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{3 months later}
LUXOLO
Today, we’re finally doing a grand opening of the club. “L & T Exclusive lounge” it’s the name, and I’m so nervous yet, excited. I still don’t believe that it’s finally over and that I’m the owner together with Tsakani, yes, he bought half of the club, and he did give me the requested amount just because he’s my mans that doesn’t mean that I had to hand him half of the club just like that. No, this is business and in business, we don’t play. Maxine, Milan & Lindiwe are going to be my waitresses until we find new waitresses who will fill up their space since they want pursue careers. Milan, wants to go into fashion design and Maxine wants to go the catering route, hehehe, Lindiwe? She just wants to be a housewife nothing more. Batista & Hlulani are going to be our bouncers until we find new ones, I’ve tried locating those who were working here previously to no success, well, I found only 1, and he can only be able to come here in three weeks time. Oh, and I found out who the woman is thanks to my mans with that phone call he made without realizing that I’m listening in. Pshhh, men. Anyway, I’m yet to go and confront her, unlike Tsakani I will not go around in circles, and dispatch empty threats to her, I will deal with her accordingly. I’m not one to threaten you, I deal with you because threats are a waste of time.
Sol did warn me about club rivalry. He did tell me that there will be those who will try and bring me down etc, etc, and boy wasn’t he, right? He most definitely was right. May his soul rest in peace, sighs. Oh, the strippers? That department is just so sifting for me, yazi all I’m getting are ladies who can’t work the pole, and those who can’t stride in heels, like iyoweh! I can’t bring back abo Zama and the gang, no flipping ways am I bringing them back here bayadelela laba. Guess I will just have to venture into agencies I’m sure they will give me the best of the best, not some “strippers copyist” Yes, I too wasn’t perfect when I first inaugurated into this whole stripping shandis, but I wasn’t that clumsy either unlike some of the girls we’ve been training for two weeks they were flunking miserably, Milan, even called them “hurricanes catastrophes” that’s how disastrous they were. So, we don’t have strippers as of yet.
Well, my Nomalanga is fully healed now and Thembeka is back at the Elite. Now it’s time for biggie and her gang to do their job, and I want them to do it tonight. It will bring me great pleasure to deal with her & Adele at the same time but unfortunately, that won’t happen because Adele is attending a business function. I have my eyes & ears tailing her moves 24/7. I even know what she perpetrates at night and who she meets up with, what they converse about, and so forth, but she has no idea that she’s being followed/watched.
“Well, how are you feeling?” Lindiwe asks standing next to me. I’m on the top floor peering at the ground floor, peering at people coming in looking all glamorous in their luxurious attire. I didn’t expect such turn-up, but as long as they are bringing in money I’m all for it.
“I’m alright. I’m quite happy actually. The day I’ve been procrastinating for is finally here, it’s been one hell of a pilgrimage.” I tell her.
Her: “I know and hopefully tonight you will make twice as much the money you used to renovate this place. Plus, only monied people are here, I’m talking about your politicians, businessmen/women, ministers, shareholders of big companies. I mean, everyone who shrieks money from a distance. Good job at hosting such a target market, I’m impressed.”
Me: “Well, all the prestige goes to Tsakani. He’s the one who formulated it together, everyone you see here are his affiliates and friends of the affiliates. The list goes on & on,” she nods. “Anyway, how far are the chefs with the sustenance?”
Her: “The last time I checked they were preparing the last batch of platters,” I nod.
Me: “I don’t want any hiccups. I want this night to swivel beautifully.”
Her: “It will. But I have a question.”
Me: “Shoot.”
Her: “I understand that your target is all these rich people and whatnot. What I want to know is; what will happen if low budget living people decided to come here masqueraded as rich businessman/woman just to see who actually frequent this place?”
Me: “Well, there are private rooms for those that don’t want to be discerned, and some will be given semblances it will depend on those individuals though and as time goes by the frequent customers will use pin codes to be granted access to come inside the club, and we will update the codes every week.”
Her: “Damn, Tammy. You have this faultlessly planned out I’m quite impressed. The world’s most sophisticated & expensive club! Tammy, we’re talking notches here, notches.” I laugh. She’s embellishing it now.
Me: “Stop embellishing.”
Her: “I’m not. Time to give attention to your guests and for you to welcome them to club L & T Exclusive club. Is your speech prepared?”
Me: “Speech? What speech? A simple ‘I’d like to take this opportunity and welcome all of you to T & L Exclusive club. Thank you for gracing us with your presence, have fun’ that’s it.”
Her: “Better than frivolity. Let me go and attend to your people before Maxine starts complaining,” I nod. “Oh la la, here comes your man, looking all varieties of yummy and very much edible. The tuxedo suits him, ni blessed yong. Tinja te game.” I laugh shaking my head.
Me: “Hamba la, voetsek,” she chortles and walks away. “Lindiwe, woza la,” I call her out as she’s about to exit the mini hall. I’m yet to decide what I’m going to wield this room for.
Her: “Here is I, ufunani?”
Me: “Are your firearms within reach?”
Her: “Yes, ma’am they are. And don’t worry, nothing will happen tonight, everything will glide smoothly. Alleviate,” I nod. “We got you,” she winks and walks away. I heave out a sigh and look at the ground floor again. My gun is positioned very well in my gun thigh holster, and luckily for me the dress it’s a little loose from my thighs going down.
I don’t want any risks you don’t know who is here masquerading as someone else but only find that it’s your competitor or adversary. Anything is possible in these streets. I gulp down the remaining content of my wine, steady myself and exit the mini hall.
★»★«
TSAKANI
My feet are annihilating me I’ve been welcoming all these guests for the past hour making an effort to make them feel comfortable and welcomed. I know I was not hands-on with how the club is going to turn out, but I’m impressed. From the interior design to the scene, yuhhh. It’s all breathtaking I’m marveled, futhi I’ve just realized that she certainly likes Jiyane atelier furniture, but I don’t blame her though the sofas are very comfortable and the material is quite strong.
“Tsakani.” The deep ragged voice I haven’t heard in ages calls out my name. I slowly turn and face him. He still looks the same nothing has changed about him.
“Mr. Mabuza.” I used to work for him, but then he fired me for reasons only known by him.
Him: “Long time son.”
Me: “Yeah, long time indeed.”
Him: “Who knew that one day you will own such an expensive club?”
Me: “God. God, knew that one day I will own this expensive club. He laid it all out for me.”
Him: “I see. I wonder how much did it cost you, and I hope you didn’t take loans that will inhibit you in the future,” he giggles patting my shoulder.
Me: “Well, for your information. I don’t owe anyone money. I, wait, I & my girlfriend actually paid for everything you see here using our own money.”
Him: “Hmmm, impressive. I wonder how wealthy is your girlfriend.” I shrug.
Me: “Wealthy in a way that she can buy both your restaurants combined then hire you again to manage them on her behalf.” He snarls.
Him: “Imagine that. Young money, I bet you that I’m wealthier than her, the trust fund money that she’s busy misusing will run out then what will she do then? She will go broke, bankrupt, and end up relinquishing all this she has worked so hard for then you, my boy will come running to me begging for assistance, and it will be too late then.” He’s so funny, very funny I must compliment.
Me: “What a mockery you are. But I understand where you’re coming from groetman lami, mara wena ungazincishi umoya ngathi. We have this under control, another shot of whiskey?” He clicks his tongue. “Always the case. You will never win this time around Mr. Mazibuko, enjoy the rest of your night.” I pat his shoulder and walk away from him, I wonder what his plan was or what he exactly wanted, oh well. We wile.
The sound of a glass clicking is what attracts everyone’s attention. Bubbles is standing at the mini podium looking so beautiful
“Greetings everyone. I’d like to take this time, and thank each and every one of you for your presence tonight and for making sure that this night becomes attainment. To my staffers, thank you for all the work you’ve perpetrated to make this night a night to remember, thank you. And to my mans, umTsonga wami madoda, my partner in everything. Ladies & gentlemen, please permit me to thank my mans Tsakani for making sure that all of you are present, for going all the way out to extending his invite to you. I know that some of you already had plans but instead, you decided to turn them down and grace us with your presence here at L & T Exclusive lounge. And for that, thank you. I don’t have anything more to say except for welcoming you officially at L & T Exclusive lounge we can’t wait to host you weekly and render you all the content you’ve signed up for. Oh, and to my competitors know that you won’t do anything to me because I’ll be coming for you. You won’t see me coming, but I will come for you, have a great night.” She gets off the podium and everyone claps hands.
What a speech that prevailed. Everyone gets back to what they were doing, and the sustenance is being served, and let me just say the culinarians have done a tremendous job.
“And I’m done for the night,” bubbles tell me standing beside me with her heels in her hand, I laugh.
Me: “But the night is only beginning.”
Her: “For you maybe, but as for me I’m done for the night. All I need is our mattress now.”
Me: “Yazi, you’re behaving as if you were on your feet the whole day baby, kanty dololo you were busy at the salon marinating yourself.”
Her: “But sitting all day on a not so comfortable chair is exhausting, plus the lady who was doing my hair was so slow,” she shrugs.
Me: “Shame, but she knows her job. You’re beautiful my love jealous down, a job well perpetrated to her. Did you tip her?”
Her: “Of course, I did. Her hands are magic, and now I’m going to refer everyone to her.”
Me: “Impressive,” I fling my arm around her neck.
“Oh, so this is the girlfriend. Beautiful. You know how to snap a picture. Hello, L. I’m Mr. Mazibuko.” He inaugurates himself.
Her: “Luxolo.”
Him: “Lovely meeting you. You know, when I was watching you conveying that speech to the masses, I couldn’t help but realize that you’re resembling this other old friend of mine. Both of you have the same features, even though you are a little lighter but you sure as hell resemble him.”
Me: “Oh, is it? And who is this man that I resemble because the last time I checked I was and still am resembling my mother.”
Him: “Oh, child. Yes, you may resemble your mother, but you still have my friend’s features. His name is…,” he doesn’t finish his sentence when one of his subordinates requests his presence urgently.
Her: “My love who do I resemble and who on earth is that man?”
Me: “I don’t know who else you resemble apart from your mother, and Luxolo Snr. And Mr. Mazibuko was once my employer.”
Her: “Funny because he resembles you,” I laugh.
Me: “You must out of your damn mind. Did you discern him? He’s very ghastly, and I’m flames,” she laughs.
Her: “I wonder who prevaricate you. Anyway, let’s go and eat I’m hungry.”
Me: “Thought you’d never announce! Let me help you with those heels,” she hands them to me, and we start scrolling clasping hands.
Her: “Yazi I don’t recollect you telling me how you ended up being a gangster. And I’m stupefied to learn that you were once working for someone, it’s so unlike you.”
Me: “We all start somewhere bubbles, and I will tell you all about it when we get home.”
Her: “Can’t wait for the bedtime anecdote,” I chuckle.
Me: “And you will end up sleeping.”
Her: “Shame on you,” we laugh as we ascend the stairs.
★»★«
NOMALANGA
Everyone is getting ready to retire to bed we had a long day. Mmathabo’s kids are a real hustle during the day, I’m babysitting them since Mmathabo went back to work, and Thembeka has officially moved in with Talon. Mmangwane, has no interest none whatsoever in babysitting, and Bulelwa is forever locked in her room she only comes when we are eating. Okuhle, is forever trying to get Hlulani back, she’s doing her wifely duties lately and hardly spends time with Bulelwa they are like strangers now. The noise that these kids make is sufficient to give you ear wounding, shesh. Anyway, 2 months ago I discovered that I was actually poisoned, and I still have no inkling as to who tried poisoning me and what steered them to do such because I was prudent when it came to eating food prepared by anyone around here. Oh, well, such it’s life.
Luxolo Jnr, calls me every flipping hour just to ask me how I’m holding up, it irks me periodically, but I know that she only has my best interest at heart and more apprehensive about my health. She even made d an effort of getting me to come and stay with them, but I refused I just don’t discern myself disseminating a house with her & Tsakani, it’s just wrong, and besides I like it here at the Elite. It’s so invigorating. And then there’s Luxolo Snr who calls me once in a blue moon and implore about my health then she hangs up after I notify her. Every night before I slumber I always pray to God, to give her a forgiving heart so that we can mend our mother-daughter relationship, and be the for each other. Sighs, I also need to tell Luxolo Jnr who her father is. God, knows how broadly I loathe that man, he really does. He is extremely evil in a way that you start believing that his mother gave birth to Satan’s firstborn. Thinking about him makes my body shiver in uncertainty, and it’s worse because he lives close by now, but he doesn’t know that he has a daughter, and I’d like to keep it that way.
I switch off the lights and head to my room. I stride inside and shut the door close behind me, then lock it, but something catches my attention. The curtain, the curtain Is being blown lightly by a soft wind of which makes me wonder where does it come from because I recollect shutting all the windows earlier on. My heart starts beating rapidly, someone is here I can smell Cologne, a very familiar cologne. It can’t be, no, I prohibit it can’t be. my phone is out of reach, dammit I can’t even call for help. My first instinct tells me to run to the door, but I can’t even spin around and get hold of the doorknob, fear is holding me back, and I can’t even scream. Tears stream down my cheeks. The back of my hair stands as he clears his throat, I don’t dare look back, I remain in the same position and close my eyes.
“Nomalanga.” He calls out. He’s coming behind me in slow strides I can tell by how slow his footsteps are, and it doesn’t help that my bedroom is enormous, I have nowhere to run to. “Nomalanga,” he whispers my name as he lays his hands on my shoulders. I flinch.
I huddle my voice and heave out a sigh, I can’t be weak, he can’t see me weak. “Ufunani?” I implore.
Him: “My daughter. I want my daughter.”
Me: “A daughter? What daughter? You don’t have any daughter with me,” he grumbles moving his right hand to the back of my neck. I swallow at my own spittle.
Him: “You know relatively well what I’m talking about. Where’s my daughter, Nomalanga? I don’t want to ask you again.”
Me: “I don’t know what you are talking about!” I try sounding brave now.
Him: “You don’t?” He starts tightening his grip around my neck. “You don’t?” He growls in my ear. Knowing him, he might eradicate me, I might as well tell him. In fact, who told him that I have a daughter? “Nomalanga.”
Me: “I- I do have a daughter, but you are not the father.”
Him: “Oh, I do have a daughter. Now, why didn’t you tell me that we have a daughter?” What the fuck! He can’t be asking me this right now after what he did, he can’t.
Me: “She’s not a daughter.”
Him: “DNA tests will tell us the truth. You can notify her about me, tell her that her father is back he is back for her. I’m allotting you 2 days to tell her about me because if not, then,” he sighs. “Amagugu alelizwe ayosala emathuneni,” he kisses my cheek and walks out of the door leaving me frozen. The devil bastard is back to cause chaos in my life, but I trust that Nono will deal with him.
His presence evoked all the memories of the past that I thought I’ve forgotten, and buried, but I was wrong because they are now crashing my brain like a force of water accompanied by a strong wind. My body trembles as I slump on my bed holding back my voice from screaming out loud. The Beelzebub in a beautiful white tuxedo is back…