Chapter Five: The Consequence of her Charade

Amelia Dinkins looked very demure on camera, she wore a green body con dress and a black high heels, her hair neatly packed in a bun and her overall aura seem very pleasant. Who would have imagined a woman who a few weeks ago detached her wedding gown in front of multitudes and annulled her own wedding, calmly sitting and responding diligently to the host.

 Her rollercoaster was over, she had given herself a few weeks to heal all thanks to her family`s massive love and support. Now it was time for her to bury the ashes of the past. Leonard had stayed clear of her after her father had threatened to have him arrested if he persisted.

 Jennifer tried to build a relationship with him but he kept her at arm's length, all he decided of their fate was to co parent the child when it is born.

Drake Harris' once busy days had resumed after it was destabilized for two days, he had work, work dinners, brand launching, contract signing. Amelia had been true to her words as Maya had modeled their lingerie so they were even now. Watching Amelia`s interview reminded him of that night when they got intimate, a dark emotion crossed his mind but he waved it off. 

She seems to be healing her emotional wounds alright and she never reached out to him afterwards, only that Maya showed up to sign the modeling contract.

“You could have had the wedding cancelled, why did you wait till the altar”, the persistent journalist questioned.

“I was trying out my acting skill so maybe I could get a role in the next blockbuster”, Amelia jokingly retorted.

She was used to media personalities and how they pounce on their prey so she knew better than let off her real emotions. Everybody in the studio laughed heartily

“To be candid, it was impulsive of me, I must apologize to all my guests that came from both long and short distance to grace my occasion, forgive me, I let my emotions get the best of me”, she puts her hand on her chest to dissipate her sympathy.

A live broadcast was all it takes to clear her family of the disgrace she had brought them in

“Do you think you can ever get back with Mr Leonard Lang?” the host questioned.

“What!” She faked a mockery expression, everyone laughed

“Good riddance to bad rubbish I must say”, she added rolling her eyes

“I must say, I admire your bravery Miss Dinkins, it was nice having you on my show”.

“The pleasure was all mine Mrs Melinda, thank you”. Amelia responded with enthusiasm

Amelia stood up to leave but she felt instantly dizzy, she fell back on the chair and fainted. The heart of millions of viewers, Amelia fainted at a live broadcast. She had assured her family she wanted to go alone so nobody was to tag along with her. The show was paused and replaced with a commercial.

Drake was totally occupied, the ember was fast approaching and their latest clothing line had to be on display. Their paperwork had made a huge pile on his table. He could not watch the interview for more than the first thirty seconds, he had dropped his phone while trying so hard to get things done perfectly as he was famous for.

After what felt like a million years, he decided not to skip lunch or have it delivered, he needed a short stroll. He got into his office VIP elevator and it stopped at the last floor, but something felt so unusual and most of his workers were busy having their faces glued to their phone screen.

He passed by a two girls and overheard one say “probably she is yet to get out of the trauma”

Drake wasn’t the type to care enough to eavesdrop on empty conversation, if it isn’t business related, it wouldn't be worth his time and expensive attention.

“Amelia Dinkins fainted in a live broadcast”, a stout looking woman shouted while trying to gossip with her friend

Drake stopped in his track, “what could have happened to her?”

***

The ambulance had made it in time after Amelia had sneezed indicating her awakeness. Everyone in the studio heaved a sigh of relief, they had been panicking as the powerful Mr Dinkins would have doomed all their careers had she not revived.   

She was ushered into the ambulance and taken to the nearest hospital, Maya and the rest of the family had watched the broadcast. She had left her photo shoot and also headed for the hospital as Mrs Dinkin is out of the country on a business trip.

Leonard was losing it, he was frustrated as has been barred from access to Amelia in which, on the contrary, Jennifer had wished she had not revived. Her baby bump was now becoming more visible as her lean tummy was becoming more tubby.

Drake sat motionless at his table, his cold lunch staring at him, he could not fathom why Amelia`s fainting episode had a dangerous effect on his emotion. His subconscious mind wasn’t helping his situation, it kept urging him to find out if she had revived. He picked up his phone again and browsed the latest update but nothing new seems to pop up.

Frustration had welled up in him but he couldn’t bring himself to show up at the hospital, he vigorously kept shaking his milkshake. He tried to bury his head in the large pile of files on his table, to take his mind off worrying unnecessarily over an independent woman who perhaps had overworked herself leaving her health in shambles.

Drake looked up at his phone and a breaking news popped up

“Amelia Dinkins is pregnant!” 

Drake drew back in his chair, he went back to the social media and a lot of speculations had already been raised.

“Was it Leonard`s? Was she also two timed?” The internet was blaring

"Oh dear God! She is carrying my fetus", Drake admitted inwardly as the bittersweet reality washed over him.