A HUSBAND FOR CHRISMAS - EPISODE 2

The traffic was hectic considering the activities in preparation for Christmas and poor Stacey couldn’t wait to get home.

She sat in the driver’s seat of her black Alfa Romeo Giulia car with one hand resting on her temple.

It was almost past 10pm and she wasn’t having the terrible head ache, getting home to rest was a necessity at this point.

“Hornnnnnn”

she horned in frustration at the taxi in front of her.

She fell back on the seat, cursing the reason of the traffic. She still had nothing more than 4km to get to her house and Scarlett didn’t know how she’ll take it.

Her eyes caught the electronic billboard hanging there and on it was her competitor’s advertisement.

Other fashion houses are already showcasing their Christmas designs but Arle’s Couture was still left behind, fighting to get that one top model.

The traffic started to loosen up as cars started moving but it still took Scarlett an hour to get home.

She struggled out of the car and walked out of the garage to door. She opened and walked into the quiet house, Thandiwe was done and gone for the day.

Scarlett dropped her stuff on the couch and took off her shoes. Heading for the kitchen first is what anyone could do.

She went to the fridge and took some water, leaving the glass cup on the counter, she walked out and into her bedroom.

Having her bath, she changed into a purple silk pajamas and headed back to the kitchen.

She looked into the microwave and found dinner still warm, courtesy.. Thandiwe.

She pulled out a chair and sat to eat the warm plate of stir fry pasta with meatballs. Just thinking about all the work she had to do before going to bed scared the shit outta her.

She took the remote and turned on the television set in the kitchen. It aired one of Zyair Dakota’s modelling shot

She chuckled

“my designs will look perfect on that body”

She turned off the television, did the dishes and went back to her bedroom. After settling in properly it was past midnight

Scarlett picked her cellphone, contemplating if it was not to late to put a call across to her sister, Maddy.

She stared at the phone for a while and dialed the number, it rang a few times and Madison took the call

“Hey big Sis” Maddy’s yelled excitedly from the other end.

Scarlett smiled knowing what her sister would probably be up to. It was loud and blaring of some afrobeat from one of the popular African artist

“Hey Maddy, Congratulations! I got the news of your engagement” Scarlett answered but Maddy could barely hear a thing her sister said

“I said I got the news of your engagement, I’m so happy!!” Scarlett yelled over the phone

“Thanks big Sis!!” Maddy yelled too.

Madison has been the wildest among the other siblings, though she’s the youngest. Scarlett wanted to inquire about where she was but to her it felt to late to try and peep into the lives of her siblings.

“Scarlett thanks for calling but I have to go” Maddy ended the call.

Scarlett dropped the phone and sighed, it suddenly bothered her… The distance from her family, especially her siblings.

She walked to the table and picked a picture frame, it was the only picture she had of her family and it was five Christmas ago when she went with her first boyfriend.

She ran her fingers on the picture and smiled, her elder brother Houston had his first child then and Tiffany, the second daughter of the Finley family.

Scarlett was a passionate child, all she wanted to do was study and get good grades so her parents would let go for the numerous extracurricular activities she loved.

She sat on her desk and started reviewing the designs to be modelled by Zyair Dakota. She was spectacular about perfection.

Her hands grew cold from the blaring wind from outside. She poured herself a glass of wine, stood up and walked to the balcony.. wrapping her arms around her body.

The sight of the beautiful city lights looked like stars from her balcony. It was lovely.

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The young brunette woman who looked like she’ll be in her twenties held her measuring tape around Scarlett’s hips. Scarlett stood still in a nude set of lingerie, getting her measurements to match the new designs.

“Is something wrong?” She questioned. They were jotting down figures and it meant she either added or it could be the opposite.

“Miss, you lost some weight. Your hips went down by 2inch and it won’t be too good on the clothes”

She sighed and looked down at herself, ? She stretched out her hand and stared at the muscles on her arm.

“We’ll make some changes on your menu so we can hasten up the growth”

Andrea stood there, taking note of every tiny detail. Scarlett walked into the closet to get back into her floral black skirt and a sleeveless lilac top.

She walked back to them and looked into the gold wrist watch

“It’s been over 2 hours and he is still not here. Did you really send the mail to his P.A?” Scarlett turned to Andrea.

The day was scheduled for Zyair and Scarlett to get their measurements taken for more designs and to fit in the ready ones.

Zyair was nothing close to being prompt and that angered an ever punctual Scarlett. She was getting extremely pissed and running out of patience.

“Mr Dakota is here”

one of the people there yelled loud enough for everyone to hear. Zyair walked in with Stacey and a tall thin girl.. she appeared to be a model.

Scarlett rolled her eyes and turned away from them. They stopped in front of her,

Andrea ran in, drooling hard like every other woman in the room.

“Hi Zyair, I’m Andrea” she giggled, tucking her hair. Scarlett glared at her and she immediately composed her almost disorganized self

“Welcome Mr Dakota, we’ve been waiting for you” Andrea drifted back into professionalism. Stacey couldn’t stop rolling her eyeshadow covered eyes

Zyair turned to Scarlett expecting some pleasantries but none seemed to be forthcoming.

“Miss Finley” he called, holding out his hand for a handshake. She looked at the hand stretched out to her

“Do you make use of this watch on your wrist?” She asked, shocking everyone. He looked at her confused

“What?” He muttered

“Mr Dakota you don’t just walk in on people who’ve been waiting for you for over 2 hours without apologizing, who do you think you are?”

He looked at her, he was totally taken aback that he had to take a proper look at the woman standing in front of him.

“Excuse me?” Stacey came out like she was trying to banter words with Scarlett Finley. Zyair held her back and smiled

“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting for so long and barging in without apologizing” he waited for a reply but he got none.

She walked few steps away

“Please let’s get started” she clapped her palms together, signifying everyone to get to work.

“Is the female model going to fit her too?” Stacey questioned. Everyone gave her a look, a female model for Scarlett’s premium showcase?

“The contract only requested for the service of Zyair Dakota, Miss Scarlett is going to model the female wears” Andrea replied, looking from Stacey to Zyair.

“Did you read the contract at all?” Scarlett looked at them, specifically at Zyair.

Zyair turned to Stacey who looked confused. They were lost at what to say to reply the questions thrown. It was very embarrassing

Scarlett chuckled teasingly

“Mr Dakota, in as much as you’re a star model and you’re good at what you do….” Her heels killed the silence as she walked closer to Zyair whose hands were tucked into the pockets of his navy blue pants

“I do not tolerate unpunctuality and incompetence” she came out just as bossy as usual. She didn’t look like the same Scarlett who prayed for this contract to be signed.

Everyone else found it rude… Zyair was awed. It was certainly the first time he met such a woman, one who didn’t flirt cheaply. It was the first time in a long time that he fancied a woman

Zyair simply stared at her hazel eyes as she spoke, it was beautiful.

“Thanks again Mr Dakota” Scarlett ended and left.

“She’s so full of herself, ughhh” Stacey cursed.

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The bar was blaring loud music and youngsters having the time of their lives. The indecently dressed waitress walked around serving assorted drinks.

“Yayyyy!!” The group of four guys shouted having cheers.

In their midst was Zyair, he sat in the bar with his brother Brad and two friends. Drinking and just having fun but Zyair’s attention seemed to be somewhere else. He tipped his finger on the glass smiling and chuckling quietly. The guys took notice and stopped to stare at him

“Hey..” Brad nudged him

“What’s up with you today” Brad raised his eyebrow at his brother.

He smiled, gulped down the content in the cup and wiped his lips with the back of his hand. Jack poured more drink into Zyair’s cup

“It’s definitely not a woman, so it’s business..tell us Zyair”
Lucas asked.

Zyair simply nodded his head and gulped down another glass of alcoholic wine, he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about her.

The woman suddenly lived in his head rent-free. He kept picturing her in the floral black skirt and lilac top she wore earlier.

“It’s nothing” he replied them and turned to look at the dancing ladies.

He chuckled remembering the first time he sighted her from afar at an event. She also proved to be the classy and bossy one. Working with her will be a pleasure.