.

'This is Chloe,' she assured him. Then, the kiss came, hot and possessive, intense and brutal. She kissed him back with the same aggression, all her sincerity channeled into it. The kiss left both of them completely breathless. He noticed that her lipstick was still alright.

'When we return,' he said to her with an unspoken promise in his passion hungry voice. 'For now, let's go to our party.' She nodded in agreement as he took her hands and led her slowly to the car, keeping up with her pace. She noticed it was a different automobile. It was an oxblood Cherokee that glistened. It spoke of wealth that she knew he had. He helped her gently into the automobile, his eyes straying to her legs time and time again. She took note of his eyes on her. She met his eyes and blushed softly at being caught checking him out. He smiled at the gesture, pleased that he was affecting her as much as she was doing him. He closed the door and scooted round to get in. He ignited the car and rode away. She leaned back into the seat and sighed softly.

'You are looking extremely beautiful today Mon Coeur,' he complimented with a charming smile. She smiled back.

'I didn't want to feel left out at a party for the rich,' she told him. He focused entirely on driving after that.

They arrived at their destination after a while. He helped her out of the car and tossed the keys to the valet who caught it. The man smiled at him then waved and she concluded that he knew Clement. He guided her into the huge event centre where the party was being held. She was happy that she had dressed well for she would have turned around and gone back home if she thought she was inadequately dressed in a sea of people like she was seeing at that moment. Clement was popular, that she knew. But, it was prominent in such a gathering. He was greeted at every turn and corner. She was happy she didn't have to do introductions. Clement did that. She felt some kind of indescribable joy when he introduced her as his girlfriend.

Suddenly, he tensed slightly beside her. She looked up at him. He was staring at something, someone when she followed the line of sight. A woman, the older feminine version of Clement was staring straight at them. It was his mother. That was the only reasonable explanation she could come up with on why they looked so alike. It was as if she had spit Clement out of her mouth. Chinwem's breath caught in her throat at the discovery that she herself had made.

'Is that your mother?' she asked.

'Yes,' was his reply. 'I am taking you to her Chloe. Do not be afraid. I am here,' he assured her. She nodded, hiding her anxiety. It was no wonder that this party was important to him. His mother looked like the celebrant. He steered her towards the woman. A man came to join her, his hands resting on her waist. She knew instantly that it was Clement's dad. She became antsy.

'Mother, father, I have come,' he greeted.

'You are late,' his father said to him in a scolding yet tender voice.

'I thought you wouldn't show up,' his mother said as a smile came upon her face. He embraced both of them –one after another- with a pretty smile on his face.

'Who do we have here?' his mother asked staring at Chinwem.

'Good day,' Chinwem greeted.

'This is Chloe mother,' he introduced. 'She is mine,' he stated in a matter of fact way. His father laughed.

'Possessive huh?' he commented. His mother joined in the laughter.

'She's beautiful son. E ji lu anya gi gha afia, You took your eyes to the market,' she said obviously pleased. 'Come my dear, embrace me,' she urged Chinwem who did so. The woman's arms around her felt warm and Chinwem wished she could stay there forever.

'I am good with choices,' Clement boasted.

'You remind me of someone,' his father said to her, staring her up and down. 'Let me see,' he thought for a moment. 'Black hair with fringes, pink dresses and matching thigh high boots and you could be her.' Chinwem smiled.

'I think you are referring to one of my triplet sisters, Melody,' she voiced out. His father's eyes lit up in realization.

'Yes, I think she's the interior designer,' he said. This time he sounded sure of it.

'Yes, that is really her.'

'Then you must be one of the Tiger's cubs, aren't you?' she tried to smile despite the fact that the abrupt mention of her father had made her queasy, like always.

'Yes I am. I am Nwabuagu Chinwem Chloe,' she reintroduced herself.

'I like her,' his mother said.

'Well, I can't say that I do not like her,' his father seconded. They all smiled at his words. Chinwem relaxed noticeably, her earlier fear nonexistent.