LOVE BEYOND BORDERS By Ewoma

 Chapter Four 

Aileen slipped on a chocolate brown polyester evening dress with beautiful gold sequins around the neckline and wore high-heeled gold sandals to compliment her outfit. She also chose a rainbow coloured evening purse to go with it. It felt off but it had a sublime overall effect on her appearance. She then pulled her hair in a braid which was a little way past her shoulders and wore a garland of roses like a hat on her head. Her brown but smooth skin was lightly made up; her eyes and lips in subtle shades of sand and brown, colours which blended well with her outfit. She smiled softly as she took one last look in the full length mirror which stood in her bedroom. Aileen decided she looked perfect for the occasion.

As she stepped into the hall where the garland festival was holding, it was lavishly decorated with garlands of roses and petals of flowers. The buffet tables where already set with all kinds of food on them. The  atmosphere was buzzing with classical music in low tones and everybody seated either had a garland of roses on their heads or hanging down their necks. It was a spectacular sight to behold. A handful of the guests seated were actually patrons of organization. This was a charity ball event of the "Help A Child Live" Organization, intending to raise enough money to help orphanages and homeless kids in the Phoenix area. 

It was the policy of Woman's Life Magazine to support such causes by giving them free coverage and publicity in current editions of the magazine. This garland event was going to be featured in their next edition which was set for release in two weeks. All editors including writers and photographers were all present to give their mutual support. 

Aileen scanned the crowd for Emily and after a swift second of intense search, she saw her at the far end of the hall with her head bowed and Philip seated by her side. Aileen knew Emily was engrossed on her smart phone, probably posting on Twitter or chatting on WhatsApp. 

She strode quickly to the end of the hall but not without attracting attention. Aileen was a black beauty and although a Nigerian who had lived in America for the past eight years, she wasn't without admirers of all races and ethnic backgrounds. She got to Emily, who was wearing a light pink mid-length dress in soft chiffon with long sleeves, and tapped her gently on the shoulder. Emily looked up to see Aileen standing right next to her. She smiled and whispered to Philip who moved to the next seat while she moved on to Philip's seat and Aileen took hers. Emily just loved Aileen; she was like the sister she never had, and she was always thrilled to see her. Emily then grimaced and pointed to her watch reminding Aileen that she was late, again!  It seemed to Emily that Aileen had a serious knack for coming late to work and functions these days. She suspected that it was her new found friend on Twitter.

"You're late", Emily whispered in an accusing voice. 

"Sorry, took a nap, woke up late!" She whispered back.

 Philip winked at Aileen and she smiled warmly at him. Everyone knew he was smitten with Aileen and he wasn't hiding it. Emily noticed the surreptitious glance exchange between Aileen and Philip, and the corners of her mouth twitched in amusement. Aileen took one look at Emily and she knew she was going to burst out laughing. Aileen eyed her and punched her hard on the knee. 

"Ouch!" Emily responded and put a hand over her mouth to still the first signs of mirth threatening to spill out of her. 

"Don't you dare!" Aileen warned and took the program of events from her and perused it. She noticed they were already on the fifth item on the list and realized she had almost missed the most important part of the event. She looked up to see Amy watching her with unmasked disapproval on her face, and she knew she was in for it on Monday morning. The fashion, food and beauty editors, Greta, Grace and Eden were seated with her. They had their eyes glued to the patron of the organization, Job Peterson as he made his profound speech, thanking them for the honour, and promising to do his best morally and financially to support them. 

Emily leaned and whispered, "You are in big trouble! Can you see the scowl on Amy's face? She looks like an orgre ready to swallow you up!" Aileen chuckled at Emily's description of Amy as an orgre. She remembered Shrek, and her chuckling increased. Emily chuckled too and before long, they were giggling mischievously.

 Philip shook his head in disbelief as their giggling turned into silent laughter, admiring their childlike innocence and humour.  Yet, he wondered how two grown up women,could be acting like teens in their prime! Of course, he knew why they were laughing, it was all too clear, Amy! The look on Amy's face was obvious. She was livid; and he felt so sorry for Aileen because he knew she had it coming. Philip couldn't help but chuckle too, and punched Emily softly on the arm and whispered, 

"Stop it both of you! Amy isn't finding this funny!"

Aileen and Emily both looked up to find Amy Saunders scowling now at both of them. They also noticed that their muffled sounds of mirth had already attracted miffed, and also amused stares from others seated in front and also behind them. By this time, Philip had already joined in the mirth too, and the muffled sounds of their laughter kept attracting more and more livid stares from the other guests. 

Aileen had an inkling that if she didn't leave to go to the restroom or something like that, they were going to be roaring with laughter any time soon, and they were going to end up embarrassing themselves and the entire magazine staff. And so, she abruptly got up and moved quickly to the other exit door at the end of the hall. She hoped it was going to lead to a room or some place out of earshot where she could release her mirth which was threatening to burst forth out of her. Emily followed suit and Amy's hard eyes scrutinized both of them as they filed out of the hall into the still of the evening, roaring with laughter, leaving their boss, Amy Saunders perplexed by the distant familiar sounds of laughter, she only knew too well belonged to her executive editors.

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