He looked up from his seat, gazed at her like a hawk through the tinted glass walls that demarcate the meeting hall. He bent his head in a total disappointment.

Jake excused himself from the board and began walking towards the door.

She was tensed as she stood outside waiting eagerly and hoping that nothing will go wrong.

She knew that he has seen her and is a matter of time he will be out.

immediately the door swings open, her heart flew to her stomach

When she saw his countenance.

Jade knew then that another trouble was looming.

"Hi darling...

She greeted while flashing him a smile.

"What the hell is this....what is all this that you put on...? he barked quietly yet angry.

She looked down at herself and stammered

"I...I thought you will like it... and..I..

"Damnit! Damnit jade

He swore under his breath and continued.

...I specifically asked you to wear something nice and sexy today. Today is Dave's birthday and my colleagues are going over after the meeting with their wives. If you enter the visitors waiting room, you will see what my colleagues wives and girlfriends wore. They are all seated there, looking all shade of class and elegant. I knew you were going to disappoint that was why I specifically asked you to wear something sexy. I recently bought a sexy short gown for you from an online store. it will reveal your curves and show some thigh... push out your cleavage and put your body figure in perfect light... your backside won't be left out....then you grace it up with heel But here you are dressed like some maid, like you are going for church fellowship. You want to embarrass me right?

Jade inhaled slowly before releasing her breath.

"I'm a married woman jake, I won't dress like a prostitute just to please your ego or the public eyes. There is absolutely nothing wrong with my dressing. This is an armless flower printed gown. It reveals my curve enough and the length is very okay. I have a jacket in the car just in case you feel I'm exposing too much skin. I wore this because I thought is sexy enough for you jake, I wore a comfortable heel shoe...all this I did hoping I will get an applaud but here you are again bashing me...

He suddenly began to clap.

"You wanted an applaud right? You can have it all... Since you want to be a stubborn and disobedient wife it won't be under my watch... never. I will rather go alone than go with you looking like this...go back home jade.

"Jake... Jake... you are overacting. Please...stop. I won't be able to go home and change to something else because of time but I can check for a boutique around and get something different but it will be nothin like the gown you wanted me to wear. That gown is too revealing jake. It bares out a woman's braless boob... shamelessly and with a string tiny hand. I can't even sit in public because my whole undies will be greeting the public eyes. There's a whole lot of thing wrong with...

"Go home jade... we're done here. It was a big mistake to have even asked you to join me...

He walked back inside leaving jade standing.

She shakes her head sadly before walking away.

When she got to her car, she didn't move immediately. She sat in there, staring at nothing. Jade sighed sadly before turning on the ignition and driving away.

She stopped at her sister's place.

", wow, I love your dress. You look good jay. Are you going on a fresh date with jake or having a get together?

Jade flashed her a smile as she sat hard on a chair.

"...You don't look happy... what did jake do again?

Eva asked while folding some children cloths into a box.

"What is wrong with this dress Eva ? Jake said is not appropriate for outing...is not sexy to his standard. He sent me back home and said he will rather go alone to his colleague's party than go with me looking like this.

"Does he want you to walk naked? Because this cloth is very okay.. Is sexy and catchy too. Flo, don't let Cole words get to you...

Eva said as she put what she was doing aside and came to sit close to her sister.

"He wanted me to dress like a harlot. Seriously, I don't understand Jake...i find it hard to please him. There's this over revealing strippers dress he saw online and bought. Eva, did you know that my darling husband wants me to wear the dress instead of this...

"What's wrong with that? Since that was what he wants then you should have done so. Wear it for him.The eyes and shame won't be just on you...it will be on him too.

Jade waved off what her sister said.

"I wear the shoe so I know where it pinches. You won't understand Eva. Where're the boys?

"They're out. Jimmy took them out for some evening ice cream. It gives me time to tidy up the house. Jay you and Jake haven't thought of having kids yet...

"Jake isn't ready. He said children are messy and expensive to maintain...

Eva began to laugh.

"Wai.. you mean as smart as Jake is he still thinks like this? I mean no insult to your dear husband Jay. But..why does he make having children seems like an item to acquire?

Jade stood with her bag.

"Eva, I know I dislike some of the things that Jake does but I won't sit and listen to you insult him. Not having children now is his decision which am in total agreement with. Let's leave it at that and it will be nice if you respect our decision.

Eva raised her hands up in total surrender.

"Okay.. okay jay. But remember that you're a woman and time ticks every passing day with opportunity for you. Jake is a man and if you don't convince him now to start a family it maybe difficult in the future when you feel ready and in desperately need of babies. You are my younger sister and I won't I advise you wrongly.

"Whenever Jake feels ready, I will be ready too and God will then perfect it. This is just our fourth year in marriage, we're enjoying our selves....there's no rushing Eva. That ends it. Say hello to Jimmy and my nephews whenever they return. I'm going home. I know Jake will be coming home late tonight. Let me go and fix dinner before he returns...

Jade left, on her way home she decided to drive past her church.

The whole place was quiet. The church was always open for anyone who wants to come in.

She adjusted her gown before taking a jacket to wear on top of the cloth.

As she walks in, her eyes was focused on the front pew.

Jade sat facing the alter. She stare at the crucifix sign for sometime before lowering her eyes to her wedding ring.

This was the third time she was coming to church on a week day with no one in it.

Each of the time she was lost in words.

"God..I..I.

She went speechless again not knowing how to express all the heaviness in her heart.

Somebody suddenly cleared his voice quietly close to her

Jade startled before turning.

"Pastor Josh...

He came to sit beside her leaving some distance.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your deep session.

She sighed sadly

"Is alright pastor. You didn't interrupt anything. I have allot on my mind that I really wanted to talk to God about. I felt God will listen more if I'm in his sanctuary... but I can't seem to put my words together.

"He knows what you want to say even before you say it. He hears through the heaviness of your heart... God is listening and won't leave nor forsake you. Trust him to fix whatever that is troubling you or your home. Trust him and have no doubt Mrs Smith.

She held her hands together and looked up at the big altar.

"That's the problem pastor Josh. My faith gets weaker and weaker on each passing day. I'm loosing it up..I don't know how to trust God fully. sometimes I feel he is not listening...

Pastor Josh was quiet for sometime and didn't reply her immediately.

"He is ever present in time of need. If he cares and clothes the lilies in the field, birds in the air and animals that swims the ocean current how much more you that is made in his image. Trust him... Trust him with all your heart and withhold nothing from him.

Jade nodded. Pastor Josh stood and walked away quietly.

That was all she needed, a reassurance that God still cares and always listening.

It was already dark when she drove into the gate.

She missed her husband's and sister's calls.

She tried calling her him back severally but he wouldn't pick.

She called Eva and she informed her that Jake called and asked of her whereabout.

Her heart skipped when she saw her husband's car parked in the garage.

She checked the time and gasped out 8:32pm.

The traffic has contributed to her late arrival.

She picked up her hand bag and walked inside.

He was taking coffee on the dining when she stepped in.

"Where are you coming from? He asked while looking down at his coffee cup.

"I'm sorry darlin, I never knew you will be home this early. I stopped at Eva's place and from ther...

"Shut the hell up. He interrupted

"....I called your ugly mannered sister and she told me that you aren't there, you left... where are you coming from I ask one more time.

Jade sighed sadly and moved closer to him.

"Jake, that's what I'm trying to explain. After I left Eva's place I decided to drive to church and I didn't stay for long, it was the traffic that delayed me.

He suddenly threw the coffee at her face.

"I asked you to go home Jade. That was an order. You were supposed to come straight home and not go gossiping from your sister's house to church. Are you having an affair with the pastor? Because this is the third time you will be using church as an excuse.

Jade tried to wipe off the coffee dripping down from her face.

Jake stood and barked angrily at her

... you are very lucky that I don't beat women. If I was a woman beater this dirty attitude of yours would have attracted whole lot of beating for you. so disobeying my orders now is the new trend right? Eva is putting you through on how to be stubborn? I asked you to wear a particular cloth for a colleague's birthday party, You refused and wore what you liked. I sent you home and you decide to go wherever you want... this will be a last warning Jada, there's no two dictator in this house. Is either my way or no other way. Today is the last day you will go over to Eva or to your church... until I decided to lift the ban. The only place you're allowed to go is your work place and if your office ever gets in the way of my orders I will also stop you from working. so make sure you don't allow your work place affect your duties as a wife. Not under my nose will my wife become a tyrant. Go and fix me another coffee and take it to the room.

He stood and walked away.

Jade wiped a tear before entering the bathroom to wash her coffee face.

She stare at the mirror in the bathroom.

"God...I...whenever I feel tired to carry on, please push me forward in your strength. If truly you care about me then change Jake...I love him so much. make him a better man, a man after your own heart...who will love me dearly and serve you truly. Mak...

"Jade... where is the coffee. I'm still waiting and my patience is running low...

Jake called out to her from the sitting room.

Jade quickly wash off her face before going to make another fresh coffee for him.

He was sitting in the parlour when she brought the coffee.

"I said after you are done making the coffee take it to the room, isn't that what I said earlier or have you suddenly gone deaf...?

"I'm sorry, I forgot.

Jade apologies as she started walking inside with the coffee in hand.

" I will like to take that coffee with snacks. I feel like eating a home made sponge cake or donut...

Jake said after Florence who stood obediently.

"I can't bake Jake, beside we don't have ingredients for donut and is already late to buy.."

"Remind me again Jade... what exactly are you good at? You can't make any delicious meal, you can't obey simple instructions, you are so boring in bed... even things as simple as baking and making donut you can't make. What can you really do Jade?

Jade bite her lower lips as tears gathered in her eyes.

She blinked severally to hold it back from running down.

"I will make a sandwich for you Jake... I also have fried chicken and rice in the fridge. I can microwave it for you if you are hungry.

"I said I want coffee and snacks... simple instructions Jade. Do what I asked of you... make the sandwich ready and another fresh hot coffee. You know the way I love my coffee. After then freshen up and wait for me in bed...

Jade did all he asked of her. She fixed extra sandwich for herself with tea.

After she was done, she had her shower.

Jake was already in bed waiting.

She joined him

He grabbed her roughly, Jade moaned in pain as his fingers dig into her.

She was used to his rough way of love making and dares not complain.

After the whole thing was over he turned to her and said.

"Hope you are taking your drugs.

She nodded.

"... make sure you don't miss any. I'm not ready for any baby's trouble now. So stick to your drugs to avoid falling pregnant...

Jade nodded before moving to the bathroom.