The Designer's Wicked Intentions

by Yvonne Sibanda

  Aggy slumped on the couch. "I think this day the pigs have indeed grown wings.” She huffed as Sophie laughed at her. "They are a bunch of innocents. Don't tell them you now know or else I will be in trouble and Greg also for revealing their deep kept secret."

  "Your husband loves to gossip, yet he claims his mother is the nosey one." Aggy stated with a huff, still at a shock to what Sophie had told her. "I am sorry for having removed their playboy image from your mind."

  Aggy giggled at the very thought of it before she cradled her head at her sudden thought. Sophie shifted to the couch were Aggy sat looking stricken and hugged her. She finally realized what Greg meant. How she had begged Ethan to go against what he stood for.

  "Hush" Sophie comforted her, knowing the remorse she might be feeling. Sophie reached out to the box of tissue that her always at hand maid brought after collecting the tea things. "I am terrible Soph." she wailed. "You are not love; you just wanted to feel special. That's why we kept on telling you to get married first. It’s not like you were getting married for the sake of sex, but you already loved Ethan after all."

  Aggy sighed and sniffled as she wiped off the tears. "And now he might never know that I love him. I chickened out yesterday when we still had time."

  "You still have time, don’t lose hope. Ethan will be fine. The girls can sleep over here; give your parents some reprieve, while you check on him."

  "Hey you are still getting the feel of your place. For today my mother can stay with them" Aggy retorted. "I can’t believe this. How did you manage, where is Candice."

  "She moved in with family since she was struggling to get around lately, Greg saw the house on offer and thought it would be a good idea since we were house hunting already. His bachelor pad wasn’t big enough, with Alexander in tow, the nanny and maid. It seemed more crowded than ever."

  "I am so happy" Aggy sniffled. "I don’t think you will be after the other guys move in and become your neighbors. Greg actually wishes it could be so. With Ethan, Dom and Brad as his neighbors" Aggy was giggling as Sophie rolled her eyes over their bromance.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  IT WAS after two weeks of Ethan being in hospital on a Saturday afternoon. Aggy had returned home in the morning after having spent her night at the hospital. Ethan had been moved into a private ward and she was rather grateful to Martha for allowing her to be by his bedside. Her doorbell rang and she got up from the couch, smothered her dress before answering it.

  Sophie had called to inform her they were on their way to her house. “What is this Aggy am hearing about Luc threatening you,” her cousin asked before she could even greet them. She stared at Sophie who had a sheepish expression on her face as she mouthed ‘sorry’

  She chuckled having known that once she told Sophie about Luc’s threat, she would talk when push came to shove. Knowing her relentless husband, she couldn’t blame her. “I am sure it’s nothing serious,” she muttered trailing behind them. The children had been staying over at Greg’s before they left with the great grandparents and Garret for the farm. “Yep it’s nothing, since am from having a word with him.”

  “Don’t tell me you broke his nose like the last time?” she was rather taken aback. “Don’t worry your pretty head Aggy; he will never bother you again.” Sophie was rolling her eyes making her almost giggle. The duo was at it again as she rather envied the bond they shared, all judgments aside. “Makes you wonder why you didn’t give the guy a break?” Greg the perceptible one as usual stated with a raised brow as if he knew that her mind had drifted to thinking about Ethan again. She still marveled at the fact that he was ten years younger than her yet could read her like a book.

  “Don’t cry love” he pulled her for a hug as tears slowly slid down her face. Sophie tsk tsked in disappointment at Aggy. “Told you love to just enjoy your love and not dwell much on what society will think or say. Now look at you clinging to my husband.” Aggy turned to pinch the Amazonian beautiful woman as she giggled.

  “Good, finally some laughter. Refrain from thinking negatively, I promise you Ethan will be out of that hospital bed as fast as you say I do.”

  She and Greg had debated over the fact that they could tell Aggs that her date had been a proposal which Ethan chickened out on at the last minute. The poor girl seemed lost.

  Her phone rang and Aggy rushed for the counter. It was Martha and she sounded excited. “He is awake,” she yelled. Taking note of Agatha’s dazed expression, Greg took the phone from her hand thinking it might be his cousin bothering her again in time to hear Martha asking, “Aggy are you there?”

  He greeted the woman, spoke to her a bit before hanging up and shaking his cousin. “Then she becomes speechless after hearing the good news she has been waiting to hear for a long time”

  “What’s going on?” Sophie asked confused. She didn’t have to since Aggy screamed and hugged her shouting, “he is awake.”

  Greg glanced on his wrist watch and advised “Can we leave so we get in for the afternoon visit?” Both ladies nodded before they left for the hospital.

  ***

  ETHAN STARED at his parents and smiled. His mother kept on sniffing. A few tests had been carried out when he woke up. At the moment what he knew was that ten years had been lost somewhere along the way, since his last thought pertained to a high school party and an accident that occurred. The doctor had advised that he not strain trying to remember anything besides his head ached when he tried to think. “Ethan” his friends spoke in unison as they came into the ward. At least he suspected that they were the same boys he had grown up with as they looked much more mature and old. When did that happen? “Greg, Brad, and Dom” he croaked as they all smiled. “At least your faculties are all intact,” Dom smirked.

  “You gave us a scare.” They are other people who want to see you also.” A tall beautiful woman approached and smiled at him. Was he supposed to know her? Could she be his girlfriend or something? He stared at her confused as he could hear his mother catch a sob as she tried not to weep.

  The doc said it happens, since he got injured on the head” she whispered. “This is Sophie my wife” Greg introduced. Another woman had been following behind a deep contrast to Sophie. She was slender and short. His heart lurched while his mind tried to process. She seemed older than his friends. “This is Agatha Cooper, mother of six girls and the love of your life,” Dominic chimed in shocking everyone while the ladies giggled.

  Ethan laughed also seeing the merriment in Dom that hadn’t changed at all and took him as someone jesting. “Mrs. Cooper, nice to meet you” he finally said.

  A week later Ethan was discharged from the hospital and Greg’s house was always filled with visitors. His parents though reluctant allowed it for him to stay with Greg and Sophie hoping he would regain back the ten years he had lost quickly since he had hung out with Greg more and the other mates. Finally after two months everything seemed to be gaining a new rhythm as his body had mended itself up and he adapted to his new life. He had gone to his retail outlets and read out some articles, shocked at how successful he had become in his field.

  Only a few knew the lost memory. Elsie was his constant visitor managing to keep the other women and models in his life at bay as she always clung to his arm. She rather liked him the more, as she felt they understood each other more hence had made a promise to herself to keep an eye out for him in case he started dating again. Ethan belonged to her family, he was her mother's love and she hated it when her mom cried during the night thinking no one heard her.

  When free he played with baby Alex, went over to his parents place or hung out with his friends as they went to the spots they used to hang out at, willing for everything to come back. He was frustrated and hated feeling the way he felt as if learning things for the first time.

  Everything had changed. He had gone back to drawing designs as that seemed familiar to him. Mrs. Cooper and his mother became somehow his mentors as they took charge. His workers were to be trusted and he
hoped they wouldn’t let things take a down turn.

  Mrs. Cooper was always at hand as she would whisper in his ear pointing out to some of the workers. How she knew so much about him was an intrigue and he was beginning to suspect more into his relationship with her which she wasn't letting on.

  He had caught her staring at him under her long lashes a couple of times and wasn’t at all bothered at her scrutiny. She was way older than him, maybe she was just curious he thought and went on to enjoy with Elsie as they chatted over everything. Agatha tended to look disapprovingly at that, how come, he thought and shrugged it off thinking it’s the concerns of a mother for her teenage daughter.

  On Wednesday he had promised to go out with Elsie on a date. She had pointed out she would be turning eighteen soon with a smirk on her lips and glimmer in her eyes, while he stated with a chuckle, "I have been told am twenty eight". He picked her up in his sports car as she screamed like any teenager before acting demure and sliding into the passenger seat.

  They went to Greg’s Jazz club, a nice tranquil place where families went to because of the coziness and privacy it gave them, while listening to the local talented musicians singing live. "Are you sure your mother is ok with this," he asked and watched her roll up a piece of pizza she ordered before taking a bite. "She is, I got permission from her before I called you. It’s not like we have eloped for her to be concerned." He had gaped his mouth and she had the audacity to wink. "Relax, I will not bite. Will take it slow."

  "You do know I am eleven years older than you right."

  "Age is just a number unc..... I mean Ethan" she giggled. After dinner he danced with her as they giggled like teenagers. It was when they were at her front door talking when the door was yanked in being opened by a glowering Agatha.

  "Elsie it’s late, get into the house," she furiously stated as her daughter placed a kiss on Ethan’s cheek and stomped into the house. "Is there a problem Mrs. Cooper" Ethan’s brow was raised enquiringly over her anger.

  "Just go home Ethan" she angrily stated before trying to close the door in his face. He wasn’t having any of it, though he couldn't remember at least she had to trust him that he wouldn’t take advantage of Elsie. He put his foot on the door and shoved it inside as she gaped at him. "I don’t get you Mrs. Cooper what’s going on, I didn’t take advantage of your daughter in any way for you to be raising such a fuss."

  "You don’t get it right; the fuss is because we were...." she faltered and placed her tightly fisted hands on her waist. “Just go home Ethan. Am sure Greg and Sophie must be worried over you; you haven't yet regained your memory to know what you are doing"

  There she went on again as if he was a child because he couldn’t remember. A flicker of an image passed through in his mind of another time and place and her saying the same thing. It was slight as if that hadn’t taken place at all. “Look,” he said as frustration could be detected in his voice and Mrs. Cooper flinched.

  She had been doing that lately which rather infuriated him. What was wrong with the woman? She would be skittish when he happened to brush her hands by mistake when they worked. From what he had gathered, he was once her mentor and taught her everything, that’s why she knew so much pertaining to his businesses.

  "I am sorry Mrs. Cooper if I make you feel uncomfortable; I will stay away from now on."

  Quickly looking up Aggy realized he was serious, something she had noted before ever since he came out of hospital, his short temper and impatience at times. His lips had thinned and he was angry. Aggy knew she wasn’t being fair yet needed to lash out at someone. "I expected you to have the sense to realize that this was during the week."

  He scowled further, "Did you even check your time, I brought her right on time keeping that in mind. Why do I get the feeling that you want to pick a fight with me over something I am not aware of,"

  Aggy gaped at him as he ran his hand over his cropped hair out of frustration. "Like I said if my presence irritates you. I will stay away." Then he did something out of the ordinary, he kissed her. At first it was with the fury and anger he felt while Aggy tried to push him away and her hands felt like they were pushing an immovable rock. Something happened in the kiss surprising Ethan because he softened it and Aggy melted under the onslaught as she wound her arms around his neck and opened up to him.

  Aggy’s mind kept on goading her to stop while her treacherous body warmed to the feel of him and her senses reeled having missed him. She moaned as he pulled her closer and swiftly picked her up as he had always done. He has the mind of an eighteen year old, her mind screamed as she pulled away and he let her go. They were both breathing heavily.

  “I shouldn’t have done that, I am sorry Mrs. Cooper,” he muttered, looking stricken. She shoved a still surprised Ethan, out of the door and quickly shut the door behind her before she slumped on the floor in a daze with her fingers grazing on her lips not believing that the 18 year old Ethan had chided and kissed her.

  CHAPTER NINE

  ON FRIDAY night, Agatha was alone after the twins went to spend the night at her parents place and Elsie went for a sleepover at her friend’s house. Since Wednesday she hadn’t seen Ethan as he promised and on the other hand Elsie had also chided her, managing to make her feel like a horrible mother. How fast children grew up.

  When she climbed the stairs still smarting from Ethan’s words and surprise over the kiss, she checked up on Elsie who was huddled up in bed and facing the wall. When she was about to close the door, her outspoken daughter broke the silence. "Mom, do you think I am so crude to the point I will date Uncle Ethan, knowing they is something going on between the two of you. Besides I have Sean."

  "No sweetie," she had rushed to her bedside. She glanced at her clock and grimaced taking note Ethan was right, it was half past eight pm. When she got home from work she had rather paced around like a mad bear after Thelma informed her Elsie went out with Ethan, destination unknown. She just didn’t like the amount of time they spent together as she detected some form of interest in Ethan for Elsie.

  Even her dear old mother had disapprovingly pointed that out. Aggy was at fault for introducing the man into the girls’ lives from an early age. They looked to him as the father and now the memory loss just complicated matters. Having such thoughts revolving in her mind had caused her to be more agitated. Her heart believed Ethan would not put Elsie in harm’s way. The character of a person just didn’t change no matter what others said. She reminded herself that since he had forgotten it was natural to gravitate towards Elsie as his age mate and nothing more.

  Another thought suddenly crept in, the all-consuming jealousy that always found its way in. In the two months of Ethan being out of the hospital, it had been torture. She had reintroduced him to his business while her body quivered at the reminder of how attracted she still was to him. An accidental brush on her hand would make her pant like a virgin while he would stare at her dispassionately with a raised brow.

  The fact that he was unaware of it made her the more furious as she paced her living room and almost making her carpet threadbare. He didn’t even ask for her permission to take her daughter out. By the time she heard them giggling outside, she had been blinded by fury and lashed out at them.

  "You don’t need to say it mom, you act it out, thinking I am sleeping around."

  She clutched at her throat not having realized that she didn’t give Elsie the benefit of doubt ever since she had an abortion. "I am so sorry sweetie for making you feel this way." Elsie finally sat up in bed with swollen red eyes on her beautiful face.

  "I am not saying give me your full trust mom, but just the benefit of doubt that I am not bad. I have heard the whispers from you and other family members on how I have taken after dad. I am not him mom. I will not leave you like he did, or sleep around like him, I am not him" she choked out as another wave of sorrow overcame her.

  Agatha hugged her and comforted her regretting every word she had mindlessly thrown at Elsie. She wasn’t Luc a
fter all. Later on after Elsie slept; she went to her room and chatted with Sophie over the phone about it, feeling guilty for having insinuated that Elsie was her father's daughter. She had actually called Ethan who wasn't answering in order to apologize instead Sophie answered.

  “Infuriating Mrs. C is this you.” Sophie had chuckled as she grimaced at the way her number was saved in his new phone. “I guess the eighteen year old Ethan is mighty pissed,” Sophie had giggled. “He even left his phone in the living room. He is sleeping, do you want me to wake him up.”

  “No don't. I will talk to him later just wanted to apologize for the way I acted.” That’s how she narrated the whole thing to her. She tried to get hold of him the day after the incidence and her calls kept going to his voice mail. As promised, he was staying away from her and her family. She sighed and settled in her room for a movie on a Friday night feeling alone and dejected. How she missed the movie nights with Ethan over a bowl of popcorn. A thought came into her mind as she called Sophie and asked "Is he around"

  "No love, his out with the mates. Their bromance is beginning to get to me. I no longer have the Fridays with my husband." Sophie giggled before Aggy said a few words and hung up. In just a few minutes she pulled up at Sophie’s place, dressed in her PJs, with packets of popcorn and potato crisps. "We might as well have our ladies sleepover" she winked as Sophie giggled and muttered, “I should have thought about this before."

  Sophie already had a cinematic room which was actually Greg’s man cave. That’s where they settled down on the leather recliners and got the projector going. "I should definitely make a room like this one" Agatha commented whilst the sound reverberated in the room and the movie started. Sophie was settled close to her and said, “Greg wanted a place he could spend with the guys, by the way its sound proof. I usually wonder if what they will be discussing is soccer or other things in this boys club of theirs. According to him, he didn’t want to disturb Alexander when they shouted and screamed at the top of their lungs while watching sports.”