AMANWORTHKNOWI

NG

Chapt
erOne

‘
Whatdoy
oumeant
hebout
iquei
sbankr
upt
?’

MandisaMbat hastr
uggledtokeepthepanicfrom herv
oice.She
didn’
twantthecustomersinthecosycoff
eeshopi ntheManor
Viewshoppingcentret
oov er
hearherconversati
on.Wit
hagr im
face,
heraccountantsl
idaprint
eddocumentt owardsher.

‘
Theseareyourlat
estcashflowstat
ements,
’hesai
d.‘There’
snot
enoughmoneyiny ourbusi
nessaccountt
ocoveryourrentfort
he
bouti
queattheendoft hemonth.
’

Mandi’
seyeswidenedi
nshock.Hersli
mfinger sti
ghtenedaround
hercof
feecup.She’
dneverbeengoodwit
hf inances.Afteral
l
,she
wasafashiondesi
gner
.Butevensheknewt hesituati
onwasbad.

‘
Whatdoest
hismean?
’

‘
Youwill
hav
etocl
osethebout
ique,
’camet
hebl
untr
epl
y.‘
No
cashf
low–nobusi
ness.
’

‘
Therehastobeamistake,’
shear
guedsof
tl
y.‘
Midni
ghtRosehas
j
usthadit
sbestmonthev er
.’

Itwastr
ue.Herdesignswerefl
y i
ngof ftheshelves.Justl
astweek
AndrewMorena,herassist
antdesigner,hadaf ainti
ngfi
tinthe
studi
oduetothehighv ol
umeofwor k.Ofcourse, heisabitofa
dramaqueen,shetaggedonsilentl
y.

Theaccount
antclear
edhist
hroat.‘
Nomist
ake.Yoursal
esst
ats
areup,
butyourexpensesar
erisi
ngfast
ert
hansales.
’
‘
Whataboutal
oan?’sheasked.‘
Coul
dn’
tIappr
oachmybankf
or
ashor
t-
ter
mloan?’

‘
Idon’tthi
nktheywouldextendyouanymorecredi
twit
hout
coll
ateral
.Besi
des,
itwouldtaketool
ong.Youneedcashnowt
o
keept hebouti
quei
nbusiness.’

‘
Howbadi
sit
?’

‘
Youwon’
tbeabl
etopayy
ourst
affsal
ari
est
hismont
h,’
hesai
d.

Forahorri
blemoment ,
Mandisawherf uturecrumblebef
oreher
eyes.Shedidn’
tcareaboutherownsal ar
y ,butnott
obeableto
payherloyalstafft
ight
enedherstomachi ntoahardangui
shed
knot.Mandistareddownintothecoldcupofbl ackcof
feebefor
e
her.

‘
What
’st
hebot
tom l
i
ne?
’

‘
Unlessyoucancomeupwithahundredandfi
ft
ythousandr
and,
’
hesaid,‘
youwi
ll
havet
ocloseyourdoorsatt
heendofthe
month.’

Shei
ssuedadr
ylaugh.‘
Youdon’
tsugar
-coaty
ourwor
ds,
doy
ou?
’

Theaccount
antcl
ear
edhisthr
oat
.‘I
’
m sor
ryt
ogi
vey
oubadnews,
butIt
houghtyoumustknowthet
rut
h.’

‘
Thankyou.
’Shest
ruggledt
ogetthewordsout.‘Coul
dyousend
meallt
hefi
nanci
alstat
ements?I
’
dliket
ogot hroughthem
mysel
f.
’

‘
Ofcourse,
’hesmoot
hlyagr
eed.‘
I
’l
lhav
ethem sentt
othe
bout
ique.
’
Shenodded,
toonumbt
osayanot
herwor
d.

AsMandi watchedhi
ml eave,shefoughtbackt
hetearsbur
ning
behi
ndhereyes.Outsidethecoff
eeshop’swindow,shesawthe
shopper
sinthecentrepassinablur.

Midni
ghtRosewasherdr eam.Whenherbel ovedunclehaddied,
he’
dleftherandhersi
sterasmal li
nher
itanceeach.She’dused
herport
ionofthemoneyt ostartt
hesmal lbouti
que.UncleJakes
wouldhavebeensodisappointedifheknewshe’ dmadeamess
ofthi
ngs.

Awai
tr
essappear
edathersi
de.‘
Wil
lther
ebeany
thi
ngel
se?
’

‘
Justt
hebi
l
l,pl
ease.
’

Drummi ngherf i
ngersonthecoffeetable,Mandit
houghtabout
herpredicament.Ahundredandf if
tythousandbigonestosave
theday.Coldneedlesoffearstabbedatherskin.Wherewasshe
goingtof i
ndthatkindofmoneyatshor tnoti
ce?Feeli
ngdefeated,
shestartedtopackherdiaryandcel l
phonebackintoherhandbag.
Thenshenot icedheraccountanthadleftbehi
ndhiscopyof
BusinessDay.

From t
hefrontpage, apai
roffamil
iarstone-bl
ackey esstared
backather.Shef el
tadeepshiverconvulseherslenderbody .She
knewthoseey es!Shesomet i
messtil
lsawt hoseey esinher
dreams.Pull
ingthepapercloser
,shescannedt hear ti
cle.

ThembaDl anewasbei ngint

erviewedforhi
sopini
onson
i
nv est
mentstrat
egiesforcorporatecl
i
ents.Herheartbeati
ng
faster
,shereadon.Itseemedt hatint
helastf
iveyears,Themba
hadmov edfr
om beingabri
l
li
antinvest
mentbrokeri
nat opf
ir
m
tolaunchingDlaneI
nvest
ments,hisownmulti
-mil
li
onrand
fi
nancialserv
icescompany.

Whenshe’dknownhim, he’dalwaysbeenambi ti
ous.I
nf act,
it
washishungertosucceedt hatdr
ovehert obreakupwithhim,
eventhoughsheeventual
lyregret
tedthatreckl
ess,i
mpul si
ve
deci
sion.Nowitseemedhe’ dmadei tt
ot hetopinhi
sfield.
ThembaDl anewasobv i
ouslyamanwor t
hal otofmoney .

Athoughtst
ruckher
.What ’
sahundredandfif
tythousandr andt
o
someonewhohasmi ll
i
ons?Whatwoul ditt
akeforhimt oloanher
themoneytokeepMidnightRose’
sdoorsopen;t
oper suadehim
tomakeabusinessdealwithher
?

Hepr
obabl
ydi
dn’
tev
enr
ememberher
.

No,he’
drememberher .Per
hapshe’dneverl
ovedher–he’
dnever
sai
dthewords,cl
aiminglovewasforstupi
dHoll
ywoodmovies–
buthe’
dwantedherinhisli
fefi
veyearsago.

He’dwant edherinhisbed, t
oo.Herhandsshooksobadl yshehad
toputthepaperdownont hetabl
eandcl aspthem betweenher
thi
ghs.Hott ear
spr i
ckedatherey es,butshebli
nkedthem away
asshest aredathispictur
e.Damnhi m!Whydi dhestil
lhaveto
l
ooksogood?Ev eni nthegrainynewspaperprinthelookedmor e
thanj
usthandsome.Cool andbr eatht
akingandutter
lymasculine,
hesti
llhadt hepowert omakeherbodyr eact
.

Whenherfi
ngerswer
est
eadyenough,
shesnat
cheduphersl
eek
l
it
tl
ecel
lphoneand
connectedt otheInter
netviahermobi
leconnecti
on.Afew
minuteslater,
shewasonl i
neandtypi
nghiscompanynameintoa
searchengine.Itdidn’
ttakelongt
ogetthecontacti
nfor
mati
on
forhisoff
iceinCapeTown.

Mandi wasaboutt odialthenumberwhenanot herattackofdark,

swif
tf earfr
ozeherslenderbody .Whatwasshedoi ng?Her
fi
ngersst i
ll
edonthecellphone’
skey pad.Wasshecr azy?Ifshe
contactedThemba, t
hatwoul dinvol
vehi minherlif
eagai n.He’
d
al
readybr okenherheartoncebef or
e,allt
hosey ear
sagoi nCape
Town–t ocontemplateallowi
nghi m backintoherli
fewoul d
meanopeni ngol
dwoundsanddanger ousresentments.

Sheshookherhead.Crazydidn’
tevenbegintodescri
beher
behavi
our
.Therehadt obeanotherwaytosav eherbusinessfr
om
rui
n.Shewassmar t
,resour
ceful
,at r
uefi
ghter.I
tmighttakeabit
ofti
me,butshewouldcomeupwi thasolut
ion,she’
dfindthe
money.She’ddesi
gnedanewcol lect
ionanditwouldber eadyt
o
l
aunchforthespri
ngseason.

Youdon’thaveunt
ilSeptember ,avoi
cei
nsi
deremindedher
.The
endofthemonthwasl esst hantwoweeksaway;shecoul
dn’
t
i
gnoret
her eal
it
yofhersi t
uation.

Allshehadtodowasspeakt ohim.ThembawasinCapeTown;
sheinJohannesburg.Theywouldn’
tevenhav
etoseeeachother
.
Shecouldexpl
ainhersituat
iononthephoneandmaybe–just
may be–comet osomesor tofagreement
.Sheputt
hecall
thr
oughtohisoffi
ceinCapeTown.

‘
DlaneI
nvest
ment
s,’
afemal
evoi
ceanswer
ed.
Mandispokeascal
mlyasshewasabl
eto.‘
I
’dl
i
ket
ospeakt
o
ThembaDlanepl
ease.
’

‘
MrDl
anei
snotav
ail
abl
e.’

‘
I
t’
srat
herurgentt
hatIspeakwi
thhim,’sher
esponded.‘
Myname
i
sMandisaMbatha.I
’
m surehewil
ltakemycall
.’

‘
I
’m af
rai
dhe’
snoti
ntheof
fi
ce.He’
sinJohannesbur
g.’

Mandi
fel
therhear
tconst
ri
ct.‘
Jo’
bur
g?’

‘
Yes,
he’
supt
her
eforaf
inancef
orum.
’

‘
Doy
ouhav
eacont
actnumberf
orhi
m?’
Mandi
askedt
ent
ati
vel
y.

Therewasahesi
tat
ionontheotherendoft
hel
i
ne.‘
I
’m not
al
lowedtogi
veouthiscel
lnumber.
’

Shesi
ghed.‘
Iunder
stand.
’

Therecepti
oni
stmusthavehear
dthebleaknoteofdespai
rand
fr
ust
rati
oninhervoi
cebecausesheadded,‘
He’sattheSandt
on
Conv
ent i
onCentr
eifi
ttr
ulyi
sanemer gency
.’

‘
Thanky
ou,
’Mandi
sai
d,endi
ngt
hecal
l
.

So!Thembawasri
ghther
e.I
nJohannesbur
g.Onherhomet
urf
.
Thatbi
tofl
uckcoul
dcounti
nherfav
our.

Thewaitressr
eturnedwi t
hasmal ll
eatherfol
dercont
ainingher
bil
l
.Sherummagedf oracr i
spnoteandslippedi
tinsi
de.Takinga
deepbreathasshewai tedforthewait
resstocoll
ecti
t,she
chewedonherl i
p,tast
ingthef ai
ntf
lav
ourofcherrygloss.A
tel
ephonecall
wasnev ergoingtocuti
tintermsofwhatshe
neededf
rom hi
m.

Shewoul
dhav etoseehim,shethought
,for
cingher
sel
ftost
and
upandcol
lectherpur
se.Facetoface!

Therewasal atewinterchil
li
nt heairasanearl
yduskcr eptov er
Sandton.Inherbl
acksuedest ilet
tos,Mandicar
efullynegot
iated
thecobbledstr
eetinfrontoftheconv enti
oncentre.Theshoes
addedsomemuch- neededheightt oherpeti
tef
rame.Godonl y
knewsheneededt of eeltal
lwhenshewascomi ngf acetoface
withThemba.Oh, y
es, shedefi
ni t
elyneededtofeeltal
lwhenshe
metthemanwhohaddomi natedherlif
eallt
hosey earsago!

Sheclut
chedt hechicyel
low-and-bl
ackpurseunderherarm ali
tt
le
ti
ghtert
hannecessar yassheappr oachedtheglassdoor
softhe
convent
ioncentre.Whatifshemi ssedhim?Whati fshel
osther
nerv
e?Thegl assdoorsoftheconf erencecent
reswishedopen.
Shewalkedintothemassi v
ef oyer.

Andr
ewhadhel
pedherpi
ckoutt
heout
fi
t.

‘
You’l
ll
ookfabul
ous,
’he’
dpromi
seddramati
cal
l
y.‘Nomani
nhi
s
r
ightmindcoul
dresi
styoui
nthi
screat
ion,
dah-
li
ng!’

Mandi
hopedhersassyassi
stantdesi
gnerwasr
ight
!

Shewor eaboldyel
lowbol erojacket,l
ongsleevedchocolatesilk
topwithasexyruff
ledcollarandadeepaquasl ash-cutskirt
.She
wasn’tweari
ngtheoutfitt
oshowhi m howat t
racti
veshest il
lwas
totheopposit
esex.No, shewasdr essi
ngtoimpressapot enti
al
i
nvestor.Mandiwasaf ashiondesigner,abouti
queowner .She
neededt ol
ookthepart–t oprov esheknewwhatshewast al
king
aboutwheni
tcamet
ofashi
on.

Therewasamessageboar datt heent r

ance, neartheescalators.
Asigndi rectedhertothef i
nancef orum ont hesecondf loor.She
decidedt otaketheelevatorinst
ead.Sheneededaf ewmi nutesto
col
lecthert houghts.Fi
ddlingwitht hechunkymul t
i-col
oured
beadsar oundherneck, shewai tedf ori
ttoar ri
ve.
Whatwasher
str
ategy ?Shewoul dactthepar toft hecareerwoman.Shewoul d
notev enment ionthepast,makenor ef
erencet otheirf
ormer
rel
ationship.Playi
tcool,playitprofessional
.

Herheadshotupasshehear damut edping.Thedoor

ssl
it
hered
open.Thr
oatdry
, pal
mssweat y,
Mandi st
eppedint
otheel
evat
or.
Hermanicur
edfingerpushedtherel
evantbutt
on.

Not
urni
ngbacknow.

Asitsl
idupt othesecondfloor,shel
ist
enedtotherehearsed
speechplayi
nginherhead, butsheknewshe’dnevergetthe
wordsoutright
.Sheclosedherey es,
will
edhersel
ftobecal m,
andfocusedonhergoal .Shehadt ot
hinkaboutherstaf
f.Notjust
herfut
ure,butalsot
heirfut
ures.

Asshesteppedoutoftheel
evatorandturnedt
hecornert
owar
ds
theconf
erencer
oom, t
hefir
stpersonthatcameint
oherli
neof
visi
onwashim.

I
twasaclichébutitwast r
ue.ThembaDl anest
oodoutinacr owd.
Therewasathrongofwel l
-dressedmenandwomeni nbusiness
att
ir
esurr
oundi
nghi m,buthewast heonl
ymanshesaw.Hewas
atl
eastaheadorsot al
lerthant heot
hermenwhosurrounded
hi
m.Hismagnet i
sm wassocompel li
ngshecoul
dfeeli
tri
ght
acr
osst
hemassi
vehal
loft
heconf
erencecent
re.

Themba!

Atthatmoment ,hel
ookedupandtheireyesconnected.Blood
punchedthr
oughherv ei
ns.Herski
nwascov eredfi
rstwithahot
rashofawareness,t
henachil
li
ngprickl
eofapprehension.

OnelookatThembaDl aneandsher
eal
isedjusthowwrongshe
hadbeen.Shethoughtshe’
dbeensocl
ever,
clearandcool-
headed.Butt
herewasnowayshecouldgot hroughwi
ththi
s
i
nsaneplanofhers.

Ther
ewasonl
yonet
hingonhermi
ndatt
hatmoment
:escape.

Sheturnedherf aceaway ,swungonherst i

l
ettosanddashed
towardstheelevator,asicksensati
oni nherstomach.Her
i
mpat i
entfingerstabbingatthecallbutton,shebitherl
iptost
op
theswellofemot ioninsi
deherchest .Theelevatordoorsl
idopen
andshedashedi nsi
de, f
rant
ical
lypushingthebut t
onforthe
groundfloor.

Cl
osinghereyes,
asenseofreli
efwashedthr
oughher.She
cl
aspedherhandstight
eronherpurset
ostopthem f
rom shaki
ng.
Aminuteorsolater
,thedoor
sroll
edopenedonthegroundfl
oor.

‘
Hel
l
o,Mandi
sa.
’

Thev oicereverber
atedagai
nstherskin,adar
k,ri
chmascul
i
ne
voice.Itsti
rr
edupahundr eddiff
erentmemoriesandy
earsof
regrets.Shelookedupintoi
nk-bl
ackey es.

‘
Themba.
’
‘
Nothi
ng’schangedi
nfi
veyear
s,hasi
t?’
Darksarcasm
under
scoredhiswor
ds.‘
Whyareyousti
l
lrunni
ngawayfr
om me?
’

Chapt
erTwo

Thembawasr
ight
.

Shewasr unni
ngaway.Atleast
,shewastryi
ngto,buti
tseemed
herescaperout
ewassealed.Shewastrapped.Howdidheget
heresofast?Mandi

real
isedhemusthavedasheddownt
heescal
atorandmett
he
elev
atoront
hegroundfloor
.

She’dknowni
twoul
dbeashockt
oseehim,
butshehadn’
t
expectedt
obesophysi
cal
l
yawar
eofhi
m.

Hereyeslef
thisf
aceandt ookinhisbody.Upclose,hewastal
l
er
t
hansher emembered.Tal
ler,
strongerandcarry
ingmoremuscle.
Alotmoremuscle.I
tshowedi nthepowerfulcordsofhi
sneck,
t
hesolidswell
ofhischestunderhiscri
spwhi t
eshir
t.

Sheswal l
owed,herheadjer
kedup.Hewasal sobet
terl
ooki
ng
thansher ememberedashest oodther
erel
axedandwitht
otal
selfconf
idence–selfimport
ance,sheamendedbit
ter
ly–wait
ing
forhertoanswerhistaunt
.

Well
,shewasn’tgoi
ngtol
etanegoti
sti
cal
mil
l
ionai
rei
nti
midat
e
her
!Shetuckedherpur
seunderherar
m.

‘
I’
m notr
unningaway,
’sheinsi
sted.‘
Idi
dn’
tev
enknowy
ou’
dbe
her
e.Iwasjustont
hewr ongfl
oor.’

Heshookhi
shead.‘
Youwer
enev
eragoodl
i
ar.
’
Hishandcl osedonherf orearm,ali
ghtgri
pofpossession,
and
pull
edherf rom theel
evator.Resi
sti
ngtheurgetojerkf
ree,she
fel
tthetingli
ngsensati
ont hroughherarm asshestoodnextto
him.Shewascl oseenought osmellatr
aceofhisafter
shave.
Warm, expensive,masculi
ne.

‘
I
–Ishoul
dbegoi
ng.
’Shet
ri
edt
omov
epasthi
m.

Hebl
ockedher
.‘Whyar
eyour
eal
l
yher
e,Mandi
?Di
dyoucome
l
ooki
ngforme?’

‘
No–’

‘
Anot
herl
ie,
’hesai
d,cut
ti
ngherof
f.‘
Whydi
dyoucomel
ooki
ng
f
orme?’

‘
I
t’
snoti
mpor
tant
,’
shedef
lect
ed.

‘
Doy oust
ayi
nJo’
bur
gnow?’Thembaasked.‘
I
sthi
swher
eyou
di
sappear
edt
ofi
veyear
sago?’

Shenodded.‘
Arey
oust
il
li
nCapeTown?
’

‘
Yes,
’hesai
d.‘
I’
m onl
yvi
sit
ingt
hiscr
azypl
ace.Wemusthav
ea
dr
inksomet
ime.’

Shebl
i
nked.‘
You.
..y
ou’
reaski
ngmehav
eadr
inkwi
thy
ou?
’

‘
Whynot?’
Acasual
shr
ug.‘
It
’sbeenal
ongti
mesi
ncewel
astsaw
eachot
her
.Wehavealott
ocatchupon.
’

‘
Idon’
tfeel
li
ket
alki
ngaboutt
hepast
.’I
t’
stoopai
nful
,she
t
hought.

‘
Onedr
ink,
Mandi
.That
’sal
l
.’
Desper
atet
oleav
e,shef
oundher
sel
fagr
eei
ng.‘
OK.
’

She’
dmakeadat ewit
hhimfort
omor
row,thencancel
.Hopef
ull
y
hewouldbebackinCapeTownandf
orgetaboutt
hewhole
encount
er.

Thembasur
pri
sedher
,howev
er,
bysay
ing,
‘Whataboutnow?
’

‘
Now?
’sheechoed.‘
Whatabouty
ourconf
erence?
’

‘
We’r
efi
nishedfort
heday,
’herespondedsmoot
hly
.‘Ihav
ethe
r
estoft
heev eni
ngfr
ee.I
’
m all
y our
s.’

I
’
m all
yours.Shedidn’
tli
ketheseduct
ivehuski
nessoft
hosel
ast
t
hreewords.Dangerbel
lsrangi
nsideherhead.

‘
I–Idon’tt
hinki
t’
sagoodidea,Themba.Maybetomor
row–’Hi
s
handclaspedherfi
nger
s.Thisti
metherewasnoti
ngl
e.No,
thi
s
ti
meitwasabol tofpur
eelectr
ici
tyt
othespi
ne.

‘
I
’m nott
aki
ngnof
orananswer
.’

I
tstr
uckherthenthatper
hapstheti
mehadcomet
ostoprunni
ng.
Per
hapsitwastimetofacethepast
.Shehadt
omakepeacewit
h
whathadhappenedbetweenthem.

Mandi
tookadeepbr
eat
h.‘
Onedr
ink.
’

‘
Great
.’

Whenher
eleasedherhand,i
twasaloss.Sher
eal
i
sedshe’
d
mi
ssedhi
stouch,evenaft
erall
thi
sti
me.

Thembacutacrossthenarr
owcobbledst
reeti
nfr
ontoft
he
conf
erencecent
re,ent
eri
ngtheshoppi
ngcentr
eontheot
hersi
de.
Mandi
str
uggl
edt
okeepupwi
thhi
spower
ful
str
ides.

Heglancedinherdir
ecti
on.‘
Thecol
ourcombinati
onofyouroutf
it
sui
tsyou,’
hesaid.‘
Youlookpret
ty…butthenthat
’swhatyour
namemeans.Pr ett
y.You’
veli
veduptoi
t.
’

Fr
om theappreci
ati
vegleam i
nhi
seye, shesensedthatheno
l
ongersawherasagi rl
,butasawomanofsophi sti
cati
on.I
twas
al
soobvioushesti
llf
oundheratt
ract
ive.

‘
You’v
echangedyourhai
rst
yle,
’hesai
d.‘
Nomor
epony
tai
l
sor
Al
icebands,
Isee.
’

Hewast
easi
ngher
.

Shefel
tembar
rassedasshet
houghtabouthownai
veshe’
dbeen
whensheknewhim.Barel
y

t
went
yandl
i
vingi
njeansandT-
shi
rt
smostoft
het
ime.

‘
I
’vegr
ownupsi
ncet
hen.
’

She’
dbeentothest
yli
stt
hedaybef
oreandwasgr
atef
ulherhai
r
wasingr
eatcondi
ti
on.

‘
Ili
kei
tasi
tisnow,’
hesai
d.‘I
tlooksli
kesi
l
k.St
rai
ght
,sof
tsi
l
k.
Thecol
our
’sdar
kertoo–l
ikemi dni
ght
.’

Heatcrepti
ntohercheeks.Shei
maginedhi
slongf
inger
sinher
hai
r,t
ouchingherface,
holdi
ngher.

‘
Thanky
ou.
’I
tcameoutasabr
okenwhi
sper
.

‘
Youst
il
li
ntof
ashi
on?
’

‘
Iknowenoughaboutf
ashi
on,
’sheanswer
ed,
‘t
orecogni
sei
none
glancethatt
hesui
tyou’r
ewear
ingi
ssowel
lcuti
twasnodoubt
tail
oredfory
ouinLondon.’

‘
Close.NewYor
k.’

‘
You’
vecer
tai
nlymadei
tbi
gint
hewor
ld,
hav
en’
tyou?
’

Hepickedupt
het
raceofbi
tt
ernessi
nherv
oice.‘
Whatar
eyou
say
ing?’

‘
Nothing.
Justt
haty
ouhav
ethei
ce-
cool
busi
nessmanl
ookdown
per
fectl
y.
’

Fr
om hisgl
eami
ngshavedheadt
ot hecri
spcuf
fsofhi
sshi
rt
,he
waseveryi
ncht
hepowerful
busi
nessbroker
.

‘
I
’veear
nedmysuccess,
Mandi
.Makenodoubtabouti
t.
’

Shewaswr ong,
sher
eali
sed.Thembahadn’
tchanged.Hewas
st
il
ldr
ivenandmater
ial
i
sti
c.

Atlast,
theycameoutont oNel
sonMandel aSquare.Therewasa
chil
lintheJulyairandthesquar
ewasal mostdeserted.Onl
ya
fewlateev eni
ngshoppersandtour
istshurri
edpastthem.Inthe
growingdusk, t
hemassi v
ebronzestatueofNelsonMandelacuta
l
onelysilhouett
eagainst

t
hedar
keni
ngsky
.

Thembal edhertoaf ashi

onabl
ewi nebar.Theawningswere
roll
eddownagai nstthecol
d.Goldfai
ryli
ghtsspar
kled
decorat
ivel
yinthetreesoutsi
de.Thebarglowedwithfree-
standi
ng

el
ect
ri
cheat
ers,
giv
ingi
tani
nvi
ti
ngandwar
m ambi
ence.
Insi
de,theairwasf i
ll
edwit
hsweetcigarsmoke, thesoundof
mut edconversat
ionbrokenbyoccasi
onallaughter.Power-
sui
ted
businessmenpuf fedati
mportedCubancigars.Beautif
ulwomen
sippedatglassesofpalewine.

Afewpeopletur
nedtolookatthem asthewai terl
edherand
Thembatoaquietcorner
.Sparksofrecognit
ion.Ascatt
erof
awedwhisper
s.ItwasobviousThembaDl ane’snamewason
ever
yone’
sli
ps.

Thembasettl
edhispowerful
bodydowni
nabigbrownsuede
couch.Mandisatopposi
tehi
minadeepwhi
teleat
herar
mchair
.

‘
Whatar
eyouhav
ing?
’

‘
Wine,
’shesai
d.‘
Whi
te.Dr
y.’

Shesli
dherpurseintothecornerofthechairandfoldedherlegs
gracef
ull
y.Themba’sintenseeyest
rackedthetwistofherbody .
Thesli
tofheraquaski r
texposedherslenderstocki
ng-cl
adlegs.
Shegli
mpsedt hesuddenheatinhisstare.Shetuggeddownon
thehem.

Thembaorderedasi ngl
eshotofmaltwhisky.Heleanedf
orward,
hi
sforear
msr est
ingonhi spower
fult
highs.Helookedrel
axed,
handsome,engaging.Anddanger
ous,shethought.

‘
So.
..pr
ett
yMandi
,whatar
eyoudoi
ngwi
thy
our
sel
ftheseday
s?’

‘
I’
m st
il
linf
ashi
on,
’sheanswer
edcaut
iousl
y.‘
Desi
gni
ng,
most
ly.I
enj
oyit
.’

‘
Didy
oudesi
gnt
heout
fi
tyou’
rewear
ing?
’
Shenodded.

‘
It’
sgood,
’hesai
d.‘
I
tshowsof
fyourl
egs.Youst
il
lhav
ethe
sexi
estl
egs.
’

Hi
sdar
key
esbur
nedwi
thsexual
int
erest
.

Shetuggedontheedgeofherheml i
ne,event
houghitwoul
dn’
t
budgeanyfur
ther
.Heatfl
ashedthroughherstomach.She’
d
for
gott
enwhatafli
rthewas!She’
dhav etowatchout.

‘
Whodoy
oudesi
gnf
or?
’

‘
Formy sel
f,
’sheanswer
ed.‘
Ihav
emyownbusi
ness,
asmal
l
bout
iqueattheManorViewcent
re.
’

Ifshewasgoingt oaskhimforf
inanci
alhel
p,t
hiswasher
opening.But.
..butshecoul
dn’
tdoit.Thewhol
eideanowseemed
stupi
d,desper
ate,unwort
hy.

‘
Whataboutyou?’shecount
ered.‘
You’
vecer
tai
nlymadeaname
f
oryour
self
.Itseemsyouhavemor emoneythanyouknowwhat
t
odowith.
’

‘
Ial
way
sknowwhatt
odowi
thmoney
,Mandi
.’

‘
Ii
magi
neso,
’shesai
dbi
tt
erl
y.‘
I
twasal
way
simpor
tantt
oyou.
’

‘
That’
sthesecondti
meyou’
vemadeadi gatmymoney
,’Themba
sai
dslowl
y.‘
Isitacr
imetobesuccessf
ul?
’

‘
No,
’sheshr
ugged.‘
Idon’
tsupposeso.
’

‘
Thefacti
sthatmoneyisi
mport
ant
.Itwassomethi
ngt
hatwas
deni
edtomef ort
oolong.
’Hi
smouthtwi
sted.‘
WhydoIbot
her
ex
plai
ning?Youwoul
dn’
tunder
stand.
’

‘
Whynot?’
‘
Youdidn’
tgr
owuppoor
,’hesai
d.‘
Youdon’
tunder
stand
howmoneygiv
esamancontr
oloverhi
sli
fe,
thepowert
ochange
thel
i
vesofot
hers.
’

Shockedathisoutbur
st,
Mandir
eali
sedthatmaybeshedi
dn’
t
havether
ighttojudgehi
sal
l-
consumingambit
ion.

From t
hel i
ttl
esheknewofhi schil
dhood,hehadn’thaditeasy.
He’dneverspokenofi t
,butsheknewhe’ dbeenbroughtupi n
nearpoverty,wit
houtamot herorf
athertoshowhi mlove.Itmust
havebeenr ough.Onceshe’dtri
edtogethimt ospeakabouthi s
earl
yli
fe,buthe’drespondedwithstonysil
ence.She’
dlearned
thathi
spar entswereataboosubject.

Themoodysi l
encethatdescendedwasbr okenonlybythearri
val
oftheirdri
nks.Shecurledherfi
ngersar
oundt hethi
nstem ofthe
winegl assandsipped.Shewelcomedthechi l
lwineonherdry
throat.Shefel
tit
swar mthinherstomach.Mandi tr
iedt
orelax,
butthescowl onThemba’ sfaceashedownedt heamberwhisky
didn’tmakeiteasy.

‘
Howl
ongar
eyoui
nJozi
for
?’

‘
Notl
ong,
’hesai
d.‘
I
’m st
ayi
ngatt
heMi
chel
angel
oTower
s.Il
eav
e
t
omorr
ow.’

Hel eanedf orward,

hiseyesburni
ngintohers.Ther
ewassuch
fi
ercedar knessinthosemidnightey
es,shecouldn’
tmakeouthis
emot ionalstateofmind.Hi
snextwor dsshockedhert
othecore.

‘
Whydi
dyoudumpme,
Mandi
?’Hi
svoi
cewasl
ow,
int
ense,
cont
rol
l
ed.‘
Whydi
dyouwal
koutonmef
ivey
ear
sago?
’

Shet
ookaner
vousgul
pofherwi
ne.‘
Let
’snotgot
her
e–’

‘
Iwantt
oknow.
’

‘
May beIgrewtir
edofyourobsessi
onwithmakingmoney,
’she
sighed.‘
Yes,
Ibrokeupwithyou,Themba,butwer
eyoureal
lyever
thereforme?’

‘
Ist
hathowy ousawit?’Heshookhishead.‘
Iwasworki
ngforus,
f
orabetterl
ifef
orus.Youshouldhaveunderst
oodthat
.I
woul
d’v
egi v
enyouanythingi
fyou’
dstuckaround.
’

‘
Anythi
ngexceptwhatIwanted.
’ Therewasnoangerlef
tinher
voi
ce,onl
ysadnessandregret
.‘Besides,
y oudi
dn’
twast
et i
me
aft
erwebrokeup.Youlef
t.Yout ookofffor–wherewasit?–
London?NewYork?’

‘
Iwentt
oPar
ist
o–’

Atthatmoment ,
hiscellphone’
sdiscr
eetri
ngt
onefil
l
edtheair.
Withamut t
eredcurse,hehauledtheexpensi
vegadgetoutofhi
s
pocketandanswered.Hekeptt heconver
sati
onbri
efandended
thecall
aft
erafewmi nutes.

‘
Mybusi
nessdi
nnerwasj
ustcancel
l
ed,
’hesai
dtoMandi
.‘
We’
re
f
reet
ohavedi
nner.
’

Shest
if
fened.‘
Idon’
twantt
ohav
edi
nnerwi
thy
ou.
’

‘
Whynot?Wehav ealott
otal
kabout–’suddenl
yhestoppedand
showedstr
ongwhit
eteet
h.‘
Oh!Igeti
t.Ther
e’saboy
fri
end
wait
ingf
oryou.
’
‘
That
’snoneofy
ourbusi
ness.
’

Shedi
dn’
tdar
etel
lhi
mther
ewasnomani
nherl
i
fe.

‘
Comeon,’ het
aunted.‘
Youmustmeetalotofmeninabi
gci
ty
l
ikeJo’
burg,apret
tygir
lli
key
ou.Youcan’
tbeshor
tofmal
e
att
enti
on.
’

‘
Youmakemesoundl
i
keasl
ut,
’shesai
dici
l
y.

‘
I
’m sor
ry.
’

Despit
ehisapol
ogy
,dar
knesscl
oudedhi
sey
es.Coul
ditbe
j
ealousy?

‘
I
sther
easpeci
alwomani
nyourl
i
fe?
’Mandi
asked.‘
Notmar
ri
ed
y
et?
’

Thembasatforwar
d,eyesdarkandeni
gmati
c.‘
No,
Idon’
tthi
nkI
’
ll
everber
eadyformarri
age.Ienj
oybei
ngfr
ee.’

Di
sil
l
usi
onsanklikeast
oneinherstomach.Nothi
nghadchanged;
hewassti
l
lthesameambiti
ous,money-
hungrymanshe’dknown
i
nCapeTown.Coldanddi
stantandemoti
onless.

Sheplacedherempt
ygl
assont
hel
owt
abl
ebet
weent
hem.‘
I
shoul
dgo.’

‘
Stay
,’hesai
d.‘
Hav
eanot
her
.’

‘
Ihav
etodr
ive.
’

Hewasal
readycal
li
ngt
hewai
terov
er.‘
Acof
feet
hen.I
’
llhav
eone
t
oo.Wecantal
k.’

Shel
i
ftedabr
ow.‘
Tal
k?’
‘
Nomorefi
ghti
ng.Let
’sj
ustenjoyeachot
her
’scompany
.It
’sbeen
t
ool
ong.Iwantustobefri
ends.’

Heplacedt
heorderfortwobl
ackfi
lt
ercoff
ees,
befor
etur
ningt
o
her
.‘Tel
lme,
’hesaid.‘
Howisyoursi
stert
heseday
s?’

‘
Nombi ?She’
sfi
ne,st
il
li
nCapeTown.Well
,shehasafl
att
her
e
butshe’
sawayoftenonphot
oshoot
s.She’
samodel now.
’

‘
Youcould’
vebeenamodel
,
’hesai
dsi
l
kil
y.‘
You’
rebeaut
if
ul
enough.
’

‘
Unfort
unatel
y,Inev
erhadmyy oungersi
ster
’shei
ght
.Orheral
l-
consumingneedforthespot
li
ght,
’shel
aughed.‘
She’
satotal
di
va.’

‘
Andyouruncl
e?’
Thembapr
obed.‘
I
shest
il
lsopr
otect
iveofy
ou
gi
rl
s?’

Sadnessrosei
nhert
hroatl
i
keahar
dst
one;
itmadei
tdi
ff
icul
tto
getthewordsout
.

‘
Uncl
eJakesdi
edaf
ewy
ear
sago,
’shesai
d.‘
Cancer
.’

‘
Oh,
God!
’Her
eachedov
er,
tookherhand.‘
I
’m sor
ry.
’

Emoti
onroughenedhi
svoi
ce.Thesuddenwar
mthandcomf
ort
fr
om hi
stouchmadeherwanttoweep.

‘
Thankyou,’
shewhisper
ed.‘Hewasli
keaf
athert
omeandNombi
af
terourparent
sdi
edinthatcarcr
ash.
’

Lightl
yhi
sthumbcar essedherpal
m,sendi
ngwavesofwar
mth
throughherbody
.‘I
’
m sur ehewouldbesoproudofy
ou.
’
Shejer
kedherhandaway.‘No,hewoul
dn’
t.He’
dthi
nkmea
fool
i
shgir
l.Af
terwhatheleftme–’

‘
Whatdoy
oumean?
’

‘
UncleJakesleftmesomemoneyi nhi
swill
.’Shehadn’ tmeantt
o
shar
eherbur den,buti
tfel
tgoodt otal
kaboutit.‘Iuseditt
ostar
t
mybusiness,butnowI ’
vegotmy selfi
ntof
inancialtroubl
e.I
fI
don’
tgetahundr edandfif
tythousandrand,I
’mf ini
shed.I’
ll
have
tocl
oseMi dnightRose–’

Shestopped,r
eal
isi
ngshe’
dsai
dtoomuch.Butthedamagehad
beendone.Itwasamomentshecoul
dn’
tsnatchback.

Therewasalongsi
lencethatshedarednotbreak.
Your
appear
anceatthef
inanceforum wasn’
tanaccident
, wasit
?’
Themba’sey
eshadt ur
nedtoblackstones.‘
Youwer elooki
ngfor
me.’

‘
Themba–’

Heslicedof
fherpleawit
hanice-
col
dst
atement
.‘Excepti
twasn’
t
mey ouwerelooki
ngfor,
itwasmymoney.Yout
houghtIcoul
d
bai
lyououtofthismess.
’

‘
No!Yes–I–Idon’tknow.Iact
edoni
mpul
se.Iwasdesper
ate.I
t
doesn’
tmat
ternow–’

‘
Inevert
ookyouforamanipul
ati
vemoney-
grabber
.’Hi
svoi
ce
l
oweredtoachi
ll
whisper
.‘Thequest
ioni
s..
.howdesperat
eare
you?Howmuchdoy ouneedmymoney ?’

Angerf
oughtt
hroughat
wistofemot
ions.‘
Youcan’
tspeakt
ome
t
hisway
!’

‘
Youaccusemeofputtingmoneyaboveev
eryt
hingel
se–but
y
ou’r
enodiff
erent
,Mandisa.Ri
ghtnowwhat’
smor ei
mpor
tantt
o
y
ou.Me..
.oryourbout
ique?’

Foramoment,shethoughtoft
hedi
sastershef
acedatt
he
bout
ique,
thest
affshewouldhavet
oletgo.

‘
Please,
’shebegged,
‘don’
tmakemeanswert
hat
.’

‘
Ithi
nkyoujustdi
d.’
Hisholl
owlaughwasst
ri
ppedofwar
mth.‘
I
t’s
obvi
ousyoudon’tf
eelany
thingf
ormeanymore,buty
oul
ovemy
money,don’
tyou?’

‘
I
t’
snothowi
tlooks,
Themba–’

‘
Unfortunat
elyyouneedtogothroughmetogettot
hebigbucks.
’
Hiscruelwordsassaul
tedher
.‘Ahundr
edandfif
tyt
housandi
sn’t
t
hatmuchf ormeandi t’
scert
ainl
ywort
hspendi
ngthattohav
e
youinmybed. ’

‘
What
?’

‘
I’
dsayitwasaf ai
rexchange,
’Thembaconti
nued,asi
fshewasn’
t
event
here.‘I
’
llgi
veyouallt
hemoneyy ouneedify
oucomeupt o
myhotelroom andspendthenight
.Howdoesthatsound,
pret
ty
Mandi
?’

Chapt
erThr
ee

Thesoundsinthewi
nebarseemedtofadei
ntothebackgr
ound.
All
shecouldhearwasherhear
tbeat
ingi
nherears.

Rawangerbur
ned,
hotandt
hick,
inherbl
ood.Shewasgl
adt
he
l
owt abl
esepar
atedherfr
om him becauseshewant
edt
osl
ap
Thembaacrosshisar
rogantf
ace.

Col
d,har
dey
essear
chedherf
ace.‘
Whatdoy
ousay
,Mandi
?’

Theangerwasnowr
epl
acedwi
thshockedout
rage.‘
Youcan’
tbe
ser
ious!
’

‘
Ineverj
okeaboutmoney.’
Hisli
pscur
vedi
ntoapar
odyofasmi
l
e.
‘
Orsex.It
akebothser
iousl
y.’

Shekeptherv
oicel
owasnott
oar
ouseat
tent
ion.‘
Ihat
eyou!
’

‘
Idon’
tcar
ewhaty
ouf
eel
forme,
’her
epl
i
ed.‘
Ist
il
lwanty
ou.
’

‘
You’
dbewi
l
li
ngt
opaymef
orsex?
’

‘
Notj
ustsex,’
hesaid.‘
Itwouldbesomuchmor ethansex.I
t
woul
dbeintense,
passionat
e,incr
edi
blysensualsex.I
twoul
dgi
ve
meanightI
’vebeendreamingaboutforfi
veyears.’

Mandiwasn’tgoi
ngtojust–justsither
e!–andlethi
m breakher
down,t
reatherli
kesomesexual commodi t
y.Heri
nsi
descrawled
wit
hrevul
sionassheshotoutofherseat ,
grabbi
ngherpurse,
wil
l
ingherbodytostoptrembli
ng.

‘
I
’mleavi
ngbef
oreI–bef
oreIsay–no,
do!–somet
hingI
’
ll
r
egr
et!’

Qui
ckasaf
lash,
hewasonhi
sfeett
oo,
ather

si
de.‘
Whyl
eav
e?It
houghtt
hiswaswhaty
ouwant
ed.
’

Hi
smocki
ngv
oicemadeherbl
oodboi
lev
enhot
ter
.

‘
Idon’
twanty
ou,
’shehi
ssed.‘
Idon’
twanty
ourmoney
.Idon’
t
wantany
thi
ngf
rom y
ou.
’

Her
eachedf
orher
,butshej
erkedherar
m away
.‘Don’
ttouchme!
’

‘
Don’
tmakeascene,
’hemut
ter
edi
nawar
ningt
one.‘
Peopl
ear
e
wat
chi
ng.
’

Mandirai
sedherchin.‘
Themba,yourmoneycanbuyal
otof
t
hings,
butyoudon’thaveenoughofitt
obuymybody,myhear
t,
mysoul.They
’renotforsal
e.’

Hi
smout
hcur
led.‘
You’
l
lchangey
ourmi
nd.
’

Shet ur
nedf
rom hi
m andbolt
edoutofthewinebar.Thecool
nightai
rwasashocktoherhotcheeks,buti
thel
pedsootheher
rageandshestoppedtodr
awabr eath.

Howdarehemakeherfeelsocheap?Makesuchadisgusting
pr
oposal
?Shewasstil
ltooangr
ytocry,
butshecoul
df eelthe
cr
ackofpai
nspl
itopenherheart
.Shedashedacr
ossNel son
Mandel
aSquar
e,pastt
hestatueofMadiba,i
ntot
hemal l
.

DamnThembaDl
ane.He’
dhur
ther–hur
therf
orasecondt
ime–
damnhi
m!

Herhandshookassheheldtherubberr
ailoftheescalatortaki
ng
herdownintot
heunder-
groundparki
ngarea.Mandi spri
ntedt o
hercar
,af
raidt
hatThembami ghtbefol
l
owi ngher.Quickly,
she
l
ookedbehindher
,butt
herewasnoonebehi ndher.

Shewasabouttoopenthedoortohersmal
lredhat
chbackwhen
sher
eal
isedshehadn’
tpaidfor

herpar
king.Damn!Sher
ushedbackt
heel
ect
roni
cpayst
ati
on.I
t
didn’
ttakeherl
ongtosettl
etheamount.Afewmoment sl
ater
,
shewassi t
ti
ngbehindthewheelofhercar
,butsomehowshe
couldn’
tbri
nghersel
ftostar
ttoengi
ne.

Shewashelddownbyaheavinessthatcamefr
om hersouland
fi
l
ledherl
i
mbs.Shetri
edtocomet ogripswi
ththebewi
lder
ing
event
softhel
asthal
fhour
.

I’
l
lgiv
ey oual
lthemoneyyouneed.Hi
swordsechoedinherears,
eventhoughshetr
iedt
oblockt
hesoundout.I
fyoucomeupt o
myhot elr
oom.Spendtheni
ght
.Shecoul
dn’tbel
iev
ethathe’
d

madesuchanof f
er–unlesshewasact i
ngoutofl
ong-
buri
edhur
t
andr esent
ment.Shecoul
dn’tbel
iev
ethatthi
swasthesameman
she’donceloved,l
ovedwit
hallherhear
t,t
hemanshewasonce
readytogiveherbodyto.

Mandiclosedhereyes.Hotli
tt
leriv
er ssl
ippeddownhercheeks.
Shecouldtast
ethesaltonherlips;feelt
helit
tl
espl ashesonher
handsasshegr i
ppedthesteeri
ngwheel .Somewher ebehi
ndthe
tear
s,t
hememor i
esswam inandoutoff ocus,asshe
rememberedtheirbr
eak-up.
CapeTown. .
.Fivey ear
sago. .
.

CapeTownwasi
nthemi
ddl
eofaheatwav
e.

Infact,
itwassohotthatMandi
wor
eonl
yhercut
-of
fdeni
m
shortsandT-shi
rt
,hai
rscr
aped

backinapony .Shestoodinthesl
eeklit
tl
ekitchenofThemba’ s
rooft
opapartment,j
ustoffLong-
marketStreet.She’
dbrought
alongali
ttl
eblackdress;she’
dchangeintothatlat
er.I
twas
hangingbehindthebathr
oom door,f
reshfrom thedrycleaner
s.
She’dmadeither
selff
rom apatt
ernshe’
dcr
eat
edatf
ashion
col
lege.Herf
ir
stcreat
ion.AndThembawoul
dbethefi
rsttoseei
t!

Shepausedi nbrowningthechoppedonionsinaflatski
ll
et,
the
del
ici
ousaromaofoi l
,vi
negarandonionfi
ll
i
ngt hekit
chen.
Thembahadur gedhertomov einwithhi
m afewweeksback, but
shewasn’tcomf ort
ablewit
hthearrangement.Asacompr omise,
she’
daccept edasparekeytohisplace–soshecoul dcomeand
goasshepl eased.

Sofar,i
thadwor kedoutquit
ewel l.Shel i
vedatheruncl e’shouse
i
nKenilwor t
h.Thembausuallypickedherupt here.Somet imes,he
stay
edf orashortvi
sit
,buti
twasal waysdi ff
icult
.Notonl ydidher
uncl
edisappr ov
eoftheideaofboy f
ri
ends–hespeci f
icall
y
di
sli
kedThemba–buti twasal sohar dtoconductar omancewi t
h
herannoyingandbeautif
ulsi
xteen-year-oldsisterhangingaround!
Nombi alwaysseemedt ofi
ndawayt obet herewhenThemba
wasatt hehouse.Shesuspectedherl it
tl
esi sterhadacr ushon
hi
m.

Aft
ertoni
ght,shemightmoveinwit
hhim,shet
hought.Asmall
smil
epull
edatt hecor
nersofhermout
h.Mandiswayedasshe
movedherhipst ot
hejazzyaf
ro-
poppl
ayi
ngont her
adio.Sof
tl
y,
shesangalong.

CookingThemba’sfavour
it
emeal –sampbobotiemadewi t
h
curr
iedmince–fill
edherwithpl
easur
e.Sheaddedanotherdash
ofcurrypowder
,justt
hewayhel i
kedit
!Hot.Spi
cy.Not
hingmild
forThembaDlane.

Ther
ewer
eingr
edi
ent
sforami
xedgr
eensal
ad–butshe’
dmake
t
hatl
ater.Ot
her
wise,
ever
ythi
ngwasprepar
ed.Abot
tl
eofgood
whi
tewineandachocol
atemoussei
nthefri
dge.

Oh,yes,shethought,t
odaywasgoingtobeacelebrat
ion.I
t
markedt hedayoftheirsi
xmonthanniv
ersary
.Shecouldhardl
y
beli
evesomucht imehadpassedsinceshemetThembaDl aneat
ajazzconcerti
nGr eenpoi
nt.I
thadbeenloveatf
ir
stsight.

Well,
atleastforheri
twasloveatf
ir
stsight
,shet
hought
.She’
d
neverseenamanasst unni
ngandhandsomeasThemba.Itwas
al
way sdif
ficultt
otel
lwhatwasgoi
ngthroughThemba’
smind.He
wasnotaper sonwhoshowedhisemoti
onseasil
y.

She’devenforgiv
enhi mthef actthathe’
dtakenhertoasoccer
gamef ort
heirfir
stdate;may bebecausehet ookhertoalov el
y
l
unchataseasi defishrestaurantthenextweekend.Si
ncet hen
they’
dgonedanci ngatclubs,enjoyeddinner
sandmov ies,and
spentasmucht i
met ogetherashi sdemandingj
obatt he
broker
agefirm al
lowed.

Goodt
imes,
shet
hought
.Thebestoft
imes.

Shecheckedhercel
l
phonet oseei
fther
ewereanymessages
fr
om Themba.None.Shesenthim aqui
ckSMSt or
emi
ndhim
aboutt
heirdi
nner
.Shejusthopedhehadn’
tfor
gott
ent
heir
anni
ver
sary.

Ofcourse,t
hey’
dneversl
epttogether
.Notthathedi
dn’
twantt
o.
Aft
eracoupleofdates,
he’dwantedhertospendtheni
ght
,but
she’
dresist
ed.Shewasn’tr
eady,she’
dtol
dhim.

Heruncl
ehadwar
nedoft
hedanger
sofget
ti
ngt
ooi
nti
mat
ewi
th
aboy
fri
end.I
nhi
sol
d-school

way,Uncl
eJakeslect
uredbothherandNombi
regul
arl
ythatgood
gi
rl
sdidn’
tindul
geinukumethsa.

Herf
ri
endsatcol
l
egeal
socauti
onedt
hatl
ett
ingaboygot
oof
ar
woul
dbetheendoft
herel
ati
onshi
p.

‘
Onceheget
swhathewant
s,’
they
’dsay
,‘he’
l
lmov
eon.
’

Hery
oungsi
sterhadwar
nedheraboutt
het
hreatofapr
egnancy
.

‘
Youdon’
twantababyr
uini
ngy
ourf
igur
e,Mandi
,
’she’
dsni
ff
ed.
‘
Oryourl
i
fe,
fort
hatmatt
er.
’

NowMandi deci
dedt ol
istent ononeofthem.Notheruncle,not
herf r
iends.Notthearti
clessher eadinpopul
armagazines.
May bei twasaneffectoft heheatwav ebut.
..wel
l,
shewoul d
sleepwi thThembat oni
ght .She’
dt ur
nedtwentyi
nJanuary;she
feltshewasnowr eady.

Anditwouldn’
tbejustsex.No,theywouldmakel oveint
hetrue
senseoftheword.Yes,herbody,heri
nnocence, woul
dbehergif
t
tothemanshel oved.Mandifel
ttheheatfil
tert
hroughherbody
l
ikehothoney,asenseofantici
pati
onbuildi
nglikeasweetfi
rei
n
herbel
ly
.

Bysixo’
clock,thebobotiewasint
hewar mingdrawer,t
hesal ad
wastossedandt hewinewasi naglasswinebucket.She’
dset
thet
ableoutonhi sbalconywit
hav i
ewov ert
hecitycentre.
Perf
ect,
shet hought.I
twasmuchcool eronthebalcony.They
coul
dwat chthesunsetlater
.
Shetookalongcoolshowerandchangedi
ntoherdr
ess.I
tfi
t
per
fectl
y,t
oo.Herl
ecturerwas

ri
ght;shedi
dhaveaf lai
rforf
ashion.Shedecidedtoleav
eherfeet
bare,
wearherhairloose,noj
eweller
y.Shedidn’tbot
herwit
htoo
muchmake- up,
justsomel i
p-gl
oss.

Bysev eno’
cl
ock,
Thembast i
llwasn’thome.Shetr
iedt
ocal
l him,
buthisphonewenttovoi
cemail.Wher ewashe?Washeheldup
atwork?Angerpr
ickedatherskin.Didn’
theknowhowimportant
toni
ghtwas?

Byei
ghto’
clock,
thewinewassweatinginthecooler
,thefood
wasdri
edoutinthewarmer
drawerandt hesaladl
ookedlimp.She
pour
edhersel
faglassofwi
ne.Byeight-
thi
rty
,itwasfini
shed.No
si
gnofThemba.NoSMS.Nocal l
.Not hi
ng.

Whi l
eshewaited,shecurleduponhi snewbackl essleather
couch,pl
uckedhersket chpadf rom herbag,andst ar
tedtodr aw.
Drawingalwaysrelaxedher .Howev er
,thedesignofanewj acket
didn’
thol
dherat t
ent i
on.Instead,sheidlysketched,i
nlightpenci
l
l
ines,apict
ureofThemba’ sface.Shedr ewfrom memor y,
i
nspiredbyherlove;becauseshedi dloveThemba.

Shemusthav edozedof f,
becauseshewoket oashadowy
apartment,t
hesoundofakeyopeni ngthedoor
.Thembawal ked
throughint
othelivingarea.Shelookedup.Thechromeandbl ack
artdecoclockont hewal lt
oldheritwaspastelev
en.Shepushed
herselfupfr
om hersl eepi
ngpositi
on,hersket
chpadsli
dingoff
thesof aontothefloorwithasoftthud.

‘
Themba?
’Mandi
satup.‘
Wher
e’v
eyoubeen?
’
‘
Atwork.
’Helookedexhaust
edbutst
il
lhandsomei
nhisgreysui
t.
‘
Whereelse?I
’
m star
ved,’
hesai
d.‘
Whatsmel l
ssogood?
Bobot
ie?
’

‘
I
t’
sprobabl
yrui
ned,
’shesni
ff
ed.‘
Doy
ouev
enknowwhatt
oni
ght
i
s?’

‘
Ofcour
se.
..Iwoul
dn’
tfor
get
.’

Shefoldedherar
msov erherbr
east
s.‘Whycoul
dn’ty
oumaket he
eff
orttobeontime?’Hervoi
cewasfil
l
edwithli
ghtbi
tter
nessand
dul
ldisappoi
ntment
.

Thembapull
edoffhisj
acket
,fl
ungitoverachair
.‘Wai
tunt
ilyou
seewhatI’
vegotyouasananniver
sarypresent
.Ihadi
tdel
ivered
totheof
fi
ce.’

Shedi
dn’
tsayat
hing.

‘
Thi
swi
l
ltaket
hef
ir
eoutofy
ourey
es,
’hesai
d.

Int
rigueddespiteherself
,Mandimovedcloser,
unfol
dingherar
ms.
Herhear tbeatfast
er.Oh,God,sheknewwhatt hi
swas!Hewas
goingt ogiveheranengagementring.Hewasgoingtoaskherto
mar ryhim!‘Themba,’shesai
dslowly,‘
youknowIdon’tl
ike
surprises.
’

Sheknewhe’dhavet
oaskherunclef
orper
missionfi
rst–he
woul
dn’ti
gnorehi
sdutyt
oherfamil
y’
spatr
iar
chalfi
gure–but
shewouldremembert
hisspeci
almomentfor
ever.

Thembapulledoutaflatvel
vetbox.Toobigt
okeeparing,she
thought
,butdef
ini
tel
yf r
om anupscaleCapeTownjewell
er.He
fl
ippedopent
heli
d,l
i
ftedast
ri
ngofwi
nki
ngdi
amondsont
ohi
s
palm andwal
kedt
owardsher
.

‘
Giv
emey ourarm,
’hesai
d.‘
Thi
sbr
acel
etcostaf
ort
une,
but
y
ou’rewor
thit
.’

Shet
ookast
epback.

‘
What
?’Hef
rowned.‘
Don’
tyoul
i
kei
t?Wecanswapi
tify
oudon’
t.
’

‘
Cany
ouev
enaf
for
dit
?’

‘
Ofcour
se.
’

‘
Themba!
’Shef
oldedherar
msagai
n.‘
Wher
e

am Igoi
ngt
owearadi
amondbr
acel
et?DoIl
ookl
i
keIneedone?
’

‘
Whatdoy
oumean?
’

‘
I’
mt went
yyear
sold;Il
iv
ei nbl
uejeansatcol
l
ege.Ihar
dlyhav
ea
dresst
hatwoul
dmat chthatbr
acelet
,ev
enifweweregoingoutt
o
somefancypl
ace.I
t’
stoomuch. ’

Dar
knessfl
ashedinhisey
es,hi
shandcur
li
ngar
oundt
hedi
amond
br
acel
et.‘
Ithoughty
ou’dl
ikei
t.
’

‘
Youshoul
d’
veknowni
twoul
dnev
ersui
tme.Whatwer
eyou
t
ryi
ngtopr
ove?
’

‘
ThatIr
ememberedourdamnanni
ver
sary
,’hel
ashedback.‘
ThatI
car
eabouty
ou.ThatIwanty
ouinmyli
fe,Mandi
.’

Shetur
nedherbackonhim,st
alkedt
ot heki
tchen.‘Iwouldhave
beenhappyjustt
ohaveani
ce,romanti
cdinnerwithyou.I
would’
vebeenhappywit
hsomer edr
oses,dri
nkingwi ne,
li
steni
ng
t
omusi
c.’

Shepour
edher
sel
fagl
assofwi
nef
rom t
heopenedbot
tl
e.

Hemovedintothekitchenarea,
rippinghist
ief
rom hi
scol
lar
,
movi
ngclosertoher.Shecouldfeel t
heheatofhi
sbody,t
he
st
ati
cofhisanger,
hiscoiledimpatience.

‘
You’r
ebehavingli
keaschool
gir
l,
’hebi
tout
.‘Taket
hebracel
et.
Wearittoarest
aurant
.Iknowagoodonedownatt he
Waterf
ront
.’

Mandi
’sangerspi
ked.Howi
nsensi
ti
veandar
rogantand
demandi
nghewas!Hewasalway s

theonegi
vi
ngtheordersandexpecti
nghertofol
low.Hedidn’
t
evencar
ethatshe’
dsoakedthesampov er
night,
thatshe’
dspent
thewhol
eafter
noonprepar
inghi
sf av
ouri
tedish.

Shetookadeepsi
pofcol
dwi
ne.‘
Idon’
tfeel
li
kegoi
ngoutwi
th
you,
ThembaDlane.
’

‘
Look,
I’
m sor
ryImessedupouranni
ver
sar
ydi
nner
.’

Shedidn’
tanswerhim.Gentl
y,hepr
isedthewi negl
assfrom her
hand.Hisl
argehandsfoundhersl
im shoulder
s.Heleaned
for
wardandr est
edhisfor
eheadagainsthers.

‘
Let
’snotf
ight
,’
hewhi
sper
ed.

Shecouldfeel
theheatofhi
sbody,
hiswar
m br
eat
hagai
nsther
face.‘
Idon’
twantt
of i
ght
,Themba.
’

‘
Kissandmakeup?
’
Sheli
ft
edherhead,cuppedhi swidemalejaw,brushedherli
ps
agai
nsthi
swithli
ghttenderness.Shethoughtaboutherdeci
sion
tosl
eepwithhi
m andr eal
i
sedi thadbeenrash,fool
ish,
impulsi
ve.

‘
I–Ij
ustwant
edt
oni
ghtt
obespeci
al.
’

‘
Ihadtowork,
’heexplai
ned.‘
Ican’
tbeexpect
edt
obeanine-
to-
fi
vel
itt
lej
uni
orexecuti
ve.We’
reworki
ngonamajori
nvest
ment
deal
atthemoment .
’

Shepul
ledaway,t
hrowi
ngupherhands.‘
I
t’sal
waysaboutwor
k
wit
hyou.Youdon’
tspendenought
imewithme.’

‘
I
’vegotal
otonmymi
nd.
’

‘
Wor
k?Soy
ousai
d,butI
’
m begi
nni
ngt
othi
nk

i
t’
smor
ethanwor
k.You’
vebeensodi
str
act
edl
atel
y.
’

Hi
smout
htwi
sted.‘
Ican’
ttal
kabouti
t.
’

‘
Younev ershar
eany t
hingwi
thme, ’
shesnappedback.‘
Idon’
t
evenknowwhat ’
sgoingoninsideyourmi
nd.Youtakemef or
gr
antedandIwon’ tbenegl
ected.Doyouhearme?’

‘
Idon’tneglectyou.’
Amuscl epull
edinhi spowerfulj
aw.‘
Itake
youplaces.Ibuyy outhi
ngs–’Mandi cuthim off
.‘Di
amond
bracel
ets,yes.Idon’
twantthat.Idon’tneedthat.
’

‘
Whatdoyouwant
?’Angermadehi
svoi
cer
ough.‘
Whati
sal
lthi
s
about
?’

Sheblurtedout,‘
Ithoughtyouwer
egoingtopr
oposet
ome
toni
ght.Ithoughtyou’dboughtmear
ing.’
‘
Aring?
’heechoed.‘
Marr
iage?Mandi,
you’
rebei
ngcr
azy
.We’
ve
onl
ybeengoingoutf
orsi
xmont hs.
’

Si
xmonthswasl ongenought oknowshel
ovedhim,butshe
di
dn’
tsaythataloud.‘
Thatshoul
dbelongenoughfory
out oknow
howyoufeelaboutme!’

‘
Youknowwhat ?’Thembasighed.‘
Youareayoung,naiv
echild.
Youthi
nkli
feisli
kesomef ai
ryt
alewit
hhappi
ly-
ever
-aft
er.That
doesn’
texi
st–excepti
nthosestupi
dHoll
ywoodmov iesyouli
ke
somuch.’

‘
That’
swhereyou’
rewrong,
’shesai
dsl
owl
y.‘
Inev
erwant
eda
f
air
ytal
e.Ionl
ywantedyou.
’

‘
Mandi
–’

‘
No, i
t’
sov er
,Themba,
’shesaid.‘
I
’vewastedenoughti
meony ou,
onar el
ati
onshipt
hat’
snotgoingany wher
e.Youcanworktwenty
-
fourhoursaday.Seei
fIcare.Iwon’tbearoundany
more.’

Hepul
l
edathi
scol
l
ar,
inanagi
tat
edst
ate.‘
Youdon’
tmeant
hat
.’

‘
Ido,
’sherespondedhotl
y.‘
Inev
erwantt
oseey
ouagai
n,Themba.
I
’mleavi
ng–Iwon’ tbeback!
’

Wit
hthosewor
ds,
shepackedherbagandst
ormedouti
ntot
he
humidni
ght
.

Thenextday,Thembasentahugebouquetofredr
osestoher
uncl
e’
shousei nKenil
wor
th.Ther
ewasacar d,
anapology
,but
shewasstil
ltoofur
ioust
orespond.

I
t’
stool
ate,
shet
hought
.Orwasi
t?
Whenshegottocol
legelat
erthatday
,herlect
urerhadasurpr
ise
f
orher.Athr
eedaytri
ptoDurbantoattendafashionshowand
i
nter
viewadesi
gner
.

‘
Arey
ouupf
ori
t?’
herl
ect
urerasked.

‘
YoubetIam!
’Shej
umpedatthechancet
oescapeCapeTown
andf
lewdowntoDur
banthenextday.

Thetri
pwasj ustwhatsheneededtogetagr i
ponherf eeli
ngs;
shereal
isedthatperhapsshe’
doverr
eactedintheargumentwith
Themba.Whenshegotbackt oCapeTown, shetri
edtocallhim
atwork,buthewasunav ail
abl
e.Shelef
tamessageonhi sphone,
buthedidn’tcal
lback.Whenshetri
edthenextday,a
disembodiedvoicei
ntoned:‘
Thi
ssubscri
berisnolongervali
d.’

Pani
cseti
n.Wi
l
dpani
c.Desper
ati
on.

Fordaysshedidn’thearanythingfr
om hi m.Byt hatt
ime,t
he
roseshadtur
nedadar kpurple,t
hedy i
ngpet alsthecol
ourofold
brui
ses.Thecolourofabr okenheart.Thecol ourofmidni
ght.
Chokingbackasob, shethrewt hem i
nt herubbishbin.

Mandiwenttothebr
okeragefi
rm wherehewor kedonlyt
obet old
t
hathe’
dquitandhadleftf
oroverseas.Sheimaginedhehadaj ob
wi
thmoremoney .Obvi
ouslyhehadf or
gott
enaboutheralready!

Shewasdev
ast
ated,
hisl
ossar
awwoundi
nherhear
t.

Aft
ershefi
nishedcol
l
ege,shetookof
fforJohannesburg.She
neededachangeofscener
y,tobeawayfrom t
hecityandthe
memor i
esofThembaDlane..
.
Now,fi
veyear
slat
er,si
tt
inginhercari
nthepar
kade,
Mandi
r
eal
isedshewasfacedwi t
hanimpossibl
echoi
ce.

Rej
ectThemba’soff
erandloseherbout
ique.Makeloveto
Thembainthi
scold-
heart
eddealandlosehersel
f-
respect
.

Withhertearsdri
ed,shecouldthi
nkwithmorecl
ari
ty.He’
d
backedherintoacorner.Hewasbul l
yi
ngheri
ntomakingthi
s
awfuldecisi
on.Hewasabusi nghispowert
oshowherexactl
y
whowasi ncontrolofthesi
tuati
on.

She’
dtoldhim shehatedhim, butthatwasn’ tt
rue,shereal
ised.
Taki
ngheremot ionsoutofthepi cture,shecouldseewhyhewas
act
ingi
nt hi
sway .Obviousl
yst i
l
l stungbyherr ej
ecti
oninCape
Townfiveyear
sago, hewasl ashingout .Hisangermaskedhi s
wounds.Hisarrogancewasapr otectiv
eshieldforhispri
de.

Mandi’
shandsrelaxedaroundthest
eer
ingwheel.Whyhadn’
tshe
seenthi
sbefor
e?Under st
andinghi
smotivat
ions,
shecoul
duse
them t
oheradvantage.All
shehadtodowas

keepacl
earhead.

‘
Staycool
,
’shet
oldher
sel
f.‘
Takebacky
oursel
f-
cont
rol
.’

Behindhisrage,hesti
llhadf
eeli
ngsforher
.Power
fulf
eeli
ngs, t
oo.
Ther eal
i
sationsqueezedatherhear
tandmadeherdecisi
ont hat
mucheasi ertomake.She’dgobacktohim.Ri
ghtnow.Tonight.
Beforeshelosthernerve.

Whynot
?Itwasonl
yoneni
ght
.

Shewoul
dn’
tthi
nkofher
sel
f,no.Howcoul
dshe?She’
dsacr
if
ice
herneedsandemot ionsforthesakeofthebouti
que,forthose
l
oyalpeoplewho’dhelpedherstartt
hebusinessandbelievedi
n
herdream.Andy es,shewouldsacri
fi
ceherselff
orherown
sel
fi
shr easonstokeepMi dni
ghtRoseali
ve,becauseifshe
al
lowedt hatdr
eam todie,whatwouldshehaveleft?

Taki
ngadeepbr
eat
h,shegotoutofhercar
.

Oneni
ghtwi
thThembaDl
ane,
butnotasagi
rlt
hist
ime.

Asawoman.

Andonherownt
erms.

Chapt
erFour

I
nnor malci
rcumstances,t
heexqui
sit
eRenais-
sancearchit
ect
ure
wouldhaveinti
midatedher
,butMandisawastoodist
ractedto
noti
cehersurroundi
ngsasshewalkedint
othegold-l
i
tlobbyof
theMichel
angeloTowers.

Herdeci
si
onmade,
ther
ewasnogoi
ngback.

Theopulenceofthecentr
alatr
ium wi
thi
tscathedral
-hi
ghroof
wasbreathtaki
ng.Thehotel
hadanatmosphereofmaj est
yand
l
uxuri
ousexcess.Shecouldsmellmoneyintheairli
keadiscreet
per
fume; shewasalmostseducedbythedecadenceofitall
.

Shegav
eherpr
ett
iestsmileatt
hefrontdesk,andaskedfor
ThembaDl
ane.
Thegirlbehi
ndthedeskflashedasmile.‘
Ah,t
hat
woul
dbethePr
esi
dentialSui
te.
’

‘
Ofcourse.’
Mandi’
stonewassof
tandaci
d.Ther
ewasashor
t,
qui
etcallt
ohissui
te.
‘
MrDl
anesay
stogoup.
’

Theelev
atorwassleekandsil
entasitspir
it
edhert
othetopfl
oor
.
I
naf ewminutes,
shewasst andi
nginfrontofhi
sdoor
.Itwas
openedbefor
eshecouldknock.

Dar
kandpower ful
,Themba’
sbodyf i
ll
edtheframe.Hewasstil
li
n
hi
sbespokeNewYor kpowersuit
,butwit
houthishand-
tool
ed
I
tal
ianshoes.Hestoodinhi
sblacksocks,hi
ssilkgr
eyti
epull
ed
l
oose.

Hissmi
lewaswhi
teandcol
d.‘
I
tdi
dn’
ttakey
oul
ongt
ochange
yourmi
nd.
’

Mandi staredathi
m.Acoolwor
dlesschal
l
enge.Wi
th
exaggeratedcourt
esy
,hest
eppedbackandswunghisar
mina
ci
rcle.

‘
Comei
n.’

Shest eppedinside,
taki
nginthemarbl
efloorsandgilt
-capped
columns, t
hewonder ful
artonthewall
.Themassivechandel i
eri
n
theloungespr eadasoftli
ght
,li
kegol
ddust ,ov
ertheopulent
fur
nishings.Sheheardthedoorcli
ckshut;sheshi
vered.

‘
Doesi
timpr
essy
ou?
’Hest
oodbehi
ndher
,hi
svoi
cei
nherear
.

Walki
ngf urtheri
ntothel
ounge,shestoppedandt
urnedar
ound.
Hereyesf oundhisfaceagai
n.Shetossedherpur
seonachair
,
andwaited.

‘
Wealt
handst
atus.I
tcanbuyalotoft
hings.
’I
twasobv
ious
Thembawasi
nabi t
terandbl
ackmood.‘I
tcanev
enbuyyou.
You’
rewi
l
li
ngt
oof
fery
ourbodyf
orat
ast
eofi
t,ar
en’
tyou?
’

Throughanarchway,shegl
i
mpsedt hebedroom,amassivebed
backedbyanor nat
ewoodenheadboard.Fearfl
aredt
hroughher
body.Shebi
tdownonherbackt eet
htocont r
olit
.

‘
Youf orgett
hatmoneynev ermeantthatmucht
omewhenwe
dated,
’shesaid.‘
Thisl
i
festyl
edoesn’ti
mpressme.Ihav
emyown
reasonsforaccept
ingyourproposal
.
’

‘
Arey
ougoi
ngt
otel
lmewhatt
heyar
e?’

‘
No.
’

Hi
smout
htwi
sted.‘
OK.We’
l
lpl
ayi
tmy
ster
ious.Fornow.
’

Thembatooktwostepsdown, f
oll
owingherintot
helounge.Ona
l
owmar bl
etabl
e,abottl
eofchampagnecool edinasil
verice
bucket
.Twochampagnef l
utesrest
edalongsidei
t.

‘
CanIofferyouagl
ass?
’Thembasai
d.‘
I
t’si
mpor
ted.
French.
Expensi
ve.
’

‘
No,
thanks.
’

‘
Tryi
t..
.’
Hepour
edt
wogl
assest
othebr
im.‘
I
t’l
lsett
hemood.
’

Hehandedheragl
ass.

Shesipped.‘
It
’sabitt
oori
chf
ormyt
ast
e.Toodr
y,t
oobi
tt
er.
’She
repl
aceditonthetabl
e.

‘
You’
l
llear
ntol
i
kei
t,
’hesai
d.

‘
Ihavenoint
ent
ionofbei
ngseduced,
Themba,
’shesai
d.‘
Thi
sis
busi
ness.
’
‘
Thebusi
nessofsex?
’

‘
Yes.
’

Foramoment ,
ther
ewasafl
ashofsur
pri
seinhi
sface,
butshe
al
sogli
mpsedt hewar
yadmi
rat
ionf
orherpr
idesi
mmeringi
nhis
ni
ght-
darkey
es.

‘
Iwil
l giveyouwantyouwanttoni
ght
,’
shesaid,
‘buti
twi
llt
hef
ir
st
andlastnightyoueverspendwi
thme.Thosearemyter
msofthis
bar
gai n.Doyouagree?’

Mandiwasamazedathowcalmlythewordssl
i
dfr
om hertongue.
Shewasgrat
eful
hecouldn’
theart
hedull
thumpofherheart
.

‘
You’
reacool
negot
iat
or,
Mandi
saMbat
ha.
’

‘
I
t’
scal
l
edsel
f-
preser
vat
ion,
’shesai
d.Shet
ook

adeepbr
eat
h.‘
Doy
ouhav
econdoms?
’

‘
Youwantt
oreal
l
ypl
ayi
tsaf
e?’
hemocked.

‘
Absol
utel
y.
’

‘
OK,
Mandi
.Youwantt
obei
ncont
rol
.Fi
ne.
’

Hecrossedthespacebet
weenthem.Standingi
nf rontonher,
he
t
ouchedhiscoldchampagnegl
assagainsthercheek.Shestart
ed
t
opullback,buthi
shandswoopedtoherneck,holdingherst
il
lin
apowerfulgr
ip.

‘
Justremember
,onceIhav
ey ouunderme, whi
leI’
mtaki
ngyour
mouthwithmi
ne,whenmyhandsmakey ourbodyshi
verand
t
wist–’hi
swarmlipsf
oundthecoolspothe’dlef
tbyt
heglass,
‘
you’
l
lloseal
lcont
rol
.
’

‘
Nev er.
’Thi
sti
me,shedi
dn’
tpul
lback,
butshewasconfusedby
thesensati
onspool
ingi
nherst
omach.Suddenheat
.Sudden
desi
r e.

‘
Oh,y
es,
’hewhi
sper
ed.‘
You’
l
lwantme.You’
l
lbegmet
omake
l
ovetoy
ou.’

Andsuddendi
sgust
!

‘
Iwi
l
l nev
erseey
ouasthemanIoncef ell
inlovewit
h,’
shesai
d.
‘
Maybethisi
safi
tt
ingf
arewel
ltoourr
elati
onshi
p.’

‘
Whatdoy
oumean?
’

Shemovedherhead,herl
i
psagainsthi
scheek,andinv
olunt
ari
l
y
hermout
hplant
editsownsofti
mpr i
ntonhi
st autj
aw.

‘
Yousee,Iknowwhatki
ndofmany
ouar
e.Iknowt
hatl
ovi
ngy
ou
woul
d’v
ebeenami st
ake.
’

‘
Weal l
makemi st
akes.
’Hishandssl
iddownherarms,enci
rcl
i
ng
herwaist
,pull
i
nghercloser.‘
Andonenighti
sal
lIneedtogetyou
outofmysy st
em, pr
ett
yone.’

Hi
shot,har
dar
ousal
pressedagai
nstherandt
hef
eari
ntensi
fi
ed
i
nherbody.

‘
Puty
ourhandonmychest
,’
heor
der
ed.

‘
Themba.
..
’

‘
Doi
t!
’

Ner
vousl
y,herpal
mfl
att
enedagai
nsthi
sbody
.Thr
oughhi
sthi
n
shi
rt
,shef
eltsol
i
dmuscl
eandheatandt
hehammer
ingofhi
s
hear
t.

‘
Youheart
hat
?That’
swhaty
oudot
ome,
Mandi
.That
’showy
ou
makemybodyreact
.’

Sheswal
l
owed.‘
Ithoughty
oudi
dn’
tfeel
any
thi
ngf
orme.
’

‘
Beli
eveme,If
eelt
hingsf
ory
ou,
’hesai
d.‘
Youal
way
smademe
exci
ted,
Mandi
.’

Shel
i
ftedherf
ace.‘
Real
l
y?’

‘
Yes.’
Hi sfi
nger
scuppedherchi
n.‘
Youmademeexci
ted,
angr
y,
happy,conf
used,f
rust
rat
ed.
’

‘
Idi
dn’
tknow.
’

‘
Takeof
fmyshir
t.’
Hisvoi
cewasr
aggedwi
thl
ust
.‘Idon’
twantt
o
wast
eanot
herminute!
’

Herhandswer
eshaki
ngsobadl
yshef
umbl
edwi
tht
het
opbut
ton,
unabl
etofr
eeit
.

Hi
shandcov
eredher
s,st
oppi
ngher
.‘Whati
sit
?’‘
I.
..I
’
m ner
vous.
’

Sear
chi
ngduskyey
essl
i
dtoherf
ace.‘
Hav
eyounev
erundr
essed
amanbefor
e?’

‘
No.
’

‘
Thenl
etmeundr
essy
ou–’

‘
Shoul
dn’
twegot
othebed–?
’

‘
No,
’hesai
d,f
ir
mly
.‘Her
e.Now.
’
Bri
skl
y,heunbuttonedhisshi
rt
,shuckingi
tfr
om hisbr
oad
shoul
ders.Hetosseditasi
de.Hisdarktor
sogleamedint
hel
i
ght
;
smoothandpackedwi thdensemuscle.

Sheswall
owed.Hemustspendhour
sint
hegy
m;hi
sbodywas
per
fect
.Theswell
ofhi
s

powerf
ulchestt
aper
eddownt oastomachcutwit
hrut
hless
def
ini
ti
onandanarrowwai st.Shecoul
dsmell
hiscol
ognemore
powerf
ull
y,hi
swarm ski
n,hisarousal
.

‘
Iwantt oseethegoldli
ghtspi
l
lony ourbeaut
if
ulskin,
’hesai
d,
taki
ngof fhery
ell
owboleroandtossingi
ttotheground.‘
Iwantto
seetheshadowbet weenyourbreast
s,seeyoureyesgrowdarker
withdesire.
’

Themba’swar m handsclaimedherbody .Hislong,dar

kfinger
s
mouldedthechocol at
esilkofhert
opt ot heroundedful
lnessof
herbreast
s,touching,
teasing,
tant
ali
sing.Herni ppl
espull
edint
o
hot,
hardpoints.

Pleasurepul
sedintoeveryli
mbofherpet it
eframe.Herwhol e
bodyt r
embled.Herarmsf el
tli
mp,useless.Herkneesthreat
ened
togivewayunderher.Asenseofmel ti
ng, melti
ngaway,engulfed
her.Thesensati
onswer eallnewandintensel
ybewilderi
ng.

‘
Lookatme,
’hesai
d.

Shecoul
dn’
t!Shecouldn’
tlethi
m seet
hef
earandemot
ionand
thear
ousal
inhereyes.

Withamutteredcur
se,Thembapushedherback.‘
Tel
lmeone
t
hing,Mandi,
’hedemanded.‘
Areyousti
l
lavir
gin?’
Hi
sbl
untquest
ionwasn’
twhatshe’
dexpect
ed.

WhatwouldThembadowhenhedi scov
eredthatt
her
ehadbeen
noothermaninherli
fe,
herhear
t–orherbed–sincethei
r
pai
nfulpar
ti
ngal
lthoseyear
sago?

Roughandimpat
ient
,Thembagr
ippedherchi
n.Hej
erkedher
headup,f
orci
ngt
heireyest
omeetinamomentoftruth.

‘
You’
venev
ermadel
ove?
’Thej
aggedquest
ionpi
ercedhersoul
.

Humi
l
iat
ionweakenedherv
oice.‘
Doesi
tmat
ter
?’

Ref
lexi
vel
y,hest
eppedback,
ashi
sshockedv
oicer
angouti
nthe
el
egantsui
teoft
hehotel
.

‘
Whatt
he–whathav
eIdone?
’

Herf
acebur
ned.‘
Idon’
twantt
ost
op.Idon’
tcar
e.Ist
il
lwanty
ou.
’

Hewasn’
tli
steni
ngt
oher
.‘Whathav
eIdone?Whathav
eIdone?
’

Shetri
edtotouchhim,buthej
erkedaway.Hemov edtothe
window,r
etr
eatingbehi
ndasil
entwallofemot
ions,col
dasstone.

‘
Themba–’

Swivel
li
ngaround,heturnedtofacetheJohannesburgsky
li
ne,
gl
itt
eri
ngli
keami l
lionti
nygoldlit
tl
ef i
resint
henight
.The
backdropsi
lhouet
tedhissti
ffshoulders,t
hemusclesofhi
sback
ri
ppli
ngintheli
ght.

Mandicameupbehindhi
m.Takingabr
eat
h,shel
aidhershaki
ng
handonhishot
,har
dshoulder
.

‘
Themba?
’
‘
Don’
t.
’Heshr
uggedawayherhand.

Sof
tl
y,shesai
d,‘
Iwantt
omakel
ovewi
thy
ou,
Themba.
’

Thr
owingbackhishead,heemit
tedahar
shbar
kofl
aught
er.
‘
You’
redesper
ate,ar
en’tyou?
’

‘
Don’
tsayt
hingsl
i
ket
hat
,Themba.Don’
tmakei
tcheap!
’

Het
urnedt
oher
.‘I
t’
sti
mey
oul
eft
.’

Shebi
tbackasob.‘
Let
’st
alkaboutt
his.
’

Br
ushingpasther
,hesnat
cheduphi
sgl
assofchampagne.He
dr
ainediti
nonelonggul
p.

‘
There’
snothingtot al
kabout
.Il
i
kemywomensophist
icat
ed,
abl
e
t
ogivemepl easure.Whythehel
lshoul
dIwast
eti
meonan
i
nexper
iencedgirll
ikeyou?’

Theachepushedupthroughhert
hroat
;shef
oughtbackt
het
ear
s.
‘
Youdon’tmeanthat
.’

Onimpulse,sherushedtohi m,f
li
ngi
ngherarmsar oundhisneck,
pushi
ngherlipsagainsthisunr
esponsi
veli
ps.Hisfinger
s
snappedaroundherwr i
sts,unt
angli
ngherembrace.

Hepushedheraway
.‘Gonow!
’

‘
Themba–’

Pi
cki
ngupherpur
seandherj
acket
,hehandedbot
hit
emst
oher
.
Hi
seyesspar
kedwit
hbl
ackfi
re.

‘
Leav
e.Getoutofher
e!’
Shest
umbl
edoutt
hedoor
,choki
ngbackhert
ear
s.

Atsix-
thi
rt
ythenextmorning,hercel
l
phonebli
nkedandbleeped.
Foracrazymoment ,
shethoughtitwouldbeThemba.Howev er
,
wit
hahol l
owthudofherhear t
,sheknewhedidn’
thaveher
cont
actnumber.Shecouldn’tdeci
deifshe

wasr
eli
evedordi
sappoi
nted.

Shepr
essedt
heanswerbut
ton.‘
’
Lo?
..
.’

‘
Don’tt
ell
mey ou’
rest
il
li
nbed!’Thecrackl
yvoi
cebroughta
muff
ledgroantoMandi
’sl
ips.
‘
Yout her
e?Thisr
ecepti
onisway
bad.
’

‘
It
’sOK,Nombi.
’Shehadt
oshouttohavehersi
sterhearher
.‘How
ar
ey ou?Wher
eareyou?–Where?Ican’
thear
!’

Nombimusthav
emov edtoaclearerspot
,becausesuddenl
ythe
r
ecept
ionwascry
stal
clear
.‘Br
azi
l.Forashoot.
’

‘
Soundsf
abul
ous.Soundssunny
.’

‘
Howi
sJozi
?’

‘
Col
d,’
sher
epl
i
ed.Col
dandl
onel
y,shet
hought
.

‘
Yousoundwei
rd,
’Nombi
sai
d.

‘
DoI?’Mandicheckedherbesidecl
ock.Shesuppr
essedagroan.
Ther
e’dbejustenoughti
mef orashowerbefor
egoingtot
he
bout
ique.

‘
Alat
eni
ght
?’Hersi
sterper
sist
ed.‘
Toomucht
odr
ink?
’

‘
Yest
othef
ir
st,
not
othesecond,
’shesi
ghed.‘
I
’mj
ustt
ir
ed,
that
’s
al
l
,si
si.
’

She’dhavetogettot
heboutique.Theaccountanthaddel
i
ver
ed
thefi
nancial
recor
dsyest
erday.She’dhavetoporeoverev
ery
singl
eoneandassessthedamage.

‘
Youshoul
ddoy oga.Ido.I
tkeepsmeinf
abul
ousshape.You
shoul
dseehowmypost urehasimpr
oved.Al
lthedesi
gner
ssayI
havet
hebestwalk.
’

‘
That’
sgoodt oknow,
’Mandisaiddr
y l
y.She’
dnev
ermetany
one
assel
f-absor
bedasheryoungersi
ster.

‘
Vit
ami
n-enr
ichedmineralwat
erisanothert
hingyoumustget,
’
Nombicont
inued.‘
Ihavesomuchmor eenergy.Icanpar
ty‘
ti
ltwo
i
nthemorni
ngandst i
ll
lookstunni
ngthenextday!’

‘
Look,Ihav
etogetgoi
ng,
Nombi
.Ihav
etogett
othebout
ique
soon.
’

‘
Sosorryforkeepi
ngy
ou,’
Nombidrawl
edsar
cast
ical
ly.‘
Just
wantedyoutoknowI’
ll
beinJo’
bur
gearl
ynextmonth.Wecan
cat
chup!’

‘
That
’l
lbegr
eat
,’
Mandi
li
ed.

‘
Iwashopi
ngIcoul
dcr
ashaty
ourpl
acef
oraf
ewday
s.Idon’
t
f
eell
i
keahotel
.’

Mandibi
therl
i
p.Thelastt
hingshefel
tli
kewasherv
ainsi
ster
cr
ashi
ngatherpl
ace,
compl i
cat
ingherl
ife.

Nombi
’
svoi
cegr
ewshr
il
l.‘
Yout
her
e?’

‘
Yes,
justl
ostsi
gnal
foramoment
,’
Mandi
li
edagai
n.‘
Iwoul
dn’
t
hav
eitanyot
herway
.’

‘
Imustdash,
thephot
ogr
apher
’sr
eadyt
oshoot.
..
’

Afterthecall
,Mandijumpedi nt
oahotshower.Sheusedhalfa
bottl
eofherspecialpapayabodyt reat
ment
,butitdi
dn’
tmakeher
feelbett
er.Shesti
l
lfeltexhausted,
anunusualf
eeli
ngforher
.

Mandi decidedtodressdownf orwork;shepl annedt ospendthe

dayinthest udi
ogoingov eradmin.Shedr essedinapai roflow-
cutbl
ackj eansandherf unyell
owf l
oralsneakers.Shet eamed
them withaman’ slong-
sleevedshir
tinasof tbuttercolour
.
Unbuttoningthetopfewbut t
ons,sheputonr opesofbigpl ast
ic
pearl
s.Shef ini
shedthelookwithagr eyfedorahat .

Alooki
nthemirr
ortol
dhershe’
dgott
hel
ookdownjustr
ight
.She
f
eltbet
ter
.Goodfashi
onal
waysputasmi
l
eonherface.

‘
All
wor
kandnopl
ay.
..makesMi
ssBossabor
ri
nnnggi
rl
!’

Thetril
li
ngvoicefi
ll
edMandi’
ssmal l
studi
oatthebackof
MidnightRose.Shecoul
dsmel lt
heexpensi
veFrenchcol
ogne
fr
om wher eshesat.Wit
hast ar
t,Mandil
ookedup.Shehadn’
t
noti
cedt heti
mef l
yi
ngby,herheadburi
eddeepinthe
accountant’
smessypil
eofdocument s.

AndrewMor ena,herfrontofshopmanager,st
oodint
hedoorway,
gri
nning.Todayhewaswear ingaredwaist
coatwi
thyel
l
ow
harem tr
ousers,pure80skitsch,
butsomehowhepull
editoff
wit
hpanache.Hewasasgayasgaycoul dbe.Ever
yonecal
led
hi
m‘ MissMor ena’,
especial
lyonthedaysheworeanali
ce-
band
tr
immedwi t
hdiamant é.
Hedi
dn’
tmi
nd.I
nfact
,hel
ovedt
heat
tent
ion.

Mandil
ovedhimforbeingsooutandpr
oud.Andsooutr
ageous.
Andsupr
emelytal
ented.Hehel
pedtomakeherdesi
gnspop,
cometoli
fe.

‘
Wegirl
sar
edoingat ot
al f
eastf
orlunch,
’hesai
d.‘
We’
real
l
br
eaki
ngourdi
ets.Donuts,i
ce-
cream andsoda.
’

‘
Buty
ou’
real
way
swat
chi
ngy
ourf
igur
e,’
Mandi
chi
ded.

‘
Tsk-
tsk!
’Hewavedahand.‘
Anor
exi
aissooool
asty
ear
,dah-
li
ng.
Whatcanwegetyou?
’

‘
Nothungr
y.’

‘
Youmusteat
.Yousi
mpl
ycan’
tsur
viv
eoncof
feeal
one.
’

Justthethoughtofthepredi
camentshefacedtookherappet
it
e
away.BesidesAndrew,shehadt woshopassist
antst
opayatthe
endoft hemonth.Nottoment i
onhersmallcomplementof
fact
orystaffandheraccount
ant.Sheshookherhead,t
amping
downt hefear.

Andr
ewsi
gheddr
amat
ical
l
y.‘
Sui
tyour
sel
f!
’

Shebentherheadbacktowork.Afewmi
nut
espassedandt
hen
Andr
ewr ushedbacki
ntothestudi
o.

Mandi
gav
eat
ir
edsmi
l
e.‘
OK!May
bej
ustonedonut
!’

Shedi
dneedt
oeati
fshewant
edt
okeepherst
rengt
hup.

‘
Didyouorderl
unchf
rom Sandwi
chHunks?’Andr
ewr oll
edhi
s
eyes,
showingt
hewhitesbehi
ndhi
sir
ises.‘
’
Causethere’
sa
doubl
ehandsome-
on-
brownsandwi
chwi
thasi
deor
derofsex
y-
as-
hel
lher
etoseeyou!
’

Shef
rowned.‘
Who?
’

‘
Hedi
dn’
tgi
veaname,
buthe’
sdel
i
cious.Capi
tal
D,honey
!’

Thembadi dn’
twaittobeinv
itedint
othest
udi
o,si
mplyslidi
ng
pastAndrewwi t
haneasygr aceandassur
edconf
idence.Atonce
helookedcomf or
tablei
nherspace.

Thestudiowassmall
,butmodernandcomf ort
able.Alarge
l
eathercouchagai
nstonewal
l,adesigntabl
e,adresser’
sdummy
,
fashi
onprint
sonthewall
s.Askyl
ightofarti
fi
cial
li
ghtlent
bri
ghtnesstother
oom.

‘
So,
thi
siswher
eital
lhappens.
’

Hewaswear i
ngawel l-
cutbusinesssuitwithbluepinst
ri
pes,
teamedwithacrispwhiteshi
rtandnot ie.Blackav
iator
sungl
assescurvedaroundhisface.Shehadt oagr
eewi t
hAndrew.
Helookeddevastat
ingl
yhandsome; sexy ,y
oung,dynamic.

Shewav
edherhandatAndr
ew.‘
Thanks,
Andy
.Youcanl
eav
e.’

‘
Sweet
hear
t,y
ousur
eyougoi
ngt
obeOKher
eal
onewi
th–’

‘
Themba.
’Herex-boy
fri
endflashedadeadl
ysmi
l
e.‘
ThembaDl
ane.
Nowyouhear
dt heboss.You’r
eexcused.
’

Wi
thahuf
f,Mi
ssMor
enasweptoutt
her
oom.

Mandinar
rowedhereyes.‘
You’
vej
ustupsett
heoneper
sonIcan’
t
dowit
houtatthebout
ique.
’
Thembal
ookedunapol
oget
ic.

Sl
owly
,Mandist
oodup.‘
Ithoughty
ouwer
egoi
ngbackt
oCape
Towntoday
.’

‘
Icoul
dn’
tleav
ewi
thoutseei
ngy
ou.
’

Herheadf
eltl
i
kei
twasf
il
ledwi
thhel
i
um.‘
Why
?’

Thembasnappedof
fhi
ssungl
asses.Hi
sdar
key
esgl
i
mmer
edas
helookedather
.

‘
Iwant
edt
oapol
ogi
se.Forl
astni
ght
.Foract
ingl
i
keani
diot
.’

Surpri
sedenought oseehi m st
andingi
nfrontofher
,shenow
couldn’
tthi
nkofany thingtosay.Looki
ngathim,sopowerf
ul,
sexyandr i
ch,itwasn’tanywonderhewasupt ohiseyebal
l
sin
sl
inky,sex-
crazedgirl
s.

I
tjustremindedherhowfarapartthey
’dgr
own;hownai
veshe’
d
beenlastnight
‘That
’sOK,
’shesaid.‘
Mybehav
iourwasf
ooli
sh,
too.
’

‘
No,
’hesnapped.‘
Iwasthef
ool
,Mandi
.Idi
dn’
ttr
eaty
ouwel
l
.I
r
egr
etthewholemess.
’

Shesai
d,‘
Shal
lwecal
lat
ruce?For
gett
hewhol
ethi
ng?
’

‘
Let
’sdothat.
’Withhi
shandsonhi
shi
ps,
hesur
vey
edherst
udi
o.
‘
Let
’sst
artagain.
’

‘
Thatsoundsgood.
’

‘
Whydon’
tyoushowmear
oundt
hiswonder
ful
place?
’

Shel
i
ckedherl
i
psner
vousl
y,t
ast
ingcher
ry
gl
oss.‘
Don’
tyouhav
etogo?
’

‘
Ihav
eti
me.
’

Taki
ngadeepbr
eat
h,shesai
d,‘
I
’dl
ovet
o.’

Mandi showedhi
m aroundthefrontshopofMi dni
ghtRose,awar
e
thatAndrewandthegir
ls’ey
esfollowedthem ever
ywhere.
Andrew’sstar
ewasacid,butevenhistonguewast amedby
Themba’ saut
hor
it
ati
vepresence.

Pul
li
ngit
emsf rom hanger
sorpoi nt
ingtothedi
spl
aymannequi
ns,
sheexpl
ainedherdesignphi
losophy,moretokeeptal
ki
ngand
hi
dehernervousnessthananythi
ngelse.

‘
Andr ewcallsitmycul tureclash,
’shebabbl
edon.‘
Isupposehe’s
ri
ght.Itaketradi
tionalethnicpatter
ns–Xhosa,Swazi,Ndebel
e,
Sotho–andcr eateaf usionwi t
hdramati
cnewstyles.Yousee?
Wheny ouaddgr eatchunkyaccessor i
esandheadgear,t
hewhole
outfi
tjustpops,itlooksfresh.’

Themba’sstar
ewasi ntense.‘
Yourpassi
onshinesthrough,
Mandisa.I
’mimpr essedwi t
hy ourwor
k,yourcommi t
ment ,
your
vi
sion.Imean,Idon’tknowt hatmuchaboutfashi
on,butthese
are..
.wow,amazing. ’

Heatf
lar
edi
ntohercheeks.‘
Thanky
ou.
’

‘
Youhaveatal
ent
,’
hesaid,l
oweri
nghi
svoi
ce.‘
Ican’
tbel
i
eve
y
ou’r
eabouttol
osethebusi
ness.
’

Shest
if
fened.‘
Thanksf
orr
emi
ndi
ngme.
’

‘
Idi
dn’
tmeani
tthatway–’
‘
Ihavealotofworkt
odo,Themba,butIcanof
fery
ouaqui
ck
cof
fee.Mystudi
ohasapercol
ator
.’

Hefoll
owedheri
ntothestudi
o.Shebusi
edher
sel
fwi
tht
hef
il
ter
cof
fee,t
hecups,
fil
l
ingtheti
nymilkj
ug.

Hi
svoi
cecamef
rom behi
ndher
.‘Iwantt
ohel
pyou–’

Mandispunar
ound,
handscl
enchedathersi
des.‘
Idon’
twant
yourmoney–’

Angr
ypri
despi
kedi
nherbl
ood.Hi
sey
esf
oundher
s,i
ntenseand
bl
ack.

‘
Iwasn’
tgoi
ngtoofferyoumoney
,’hesai
dpati
ent
ly.‘
Ireal
isenow
t
hatwaswrong.Iwasjustgoi
ngt
or emi
ndyouofsomet hi
ng.’

Herey
esnar
rowedsuspi
ci
ousl
y.‘
What
?’

‘
TheMandisaMbathaIknewwoul
dn’
tgi
veuponherdr
eams,
no
matt
erwhat.She’
dfi
ndaway

t
omakei
twor
k.Shewascl
ever
,cr
eat
ive,
smar
t.
’

‘
I
t’
snott
hateasy
,Themba.
’

‘
Trustme.’
Hetookherhandsi
nbot
hofhi
s.‘
You’
l
lgety
our
sel
f
outoft
hismess.
’

‘
Thanks.
’Herhear
tsqueezed.‘
Ineededt
oheart
hat
.’

‘
However
,Iunder
standbusi
nessmaynotbey
ourst
rongpoi
nt.
’
Hi
sgri
ntookthesti
ngoutof

hi
saccurateobser
vati
on.‘
I
’dl
i
ketooff
ertol
ookov
ery
our
fi
nanci
alrecor
ds.That
’smyst
rongpoi
nt.
’
‘
Youwoul
d?’

‘
Yes,
’heanswer
ed.‘
Nost
ri
ngsat
tached.
’

Mandi
smi
l
edi
ndi
sbel
i
ef.‘
You’
ddot
hatf
orme?
’

Squeezi
ngherhands,hesaid:‘
Anythi
ngtoseeyousmil
eagai
n.
I
’vemissedit.I
’v
emissedseeingthosesweet
,pret
tydi
mpl
esin
yourcheeks.Thewayyoureyesli
ghtup.’

Shynessov
erwhel
medher
.Shefel
tfl
ushed,
happy
.Foramoment
shesawaflashoft
hemansheoncefel
linl
ovewi
th.

‘
Whydon’
twehavedinnert
oni
ght
?’heasked.‘
Icanpost
ponemy
f
li
ghtf
oranot
herday
.Wecandiscusst
hebooks.’

Shehesi
tat
ed,t
ryingt
oremembert
hathewasj
ustmaki
ng
amends.Toputthepastbehi
nd

them,befr
iends.Hewasn’
taskingherforadate.I
twoul
dbe
crazyt
othi
nkhewoul dbeint
erestedi
nherstil
l
.

‘
Idon’
tthi
nkt
hatwi
l
lbeagoodi
dea.
’

‘
OK.’
Thembashrugged.‘
I
’l
lhav
emyr epor
tbackony
ourbooksi
n
byt
omorr
ow.I’
l
lsenditbycouri
er.
’

‘
Iappr
eci
atei
t.
’

Thembar
eleasedherhands,
hispal
m sl
i
dingagai
nsthercheek.

‘
Idi
dn’tbehavewelll
astnight,
Mandi,
’hesaid.‘
Butknowt hi
s.I
act
edoutofrestr
aint
.Ifyou’dstay
edami nutelongeri
nthathot
el
sui
te,
Iwouldnothavebeenabl etohelpmy sel
f.Iwoul
d’v
emade
l
ovetoyou.’
Sheswal
lowed.‘
You–y
ouwer
en’
tangr
yatme?Youdi
dn’
tmean
–whatyousaid?
’

‘
Never,
’hesi
ghed.‘
Iwasangr
yatmy sel
f.Iwasaf
rai
dI’
dlose
cont
rol
.Aft
eral
l,I
’m onl
yaman.Ihaveneeds.
’

Foronce,shewasgrat
eful
forhi
shonest
y;someoft
hest
ingof
hi
sreject
ionwaseased.

Behi
ndher
,shesmel
l
edt
her
ichf
ragr
anceofbubbl
i
ngcof
fee.

‘
Ithi
nkourcof
feei
sready,
’shesmil
ed,t
urni
ngar
oundt
opour
.‘Do
yousti
l
ltakey
ourcof
feebl
ack,nosugar
?’

‘
That
’sper
fect
,’
hesai
d.‘
Somet
hingsdon’
tchange.
’

Sheangl
edasmi
l
eov
erhershoul
der
.‘That
’sgoodt
oknow.
’

Chapt
erFi
ve

Atsixo’
cl
ock,
shehi
ttheAf
ro-
DanceSt
udi
oforapuni
shi
ng
workout
.

ColeWal ker,t
heinstructor
,wasacut eguyf r
om NewYor kwit
ha
biggr inanddr eadl
ocks.Asal ways,hewaswear i
ngt ight
sanda
cut-offv i
ntageAmer icanT-shi
rt.Ahardtaskmast er,hestar
ted
thecl assof fwit
haBembeShango, fi
l
ledwiththeAf r
o-Cuban
dancer hyt
hmsshel oved.Shecouldfeeltherit
ualisti
cbeatsand
pulsingt emposr i
ghtt oherbones.Herfr
iend,Li
nda, wasl at
efor
thecl assandsmi l
edsheepishlyasshetookherpl ace.Mandi
wipedsweatf r
om herbrowandgr i
nnedather .

‘
Keepupwi
thi
t,gi
rl
s,
’Col
eshout
edabov
ethemusi
c.

Despi
teherl
ackofsl
eepandahar
ddayatMi
dni
ghtRose,
she
enj
oyedtheexerci
se,t
headrenal
inpushi
ngallt
hefearandstr
ess
fr
om herbody,l
eavi
ngherfeel
ingli
ghtandr
elaxedfort
hefi
rst
ti
meinweeks.

Colefi
nishedoffwi
thaComparsa,
afuncar
niv
aldancet
hathad
every
onegi ggl
i
ngandsweat
ing.

‘
Shoul
dwegetadr i
nk?
’ Li
nda’
sfl
ushedfacegr
innedatMandi
as
t
heyfi
nishedt
hei
rcool
-downexerci
ses.

‘
Idon’
tknow.I
’
mti
red.Ishoul
dgethome.
’

‘
Aquickone,’herf
ri
endeggedheron.‘
C’mon.We’l
lj
ustgr
aba
v
itami
n-enhancedminer
alwateratt
hejui
cebar.
’

‘
Mm. ’
Ahesit
ati
on.‘
Mysi
sterwast
ell
i
ngmeaboutt
hose.May
be
I
’
llt
ryone.
’

Li
ndaor der
edtwoenergyboost
ingdri
nksf
rom thebarandf
lung
hersel
fdownont hehardwoodf
looroft
hestudi
o.Shetooka
deepsipofthecolddri
nk.

‘
I
’dki
l
lforaci
gar
ett
e.’

‘
Ithoughty
ou’
dqui
t.
’Mandi
satt
ail
or-
fashi
onopposi
teherf
ri
end.

‘
IhavebutIsti
l
lcr
aveit.I
t’
slikemi
ssi
ngabadboy
fri
endev
en
af
terhe’
sbrokenyourheart
.’

Mandi l
aughed,buttheof f
-handcommentstruckhertothecor
e.
Shedidn’tdar
etellLi
ndaaboutThemba.I twasherpast.She
want
edt okeepi tpri
vate.I
twasapr obl
em she’
dsolveonherown.
Sheforcedhimf rom hermind.

Shet
urnedt
oherf
ri
endwi
thasmi
l
e.‘
Weal
lhav
etomake
heal
thi
erchoi
cesatsomet
ime,
don’
twe?
’

‘
Yousai
dit
!’

SheandLindahadmetatthedancecl
assayearagoandMandi
hadformedaneasyfr
iendshi
pwit
hthebubbl
yblondewho
workedinpubl
i
crel
ati
ons.

‘
IsawCol
egi
vi
n’y
out
heey
eagai
n,
’Li
ndawi
nked.

‘
You’
recr
azy
,’Mandi
scof
fed.‘
Whywoul
dhel
ookatme?
’

‘
Becauseyou’r
ebeauti
fulandsexyandsuccessf
ulandanice
per
son,’
Lindasmil
ed.‘
I’mtel
li
ngyou,hehasthehotsfory
ou.’

‘
I
’m noti
nter
est
ed.
’

‘
Whynot
?’

Shetri
edt omakeajokeofi
t.‘
Idon’
tknowi
fIcoul
dhandl
eal
l
thosecrazyT-
shi
rt
s.’

‘
You’r
eat oughnutt
ocrack,
’Lindasaid.‘
I
’vesetyouupwithat
l
eastthr
eeguy si
nthel
astsixmont hsanditnevergoesbeyond
t
hefir
stdate.What’
supwiththat?’

Mandiwassavedfr
om answer
ingasCol
e,at
owel
cov
eri
nghi
s
dr
eads,wal
kedovertot
hem.

‘
Youenj
oyt
hecl
ass?
’

‘
You’
regoi
ngtoki
ll
us!
’Li
nda’
sdr
amat
icmoanmadet
he
i
nst
ruct
orl
augh.

‘
Howaboutyou,
Mandi
?Youhadal
lthemov
esdownt
oni
ght
.You
wer
eonfi
re,
itwasawesome.
’
‘
Thanky
ou,
’Mandi
sai
d.‘
Il
ovet
heCompar
sa!
’

Herubbedabot
tl
eofmi
ner
alwat
erbetweenhi
spal
ms.‘
Then
we’
l
l havet
ohavet
odoi
tmoreof
ten.
’

Ashewalkedaway,Lindal
eanedoverandwhi
sper
ed:
‘Sucha
cut
eaccent.Youshouldgoforhi
m.’

Mandishookherhead,butshewasunsur
e.Somet
hingherf
ri
end
sai
dsparkedanidea.

Colewasmor ethancute,
hewasst r
ongandsexy .Abeauti
ful
body,matchedbyabeautif
ulsmil
e.Heobviousl
ylikedher
.May be
i
fshest ar
teddati
nghim –star
tedhavi
ngfun,li
vi
ngherownl i
fe
forachange–shewoul dbeabletopushThembaDl anef
rom her
mind,onceandforal
l.

I
twasani
dea.
..

Li
ndaswall
oweddownthel
astofherj
uice.‘
I
’m goi
ngt
ohi
tthe
shower
s.Doyouwantt
ocatchamov i
elater
?’

‘
Thanks,
butI
’
m bushed.I
’
llcal
lyoul
ateri
ntheweek.
’

‘
OK.’Li
ndast
oodanddidal
ongstr
etch.‘
WhenCol
easksy
ouout
,
Iwantt
obethefi
rstt
oknow.
’Shewinked.

Shegothomeshor
tl
yaf
tersev
en.

Asshewal kedintothequi
etl
itt
lehouseinParkmore,therooms
fi
l
ledwit
hgr ayshadowsandcoldwintersi
l
ence,shefeltherheart
fr
eezeupi nherchest.Upunt
ilt
hismoment ,shehadn’treal
i
sed
howlonelyshe’dbecome.Sure,shehadherfri
ends,herboutique,
butever
yni ghtshecamehomeal one.
Holl
owinsi
de.Lonel
y.Passi
onl
ess.I
ttookseeingThembaagai
n
af
teral
lthi
sti
met omakeherseehowhopel essherromant
icl
i
fe
was.

Sheswi tchedonal i
ght .Thegr ayoutsidewasbani shedbyt he
softli
ghtinginsi
de.Act ually,
herhousewasbeaut i
fulandwarm.
Shewasj ustbei
ngf anciful,t
hat’sall
.She’dchosenanecl ecti
c
styl
e–mi xingandmat chi ngstuffshe’dpickedupatt heflea
mar ketwithsomemoder n,newpi eces.Allthefabri
cs,ofcourse,
she’ddoneher sel
f,usingt radit
ionalAfr
icanpr i
ntstoanchorthe
themeofherhouse.

Nowshethrewhergym bagont
hef
loorandt
ossedherpur
se
ont
oherdini
ngroom t
able.A

pi
l
eofunopenedpostsl
i
dtot
hef
loor
.

Andthenitstruckher.OhGod!Shemi ghtl
oseherhouseaswel l
,
ri
ghtalongwithherbusiness.She’
dtakentwol oansagainsther
curr
entbondjustt okeepMidnightRoseafl
oat.Icysensati
ons
pri
ckledherskin.Shehadtomakeaconcer tedef f
orttoturnher
for
tunesaround!

Thefi
rstthi
ngshedi
dwasorderapi
zzatobedel
iver
ed.She
hadn’
treali
sedhowhungr
yshewas;
thedancecl
asshadgother
appet
it
egoi ng.

Str
ippi
ngof fherdanceclothes,Mandij
umpedi ntotheshower.
Aft
erwardsshechangedi nt
oherhotpinkfl
eecet r
acksui
twith
matchingpinktrai
ners.Shefeltbet
tert
hanshehadi nweeks.
Energi
sed,creat
ive,hopeful
.Thembawasr i
ght.Shewassmar t.
Shecouldfindawayoutoft hismess.Shejusthadtoattacki
t
f
rom adi
ff
erentangl
e,t
hinkl
ater
all
y,andr
emai
nposi
ti
ve.

Grabbingabot t
leofmineralwaterf
rom theref
ri
gerat
or,she
steel
edher selfforanightofhardwork.Sit
ti
ngdownathersmal l
dini
ngr oom table,shepickedupanotebookandpenandst art
ed
tobrai
nst orm.Wi t
hinminutes,shehadwr i
tt
enhalfapageof
i
deas,not es,drawings.

I
nawor stcasescenar i
o,ifshehadt oclosedownt hepr emisesof
Midni
ghtRose,itdidn’
tmeant heendoft hebusiness,didit
?No, i
t
di
dn’t
,shetol
dher self
.Shecoul dlaunchanonl i
nesiteandsel l
hercr
eati
onsasmai lorderit
ems.Yes, yes,
yes.Therecouldev en
besmallvi
deocl i
psshowi ngthedr essesonreal models,al
ong
wit
hideasforaccessories.

Shedrewabigcir
clearoundthati
dea!Eveni
fshemanagedt
o
saveMidni
ghtRose,i
tcouldbeanotherf
abul
ouspl
atf
ormtosel
l
herwork.

Shetookasi pofwat erandsmiled.Perhapsshecouldevenask

Li
ndaandNombi f
orhelp.Withherfriend’
scontact
sinPR,she
couldperhapsdream upapubl i
citycampaignforhernew
col
lect
ion.Hersistercouldberopedint odosomemodel li
ng.
Whataboutaphot oshootofNombi weari
ngherlat
estpi
eces?
Thatcouldwork!

Thechi
mingoft
hedoor
bel
lst
il
ledherpen.

Foramomentshewasconf used,
butquicklyrememberedshe’
d
order
edapizza.Shescrambledaroundforherpurseandpeel
ed
outacoupleofbil
l
s.Justinti
me,too,shethought.Shewas
star
ving!
Mandiopenedt
hef
rontdoor
,andt
hebr
eat
hlef
therl
ungsasshe
l
ookedup.

TherewasThemba, api zzaboxinonehand, heraccountsfil

ei n
theother.Hest oodt here,l
ookingassi nf
ull
yhandsomeasal way s;
i
nf act,
hel ookedf armor eappeali
ngt hanthepi zza.Hewore
blackdenims, f
itt
ingsnugl yaroundleanhipsandmuscul arthighs.
Leatherbootsandat i
ghtblackT-shi
rtcompl etedt hel
ean,sexy,
casuallook.

Shetampeddowni l
li
citt
houghts,buti
twashar dtodo.Just
l
ookingathi
m causedaf l
areofwar mthinheremptystomach.A
fl
areofpur
elust
,sheremi ndedhersel
f.Getagri
p,Mandi!

‘
Icaughtt
hepizzaguyonhi
swayupt
hest
air
s,’
hesai
d.‘
Itol
dhi
m
I
’dtakei
tin.

‘
Isupposey
oupai
dhi
mtoo.
’

‘
Ofcour
se.
’

‘
I’
m nott
hatbr
oke,
Themba,
’shesai
d.‘
Icanst
il
laf
for
dat
ake-
away.
’

‘
Yes,
butwoul
dyouhav
ebeenasgener
ouswi
that
ip?
’

Mandi
’
shandsf
oundherhi
ps.‘
Howdi
dyouknowwher
eIst
ayed?
’

‘
Itwasonyourdocument
ati
onfr
om t
heaccount
ant,
’hesai
d.
‘
Look,t
hepizza’
sget
ti
ngcol
d.Canwedi
scussthi
sinsi
de?’

Foramoment ,shereali
sedshewaswear i
ngherpinkt
racksui
t
andtr
ainer
s,herhairscrapedbackinanali
ce-
bandwit
houta
tr
aceofmakeup.‘ I–Iwasn’texpecti
ngcompany.
’
‘
Pinkl
ooksador
abl
eony
ou,
’hesai
d.

‘
Hotpi
nk?
’shet
eased.‘
Nott
oogi
rl
y?’

‘
No,justhot
!’Hi
sey
esdar
kened.‘
Hotandy
oungandf
reshand
gor
geous.’

‘
You’
ref
ull
ofi
t!
’

Withoutwai
ti
ngforaninv
itat
ion,hesli
dpastherandlooked
aroundherhome.‘
Icanseey ourcul
turecl
ashisnotconfi
nedt
o
thebouti
que,
’hesai
d.‘
Ili
keit.
’

‘
Thanks.
’

‘
Wher
eshoul
dIputt
his?
’

Shemovedt
othedi
ningt
abl
e,cl
ear
inghernot
ebookandpenout
theway
.

‘
Her
ewil
lbefi
ne,
’shesai
d.‘
IsupposeI
’
dbet
teri
nvi
tey
out
ost
ay
f
orasl
i
ce.’

Thembadumpedt
hepi
zzaboxandt
hef
il
eont
het
abl
e.

‘
Youdon’
thav
etosoundsohappyabouti
t.
’Sar
casm under
li
ned
ever
ywor
d.

‘
I
’m sor
ry,
’shesi
ghed.‘
I
’mj
ustt
ir
ed.I
t’
sbeenal
ongday
.’

Hej
ammedhi
shandsi
ntohi
sbackpocket
.‘Doy
ouhav
ebeer
?’

‘
Li
tebeer
.’

Hi
smout
hpul
l
ed.‘
You’
resuchagi
rl
.’

‘
ThatIam.
’Shecoul
dn’
thel
psmi
l
ing.‘
You’
l
ljusthav
etoputup
wi
thi
t.I
’
llgetussomepl
ates.Ihopey
ou’
rehungr
y.’

‘
Icoul
ddowi
thasl
i
ce.Gar
li
c?’

‘
No,
sor
ry.YouknowIdon’
tli
kespi
ces.
’

‘
Il
ovespi
ce.
’

‘
Iknow.
’Herey
esmethi
sforamoment
.‘Ir
emember
.’

Mandif
etchedt
wosidepl
atesandpaperservi
ett
es.Shepour
ed
her
sel
faglassofwi
neandgotabottl
eoflit
ebeerforhim.

‘
Thanks.’Forabri
efmoment ,
thei
rhandst ouchedasshehanded
hi
mt heice-col
dbottl
e.I
twasanelectr
ictouch.Shef el
titinever
y
nerveendingofherarm.Hemusthavef elti
ttoo,becausehis
bodystif
fenedandhiseyel
i
dsloweredov erhisgl
immer ingdark
eyes.

‘
Mypl easur
e.’
Hervoi
cebrokebreathl
essl
yfr
om herthr
oat
.‘I
’v
e
beenwor ki
ngonsomeideasforthebouti
quethi
seveni
ng.Your
peptalkhel
ped.’

Sher
attl
edof
fsomeofherbet
teri
deas.Shecoul
dtel
lhewas
i
mpressedwi
thheri
nnov
ati
vethi
nki
ng.

Hesai
d,‘
Youhav
eat
rueent
repr
eneur
’sspi
ri
t,Mi
ssMbat
ha.
’

‘
Thanky
ou.
’

‘
Shal
lwedr
inkat
oast
?’

Sher
aisedherey
ebr
ows.‘
Towhat
?’

‘
ToMidni
ghtRose?’
hesuggest
edcr
ypt
ical
l
y.‘
Ithi
nkIhav
egood
newsf
oryou,Mandi
.’
‘
Youdo?
’Exci
tementswel
l
edi
nherhear
t.

‘
Let’
ssitandeatandgoov
erwhatIf
oundi
nmyi
nvest
igat
ionof
yourbooks.
’

Overpizza,Thembaexplainedthathe’
dpickedupsome
di
screpanciesinherbooks,thi
ngsthatshouldhavebeenpicked
upbyheraccount ant
.Therewasat r
aceofangerinhisvoi
ceas
hespoke.‘Thisguyhasn’
tdoneagoodj oboflooki
ngaft
ery our
fi
nances.’

‘
Ihadn’tnot
iced.’
Youwoul dn’
tknowwhattolookfor,
’hepointed
out.‘
Tobefair,perhapshedidn’
toffert
heki
ndofser v
icesDlane
I
nvestmentsoffersourbigcli
ents.Wehaveexper
tisethi
sguy
doesn’
thaveaccesst o.’

Shetookadel
i
cat
ebi
teofherpi
zzasl
i
ce.‘
Whathav
eIbeendoi
ng
wrong?’

‘
Somebasicrookiemist
akes,
’hestat
edbluntl
y.‘
You’
vebeen
oper
ati
ngMidnightRosewit
haby -
the-
seat-
of-
your-
pant
smethod.
That
’swhat
’sgoty oui
ntotr
oubl
e.’

‘
Idon’
tknowwhaty
oumean.
’

‘
Youdon’tunder
standt
henumbers,
’hesaid.‘
Areyoutr
acki
ng
cashfl
ow?Keepinganeyeonexpenses?Allt
heanswersar
ein
thenumbers.
’

‘
I
tsoundsl
i
keIneedmor
ewi
net
odeal
wit
hthi
s.’

‘
Trustme,
it’
snotdi
ff
icul
t,
’hesai
d.‘
Icanexpl
aini
ttoy
oui
nno
t
ime.’
Slowly
,Mandi
puthergl
assdownandmethi
sey
es.‘
Whyar
eyou
helpi
ngme?’

Helookedatherwi
thami
xtur
eoft
ender
nessandsur
pri
se.‘
Don’
t
youwantmyhelp?’

‘
Ofcourse,
’sherepl
i
edsti
ff
ly.‘
I
t’sj
ustthaty
ou’
reusedt
oworki
ng
onblue-
chi
paccounts,
whywast eyourti
meonsomesmall
fashi
onbouti
que?’

‘
Ienj
oychal
l
enges.Especi
all
ywheni
tinv
olv
esmoney
.’

‘
Yes,
weal
lknowt
hat
,’
shet
eased.‘
Butwhyt
hisone?
’

Somepar tofherst
il
lhel
doutthehopethatther
ewouldbea
chanceforherandThemba.Couldtheygetovert
hepast
?Di
dhe
sti
l
lhavefeeli
ngsforher
?

Takingaslugofbeer ,Thembasaid,‘Ialwaysr
ootforthe
underdog.Ican’tst
andt oseesomeonewi thy
ourspir
itandt
alent
andpassionfail.Notaft
eryou’
vewor kedsohard.HowcanI
standbyandl etyouloseyourbusiness? ’

Itwasnottheanswershe’dhopedfor.Shefeltasmal
lcr
ushof
disappoi
ntment,butsherecov
eredquickl
y.Shepast
edabri
ght
smi l
eonherface.‘Wil
lIl
osemybout i
que?’

Backt
obusi
ness,
Thembashowedherapr
oposal
andact
ionpl
an
he’
dputt
oget
herforher
.

‘
There’
ssomeunwisecr
edi
tpoli
ciesyouneedt
ore-
eval
uat
e.I
’
ve
out
li
nedthatf
ory
ou’–hepoi
nted–‘here.
’

Shemov
edcl
osert
ohi
mtost
udyt
hepr
int
eddocument
,awar
eof
thefai
ntsmell
ofbeeronhisbr
eat
h,hi
scol
ogne,
hishar
dbody
underthet
hinblackT-
shi
rt
.

Uh-
oh.Shewashav
ingt
roubl
econcent
rat
ing.

‘
You’
vealsoduplicat
edsomepay mentstoy oursuppli
ers,
for
whi
chyoucancl aim arebat
e,’
hewenton.‘Youhav en’
teven
l
ookedattherentalprot
ecti
onpol
ici
esinyourlease.’

‘
And?
’

‘
You’v
ebeenpayingat
enpercentpr
emi
um f
ory
ear
s,’
hesai
d.‘
I
t
al
lowsyouabreakonpay
ing

rentf
oruptosixmonthsatat
ime.Youneedt
oseey
ourr
ent
al
agentaboutt
hatassoonaspossi
ble.
’

Herey
eswi
dened.‘
Sixmont
hsr
entf
ree?
’

‘
Yes.
’

‘
Thatwi
l
lgi
vemebr
eat
hingspace.
’

‘
Justr
emembert
hel
ongery
oudon’
tpayr
ent
,

thehighery
ourrentwi
llbewhenyour
esumepayment
sagain,
’he
cauti
oned.‘
Youdon’twantt
orelyont
hispol
i
cyf
ortool
ong.It
’s
pret
typunit
ive.
’

‘
Inev
ert
houghtofi
tthatway
.’

‘
That’
swhatI’
m her
efor,Mandi
.Toguideyou,educat
ey ou,
suppor
tyou.
’Apause.‘
CanIhavethi
slastpi
eceofpizza?’

‘
Yes,I
’mtooexci
tedt
oeatany
mor
e,’
shebubbl
ed.‘
CanIgety
ou
anot
herbeer
?’
‘
Let
’sfi
nishthi
sfir
st,
’hesuggest
edmildl
y.‘
Youhav
en’tf
il
edyour
t
axproperl
y.Withsomecarefulj
uggl
i
ng,wecangetyouahigher
r
ebate.
’

‘
You’
resocl
ever
.’

‘
Whatabouty
ou?
’Hiseyesfoundhers.‘
Thosei
deasy
ouhadf
or
t
hewebsit
eandf
ashionshootsweregreat
.’

‘
Your
eal
l
ythi
nkso?
’

Inthelasthourorso,
she’dfel
tashi
fti
nthei
rrel
ati
onshi
p.I
twas
subtl
ebutpr of
ound.Nolongerdi
dal
l t
hepowerrestwi
thThemba;
theywere

mor
eli
keequal
s.

‘
Forsure,
Mandi,’henodded.‘
Wit
hyourcr
eat
ivegeni
usandmy
anal
yti
calbr
ain,
we’dmakeagr eatt
eam.’

Foramoment
,thei
rey
esl
ockedandhel
d.

Agreatteam,shethought.Equal
intheircont
ri
but
iontosav
ingher
bout
ique.Agreatbusinessteam,yes,butnotawonderf
ul
romanti
ccouple.Neverthelovel
yduot hey’
dbeeninCapeTown
fi
veyearsago.

Sheswal
loweddownt
het
hought
,looki
ngaway
.‘What
’st
he
bot
tom l
i
ne?’

Thembashowedheraf i
gureonthelastpage.‘
Withsomequi ck
thi
nki
nganddecisi
veacti
on,youwil
lhavejustenoughmoneyt o
keepafl
oatf
oranothermonth,maybetwo.You’djustbet
termake
suret
henewcoll
ectioni
sasuccess.’
‘
Oh,itwi
llbe!I
’
vealreadyst
art
edplanni
ngafashi
onshowt
o
l
aunchiti
nSept ember!
’Mandient
hused.‘
You’
vesav
edmyli
fe,
Themba!’

Over
joy
ed,shejumpedfr
om herchai
randthr
ewherar
msar
ound
hi
m.Oni mpul
se,sheki
ssedhi
mf ul
lontheli
ps.

Takenbysurpr
ise,
hel
aughedf
rom t
hebackofhi
sthr
oat
.‘You’
re
bei
ngoverthetop.
’

‘
No,
youar
emyher
o.’

Thi
stimeheslowlystoodfr
om hi
schai
r,t
ookheri
nhisar
ms,
mouldi
ngherslenderbodyt
ohishar
dframe.‘
Anot
herki
ssthen?
’

Thembamov edincloser
,hel
dher,touchedhi
sfacet
ohers.He
ki
ssedherr
ightback.Mandididn’
ttrytost
ophim,di
dn’
twantt
o.

Thi
sfeel
sri
ght
,shet
hought
.

Sherememberedhi
ski
sses;herbodyhel
dit
sownmemor i
es.Hi
s
mouthfel
tfamil
i
ar,
sof
ami l
i
ar,anditwi
pedawayanypai
nshe’
d
everf
elt
.

Themba’sbrokethekisswi
thal
owgr
oan.‘
I
’vemi
ssedt
his.I
’
ve
missedkissi
ngyou.’

Br
eat
hlessl
y,shehel
dhi
m cl
oser
.‘Thendon’
tst
op.
’

Therewasr ealwar
mth,genuinedesir
eandunspokenemot i
onin
thecaressofhismouthonher s.Shedidn’
twantitt
ostop.
Ashis
l
arge,warm handssli
ddownhershoul derstothesmal
lofher
backandherslenderfi
ngerscurledar
oundt hehotmuscl
eofhis
neck,str
aythought
sthreadedthroughhermi nd.
Forhowlongcouldt
hisgoon?Notj
ustt
hiski
ss.
..butherand
Themba?Howl ongcoul
dthi
sfl
ow

ofemoti
onandsensual
tensi
onl
ast
?Whathappenedwhenhe
wentbackt
oCapeTown?

Rel
uct
antl
y,Manditwist
edherheadaway,herl
i
pssweetandhot
wit
hhi
skiss,herbodyfl
oodedwithaheav
ywar mt
hasifdesi
re
hadwei
ghtedhertothefloor
.

‘
What
’swr
ong?
’Themba’
sjaggedwhi
sperf
il
ledherear
.

Sher
aisedherey
est
ohi
s.‘
Wher
edowegof
rom her
e?’

‘
Tobed.
..
?’Thembapl
acedat
easi
ng,
nippi
ngki
ssonherl
i
ps.

Sheswat
tedhi
m pl
ayf
ull
yont
hear
m.‘
Typi
cal
man.
’

‘
No,
nott
ypi
cal
man,
’hesai
d.‘
Yourman.
’

Sheshi
ver
edatthesof
tst
randofpossessi
oni
nhi
svoi
ce.
‘
Themba,pl
ease–’

Hi
svoi
cer
oughenedwi
thdesi
re.‘
Iwantt
omakel
ovet
oyou.
’

‘
Youdon’
tknowwhaty
ou’
resay
ing.
’

‘
Iwanttobey ourl
over
,yourfi
rstl
over,
Mandi,’
hesai
dhuskil
y.‘
I
t’s
thewayitshoul
dbe.It
’sthewayitshould’
vebeenal
lthosey
ear
s
ago.
’

‘
No,
please,notnow,
notyet
.’Mandi
beatbackacol
dfl
oodoff
ear
.
‘
We’
renotthinki
ngpr
oper
ly.
’

Themba’srel
easewassudden.I
tfeltli
keal
ossnott
ofeel
his
armsaroundher,hi
sheat
,hi
sstrength.
Hisvoi
ceiced.‘
Not
hinghaschanged.Oneki
ssi
sal
lI’
m
permit
ted.
’

‘
That
’snotwhatI
–’

‘
Whyareyout
reat
ingmel
ikeaschool
boy
,Mandi
sa?
’Itwasa
t
aunt
.‘Ar
eyoutr
yingt
odr
ivememad?There’
sanameforwomen
l
i
keyou–’

‘
Stop–r
ightnow.
’I
nsul
ted,
shest
eppedback.

Thembabackeddown.‘
Iapol
ogise,
Mandi.YouknowIr
espect
you.Thi
swouldn’
tbeabusi
nessdeal.I
twoul
dn’
tbeaonenight
stand.
’

‘
Iknowt
hat
.’

Hi
svoi
cesof
tened.‘
Thenwhat
’sst
oppi
ngus?
’

‘
Whathappenswhenyougobackt
oCapeTown?
’sheasked.
‘
Whathappenst
ousthen?’

‘
Isti
llwanttoseeyou.
’Themba’shandscurl
edathi
ssi
des.‘
We’l
l
makeapl an.I
’
llbebacki
nJo’burgforavi
siti
nafewweeks.I
’
ll
checkmyschedule–’

‘
Idon’twantt
ofitintoyourdamnschedule!
’Heatexpl
odedacross
herface.‘
Whynot st
ayforafewdays,aweek,andseeifther
e’sa
chancetomaket hiswork.Weoweitoursel
ves.
’

Foramoment
,ther
oom wasqui
et.

Whenhespoke,
hisvoi
cewascool
.‘
Ican’
tst
ayadaylonger
,I
haveamaj
ordealt
ohammerdownwhenIgetbacktoCape
Town.
’
Thi
sti
me,
sher
emai
nedsi
l
ent
.

‘
Mandi
,pl
easet
ryt
ounder
stand–’

‘
Idounderstand.’Herwordshi
dasof tcyni
calbi
te.‘
Business
comesfi
rst,pleasur
eaclosesecondandl ove–well,l
ovedoesn’
t
evenf
eatureony ouragenda,MrDlane.
’

Shecoul
dseeherj
i
behadmadehi
m angr
y.

‘
AtleastIall
owmy selfpleasur
e,’hesai
d.‘
You’
vekeptyour
sel
f
wrappedupi ncott
onwool ;you’
veletnooneinpasty
ourbarr
ier
s.
Whyi st
hat?Don’tyoutrustyoursel
f?Whywon’tyoul
etamanget
f
urtherthanakiss?’

Herchi
njer
kedint
otheair
.‘May
beIwaswai
ti
ngf
ory
ou.May
be
I
’v
ealwayshel
doutforyou.
’

‘
Whatareyousayi
ng?’Ey
esdar
keni
ng,
hegr
ippedherbyt
hear
ms.
‘
Thaty
ou’r
esti
lli
nlov
ewi t
hme?’

Reali
singshe’
dmadeher sel
fvul
nerabl
e,t
hatheremot i
onswere
tooclosetothesurf
ace,Mandi deci
dedtobackt
rack.Shetri
edto
shakehersel
floose,butheheldherinhi
ssteel
-l
ikegrasp.

Tear
sburnedbehi
ndherey
es.‘
Whydi
dyoul
eav
ethecount
ryso
soonaf
terwebrokeup?
’

‘
Ihadmyr
easonsf
orgoi
ngt
oPar
is–’

‘
Tel
lme.
’

‘
Whydoy oual
way
swantt
odi
gupt
hepast
?’hegr
owl
ed.‘
I
t’s
behi
ndus.’
‘
Answerme!
’

‘
Ihadt
oleav
e,’
hecl
i
ppedout
.

‘
Why
?’

‘
Ican’
ttel
lyoubut,bel
i
eveme, Idi
dn’
texpecttostayawaysol
ong.
Iwant
edtocomeback. .
.butt
herewasnothingtocomebackto
..
.’
Hisvoicet
rai
ledoff.

‘
Wasi
tanot
herwoman?
’sheaskedsof
tl
y.

Hisey
esfli
ckedt
othesi
de,
backt
oher
s.‘
Oh,
God,
it’
s
compli
cat
ed–’

Mandihadheardenough.‘
Youdon’
towemeany
thi
ng,
notev
en
anexpl
anat
ion.Whydon’tyouj
ustgo?
’

Hedidn’
tletgo;
hegr i
ppedhermorepower
full
y.‘
Don’tmakeme
l
eave,don’
tdothis,
Iwantyouback,Mandi
,Iwantyou.’

Themba’sheadswoopedlowforanotherki
ss.Mandiwouldn’t
surr
endert
histi
me.Hismouthformedacr ushi
ngpressure
agai
nsthercl
osedli
ps.Nodesir
ethisti
me, onl
yasickdread.He
wantedtomarkher
,clai
m her
,brui
seher.

Wit
hherremaini
ngreser
vesofst
rengt
h,shebr
okeherwr
ist
sfr
ee
andtwi
stedherbodyaway.

‘
I’
llnev
erl
etyoukiss–touchme–agai
n.’
Raggedbreat
htore
fr
om herl
ungs.‘
I
’m notsomeoney
oucanbendtoyourwil
l
,
Themba.’

Hi
seyesfl
ewopen.Hebackedupagainstt
hewall
,upset
ti
nga
smal
lpr
int
edf
ramebehindhim.‘
DidIhurtyou?
’
Herwr
ist
sst
ung,
butsheshookherhead.‘
No.
’

‘
Mandi
–’

‘
Please,Themba,
’shesnapped.‘
Ithi
nki
t’
sbett
erifwecal
l
edi
ta
ni
ght,befor
ewebot hsaythi
ngswecan’
ttakeback.
’

Thembanodded.‘
I
’l
lcal
lyou.
’

‘
Ther
e’snoneed–’

‘
Aboutbusi
ness,
’hesnapped.‘
Aboutt
hebout
ique,
damni
t.We
canatl
eastworktoget
heronthat
.Ii
nsi
st.
’

Tooemot i
onalt
oanswer,shej
ustnoddedherhead.Herhear
t
squeezedpai
nful
lyi
nherchestasshewatchedhim wal
ktothe
door.

Hestoodinthedoorway,hisbacktoher,adarkfor
biddi
ng
sil
houet
tecutbytheshadows.Wi t
houtturni
nghesaid,‘
Iwish
thi
ngscoul
d’vebeendif
ferentbackthen.
’Shedidn’
tknowwhatto
say,j
ustbi
tdownonherl i
p.

Sl
owly
,hetur
nedandf acedher,
hisfacesombr
e.‘
Remembery
ou
wal
kedawayfrom me.Youleftme.’

Shecl
osedherey
esagai
nstf
resht
ear
ssoshedi
dn’
thav
etosee
hi
mleave.

Whensheheardthedoorcl
ose,
sher
ushedt
olocki
tbehi
ndhi
m.
Thekeyt
urni
nginthechamber

wasli
keseal
i
ngal lt
hepai
ninsi
deherheart
.Sl
umpedagai
nstt
he
wal
li
nherentrancehal
l
,Mandiwasfi
ghti
ngafeel
i
ngofdespai
r.
No,shecoul
dn’tchangethepast,
thatmuchsheknew,butshe
coul
dn’
tescapeiteit
her.Not
hinghadbeenresol
ved,
shereali
sed.
Thepaststi
l
lstoodbetweenherandThembal i
keaninvi
sibl
ewall
oradarkri
ver.

Hi
scomi
ngbacki
ntoherl
i
fet
ohel
phersor
t

outthemessatMidni
ghtRosewasjustacompli
cat
ion,because
he’dwokenal
ltheemoti
onsshe’
dfoughtsohar
dtoforgetover
theyear
s.

Nosi
mpl edat
ewi t
hahotAmer icandanci
nginstr
uct
orcoul
dwi
pe
i
tout
,shereal
iseddull
y.Sheshould’
veknownitwoul
dbe
i
mpossibl
etoforgetamanl i
keThembaDl ane.

Chapt
erSi
x

Thenextday,Thembacontactedher.Hedidn’
tcal
l
,aspr
omi
sed,
butsentheranemail
.Itwasthefir
stthi
ngshesawwhenshe
fi
redupherlapt
opatthestudi
oi nthemorning.

Themessagecont ai
nedcont actsforagreattaxconsul t
ant,a
highlyrat
edaccountant,webdev eloper
sandev entorganiser
s,
cov er
ingall
t hepoi
ntst
hey ’
dt ouchedontheni ghtbefore.The
factthathe’
dsentanel ectr
oniccor r
espondencest ung,butshe
sentacool ,prof
essi
onalresponse, t
hanki
nghi mf orhisti
meand
effort
.

Shewasn’tgoi
ngtol
ethi
m gett
oher
.Shewassi
mpl
ygoi
ngt
o
puthi
m outofhermi
nd.

I
nthenextweek,Mandit
hrewhersel
fwhol
e-hear
tedlyi
nto
r
ecti
fyi
ngtheer
rorsandover
sight
sThembahadpi ckedupinhi
s
r
uthl
essl
yanal
yti
cal
audi
t.

Asthedaysprogr
essed,t
hingswer est
art
ingtolookup.She
mighthavel
ostThembaf orasecondtime,butshe’dmanagedt
o
sal
vageherbouti
quefrom theashesofdi
saster.Shefound
comforti
n

herst
ri
ctbusinessrout
ine,
inwor
kingonherdesignsandpor
ing
overt
hespreadsheetsandbal
ancesofherf
inancial
recor
ds.

Li
vingonaf ewhour ssl
eepani ght,shet hr
ewher selfi
ntothe
chall
engeoft urningherf or
tunesar ound–meet ingwi thanew
accountant,
pr eparingdocument sfort hetaxconsul tantand
workingwithagr aphicdesi
gnert olaunchherwebsi te.The
fi
guresandspr eadsheetsstil
lprovedachal lenge, butshewas
l
earningaboutt he‘numbers’–asThembacal ledi t–andshewas
l
earningfast.

Befor
esheknewi t
,theendofthemont hwasuponher
.Herbank
accountwaslooki
ngalit
tl
ebitheal
thi
erandshewasablet
o
makesalaryt
ransf
ersatthel
astminute.

Reli
efathavi
ngkeptthebusi
nessaf
loatforanot
hermont h
fl
oodedin.Euphori
afi
ll
edherwit
halight
nessshehadn’tfel
tin
ages.Ontheotherhand,maybei
twassimplyalackofsleep.Who
knew?Itwasstil
lagoodfeel
ing.

SheconstantlythoughtofThemba.Oft heni ghtofshar

ingpizza
andideas.Shethoughtofhisincredibl
eener gy,hi
sgoodlooks,
thewayheki ssedher.Howcoul dshef orgetsheowedal lofthi
s
tohi
m?Shewoul dgivehi
m acall.Beforeshecoul dl
osehernerve,
shepickeduphercel l
phoneandscr oll
edt ofindhisnumberinher
cont
act
sli
st.

Itrangforalongti
mebef or
egoingtovoi
cemail
.Justli
steni
ngto
hisrecordedmessage, hear
inghisv
oiceagai
n,sentashiverup
herspine.Shedidn’
tleaveamessage.Shedidn’tknowwhatt o
say .

Afewmi nut
eslat
er,
hercel
lbeepedandbli
nked.Shesnat
chedit
up,hopi
ngitwasThembacall
ingback.I
twasn’
t.ItwasLi
nda.

‘
We’vemi
ssedyouatdancecl
ass,
’herf
ri
endsai
d.‘
Col
ehasbeen
aski
ngaf
tery
ou.’

‘
I
’vebeenbusy
,’Mandi
sai
d.

‘
Thatmuchi
sobv
ious,
’Li
ndawi
se-
cracked,
‘buty
oudeser
vea
br
eak.
’

‘
IguessIdo,
’Mandi
sai
d.‘
I
t’sbeenal
ongweek.
’

‘
Whydon’
tyoucomeoutwi
thust
oni
ght
?’

Shepur
sedherl
i
ps.‘
Us?
’

‘
Coleistaki
ngafewusf r
om classtoahotnewCubancl
ubi
n
Rosebanktoni
ght
,’Li
ndasaid.‘
I’
m goi
ngtocel
ebr
ateamont
hof
notsmoking.I
twil
lbefun.Youmustcome.’

‘
Mmm. ’Shepausedominousl
y.‘
Areyoutry
ingt
osetmeupwi
th
ourcut
eli
tt
leAmericandancei
nstr
uctor
?’

Li
ndaf
eignedi
nnocence.‘
Me?Nev
er.
’

‘
I
’l
lthi
nkabouti
t.
’Mandiremai
nedhesi
tant
.‘I
fIcome,
I’
m not
f
li
rt
ingwi
thColethough.
’
‘
Ofcour
senot
,’agr
eedLi
nda.‘
Ther
ewi
l
lbehundr
edsofot
herhot
guy
stofl
ir
twi
th!’

Mandi
laughed.

Linda’svoi
cet
ookonapl
eadi
ngt
one.‘
Pleasesayy
ou’
l
lcome
tonight.
’

‘
I
’l
ltexty
oul
aterandl
ety
ouknow.
’

Aft
ersheendedthecal
l,
hercell
phonef
lashedamessage.One
newSMS.Perhapsthi
swasf r
om Themba,shethoughtf
ever
ishl
y.

Howev er,thetextwasj ustfr

om Nombi .Hersi
sterwassimply
confir
mi ngshe’dbel andinginJohannesburgt
omor rownightand
requestedMandi f
etchherf rom ORTambo.Notr equest
ed,no,
mor eli
kedemanded.Di sappointmentlayheav
yinMandi ’
sheart.
Oh,well,perhapshav inghersist
eraroundwouldcheerherup.Not
l
ikely,
shet aggedonsi l
entl
y.Nombi wasabitofanightmareto
dealwith.

Shespentt herestoft
heafter
noonf i
nishi
ngsomepaperwor k.
SheletAndr ewandthegirl
sgohomeear l
y.She’dj
ustf
inishedup
fort
hedayandwaspr epari
ngtol ockwhenaDHLcour ierarri
ved
atMidnightRose.Shesignedforthesmal lpackageandwat ched
himleave.Hurryi
ngbacktoherst udio,shepulledatt
hepaper
wrapping.I
nsidewasabeaut i
fulgiftbox.Sheopenedi tanddr ew
outit
scont entswit
hagasp.

I
twasabr
acel
et.

Tinybl
ackr
osesmadeofsol
i
dpewt
erf
ormi
ngexqui
sit
eli
tt
le
l
inksonasi
lverchai
n.
Att
achedtotheboxwasasmal
lcardofbl
ackandsi
l
ver
.She
coul
djustmakeoutt
hescr
awli
nside.

Goodl
uck–Themba.

Mandi wastouchedtot hecoreofherheart

.Nodoubt ,t
his
bracel
etcostmuchl essthanthediamondonehe’ dtr
iedtogiv
e
heryearsago,butthi
shadsomuchmor eworthforher.Thi
sone
showedt hought
,care,att
enti
ont oherper
sonal
it
y,andwasr i
chin
symbolism.Tearsstungherey es.

Atthatmoment ,Mandi
’scel
l
phoneranginthefrontshop.She
dashedov ertoanswer.Asshereachedf
oritlyi
ngont hesales
counter
, sherecogni
sedthenumber.Smi
lingthroughthetears
for
mingwar m pool
sinhereyes,
shesnatcheditupand
connectedtot hecal
l.

‘
Themba.
..
?’

‘
Didy
ougetmygi
ft
?’Hi
svoi
cewasl
ow,
mascul
i
ne,
seduct
ive.

Shehadn’tr
eali
sedhowmuchshe’ dmissedhisvoi
ce,she
thought
,hol
dingontothesal
escountertosuppor
thersuddenl
y
hollowl
egs.Howmuchshe’ dmissedhim!Sheheldthephone
closert
oherear,herhear
tbeat
ingrapi
dly.

‘
Oh,
yes.I
t’
sbeaut
if
ul.
’

‘
Ithoughtofy
ouwhenIsawi
t.Justknewi
twoul
dsui
tyou.
’

‘
Thanky ou.
’Mandiswall
oweddownonheremot ion,
regai
ned
contr
ol.‘
Notjustf
orthebracel
et,
butforev
ery
thi
ng.Youdon’
t
real
i
sehowmuchy ou’v
edonet ohel
pme. ’
‘
Youcant
hankmeinper
sonwheny
ouseeme,
’Thembar
epl
i
ed.
‘
Wecanhavedi
nner
.’

‘
Ofcour
se.
..
’

‘
Good.
’Hi
slaughwast
easi
ng,
war
m,r
ichwi
thhi
ddenl
aught
er.

Atthatmoment,t
hedoorsofthebouti
queopened.Shelookedup,
gasped.Thembastr
oll
edthr
ough,hi
scell
phoneathisear,asmil
e
onhishandsomeface.

‘
I’
m sorr
yIcoul
dn’
tret
urny
ourcal
lear
li
er,
’hewassay
ing.‘
Iwas
onaplane.
’

‘
You’
ref
orgi
ven.
’

Mandi
wat
chedashi
slongl
egsr
emov
edt
hespacebet
weent
hem.

‘
Ithi
nkwecanendt hisconv
ersat
ion,
’hesai
dov
ert
hecel
l
phone
connect
ion.‘
Don’
tyou?’

‘
Hmm.
’Shesmi
l
edathi
m.‘
Ibel
i
evewecancont
inuei
tinper
son.
’

‘
Amuchbet
teropt
ion,
Ithi
nk.
’

Bot
hclickedof
ftheircell
phonesatthesamemoment ;t
heyst
ood
l
ooki
ngateachot herinthehushedquietoft
hebout
ique.He
embracedherbri
efl
y,hisfaceburi
edinherhai
r.

‘
Yousmel
lgr
eat
,’
hesai
d.

‘
It
’smypapay
ashowergel.
’Apause.‘
Idi
dn’
texpectt
oseey
ou.
’
Herhear
twasst
il
lthumpi
ngwit
hblood.

‘
Thatmuchisclear,
’hedrawl
ed.‘
Idi
dn’texpectt
ocatchyouher
e
atMidni
ghtRose,butIt
ookachance.Arey ouworki
nglat
e?’
‘
Iwasjustl
ockingup,’shesaid.‘
Oh,
Themba–whataweekI ’
ve
had,
butImadei thappen.Imanagedtopayt
hest
affandsetupa
pl
anforthenextfewmont hs.Wemadeit.
’

‘
Didwe?
’Themba’
smouthcur
vedeni
gmat
ical
l
y.‘
Iseem t
o
r
ememberweneverr
eal
l
ymakeit.
’

Heatspar
kedt
hroughhercheeks.‘
YouknowwhatImean.
’

‘
Ofcour seIdo,Ij
ustl
oveteasingyou.’
Hisjammedhishandsi
n
histhepocketsofhi
sjacket
.‘Ibel
i
ev ether
e’scausef
or
celebr
ation.Gr
abyourbag.Let’
sgo.’

Shegasped.‘
Gowher
e?’

‘
Todi
nner
.Ihav
ereser
vat
ionsf
orei
ght
.’

Mandididn’tknowi
fshewasr eadyt
ohav edinnerwi
thThemba.
Shari
ngpizzaatherhousewasonething,butgoingoutt
oa
rest
aurantseemedtosuggestarealdat
e.

Andwhatwoul donedatemean?Thathewantedtoseeheragain?
Thebracel
et,
thedinneri
nvi
tat
ion–didi
tsuggesthewantedto
star
tseei
ngheragain?Coul
dsheriskal
l
owinghimintoherli
fe
agai
n?

Mandist
all
ed.‘
Idon’
tthi
nkIcan.Ipr
omi
sedaf
ri
endI
’
dgoout
wi
thhertoni
ght
.’

‘
Cancel
.’
Hishandsomef
eat
uresdar
kened.‘
I
’m nott
aki
ngnof
or
ananswer.
’

Shel
i
ckedherl
i
ps.‘
I
–Idon’
thav
eany
thi
ngt
owear
.’

‘
Arey
ouki
ddi
ngme?
’Hi
schuckl
esentl
i
ttl
eshi
ver
stot
hebackof
herneck.‘
You’
rei
nabout
iquef
il
ledwi
thwonder
ful
eveni
ng
dresses.
’

‘
Themba,I
’m notoneofyouremployees.
’Mil
dcauti
on
r
ever
berat
edinherwords.‘Youcan’
tordermearound.
’

‘
I
sthatso?
’

‘
Yes.
’

Beforesheknewwhatwashappeni ng,
hispowerfulbodyhad
pinnedheragainstthecounter
.Hishandshel dherarmsather
si
de.Hi sheadbentandhecl aimedhermout h.Hiskisswasshor
t,
hard,dominati
ng,butitcancel
ledoutanyargument.Herbreat
h
cameouti nti
nygaspsagai nsthissensual
,wetli
ps.

Thembadidn’
tsmil
e,buthi
seyesseemedt
odancewi
thhi
dden
fi
re.‘
Anot
hert
hing,
MissMbatha.’

‘
Yes?
’

‘
Don’
tev
erf
orbi
dmef
rom ki
ssi
ngy
ouagai
n.’

‘
Whynot
?’shechal
l
enged.

‘
It
’si
mpossibl
etobearoundyouandnotwanttoki
ssyou,
’he
gr
oundout.‘
Il
ovetheywayyourl
ipst
astel
ikecher
ry.
’

‘
Youdo?
’

Anod.‘
Soi
nfut
ure,
I’
m notgoi
ngt
oli
stent
oyou.I
sthatcl
ear
?’

‘
Don’
tIhav
easayi
nthemat
ter
?’

Hi
sjawpul
l
ed.‘
Whymusty
oubesost
ubbor
n?’
‘
Ij
ustwantt
osayonet
hing.
’

‘
What
?’

‘
Idon’twantyoutoeverst
opki
ssi
ngme,
’shewhi
sper
ed.‘
Now.
..
ar
ey ougoingtohel
pmechooseanout
fi
t?’

‘
Absolut
ely.’
I
ttookahal fhourtoperusetheout
fi
tsondispl
ay,
but
fi
nal
l
yshedeci dedonadr essthatwasoneofherfavour
it
es.I
t
waslongandbl ackdetail
edwithav i
vidandcol
ourf
ulVendapri
nt.
Shedecidedtot eam i
twithredhighheelswi
thananklestr
apand
asmallblackclutchpurse.

‘
Ijustneedtochangei
ntot
his,
freshenmymake-
upandt
henwe
canbeof f
.’

‘
I
’l
lmakeaf
ewcal
l
sint
hemeant
ime.
’

Whensheemergedfrom t
hest
udiofi
ft
eenminut
eslater,
hewas
wai
ti
ngforher
.Sheknewshelookedgoodandherheartsoar
ed
ashi
seyessparkedwhenhesawher.

Thembat
ookherhand.‘
Onel
astt
hingi
smi
ssi
ng.
’

‘
What
?’

‘
Thi
s.’
Wi t
hgent
lebutpr
eci
semov ement
s,hecl
aspedt
hepewt
er
r
osebracel
etar
oundhersl
enderarm.

Thetouchofhi
sfi
ngerssentr
ivul
etsoffi
recoursi
ngt
hroughher
bl
ood;shecoul
dfeelt
hepulseathertemples.

Shehel
ditupt
othel
i
ght
.‘I
t’
sper
fect
.’

Themba’
swar
mli
pspr
int
edasmal
lki
ssont
hei
nsi
deofherwr
ist
.
‘
No,
you’
reper
fect
.’

Herhi
ghheelsgaveherenoughhei
ghtt
oti
l
therheadandki
ss
hi
m onthecheek.

‘
Wemustbeof
f.
’Hehel
douthi
sar
mforhert
otake.

Outsi
detheshoppingcentre,anewsilv
erli
mousinei
dledatthe
cur
b.Thedr i
verhoppedoutandhel dopenthebackdoorforher
.
Thembasl i
dinbesideher.Soontheywerespir
it
edawayintothe
ni
ght,watchi
ngthelight
sofRi v
oniaRoadpassbyinablurofred
andyell
ow.

MandiwasconsciousofThemba’
shard,muscl
edthi
ghpressed
agai
nsther
s.Shestif
fened,
movedclosert
othedoor
.Thebackof
thecarwashuge.Whydidhehavetositsocl
osetoher
?

‘
Wher
ear
ewegoi
ng?
’Shekeptherey
esont
hepassi
ngbi
l
lboar
ds.

‘
You’
l
lsee.
’

Afewmi nut
eslater,t
hesleekv
ehicl
epul
ledupoutsi
dethe
Riv
oniaCell
arClub.She’
dheardaboutt
herest
aurant
,butshe’
d
neverbeenher
ebef ore.

Itwasn’
tthatcoldouttonight;
justafaintnipintheair
.Winter
wouldsoonbeov er
.AssoonasThembawr appedhisarm around
hershoulder
,thechil
ldisappeared.Shefeltwarm,protect
ed,
content
.

Onceacharmi
ngoldfar
mhouse,theCell
arClubwasnow
somet
hingofani
coniceat
eryinJohannesbur
g.Ri
ghti
nthehear
t
ofl
eaf
yRivoni
a,t
herest
aurantwasrenownedfori
tswi
neand
cheesecell
araswel
lasfori
tsgorgeouspr
ivat
egardens.Mandi
breat
hedoutassheandThembast oodwait
ingfort
hemai t
re
d’
hôtel.Shewasgl
adshe’ddr
essedup.

Awell-
dressedmanappear
ed.‘
MrDl
ane,
we’
vebeenexpect
ing
you.
’

‘
I
sourt
abl
eready
?’

‘
Ofcour
se,
’camet
hecr
ispr
epl
y.‘
Thi
swaypl
ease.
’

Thecoupl
ewasshowntoatabl
eforf
ouri
ntheel
egant
,ai
ry
di
ningar
eaal
ongsi
dethepat
io.

‘
I–It
houghti
twoul
dbej
ustt
het
woofus,
’Mandi
sai
d.

‘
Wehav
eaguestj
oini
ngusf
ordi
nner
.’

Shewasdi
sappoi
nted,
butkepthercomposur
e.‘
Who?
’

‘
Oh,
you’
l
lsee.
’

Shesmi
l
ed.‘
You’
ref
ull
ofsecr
etst
oni
ght
,ar
en’
tyou?
’

Hesi
gnal
ledt
hewait
ertoorderabott
leofwine.‘
Don’tl
ookso
wor
ri
ed.
’Onelar
gewarm handcover
edhers.‘I
t’
sjustdi
nner
.’

‘
Idon’
tli
kesur
pri
ses,
’sheanswer
edst
if
fl
y.

Thewai t
erhadj ustpouredaglassofmer l
otwhenanol der
,
el
egantwomanappr oachedthet abl
e.Upclose,Mandicoul
d
i
magi neshe’dbeenv er
ybeauti
ful whenshe’dbeenyounger.
Therewasst i
llevidenceofherbeaut yinherhi
ghcheekbones,her
proudforehead,herwel l
-mai
ntainedfigur
e.

Shewor
eachi
ccanar
y-y
ell
owt
wo-
piecebusi
nesssui
t,hershor
t,
grey
inghairar
rangedinafl
att
eri
ngstyl
e.Mandi
admi r
edt
hecut
ofhersui
tandherhair.Powerdr
essi
ngatit
sbest.Howev
er,
Mandinotedthehiddenpai
ninherdar
keyes.

Asasignofrespect
,Thembastood.Duetothewoman’s
commandingpresenceandthefactt
hati
tseemedshewoul
dbe
j
oini
ngthem asthei
rmyster
yguest,Mandist
oodtoo.

‘
I
’dl
i
key
out
omeetGl
ori
aNosi
sweDl
ane,
’hesai
d.‘
Mymot
her
.’

Hi
smot
her
?

Mandi wasshocked!Thembahadseldom menti

onedhisfamily
,
othert
hant hesecondcousi
nwho’drai
sedhim.He’dcert
ainl
y
neverspokenabouthismother
;she’
dalwaysthoughtt
hewoman
hadbeenabsentf r
om hisl
if
e.

Thewoman’
shandshakewascool
,fi
rm,
conf
ident
.‘Youmustbe
Mandi
sa.
’

Mandismi
ledhermostgraci
oussmi
l
e,hopi
ngi
thi
dthener
vous
t
ensi
onknotti
nginherst
omach.

‘
Sonicetomeety ou,mydear,
’theolderwomansai d.‘
Nowplease,
l
et’
sallsi
t.Imustapologi
sefornotgetti
nghereearli
er.My
meeti
ngranlateandIcouldn’
tfi
ndadecentt axi
.’

Mandi bl
inked.Shecouldn’
timagi
nethi
sclassywomanknocki
ng
aroundinaZol aBudd;heri
deaofataxiwassurel
yachauf
feur
servi
ce.

Set
tl
edar
oundt
het
abl
e,Thembaasked,
‘Howdi
dthemeet
ing
go?
’
‘
Great
,’
Nosi
sweanswer
ed.‘Thecommi tt
eeapprovedthepl
ans
f
orthenewCapeTowntheatr
e.I
’l
ltel
lyouaboutitl
ater.
’

Thembacal
ledfort
hewaiterandthegroupor
der
edstar
ter
s;f
resh
oyst
ersf
orhim;Mandiset
tledondevi
ledlambki
dney
sand
Nosi
sweorderedaduckconfit
.

Overstar
ters,
Nosi
swet
urnedt
oMandi
.‘
Il
ovet
heuni
quedesi
gn
ofyourdress.
’

‘
Thanky
ou.
’

‘
Mandisadesi
gnedither
sel
f.
’Thembaspokewi
thpr
ide.‘
CanI
poury
oumor ewine?’

‘
No,
thanks,
’Mandi
sai
d.‘
May
bej
ustsomespar
kli
ngwat
er.
’

Shewantedto–no,neededt o–keepacl earhead.Shewasn’

t
sur
ewhatThemba’sintenti
onwasinintr
oducinghertohis
mother
.He’dal
waysbeensopr i
vat
e,soclosedupabouthispast
–forhertobehav
ingdinnerwithhi
smot hertotal
lyt
hrewheroff
bal
ance.Shesi
mplydidn’tknowwhattothink!

Nosi
swe’svoi
ceint
err
upt
edhert
hought
s.‘
Wher
eisy
our
bout
ique?
’‘
InSandt
on.
’

Thembasi
ppedathi
swi
ne.‘
Midni
ghtRose,
it’
scal
l
ed.
’

‘
That
’salovel
yname,
’hi
smot
hersmi
l
ed.‘
I
’dl
ovet
ovi
siti
t
someti
me.’

‘
You’r
ewel
cometostopbyanyti
me,
’Mandiof
fer
ed.‘
Doy
oul
i
vei
n
Jo’
burg–orar
eyoualsobasedi
nCapeTown?’

‘
Ihav
eanapar
tmenti
nHy
dePar
k,’
Nosi
sweanswer
ed.‘
WhenI
’
m
downi
nCapeTown,
Ist
aywi
thThemba.
’

‘
That
’sni
ce.
’

Mandiwasintri
guedbythebondbet
weenmotherandson.When
hadNosiswecomebacki nt
oThemba’sl
i
fe?Shewonderedhow
cl
osethepairhadgrown.

From t
heol
derwoman’sclassical
lycutoutf
it
, Mandisurmi
sed
Nosiswemustberi
ch.Thatraisedanotherquesti
on.Sheknew
Thembahadgrownupdesper atel
ypoorandi thadfuell
edhi
s
ambiti
onasayoungman.Wher ehadNosiswe’swealthcome
fr
om?

Ofcourse,
shedidnotdar
easkt
hesequesti
ons.Sti
l
l,shewas
cur
iousaboutThembaandNosi
swe’
srelat
ionshi
p.

Overt
hemaincourse–apr awncurr
yforThemba,whosti
lll
oved
hi
sspicyf
ood;sal
monf orMandi
;andami xedsal
adforNosi
swe
–theconver
sati
ontur
nedtogeneralt
opi
cs.

Mandi f
oundher sel
frelaxi
ng,enj
oyingtheambienceand
sti
mul atedbyt hecompany .Nosi
swewasknowl edgeabl
eon
books, theartsandmusi c,andMandi f
oundherinsight
s
fascinatingastheydiscussedfavouri
tenovel
s,mov i
esand
performer s.

Noneoft
hem fel
tli
kedesser
t,socoffeeandcheesewere
sel
ect
edinst
ead.Befor
ethewaitercoul
dbri
ngtheiror
der
,
Themba’
scell
phonebeeped.

‘
I
fy ou’
ll
excuseme,
I’
ll
taket
hiscal
lout
sideont
hepat
io.I
’
llbe
r
ightback.
’
Nosiswesippedatacupofsugarl
essbl
ackcof
fee.Ahabi
t,Mandi
not
ed, hersonsharedwit
hher
.Taki
ngasip,
sheregar
dedMandi
wit
hdar k,i
nscr
utableey
es.

‘
I’
m sogladtohav
emety
ou,Mandi
sa,
’shesai
d.‘
Thembahas
neveri
ntr
oducedmet
oanyoft
heyoungwomeninhisl
if
e.’

Mandi
gasped.‘
Nev
er?
’

Nosi
swenodded.‘
Ibel
i
evey
oumustbespeci
alt
ohi
m.’

Shehadnoideahowt oreacttothi
sstat
ement.Qui
ckl
y,shet
ook
asipofcoff
eeandscaldedhertongue.I
tbur
nedandshequickl
y
reachedf
oraglassofwater.

‘
DoImakey
ouner
vous,
mydear
?’

Mandi
swal
l
owed,
tri
edt
osmi
l
e.‘
No,
notatal
l
.’

‘
Good.I
’
dli
keust
obef
ri
ends,
Mandi
sa.
’

Cauti
ousl
y,Manditookanot
hersi
pofcof
fee.‘
Thembahasnev
er
oncementionedy
ou.’

‘
Nev
er?
’

‘
No.
’

‘
I’
m afrai
dThembahasnothadwhatonewoul
dconsi
dera.
..
conventi
onal
upbr
ingi
ng.
’

‘
Howso?
’

‘
Iwasli
vi
nginexi
leabr
oadforalongt
ime.I
’
m af
rai
dThembawas
br
oughtupwit
houthi
smother.
’
Paindar
kenedt
heotherwoman’salr
eadydarkeyes;Mandif
elta
st
abofcompassionforhersodeepi
talmostbroughtt
earst
oher
eyes.

‘
Thatmusthav
ebeenhar
d.’

Nosi
swe’sey
esfli
ckedovert
othepati
otomakesur
eThemba
wassti
l
loutofear
shotbefor
etur
ningbackt
oMandi
.

‘
Simon,hi
sfat
her
,wasinv
olv
edint
hest
ruggl
e;hewasdead
bef
oreThembawasevenborn.
’

‘
Idi
dn’
tknowt
hat
!’

Theol
derwomanl ower
edherv oi
ce.‘
Somemightev
ensayhe
wasanunrecogni
sedherodur
ingthoset
imes.
’

Mandir
eali
sedtherewassomuchshedi
dn’
tknowabout
Themba’
sbackground.

‘
Ofcour
se,’Nosi
sweconti
nued,
‘Thembadoesn’
tli
ket
oment
ioni
t.
Pl
ease.
..don’
ttel
lhi
m about

ourconv
ersat
ion.
’

Beforeshecoul
danswer,Themba’stal
lbodywasmov
ingacr
oss
therest
aurantf
loor
,backtothet
able.

‘
Arey our
eadyforournextst
op?’Hi
srar
esmi
l
ecaused
exci
tementtocl
enchinMandi’sst
omach.

‘
Youmeant
her
e’smor
e?

‘
Itol
dyou,’hesaid,
leani
ngov
ert
owhi
speri
nherear
,‘
toni
ghti
s
al
laboutsurpr
ises.
’
Thatmuchwastrue,Mandireal
ised.Shewasseeingaf acett
o
Themba’
spersonal
it
ythatshe’dneverknownexist
ed.Itwasasif
shewasseei
nganothermanemer geinfr
ontofhereyes.

Aft
erf
ini
shi
ngthei
rcof
fee,
Nosi
sweandMandi
madeaqui
ckv
isi
t
tot
heladi
es’
room whi
l
e

Thembasett
ledthebi
l
l.Outi
nthecoolnight
,thesi
l
verl
i
mo
whiskedt
hetri
oawayint
othecit
ystr
eets.

‘
Wher
ear
ewegoi
ng?
’

Thembacaut
ionedhi
smot
hert
obequi
et.‘
Iwanti
ttobea
sur
pri
se.
’

Asthesleekcarsai l
edov ert
heNelsonMandelaBri
dge,Mandi
guessedthattheywer eheadedforNewtown.Whenthelongcar
smoothlytur
nedt hecornerintoWestStr
eet,
sheknewherguess
hadbeencor r
ect.Soont heywerei
nt hehear
tofNewtown’s
rev
ampedcul turalpreci
nct.

TheIsidukoTheatrewashousedi nast
unningnewmoder n
bui
ldi
ng, combini
ngmodernele-mentsofsteel
andglasswith
cul
turalmotif
sont hewall
.Astarkscul
ptur
eofagr oupofXhosa
dancersstoodinfrozenmagni
ficencei
nthebright
,doubl
e-domed
foyer
.

‘
Thi
spl
acei
swonder
ful
,
’Mandi
sai
d,awed.

‘
Isn’ti
t?’Nosi
swesai
d.‘
I’
m sur
ey ou’
llenj
oytheshow.Si
nceI’
ve
beenbacki nSout
hAfri
ca,I
’
vebeendev oti
ngmyt i
metovari
ous
charit
iesandcommit
tees,
buttheatr
ehasal way
sbeenmyf i
rst
l
ov e.I
’m apatr
onoft
heIsi
duko.’
‘
Mot herwantedtobeanact
resswhenshewasyounger
.’Themba
stoodbetweenthetwowomenast heysi
ppedachampagne
cocktai
l.

‘
That
’swhyIwant edtostar
tthi
stheat
re,’
Nosiswesai
d.‘
Iwant
ed
t
orestoreXhosacult
ureandbri
ngittothepeoplei
nawaythat
wasentert
aini
ng.
’

‘
Youcer
tai
nlyenj
oyy
ourr
oleasbenef
act
ort
othear
ts,
’Themba
sai
d.

‘
Oh,myson,don’tf
orgetyouplayedapart.
’Nosi
swewavedher
gl
assatthewonderful
artonthewall.‘
You’
retheonewhogotme
st
art
edonallt
his.’
Curi
osi
tysparkedi
nMandi .‘
Whatdoyou
mean?’

Thembatookherar
m.‘
Ithi
nkweshoul
dgoi
n,t
heper
for
mancei
s
aboutt
ostar
t.
’

Heusher edherandhi smot herintot hedar k, sumpt uoust heatr

e.
Therewasamur muramongt heaudi encemember sast hestage
turneddarkandt hesoundofsof tdrumsf i
lledt heaudi tori
um.
Mandi wasbr eat
hlesswi thanti
cipation.Theaudi encegr ewsi l
ent
asaspot li
ghtfounday oungwomanal onei nt hemi ddleoft he
stage.Hervoicewasst rong,clearandpassi onateasshespoke
aloudapoem ofdr eamsandf ear,ofgr iefandf orgi
v eness.The
beautyofherwor dsmov edMandi totears; shewasgr atef
ul t
hat
thedarkauditori
um hidthegl i
steningt r
acksonhercheeks.

She’
dhateThembat oseeheremotional
react
iont
othe
perf
ormance,butNosi
sweglancedatherandsmil
ed
sympathet
ical
ly
.
Sheleanedoverandwhi
sper
ed,
‘Don’
twor
ry.Icr
iedt
hef
ir
stt
imeI
hear
dt hi
spoem.’

Thunder
ousapplausebr
okeasthenextactcameont hestage.
SoonMandi wassweptawaybythepoundingr
hy t
hmsoft he
tal
ent
edgroupofdancersandmusici
ans.Shewasawedbyt he
women’sovert
onesingi
ng,byt
helowandcompl exsounds.It
rai
sedgoosebumpsonherbarearms.

Thedancer
sweresuperb,
movingtheirshouldersindist
inct
ive,co
-or
dinat
edmovementstothet
radi
tionalXhosamusi c.Thepiece
madegooduseoftheXhosabowi nstruments,too.Shelovedthe
umrhubhemouthi
nstr
umentandthewonder ful
soundsoft he
uhadi.

Inthedar
k,Thembareachedf
orherhandandhel
ditl
oosel
yinhi
s
coolpal
m.Mandifel
ta

melt
ingwar
mt hcur
linherbell
y.Shefel
tcomfor
ted,al
iv
e,soali
ve
i
nthemoment .I
twassogoodt obeherewithhim,sheknewit
wasamemor yshe’
dcherishnomat t
erwhathappenedinthe
f
utur
e.

Theshowwasspectacul
ar,acel
ebrat
ionofXhosacult
uret
hrough
vi
vi
dcolour
ful
cost
umes, dance,
story
tel
li
ng,poet
ryandmusic.

Shewasonherf
eetf
ort
heov
ati
onatt
heend.

‘
Didy
ouenj
oyt
hat
?’Nosi
sweasked.

‘
Amazi
ng,
justamazi
ng.
’

Af
ter
war
ds,
Nosi
swei
nvi
tedherandThembat
ojoi
nthesmal
l
castpart
ybackst
age.Backst
agewasacheer
fulr
iotofpeopl
e,
noise,
colour
.Theshowhadbeenasuccessandthecastwas
cel
ebrati
ng.

Mandiwasint
roducedtothedir
ect
or.‘
Thi
sisay
oungwomany
ou
shoul
dtal
kto,
’Nosiswesaid.

Mandi
coul
dn’
thi
dehersur
pri
se.‘
Me?
’

‘
She’
sadesi
gner
.Weshoul
dspeakt
oheraboutdesi
gni
ngf
orus.
’

Atthatmoment
,Thembawaspull
edawayf
rom t
hegroupbyt
wo
youngfemal
edancer
s.‘
Themba,
Themba–y oumustcomesee
ournewmoves.
’

Thembaal lowedhimsel
ftobedr aggedoffwithalopsi
dedsmil
e.
Asshel i
stenedtothedi
rector
, Mandiwatchedhimfrom t
he
cornerofhereye.Hewasobv iousl
ywellknownandwel ll
ovedby
thecastandhel ookedr
ightathomeashechat t
edandlaughed
withthem.

Awhil
elat
er,
Mandi
foundher
sel
fwi
thNosi
sweatt
hesnacks
t
abl
e.

‘
Whatpar
tdoesThembapl
ayi
nal
lthi
s?’
sheasked.

‘
Themba’ sagoodman,’hismotherrepli
ed,
pouri
ngaglassof
punch.‘
Henotonlybui
ltthist
heatr
ef orus,
hefundst
hewhol e
proj
ect,aswel
lasdonati
nghistimeandmoneyt omanyot her
chari
ti
es.’

Mandi
coul
dn’
thi
det
hesur
pri
sei
nherv
oice.‘
Idi
dn’
tknowt
hat
.’

‘
Mysondoesn’
tli
ket
omakeabi
gdeal
abouti
t,
’Nosi
swesai
d,
‘
buthe’sal
way sgivenbacktothecommuni
ty.He’scommit
tedt
o
t
hear t
s,al
thoughI’vetakenonmostoft
heresponsi
bil
i
tyof
r
unningthi
st heat
re.’

‘
Iimagi
nehedoesn’
thav
eal otoff
reet
imet
ospendonhi
s
communit
ywork,
’Mandiobserv
ed.

‘
Oh,hemakestime.Recentl
y,hesetupacommi t
teetoover
see
t
hebuil
dingofasimilart
heat
reinCapeTown.Ihadameet i
ng
wi
ththem t
hisaf
ternoonandeveryt
hingwasapproved.
’

‘
Youmustbepr
oudofhi
m.’

‘
Iam.’ Nosiswewasgl owi
ngwit
hadmir
ati
onasshelookedover
atThemba.‘ He’scomealongwayandhe’
smadeitonhisown.It
wasn’teasyf orhi
m buthewasdet
ermi
nedtor
iseabovehis
ci
rcumst ances.’

Thembai
sagoodman.

Nosiswe’swordsechoedinhermind.Shewasstart
ingtoseehis
motherwasr i
ght.Thembaisagoodman.Hewasagoodman, a
manwhocar edaboutot her
s,t
hearts,
hiscul
tur
e.Notjustthe
ambitiousmoney-dr
ivenmil
li
onai
reshe’dsounf
air
lyaccusedhim
ofbeing.

Mandiwasdefinit
elyst
art
ingtoseehiminanewl i
ght
.The
probl
em was,
shewasf al
l
inginl
ovewithhim al
lov
eragai
n.And
shesti
ll
hadnoi deahowhef el
tabouther
.

Ahalfhourlater
,Thembasweptheroutofthet
heat
re.Hismother
haddecidedtostayatthepar
ty;
itwasjustt
hetwoofthem i
nthe
backofthelimo.
‘
Whendoy
ougobackt
oCapeTown?
’

‘
Tomor r
owmor
ning,
’hesai
d.I
ntheshadows,
hel
ookedt
ir
edbut
r
elaxed.

‘
Whydidn’
tyouev
ert
ell
meabouty
ourf
ami
l
y,Themba?
’Mandi
askedsof
tl
y.

Heshrugged,
dar keyesshut
ti
ngoutanyemot
ion.‘
I
tnev
er
seemedimportant.
’

‘
Il
ikeyourmot
her
,’
shesai
d.‘
Ican’
tbel
i
evei
ttookmesol
ongt
o
meether.
’

‘
I
’m gl
ad.It
hinkshel
i
kesy
out
oo.
’

‘
Whendi
dshegetbackt
oSout
hAf
ri
ca?
’

‘
Afewy
ear
sago,
’heanswer
edi
nguar
dedt
ones.

Caut
iousl
y,sheasked,
‘Andy
ourf
ather
?’

‘
Myf at
herdiedalongtimeago,Mandi
,’
hesaid,l
ooki
ngoutthe
dar
kenedwi ndowofthecar.‘
Whydoyoualwaysinsi
stonraki
ng
upthepast?It’
sdead.Gone.Wecan’
tchangeit
.Wehav et
omov e
on.
’

‘
Canwe?
’sheasked.‘
Canwemov
eonf
rom t
hepast
?Youand
me?’

Wit
houttur
ninghi
shead,
hisey
esf
oundher
s,hi
smout
hfi
rmed.
‘
Mandi..
.’

Sof
tl
yMandibitherl
i
p.‘
Howcant
hepastbef
orgot
ten,
Themba,
if
i
t’
snotf
orgi
ven?’
‘
Idon’
tknowwhaty
oumean.
’

‘
Ithi
nkyoudo.’Shereachedtotouchhishar
djawline.‘
Idon’
t
haveal
lthepi
ecestot hej
igsaw,butIknowyourpastmadeyou
whoyouaretoday.
’

Hecur
sed.‘
Youdon’
tknowany
thi
ng.
’

‘
Youneedt
oleti
tgo.
’

‘
Ihav
e,’
hesai
dti
ght
ly.‘
Il
iv
efort
oday
.Il
i
vef
ort
omor
row.
’

‘
Doest
hatt
omor
rowi
ncl
udeme?
’

Thembacaughtherwri
sti
nhisl
ong,fi
rmf i
nger
s,hi
sli
psbrushi
ng
agai
nstherpal
m,sendi
ngexqui
sit
efeather
sofsensat
iont
hrough
herbody.

‘
Youknowitdoes,
’hewhispered.‘
Iwantt
odoi
tri
ghtt
hist
ime.I
wantt
ogettoknowy ouagain.’

Sheleanedover
,kissedhi
scheek.‘
Iwantthatt
oo.’Iwanttoget
toloveyouagai
n,shethought
,asmallacheinherchest
.Iwant
thatmorethananythi
ng.

Afewminut
eslat
er,t
hecarwaspul
li
ngupout
-si
deherhouse.‘
I
’l
l
seeyout
othedoor,
’Thembasai
d.

‘
Thanky
ou.
’

Onthedarkenedpor
ch,sheturnedt
ohim.‘I
’v
enev
erhadani
ght
asamazingasthi
sone.Idon’twanti
ttoend.’

Hewr appedhisar
msaroundherwaist,
pull
edhertohi
shar
dbody.
‘
Itdoesn’thav
etoend,
mypr et
tyone.
’Shedranki
nthesmel
lofhi
s
wonder
ful
aft
ershav
e,herheadl
i
ght
,herhear
tfr
ee.

Herey
essear
chedhi
s.‘
Iguessi
tdoesn’
t.
’

Themba’sli
psbrushedagai
nsthermout
hinwarm,
teasi
ng
st
rokes.‘
Infact
,thi
scanbejustt
hebegi
nni
ng.
’

Herv
oicewasat
ent
ati
vemur
mur
.‘Doy
ouwantt
o–?
’

Shewascutoffbyasuddenbri
ghtli
ghtabove,
thesoundofakey
i
nthelockandthedoorbei
ngwrenchedopen.Theint
imat
e
momentwasshat t
eredasshej
erkedbackfr
om Themba’s
embrace.

Withagasp,Mandi
tur
nedt
oseeaf
ami
l
iarf
aceappeari
nthe
doorf
rame.

Chapt
erSev
en

‘
Nombi !
’Shocked,Mandi
star
edathersi
ster
.‘You’
reonl
y
supposedtoarri
vetomorr
ow!’

Thisni
ghtwasj ustful
lofsurpri
ses,Mandithoughtgl
umly.She
hadn’
texpectedtof i
ndheryoungersist
erinherhousetonight.
Nombi waslookinggorgeous,asalways.Eveninapairoffl
ared
yogapantsandaf leecyhoodedtop,shemanagedt olookli
kea
topmodel.

‘
Iarri
vedadayearl
y.
’Nombi eyeswerenotonher ,
shenoticed,
butfi
xedonThemba.‘If
oundy oursparekeyunderthepotplant
.
Notasafeplacet
oleaveit
.’Shepouted.‘
Youmustbemor e
caref
ul,
Mandisa!
’

Mandi
flushed,
ignor
inghersi
ster
’schi
dingr
emar
k.‘
Nombi
,you
r
ememberThemba.
’

Nombi
’
sgr
eet
ingwascool
asi
ce.‘
Ofcour
se.
’

‘
Nombi
.
’Thembanodded.‘
You’
rel
ooki
ngwel
l
.’

Hersi
sterar
chedherbr
ows.‘
Igetpai
dtol
ookwel
l
.’

Thembashowedhisper
fectwhi
tet
eet
h.‘
Ofcour
se,
Ifor
got
;
you’
reamodelnow.’

Nombi
tur
nedt
oMandi
.‘
IhopeI
’
m noti
nter
rupt
ingany
thi
ng?
’

‘
No,
’Mandi
li
ed.‘
We’
vej
ustcomebackf
rom t
het
heat
re.
’

Therewastensi
onf
izzingbet
weenThembaandhersi
ster
.Nombi
probabl
ybl
amedhimf or

hur
ti
ngMandi
saal
lthosey
ear
sago.

Li
ghtl
y,Thembat
ouchedhershoul
der
.‘Ishoul
dgetgoi
ng.The
car
’swait
ing.
’

Wi
thanawkwar
dsmi
l
eMandi
tur
nedt
ohi
m.‘
Thanksf
ort
oni
ght
.’

Hi
sli
psbr
ushedaki
ssagai
nsthercheek.‘
I
’l
lcal
lyou.
’

Het
urnedt
ohersi
ster
.‘Goodby
e,Nombi
.’

Nombigavehi
m acoolsmi l
ebutwalkedoffwi
thoutaword.
Mandi
foll
owedhersi
sterinsi
de,l
ockingupbehi
ndthem.She
f
oundNombi i
ntheki
tchen.

‘
Iwasjustmaki
ngcof
feewhenIhear
dthatf
ancycarpul
lup,
’she
sai
d.

Mandi
smi
l
ed.‘
Icoul
ddowi
thacup.
’
‘
Wildni
ghtatt
hetheat
re?
’ Thebi
tchi
nessranthr
oughhersi
ster
’s
v
oiceli
keaci
d,butMandideci
dedtoignor
eit.

‘
Justafewgl
assesofwi
ne,
’sher
epl
i
ed,
‘buti
t’
sbeenal
ong
week.
’

Sel
fi
shasalways,
Nombi di
dn’taskwhyherweekhadbeenso
demandi
ng,buti
nsteadturnedtheconver
sati
ontohersel
f.‘
I’
m
al
soabsol
utel
yexhausted–wi thseri
ousjetl
agaddedtoit.
’

‘
Shoul
dyouhav
ecaf
fei
newi
thj
etl
ag?
’

Nombimixedinst
antcof
feewi
thboi
l
ingwat
er.‘
Oh,
I’
ll
justt
akea
sl
eepi
ngpil
l.
’

Shestir
redinmil
k, obvi
ousl
yfor
getti
ngManditookhercof
fee
bl
ack.WhilehandingMandi t
hemug, shespot
tedther
ose
bracel
etonhersister’
sarm.‘
That’
sprett
y.’

Mandi
’
sfacet
urnedhot
.‘Oh–y
es,
isn’
tit
?’

‘
Cheapbutpr
ett
y,y
es,
’Nombi
sni
ff
ed.‘
Didhegi
vei
ttoy
ou?
’

Agai
n,t
hatt
oneofr
idi
cul
einhersi
ster
’sv
oice,
Mandi
real
i
sed.
‘
Doesn’
tmatt
er.
’

‘
Ithi
nki
tdoes.
’

Mandi
bitdownonherbackt
eet
h.‘
Igoti
toutofacat
alogue,
OK?
’

‘
Whoa, noneedtobesotouchy
.’ThenNombigri
nned:
‘Hey
!I
thoughtI’
dsl
eeplat
eandthentomorrowaf
ter
noonwecouldgo
shopping.
’

Mandi
cradl
edt
hemugbet
weenherhands,
enj
oyi
ngt
hewar
mth.
‘
Ihav
etowor
ktomor
row.
’

‘
Howbor
ing,
’Nombi
sni
ff
ed.‘
IguessI
’
lldor
etai
lther
apyonmy
own.
’

‘
Wecoul
dgot
omov
iest
omor
rowni
ght
.’

‘
Bey
ondbor
ing.
’

I
nwar dly,Mandigr
oaned.She’df orgot
tenhowdemandingher
l
itt
lesistercoul
dbe.Sheneededt obeentertai
ned,
amused,
prai
sedanddi str
actedconstantl
y .Wherewasshegoingtof
ind
theti
met okeepherfrom boredom andstartworkonher
upcomi ngcoll
ecti
on?

‘
Whydon’tyoucomewithmet oadanceclasstomor
row?’
Mandi
asked,
str
uckbysuddeninspi
rat
ion.‘
Youcanmeetmyfri
end,
Li
nda.She’
ll
havei
deasonwhat ’
shotinJozi.
’

‘
Mmm, that
’sani
dea.Icoul
ddowit
hagoodworkoutbefor
emy
model
l
ingshoott
hisweek.Mybodyismyf
ort
une,
afteral
l.
’

‘
Great.
’Mandil
ookeddownatherunt
ouchedmi
l
kycof
fee.‘
I
guessIshoul
dgettobed.
’

‘
You’
renotget
ti
ngoffsoeasi
l
y!’
Nombi
waggedaf
inger
.‘Iwant
t
oknowallabouty
ouandThemba.’

Shesuppressedanot
hermoan.‘
Look,
Nombi
–it
’sl
ate.Ihav
ean
ear
lyst
arttomorrow.
’

Hersi
ster
’sey
esnar
rowed.‘
You’
redef
ini
tel
yhi
dingsomet
hing–’

Mandislammeddownhermugdownont
hecount
er.‘
I
’m not
hi
dinganythi
ng–’
‘
What’shedoingbackinyourli
fe?
’Nombiint
err
upt
ed.‘Takingyou
onthetowninsomef ancyri
de?Alimo!Hemustbereal
lyloaded
now.’

Pressi
ngherf
inger
stohert
emples,Mandimutt
ered,
‘I
sthatal
l
youthi
nkabout?Al
lany
oneeverthi
nksabout
?Money ?’

‘
Well,
he’
scert
ainl
yfl
aunt
ingi
t,
’Nombi
argued.‘
Howdi
dyout
wo
hookupagai
n?’

‘
Nombi
,Ij
ustwanttotakeanicebubbl
ebathandgot
obed.I
hav
eahect
icdayatthebout
iquetomorrow.
’

‘
YouknowUncl
eJakeshat
edhi
m,don’
tyou?
’

‘
Well,Uncl
eJakesisn’
taroundanymor e,
ishe?’
Mandisi
ghed.
‘
Besides,I
’
m nolongeray ounggi
rl
.Icanlookaf
termy
self
.Ican
handlemyownl oveli
fe.
’

‘
Cany ou?
’hersi
stert
aunt
ed.‘
Yousur
eaboutt
hat
?’Yes.
’I
twasa
def
iantst
atement
.

‘
He’
ssti
l
lashotasev
er,
’Nombi
stat
ed,
herey
esnar
rowi
ng.‘
I
s
t
hatt
heappeal
?’

‘
Idon’
tknow.Yout
ell
me.D’
youst
il
lhav
eacr
ushonhi
m,si
si?
’

Mandi
hadn’
tmeantt
osnapatheryoungersi
ster,
butshewas
t
ir
edandshedi
dn’
tli
ket
hedir
ecti
ontheconversati
onwastaki
ng.

‘
Don’
tberidi
cul
ous,
’scof
fedNombi,
taki
ngasipofhercoff
ee.
‘
Well
,youbett
ergett
obedthen.
..Don’
tletmekeepyou.
’

Mandiwasabouttoapol
ogi
sef
orherout
bur
st,
butf
ati
gue
dr
ainedherofal
lemoti
ons.
I
nthebat
hroom,shepour
edagener
ouspor
ti
onofherpapay
agel
i
ntot
hehotwater.

Sit
tingontheedgeoft
het
ub,
shepul
l
edof
fherhi
ghheel
sand
rubbedherfeet
.

Att
hatmoment,Nombipoppedherheadaroundthecor
neroft
he
bat
hroom.‘
I
stheli
neni
nt hespar
eroom cl
ean?’

‘
Yes,
’sheanswer
ed,
‘Iwashedi
tyest
erday
.’

Nombi
paused.‘
Somet
hingsmel
l
sgoodi
nher
e.’

‘
I
t’
smypapay
abodywash,
myonei
ndul
gence.
’

‘
Wher
edoy oukeepthecleantowel
s?’
Nombi
asked.‘
I
’l
lneedt
o
t
akeashoweri
nt hemorning.
’

Mandi’
svoi
cewashoar
sewi
tht
ir
edness.‘
I
nthehal
lcl
oset
.Top
shel
f.
’

Nombi’
ssuddensmil
emadeherl
ooky
oungerandsweet
er.‘
Did
youhav
eagoodt i
metoni
ght
?Wit
hThemba?’

Mandi
nodded.‘
Idi
d.’

‘
I’
m gl
ad.’
Hersi
sterl
eanedov
er,ki
ssedheronherf
orehead.‘
I
t’s
gr
eatseei
ngyouagai
n,Mandi
.’

Cl
oset
otear
s,Mandi
smi
l
ed.‘
I
’m happyt
ohav
eyouher
e.’

Thenextday ,
Mandi wasatthestudioearl
y,worki
ngonf i
nishi
ng
touchesforherSept
embercol l
ect
ion.Shewasco- or
dinat
ingthe
outfi
tsonamock- upboard,complet
ewi t
hsketches,f
abri
c
swatchesandPolaroidpi
cturesofeachoutfi
t.Whenshewasn’ t
sur
eofacombi
nat
ion,
she

cal
l
edAndr
ewi
nforasecondopi
nion.

‘
MissMor
ena,
Ineedy
ourhel
p.’

Hel
aughed.‘
Justr
ubt
hemagi
clant
ernt
hreet
imes,
honey
,and
I
’mt
here!
’

‘
That
’sf
orageni
e,
’shet
eased.‘
Notaf
air
y!’

Hepul
l
edat
ongue.‘
Youwantmyhel
pornot
?’

‘
OK,
OK.
’Shehel
dupamock-
up.‘
Whatdoy
out
hinkoft
his?
’

Andrewtappedhisfi
ngersonhischi
n.‘
Ilov
eit,
lov
eit
!’het
ri
ll
ed.
‘
ThebrightAfri
canpri
ntsreal
l
ystandoutwhenyoumatcht
hem
wit
hplain,sol
i
dcolours.
’

‘
Guessy
oucan’tgowr
ongwit
hblack,eh?
’Mandi
nodded.She
hel
dupanot
hermock-
up.‘
Whataboutthi
scombi
nat
ion?’

‘
Mmm,
’Andr
ewmur
mur
edpensi
vel
y.‘
Hat
eit
!’

Shegr
oaned.‘
Why
?

‘
Putt
hepalebl
uebeadbagwit
hther
edpri
ntdr
ess,r
athert
hana
r
edcl
utch,
’headv
ised.‘
I
tbr
eakst
hecol
ourupbet
ter
.’

‘
You’
rer
ight
.’

‘
Honey
,’hesai
d,‘
I
’m al
way
sri
ght
!’

Andsot heaft
ernooncontinued.Mandi
surviv
edonbl ackcoffee,
achocolatecr
oissantandthehighofcreat
ivi
ty.Wi
thasmal lj
olt
ofawareness,shereal
isedwhyshewaspushi ngherselfsohard.
Shewant
edThembat
obepr
oudofher
.

Whenshegotbackhomet hatevening, herl

ivi
ngr oom l
ookedl ike
theclosi
ngdownsal eofthewor l
d’st opdesigner sasNombi ’
s
shoppinglaystr
ewnacr ossev eryavai l
ablesurface.Obvi
ously,her
sist
erhadf unatthemal l
,shethoughtwi thatraceofbitt
erness.
Spendingmoneyl ikeitwaswat erwhenshe, Mandi ,wasbleeding
fi
nancial
ly
.Ofcour se,shecouldn’tblameNombi .Shehadn’tonce
sharedwithhersisterhowbadt hingshadbecomeatMi dnight
Rose.

Nombi bouncedouttheguestbedr
oom i
nabrandnewblack
desi
gnertracksui
t.‘
Let
’shi
tthedancest
udi
o–I ’
mreadytorock
‘
nroll
!’

‘
I
t’
shar
dlyr
ock.
’Mandi
rol
l
edherey
es.‘
Mor
eAf
ro-
Cuban.
’

‘
What
.Ev
er.
’

Inasurpri
singchangeofhabit
,Lindawasn’tlateforcl
assand
waswai t
ingforthem attheAf
ro-Dancestudio.Mandihadjust
enoughtimetointroduceherf
riendtohersisterwhenCole

st
rodei
nwi
thhi
sdr
eadl
ocksandgr
inandcr
azyT-
shi
rt
s.

‘
Higuy
s!’
hecal
l
ed.‘
Let
’sgetmov
in’
!
’

Thecl
assst
art
ed.

Onelookathergor
geoussi
sterandMandicoul
dtellCol
ewas
smit
ten.TheAmeri
candancercoul
dn’
tgetkeephi
sey esoff
Nombi.AndNombi –bei
ngasl i
nkyf
ashi
onmodel andall–
pl
ayeditcoyandal
oofwit
hthepoorguy.
I
nsteadofapangofj
ealousy,
Mandif
eltar
ushofr
eli
ef.Shewas
j
ustgladt
hatCol
e’
sattenti
onhadshi
ft
edtoanewtar
get.

Ther eal
isati
onstr
uckheri nherchest ;shefrozeinthemi ddleofa
compl i
catedCubanheel mov ement .Whatdidt hatmean?Oh, i
t
wasobv i
ous,wasn’ti
t?Shehadey esonlyforoneman; herheart
andheremot i
onswer ecompl et
elyinvestedinThemba.Shewas
fal
li
ngi nlovewit
hhi m al
loveragain.Infact,shereali
sedwi tha
shudderingheart
beat,she’dneverst oppedbeinginlovewi thhim.
But,sheaskedher sel
f,washeamanwor thknowing?Aman
worthlov i
ng?

Pushingt hethoughtfrom hermind–todeal wit

hlater–she
concentratedonf ol
lowingtherestoft
hecl ass.Howev er
,her
heartwasst il
lbeati
ngdoubl et
imeandi thadnot hi
ngt odowit
h
theenergeticdancer outi
nes.

Aft
erdanceclass,
Coleinvi
tedthethreeyoungwomenoutfor
cof
fee;r
eluct
antl
y,Mandiagreedtojoini
nforaqui
ckcoff
ee.

‘
Westil
lhavet
ogettoamov i
e,
’sheremi
ndedhersi
sterandLi
nda
i
nthechangeroom.‘
Ther
e’sanewromanti
ccomedyIwantto
cat
ch.
’

‘
Chi
l
l,
’Nombi
sai
dinahuf
fyv
oice.‘
Thi
swi
l
lbef
un.
’

Li
ndabumpedhershoul
deragai
nstMandi
.‘
Looksl
ikey
ouhave
compet
it
ionf
orCole’
sat
tenti
on.
’
‘Nombii
swelcometohim.
’

‘
Please!
’Nombi
gav
ethem anar
chl
ook.‘
Whocoul
dhandl
ethose
T-
shirt
s!’

‘
Comeon,
’eggedLi
nda.‘
Youl
i
kehi
m.’
Nombi
sni
ff
ed.‘
Oh,
buthe’
ssoy
oungandsoobv
iousl
ypoor
!’

‘
Andsoobv
iousl
ycut
e?’
Lindat
eased.

‘
Socute,
’Nombigi
ggl
ed.‘
Iwanttoputhi
minabasketatt
he
bot
tom ofmybed,
li
keapuppy!
’

Al
lthr
eebrokei
ntol
aught
erast
heywal
kedt
hrought
hegy
mto
meetCol
e.

Ahal
fhourl
ater
,thef
ourofthem f
oundacor
nert
abl
eatt
heback
ofanear
bycoff
eeshop.The

smel
lofcof
feeandt hewarm ov
enswasheavenl
y.Col
eordered
i
ce-
coff
eesandasliceoflemonmeri
ngueforeach,
exceptf
or
Nombiwhoinsi
stedshe’dgi
venupcakewhenshesignedher

model
l
ingcont
ract
.

‘
Whatar
eyougi
rl
supt
othi
sev
eni
ng?
’Col
easked.

‘
Nothi
ngmuch,’
Nombisai
d,seduct
ivel
ytoy
ingwi
ththepl
ast
ic
st
rawofhercol
dcof
feedr
ink.‘
Jozii
sprovi
ngtobesodul
l!
’

Mandi
shotheral
ook.‘
We’
regoi
ngt
othemov
ies.
’

‘
Ithi
nkthat’
sbori
ng.
’Nombif
lut
ter
edherey
elashesatCol
e.‘
Don’
t
youthi
nkthat’
sbori
ng,
Col
e?’

‘
Maybe,
’hemused.‘
Wecoul
dsti
ll
cat
cht
hatnewCubancl
ub.You
di
ddit
chuslastt
ime,
Mandi
sa.
’

‘
Yes,
youdi
d,’
Lindachi
medi
n.‘
C’mon,
Mandi
.Itwi
l
lbef
un.
’

Sheshookherhead.‘
Ican’
thav
eal
ateni
ght
.’
‘
Havesomefun,
sisi
.’
Nombi
chal
l
engedherwi
thast
are.‘
What
ar
eyou,agr
andma?’

‘
Ihav
etowor
konmycol
l
ect
ion,
’Mandi
argued.

‘
Oh, y
es.Whatar
eyoudoi
ngf
ort
hel
aunch,
byt
heway
?’Li
nda
asked.

‘
Notsur
e.’
Mandi
shr
ugged.‘
Hav
en’
tgi
veni
tthatmucht
hought
.’

‘
MyGod,’
Lindaexcl
aimed.‘
I
t’sl
esst
hanamont
haway
.Bet
ter
t
hinkf
ast
.’

‘
Ithi
nky
oushoul
dhav
eaf
ashi
onshow,
’Nombi
pipedup.

Mandiwasshocked.Foronce,
hersist
erwasn’
tthi
nki
ngofher
sel
f
andshowi
nginter
estinMandi’
scareer
.

Col
e’
sfacebr
okei
ntoasmi
l
e.‘
That
’sanawesomei
dea.
’

‘
I’
m sur
eIcoul
dcatchabreakinmyschedul
e,
’Nombi
sai
d.‘
I
coul
dbeoneofyourmodels.
’

‘
I
’ddef
ini
tel
ycomet
hen,
’Col
ebeamed.

‘
I’
ddefi
nit
elyi
nvi
tey
out
hen.
’Nombi
rat
chet
edupherf
li
rt
ingski
l
ls
anot
ch.

Therewasdef
ini
tel
yabuzzbet
weenCol
eandhersi
ster
,Mandi
real
i
sed.

‘
Thatmakesonemodel
–wher
edoIgett
hemoneyt
ohi
reot
her
model
s?’

Nombitappedherfinger
sonthetabl
e.‘
Icouldasksomeofmy
model
l
ingf r
iends.
’Shesoundeddoubt
ful
.‘I
’
m notsuret
hey’
dhel
p
outwi
thoutaf
eet
hough.
’

Atthatmoment,anotheri
deasparkedinMandi’smind.Shehid
herexci
tementfr
om herfri
ends,butshewassur eshe’
djusthi
ton
anideatogetsomefr eemodelsfortheshow.‘
It’
saninter
esti
ng
i
dea,’wasal
lshesaidnow.‘ButhowdoIseti tuponsuchshor t
noti
ce?’

‘
Icoul
dhelp,
’Li
ndasaid.‘
Afteral
l,
I’
minPR;Ihaveawholefat
bl
ackbookofcont
acts.Edit
ors.Phot
ogr
aphers.Cel
ebr
it
ies.
’

‘
Coul
dyou?
’Mandi
bitherl
i
p.‘
Imean–woul
dyou–dot
hatf
or
me?’

‘
Ofcour
se!
’

Thenadepressi
ngthoughtpi
ercedthroughMandi’
sexci
tement
.
‘
But..
.butwherewouldweholdaf ashionshow?
’

Foramoment ,
thetabl
ewassil
ent.Col
ewait
edf ort
hewait
ress
toclearthei
rpl
atesandgl
assesbefor
espeakingup.‘
Whatabout
thedancestudio?Wecoul
dsetupar unwayinthemiddl
eofthe
dancef l
oor!
’

‘
You’
dhav
etogett
heowner
’sper
missi
on,
’Nombi
caut
ioned.

‘
Iam theowner
,’
hesai
dproudl
y.‘
Iboughti
ttwomont
hsago.You
see,
I’
vedeci
dedtost
ayinSout
hAfri
ca.’

‘
OhCol
e–y ou’
reageni
us!
’Nombi
leanedov
erandsmackedher
l
i
psagai
nsthi
scheek.

Thedancer’
ssmil
edt
hreat
enedt
ospl
i
thi
sface.‘
Er,
Idon’
tknow
aboutgeni
us.’
‘
Geni
us!
’Thet
hreewomenechoedemphat
ical
l
y.

‘
OK,
OK,
’hespokequi
ckl
y.‘
I
’l
lseti
tup.
’

Li
ndahoot
ed,
‘That
’sset
tl
edt
hen!
’

‘
Wait,
notsof ast
,’
Mandisai
nter
ject
ed.‘
Isti
l
lhavetoorgani
sethe
models.I
’
ll.
..I
’l
ll
etevery
oneknowtomorrow.ButIt
hink–Ireall
y
t
hink–wecanpul litof
f.
’

‘
Ofcour
sewecan,’
Nombi beamed.‘
Thi
sisgoi
ngt
obet
hemost
f
abul
ousshowever,
justy
ouwaitandsee!
’

‘
Ithi
nkweshouldhi
tthecl
ubandcel
ebrate,
’Col
esai
d.‘
Nomor
e
coff
ee.Thi
scal
l
sforsomethi
ngst
ronger.
’

‘
Att
hev
eryl
east
,’
Nombi
addedsmoot
hly
.

Wit
hatwistofr
egreti
nherhear
t,Mandi
wishedt
hatThembawas
her
etosharei
nthemoment .

Chapt
erEi
ght

‘
Shal
lwehav
ecof
feeont
hebal
cony
?’

‘
Thatsoundsni
ce.
’Shetr
iedt
oquel
lthener
vousf
lut
teri
nher
st
omachwi t
hasmile.

‘
I
t’
smor
epr
ivat
eandt
her
e’sal
otmor
esun.
’

Mandif
oll
owedNosi
sweDlanet
hroughtheelegantHydePark
apar
tmenttowar
dst
heFr
enchdoorsopeningupt oanencl
osed
bal
cony
.

She’
dwornasmartpai
rofbl
ackf
it
tedtr
ouser
sandacrispwhit
e
bl
ousef
orthemeeti
ng.Nosi
swewasfarmorerel
axedi
napairof
expensi
vebl
uej
eansandacaramel
-col
our
edt
urt
lenecksweat
er.
Theclot
hesmadeherl
ookyounger
.

Mandi lookedaroundthehugebalcony.Thecreamywhi t
eofthe
wickerpatiofur
nitur
ewasbr okenwit
hbr i
ghtmulti
-pat
ter
ned
cushions.Itwasanai r
y,i
nvi
ti
ngandcasual si
tti
ngarea.

‘
Pleasetakeaseat
.I’
dforgot
tenhowlovelyt
hesunnyl
atewi
nter
aft
ernoonscanbeinJohannesbur
g,’
Nosiswesai
d,asa
housekeeperi
nastar
chedduchessunif
orm pour
edcoff
eefr
om a
si
lverpot.

Mandihadasl i
ghttraceofahangover–all
thatal
cohol atthe
cl
ublastnight–andshel ookedfor
wardtoacupofbl ack
cof
fee.
‘That’
strue,
’shesaid.‘
Alt
houghper
sonall
y,Ican’twaitf
or
spr
ing.
’

Themba’
smothersmil
edasshehandedMandi
adel
i
cat
ebone
chi
nacupandsaucer
.

‘
Igott
heseinPar
is,
’Nosi
swesai
d.‘
Theywer
eagi
ftf
rom a
Fr
enchcoupl
eIknewther
e.’

‘
Par
is?
’Mandi
echoedsof
tl
y.‘
I
sthatwher
eyouwer
einexi
l
e?’

Nosiswenodded.‘ TheFrenchhaveagr aci

ousfl
airforaccept
ing
thedisenf
ranchised,r
egardlessofwhatcausedthe
disenfr
anchi
sement .ItmakestheFrenchaspecialpeopleand
Parisaspecialplace.
’

Andher
eshepaused.‘
Ofcour
sei
tisn’
thome.
..
’

Shel
ookedoutatt
hewi
ndowwi
stf
ull
y,gi
vi
ngMandi
timet
o
di
gestt
hisnewf
ragmentofi
nfor
mat
ion.

Pari
s.Shehadn’tr
eali
sedThemba’
smotherhadspentherexi
l
ein
Pari
s.WasthisthereasonThembahadl
eftSout
hAfri
caso
suddenl
yfi
vey ear
sago?

He’
dsaidhe’
dbeentoPar i
s.Heev
ensai
dhehadagoodr
eason
f
ortr
avell
i
ngtoFrance.I
sit

anotherwoman?Herwordscamebackt ohaunther
.Yes.Anot
her
woman.Hi smother
?Coulditbepossibl
ethathe’
dtravel
l
edto
Pari
st obewit
hhismother,r
atherthanchasi
ngacareer
promotionasshe’
dprev
iouslythought
?

Theol
derwoman’
svoi
cesl
i
cedi
ntoherr
ever
ie.‘
Hav
eyoubeent
o
Par
is?
’

St
artl
ed,Mandi
lookedup.‘
I
’dl
ovet
ogo.I
t’
sthecapi
tal
off
ashi
on,
af
teral
l.
’

‘
You’
l
llov
eit
,mydear
.’

‘
I
’m sur
eIwi
l
l.
’

‘
May
beThembawi
l
ltakey
ouoneday
.’

Timetochangethesubject
,Mandithought
.Set
ti
ngdownhercup
andsaucer,
sheclear
edhert hr
oat
.‘Thankyouf
orseei
ngme...
especi
all
yatsuchshortnot
ice.
’

‘
Thi
nknot
hingofi
t,
’Nosi
swesai
d.‘
WhatcanIdof
ory
ou?
’

Mandi
fol
dedherhandsi
nherl
apt
ost
em heranxi
ety
.

‘
I
’mt
hinki
ngofhost
ingaf
ashi
onshowt
olaunchmyl
atest
coll
ect
ion.Ifeeli
t’
simpor
tantt
omakeaspl
ashwi
tht
henewl
i
ne
I’
vedesigned.’

‘
IhopeI’
minv
ited?
’Nosi
swesmi
l
ed,
anamusedgl
i
nti
nherdar
k
eyes.

‘
Ofcour
se,
’Mandi
rushedt
oanswer
.‘I
nfact
,Ineedy
ourhel
p.’

‘
Nowmycur
iosi
tyi
sar
oused.
’

Warmingtohert
heme, Mandi
conti
nued,‘
Iwashopi
ngIcoul
duse
someofthefemaledancer
sfrom t
heIsi
dukot
heatr
easmodels
fort
heshow.’

Nosi
sweclappedherhandst
oget
her
.‘That
’samar
vel
l
ousi
dea,
Mandi
sa.
’

Mandi
hel
dupahandandsmi
l
ed.

‘
Iwouldn’tbeabl
etopaythem f
ort
heirser
vices;
Idon’
thavethe
budget.However
,youdi
dment i
onyoucouldusemyservicesi
n
yourcostumedepart
ment–?’

Nosi
swesummonedaknowi ngsmi
l
e.‘
Soy
ou’
resuggest
inga
t
radeexchange.Mydancer
sas

modelsinexchangef
orsomef
abul
ousnewcost
umesf
orour
nextpr
oducti
on?’

Mandi
letoutabr
eat
h.‘
Somet
hingl
i
ket
hat
.’

Nosisweleanedforward.‘CanImakeanothersuggesti
on?’she
asked.‘
Whynothav eIsiduko’smusi
ciansprovi
dethemusic?I t
wouldcreatetheri
ghtambi enceandwecoul dusetheopportuni
ty
topromotethetheatr
e.’
‘
Ilovetheidea.
’Mandif
eltaf
lut
terofexci
tement
.‘Afr
icai
sthe
i
nspirati
onfort
hecoll
ecti
on,
socultur
almusicwouldbeanideal
backdrop.’

‘
Per
fect
.’

Mandir
eachedfort
hecoffeepotandpour
edanot
hercup.She
di
dn’
tneedit
.Herhangov
erwasgone, r
epl
acedbyeuphor
ia.

‘
Perhapswecouldopentheshowwitht
heyoungpoet
?’she
proposed.‘
Andt
hedancersforabr
eaki
nthemiddl
eofthe
show? ’

Nosi
sweagreedi
twoul
daddal
ovel
ytouch.‘
Whatwi
l
lyouend
t
hefashi
onshowwit
h?’

‘
Mmm.
’Mandi
cockedherhead.‘
Ihadn’
tthoughtoft
hat
.’

‘
I
thast
obesomet
hingspect
acul
ar.
’

‘
Thatgoeswi
thoutsay
ing,
’Mandi
sai
d.‘
I
’l
lhav
etobr
ainst
ormt
hat
one.
’

‘
Nodoubtyou’
ll
comeupwi
thsomet
hinggr
eat
,’
Nosi
swesai
d.
‘
Mor
ecoffee?’

‘
Idon’
twantt
okeepy
ou.
’

‘
Onemorecup,
’t
heolderwomansmi
l
ed.‘
Idosoenj
oyy
our
company
,mydear.
’

Ov
ercof
fee,
thetwowomendiscussedMandi
’
sot
heri
deasf
or
Mi
dni
ghtRose.Mandi
tol
dher

aboutherwebsi
tei
dea.Nosi
swesuggest
edexpandi
ngt
he
MidnightRosebrandtoincl
udej
ewel
l
eryandper
fume.Mandi
got
ex
citedaboutthatidea.

Shesai
d,‘
Iwoul
dn’
thavebeenabl
etodoanyoft
hiswi
thout
Themba.He’
sbeensuchahel
p.’

‘
I
sthathowy
out
womet
?’Nosi
sweasked.‘
Thr
oughbusi
ness?
’

Mandi
’
sheadj
erkedup.Obv
iousl
y,Thembahadn’
ttol
dhi
smot
her
t
hedetai
l
soft
heir

r
omant
icpast
,ort
hei
rless-
than-
romant
icbr
eak-
up.

‘
Wekneweachot
herbef
ore.
’

‘
I
nJohannesbur
g?’

‘
No,
itwasawhi
l
eago.Di
dn’
thet
ell
you?
’

‘
No.
’

Mandifel
therhear
tsink.Wasshesouni mpor
tantt
ohi
mthathe
hadn’
ttol
dhismotheraboutthei
rrel
ati
onshi
p?

Nosi
swet ookanothersi
pofcoff
ee.‘
Iknewtherewasagir
lhe
wascrazyabout.Hedidn’
tsaymuch,butIt
hinkhemetherwhen
hewasstill
inCapeTown. ’

Thi
stimeherhear tdidasomersaultinherchest
.Crazyforher
?
Hehadn’tfor
gott
enhert hen?Wasitpossi bl
ehesti
lll
ovedher?
No,shecouldn’
tthinkofanyofthatrightnow.Shehadtofocus
onhercareer,
thebout i
que,t
hefashionshow.

Asoftvoi
cebr
oughtherbackt
othemoment
.‘Doy
oul
ovemyson,
Mandisa?
’
Mandilookedint
othewoman’
sdar
key
es.Sheknewshecoul
dn’
t
l
ie.‘
Once,yes.Il
ovedhi
m.’

‘
Andnow?
’

‘
Idon’
tknow,
’shewhi
sper
ed.‘
I
t’scompl
i
cat
ed.Idon’
tknow
what’
sgoi
ngoninThemba’
smind.’

‘
I’
m af rai
dmysondoesn’ tshowhi
semotionseasi
ly
,’Nosi
swe
said.‘Butthatdoesn’
tmeanhedoesn’
tpossessany,ort
hatt
hey
aren’tpower f
ul.
’

Mandisai
d,‘
Ishoul
dgetgoing.Thanksforthecoff
eeandfor
agr
eei
ngtomypr oposal
.Iwil
lbeintouch.
’Theolderwoman
wal
kedhertothedooroftheapart
ment.

MandiwastakenabackwhenNosi
swehuggedher
,env
elopi
ng
heri
nacloudofexpensi
ve

per
fume,whi
sper
ingint
oherear:‘
Justr
emember
.Youdon’
tneed
someone’
spermi
ssiontol
ovethem.’

Mandididn’
tevenwantt
othi
nkaboutwhatThemba’
smot herhad
tol
dher.Shehadtoomuchtodo.I
fshewantedtogett
hisfashi
on
showoni t
sfeet,
she’
dhavet
osparkint
oacti
on.

Dri
vi
ngbackt
oMor ni
ngsi
de,hercel
l
phoner
ang.Sheconnect
ed
t
hecall
onherhands-
fr
eekit
.

‘
Mandi
...
’Themba’
sri
ch,
war
mvoi
cef
il
ledt
hei
nter
iorofhercar
.
‘
How’
smypr ett
yone?
’

Ev
enthoughhewasn’tphy
sical
l
yther
ewi
thher
,sheexper
ienced
avi
scer
alreact
iont
ohisvoi
ce.
Herst
omachknot
tedwi
thdesi
re;
hert
hroatbur
ned.

‘
Themba!Iwashopi
ngy
ou’
dcal
l
.’

‘
Youdr
ivi
ng?
’

‘
Yes.
’

‘
Cal
lyoubackl
ater
?

‘
No,
no,
’shebubbl
ed.‘
Ihav
esomucht
otel
lyou.
..
’

Asshenegoti
atedtheheavyt
raff
icdownWi l
l
iam NicholDr
ive,
she
fi
l
ledhi
mi nonherplansfort
hefashi
onshow.Byt hetimeshe
swungherli
tt
leredcari
ntoSandtonDri
ve,
hewasupt ospeed.

Hisvoi
cerev
erber
atedi
nthei
nter
ioroft
hecar
.‘Soundsl
i
ke
you’
vebeenbusy.
’

Shel
aughed.‘
Youhav
enoi
dea.
’

‘
Yousoundt
ir
ed.
’Concer
nthr
eadedt
hroughhi
svoi
ce.

‘
Abi
t,
’shesai
d,‘
butI
’
mlov
ingev
erymi
nut
eoft
his.
’

‘
Whenar
eyoupl
anni
ngt
hisf
ashi
onext
rav
a-ganzaf
or?
’

‘
Spr
ingDay
,’sheanswer
ed.‘
Youwi
l
lbet
her
e,won’
tyou?
’

Ther
ewasapause,
stat
icont
hel
i
ne.‘
Themba–y
out
her
e–?
’

‘
I’
m sti
ll
ont
hel
ine,’
heresponded.‘
Idon’tt
hinkI’
llbeabl
eto
at
tend.I
’mi
nBotswanathatweek.IdoubtI’
l
l beablet
ogetaway
.’

Di
sappoi
ntmentcr
ashedthroughher
,leav
ingadul
l
,sourt
ast
ein
t
hebackofherthr
oat.‘
Oh.’
‘
Trustme,’
hesaid.‘
I
’dl
ovetobether
e.YouknowIwoul
d.You
soundsad.Pl
easedon’
tbe.I
’l
lmakeitupt
oy ou.
’

‘
Whenwi
l
lyoubeback?
’

‘
Idon’
tknow;
I’
ll
hav
etocal
lyoul
aterandl
ety
ouknow.
’

Fi
ghtingbacktears,
shegri
ppedt
hewheelt
ight
er.‘
Nopr
obl
em.
I
’m busymy sel
f.Wit
htheshowandev
eryt
hing.
’

‘
I
twi
l
lbesoon,
’hepr
omi
sed.‘
I
fyouneedanyhel
p,j
ustshout
.’

‘
I
’l
lmanage.Iknowhowbusyy
ouar
e.’

Themba’
svoicesoundeddi
str
acted.‘Ihav
etogoi
ntoameet
ing.
Call
yout
onight.
’Thecal
ldi
sconnected.

‘
Ilov
ey ou,
’Mandi
sai
dtot
hesi
lentinter
ioroft
hecar
.‘Iwonderi
f
youknowhowmuch,ThembaDlane.’

Chapt
erNi
ne

Chaos.Cont
rol
l
edchaos.

Thatwast heonlydescript
iont hatfitt
hescenebackstageatthe
dancest udiothenightofthef ashionshow.Modelsr anaroundi
n
thei
runder wear,cl
utchingStyrofoam cupsofcoffee.Andrew
Mor enatrail
edafterthem i
nf ullMissMor enamode, complet
e
withatiarahe’dacqui r
edfortheoccasi on.Withacli
pboard,pen
andaspr i
tzbott
leofhi shomemadeconcoct ionofwi t
ch-
hazel
andmi neralwater,hewaspl ay i
ngt herol
etothehil
t.

‘
Comeongir
ls!
’hetr
il
led.‘
Wehav
etogety
oudr
essedand
l
ooki
ngf
abul
ous.’
Sprit
z!Spr
it
z!Hisfl
uster
edfacegl
owedwit
hmoi st
ure.‘
Ineeda
dri
nk,anaspir
in,
’hecomplai
nedtoMandi
.‘
I’
m havi
nganer vous
breakdownhere!
’

Shesmi
l
ed.‘
Asl
ongasI
’
minv
ited.
’

‘
Sonotf
unny
.’

Shehadt oadmi tthest

udi
owasacacophonyofnoi se.Itdi
dn’t
helpthattheI
sidukomusicianswererehear
singamedl eyof
tunesnearby;Colewasrunningt
hroughaf i
nalsoundcheckf or
thenight’
sevent.

Andr
ewhadtakenonel
ookatColeandfal
l
eninlove:i
tlookedl
ike
Nombihadsomecompeti
ti
onfortheAmeri
candancer’
sattent
ion.
Nott
hatAndrewst
oodachance.

Somewher eatthefr
ontofthestudi
o,sheknewLi ndawas
fr
antical
l
yputti
ngtogethergi
ftbagsforal
lMi dnightRose’sVIP
guestsandco-ordi
nati
ngtheguestli
st.Twodi screetsecuri
ty
guardshadbeenhiredtomakesur eeveryt
hingwentsmoot hly.
Nothinghadbeenleftt
ochance.

Dressedi
nfadedbluej
eansandwhiteT-shirt
,Mandi
wasatt
he
centr
eofthestor
m.Shewasf r
azzl
ed,st
r essed,
exci
ted,
nauseous–butitwasal
lcomingtoget
her .

Theoutfi
tshadarr
ivedfrom thef
act
oryt
henightbefor
e;she’
d
hadspentthemorninginfit
ti
ngswit
hthemodels.Theaft
ernoon
hadbeenspentinrehearsal
s,aswel
lasgoi
ngov erl
astminute
checkpoi
nts.

Thatmor
ning,
ahugebouquetofr
edr
oseshadar
ri
vedwi
thanot
e
fr
om Themba.Thi
sti
me,shet
oldher
sel
f,every
t hi
ngwouldwork
out.Ev
ennow,sheworet
hepewterr
osebracelet.Hergoodl
uck
charm.

Shewentt ofi
ndhersist
er.Inachairatthenear
bymake-upt
abl
e,
Nombi washav i
ngherhairdone.Foronce,she’
dpr
ov edt
obe
utt
erl
yunselfi
sh.She’
dofferedtopayforthemake-
upandhair
st
yli
stsfortheday.Mandiwast ouchedbythegest
ure.

‘
IwonderifCol
ehasrememberedtokeepasi
ngl
espotonthe
poetatt
hestar
t,
’Mandif
ret
ted.‘
Toni
ghthast
ogooffwit
houta
hi
tch!
’

‘
Stopworryi
ng!’Nombisai
d,asastyl
i
stcover
edherhai
rinacl
oud
ofhai
rspr
ay.‘You’
vepr
acti
call
ychewedyourSty
rof
oam cupi
n
hal
f.
’

Mandil
ookedatt
hecrumpledcupi
nherhand.‘
Thatr
emi
ndsme,
’
shesai
d.‘
Ineedmor
ecoffee.
’

‘
Youneedtochi
l
l,si
si,
’Nombisaid.‘
Theshow’
sgoi
ngt
obe
f
abul
ous.I
’
m here.Howcoulditnotbe?’

Mandipul
l
edaf ace.‘
You’
resuchadiv
a,Nombi.’
Shepaused.
‘
Thankyouforal
lyourhel
p.Youhavenoideahowmucht hi
s
meanstome.’

Ther
ewasasi
l
entmomentofemot
ionbet
weent
het
wosi
ster
s.

‘
Uncl
eJakeswoul
dbesopr
oudofy
ou,
Mandi
.’

‘
Ihopeso.’
Shel
eanedover
,touchedhersi
ster
’shand.‘
All
Iev
er
wantedwastomakeasuccess
outoft
hel
egacyhel
eftus.
’

Thehairdr
essermovedont
othenextmodel
and,
foramoment
,
thesi
sterswereal
one.

‘
Iknowhe’
dbeproudofy
ou,’Nombii
nsi
sted.‘
Aft
erMom andDad
di
ed,her
eal
lywasli
keaf
athertous.
’

‘
That
’st
rue,
’Mandi
agr
eed.‘
Eveni
fhewasabi
ttoost
ri
ct.
’

‘
There’
ssomethingIneedt
otel
lyou.
’Nombi
mov
edr
est
lessl
yin
herchai
r.‘
Youremember

wheny
ouwentt
oDur
banwi
tht
hef
ashi
oncol
l
ege?
’

‘
Mandi!’
Avoicebehi
ndthem cutof
ftheconv
ersat
ion.‘
Wehav
ea
f
ull
-scal
edi
sasteronourhands.
Anight
mare!
’

Mandiwhi
rl
edaroundtof
aceAndr
ew, sprit
zingl
ikemadathi
s
f
ace.Hewaspracti
cal
l
ydri
ppi
ngwitch-hazelandminer
alwat
er.

‘
Whati
sit
,Mi
ssMor
ena?
’

‘
Oneoft
hemodel
shascancel
l
ed.
’

‘
Oh,
God,
no!
’

‘
Foodpoi
soni
ng,
’Andr
ewexpl
ained.‘
Orasuddenat
tackof
bul
i
mia.Whocanbesure?
’

Mandifel
tthestar
tofananxi
etyatt
ack.Andr
ewheldhistemples
withhi
slongfi
nger.‘
Wecanwor kar
oundherotherout
fi
ts,butthe
endresul
tiswedon’thav
eanyonetomodel t
heweddingdressat
theendoftheshow.’

Mandi
groaned.SheandAndr
ewhadpl
annedt
oendt
heev
ent
wit
hashow-stoppingweddinggown.I
twasastunni
ngcreat
ion.I
t
combi
nedatradit
ionalXhosaheaddr
essi
niv
orywithagowni na
l
ongshweshwecut ,i
nivor
yandlime.

‘
Whoar
ewegoi
ngt
ofi
ndonsuchshor
tnot
ice?
’shebl
urt
ed.

NombiandAndrewexchangedalong,meaningf
ull
ook,
then
l
ookedacrossather
.‘Notme,
’Mandisnapped.‘
Don’
tevent
hink
abouti
t.
’

Atthatmoment,abreathl
essLindaappearedatt
hemake-up
tabl
e.‘
Theguestli
stisall
sort
ed,’shesai
d.‘We’
rereadyf
ora
barr
ageofVIPs.
’

Nombi
shotLi
ndaal ook.‘
Tel
lMandi
shehast
oweart
heweddi
ng
dr
essi
nthefi
nal
e.’

Befor
eshecouldprotestf
urther
,Andrewrappedhispenagai
nst
hisPer
spexcli
pboard.‘
Noar guments,
’hesnapped.‘
You
si
mplyhavetodoit
.OrIwi l
ldonthatweddingfr
ockandreall
y
causeasensati
on!
’

Shehadnochoice,
sher
eali
sed.NodoubtAndrewwoul
dli
veup
tot
hedare.Shethr
ewherhandsupi
nsurrender.

‘
Theni
t’
sdeci
ded,
’Nombi
sai
d,r
etouchi
ngherl
i
pst
ick.

Mandi
thr
ewt
hem al
ladar
klook.‘
Youdon’
t

hav
etol
ooksodamnsmugabouti
t!
’

Inthenexthal
fhour
,Mandi
ranar
ound,
deal
i
ngwi
thl
astmi
nut
e
cri
ses.

Azi
ponaski
rtbr
oke.‘
Getmeaneedl
eandt
hread!
’Theheel
ofa
suedest
il
ett
osnappedandt
her eplacementpai
rdi
dn’
tfi
tthe
model.‘
You’
llhav
etogobar
efoot!’

Afewmi nutesbeforetheshow,Mandi
stoodi
nacurt
ained
cubi
clebackstage.Shehelpedamodeli
ntoagol
dsheathdress,
zi
ppi
ngherup.

‘
Ithi
nkyou’r
eready!
’ Shefast
enedagol d-
and-bl
ackbeaded
neckl
acearoundthegirl
’sneck.‘
Don’tf
orgetthi
s!’
Shehanded
overasnake-
pri
ntclutchbag.‘Goknock’em dead!
’

Shepushedt hegi
rloutt
hecubi
cle.Taki
ngafewminut
est
ocatch
herbreat
h,shepushedasidet
hef i
l
myblackcur
tai
nandst
epped
out.

Str
aighti
ntoamalechestofsoli
dmuscl e.Shesmel
ledhi
scool
,
cl
eanaf t
ershav
ebef
oresheev enlookedupintodar
keyes.‘
You
came!’

Asusual,helookedfabul
ousinablacksuitandanequal
l
yblack
shi
rt,
unbuttonedathispowerf
ult
hroat.Thembaheldher
shoul
dersinaf i
rm gr
ip,t
heheatf
rom hislongfi
nger
sseepi
ng
i
ntoherveins.

‘
Icamestrai
ghtfr
om t
heair
por
t,
’hesai
d.‘
Mymot
her
’soutf
ront
.
Shesendsherbestwi
shes.
’

‘
Ican’
tbel
i
evey
ou’
reher
e.’

‘
Didy
ougetmyr
oses?
’

‘
They
’rel
ovel
y.
’

Hesai
d,‘
Ihav
esomet
hingel
sef
ory
ou.
’
‘
What
?’

‘
Thi
s.’
Slowl
y,Thembapushedherbacki
ntot
heempt
ycubi
cle,
swi
shi
ngthecurtai
ncl
osedbehi
ndhim.

Mandi
squeakedi
npr
otest
.‘Whatdoy
out
hinky
ou’
redoi
ng?
’

‘
Iwantamomental
onewi
thy
ou,
’hemur
mur
edhuski
l
y.‘
Pri
vat
ely
.’

Herheartknockedinherthr
oat;
everyner
veendi
ngi
nher
exhaust
edbodyex plodedwit
hadrenal
in.

‘
Ihaveashowtoputon.Ican’
tbepl
ayi
nghi
de-
and-
goseeki
n
her
ewithyou.
’

Thembasi l
encedherbydraggi
ngheragainsthishard,muscular
thi
ghs,hismouthswoopingdowntoclaim herl
ips.Hiskisswas
hard,hotanddemanding.Shecoul
dn’
tresistt
her oughtwistof
hisli
ps.

Yiel
ding, shesi ghedandopenedhermout ht ohi
m.Herar ms
cir
cledhi swhi plashwaistas,insti
nctiv
ely
, shepull
edhim cl
oser
toherbody .She’dneverf el
tsomet hingasi nt
ense,asexpl
osiv
e,
asall-consumi ngashi skiss.Histonguesl i
ppedintoherhot,
sweetmout h,
pr obi
ng,testi
ng,teasingher.Until
shewas
breathlessandcl i
ngi
ngt i
ghtertohisbody .

Br
eaki
ngt
heki
ss,
shepant
ed,
‘Someonemi
ghtseeus.
’

‘
Don’
tcare,
’hemutt
ered,
hiswarm,sensuall
i
psfi
ndingherneck,
l
eadi
ngat r
ail
ofki
ssesfr
om hercol
larbonet
othebackofherear;
i
twasli
kebeingst
rokedbyahotfeather.

‘
Thatf
eel
sunbel
i
evabl
e,
’shegr
oaned.‘
Don’
tst
op.
’
Adarkchuckl
ebur
stf
rom hi
sthr
oat
.‘Youdon’
tcar
eifany
one
wal
ksinnow?’

‘
Bequi
et,
Themba,
’shewhi
sper
ed.‘
Kissme.I
’
vemi
ssedy
ouso
much.
’

‘
I
’vemissedy
out
oo,
Mandi
.It
’sbeent
ort
urebei
ngawayf
rom
y
ou.’

Shesmi
l
edsl
yl
y.‘
Tel
lme.
..i
sthi
stor
tur
e?’

Mandi’
shandst
ravel
l
edupf
rom hi
swai
st,
pressi
ngagai
nsthi
s
f
lat
,hardst
omach.His

muscl
esfl
exed.Herfi
ngerssl
i
dbet
weent
hebut
tonsofhi
sshi
rt
,
st
roki
nghi
shot,ti
ghtski
n.

Thembabi
tdownonhi
steet
h.‘
Whatar
eyoudoi
ng?Dr
ivi
ngme
i
nsane?
’

‘
YousaidIdenymy sel
fpl
easur
e,’
shewhi
sper
ed.‘
I
t’st
imeI
enj
oyedyou,don’
tyouthi
nk?’

Thembaseizedherhandinhisfi
ngersanddraggedittohi
schest
.
Shecouldfeelhi
shear
tpulsi
ngwithhisownadr enal
i
n.His
magnifi
centbodywastensewitharousal
,sheknewhewas
rei
ningi
nsomepower fulf
eel
ings.

Midni
ght-
blackeyesst
areddeepl
yint
oher
s.‘
Icoul
dmakel
ovet
o
youri
ghthere,Mandi
.’

Shegasped.‘
I
t’
snott
hatki
ndofshow,
Mr.Dl
ane.
’

Awi
nk.‘
I
tcoul
dbe.
’
‘
Behav
eyour
sel
f!
’

‘
Soon..
.sooni
twil
lbeti
metoenjoyeachot
her
,’
hehusked.‘
As
par
tner
s,asf
ri
ends.Asl
over
s.’

Ashusbandandwi f
e?shewonder
edsi
l
ent
ly.Hi
sst
atement
thr
il
ledher
.‘Iwantt
hatt
oo.
’

Now,hedrewherhanduptohisf
ace,mouldinghersl
ender
f
inger
saroundhi
spowerful
jaw.‘
Tel
lme...istoni
ghtever
ythi
ng
youeverdr
eamedof?’

Ki
ssi
nghim sof
tl
yonhisl
ips,Mandi’
svoi
cewasashat
ter
ed
whi
sperofemoti
on.‘
Almostever
ythi
ng.
’

Hekissedherback,
hisl
i
psl
i
nger
ingwar
mlyonher
s.‘
I
’l
lseey
ou
af
tertheshow.’

‘
Ican’
twait
,’
shesai
d.‘
We’
rehav
ingapar
tyatacl
ub.You’
dbet
ter
becoming.
’

‘
Woul
dn’
tmi
ssi
t.
’Hehel
dhert
ight
er.‘
You’
reshaki
ng.
’

‘
Toomuchexci
tement
,Ii
magi
ne.
’

Thembasai
d,‘
I
’dbet
terl
ety
ougetbackoutt
her
e.’

Mandi
rushedoutoft
hecubi
cle,
feel
i
ngf
lushedandhappy
.

Shecaughtupwi
thAndr
ew.‘
I
sev
ery
thi
ngont
rack?
’

‘
Thi
sst r
essi
ssonotgoodf orme,I
’
m goingt
ogetwr
inkl
es,
’he
huf
fed.‘
AndI’
mfart
ooy oungforBotox!
’

Shecheckedherwat
ch.‘
Wehav
etost
artsoon!
’
Itwasrushoflastminutecri
ses,butsoontheshowwasr eadyt
o
star
t,onl
ytwentyminuteslatert
hanscheduled.From t
hesideof
thestage,Mandiwatchedfrom theshadowsast heli
ghtsdimmed.
Therewasar ustl
eintheaudience,t
hensil
ence.Asinglespotli
t
thecentrest
age.

They oungpoetsteppedf orward.Sheli

ftedherhead,eyes
focusedonthemi ddledistance.Herwor ds,pur
eandst r
ong,
pouredfrom hert
hroat.From thatmoment ,
theaudiencewas
hooked,mesmer i
sed,sweptupi nthedramaoft heshow.

Shewasgl adshe’
dtakenNosi swe’ssuggesti
ons.Ratherthana
bori
ngfashionshow,shewasgi v
ingtheaudienceacultur
al
experi
encetheywouldn’
tforget.Everysi
nglepersonheretoni
ght
wassweptawayi ntoajourneyoff ashi
on,dance,songand
stor
ytel
li
ng.

Breathl
essl
y,Mandiwat
chedastheli
ghtsl
ittheedgesofthe
runway.Themodelssweptdownthecentr
eofi t
,car
essedby
l
ightsandmusic.Wil
dclappi
ngf
ill
edthestudio.

Mandifel
teuphori
aburstopeninherchest
.Shef
eltt
heapplause
thr
oughthesolesofherfeet
.Int
hatmoment ,
sheknewthe
eveni
ngwasgoi ngt
obeasuccess.

Nombitookt
her
unwayandshelookedradi
antandconf
ident.
Mandiwassopr
oudofherl
i
ttl
esist
er.Shewassupremelygood
atherj
ob.

Ofcourse,
shecoul
dn’
twatchthewhol eshow.Half
waythrough,
Andrewsummonedherbackstage.Itwasti
mef orhert
obe
dr
essedintheweddi
ngdress.Hairwasnext,t
henmake-up.A
qui
ckl
ooki
nthemirr
ort
oldhershemadear
adi
antbr
ide,
eveni
fit
wasmake-
bel
i
eve.

I
fonl
yitwasr eal,shethought.IfonlyThembaandIwer ewalki
ng
downtheaisl
e.Thebut ter
fli
esinherst omachj ustwouldn’
tqui
t.
Hert
hroatdry,palmssweat y,shest eppedontothestage.The
musi
csoftenedt oonlyahaunt i
ng, spareumrhubhe.

Framedbythespotl
i
ght,
Mandi wasconsci
ousthateveryey
ein
theroom wasf
ocusedonher.Shest
eppedforwardinthesl
ow,
stat
elygai
tbef
it
ti
ngabride.

Ther
ewer
egaspsofawe,
lef
tandr
ight
.

Attheendoftherunway
,shepausedandlookeddown.I
nthe
fr
ontrow,shespott
edThembasit
tingnextt
ohismother
.

Nosiswebeamedupather ,butThemba’sf
acedwascl
osedshut
,
hi
sey esdar
kandunreadable.Atthatmoment,
hest
oodupand
st
rodeoutint
othedarkness.

Sheswallowedandturnedonherheel,
walki
ngsl
owlybackt
othe
topoftherunway.Hermindwhir
led.Whathadj
ust
happened?Whyhadhesuddenlygotupandwalkedout?

Shedidn’thavet i
met othi
nkaboutitasshewassweptint
ot he
sweatycommot ionbackstage.Ther
ewereonlyafewminutes
avai
labletohert ochangeintoasimplebl
ackdresswi
thablood
redhibiscustuckedbehindoneearbeforeshehadtoj
ointhe
model sont hestagetotakeabow.

Thecr
owdgav eherastandi
ngovati
on.Col
erushedf
orwar
dwi
th
ahugebunchofli
li
es.Sheaccept
edthebouquet
,gav
eashywave
atthecrowd;shewasal
mostdeaff
rom al
lthecl
appi
ng.Tear
s
stungathereyes.

Thiswasamomentshewant
edt
orememberf
orasl
ongasshe
l
ived.

Backst
age,
aft
ertheshow,shel
ookedf
orThembai
nthet
hrong
buthewasnowheretobeseen.

Li
ndapoppedupathersi de.‘
Whatasuccess!Theedit
orfr
om
Lusciousmagazinewasabsolut
e-l
yrav
ingabouti
t,
’shesai
d.‘
The
photographerf
rom Ur
bantoldmehewasgoi ngtorunatwopage
spreadinthenexti
ssue.
..’

Mandicoul
dhardlyt
akeital
li
n.Over
whelmedandemotional
di
dn’
tbegintodescr
ibeherst
ateofmind,
aspeopl
erushedupto
ki
ssherandcongrat
ulat
eher.

Ever
yoneexceptThemba.Hewasnowheretobeseen.She
wonderedi
fhe’dbeencall
edawayonbusi
ness.Shehopednot
;
sheneededtoseehim,touchhi
m,bewit
hhim.

Nombi
gri
nnedasshel
oopedherar
mthr
oughMandi
’
s.‘
Comeon!
Wehaveapar
tyt
ogett
o.’

Mandi
frowned.‘
Hav
eyouseenThemba?
’

‘
I
’m sur
ehe’
l
lmeetusatt
hepar
ty.
’

Mandipul
l
edfreefrom hersi
ster
.‘Ihavet
ogetmypurse,
’she
bl
urt
edinanagit
atedvoice.‘
I
’l
lmeety ouatt
hecl
ub.
’

‘
OK,’
Nombisai
d.‘
I
’l
lcat
chal
i
ftwi
thCol
e.’
Awi
nk.‘
I
’m sur
ehe
won’
tmi
nd.
’
Mandirushedbackstage.Thecrewandmodel
swer
ethi
nni
ngout
;
onl
ythedetri
tusoftheshowr emained.

NoThemba.Wher
ewashe?

Shecouldn’
tfi
ghtthepaniccl
amber i
ngi nherchest,pul
li
ngher
musclesint
oat enseknot.May
beNombi ’sassumpt i
onwas
corr
ect.Maybehewoul dmeetthem allattheclub.I
twas
possi
blehe’
descor t
edhismotherthereearlyi
nor dertoavoi
dthe
crowds.

Resol
utel
y,shegrabbedasmallbol
eroj
acket
,touched-
upherl
i
p-
gl
oss,andwalkedoutofthest
udio.

Outsi
deont hestr
eet,Thembaleanedagai nstt
hesideofa
gl
eami ngbl
ackconv er
tibl
esportscar.I
tlookednewand
expensiv
e.Hisankleswerecrossedashel eanedagai
nstt
hedoor
;
hi
sar mswer ef
oldedtightagai
nsthischest.

Hersensessparkedtored-
aler
t.Shedi
dn’
tli
kehi
sbodylanguage.
Notonebit.Nordidsheli
kethescowlmarr
inghi
shandsome
f
eatures.

‘
Her
eyouar
e!’
Shebi
tdownonherl
i
p.‘
Ithoughty
ou’
dal
readyl
eft
f
ort
hecl
ub–’

Hecutheroffwi
thashar
pcur
se.‘
Whatwast
hatst
untwi
tht
he
weddi
ngdress?’

Shefr
oze,
checkedqui
ckl
ytoseei
fthest
reetwasempt
y.‘
What
d’
youmean?’

‘
Don’
tpr
etendy
oudon’
tknow.
’Hi
svoi
cewasr
ough,
brut
al,
demeani
ng.

‘
Themba–’

‘
Wasi tmeantt
obesomesor tofunsubtl
ehi
nt?
’hedemanded
l
oudl
y .‘
Wasalloft
hisagame?Get t
ingmetohelpwi
tht
he
bout
iquesoyoucouldsi
nkyourclawsint
ome?’

Col
dfearpi
ercedherhear
t.‘
Whyar
eyouact
ingt
hisway
?’

Hetookamenacingstepforward,hi
sbl
ackcl
othesi
nti
midat
ing
andfor
biddi
ng;
inst
inct
ivel
y,shetookast
epback.

‘
Itol
dy oubefor
e,I
’m notreadyformarr
iage,’
hesai
d.‘
Idon’
tthi
nk
I
’l
leverbe.Youcan’
tforcemei ntoi
tli
kethis!
’

Shutt
eredangerdarkenedhi
sey es.I
twasli
kefaci
ngastranger
.It
fel
tli
keherinsi
deshadbeenr i
ppedopen,asapainshethought
she’
dlongf or
gott
entoredeepintothemi
ddleofhersoul
.Whyis
thi
sallhappeni
ngagain?

Chapt
erTen

I
twasabaddéj
àvumoment
.

Shecould’
vebeenr eplayi
ngt hesamesceneinhisCapeTown
apart
mentf i
veyearsago; heari
ngthesamewor ds,l
ikeaterr
if
ying
echoofthepast.Mandi chokedbackasobasshef eltt
hatsharp,
i
nvisi
bleknif
edriveitsel
fdeeperint
oherheart
.Itthr
ustthepain
i
ntoherthroat.I
tclenchedherstomachsotightl
yshef ear
edshe
mightthr
owup.

Hetal
kedaboutt
ort
ure,
buthedi
dn’
tknowwhatt
ort
urewas.
Thi
s
wastor
tur
e.
‘
Simpl
ybecauseIworeaweddi
ngdr
essatafashi
onshow,
you
t
hinkI
’
mt r
yingtof
orceyout
ogetmarr
ied?
’

Ev
ent
oherownear
s,t
hewor
dssoundedhol
l
owandr
idi
cul
ous.

‘
Ican’
tchangewhoIam,Mandisa.
’Thembaspokesl
owl
y.‘
Iwoul
d
onl
ydisappoi
nty
ouify
outhoughtother
wise.
’

Mandi dr
oppedherhead,t
henrai
sedi
tsl
owl
y.Shel
ookedathi
m,
asifseei
nghimforthefi
rstt
ime.I
twasasi
fshewasseei
nghis
everydemon.Anditscar
edher.

‘
You’
rer
ight
.Iwoul
dbedi
sappoi
nted,
’shesai
d.‘
I
’dr
atherhav
eno
dr
eam t
hanhal
fadream.
’

Thembabitof
fanexplet
ive.‘
That
’syourpr
obl
em.Youseet
hings
i
nblackandwhit
e.You’v
enev erl
ear
nedtocompr
omise.
’

‘
Don’
tlayt
hisonme,
Themba,
’shehi
tback.‘
You’
ret
heone
maki
ngtherul
es.
’

‘
Am I?’hemocked.‘You’
veal
waysbeentheonehol di
ngoutf
or
marri
age.Youwantsomeneatt r
adi
ti
onalending.Well
,l
if
e
doesn’
tworkoutthatway.Iwon’
tbehel
dt oransom.’

‘
Isthathowyouseemarriage?’Mandishookherhead,moreout
ofsadnesst
hanfrust
rat
ion.‘Asatrap?Ahostagesit
uati
on?’

‘
That’
snotwhatImeant.
’Hisj
awmuscl
est
ensed.‘
Look,l
et’
s
di
scusst
hisl
ater
.Getinthecar
.Wehav
eapart
ytogetto.
’

Asifshewaswatchingher
selffr
om adistance,
shest
epped
for
wardandsl
appedhi m.‘
Getintothatf
ancycaranddri
vet
he
hel
loutofmyl
if
e, ThembaDlane.’
Thembar
eachedoutt
otouchher
.

Sheslappedhi
shandawaywit
hbothofhers.Wi
thareserv
eof
str
engthshedi
dnotknowshepossessed,
shepushedhim back
againstt
hecar
.Angerboi
l
edi
nsideher.

‘
Don’tthinkyou’
llev
ertouchmeagai n!
’Itcameoutasahi ss.‘
I
’m
j
ustgladIf oundouthowdeepy ourpathologicalfearof
commi tmentranbeforeIdeci
dedtoev ersleepwi thyou.How
dar
ey out hi
nkIwouldtrytotr
ickyouintomar riage?’

‘
Mandi
–’

Shedi
dn’
tli
sten.Shet
urnedandr
ani
nt heotherdi
rect
ion.She
di
dn’
twanttoseehim.Hewasoutofherli
feandthist
imei t
woul
dbeforgood.Forever
.

Mandi
coul
dn’
tstopthetear
sfrom gushingdownherface.How?
Howdidani
ghtoftr
iumphturnint
oani ghtofdespai
r?

Shecol
lect
edher
sel
ftoget
herenought
odr
iveher
sel
ftot
heaf
ter
-
par
tyatthecl
ub.

Shedi dn’
tknowhowshegotthr
oughtheni ght
.Feeli
ngempt yand
desolatei
nside,
shedet
achedfr
om hersel
fandev ery
onearound
her.I
twasasi fshewasact
ingonautopil
ot.Thefesti
vi
ti
esleft
herrawandachi ngi
nsi
de.

Thembawasgone.
Gone.

Mandi spentt
henextfewday sinl
imbo,i
nastatebetweennumb
emptinessoflossandfaintpul
sesofanger
.Shedidn’
tgetoutof
bedfortwowhol edays.Shewashurti
ngandnothi
ngandnoone
coul
dcomf
orther
.

Notev enthenewsofor der

sfloodi
ngt heboutiqueandr i
sing
salescouldcheerherup.Shefeltl
i
stless,abandoned,used.She
didn’
tthinkshe’
deverrecoverfr
om theshock, didnotfora
momentbel ievet
hatthepainwouldev erend.

Hersi
stert
ri
edtocal
lherf
rom CapeTown.Li
ndatr
iedtocal
lher
.
Shedi
dnotacceptanycal
l
s,wanti
ngonlyt
obealone.

Whenshemadeitbacktothebouti
que,
AndrewMor
enai
nfor
med
hert
hatt
hecol
l
ectionhadsoldoutcomplet
ely
.

‘
Infact,
thefactor
ysimpl
ycan’
tkeepupwiththedemand,’
he
gushed.‘
MidnightRosei
sarunawaysuccess,sweet
ie!
’

Mandi
didn’
tcar
e.Hersuccesswasgr
eyandt
ast
eless.

Aweeklater,
Mandi sasatatherworkt
abl
ei nt
hestudi
oatthe
backofMidnightRose,j
uststar
ingatablankpageinher
sket
chbook.Sheheardaknockatt hedoor.

Shesnapped,
‘Isai
dIwant
edt
obel
eftal
one,
Andr
ew.
’

Gl
ori
aNosi
sweDl
anest
oodi
nthedoor
way
.‘I
t’
sme.MayIcome
i
n,mydear
?’

Mandiknewitwoul
dberudetoref
usethewomanent rance,
but
shedi
dn’tf
eeluptoseei
ngThemba’smother
.‘Idon’
tthi
nkI’
m
goodcompanyatthemoment,Nosi
swe.’

‘
Thi
swon’
ttakel
ong.
’

Mandi
stood.‘
Cof
fee?
’
‘
Thatwoul
dbeni
ce’

Whil
eshepreparedt
hef
ilt
ercof
fee,
Nosi
swel
ookedar
oundt
he
smal
lstudi
o.‘
Iimagi
neyoumustbebusy
.’

Mandi
nodded.

Nosi
swesaid,
‘Youmustbesopr
oudoft
hesuccessy
ou’
ve
achi
eved.
’

Mandi
smiledweakl
yasshesetdownt
wocupsontheworkt
abl
e.
‘
Haveyoucometodiscusst
hecost
umesf
orthet
heat
re?
’

‘
No.’Nosi
swesatopposi
teher
.‘Ihear
dabouty
ourf
ightwi
th
Themba.’

‘
Notaf
ight
,’
Mandi
sai
dbl
ankl
y.‘
Abr
eak-
up.
’

Therewasapauseandt
henNosi
swespoke.‘
Ithi
nkIowey
out
he
tr
uth,Mandi
sa.
’

Shewasconf
used.‘
Thet
rut
h?’

‘
Ithi
nkyoudeser
veit
,’
theol
derwomansai
dsoft
ly.‘
I
tmayhel
p
youunder
standwhyThembabehav
esthewayhedoes.
’

‘
Iappreci
atei
t,buti
tdoesn’
tmat
terany
mor
e,’
Mandi
sai
d.‘
I
t’s
over
.’

‘
Pleasej
ustletmeexplai
n,
’Nosisweurged,
herdar
keyesstar
k
wi
themotion.‘Somet
imesit
’shelpf
ult
ounderst
andthepast.
’

Mandit
ookasipofhercof
fee,
noddedv
aguel
y.Shest
il
lfel
t
br
okeninsi
de.

‘
ImetThemba’
sfat
heratadance.
..her
einJohannesbur
g,’
Nosiswebegan.‘
Iwaswor ki
ngatt hemar
ketandsawSi mon
ever
yday–aj aunty,
popular,
handsome,i
deali
sti
cy oungman.He
underst
oodmydr eam ofbecominganactr
ess.I
nf act,
he
support
edallmydreams.Ifelli
nlovewi
thhim.Iknowhel oved
meandwant edtomar ryme.’

‘
Whathappened?
’

Theot
herwomanheav
edasadsi
gh,
unshedt
ear
sgl
i
tter
ingi
nher
dar
keyes.

‘
Simonwasdedi catedtot heMov ementf orFreedom, cover
tl
y
fi
ghti
ngt heapartheidregime.Atthesamet i
me, myf atherwas
i
nv ol
vedwithanot herblackconsciousnessgr oup,cal
ledthe
Sowet oCongressf orChangeandhedi dn’tl
ikewhatSi mon’s
groupwasdoi ng.Therewasal otoffri
ctioninthoseday sand
eventual
lySi
monwentunder gr
ound. ’

‘
Thatdoesn’
tsoundl
i
keagr
eatsi
tuat
ion.
’

‘
Itwasn’t,
’Nosisweconti
nued.‘
WhenIf el
lpregnantwithThemba,
myf at
herkeptmeapr i
soneratourhouse.Simonwaswant edby
thesecretpol
iceinconnecti
onwithanill
egalrall
y.Myfat
hersai
d
Iwouldn’tbeabletoseeSimonev eragai
n,unlessItol
dhim
wherehecoul dfindhi
m.

If
eltIhadnochoi
ce.
’

‘
Whathappenedt
ohi
m?ToSi
mon?
’

‘
Myfat
hersaidt
hepoli
cejustwant
edt
otal
ktoSi
mon.Hel
i
ed.
He’
dconspi
redwit
hthese
apar
thei
dthugs.
’Apause.‘
Igav
ehimthelocat
ionofSi
mon’
s
hi
deout.
’Apause.‘
Simonwasassassi
nat
ed.’

Mandi
clappedherhandov
erhermout
h.‘
Nosi
swe,
that
’st
err
ibl
e.’

Herbl
oodhadt
urnedcol
d.Hor
rorf
il
ledhermi
nd.

‘
Aft
erthat,
myf at
her’spoli
ti
cal movementwasincol
lusi
onwit
h
t
hesecretpol
i
ce, buttheyeventual
l
yturnedonhim,t
oo.Thepoor
f
ool!
’Atearsl
ippeddownNosi swe’
scheek.

‘
Soonourwholefamil
yweret argetsforarrest
,’
shecontinued
sadl
y.‘
Ifl
ed,f
ir
sttoCapeTown.Il eftThemba, myl i
tt
lebaby,wi
th
mycousinandhiswif
e.Ihadt oleavehim, Mandi.Ihadjust
enoughmoneytoescapetoPar is,butIknewI’dneverbeableto
comebacktoSouthAfri
ca.’

‘
Whynot
?’Mandi
asked.

‘
Thereweremembersoft
heMov ementforFreedom whofeltI
’
d
betr
ayedSi
monandthei
rcause.Iwasn’
twelcomebackher e.
Whenmysonf oundme,f
iveyear
sago,Iwasl i
vingi
nnearpovert
y.
I
’dmadesomemoneywi t
habookIwr ote,
butt hemoneysoon
ranout.
’

‘
So.
..i
sthatt
her
easonThembawassodr
iven?
’

Nosi swenodded.‘
That’
swhyheneededmoney.Tocomeand
fi
ndmeandgett heanswerstohi
spast
.Heworkedhar
dt o
arrangeformet ocomehome–butittookal
ongtimeforhimt
o
organisetheri
ghtdocuments.
’

‘
That
’swhyhel
efther
e?’
Mandi
askedsof
tl
y.‘
Tof
indy
ou?I
n
Par
is?
’

‘
Herescuedme,
’Nosi
swesai
d,smil
i
ngt hr
oughhert
ear
s.‘
He
gav
emebackmyl i
feher
einSout
hAf r
ica.
’

‘
Oney ou’
vemadeagreatsuccessof
,’Mandii
nter
ject
ed,
reachi
ng
outandtouchi
ngt
heolderwoman’sshoulder
.

‘
Justremember ,moneywasneverhisonlyobj
ect
ive,
Mandi sa,
’
theolderwomanr emi
ndedhergentl
y,graspi
ngMandi’shandand
holdi
ngitti
ghtl
y.‘
Hewanteditf
orwhati tcoul
ddoforme, andfor
himself,
yes.Hewantstohel
pothers,youmustunderstandthat
.’

Mandibrokeawayf
rom Nosi
swe,
stoodup.‘
Ist
il
ldon’
tknowwhy
you’
ret
elli
ngmethi
s.’

Shet
urnedawayf
rom Nosi
swe,
butshecoul
dhearher
.

‘
Formostofhi sl
i
fe,Thembagrewupbeli
evi
nghe’
dbeen
abandonedbyme, f
orci
nghimtogrowupinpover
ty.Hest
il
l
beli
evesal
lthewomenhel ov
eswil
labandonhi
m...soherej
ect
s
them

fi
rst
.’Shepaused.‘
I
t’showhepr
otect
shi
msel
f,pr
otect
shi
s
pri
de.’

‘
Butyoucameback!’
Mandi excl
aimed,t
urni
ngaroundagai
n.‘
He
mustunder
standt
hatitwasn’ty
ourfaul
tyouhadtoleav
ehim
behi
nd!
’

‘
Yes,
hedoes.’Nosiswesighed.‘However,emoti
onsar
enot
al
wayseasytounderst
and, especi
all
yforamanl i
keThemba.
Somepartofhi
mi ssti
ll
thatsmal l
,defencel
esschi
ldwhowas
l
eftbehi
nd.I
t’
shar
dforhi
mtobehappy
.’

‘
Isee.
’

‘
Whenhe’svul
ner
abl
e,hewil
lrev
ertbacktoshut
ti
ngev
ery
oneout,
event
hosehecar
esabout,
’Nosi
swesaid.‘
Andamanisneveras
vul
ner
abl
easwhenhei si
nlove.
’

Mandiwasshockedandrel
iev
edallatt
hesametime.She
under
stoodhi
sbehavi
ourbett
ernow.Thefi
nal
pieceofthepuzzl
e.

‘
Youshoul
dtel
lhi
mthi
s.’
Shesi
ghed.‘
Notme.
’

‘
No,’Nosiswewasadamant ,
‘mysonneedst oheari
tfr
om t
he
womanhel oves.
’Shestood,walkedtowar
dsMandi.‘
Heneedst
o
underst
andt hatyouwil
lnotleav
ehi m,Mandi
sa.’

‘
Idon’tseehowanyoft
hiswi
l
lhel
p,’
shemur
mur
ed.‘
Hewon’
t
changehismind.
’

‘
Whyisitsoimpor
tantt
oy out
hathemar ri
esy ou?’Thequest
ion
wasposedinagentl
emanner.‘I
t’
sasifwit
houtar ingonyour
f
inger
,youdon’
ttr
usthi
sloveforyoueit
her.Perhapsyoushould

bemor
etr
ust
ingofhi
sfeel
i
ngs.
..andy
ourown.
’

Mandi
wasst
ung,
butconcededt
hewomanhadapoi
nt.

She’
dbeensoi nsecur
eaf t
erherparent
sdied,she’dtransfer
redall
herfeel
ingstoThemba.Foray oungmanwi thalotonhi smi nd,
it
musthav ebeenasuffocati
ngexperi
ence.Nodoubt ,she’dacted
l
ikeabratfiveyear
sago,demandinghemar ryher,not
underst
andinghiscommi t
menttofindi
nghismot her.

I
fI’
donl
yknown,
shet
hought
.Ifhe’
donl
ytol
dme.
..!
Per
hapsifshe’
dbeenmorematur
e,i
fshe’
dtr
ustedt
hei
rshar
ed
l
ove,i
fshe’
dhadfait
hinThemba,
thi
ngswoul
d’v
eworkedout
di
ff
erent
ly.

‘
Doy
out
hinki
t’
stool
atef
orus?
’

Nosi
swepul
l
edheri
ntoati
ghtembr
ace.‘
I
t’snev
ertoolat
efor
l
ove.Got
ohim.
’Byt
hist
ime,bot
hwomenwer ecry
ingopenl
y.

Thataf
ternoon,Mandi bookedaf l
ightdowntoCapeTownand
shewasonapl anethenextmor ni
ng.Itwasasift
hingswere
comingfullci
rcl
e.Sheonlyprayedshewasn’ tt
oolat
e.IfIl
ose
hi
m again,shethoughtanxiousl
y,Iwon’tsur
viv
e.

Assoonasthejetlanded,Mandi
rentedasmal l
caranddrove
downtotheci
ty.She’dgotThemba’saddressfr
om hismother
,
butf
ir
stshehadanot herst
optomake.Wi thi
nahalfhour
,she
wasparkedi
nfrontofanapartmentbuil
dinginSeaPoint
.

Shewal
kedupt
hest
air
stoNombi
’
sfl
at.

Hersi
steropeneddooronthet
hir
dandl
oudestknock.Shewas
weari
ngwhi t
edeni
m short
sandaski
mpyT-shi
rtthatdi
dn’
tcov
er
hermidr
iff
.

Mandikepthersunglasseson,
notonl
ytohidet
heexhaust
ioni
n
herey
es,butalsotheov er
whel
mingemoti
on.

Shedi
dn’
tbotherwi
thagreet
ing.‘
Nombi
,youwereaboutt
otel
l
mesomethi
ngatthefashi
onshow.Whatwasit
?’

‘
You’dbet
tersi
tdownfort
his.
’Nombi wasuncomfor
tabl
e,
shi
ft
ingfr
om onefoott
oanother
.‘Comein.I
’l
lmakeussomet
ea.
’
‘
No,
’shedemanded.‘
Tel
lmenow.
’

Nombi
sai
d,‘
Het
ri
edt
ofi
ndy
ou.
’

‘
Themba?
’

‘
Yes.
’

‘
When?
’Mandi
askedi
mpat
ient
ly.‘
Aft
ert
heshow?
’

‘
No.’Nombi
’
svoicet
hickenedwi
thgui
l
t.‘
Fiv
eyearsago.
RememberwhenyouwentawaytoDurbanwit
hthefashi
on
col
l
ege?’

Herhear
tki
ckedi
nherchest
.‘Yes?
’

‘
Thembacamer oundt othehouseinKenil
worth,
demandingt
o
seeyou,
’hersi
sterexpl
ained.‘
UncleJakest
oldhimyou’
dmov ed
permanent
lyandyoudidn’twanttoseehim.Thembafoundmeat
schoolt
henextday,andinter
rogat
edme.Itoldhimyouweren’
t
comingback.
’

Col
dblooddr
ainedt
hroughMandi
’
svei
ns.‘
Whydi
dn’
tyouev
ert
ell
me?’

‘
Idon’
tknow,’
Nombi sai
d.‘
UncleJakesmademesweart otel
l
Thembathatl
ie,
butIguess.
..Iwasalsojeal
ousofy
ouand
Themba.It
houghtt
herewas–Idon’ tknow–achanceforhim
andmewi t
hyououtofthepict
ure.
’

Shockedtothecore,
Mandi
letoutasmal
lcr
y.‘
OhmyGod–I
don’
tbeli
evethi
s.’

‘
Iwasy oungandsel
fi
shandinf
atuat
ed,
’Nombir
ushedon.‘
Can
youunderst
andthat
,si
si?
’Hervoi
cewashoar
sewithemoti
on.
‘
Cany
ouev
erf
orgi
veme?
’

‘
Idon’
tknow,
may
bei
nti
me,
’Mandi
sai
d.‘
Rightnow,
Ihav
etof
ind
Themba.
’

Wit
houtbot
her
ingwi
thagoodby
e,sher
ushedbackt
oherr
ent
al
car
.

Hecamebackforme,shethoughtwil
dly
.Helookedf
orme.Uncl
e
JakesandNombikepthi
mf rom me.Hesti
l
lwantedme,hecame
back..
..

Shemadeittotheaddr
essinCampsBayinr
ecor
dti
me.His
modernbeachhouseover
lookedt
hesea,
wit
hlot
sofgl
asssli
ding
door
sandwi debal
coni
es.

Mandiraceduptheendlessstai
rsandknockedonthegl
assdoor
.
Anoldhousekeepersl
i
dt hedooropen,asuspi
ciousl
ooki
nher
ey
es.Mandi wasbreat
hless.

‘
Ineedt
oseeThemba.
’

Theol
dwomanwasnotf
ri
endl
y.‘
He’
snother
e.’

‘
CanIcomeintousethetel
ephone?’
Desper
ati
onwaset
chedi
nto
ever
yword.‘
Mycel
lphone’
sbatt
eryhasdi
edonme!’

Thewomanmusthav et
houghtshehadatrustworthyface,
becausesheal
lowedherin.Pi
cki
ngupasleekwhi tephoneinthe
l
ivi
ngroom,shedial
l
edhisnumber.I
twentstraighttovoicemai
l.

Damn!Per
hapsi
twoul
dbewi
sert
ocheckathi
sof
fi
ce.

Asshewalkedoutofhisli
vi
ngroom,apict
ureonthewall
caught
herat
tent
ion.Mandi
frozeinfr
ontofi
t,asati
ngl
ingwaveof
awar
enesscausedt
hehai
ronherar
mst
ori
se.

Themba’
sface.Asper
fectasadr
eam.St
ari
ngdownather
.

Mandi
bli
nked.I
tcoul
dn’
tbe,
coul
dit
?

Yes,
itwasthepictur
eshe’
dsket
chedofhi
mfi
veyearsago,
that
ni
ghtofthei
ranniv
ersar
ydi
nner,
whil
eshe’
dwai
tedforhi
mto
comehome.

Oh,God!Thembamusthav efounditbehindhi
ssofa.He’dkepti
t.
Notonl
yhadhekeptit
,buthe’dhadi tbl
ownupt oful
lportr
aitsi
ze
andenhancedwit
hsof
tchar coalcol
our,emphasi
singtheli
nes
andanglesofhi
smagnif
icentface.

Mandi’
sheartf
eltli
keitwoul
dexplodewi t
hjoy.Ifshe’dever
neededprooft
hatThembaDl anelovedher,shereali
sed,shewas
l
ookingatit
.He’dkeptthi
spartofher,oft
heirpast;he’
dframedit
andcheri
sheditandhungiti
nhi shomewher ehecoul dlookati
t
ever
yday.

Hedidloveher
.He’dneverst
oppedlovi
ngher.Justasshe’d
neverst
oppedlov
inghim.Yes,ci
rcumst
ancesandhi sfractur
ed
pasthadkeptt
hem apart
,butnownoneofthoseobst acles
exi
sted.

‘
Whyar
eyoucr
ying,
miss?
’thehousekeeperasked.

‘
BecauseI
’
m sohappy
.’

‘
Ithi
nkyou’r
ecrazy,
’camether
epl
y.‘
Youshoul
dleav
e.I
’
m cal
l
ing
t
heneighbourhoodwatchnow.
’

‘
I
’ml
eav
ing,
’Mandi
managedbet
weent
ear
sandl
aught
er.‘
I
’m
l
eav
ing!
’

MandidrovedowntoDl
aneInvestmentsinthecit
y.Ther
eshe
wastoldbyThemba’
spersonalassi
stantt
hathewasupi n
Johannesbur
gonbusi
ness.No,theassist
antinf
ormedher,she

di
dn’
tknowwhenhe’
dbeback.

I
twasal ongandl onel
yf l
ightbacktoJohannesbur
g.Buti
tgave
herti
met ot
hink.Shehadt oforgi
veherUncl
eJakesandNombi
forl
yi
ngtoherf oryears.Sheknewt heyhadbothbeentr
yingt
o
prot
ectherf
rom hear t
break.

Withaheavyhear t
,shewonderedhowshewasgoi ngtotrack
Thembadowni nJohannesbur
g.Woul dhebeattheMichelangel
o
again?Anotherhotel
?She’dst
artl
ookingtomor
row,shetold
hersel
f.Ri
ghtnow, shewasexhausted.

Shecol
l
ectedhercaratORTamboanddr
ovesl
owl
yal
ongt
he
qui
ethi
ghwaysbacktoher

houseinParkmor
e.Thestreet
shadneverlookedmoreempty,
but
eachli
ghtshesawoffer
edherasenseofhope.Justaft
erni
ne
o’
clock,
shesli
dhersmallcari
ntoherdr
iveway.

Painful
l
y,herheartj
olt
edinherchestwhenshesawaf amil
i
ar
blacksport
sconv er
ti
bleparkedoutfront
;itl
eapti
ntoherthroat
whenshesawThembaout sideherdoor,l
i
tbyherout si
deporch
l
ight.Withshaki
nglegsandt rembl
inghands,shesteppedoutthe
car.

Behi
ndherwast
hedar
kni
ght
,theshadowsoft
hepast
.Yest
erday
.
Upther
e,i
nahaloofsweetgol
dli
ght
,wasThemba.Tomor
row.
Thebri
ght
nessoft
hefutur
e.

Sherushedupthestai
rs,
onl
ytost
opafewpacesf r
om hi
m.Their
eyesmetandlocked.I
twasamomentofrecogni
ti
on,awar
eness,
accept
ance.

Wit
houtawor
d,Thembasweptherupi
nhi
sar
msandki
ssedher
.
‘
Wherehav
eyoubeen?’

‘
Looki
ngf
ory
ou,
’sheadmi
tt
edbr
eat
hlessl
y.‘
Whydi
dyoucome
her
e?’

‘
I
fIthinkofhowI’
vel
ookedforyou!’
Heshookhishead.‘
Idon’
t
t
hinkIcoul
dsurv
iveanot
herseparat
ionf
rom y
ou!’

Shel
ookedupi
ntohi
sface.‘
Youmeani
t?’

‘
Befor
ey oupul
ledupinyourcar
,I’
dhav
egi
venmyent
ir
efor
tune
j
usttoseeyourfaceagai
n.’

‘
Youdon’
tmeant
hat
,doy
ou?
’

‘
You’
dbet
terbel
i
evei
t.
’

Shetouchedhisf
acewithexqui
sit
etender
ness.‘
Your
escuedme
thatni
ghtint
hehotel
,I
’l
lneverf
orgeti
t.
’

Hecuppedherchi
ninhi
sst
rong,
war
m hand.‘
No,
wer
escued
eachot
her,
Mandi.
’

‘
Oh,Themba!Youdon’
tknowwhatitmeanstoheary
ousaythat
.’
Shepaused.‘
Ihav
etoapol
ogi
seformyf ami
l
y.Iknownowthat
Uncl
eJakesli
edtoyou,
tol
dyouI’
dmov edaway.
’
‘
What–?
’Angerspi
kedhi
svoi
ce.

‘
Shhh,i
tdoesn’
tmat
ter
,’
shecuthi
m of
f.‘
Isawt
hepor
trai
tiny
our
house.
’

‘
Youdid?’
Asmallgui
lt
ysmilel
i
thi
shandsomef
ace.‘
I
twasal
lI
hadl
eftofyouaf
tert
hatni
ghtwebr
okeup.’

‘
Andy
oukepti
t?’
sheasked.‘
Becausey
oul
ovedme?
’

‘
BecauseIdol
ovey
oust
il
l,
mypr
ett
yone.
’

‘
Oh,
Themba!
’

‘
Idon’tknowwhathappenedtomeatt hefashionshow.Isawt
hat
weddingdressandI.
..If
reakedout.I
twaslikeseei
ngallmy
worstfear
srightt
her
eupont hestage.
’

‘
Itdoesn’tmatt
er.Idon’
tcareifwenevergetmarri
ed,’
shesaid.‘
I
j
ustknowIwantt obewithyou,marr
iageornomar r
iage.I
t’
snot
i
mpor tant.
’
That’
swhyIwasl ookingf
oryou,’hesai
d,holdi
ngher
closer
.‘Iwantt
omar ryyou.I
’ve

spentanagoni
si
ngf
ewday
swi
thouty
ouandI
’
ver
eal
i
sed
somethi
ng.’

‘
What
?’

‘
Iwasscar
ednotofwhatmarri
agewouldmean,
butofwhati
t
woul
dmeantoloseyouforasecondt
ime.
’

Nosi
swe’swordsf
lashedint
ohermindandsher
eal
i
sedThemba
wassti
l
lfri
ght
enedofbeingabandoned.

‘
Youdon’
thav
etowor
ryaboutt
hat
.You’
l
lnev
erl
oseme.Nev
er.
’
Hismouthcamedownonhers.Thei
rli
psf
ormedaseal
,aci
rcl
e
ofet
erni
ty,
anever
-endi
ngr
ingoflov
e.

Mi
schi
efdancedi
nThemba’
sey
esashebr
oket
heki
ss.

‘
Youthi
nkMidni
ghtRosewil
lsel
lmethatmagnif
icentweddi
ng
dr
ess?’
heasked.‘
I
’m goi
ngtoneedi
tforaspeci
albri
de.’

‘
May
be,
’shesmi
l
ed.‘
Ithi
nkt
heownercanbeper
suadedt
osel
li
t.
’

‘
Ilov
eyou,Mandisa.
’Hi
ski
ssedherunt
ilshef
elthersmil
einher
hear
t.‘
I
fyouagreetobemybri
de,you’
l
lmakemet hehappi
est
manonearth.
’

‘
I’
velovedyouforalongti
me,
ThembaDl
ane,
’shesai
d.‘
Asy
our
wif
e,I’
l
l l
oveyoufor
ever.
’

‘
Forever.
’Heencir
cledherhandinbot
hofhi
s.Hi
sdarkey
es
dancedwithpurelove.‘
I
’m goi
ngtohol
dyoutot
hatpr
omise,
Mandi.’

THEEND