‘I want you gone when I return.’
I leave for the house. I meet Ciara on her way back to the yard. She is in her swimwear, her swimming cap is on and a towel hanging over her shoulder.
I hurry up to my room to change into my black swim trunks. I also hang my towel over my shoulder. Ciara is splashing happily in the water with her mother watching.
‘Mommy, come and join us,’ she calls out.
‘Mommy has to go.’ I turn to Diana and give her a warning look, then turn back to Ciara. ‘We are swimming to that other side of the pool. If you win, you can watch TV until eight-thirty tonight. If daddy wins, no TV for Ciara.’
Of course, I will let her win. I always do.
* * *
You decide to host a party on a Thursday but can’t even stay awake for an afternoon meeting the following day?
I don’t know what time everybody left yesterday and how much they drank. But it is evident that they partied more than they should have. I am sitting here, watching them yawn and look uninterested in putting together a portfolio for a new client.
‘Which one would be best for their product reveal in the next issue of the business magazine?’ I pose the question – for what feels like the hundredth time – to the team. We have two proposals on the presentation board and they are supposed to be debating which one is best.
I want to make sure we take the right direction with the rebranding of this women’s boutique in Rosebank. A new client needs to be impressed with our performance from the start, so it is important that I be here for decision-making. If only everyone else would realise how important this meeting is!
‘What time did you guys leave last night?’ I finally ask. ‘I cannot allow this kind of behaviour. You guys were supposed to be responsible. I struggled to fit this meeting into my calendar and you’ve known about it for ages but now you can’t be bothered.’ I click my tongue angrily. ‘Reschedule the meeting and call me when you are sobered up.’ Everyone stares blankly at me. ‘What? I don’t care that you threw a bash for me yesterday. Today is a working day and you should have thought about that before downing your alcohol last night. You are all dismissed. Go back to your desks and brainstorm this.’
This is the first and last time this is happening. Diana should not have approved a weekday celebration. And she was not even here to oversee it. I blocked out two hours for this meeting and all they were doing was yawning and staring at me. I expected ideas to be flying around the room.
There is an hour and a half left before my next meeting. I might as well just stay here and work on this on my own. Time is money – loads of it.
Everyone leaves the boardroom while I head to the back of the room to make myself a cup of a strong black coffee.
I need it.
‘Number one or two?’ I mumble to myself as I walk back to the front. I think it is quite obvious that women are attracted to beautiful boutiques, exclusive boutiques. It should look expensive and inviting.
The door flies open and a trolley rolls in before Thandeka follows. A frown appears on her face as she stops in her tracks. She stares right at me before dropping her gaze to the floor.
‘Oh, sorry, I thought there was no one in here. Those guys said you are rescheduling the meeting.’
‘I am still stuck here. Come in. Don’t let me stop you from doing your work.’ Without another word, she rolls the trolley to the back. It takes everything in me to keep my eyes on the board and not turn to her beautiful body. I need to focus if I’m going to get this right.
‘One or two?’ I ask myself as I try to imagine the spread in one of our marketing magazines. What works best for our client’s brand?
‘Two,’ Thandeka utters from the back.
‘What?’ I ask, turning towards her. Those beautiful eyes of hers land on me, causing a shiver down my spine.
‘The second presentation looks much better.’
‘You think so? I feel like it is too … basic. What do you think?’
‘This is your new client, right?’ she asks while walking towards where I am sitting. I nod. ‘I’d pick the second presentation for them.’
‘Isn’t it too simple for a boutique that sells a dress for a few thousand rand?’ The first presentation shouts: Money!
‘It will work,’ she says, keeping her eyes on the board.
‘Sit down.’ I pull out a chair for her, next to me. Surprisingly, she takes a seat, but she keeps her eyes on the presentation board.
‘Okay, this is my opinion, right? I feel like you guys repeat concepts all the time,’ she starts. I raise my eyebrows at her. ‘No, sir, this is just my opinion after eavesdropping on these Friday meetings. Your clients are exclusive, fine, but can’t you bring something different to the table?’
‘Something like?’
‘Don’t advertise the money but rather the elegance of the clothes. For once, think about women like me and my friends. Don’t you think I also want to walk into a boutique one day and pick out a dress? But if your client portrays herself as what is on the first presentation, she is kicking me and Maria away.’ She chuckles. ‘But if you choose the second one, I’d be interested to walk into that boutique and check the place out myself. Ms Diana can still walk into the same shop. The difference is I will walk out without a dress and Ms Diana will walk out with one or two or more … but at least we both will have felt like we belonged.’
I nod. She is making an interesting point.
‘Who knows? I might one day spend one whole month’s salary on a perfect dress.’
Okay, maybe. Maybe we do things a little different this time. Open our client up to more customers, while keeping the elegance of the brand. Yes! I smile at her. ‘Would you really spend a month’s salary on a dress?’
‘Me?’ She laughs. ‘Not me. I make my own dresses. But what I’ve said still holds true. I have friends who would do that.’
She enlightens me about the clothes she makes but my focus is on her lips. They move so sweetly. So perfectly. They curve into a smile every now and then, and they look juicy as hell.
She noticed me staring at her and she returns the favour. She leans closer. Her eyes flicker to my mouth. She licks her lips. That, for me, is an invitation to devour her mouth. I lean towards her and land my lips on hers. She closes her eyes and lets me kiss her. A groan escapes my mouth as I shut my eyes and deepen the kiss. My one hand touches her cheek, my knuckles caressing her warm skin. It fuels my desire for her. I am falling in love with this woman. No, let me not pretend. I am already in love with her. She tenderly bites my bottom lip and another groan rumbles from my throat. Thandeka flinches and we both open our eyes.
‘Sir, I am sorry!’ She jumps to her feet and takes a few steps away from me.
Arrrggg! Not again. She’s running again.
‘Why not?’ I join her. ‘You are falling in love with me as much as I am falling deeply in love with you. Why can’t you let it happen?’
She shakes her head.
‘No.’
‘Thandeka, why not? Don’t tell me that it is because I am your boss because I will fire you right now …’
She widens her eyes in fear.
Oh, shit, that came out very wrong! ‘No … no, I mean I will find you other employment so that you won’t have to work for me.’
She starts packing the mugs on the tray.
‘Look at me.’ I take both her hands and pull her closer to my chest. ‘What is wrong?’