Chapter 31: Chapter 31

"Young girl, are you lost? I don't know how you got in her with such wacky outfit but this isn't prom,"

"Excuse me?" I asked

"Who are you, I don't recognize you from anywhere," she said

"who's asking?"

"you don't know who I am?" she was in disbelief, her friends joined us

"is this girl bothering you?" one of them asked

"yes, she claims she doesn't know who I am," the first woman replied

"what sort of person wouldn't recognize you? Either the person is deranged or not from around here," another of her friend said

"Who did she even come with? That person must be a psycho to bring her in here."

"Who are you calling a psycho?" I asked the woman that made the statement, walking close to her.

"What do you think you're doing? There's camera everywhere, you don't want to create a scene do you?"

"Seriously, I don't care but I won't stand here while some rotten bitch call my fiance a psycho," I stood nose to nose with her.

"Umm ladies, people are staring," one of them said.

I turned to see few people looking at us and speaking in hushed tones, I turned to the woman in front of me, she was trying to compose herself and smiled broadly at her, I even hugged her, "play along, you don't want your face to be all over the news for harassing the fiancee of a prestigious person." It seemed to work, she hugged me as if we were old time friends.

"It was nice meeting you, see you around," I said and turned to leave, "oh yeah, I remember where I saw you. You are that model that fell on the runway because you couldn't walk on a 12 inches stilettos, it was epic." I said smiling devilishly, none of them could say anything, people around us grew quiet.

I turned it see Jade walking to me, "are you okay?"

"never felt better honey, I'm having a nice evening," I replied."Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special guest with us, a very prestigious person, someone who charms all the women and make the men jealous. A man who cares about how we smell, he won the International Fragrance Award, 3 years in a row, owner of Royale Scents, please join me as I invite no other person but Mr Jaden Kale," the MC announced."that's our cue," Jade said and I wrapped my left hand around his right arm in a way that my ring was clearly seen. Camera lights flashed around us, an escort came and showed us to our table. It was a table for 4 people, a couple were already seated there and so we joined them. Other people were announced, 8:30 sharp, the party began. Penelope Jordan, the celebrant, was turning 21, she was a very beautiful woman, she wore a blue ball gown with a tiara on her head.

I watched her scan the crowd, as soon as her eyes fell on Jade, she smiled and placed her hand on her chest, sighing dreamingly. Jade saw it too, but did not react, he took out his phone and started fiddling with it.

Since our seats were very close, I leaned on to Jade, wrapped my arms around his and rested my head on his shoulder.

Penelope looked at me murderously but quickly smiled when the camera came to her. Time to dance, Penelope danced first with her father and then her boyfriend, then other people who were eager to dance with her. "may I have this dance milady?" Jade asked me and extended his hands

"of course my Lord," I did a mock curtsey and we took the dance floor, the music was a slow one, it felt romantic. I saw Penelope throwing dagger stares at me, I gave her a sly smile and rested my head on Jade's chest, he cheeks turned beet red. She left her dancing partner and stormed off. Ukpono versus Penelope, 1:0

I planned on being so sweet to Jade tonight that she or anyone looking at him as a prospective husband would not enjoy the party. They may be dressed to kill but what I couldn't do with my clothes, I'll make up for it with my character tonight."was Penelope looking?" Jade asked and I nodded, "good. I think it's time I go meet her father. Promise me you won't dance with anyone else," he whispered

I cupped his face, "you don't have to worry honey, I'm all yours," he smiled and gave me a peck on my cheek. we walked out of the dance floor together. He then left to meet Penelope's father while I went back to my seat.

After having about 2 to 3 glasses of champagne, I started feeling a bit dizzy so I went out to get some air, maybe a walk could help me feel better. So I took my phone with me and went out, it was dark outside but there were bright lights outside so it wasn't that dark.

I was happy to see that very few people were outside and they were lingering around the building, I strolled farther into what seemed to be a garden. I reached the spot in which the light wasn't shining, there was a bench made of stone so I sat there and enjoyed the night breeze. "You know it's not safe for a woman to be in this kind of place at a time like this," a man's voice whispered.

"if you want to scare me you'll have to try better than that," I said.

He laughed and sat at the other end of the bench, "wow, that trick usually work on other women, why not you?" he asked. I didn't answer, this guy was a stranger, I didn't want to indulge in any conversation with him. If people saw us here, they could misinterpret. "you know the stars are so beautiful tonight, it's even more beautiful with you here,"

That's it, I stood up to leave, "hey where are you going?" he asked

"somewhere quiet," I replied

"but it's quiet here,"

"it was, until something came over and spoiled it for me," I replied and left. I went in to see Penelope on my seat, flirting with Jade, the other 2 seats were taken by her father and some older looking man. She turned to me and gave me an evil smile, "help" Jade mouthed and I walked over to him, "there you are honey, I was looking all over for you. Oh, good evening gentlemen, and you too Penelope, happy birthday. I would have brought a present but I don't know you, hope you don't mind," I said acting so sweet and polite.

"I'm sorry who are you?" Penelope's father asked me.

I think it's time to drop the bomb, I thought a replied

"Pardon me, I'm Ukpono, Mr Jaden Kale's fiancee. "What!!" Penelope exclaimed, banging the table and standing up with force that the chair she sat would have fallen backwards if Jade didn't hold it.

"This is preposterous, it is not true father."

"Pene, sit now and shut up!" Her father ordered, she huffed and sat. Her father turned to Jade, "Is what this woman saying true?

"yes sir, she is my fiancee," Jade replied

"He is lying father, he told us he had neither a girlfriend nor a wife," Penelope said

"what part of shut up don't you understand, Penelope? Look, I have investors and great people attending this party so you better shut up now if you don't want to humiliate me in front of all of them," Penelope's father warned her and she gasped, maybe he hasn't spoken to her that way before, she gave me a deadly stare and I smirked.

"sorry about that, why don't we go talk in private," he said to Jade who nodded and followed him, "you too Attorney," and the other man joined them.

"Father wait," Penelope walked up to her father, "Father, do you remember the promise you made to mother on her death bed? you promised you'll take care of me and give me anything I want, I'm begging you father, if you get me married to Jade I will never asked you for anything again, please just grant this one request for me."

"I'll see what I can do," was all he said, Jade looked at me and nodded and they left.

I went back to my seat to wait for their return but it seemed Penelope wasn't done with me yet, she stood behind me and said, "see that? You are going down, my father never break his promises, especially the one he made to a dying woman."

''Seems you have so much confidence in your father. For a person who was smiling and dancing with her boyfriend about an hour ago, it is so pathetic to see that same person trying to force herself on someone's fiance. Don't you agree Penelope? or may I call you, Pene?"

I got up and leaned on the table, facing her. Thank God looks don't kill, I would have died so many times tonight.

"you can say anything you want but I know that my father will not sign that contract unless Jade agree to marry me and Jade will not abandon the project he has been working on for a long time just to please you," Penelope said.

"Have you ever heard of this saying, 'he who laughs last, laughs best'?" when she didn't answer I continued, "I'm going to make some things clear to you, Jade and I are so much in love with each other, we have faced difficult challenges together and we've come out victorious, so something as petty as you is nothing. Just in case you were not aware, there is no 'Jade and Penelope', there never will be you know why? Because you are nothing to him, you would be nothing to him except the daughter of his investor. Just that. so get it into that thick skull of yours, there is nothing you can do to separate me and Jade. I'm going to tell you what would happen, Jade and your father will seal the deal tonight and we would still be together because unimportant things like you don't stand a chance against us, do you understand Penelope?"

She raised her hand to slap me but stopped when her hand was close to my cheek, I didn't flinch instead I laughed out and rubbed my cheek on her shaking palm, she was boiling with anger, I couldn't help but pick on her. "Careful pene... the only headline the media should release tomorrow is 'Penelope Jordan celebrates her 21st birthday' and not 'Penelope Jordan attacks her birthday guest who is Jaden Kale's fiancee'. I don't want the world to know of our engagement this way."

"I don't care what the media write about me, I just don't want my father suffer," she said sharply

"oh it's not your father's wrath you would have worried about but that of my fiance, you see the last person that tried hurting me is still running for her life," I told her. She looked very scared.