The Designer's Wicked Intentions

by Yvonne Sibanda

  Getting up from the seat, Sophie walked towards the mini bar that was situated at the corner of the room which held a variety of wines and took out some glasses and placed them on the counter. On the shelves behind the counter was an assortment of snacks including spiced beef jerky. She grabbed a pack of roasted nuts and tossed them to Aggy to mix them up with the popcorns and crisps. “We might as well get roaring drunk while we are at it,” she advised with a chuckle and put some ice cubes into the glasses she had grabbed before she poured Amarula cream into them. She walked back towards her friend who had already poured the crisps, popcorns and nuts into a bowl, handed the glass before muting the sound of the movie so they could chat instead while they drank further.

  Greg switched on the light to his man cave and was startled by the two women snoring away. Ethan followed him and came to a standstill. Seeing the finished bottle of the Amarula cream told him the whole story, the ladies were sauced. He chuckled and moved to his wife. “Let me put Sophie into bed and we take Aggy to her house.”

  “It’s ok, I will do it. She is tiny I will not struggle with her whatsoever.”

  “Are you sure”

  “Yep.” Ethan said and picked her up. She snuggled into his arms muttering a few words as he caught a whiff of her lavender scent on her hair. The lady was light as a feather; he thought as he walked out with her snuggled up in his arms to her car. He would walk when coming back since her house was just a few houses away. Picking her up, he climbed the front steps and opened her door. The place was a secure one and people tended to not lock their doors. He was about to place her on the couch when he thought on how uncomfortable she might be and took her upstairs.

  Seeing the house was just the same as Greg's, he knew the main bedroom would be at the end of the corridor. He was relieved when he switched on the light and found an unmade bed. He took off her teddy bear morning shoes, chuckling that Mrs. Cooper was young at heart and tucked her in. “What is it with you,” he muttered kneeling down to stare at her beautiful face. He was attracted to her and the surprisingly passionate kiss they had shared during the week proved she was also to him.

  He wondered why he had even done that in the first place, except for the fact that she had looked beautiful while glowering at him and he had wanted to shock her. He’s the one who got the shock at the end. Resisting the urge to caress her face as his hand hovered over it, he sighed and stood up to leave but felt her holding his hand.

  She had opened her eyes and was staring at him. "I love you, please don't leave me," she whispered simply before shutting her eyes again. Ethan stood there for a while shocked as everything trickled back before it flooded in his mind gushing forth and making him clutch at his aching head.

  The moments he shared with her in the room, with the girls, the twins taking their baths and him reading aloud to them before bed. He slumped onto the floor while she slept on and not aware that her Ethan was back.

  ***

  AGATHA SLOWLY opened her eyes and cringed. Taking out a pack of aspirin on her bedside, she popped one pill into her mouth before gulping it down with water. She needed the loo and fast, seeing she had drunk too much with Sophie. How did she manage to drive back home? The urge at hand made her scramble off from bed and place her legs onto the floor. She came in contact with a warm body which made her yelp and swing them back up on the bed before she stared on the floor. Ethan lay there oblivious to what was happening and the scare he had given her. "Ethan, Ethan," she called and reached out to shake him.

  Ethan slowly opened his eyes to find a pair of eyes staring at him leaning from the bed. He abruptly woke up and in the process bumped into Aggy who yelped as they both rubbed their foreheads. "Mrs. Cooper am sorry," he muttered. "I brought you over to your place and I guess I was too plastered also and slumped off to sleep. I should go, sorry for your head" he said and hurriedly walked out of the room.

  "Ethan what happened" Greg looked up when he got into his study.

  "Do you still think I am not safe with Aggy after the birthday party incidence," he grinned and watched his friend stare at him in confusion. "Aggy is trouble" he muttered and glanced back at him again. Taking note Mrs. Cooper had suddenly become Aggy. He slumped on his chair and raised his hand as Ethan grinned. "You remember"

  Ethan nodded. “Everything came back in Aggy’s room.”

  Greg grunted, "If only I had known bud, I would have sent you to her house. Two months you couldn't recall anything and in just seconds of being in her house it all came back." He chuckled and reached out for a hug and a slap on the back. “Welcome back bud. So this means you remember also what happened the night when you were mugged.”

  Ethan nodded. “Was Luc involved?” He nodded his head again and wanted to comment further except Greg angrily stated, “It’s so like Luc to commit the worst of the worst things. This time his going back to jail for life.”

  “There is no need for that bud,” Ethan said, cutting in. “It’s actually Luc who saved me from the thugs.”

  Greg was now looking at him, disbelief evident in his eyes. “Am serious, I remember clutching my side with a knife in it and a gunshot sound before his voice urged me to not close my eyes but stay awake.” Greg slumped into his seat. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes,” Ethan said with a chuckle.

  “Well who knew my cousin could be such a good Samaritan,” he sneered before continuing, “we should tell Soph the good news.”

  Ethan shook his head and settled on the chair opposite Greg. “Not yet.”

  Greg looked at him confused. “If we do it now our dear Mrs. Copper would be back to her old self once she found out. I rather like how she squirms and pretends to be indifferent.”

  Greg snorted. “You and Aggy are just two of a kind. Is it the reason why you chickened out to propose to her as planned?”

  He nodded. “I want to marry her, but this time, Agatha Cooper would be the one asking for that.” Greg roared out in laughter and listened to what his friend had in mind.

  ***

  WALKING INTO Ethan’s main branch, Chique Style, Aggy nodded to Paul before asking “Is he in?”

  Paul smiled at her and motioned that he was before she walked towards Ethan’s office situated at the back. It was almost lunch time hence she knew he would have to look for a damn good reason why he couldn’t meet her. She hadn’t seen him after the morning Saturday incidence of him waking up sprawled on her carpeted floor. She was rather tired of the cat and mouse game and how he avoided her. On Sunday afternoon after mass, she could swear she spotted him and he hid behind the shelves before rushing out of the supermarket. The twins were busy crying for ice cream hence she attended to them and Elsie confirmed her suspicions when she came in after, stating she had spoken with him at the parking lot.

  Tapping thrice on his door as a formality knowing he would be alone, she got in and gasped at the scene. Abigail was perched on his desk, toying with his tie while he rather appeared to be enjoying it. They appeared to have been sharing a romantic moment which had Aggy bristling and muttering “Sorry for intruding,” before she quickly shut the door. She willed her mind to forget and her aching heart to calm down. “Its fine, you can come in Mrs. Cooper.” Ethan spoke loudly and watched a contrite Aggy enter the room before he turned and whispered in Abigail’s ear, “See you in a few minutes.” She giggled and left.

  Aggy had settled on the visitors’ chair. Rolling up his long shirt sleeve having discarded his jacket before but remained with the waistcoat, he sat at the end of his desk with a frown on his face before asking, “How can I be of help to you?”

  Agatha nearly drooled at the way he looked in his blue suit. She cleared her throat, still hurt and failing dismally to shrug off the image of Ethan involved with someone else. “I wanted to apologize for what happened last week and for my unjustified anger. You were right; I was being unreasonable and not thinking straight.”

  “And what would make you not think straight Mrs. Cooper?”

  �
�You and the fact you don’t remember the bond we shared,’ she almost yelled but instead cleared her throat and said, “It was during the week and I had advised my daughter not to go out on a school night.”

  He nodded. “Was they anything else?”

  “About the kiss….” Ethan shrugged his shoulders dismissively, “Sorry about that, that should never have happened.”

  Aggy wished she could do with a memory wipe when he said that as it felt like a jab of a knife in her heart. “If that is all,” he stood up from his desk and reached towards the jacket. “I have to get going,” he peeked at the time on his Rolex watch, “My angel is waiting for me.”

  Aggy abruptly stood up and tentatively asked, “Angel…”

  “Abigail. I was informed by Greg that we had something going on before the whole mugging and head injury stuff. We were actually engaged to be married.”

  Ethan smothered a laugh at Aggy’s gaping mouth while she contemplated on strangling Greg. He was turning out to be just like his horrible cousin, Luc.

  “I don’t think Abby is your type.” She muttered as he ushered her towards the door. “Did you say something Mrs. Cooper?”

  “No, just wondering if I can tag along, seeing I haven’t had my lunch also and please call me Aggy, not Mrs. Cooper.”

  “Suit yourself.” He winked at her as they came out from his building and walked to the restaurant opposite it.

  Abigail didn’t seem at all impressed when Ethan informed her; Mrs. Cooper would be joining them for lunch. The atmosphere was stilted and tense. Finally the young lady excused herself while Aggy glossed over her win. She knew why the hussy had been uncomfortable around her, because they both knew the truth that Ethan had been in love with Agatha and not her. From the few times she had seen the beautiful young lady, she hadn’t noticed any form of interest, yet what was making her do this whole farce. She shrugged the thought aside; she would see Greg later on and tell him a piece of her mind. Now she had to work on Ethan, who continued enjoying his meal oblivious to her.

  Taking a sip of water and placing the glass back on the table, she asked, “I was wondering if you have started remembering anything.”

  He nodded, “A few flickering thoughts here and there.” He frowned as if a sudden thought had hit him. “What is it?”

  “Well some thoughts don’t make sense. Like me and you being in a relationship. That’s rather absurd; you are like an older sister to me.”

  She coughed and wheezed to the point Ethan stood up and patted her back before handing her the glass of water. “You see, even you got the same reaction I did when the sudden thought hit me.” Aggy nervously giggled, “What’s wrong with that?”

  He rolled his eyes before replying, “You seem like a sensible woman who wouldn’t have a dalliance with a man younger than you.”

  “Well everything is possible,” she huffed while his grin widened making her tummy flutter. “What are you trying to say Mrs. Cooper, that there is more to you than what meets the eye.”

  Aggy swallowed a bit not believing she was having this conversation. What she was meant to do was skulk off and leave him for Abby, not try to get him back. After all she had spurned his attention before. Except she realized she wasn’t that charitable, Ethan was hers alone.

  “Everything is possible,” she winked at him and her eyes were posing a challenge on whether he was willing to find out if sensible Mrs. Cooper had more to offer. Sighing out loud, he remarked, “as much as I would be tempted to pursue that line of thought, am an engaged man. Abby might be pissed with me.” He settled the bill and stood up. “It has been nice chatting with you Aggy,” and walked out leaving a dazed Aggs in his wake. Aggy stood up furious. How could Greg do this to her and poor Ethan!!

  ***

  "GREGORY MATTHEW Henderson," Aggy shouted, managing startle Sophie who had dozed off on the couch. She was furious and was out of breath from climbing the outside steps in a hurry. "Aggy, what's going on?" Sophie asked, sat up on the couch and watched Aggy settle down in a huff.

  "Where is your husband?"

  "At work, where else could he be?"

  Agatha cringed at that, having forgotten it was a Monday. She started tearing up shocking Sophie who moved towards where she sat and hugged her. "What’s going on love?"

  "Ethan is dating Abigail" she wailed.

  "It’s not possible love. Ethan hasn’t mentioned that to me. "

  "Well he is," she sniffled. "Toxic Greg told him they had a thing before and were engaged to be married. I found them in his office today looking cozy and in love."

  "Is this my husband you are talking about who told him that?"

  "Yes, him."

  "I am sure there is a good explanation why he would say that." Sophie comforted and received a glower from Aggy. "What honey, I don’t think Greg would give such a damn idea to him without an explanation. So what are you going to do about it?"

  "What can I do? He thinks am like an older sister to him. And he is definitely not attracted to me."

  "Hush," Sophie comforted. After a pause Sophie remarked. "Isn't it a good thing though? You were opposed to something deeper with Ethan; imagine dating an 18year old Ethan now, though I admit that he appears to be mature like the Ethan we know. You will be like a granny to him. "

  "Not you also." Aggy wailed as Sophie giggled. "It’s a joke love.” They was a slight pause before Sophie continued, “Can I ask you something? If Ethan fell in love with you, even if he didn’t remember, would you put aside your fears and marry him. The facts haven't changed. People will still talk. And of course the difference in your age this time has increased since he is still adjusting." She stared at her with a raised brow.

  "I will try."

  Sophie huffed, "Trying is not good enough love. Why make him fall in love with you again and leave him heart broken. Ethan deserves better than that. Why don’t you let him start afresh with Abigail? I am not saying I get it why Greg might have told him they were involved unless maybe he shared these same sentiments and he wanted Ethan to have a happy and healthy relationship."

  "So are you saying am toxic for him?"

  Sophie waved her arms in defeat. "What I mean is if you are in this, be committed to see it to the end. That’s all. I can't help you if you are still not sure." She could see the doubt in her friend's eyes as she debated on what was the best course to take.

  Aggy thought about the fear that had consumed her at the thought of losing Ethan. She believed she could make their relationship work since she didn't want to lose him for good. The thought of him being with someone else other than her irked her. She finally nodded to Sophie. "I love him Soph and I will not lose him, not now or ever. He might not be in love with me like before, but I will make him remember. The kiss we shared showed me that he was still attracted to me." Sophie yelped at that before asking as Aggy grinned and wiped away her tears. "What kiss, when?"

  "Last Wednesday. He felt like the old Ethan was back."

  "You are so fleshy Aggs" Sophie sneered and received a whack from a pillow. "Says the person who is always breathy over the phone after receiving some tender loving care from her amorous husband."

  Sophie giggled, "I can afford to do so, am married after all while you are relegated to the cold showers. I hope you will not be your crazy self and try to seduce Ethan. This time he might just give in to satisfy his youthful curiosity and term you a cooougar."

  Aggy squealed outraged before they huddled and planned on how to break up Ethan and his fake fiancée.

  CHAPTER TEN

  ETHAN RANG the bell on Luc’s penthouse and waited. The wait wasn’t long as the door was opened and Luc stared at him in surprise. “Didn’t expect to see you here” he said and moved away further into the room. After having settled down Ethan said, “Thanks for what you did. I remember.” He watched Luc nod his head in acknowledgement before asking, “Why did you save me by the way.”

  Luc chuckled, “It was the right thing to do. Though I admit the reason
why I happened to be there was to give you a warning to stay away from Aggy.”

  Ethan snorted, “After the appalling way you treated her all these years, what happened.” He expected Luc to not answer but rather send him out of the house. Instead Luc frowned before answering, “Karma is what happened.” At closer inspection Ethan noticed that Luc rather looked rumpled up, tired and a bit slim. He attributed that to prison life and listened to what he was saying. “At some time I had it all good and I lost it.” He nodded in understanding. “As it turns out, the woman I was ready to settle down with turned out to be a cheat and almost gave me a child that wasn’t mine.”

  Ethan was at a loss of words on what to say. If it had been any of his friends, the answer would have quickly fallen from his lips. Instead he grunted. All he was here for was to thank Luc for saving his life and walk away, not start listening to the woes of the man. “I have something that belongs to” Luc said before standing up and moving out of the room. He came back and handed Ethan the all too familiar velvet box which he opened and it still held the ring he had bought for Aggy. “I gather you need that to propose to her.”

  He nodded. Talking to your woman’s ex-husband about your intention didn’t seem appropriate.

  “I should warn you.”

  That perked him up as the old Luc appeared to be back. He stared at him and waited. “I want a second chance with her. And I have a head start already; we have kids and seventeen years together.”

  That finally got him to talk, “I don’t think Aggy will take you back like I said before, you burnt that bridge long back.”

  Luc shrugged “will see about that. Miracles do happen.” Ethan got up and moved towards the door. “Thanks again for keeping this safe with you.”

  “No problem.” He walked away from the house and groaned as his confidence in Aggy plummeted. Luc was right, they shared a lot together and Aggy rather loved familiarity. His plan of acting clueless would be put in jeopardy if she decided to pursue a relationship with her husband and left him for Abigail. As it was, the charade was beginning to show its cracks since Abby was beginning to take over as his real girlfriend.