Why? 3 || Shackled to the Heart 53

PREVIOUSLY ON WHY?

Burdened by past mistakes and clinging to what remains, Imade faces her hardest fight yet.

EPISODE 53

Back in the day

INT. DUPE’S ATELIER- AFTERNOON

Inside the atelier’s changing room, Imade checks her new dress on the standing mirror with Dupe beside her. Imade watch Ann through the mirror with indifference as she rages behind her

ANN

Come on Imade, why are you bent on making my work hard?

IMADE

(Chuckles) I don’t want to divide my asset anymore, how is that making your work hard

ANN

I don’t understand and please, clarify things for me. You wanted it right, so, what changed?

IMADE

(Sassily) I got what I wanted

ANN

What you wanted was the asset division and now, you have that, you are saying you don’t want it anymore. Can you explain what is happening to me, Imade, so that I can understand you

IMADE

(Ignores Ann) Please can you loosen it a bit, it is a little tight

DUPE

Okay

ANN

(Raises her voice) Imade, I am talking to you

IMADE

(Snaps and turns to face her) Maybe you are not meant to understand, it is between Wemimo and I

ANN

What?

IMADE

It is not your business

ANN

It became my business when you two keep dragging me into your shit

IMADE

That is not something for you to worry about

She starts to remove the dress and hands it to Dupe

IMADE

Please loosen it and let me try it on again

Dupe collects the dress and heads to the sewing machine in the atelier. Imade walks to the large cushion in changing room in her lingerie to pick another dress from the pile of new dresses. Ann becomes really frustrated at Imade’s nonchalant attitude

ANN

Imade, Wemimo is demanding that…

IMADE

I am demanding no asset division… (Smiles wryly) I see the conflict of interest

ANN

So, you understand my plight, all you have to do is sign this document

She points to the file next to Imade’s pile of new dresses

IMADE

And why will I do?

She places the new dress she was holding on Ann’s body

IMADE

(Smiles) I was right, this looks good on you

Ann violently removes the cloth from Imade’s hold looking so angry

ANN

I am serious here, Imade, sign the fucking paper

IMADE

I am fucking serious too, I don’t want to divide my asset. You can’t make me do what I don’t want to do

ANN

Wemimo will…

IMADE

Do nothing, he will do absolutely fucking nothing… What happened to you?

ANN

Excuse me?

IMADE

When did you become so scared of Wemimo?

ANN

(Gobsmacked) What?

IMADE

The Ann I knew back then stood up to him when he was wrong, fuck the consequences

ANN

I am just doing my job

IMADE

No, you are just been his bitch. You bark when he tells you bark and you are afraid to stand up to him because of the consequence

ANN

(Flustered) I promise that is not what it is

IMADE

It seems you don’t have the gut to stand up to him anymore

ANN

Imade, you are testing me

IMADE

I will handle him for you

ANN

What?

IMADE

When he calls you next asking about progress, tell me to give me a call

ANN

Imade…

She puts up the dress Ann threw to the floor

IMADE

Back in the day, you will go crazy at this dress and now, you won’t care because Wemimo got you all ride up

ANN

Imade, why are you not taking this seriously?

IMADE

I told you I will handle him, did I not?

ANN

What can you do?

IMADE

Let me figure that out… try out this dress. I was thinking of you when designing it

ANN

Imade…

IMADE

(Places the dress on her) Try it

Ann sighs deeply and collects the dress from her. Imade turns to Dupe who had long finished adjusting the dress Imade gave her

IMADE

Is it ready?

DUPE

Yes

As she handles the dress to her, Imade’s phone pings. She picks her phone up to check the message. Her mouth opens wide and her eyebrow widen. Ann who is now changing out of her fitted suit to try the dress watch Imade’s expression

ANN

(With concern) What is it?

Imade’s shocked expression dissolves into a really bright smile

IMADE

I am pregnant

ANN

(Surprised) What?

IMADE

Wemimo and I are expecting

ANN

Oh my God! Imade

She brings Imade into her arms and hugs her tightly

DUPE

Congratulation

Ann pulls from the hug and looks at Imade with a really bright smile

ANN

I never lost hope, I knew you would carry your own baby one day

IMADE

Ahhh!

ANN

What?

IMADE

The surrogate is pregnant

ANN

Oh! Yeah, the surrogate. (Chuckles) for a second, I thought…

She notices Imade’s muffled smile

ANN

Still, this is a thing of joy. You are having another twin, this causes for celebration

IMADE

Ahh!

ANN

What again?

IMADE

I don’t know if we are expecting twin. Doctor Paloma said the implantation of the twin was successful but she was skeptical about them surviving. Let me ask Wemimo

She presses the power button on her phone

IMADE

(Scoffs) ...and the idiot sent me a message

Ann wears the dress

ANN

A message?

IMADE

Can you imagine? Because of his ego, he sent this good news through SMS instead of calling me. He does not want to talk to me

ANN

What did you do?

IMADE

What did I do? I think you mean what did he do? Frolicking around with that bitch

ANN

Ohh, this is about Anita

IMADE

He does not want to talk to me, fine. (Flings her cellphone to the cushion) I won’t talk to him too. That is what I am talking about, stand up to him, consequence be damned

She wears the dress adjusted for her

ANN

When you are damming consequences, he is frolicking with Anita Macaulay in Atlanta

IMADE

Seriously, Ann

ANN

(Smiles) I am sorry

Imade smiles brightly at Ann’s new dresses

IMADE

I am a genius, this looks good on you

ANN

Yeah, it does. I think it will be perfect for Hembra gala

IMADE

Hembra gala? It is that time of the year already?

ANN

It is next month, I am sure an invite has been sent to you already

Imade turns to the mirror and adjust the dress on her body well

IMADE

Well, I didn’t see it… not that it matters, I am not going anyway

ANN

Your presence is highly anticipated, Imade and we are hosting this year’s gala. Foreign member will be flooding Nigeria by June

IMADE

Who gives a fuck if the president of the United States is going to here, I don’t have time for useless events like that. It is just an opportunity for rich jobless women to flaunt their rich husbands and lavish lifestyle

ANN

I have a job, Imade and I make my own money

IMADE

You are the exception, mention someone else making her own money in that club

ANN

Your sister-in-law, Senator King

IMADE

(Rolls her eyes) Whatever

ANN

So is every other women in that club… This is something you would know if you bothered to attend our gatherings

IMADE

Those gatherings are not for me