Chapter 43: Chapter 43

Back home *40 hours ago*

"So what are you saying?" Ete Affiong folded his arms and glared defiantly at Mrs. Chance

They were all assembled in her office making the small room constricted.

Ete Affiong sat cross-legged on the sofa, his wife sat beside him and his mother beside her. Mrs. Ekpenyong was also present and sat adjacent Ete Affiong, while Peter and Effiong stood by the door as if protecting it from intruders.

Raina sat on a wooden chair with her legs thrown over the back and her chin resting on the top of the chair. Meanwhile Miss Fiona quietly stood beside Mrs. Chance who sat facing the rest with a look of barely concealed annoyance and impatience.

"I'm saying not everyone can go." Mrs. Chance retorted.

"Can't or shouldn't or won't go?" he asked rhetorically. Without pausing he continued "See Mrs. Change-"

"It's Mrs. Chance." She scowled.

His mother palmed her face and Raina looked on amused.

"Er Mrs. Chance, it's my daughter there, not yours, so I have every right to watch her walk on stage with nothing on alright. Right wife?"

"Erh...right?" His wife nodded indecisively.

"Sorry my dear." His mother started "What he means to ask is why can't we go?" she asked softly.

"Not that you can't go, I'm worried about the expense. First the distance from here to Abuja is quite far and also considering the hotel accommodation, we're likely to spend a lot of money. For instance here, Miss Fiona and I have been covered since we've decided to share the same suite and besides the company has enough allowance for us both since we're very much Uyai's managers--"

Ete Affiong cut her off "Why can't the company cover for us? We're her parents and could as well play a role as a manager."

Mrs. Chance sighed tiredly, and massaged her aching temple. She resisted shouting at Ete Affiong and instead with gritted teeth replied slowly as if speaking to a little child,

"It doesn't work that way and no offense but you don't have what it takes to be a manager."

"I take offense! What do you mean by that? Do you know that I have managed that girl right from when she was born?--"

"Please where the hell did this man come from?" Mrs. Chance quietly muttered to herself but Miss Fiona heard and decided to whisper back an answer

"From the village." Mrs. Fiona said.

Ete Affiong continued "What do you know about being a good manager, do you have a child?"

"Yes I do. Three actually." Mrs. Chance retorted looking at Ete Affiong as if he was dumb.

"Erh...whatever, but I am a good manager also, don't just take credit for yourself alone just because you managed three children."

"Erh... Sir I don't think parenting is managing.It's different here." Raina decided to come for the rescue. "Managing requires a lot of qualification--"

"Are you also managing my daughter for me?" Ete Affiong turned to her with raised eyebrows

Raina choked. "No! I'm afraid I'm not qualified."

"I thought so, you're too young to manage someone."

"Erh...not necessarily--"

His wife coughed drawing their attention "what is going on?"

"I have no idea." Her mother in-law grimaced.

Ete Affiong ignored her and fired questions at Raina. "Are you also going? Is the company also granting you funds?".

"No-o. I'm going with my personal money. My family is rich so..." Raina shrugged with a sheepish grin.

He ignored her "Erh what about you two?" he turned to Effiong and Peter who flinched at the sudden attention

Peter answered first. " I won't be going, I have another event which had been scheduled before hand and besides I don't think I have the money. But I'm sure Effiong would go." he grinned and slightly nudged Effiong with his elbow.

All eyes went to Effiong.

Effiong's eyes widened at the attention and would've remained silent if Ete Affiong didn't probe further, "Would you? Do you have the money?"

Effiong coughed "W-Will I-I? I d-don't know, maybe, probably, perhaps--" he stuttered

"Erh...Effiong a yes or no would suffice." Peter said amused, then whispered for only his hearing. "You have to go to support your babe."

Effiong peered at the faces awaiting his answer then reluctantly he said. "Yes I will." and to Ete Affiong, "I have money." He said that with intended meaning.

"So the company is not funding your travels and accommodation?" He clarified.

"No. I don't think so. I'm not a part of the company." Effiong answer confused.

"Oh! I thought you were." Ete Affiong nodded understandably

"Erh... Sir the company in question is owned by Mrs. Chance, so covering for you and your family would be like draining her account."

"Thank you so much Raina." Mrs. Chance gave an appreciative nod her way.

"Is that so? Well if that is the case, then we also have money. Don't we wife?" Ete Affiong turned to his wife

"Do we? Pray tell me, where is the money?" Mma Affiong cocked a challenging eyebrow at him

He gave a nervous laugh "What do you mean?" he asked and sidled towards her, then leaning still his mouth was close to her ear, he asked with a whisper "what about the money from the sold farm products? We're rich aren't we?"

"I-I don't know about that." she stuttered and turned away from him.

He growled.

"Mama? Pls tell me we are rich." He turned to his mother.

"I wouldn't go that far, but we're definitely rich in health, why? We eat good food."His mother said.

His mother didn't know that what she said elicited a groan from the occupants in the room.

"Do we or do we not have money?" He asked with gritted teeth.

"We do." His mother replied sheepishly.

"Then that's settled, we're all going apart from Peter of course. Wait! Mrs. Ekpeyong are you going?"

The woman who had been sitting quietly and observing their rants replied "No. I have to take care of my family and your daughter also."

"Oh! Affiong. I almost forgot about that child. Thanks so much for your troubles. We really appreciate it." Ete Affiong said, his tone sincere.

***

At the Prantle Event Centre_ «finals«

Uyai met Isabelle at the lobby, she held her shoes in hand and like Uyai had put on a robe they've been given to backstage. Her eyes were sad and her gait weak. When Uyai met her, she forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Just as you predicted." she chuckled.

"Are you okay?" Uyai couldn't help but ask.

"I am. Somehow I expected it. You know being kicked out--like you said I messed up big time." she smiled wryly

"I-I didn't mean that." Uyai tried to say

"Yes you did." She smiled sadly.

Uyai cursed silently.

"I'm sorry." Uyai said with a grimace

"You don't have to be, you didn't do anything. I should be the apologizing for giving you a hard time. You were new and a novice and I took advantage of that." she grimaced "Now I know what is like to be bullied in a new environment and again I know how it feels to feel incapable and not able to measure up. I'm sorry I made you feel that way." she said remorsefully.

You didn't really.. Uyai wanted to say, but she kept mute.

"It's true what they say, Karma's a bitch." Isabelle chuckled, but it was forced.

Uyai was tempted to reply back with 'indeed' but that would be adding salt to injury.

"Thanks a lot caring, at least you're doing a better job than most" Isabelle said, her eyes pointedly looking at figure in the distance.

Uyai followed the motion of her eyes and found the figure to be Catherine.

Oh!

That was definitely unexpected.

Isabelle adverted her gaze back to Uyai. "I have to go pack my stuff. You have my support. Good luck in the competition. I really hope you win." she said and then calmly left leaving Uyai to gather momentum.

Who was that lady that just apologized? She showed remorse even. That could not have been Isabelle could it?

Uyai looked at the familiar figure walking away from her and couldn't help but draw the conclusion that indeed it was Isabelle.

Still musing, Uyai didn't notice when Alisha and Martha came around.

"Hey!"

Uyai jumped at the sound of Martha's voice.

"What has you in such a daze?"

Uyai turned to Alisha as she winged their arms together.

"Ah! Nothing." Uyai said and they quickly forgot about it.

"I can't believe we all advanced!" Martha squealed excitedly, her lips wide in a grin.

"You can't believe? I knew we would pass! I mean we good!" Alisha said and Uyai smiled.

"Now I need me some good massage." Alisha said

"Tell me about it. I need to soak myself in a hot tub with a champagne in hand and some cool music that would massage my senses." Martha moaned then turned to Uyai "What about you Uyai?"

"Erh...I just want to sleep." she simply said.

"Oh that too. We actually need to sleep. We just have twenty minutes before the final stage." Martha nodded as an afterthought.

"That's true. Sleep it is." Alisha agreed.

That's was how they found themselves heading straight to their suite. What they didn't expect was for them to ram into Raina, Mrs. Chance and Fiona.

Indeed they weren't alone, behind them were faces she didn't believe she would see.

Her parents and of course the dashing young man who had begun to show interest in her person.

Effiong.

"Mrs. Chance! Mother! Father! Grand mother! Effiong?" she couldn't contain the shock she felt.

"Oh Uyai you're here. I just met with Isabelle, and yes she told me." Mrs. Chance frown.

"Oh!" Uyai said

"Why are you guys here?" Uyai directed the question to her parents especially father who was busy glancing about the place in admiration.

"Foolish child." Grandmother frowned "Aren't you happy to see us? We came from a long distance after spending so much money and this is the welcome we get?"

"Ah! No! I am happy, it's just I'm a little shocked. I mean it's quite a distance and besides the money, how could you afford that?" Uyai was curious.

"Don't insult me child." Father glared. "I can very well afford it."

Mrs. Chance rolled her eyes.

"Hi!

"Hello!"

"Hello...and these are?" Mrs. Chance asked, father and mother also looking at the two skeptically.

Only grandmother had a welcoming smile.

"Oh, these are my roommates, Ali--"

"My name is Alisha." Alisha interjected pulling her hand out for a handshake which Mrs. Chance warily took.

"I'm Martha." Martha followed suit, but then she looked over Mrs. Chance at father and mother and her eyes lit up " You must be Uyai's father and..." she trailed off.

Uyai mentally rolled her eyes. "That's my mother." she assisted.

"Is she? You look nothing alike." Martha commented.

I do know that. I've been aware of it since I was born.

"Hello!" Martha waved at Miss. Fiona, then Raina, they returned her greeting with a smile and slight inclination of the head.

When her eyes moved to Effiong, Uyai could see a smile slowly form on her lips. She liked what she saw.

Uyai possessive streak raised it's claws 'cause the words "back off he's mine!" almost left her lips.

"Hey there..." Martha greeted, her voice light and airy; it was seductive.

Uyai scowled.

She didn't like it at all.

"Hi." Effiong acknowledged her with a small wave.

"You must be Uyai's brother." she guessed.

"Pfft!" Uyai looked up surprised at Raina as she snickered.

"I'm her friend." Effiong supplied.

"Hmm...Interesting." Martha smirked and deftly winked at Uyai.

Ete Affiong noted the suggested wink and cocked an unamused eyebrow at Uyai then at Effiong.

Is this young man fooling around with my daughter? He mentally asked.

He was not blind and could still recognise the shared look between a man and a woman especially between his daughter and the young man whose father he had known from childhood.

He definitely was going to have a man to man talk with the boy. He can't let what happened to his elder daughter repeat itself.

He's not going to allow another of his grand child to be a bastard!

Uyai hid her face in embarrassment at the look father shot her.

Meanwhile Effiong flinched when Uyai's father narrowed his gaze on him for a fleeting moment.

"Where's Catherine?" Miss. Fiona asked, thankfully distracting father. Her gaze roamed around in search for Catherine.

"Who is Catherine? Is that your sister?" Alisha asked curiously following the gaze of Miss. Fiona as she looked around.

"She's not." Uyai said. My sister is at home right now heavily pregnant. Uyai thought.

"That's right. Where is Catherine?"

"Over there. She's moving towards us now." Uyai pointed at the model in question sashaying towards them.

"Catherine!" Miss. Chance called out loud alerting her of their presence.

Catherine's eyes widened, then narrowed when she spotted Uyai.

"You know her?" Martha looked between them.

Uyai's lips twisted to one side. "Yeah she's with my agency. We came together."

"Wow! I'll never suspect, somehow you guys seem to give yourselves a wide berth like there's some hidden animosity between you guys." Martha told Uyai

Oh there is. I doubt it's hidden though.

Uyai shrugged.

"We are not that close."

"That's sad." Alisha commented with a frown.

"Mrs. Chance, Ma, Sir." Catherine greeted, quickly looked over at Effiong with a nod but spared Raina no acknowledgement.

Uyai was sure Alisha and Martha could feel the heat that simmered between the two especially with the glare Raina aimed at her.

"So now you can't even say hi to a colleague?" Raina mocked, arms folded and a smirk plastered on her lips.

Catherine ignored her which irked Raina.

"Bitch." Raina coughed out.

"So where were you heading to?" Mrs. Chance asked, directing the question to Uyai.

Uyai blinked. Beginning to feel her eyes grow tired from fatigue. She really needed sleep, at least before the next and final round.

"To our suite to sleep." she said.

"Oh okay. Let's not stop you then and of course good luck. Makes us proud." Mrs. Chance gave an encouraging smile. "You too Catherine." she turned to Catherine who had been standing awkwardly feeling out of place.

Uyai was sure she felt lonely, but was more than sure her pride won't allow her admit it.

"Don't embarrass us o. I didn't travel all the way here for naught." Father chose to say.

Uyai flinched.

She knew she had to put in extra effort. Father's words sounded like an ultimatum.

Alisha and Martha laughed as if it was a joke. But Uyai knew better.

Father was serious.

So she forced a laugh "Of course."

"Leave the child alone." grand mother glared at father before turning to Uyai with a smile "All the best Uyai."

"Thank you grandmother." Uyai nodded in gratitude.

Uyai was about leaving with Alisha and Martha, when a hand stopped her. She looked up.

It was Effiong.

He slightly squeezed her hand; a gesture Uyai found comforting.

"I'm sure you'll do splendid. Have fun." he smiled.

Uyai smiled back.

Of course the rest didn't miss the exchange especially Ete Affiong.

***

"Ladies and gentlemen, for the final round of Miss La Creation. I present to you ten contestants for this round."

An applause followed.

The MC waited for the applause to die down before proceeding with his speech. "Our contestants would be answering some questions from the audience. Then a brief moment we would hear from the judges and our winners and winner would be crowned."

A loud cheer echoed.

"I am very sure we can't wait to know who would be taking the crown of Miss. La Creation!"

The music changed.

The hall became dim and then bright again. It heightened the tension in the atmosphere.

Uyai suspected all the models were tensed.

She knew she was.

"Contestant number twenty one!"

And that was how it went. Each model paraded their beautiful evening gowns in their sleek figures doing the catwalk to their best.

It was Catherine turn. She stood beside the MC Smiling at the crowd. A mic was directed to her lips as her question was called out.

"If you were to be a man for one day, what would you do?"

Uyai was sure she didn't expect the question. Nobody did and Uyai was curious of her answer.

"I-I..." Catherine began with a stutter, she was taken aback by the question and was unsure of how to answer but still she attempted. "If I am a man for a day, I'll make sure every lady know their worth and how how positively they can influence their immediate society."

"Interesting answer from Contestant number eleven. A round of applause for her." The MC commended.

When it was Alisha's turn, her question was "What is your intake on feminism?"

"Thank you very much for that question." Alisha began bodly, "As a firm believer in equal rights, I think feminism is overrated. Biologically and Physically women are designed to be weaker than men so we can't necessarily perform all the task that men do. But I believe equal opportunities should be given to both sexes. Women are known to be home builders not men so in some cases we're stronger than men and so should be given equal right to showcase our potential. Thank you."

"Beautiful thoughts from contestant number fifteen. A round of applause for her please.

Martha's question had gone like this. "If you were in a bus and you notice a woman dressed awfully what would you do?"

"Thanks for the question. I like to give benefit of doubt. Probably she doesn't have money to dress well, so I'll didn't see her." was Martha's reply.

"Quite an honest answer." The MC laughed.

When it was Uyai's turn, she hoped with all her mind, body and soul that no one noticed her shaking.

"What is your take on beauty contest?"

"Thanks a lot for the question. Contrary to popular belief, beauty contest gives men and women the platform to showcase their true potential, that is it's not all about physical appearance though looking good is a necessity, it's beauty with brains. I see beauty contest as a platform to learn how to be confident in your skin and your personality and how you can affect the world at large positively. Thank you." Uyai answered and hoped to God what she said made sense.

Fifteen minutes later, her nerves were on a haywire.

The atmosphere stilled and everyone waited with bated breath as the final result was about to be announced.

Only the judges moved and conversed with themselves.

It was time.

"The results are ready and the winners and winner are going to be announced soon.

Uyai looked at the crowd searching for familiar faces.

She found them.

Her family.

Smiling.

She felt encouraged by their support and smiled back.

"The winner for the swim suit competition is... Give around of applause for contestant number eighteen! Taking fifth place."

Nobody moved.

Number eighteen....

Number eighteen...

Shit! That was her.

Uyai was number eighteen! And she came fifth place.

As soon as music came on Uyai walked out form the queue of ten models and stood in front of the crowd. A shaky smile formed on her lips.

It wasn't until a bouquet of flowers was placed on her hand before her eyes moved to her family.

They were smiling.

Tears danced in mother's eyes as she clapped.

Father sneakily wiped his eyes.

Uyai almost laughed but she felt too emotional to do so.

Her family was happy.

She was happy.

She didn't care about her position but the smiles and tears of pride her family had.

She looked at Effiong.

His smile was so wide and he clapped with so much enthusiasm that she almost thought she had emerged winner.

Uyai's eyes shone with tears.

Happy tears.

"The fourth place going to contestant number nine!"

"Second runner up! Contestants number eleven!" It was Catherine.

Uyai wasn't surprised as Catherine smile but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

Though Catherine wasn't happy, Mrs. Chance was.... At least her brand was represented.

"Now for the first runner up!..." The MC sighed deeply.

The audience waited.

The models waited.

Uyai waited.

She thought of Alisha and Martha and hoped they won.

"Contestant number three!" It was neither of them.

Uyai's shoulders slouched a bit.

There was only a chance left and for either of them too. Uyai waited and hoped.

"The moment we have been waiting for... Yes ladies and gentlemen the winner of this contest...both in costumes, charisma, beauty and brains, the winner of the crown..." He gave a dramatic pause.

The music changed and so did the neon lights.

"Contestant number fifteen!"

Uyai's eyes widened in shock. Relief, excitement, joy ....

Alisha had won!

Her roommate had won.

Uyai smiled when Alisha walked up to take her crown.

She looked like a true queen.

Beautiful!

Her eyes met hers as a bouquet of flowers was given to her. She smiled so wide and her eyes glittered. A strand of liquid escaped her eyes.

Miss. La Creation.

"I present to you. Miss. La creation!"

The crowd roared.

***