IRENE

"...Send the event planner to me this evening..." my mum said as she ended the call. I walked to her and she threw me a smile as she wiped off what was left of her makeup with a cleanser.

She returned home earlier and smiled more since the arrangements for the wedding began. If only she knew what she was in for, who she was planning to get married to.

"Do you think I should get golden or silver heels to go with my wedding dress?" She asked me and I threw my glance to the wedding dress worn on a mannequin at the other end of the room, the wedding dress she would be wearing by weekend and shrugged.

"Your fashion designer will be the one to answer that question." I shrugged and slummed on a coach in her room.

"But you're a very fashionable model, you should know what would look great." She said to me pouting her lips.

"Mom, you have a fashion designer." I said to her dismissively and she walked to where I was seated and squatted right in front of me.

"I know how you feel, but I promise, Mayowa is a great person. You won't regret having him as your dad-"

"Stepdad." I corrected.

"You know what Irene, go out with your friends, have fun and I promise you'll feel a lot better and you'll realize that I'm not making a mistake."

Oh but you are dear mum! I sighed and threw her a fake smile. "Thanks."

"You don't have to thank me, I'm your mother, I only want what is good for you." She said and placed a kiss on my forehead.

I got up and made for the door when I sighted Ivy. She looked super excited and I couldn't help but wonder what it was with her this time. "Irene where's mum?" She asked as she got to the door where I stood.

"In the room, why?"

She didn't respond to me instead, she dashed into the room squealing. "I found the perfect wedding shoes." She cooed and the next thing that followed was squeals from my mum and the girl. I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes.

If only they knew what I knew.

I walked across the hallway to my room at the other end of the east wing. Pulling open the door, I sank into my bed. My mum and I were never in good terms since my dad died but for some reason, in the past few days, I felt attached to her. I wanted to warn her against Mayowa but I wasn't sure how.

Sighing for the umpteenth time since morning, my mind drifted to Theodore. I hadn't spoken to him since the last time in the SS3 block and boy did I miss him badly.

I walked to my closet, took out his hoodie and put it on. If I could see him or talk to him, I'll bask myself in the memories we have.

I put on my laptop and started going through all the pictures we took during our Photography project when my eyes caught a particular one. I had taken that photo, it was Theodore.

Thick curls, diamond studded ears, pink plump lips, deep dark alluring eyes that had me falling deep, deeper than I ever thought I could. A smile began to form on my lips subconsciously. How I had fallen for Theodore was still a mystery to me but I did love the fact that I had fallen hard for him and it was mutual.

The door to my room flew open and on instinct I closed my laptop and watched as the person at the door walk in. Just who I thought it was, Mayowa.

"Are you okay?" He asked as he walked towards my bed where I was seated.

"I'm fine." I replied not casting him a glance.

"Everything will be fine, I just have to get married to your mum and you'll be back to living your life like you want and kissing whoever it is you want to kiss."

I scrunched my face in disgust and he broke into a smile, one that made his beautiful dimples more pronounced. I might hate Mayowa with every bone in my body but I couldn't deny the fact that he's undeniably good looking.

He gave me a soft endearing look before he walked out. Sometimes, I was confused, What does he really want?

Over the past few weeks, being isolated from my friends and other activities including work had left me with so much time to study properly for my upcoming exams and think critically about how my life situation went from bad to worse in just the blink of an eye.

I had been thinking of ways to tell my mum about Mayowa and at the same time been thinking of Ivory. Doing that would put her in danger and there was no assurance that my mum would believe me without any solid proof. I honestly wished I could tell Theodore about what was going on but I didn't want to get him into a mess and I most definitely did not want Mayowa to harm him. If anything should happen to him, I would  never forgive myself.

The only thing I could do was to pray to the God above to intervene and that was what I did.

Lord, do something!

A loud honk distracted me from my train of thoughts and I walked to my window to have a look. I watched a Toyota Camry drive into the compound and I guessed that was the event planner.

I had better head downstairs before my mum begins to call for me. I know how indecisive she can be and she would need my help with making simple decisions concerning her wedding preparations.

I could not believe I would watch my mum get married to the devil himself.

God of miracles, please locate me!

With one quick glance at myself in my full length mirror, I walked out of the room. The girl I saw staring back at me in the mirror had to be someone else. It felt like the Irene Coker I used to be had died.

THEODORE

Watching Osaze smile made me so happy. I nudged her not so gently and arched a brow at her. "Why are you smiling?" We were seated in the back seat of my car. I wanted to ask for her help with the little plan I had. The wedding invitation had been distributed and it got to the families of everyone in the gang and that included mine too. That meant that we need to act and fast.

Ever since the day I saw Mayowa's text, I've been doing my research about him and no, I did not leave the guys out on this. I told them everything word by word and I believe with maximum cooperation and the help of God, we could get Irene and her family out of the mess they were in.

Ola suggested we told the police about it but I insisted it was too early for that. We needed to gather facts and evidence before we could do that and boy, are we working towards that.

I felt Osaze needed to be included in what we had ahead of us because her help would be needed. I did not tell the guys that I was going to approach her about it because I knew they weren't going to let that happen so I called her to meet up with me anyway without their knowledge.

"You asked me a question." She responded trying her  hardest not to smile too much and that got me interested.

"Yeah and look at you smiling instead of giving me an answer." I had asked her how things were going between her and Zion.

"Well," she sighed. "I think things might just get better. He was nice to me twice this week." She said looking anywhere but my face. I knew that look she had on, I've had it in severally. It was the look of guilt. Guilt was eating her up.

"Care to share?" I asked and I watched a ghost of a smile creep to her lips as she nodded. My silence was a cue for her to go on.

"Earlier this week my glasses frame broke and I had to walk without my glasses on. I almost fell because I couldn't see there were stairs and he came to my aid. He helped me up the stairs and back down."

I also broke into a smile. That was very thoughtful of Zion, putting whatever issues he had behind him and doing the needful.

"And the second time was when I wasn't paying attention in Data processing revision class and the teacher was hell bent of finding out why, which of course I did not find comfortable. Zion told the teacher that I was not feeling well and I was excused from the class." She said and I sighed.

Just maybe the boy had forgiven her and he wants her back. "Look Osaze, it's a gradual process. Zion is still hurting so try not to force anything on him, I personally think he has forgiven you but he would need time to process everything that has happened and make his decision."

"I can wait, I'm willing to." She said and I squeezed her hand lightly.

All will be well friend, all will be well.

"So what is the reason you called me here?" She asked and I realized I had not even told her what I had planned to. How it skipped my mind was still a mystery to me because it had been on my mind all week long.

I sucked in a breath. "Promise me you're going to be of help to me on this one." I said and she shrugged.

"If it is in my capacity to help then I'm down for it."

*

New chapter alert!

I'm done with my first semester exams and even though we were not given break and second semester resumes immediately, I'll try my very best to drop updates when I can.

Please bear with me, things will get better, I promise.

Did y'all get the wedding invitation? Check your mails properly, I'm pretty sure I sent it to everyone of you. Please do not miss the wedding ceremony, e go loud 😊

Btw, what did you think of this chapter and what plan do you think Theodore and the guys have.

Comment your thoughts below in the comment section and I'll see you in the next chapter.

Ciao 😘

Word Count: 1674