A woman's dilemma - Episode 7

 

Amy:

"It's just glamour everywhere, Amarachi!" Buchi comes beside me, bouncing on her four inch heels. She just loves that word 'luxury'.
"Calm your horses, babe." I chuckle at her excitement. With the way she's bouncing, she's going to spill the drinks on the tray she's carrying.
"Okay. I'm calm . I'm calm." Her eyes sparkles with so much excitement.
"Of course, you are." My words drip with obvious sarcasm which only amuse her further. I catch the eyes of the manager and she frowns at both of us. I quickly put my head down and load my empty tray with glasses of champagne.
"The manager isn't happy about our inactivity. Come on." I nudge Buchi.
"Oh forget her. My baby got me this job. She can't fire me and she knows it." By baby, she means the 56 years old politician she's dating. God bless her soul, she thinks she's in love. I balance my tray on my palm and walk with Buchi back into the crowd. Quite frankly, this party just reminds me of my friends. And the life I used to live. Frances used to drag Claudia and I out every Saturday for parties like this. A smile curves my lips at the memory

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/a-woman-s-dilemma

. All the things she'll have us do. It was at a party like this that she met Francis after all. I'm sure she's living the life she's always wanted. I smile at the couple who pick two glasses off my tray as we pass them.
"Babe! There he is! My baby." Buchi swoons while pulling me with her.
"You do realize he has a wife and children right?" I ask as I try to keep up pace with her.
"I don't mind being a second wife." She throws over her shoulder. More like fourth wife. Everyone knows that senator Patrick is a serial womanizer. I bite down my comment when we reach the senator.
"Buchi!" He pulls my friend into a hug and I cringe at his wrinkled face so close to me.
"Who's this beauty?" He turns to me and attempts to give me a hug of my own. I shake his hand instead on a polite nod. He chuckles deeply.
"I like her." He says to another older man standing beside him.
"Stop that, baby!" Buchi slaps his shoulder lightly but it's obvious she doesn't mind his open flirting.
"We gotta go." I whisper into Buchi's ear.
"Yeah. I'll meet you after the party baby." She squeeze the old man's hand and I see him adjust his suit trousers consciously. Gross.
"Nice meeting you." Senator Patrick shakes my hand again but lingers too long.
"You too, sir." I retrieve my hand carefully.
"Sir?! None of that girl. Call me Patrick!" He grins while I try not to barf. All his money can't help his tobacco stained teeth.
"He was flirting with me." I say when we are out of earshot of the senator and his companion.
"And so? He's a man with money and connection. He surely has that right." What?!
"That's just wrong." I make my way to the side of the hall we are assigned to.
"Look, if I get the chance to marry him, I wouldn't care a bit if he cheats right in front of me. I get his ring and I'm content." She says. I hand a drink to a beautiful woman and her date before looking back to Buchi.
"You really need to change your mindset bitch."
"Ouch! Amarachi just said bitch." She laughs and I roll my eyes.
"I'm going to get more drinks. Do your job so we don't both get fired."
"Will do ma'am." She jokes as I walk around to the back of the hall where the kitchen is.
"Amy?" An uncertain male voice stops me in my tracks. I turn to the side and my mouth drops open.
"It is you!" Francis exclaims. My eyes take in his features without a word. He looks almost the same. Just for the new beard he's sporting. He looks a bit older but God, he's still so good looking. I look around for my friend.
"You look different." He says while he eyes me down. I feel small in my servers get up.
"It's been so long. Where's my friend?" I ask when I don't see any sign of Frances in the vicinity.
"Umm-- she's ho--"
"Francis?!" I turn around to find my friend. On impulse, I jump back and avert my gaze from hers. She doesn't pay me any attention but walks on to stand in front of Francis. I take a few steps aside. Should I leave?
"What are you doing here." Francis laughs nervously.
"I should be asking you that." Frances says unsure.
"It's a political party, baby."
"Yeah. That's right. I thought maybe you came looking for me." Is that fear in my friend's voice? This whole conversation seems a bit off.
"Oh baby! Guess who we have here?! You are not going to believe this." Francis diverts the subject to me and my eyes bulge out. No no no. I can't let Frances see me like this. I survey the crowd in front of me. There's no way I'm getting through without spilling drinks on more than a few people. I could just turn and run the other way. I've not stayed hidden for so long to be discovered like this.
"Who's--" my fingernails bite into my palm when Frances' hand touch my shoulder and I stiffen like a deer caught in headlights.
"Baby!" A shrill female voice interrupts Frances and I feel her stiffen just like me. Her hand fall off my shoulder and I make a run for it without looking back. It's just too much. I spill the remaining drinks on my tray as I make my way into the back kitchen. The manager meets me before I can close the doors behind me.
"You're fired!" She fires at me. I don't even hear her added ranting. I drop the tray with shaky fingers and grab my purse.
"Amy!" I hear my name but I don't stop. I race out like the devil's on my tail. I feel suffocated even when I get outside and cold air hits my hot face. I crouch down to the floor and try to get my breathing in order.
"No. Breathe in. Out.

Read " Falling For Innocence " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. In. Oh God!" Hot tears assails me. I can't stop it. I bawl my eyes out in the vast open of the huge hotel. Everything bad that has happened to me since the last time I saw my friend comes back to me and I cry harder.
"Amy?"
"Go away, Buchi!" I yell at her. I brush the tears from my cheeks. More tears just come down to wet them all over again.
"Who's Buchi?" The steady voice sounds closer but strangely not Buchi's. I push my hair away from my face and turn around.
"Cl---au---Claudia?!" I gasp and nearly fall on my ass with the shock. I wipe at my teary eyes vigorously. Am I seeing things?
"You look like shit." She says and I gasp again. Of course it's Claudia! No one can say something so mean with such concern.
"Claudia!" I push myself up and fly into her arms.
"Shhhh." She says when I start sobbing like a little child.
"It is you." I manage to get out.
"Of course, it's me." She pat my back soothingly and I feel strangely better.
 How is it that I meet the two people I've been trying to avoid for almost a decade in just one night?