Chapter 11

Sewa your phone is ringing, Kemi said waking her,

she stretched her hands to take her phone not

without opening her eyes.

Hello, she said sleepily, good morning beautiful, she

recognise the voice, did I wake you up? yes you did,

I'm sorry I've been ringing your doorbell, no one is

answering, what are you doing here so early, open the

door, alright I'm coming, she looked at her sleeping

friend and stepped out.

What are you doing here so early, you left my place

angry I'm really sorry, I didn't know I was going to

stay out that long, Xavier I didn't know where you

went to you didn't call, why did you lie to me? I didn't

want to bother you with my problems, what problem

Xav? we're getting married, your problems are my

problems, it won't happen next time I promise, he

grabbed her waist, you still haven't told me were you

went to, I had issues with one of my company, details

Xav or is it another lie, what are you hiding from me?

Why do you think I'm hiding something? It's obvious

you are, somethings are better left unsaid, are you

really saying that to me, she stepped away from him, I

don't think we're ready to get married, do you know

what marriage entails? if you're going to keep hiding

things from me I'm sorry I can't marry you, Sewa if

it's something you need to know I'll tell you, I don't

want that Xav, you'll tell me everything every single

thing going on in your life, I'm sorry Sewa I promise

to change I love you, I want to spend the rest of my

life with you, I don't have to wait for so long to to

realise that, I love you Xav I want to help you with

whatsoever you're going through if you don't want to

tell me now I'll respect that, she hugged him tightly.

Let's get married, he whispered into her left ear, like

very soon? She glaring at him, yes next month, I can't

wait to have you in my bed every night, isn't it to

early? do we have to date for 5 years before we get

married, we love and understand each other, I think

that's enough, we can do this, she smiled and kissed

him.

I haven't told mom yet, she giggled, look at Sewa, she

starred at his eyes trying to read him, I love you and

you know that, don't let anything destroy what we

have, I hope you understand, yes I do, she smiled at

him, rubing her long staright nose against his, is

there something else you want to tell me? She

whispered softly into his ears, call your mom tell her

we're getting married I'll tell mine too, I'll call her, I

better start going I have work, dinner tonight? I don't

mind, but it's happening here, I'll leave the shop

early to go the market and cook, you want to cook?

I'm honored, he laughed, what do you mean, babe

you've never cooked for me, that doesn't mean I don't

know how to cook, I'm not saying you can't cook, it's

not your thing and I'm just surprised you decided to

cook today, we're getting married it's about time I start

cooking for you,oh really, he smiled groping her hips,

I can't wait, aren't you going to be late for work, I'm

my own boss I don't mind being late cause of you, well

I have client to meet with by 10 and it's past 9 already

I need to get ready, we will see later, alright babe,

what about Kemi? She's still sleeping, my regards to

her, I will tell her, bye baby, he kissed her on the lips

and headed to the front door.

Wake up Kemi don't you have job to do, Sewa let me

sleep go to work, I don't have work till 2, get up I've

got gist you, about what? I'm listening, sit up, I'm up,

what's the gist? she mumbled, I'm getting married

next month, are you serious? Why the rush? He wants

us to get married as soon as possible, he wants to but

do you? Are you ready? I think I am, Sewa, you think

so? you have to be 100% sure you want to marry him,

he loves me and I love him enough to marry him, I

want the best for you Sewa, you have to be very sure

you want to marry him, he's the one rushing you I

know you're not ready, I'm ready, if you are ready

there's nothing stopping you then, when are you

breaking the news to mom, I'll call her when I get to

the shop, what about our vacation? you know after

you get married no time for that again, that's not a

problem girl let's go this weekend before all the

wedding planning begins, we'll definitely not enjoy it

cause we have things to do here, maybe few months

after your wedding we can go, that's a good idea, let

me get ready for work, what time is the photo shoot

today? Maybe 2 depending on when my manager

calls, lucky you, just posing with your long legs brings

you money, she giggled, that's right baby, I'm going

back to sleep, please don't be a nuisance and leave

quietly, thank you.

* * *

Good morning ma, Blessing said walking towards her

car, she took her hand bag from and headed to the

back to the shop, where's the noise coming from, she

asked, from the shop, and why is that? I think you

should see for yourself.

What's going on here Blessing? She screamed at her,

Ma, it.....it...it is one of your customer, she stammered,

what does she want why is she making a scene, she

came in here some minutes ago and stand ranting

about a dress we made for her, what dress? I don't

know she's just been shouting at us to get you, okay let

me talk to her.

Hello ma how can I help you? Did you just ask me

that question, you're making a scene in my shop I

have the right to ask, my girl told me it's about a dress

we made for you can I see the dress please? you can't

remember the dress we sewed for me? Can you

imagine, how can you not remember the dress you

made for a customer, no wonder you sewed rag for

me, look around ma this is not a small shop, I have

so many jobs I don't think we've met before, do any of

you know her? yes ma, I attended to her the day she

came here, Tinu said, can I see the dress? Sewa asked,

she brought out the dress, it was a long brown lace

dress, what's wrong with the dress ma'am, are you

blind can't you see it, I'm sorry ma but I can't have you

insult me you have to take it easy, take it easy?

Do you know how much I bought this fabric, please

calm down, let me see the dress, she handed it over to

her, she spread the dress on a table, what's wrong

with the dress, is it big or tight? cause I really don't

know, Tola did you make this dress? Yes ma, why

didn't you let me know about this, there's no big deal

in the style ma, it's something I could handle and you

were busy with other important clothes, are you

saying I'm not important? She said angrily, as I was

saying ma, this cloth had no fault, I can assure you,

she wore this dress in front of me and it was good, I

don't know why she's here, so ma'am what's the issue

with the dress, please I have better things to do, just

tell me what the matter is, she said you wore it and it

was good, yes I wore it, but I don't like it anymore,

what don't you like about it? the style, who choose the

style? I picked it myself, why don't you like it? I wore it

to the party, my friends were saying they don't like my

style, but ma you choose the style yourself, how is that

the stylist problem, she should have picked a better

one for me, I gave her our catalogue to check for other

styles, she was adamant, this is not our fault, Tinu said

I'm really sorry for what happened, but there's

nothing I can do, this isn't our fault ma, we promise

next time we'll make a better one for you, don't worry

there won't be a next time, she got up to leave, we're

sorry ma, Sewa said, what the hell, Sewa muttered

walking to her office, I'm really sorry ma, it's okay

you all should get back to work.

Her phone started ringing, hello mom, I was just

about to call you, how are you? mom I'm fine, how

are you alright? Her mom asked, I'm fine, I have good

news for you but before I share it, why did you call?

It's being a while we spoke and since you refuse to call

me I decided to call you, I wanted to check on you, I'm

sorry for not calling, work has been hectic, it's alright,

so tell me the good news, I'm getting married mom,

she said joyfully, are you serious? Yes mom, he

proposed to me few days ago and he wants us to get

married soon, wow that's good, I'm happy for you,

when are you coming to my place, I have a lot of work

to do this week, I'll spend the weekend so we can talk

and start planning, have you told your brother and

sister, I haven't I'll call them later today after work,

you and work, create time to rest you need it, alright

mommy, take care, I'll call you later, alright my dear.

Blessing! She called one of her apprentice, yes ma,

what are we doing today? We're not done with the

Senator's daughter's dress, you haven't finished the

veil on the wedding dress? almost done ma, we got the

since job last week, i will finish it today, let me tell you

this, from this moment I'm making you my PA, l'm

serious Blessing, you're the next boss in this place, yes

ma, she said happily, don't disappoint me Blessing, I'm

counting on you, you can go, I promise not to

disappoint, thank you ma, one more thing, from now

on let them go through you, you have no right to make

decisions around here they go through you and you

go through me, I understand ma, thank you ma, call

the others I want to address y'all, alright ma.

There's a little change around here, she said,

Blessing is my PA, I want y'all to respect her, whatever

she asks you to do, do it cause the order is coming

from me, Yes ma, they chorused, I trained you all and

I know you're ready to do this thing, it's time for you

to leave or work for me, if you decide to work for me

I'm ready to increase your salary but if you decide to

go and start off on your own, you are free to leave I'm

about to start a new phase in my life and I'm starting

from here, so if you decide to stay I want to see you

here tomorrow and if you want to start on your own

the only reason why you can be here tomorrow is to

finish any work you've started here and pack your

stuffs I want to know who are for me.

I'm sorry if I hurt any of you as I said before I want to

start a new phase and i want to rebrand this place, let

me know your decisions by tomorrow, and also if you

want to still stay and later leave you can but I will stop

paying you, If you want to out smart me and promise

to stay with the mindset of leaving very soon, you

can't cause were going to involve a lawyer and a

contract don't get me wrong I'm not saying you can't

leave but you can until after a year not in months

time after a year you'll sign another contract that's if

you still want to work here I hope I made myself

clear, is there anything you want to say or ask me? she

asked, No ma, they chorused, you can get back to

work, Blessing wait, ma'am, do you think I made the

right decision? I think you did, you want to go really

official and that's cool, I'm really glad for the new job

you gave me I promise not to disappoint, alright,

thank you, you can go.