*EPISODE 12*
(CLICKED)
“Really?. Forgive my cluelessness. I never knew you had such a beautiful woman as your wife.” The man said looking surprised.
“It’s okay sir. The truth is, not everyone knows that we are actually married. And that’s because we had a very small and private wedding.” Jeff said.
“What are you doing?.” Tricia whispered into Jeff’s ear.
“Keeping things in check.” Jeff whispered back.
Tricia stylishly freed her hand from Jeff’s grip and wearing a reluctant smile, she walked out of the conference room.
“Gentlemen, I’m sorry for the interruption. Let’s get back to business.” Jeff said sitting back on his seat.
Back at Jeff’s office, Tricia barged in looking infuriated.
“Keeping things in check?. Like wow. It’s his nerves for me.” She said putting her hands on her waist.
Few moments later, Jeff was done with the meeting. When he stepped into his office, he found Tricia sitting majestically on his seat.
“Do you mind explaining the meaning of what you did back there at the conference room?.” Tricia asked as soon as Jeff stepped into his office.
“I did lots of things back there. So, which of them are you talking about?.” Jeff asked grabbing a seat.
He dropped the documents he was holding on the table and sat down facing Tricia.
“Was your response to that man at the conference room really necessary?.” Tricia asked leaning forward.
“You mean the investor who asked if you were married?.” Jeff asked.
“Exactly.” Tricia affirmed.
“And what exactly is wrong with the response I gave him?.” Jeff asked totally confused.
“Really?. Did the yes she’s my wife thing sounded okay to you?.” Tricia asked.
“Why not?. Aren’t you my wife?.” Jeff questioned.
“Point of correction Jeff. I’m your fake wife.” Tricia said.
“And so?. Look. Whether real or fake, the truth is, we are married. And as married couples, it’s my duty to protect my wife from all those external forces that don’t know their limits.” Jeff said crossing his legs confidently.
“Really?. So how will I be able to connect with my real husband if you keep playing the role of a protective husband over me?.” Tricia asked folding her arms.
“Real husband?. Was that why you came here dressed differently?. Was all this change of look just to get the attention of your supposed real husband?.” Jeff asked jealously.
“No. That’s not it. I only dressed this way cause mom asked me to.” Tricia said.
“Mom asked you to?. Why exactly?. This is my work place for Christ sake. What was the reason behind this?.” Jeff asked.
“Well, the thing is, I was offered a lead role in an upcoming movie that will be directed by one of the best award winning directors in the movie industry. So mum suggested I come here to give you the good news and as well, go out on a date with you tonight so we can celebrate the goodnews.” Tricia said.
“So the dressing was all for me?.” Jeff asked.
“I look weird right?. I told Mom there was no need over doing this but she insisted that I appear before you looking different.” Tricia said feeling ackward.
“Not really. You don’t look weird. You look good. Just that I was thinking, since all these new appearance stuff was meant for me alone, then you shouldn’t have walked around the company the way you did. Now almost all the men here are talking about you. I don’t know how you walked, but they kept talking about the way you walked in elegance and style like a super star. And the most annoying part, is that I was the last to see you when I was supposed to be the one and only man to have seen you dressed like this. I didn’t even get to see those walking steps of yours whereas, even the security men were opportuned to see it all.” Jeff blabbed jealously.
“Wait a minute. Jeff are you jealous?.” Tricia asked not believing her ears.
Hearing this, Jeff scoffed and said. “Jealous?. Jealous about what?. About you?. Nahhh. I can’t be jealous. I’m only trying to say that, there was no need walking around the company the way you did. You would have just stayed back in my office. Then after the meeting, I would have come down here and take a quick look at your dressing. At least to be sure that you didn’t dress weird. Just imagine how it would have been if you appeared before my investors looking weird.” Jeff said trying so hard to hide his jealousy.
“Hmmmm. Well, in as much as I don’t get your point, I think I will just have to agree with you. But are you sure all these pointless talks aren’t coming from a place of jealousy?.” Tricia asked giving him a suspicious look.
Jeff scoffed again. “Jealousy my foot. Do you know how many Superstars I’ve had encounter with?.” He said.
“So you are indirectly affirming that I do look like a superstar today?.” Tricia said smiling profusely.
“Have you always had this hair?.” Jeff said pointing at the hair she was wearing.
“Yeah. I bought it five months ago. What about the hair?.” She asked.
“I like it. It will look good on my mom.” Jeff said trying so hard not to compliment Tricia’s beauty.
“Of course it would. But I don’t think mom would like something like this.” Tricia said feeling her hair.
Just then, they heard a knock at the door.
“Come in.” Jeff said sitting upright.
The door swung open and Leo stepped in shutting the door behind him.
“Sorry for the interruption.” Leo said smiling. Then turning to Jeff, he said. “Please can I have a word with you?.”
“Go on I’m listening.” Jeff said.
“Okay, I think we have a problem. The marketing and advertisement team, forwarded a complain to me.” He said.
“What’s the complain all about?.” Jeff enquired.
“The celebrity model who was supposed to have promotional shoots with us today, is no where to be found.” Leo said.
“What?. Have you tried reaching out to her or her manager?.” Jeff asked looking worried.
“Yes I did. But she said we will have to postpone the date for the shoots as she won’t be able to make it today.” Leo said.
“That’s absurd. Why would she do a thing like that after agreeing to endorse our products?. Is this how she intends to promote our brand?.” Jeff queried looking frustrated.
“Why the fuss when I’m here?. Or have you both forgotten that I’m a model as well as a celebrity?. I’ve modeled for different brands so yours won’t be different.” Tricia said.
Jeff and Leo turned and looked at her with mixed feelings.
“Tricia are you sure of what you are saying?.” Leo asked.
“Wait a minute. Are you guys underrating me or something?.” Tricia asked standing to her feet.
“No Tricia. But i don’t think you can effectively pull this off.” Jeff said.
“Alright then. Let’s make a deal. If I go there and effectively carry out the task, then you will have to transfer the endorsement deal to me.” Tricia said.
“And what if you can’t do it?.” Jeff asked.
“Then I will pay you back for the damages and waste of resources.” Tricia said.
“Alright then. Let’s give her a trial.” Leo said to Jeff who rolled his eyes at him.
“I hope the shoots has nothing to do with swimming pool though?.” Tricia asked.
“Why?. Don’t you like swimming pools?.” Jeff asked.
“I don’t know how to swim.” Tricia revealed.
“Huh?.” Jeff and Leo looked at each other with their jaw dropped in shock.
Jeff and Leo took Tricia to the advertisement team and after all set and done, they got Tricia ready for the promotional photo shoot session.
When Tricia stepped out wearing the outfit the company had provided for the shoots, the photographer and all the media crew couldn’t help but gushed over her beautiful body shape and features. The outfit she wore was like it was specifically made for her. Her fluent pose and professional facial expressions and body composure during the shoots, made it seemed like she was a professional model.
Jeff who had been watching her from where he stood with Leo and some other staffs from the marketing and advertisement team, was totally dumbfounded to witness an entirely different version of Tricia.
“How can she be weird, crazy, thoughtless and still be beautiful, classy, posh and professional at thesame time?.” He wondered.
And strangely, Jeff found his heart wavering as he watched Tricia smiling beautifully at the camera. And surprisingly, he wasn’t comfortable with the way the camera man kept touching her in the process of adjusting her posture during the photo shoot session.
“What is wrong with me today?.” He wondered tapping himself to reality.
“I must confess. Tricia is a born model. Look at how she is effortlessly killing it.” Leo said to Jeff who was still trying to figure out why his heart was wavering at the sight of Tricia’s smile.
When they were done with the photo shoots, the photographer approached Tricia and offered his business card to her.
“I love the fact that you are photogenic. You made this photo session less stressful for me. So here is my business card. Feel free to give me a call anytime. Cause I would love doing this again with you someday.” He said smiling brightly at Tricia who accepted the card and smiled back at him.
And immediately Jeff saw this, he quickly walked up to them and grabbed Tricia’s hand.
“I believe we are done here right?.” He asked glaring at the photographer who quickly took his leave.
“What was that all about?.” Tricia asked looking at Jeff with lots of curiosity written all over her face.
“It’s nothing. I just realized that it’s getting late and we have to get going.” Jeff said.
“Okay. That’s true. But what are we supposed to tell Mom when she ask why we returned so early?.” Tricia asked.
“I never said we will be going home now.” Jeff said.
“So?. Where are we going to?.” Tricia asked
“A date. Just like mom said. And more importantly, we are going to celebrate your new lead role offer.” Jeff said.
“Just the two of us?.” Tricia asked totally amazed.
“Yeah. Or, do you want to invite someone else?.” Jeff asked.
“Not really. I’m just surprised that you are in support of us going out on a date when you’ve never liked anything about me.” Tricia said.
“Well, don’t get it twisted okay?. I’m doing this just because mom asked us to. And not because I want to.” Jeff lied.
“I thought as much.” Tricia said rolling her eyes at Jeff.
“So, did you come with your car?.” Jeff asked.
“No. The security man dropped me off and returned home with the car. Cause I already figured out, that mom would want us to come home together in your car. And not in two separate cars.” Tricia said.
“It seems like everything about you is on fire tonight. And your brain is not an exception.” Jeff teased.
While they were on their way to a fancy restaurant, a call from Leo came in.
“Hello Leo what’s up?.” Jeff asked.
“Where are you?. You didn’t even tell me you were leaving.” Leo said.
“As my wife or what?. And I hope that’s not the main reason why you called me.” Jeff said.
“Can’t I joke with you again?.” Leo asked.
“Cut the jokes and go straight to the point. Cause I’m on the steering as we speak.” Jeff said.
“Okay. The Information reaching me right now, is that Mr. Akin is in town. And he’s currently hosting a party in one of his nearby resorts.” Leo said.
When Jeff heard this, he quickly slammed on his break and his car came to a halt.
“Are you for real?.” Jeff asked totally amazed.
“Yes Jeff. I think it’s best you go there and negotiate business with him. Cause he’s usually a traveling type. His always traveling from one country to the other.” Leo said.
“Can you please forward the address of his current location to me?.” Jeff requested.
“Sure. You will receive it as soon as I end this call.” Leo said.
“That’s good. Thank you for bringing this to my notice.” Jeff appreciated.
“You are welcome. What are friends and business partners for?.” Leo asked.
“Why do you look excited?.” Tricia asked looking at Jeff who could not curtail his joy at that moment.
“Mr. Akin is a very influential business man. Who makes money from investing in different brands and companies. And getting him to invest in our company, has always been my desire. But he is always traveling around. And then luckily today, I just got to find out, that he’s in town and his currently hosting a party in one of his resorts.” Jeff said with excitement written all over his face.
“So, is that where we are heading to now?.” Tricia asked.
“Exactly. And once I’m done convincing him to invest in our brand, then we will proceed to our date.” Jeff said.
“As you wish.” Tricia said.
Following the address Leo sent to him, Jeff drove to Mr. Akin’s private resort. But they were denied entry because the party was strictly based on invitation.
While he was still trying to plead his way through, one of his business associates recognized him and spoke to the security man on his behalf. Afterwhich, Jeff and Tricia were granted entry into the resort.
Walking into the resort, Jeff spotted Mr. Akin from a distance. Then he turned to Tricia and instructed her to wait for him.
“Wait for me here. I will be back shortly.” Jeff said.
“Okay.” Tricia responded.
While Jeff went ahead to discuss with Mr. Akin, Tricia saw a young man in white shirt carrying a tray which had several various alcoholic drinks in it.
“A single glass won’t hurt.” She said grabbing a a cup of alchoholic wine from the tray.
She walked towards the pool side where she stood staring at the sky.
Just then, a man in his early 40s approached her and started making advances at her. His words sounded funny to Tricia who couldn’t help but smiled. But at the end, Tricia raised her left hand revealing her wedding ring to the man.
Unfortunately, the man’s wife saw him talking with Tricia and that got her infuriated. Out of anger, she quickly walked up to Tricia and pushed her into the swimming pool.
Then she turned and started fighting her husband. Raising her voice at him and throwing all sorts of insults at him.
Jeff was still talking with Mr. Akin, when they heard the noise and saw people gathering close to the swimming pool.
Mr. Akin called one of his boys to enquire from him, what was going on.
“What’s happening over there?.” He asked.
“An angry woman just pushed a young lady into the swimming pool.” He said.
“Swimming pool?.” Jeff asked. Just then, he recalled Tricia words.
“I don’t know how to swim.”
And without hesitation, he quickly got up from where he sat and rushed over to where he he had told Tricia to wait for him.
“Tricia?.” He called with his heart beating fast.
He quickly pushed his way through the crowd. And immediately he saw Tricia’s clutch purse close to the swimming pool, he quickly dived into the pool to save her from drowning.
Tricia whose eyes were already dimming after silently calling for help in her heart, spotted someone who looked like Jeff swimming towards her direction. That was the last thing she saw before she lost her consciousness.
Jeff quickly brought Tricia out of the water and laid her on a flat surface. He placed his two fingers close to Tricia’s nose to check if she was still breathing.
When he discovered that she was not breathing on her own, he was left with no choice but to perform a CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on her.
Without hesitation, Jeff pressed his mouth against that of Tricia blowing air into her lungs.
