Shemmy woke up slowly in Daevyd's Lekki apartment the next morning.
Soft sunlight filtered through the big windows.
The lagoon sparkled outside like it was celebrating with them.
She stretched under the white sheets.
Her full figured body felt light for the first time in days.
Daevyd was already awake.
He leaned on one elbow beside her.
Chocolate skin glowing.
That slow smile on his face.
Good morning my queen he said softly.
Shemmy smiled back.
Her light yellow skin still warm from sleep.
Good morning she whispered.
Last night felt like a dream.
He leaned in and kissed her forehead.
It was real he said.
You chose me.
I still cannot believe it.
They stayed in bed a little longer.
Talking quietly.
Laughing about how Femi almost dragged her inside the compound yesterday.
The funny part when Daevyd said I love your sister in front of him.
Shemmy giggled.
Femi's face looked like he swallowed a whole pepper he said.
Daevyd laughed.
I thought he was going to fight me right there.
But I would have fought for you.
Her phone rang on the bedside table.
Ruth.
She answered.
Nne the video is everywhere Ruth said.
But something good is happening too.
Some small brands are sending messages.
They love the drama.
They want to work with you.
And one big charity show just invited you to design for them.
It is in two days.
For young girls learning fashion in Ikotun and Abeokuta.
Shemmy sat up fast.
Her generous body shifting under the sheets.
Two days she repeated.
That is crazy.
But it feels right.
Like destiny.
Daevyd listened.
His eyes shining with pride.
Say yes he said.
This is your moment.
Shemmy smiled at him.
I will do it she told Ruth.
Tell them yes.
Ruth screamed happily on the phone.
My girl is about to shine.
I am coming to help with everything.
Pepper soup loading.
They ended the call laughing.
Shemmy turned to Daevyd.
This could be big she said.
But the video is still out there.
People are talking.
Daevyd pulled her close.
Then let us give them something beautiful to talk about he said.
Your designs.
Your heart.
Our love.
The next two days became a beautiful kind of madness.
Shemmy worked from morning till night in Daevyd's spare room that she turned into a mini studio.
Fabrics everywhere.
Sewing machine humming.
Ruth came every evening with food and laughter.
On the night before the show everything went wrong.
The main fabric supplier delivered the wrong material.
Wrong color.
Wrong texture.
Completely unusable.
Shemmy stood in the middle of the room at midnight.
Tears in her eyes.
Her full figured body shaking.
It is ruined she whispered.
Everything is ruined.
I cannot go on stage with nothing.
Daevyd walked in quietly.
He had been working late on his laptop but he dropped everything.
He rolled up his sleeves.
We are fixing this he said.
Shemmy looked at him.
You do not know how to sew she said.
He grinned.
Then teach me.
Tonight we build together.
They worked side by side.
Cutting.
Pinning.
Improvising with whatever fabric they could find in the house.
At one point Daevyd tried to sew a straight line.
The needle pricked his finger.
He jumped.
Ahh he shouted.
This machine is fighting me.
Shemmy burst out laughing.
The sound filled the room.
Daevyd you are bleeding on my fabric she teased.
He laughed too.
Then playfully pulled her close and gave her bum a light spank.
That is for laughing at your man he said.
Soft.
Romantic.
Full of love.
Shemmy gasped then laughed harder.
Her full figured body shaking against him.
You are impossible she said.
But she kissed him anyway.
Ruth arrived around two in the morning with hot pepper soup.
See these two she said shaking her head.
Sewing at night like mad people.
But the love is sweet.
They ate.
Laughed.
Worked again.
At three in the morning while they were sewing the last piece.
Shemmy opened up.
I always thought my career and my big dreams made me too much for any man she said quietly.
After Emeka I told myself love and ambition cannot live in the same house.
Daevyd stopped sewing.
He turned to her.
You are not too much he said.
You are my motivation.
Your dreams make me want to dream bigger.
Your strength makes me stronger.
Together we are not too much.
We are just right.
Shemmy felt tears roll down her cheeks.
Happy tears.
Motivating tears.
Thank you she whispered.
They finished the collection at five in the morning.
Tired.
But smiling.
The charity show the next evening was magic.
Shemmy's last minute designs walked the runway.
Bold.
Beautiful.
Full of heart.
The crowd cheered.
Young girls in the front row clapped like crazy.
Some of them were from the same Ikotun area where she grew up.
Shemmy stood backstage with Daevyd.
His arm around her waist.
You did it he said proudly.
She smiled.
We did it.
But as the show ended and they were celebrating.
Tunde appeared backstage.
Smug smile on his face.
Beautiful show he said.
But I just bought the rights to this venue.
All future events here belong to me now.
Unless you sign with me Shemmy.
Your man loses investors.
Your brand gets blacklisted.
Choose again.
Shemmy's heart dropped.
Before she could answer.
Nadia walked in.
Wearing one of Shemmy's old designs.
Smiling like she owned the night.
She stopped in front of Shemmy.
Leaned close.
The real video is coming tomorrow she whispered.
The one that shows everything.
Get ready beautiful.
Nadia walked away.
The lights in the hall went down.
The crowd cheered for the show.
But backstage the air turned cold.
Shemmy looked at Daevyd.
What real video she asked.
Her voice shaking.
Daevyd's face was serious.
I do not know he said.
But whatever it is.
We face it together.
The night that started with love and laughter was ending with a new threat.
The biggest secret was still coming.
And tomorrow it would drop.