💃A man worth knowing🤔🤔

💋Chapter Seven💋

‘Nombi! ’ Shocked, Mandi stared at
her sister. ‘You’re only supposed
to arrive tomorrow!’
This night was just full of surprises,
Mandi thought glumly. She hadn’t
expected to find her younger sister
in her house tonight. Nombi was
looking gorgeous, as always. Even in
a pair of flared yoga pants and a
fleecy hooded top, she managed to
look like a top model.
‘I arrived a day early.’ Nombi
eyes were not on her, she noticed,
but fixed on Themba. ‘I found your
spare key under the pot plant. Not a
safe place to leave it.’ She pouted.
‘You must be more careful,
Mandisa!’
Mandi flushed, ignoring her sister’s
chiding remark. ‘Nombi, you
remember Themba.’
Nombi’s greeting was cool as ice.
‘Of course.’
‘Nombi.’ Themba nodded.
‘You’re looking well.’
Her sister arched her brows. ‘I get
paid to look well.’
Themba showed his perfect white
teeth. ‘Of course, I forgot; you’re
a model now.’
Nombi turned to Mandi. ‘I hope
I’m not interrupting anything?’
‘No,’ Mandi lied. ‘We’ve just
come back from the theatre.’
There was tension fizzing between
Themba and her sister. Nombi
probably blamed him for
hurting Mandisa all those years ago.
Lightly, Themba touched her
shoulder. ‘I should get going. The
car’s waiting.’
With an awkward smile Mandi turned
to him. ‘Thanks for tonight.’
His lips brushed a kiss against her
cheek. ‘I’ll call you.’
He turned to her sister. ‘Goodbye,
Nombi.’
Nombi gave him a cool smile but
walked off without a word. Mandi
followed her sister inside, locking up
behind them. She found Nombi in the
kitchen.
‘I was just making coffee when I
heard that fancy car pull up,’ she
said.
Mandi smiled. ‘I could do with a
cup.’
‘Wild night at the theatre?’ The
bitchiness ran through her sister’s
voice like acid, but Mandi decided to
ignore it.
‘Just a few glasses of wine,’ she
replied, ‘but it’s been a long
week.’
Selfish as always, Nombi didn’t ask
why her week had been so demanding,
but instead turned the conversation
to herself. ‘I’m also absolutely
exhausted – with serious jet lag
added to it.’
‘Should you have caffeine with jet
lag?’
Nombi mixed instant coffee with
boiling water. ‘Oh, I’ll just take a
sleeping pill.’
She stirred in milk, obviously
forgetting Mandi took her coffee
black. While handing Mandi the mug,
she spotted the rose bracelet on her
sister’s arm. ‘That’s pretty.’
Mandi’s face turned hot. ‘Oh –
yes, isn’t it?’
‘Cheap but pretty, yes,’ Nombi
sniffed. ‘Did he give it to you?’
Again, that tone of ridicule in her
sister’s voice, Mandi realised.
‘Doesn’t matter.’
‘I think it does.’
Mandi bit down on her back teeth.
‘I got it out of a catalogue, OK?’
‘Whoa, no need to be so touchy.’
Then Nombi grinned: ‘Hey! I thought
I’d sleep late and then tomorrow
afternoon we could go shopping.’
Mandi cradled the mug between her
hands, enjoying the warmth. ‘I have
to work tomorrow.’
‘How boring,’ Nombi sniffed. ‘I
guess I’ll do retail therapy on my
own.’
‘We could go to movies tomorrow
night.’
‘Beyond boring.’
Inwardly, Mandi groaned. She’d
forgotten how demanding her little
sister could be. She needed to be
entertained, amused, praised and
distracted constantly. Where was she
going to find the time to keep her
from boredom and start work on her
upcoming collection?
‘Why don’t you come with me to a
dance class tomorrow?’ Mandi
asked, struck by sudden inspiration.
‘You can meet my friend, Linda.
She’ll have ideas on what’s hot in
Jozi.’
‘Mmm, that’s an idea. I could do
with a good work out before my
modelling shoot this week. My body is
my fortune, after all.’
‘Great.’ Mandi looked down at her
untouched milky coffee. ‘I guess I
should get to bed.’
‘You’re not getting off so
easily!’ Nombi wagged a finger. ‘I
want to know all about you and
Themba.’
She suppressed another moan.
‘Look, Nombi – it’s late. I have an
early start tomorrow.’
Her sister’s eyes narrowed.
‘You’re definitely hiding something
–’
Mandi slammed down her mug down
on the counter. ‘I’m not hiding
anything –’
‘What’s he doing back in your
life?’ Nombi interrupted. ‘Taking
you on the town in some fancy ride?
A limo! He must be really loaded
now.’
Pressing her fingers to her temples,
Mandi muttered, ‘Is that all you
think about? All anyone ever thinks
about? Money?’
‘Well, he’s certainly flaunting it,’
Nombi argued. ‘How did you two
hook up again?’
‘Nombi, I just want to take a nice
bubble bath and go to bed. I have a
hectic day at the boutique
tomorrow.’
‘You know Uncle Jakes hated him,
don’t you?’
‘Well, Uncle Jakes isn’t around any
more, is he?’ Mandi sighed.
‘Besides, I’m no longer a young
girl. I can look after myself. I can
handle my own love life.’
‘Can you?’ her sister taunted.
‘You sure about that?‘Yes.’ It was a defiant statement.
‘He’s still as hot as ever,’ Nombi
stated, her eyes narrowing. ‘Is that
the appeal?’
‘I don’t know. You tell me. D’you
still have a crush on him, sisi?’
Mandi hadn’t meant to snap at her
younger sister, but she was tired and
she didn’t like the direction the
conversation was taking.
‘Don’t be ridiculous ,’ scoffed
Nombi, taking a sip of her coffee.
‘Well, you better get to bed then ...
Don’t let me keep you.’
Mandi was about to apologise for her
outburst, but fatigue drained her of
all emotions.
In the bathroom, she poured a
generous portion of her papaya gel
into the hot water.
Sitting on the edge of the tub, she
pulled off her high heels and rubbed
her feet.
At that moment, Nombi popped her
head around the corner of the
bathroom. ‘Is the linen in the spare
room clean?’
‘Yes,’ she answered, ‘I washed
it yesterday.’
Nombi paused. ‘Something smells
good in here.’
‘It’s my papaya body wash, my
one indulgence.’
‘Where do you keep the clean
towels?’ Nombi asked. ‘I’ll need
to take a shower in the morning.’
Mandi’s voice was hoarse with
tiredness. ‘In the hall closet. Top
shelf.’
Nombi’s sudden smile made her look
younger and sweeter. ‘Did you have
a good time tonight? With Themba?’
Mandi nodded. ‘I did.’
‘I’m glad.’ Her sister leaned
over, kissed her on her forehead.
‘It’s great seeing you again,
Mandi.’
Close to tears, Mandi smiled. ‘I’m
happy to have you here.’
The next day, Mandi was at the
studio early, working on finishing
touches for her September
collection. She was co-ordinating the
outfits on a mock-up board, complete
with sketches, fabric swatches and
Polaroid pictures of each outfit.
When she wasn’t sure of a
combination, she
called Andrew in for a second
opinion.
‘Miss Morena, I need your help.’
He laughed. ‘Just rub the magic
lantern three times, honey, and I’m
there!’
‘That’s for a genie,’ she teased.
‘Not a fairy!’
He pulled a tongue. ‘You want my
help or not?’
‘OK, OK.’ She held up a mock-up.
‘What do you think of this?’
Andrew tapped his fingers on his
chin. ‘I love it, love it!’ he trilled.
‘The bright African prints really
stand out when you match them with
plain, solid colours.’
‘Guess you can’t go wrong with
black, eh?’ Mandi nodded. She held
up another mock-up. ‘What about
this combination?’
‘Mmm,’ Andrew murmured
pensively. ‘ Hate it!’
She groaned. ‘Why?
‘Put the pale blue bead bag with
the red print dress, rather than a red
clutch,’ he advised. ‘It breaks the
colour up better.’
‘You’re right.’
‘Honey,’ he said, ‘I’m always
right!’
And so the afternoon continued.
Mandi survived on black coffee, a
chocolate croissant and the high of
creativity. With a small jolt of
awareness, she realised why she was
pushing herself so hard. She wanted
Themba to be proud of her.
When she got back home that
evening, her living room looked like
the closing down sale of the
world’s top designers as Nombi’s
shopping lay strewn across every
available surface. Obviously, her
sister had fun at the mall, she
thought with a trace of bitterness.
Spending money like it was water
when she, Mandi, was bleeding
financially. Of course, she couldn’t
blame Nombi. She hadn’t once
shared with her sister how bad
things had become at Midnight Rose.
Nombi bounced out the guest
bedroom in a brand new black
designer tracksuit. ‘Let’s hit the
dance studio – I’m ready to rock
‘n roll!’
‘It’s hardly rock.’ Mandi rolled
her eyes. ‘More Afro-Cuban.’
‘What. Ever .’
In a surprising change of habit,
Linda wasn’t late for class and was
waiting for them at the Afro-Dance
studio. Mandi had just enough time
to introduce her friend to her sister
when Cole
strode in with his dreadlocks and
grin and crazy T-shirts.
‘Hi guys!’ he called. ‘Let’s get
movin’!’
The class started.
One look at her gorgeous sister and
Mandi could tell Cole was smitten.
The American dancer couldn’t get
keep his eyes off Nombi. And Nombi
– being a slinky fashion model and all
– played it coy and aloof with the
poor guy.
Instead of a pang of jealousy, Mandi
felt a rush of relief. She was just
glad that Cole’s attention had
shifted to a new target.
The realisation struck her in her
chest; she froze in the middle of a
complicated Cuban heel movement.
What did that mean? Oh, it was
obvious, wasn’t it? She had eyes
only for one man; her heart and her
emotions were completely invested in
Themba. She was falling in love with
him all over again. In fact, she
realised with a shuddering heartbeat,
she’d never stopped being in love
with him. But, she asked herself, was
he a man worth knowing? A man
worth loving?
Pushing the thought from her mind –
to deal with later – she concentrated
on following the rest of the class.
However, her heart was still beating
double time and it had nothing to do
with the energetic dance routines.
After dance class, Cole invited the
three young women out for coffee;
reluctantly, Mandi agreed to join in
for a quick coffee.
‘We still have to get to a movie,’
she reminded her sister and Linda in
the change room. ‘There’s a new
romantic comedy I want to catch.’
‘Chill,’ Nombi said in a huffy
voice. ‘This will be fun.’
Linda bumped her shoulder against
Mandi. ‘Looks like you have
competition for Cole’s attention.’‘Nombi is welcome to him.’
‘Please!’ Nombi gave them an arch
look. ‘Who could handle those T-
shirts!’
‘Come on,’ egged Linda. ‘You like
him.’
Nombi sniffed. ‘Oh, but he’s so
young and so obviously poor!’
‘And so obviously cute?’ Linda
teased.
‘So cute,’ Nombi giggled. ‘I want
to put him in a basket at the bottom
of my bed, like a puppy!’
All three broke into laughter as they
walked through the gym to meet Cole.
A half hour later, the four of them
found a corner table at the back of a
nearby coffee shop. The
smell of coffee and the warm ovens
was heavenly. Cole ordered ice-
coffees and a slice of lemon meringue
for each, except for Nombi who
insisted she’d given up cake when
she signed her
modelling contract.
‘What are you girls up to this
evening?’ Cole asked.
‘Nothing much,’ Nombi said,
seductively toying with the plastic
straw of her cold coffee drink.
‘Jozi is proving to be so dull!’
Mandi shot her a look. ‘We’re
going to the movies.’
‘I think that’s boring.’ Nombi
fluttered her eyelashes at Cole.
‘Don’t you think that’s boring,
Cole?’
‘Maybe,’ he mused. ‘We could
still catch that new Cuban club. You
did ditch us last time, Mandisa.’
‘Yes, you did,’ Linda chimed in.
‘C’mon, Mandi. It will be fun.’
She shook her head. ‘I can’t have
a late night.’
‘Have some fun, sisi.’ Nombi
challenged her with a stare. ‘What
are you, a grandma?’
‘I have to work on my collection,’
Mandi argued.
‘Oh, yes. What are you doing for
the launch, by the way?’ Linda
asked.
‘Not sure.’ Mandi shrugged.
‘Haven’t given it that much
thought.’
‘My God,’ Linda exclaimed.
‘It’s less than a month away.
Better think fast.’
‘I think you should have a fashion
show,’ Nombi piped up.
Mandi was shocked. For once, her
sister wasn’t thinking of herself and
showing interest in Mandi’s career.
Cole’s face broke into a smile.
‘That’s an awesome idea.’
‘I’m sure I could catch a break in
my schedule,’ Nombi said. ‘I could
be one of your models.’
‘I’d definitely come then,’ Cole
beamed.
‘I’d definitely invite you then.’
Nombi ratcheted up her flirting skills
a notch.
There was definitely a buzz between
Cole and her sister, Mandi realised.
‘That makes one model – where do I
get the money to hire other
models?’
Nombi tapped her fingers on the
table. ‘I could ask some of my
modelling friends.’ She sounded
doubtful. ‘I’m not sure they’d
help out without a fee though.’
At that moment, another idea
sparked in Mandi’s mind. She hid
her excitement from her friends, but
she was sure she’d just hit on an
idea to get some free models for the
show. ‘It’s an interesting idea,’
was all she said now. ‘But how do I
set it up on such short notice?’
‘I could help,’ Linda said. ‘After
all, I’m in PR; I have a whole fat
black book of contacts. Editors.
Photographers. Celebrities.’
‘Could you?’ Mandi bit her lip. ‘I
mean – would you – do that for
me?’
‘Of course!’
Then a depressing thought pierced
through Mandi’s excitement. ‘But
... but where would we hold a fashion
show?’
For a moment, the table was silent.
Cole waited for the waitress to clear
their plates and glasses before
speaking up. ‘What about the dance
studio? We could set up a runway in
the middle of the dance floor!’
‘You’d have to get the owner’s
permission,’ Nombi cautioned.
‘I am the owner,’ he said proudly.
‘I bought it two months ago. You
see, I’ve decided to stay in South
Africa.’
‘Oh Cole – you’re a genius!’
Nombi leaned over and smacked her
lips against his cheek.
The dancer’s smiled threatened to
split his face. ‘Er, I don’t know
about genius.’
‘Genius! ’ The three women echoed
emphatically.
‘OK, OK,’ he spoke quickly. ‘I’ll
set it up.’
Linda hooted, ‘That’s settled
then!’
‘Wait, not so fast,’ Mandisa
interjected. ‘I still have to organise
the models. I’ll ... I’ll let everyone
know tomorrow. But I think – I really
think – we can pull it off.’
‘Of course we can,’ Nombi
beamed. ‘This is going to be the
most fabulous show ever, just you
wait and see!’
‘I think we should hit the club and
celebrate,’ Cole said. ‘No more
coffee. This calls for something
stronger.’
‘At the very least,’ Nombi added
smoothly.
With a twist of regret in her heart,
Mandi wished that Themba was here
to share in the moment