A man worth knowing🤔🤔

Chapter Five 

 At six o’clock, she hit the Afro- Dance Studio for a punishing workout. Cole Walker, the instructor, was a cute guy from New York with a big grin and dreadlocks. As always, he was wearing tights and a cut-off vintage American T-shirt. A hard taskmaster, he started the class off with a Bembe Shango, filled with the Afro-Cuban dance rhythms she loved. She could feel the ritualistic beats and pulsing tempos right to her bones. .Her friend, Linda, was late for the class and smiled sheepishly as she took her place. Mandi wiped sweat from her brow and grinned at her. ‘Keep up with it, girls,’ Cole shouted above the music. Despite her lack of sleep and a hard day at Midnight Rose, she enjoyed the exercise, the adrenalin pushing all the fear and stress from her body, leaving her feeling light and relaxed for the first time in weeks. Cole finished off with a Comparsa, a fun carnival dance that had everyone giggling and sweating. ‘Should we get a drink?’ Linda’s flushed face grinned at Mandi as they finished their cool-down exercises. ‘I don’t know. I’m tired. I should get home.’ ‘A quick one,’ her friend egged her on. ‘C’mon. We’ll just grab a vitamin-enhanced mineral water at the juice bar.’ ‘Mm.’ A hesitation. ‘My sister was telling me about those. Maybe I’ll try one.’ Linda ordered two energy boosting drinks from the bar and flung herself down on the hardwood floor of the studio. She took a deep sip of the cold drink. ‘I’d kill for a cigarette.’ ‘I thought you’d quit.’ Mandi sat tailor-fashion opposite her friend. ‘I have but I still crave it. It’s like missing a bad boyfriend even after he’s broken your heart.’ Mandi laughed, but the off-hand comment struck her to the core. She didn’t dare tell Linda about Themba. It was her past. She wanted to keep it private. It was a problem she’d solve on her own. She forced him from her mind. She turned to her friend with a smile. ‘We all have to make healthier choices at some time, don’t we?’ ‘You said it!’ She and Linda had met at the dance class a year ago and Mandi had formed an easy friendship with the bubbly blonde who worked in public relations. ‘I saw Cole givin’ you the eye again,’ Linda winked. ‘You’re crazy,’ Mandi scoffed. ‘Why would he look at me?’ ‘Because you’re beautiful and sexy and successful and a nice person,’ Linda smiled. ‘I’m telling you, he has the hots for you.’ ‘I’m not interested.’ ‘Why not?’ She tried to make a joke of it. ‘I don’t know if I could handle all those crazy T-shirts.’ ‘You’re a tough nut to crack,’ Linda said. ‘I’ve set you up with at least three guys in the last six months and it never goes beyond the first date. What’s up with that?’ Mandi was saved from answering as Cole, a towel covering his dreads, walked over to them. ‘You enjoy the class?’ ‘You’re going to kill us!’ Linda’s dramatic moan made the instructor laugh. ‘How about you, Mandi? You had all the moves down tonight. You were on fire , it was awesome.’ ‘Thank you,’ Mandi said. ‘I love the Comparsa!’ He rubbed a bottle of mineral water between his palms. ‘Then we’ll have to have to do it more often.’ As he walked away, Linda leaned over and whispered: ‘Such a cute accent. You should go for him.’ Mandi shook her head, but she was unsure. Something her friend said sparked an idea. Cole was more than cute, he was strong and sexy. A beautiful body, matched by a beautiful smile. He obviously liked her. Maybe if she started dating him – started having fun, living her own life for a change – she would be able to push Themba Dlane from her mind, once and for all. It was an idea ... Linda swallowed down the last of her juice. ‘I’m going to hit the showers. Do you want to catch a movie later?’ ‘Thanks, but I’m bushed. I’ll call you later in the week.’ ‘OK.’ Linda stood and did a long stretch. ‘When Cole asks you out, I want to be the first to know.’ She winked. She got home shortly after seven. As she walked into the quiet little house in Parkmore, the rooms filled with gray shadows and cold winter silence, she felt her heart freeze up in her chest. Up until this moment, she hadn’t realised how lonely she’d become. Sure, she had her friends, her boutique, but every night she came home alone. Hollow inside. Lonely. Passionless. It took seeing Themba again after all this time to make her see how hopeless her romantic life was. She switched on a light. The gray outside was banished by the soft lighting inside. Actually, her house was beautiful and warm. She was just being fanciful, that’s all. She’d chosen an eclectic style – mixing and matching stuff she’d picked up at the flea market with some modern, new pieces. All the fabrics, of course, she’d done herself, using traditional African prints to anchor the theme of her house. Now she threw her gym bag on the floor and tossed her purse onto her dining room table. A pile of unopened post slid to the floor. And then it struck her. Oh God ! She might lose her house as well, right along with her business. She’d taken two loans against her current bond just to keep Midnight Rose afloat. Icy sensations prickled her skin. She had to make a concerted effort to turn her fortunes around! The first thing she did was order a pizza to be delivered. She hadn’t realised how hungry she was; the dance class had got her appetite going. Stripping off her dance clothes, Mandi jumped into the shower. Afterwards she changed into her hot pink fleece tracksuit with matching pink trainers. She felt better than she had in weeks. Energised, creative, hopeful.Themba was right. She was smart. She could find a way out of this mess. She just had to attack it from a different angle, think laterally, and remain positive. Grabbing a bottle of mineral water from the refrigerator, she steeled herself for a night of hard work. Sitting down at her small dining room table, she picked up a notebook and pen and started to brainstorm. Within minutes, she had written half a page of ideas, notes, drawings. In a worst case scenario, if she had to close down the premises of Midnight Rose, it didn’t mean the end of the business, did it? No, it didn’t, she told herself. She could launch an online site and sell her creations as mail order items. Yes, yes,yes. There could even be small video clips showing the dresses on real models, along with ideas for accessories. She drew a big circle around that idea! Even if she managed to save Midnight Rose, it could be another fabulous platform to sell her work. She took a sip of water and smiled. Perhaps she could even ask Linda and Nombi for help. With her friend’s contacts in PR, she could perhaps dream up a publicity campaign for her new collection. Her sister could be roped in to do some modelling. What about a photo shoot of Nombi wearing her latest pieces? That could work! The chiming of the doorbell stilled her pen. For a moment she was confused, but quickly remembered she’d ordered a pizza. She scrambled around for her purse and peeled out a couple of bills. Just in time, too, she thought. She was starving! Mandi opened the front door, and the breath left her lungs as she looked up. There was Themba, a pizza box in one hand, her accounts file in the other. He stood there, looking as sinfully handsome as always; in fact, he looked far more appealing than the pizza. He wore black denims, fitting snugly around lean hips and muscular thighs. Leather boots and a tight black T-shirt completed the lean, sexy, casual look. She tamped down illicit thoughts, but it was hard to do. Just looking at him caused a flare of warmth in her empty stomach. A flare of pure lust, she reminded herself. Get a grip, Mandi! ‘I caught the pizza guy on his way up the stairs,’ he said. ‘I told him I’d take it in. ‘I suppose you paid him too.’ ‘Of course.’ ‘I’m not that broke, Themba,’ she said. ‘I can still afford a take- away.’ ‘Yes, but would you have been as generous with a tip?’ Mandi’s hands found her hips. ‘How did you know where I stayed?’ ‘It was on your documentation from the accountant,’ he said. ‘Look, the pizza’s getting cold. Can we discuss this inside?’ For a moment, she realised she was wearing her pink tracksuit and trainers, her hair scraped back in an alice-band without a trace of make up. ‘I – I wasn’t expecting company.’ ‘Pink looks adorable on you,’ he said. ‘Hot pink?’ she teased. ‘Not too girly?’ ‘No, just hot!’ His eyes darkened. ‘Hot and young and fresh and gorgeous.’ ‘You’re full of it!’ Without waiting for an invitation, he slid past her and looked around her home. ‘I can see your culture clash is not confined to the boutique,’ he said. ‘I like it.’ ‘Thanks.’ ‘Where should I put this?’ She moved to the dining table, clearing her notebook and pen out the way. ‘Here will be fine,’ she said. ‘I suppose I’d better invite you to stay for a slice.’ Themba dumped the pizza box and the file on the table. ‘You don’t have to sound so happy about it.’ Sarcasm underlined every word. ‘I’m sorry,’ she sighed. ‘I’m just tired. It’s been a long day.’ He jammed his hands into his back pocket. ‘Do you have beer?’ ‘Lite beer.’ His mouth pulled. ‘You’re such a girl.’ ‘That I am.’ She couldn’t help smiling. ‘You’ll just have to put up with it. I’ll get us some plates. I hope you’re hungry.’ ‘I could do with a slice. Garlic?’ ‘No, sorry. You know I don’t like spices.’ ‘I love spice.’ ‘I know.’ Her eyes met his for a moment. ‘I remember.’ Mandi fetched two side plates and paper serviettes. She poured herself a glass of wine and got a bottle of lite beer for him. ‘Thanks.’ For a brief moment, their hands touched as she handed him the ice-cold bottle. It was an electric touch. She felt it in every nerve ending of her arm. He must have felt it too, because his body stiffened and his eyelids lowered over his glimmering dark eyes. ‘My pleasure.’ Her voice broke breathlessly from her throat. ‘I’ve been working on some ideas for the boutique this evening. Your pep talk helped.’ She rattled off some of her better ideas. She could tell he was impressed with her innovative thinking. He said, ‘You have a true entrepreneur’s spirit, Miss Mbatha.’ ‘Thank you.’ ‘Shall we drink a toast?’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘To what?’ ‘To Midnight Rose?’ he suggested cryptically. ‘I think I have good news for you, Mandi.’ ‘You do?’ Excitement swelled in her heart. ‘Let’s sit and eat and go over what I found in my investigation of your books.’ Over pizza, Themba explained that he’d picked up some discrepancies in her books, things that should have been picked up by her accountant. There was a trace of anger in his voice as he spoke. ‘This guy hasn’t done a good job of looking after your finances.’ ‘I hadn’t noticed.’‘You wouldn’t know what to look for,’ he pointed out. ‘To be fair, perhaps he didn’t offer the kind of services Dlane Investments offers our big clients. We have expertise this guy doesn’t have access to.’ She took a delicate bite of her pizza slice. ‘What have I been doing wrong?’ ‘Some basic rookie mistakes,’ he stated bluntly. ‘You’ve been operating Midnight Rose with a by- the-seat-of-your-pants method. That’s what’s got you into trouble.’ ‘I don’t know what you mean.’ ‘You don’t understand the numbers,’ he said. ‘Are you tracking cash flow? Keeping an eye on expenses? All the answers are in the numbers.’ ‘It sounds like I need more wine to deal with this.’ ‘Trust me, it’s not difficult,’ he said. ‘I can explain it to you in no time.’ Slowly, Mandi put her glass down and met his eyes. ‘Why are you helping me?’ He looked at her with a mixture of tenderness and surprise. ‘Don’t you want my help?’ ‘Of course,’ she replied stiffly. ‘It’s just that you’re used to working on blue-chip accounts, why waste your time on some small fashion boutique?’ ‘I enjoy challenges. Especially when it involves money.’ ‘Yes, we all know that,’ she teased. ‘But why this one?’ Some part of her still held out the hope that there would be a chance for her and Themba. Could they get over the past? Did he still have feelings for her? Taking a slug of beer, Themba said, ‘I always root for the underdog. I can’t stand to see someone with your spirit and talent and passion fail. Not after you’ve worked so hard. How can I stand by and let you lose your business?’ It was not the answer she’d hoped for. She felt a small crush of disappointment, but she recovered quickly. She pasted a bright smile on her face. ‘Will I lose my boutique?’ Back to business, Themba showed her a proposal and action plan he’d put together for her. ‘There’s some unwise credit policies you need to re-evaluate. I’ve outlined that for you’– he pointed –‘here.’ She moved closer to him to study the printed document, aware of the faint smell of beer on his breath, his cologne, his hard body under the thin black T-shirt. Uh-oh. She was having trouble concentrating. ‘You’ve also duplicated some payments to your suppliers, for which you can claim a rebate,’ he went on. ‘You haven’t even looked at the rental protection policies in your lease.’ ‘And?’ ‘You’ve been paying a ten percent premium for years,’ he said. ‘It allows you a break on paying rent for up to six months at a time. You need to see your rental agent about that as soon as possible.’ Her eyes widened. ‘Six months rent free?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘That will give me breathing space.’ ‘Just remember the longer you don’t pay rent, the higher your rent will be when you resume payments again,’ he cautioned. ‘You don’t want to rely on this policy for too long. It’s pretty punitive.’ ‘I never thought of it that way.’ ‘That’s what I’m here for, Mandi. To guide you, educate you, support you.’ A pause. ‘Can I have this last piece of pizza?’ ‘Yes, I’m too excited to eat anymore,’ she bubbled. ‘Can I get you another beer?’ ‘Let’s finish this first,’ he suggested mildly. ‘You haven’t filed your tax properly. With some careful juggling, we can get you a higher rebate.’ ‘You’re so clever.’ ‘What about you?’ His eyes found hers. ‘Those ideas you had for the website and fashion shoots were great.’ ‘You really think so?’ In the last hour or so, she’d felt a shift in their relationship. It was subtle but profound. No longer did all the power rest with Themba; they were more like equals. ‘For sure, Mandi,’ he nodded. ‘With your creative genius and my analytical brain, we’d make a great team.’ For a moment, their eyes locked and held. A great team, she thought.Equal in their contribution to saving her boutique. A great business team, yes, but not a wonderful romantic couple. Never the lovely duo they’d been in Cape Town five years ago. She swallowed down the thought, looking away. ‘What’s the bottom line?’ Themba showed her a figure on the last page. ‘With some quick thinking and decisive action, you will have just enough money to keep afloat for another month, maybe two. You’d just better make sure the new collection is a success.’ ‘Oh, it will be! I’ve already started planning a fashion show to launch it in September!’ Mandi enthused. ‘You’ve saved my life, Themba!’ Overjoyed, she jumped from her chair and threw her arms around him. On impulse, she kissed him full on the lips. Taken by surprise, he laughed from the back of his throat. ‘You’re being over the top.’ ‘No, you are my hero.’ This time he slowly stood from his chair, took her in his arms, moulding her slender body to his hard frame. ‘Another kiss then?’ Themba moved in closer, held her, touched his face to hers. He kissed her right back. Mandi didn’t try to stop him, didn’t want to. This feels right , she thought. She remembered his kisses; her body held its own memories. His mouth felt familiar, so familiar, and it wiped away any pain she’d ever felt. Themba’s broke the kiss with a low groan. ‘I’ve missed this. I’ve missed kissing you.’ Breathlessly, she held him closer. ‘Then don’t stop.’ There was real warmth, genuine desire and unspoken emotion in the caress of his mouth on hers. She didn’t want it to stop.As his large, warm hands slid down her shoulders to the small of her back and her slender fingers curled around the hot muscle of his neck, stray thoughts threaded through her mind. For how long could this go on? Not just this kiss ... but her and Themba? How long could this flow of emotion and sensual tension last? What happened when he went back to Cape Town? Reluctantly, Mandi twisted her head away, her lips sweet and hot with his kiss, her body flooded with a heavy warmth as if desire had weighted her to the floor. ‘What’s wrong?’ Themba’s jagged whisper filled her ear. She raised her eyes to his. ‘Where do we go from here?’ ‘To bed ...?’ Themba placed a teasing, nipping kiss on her lips. She swatted him playfully on the arm. ‘Typical man.’ ‘No, not typical man,’ he said. ‘Your man.’ She shivered at the soft strand of possession in his voice. ‘Themba, please–’ His voice roughened with desire. ‘I want to make love to you.’ ‘You don’t know what you’re saying.’ ‘I want to be your lover, your first lover, Mandi,’ he said huskily. ‘It’s the way it should be. It’s the way it should’ve been all those years ago.’ ‘No, please, not now, not yet.’ Mandi beat back a cold flood of fear. ‘We’re not thinking properly.’ Themba’s release was sudden. It felt like a loss not to feel his arms around her, his heat, his strength. His voice iced. ‘Nothing has changed. One kiss is all I’m permitted.’ ‘That’s not what I–’ ‘Why are you treating me like a schoolboy, Mandisa?’ It was a taunt. ‘Are you trying to drive me mad? There’s a name for women like you –’ ‘Stop – right now.’ Insulted, she stepped back. Themba backed down. ‘I apologise, Mandi. You know I respect you. This wouldn’t be a business deal. It wouldn’t be a one night stand.’ ‘I know that.’ His voice softened. ‘Then what’s stopping us?’ ‘What happens when you go back to Cape Town?’ she asked. ‘What happens to us then?’ ‘I still want to see you.’ Themba’s hands curled at his sides. ‘We’ll make a plan. I’ll be back in Jo’burg for a visit in a few weeks. I’ll check my schedule –’ ‘I don’t want to fit into your damn schedule!’ Heat exploded across her face. ‘Why notstay for a few days, a week, and see if there’s a chance to make this work. We owe it ourselves.’ For a moment, the room was quiet. When he spoke, his voice was cool. ‘I can’t stay a day longer, I have a major deal to hammer down when I get back to Cape Town.’ This time, she remained silent. ‘Mandi, please try to understand –’ ‘I do understand.’ Her words hid a soft cynical bite. ‘Business comes first, pleasure a close second and love – well, love doesn’t even feature on your agenda, Mr Dlane.’ She could see her jibe had made him angry. ‘At least I allow myself pleasure,’ he said. ‘You’ve kept yourself wrapped up in cotton wool; you’ve let no one in past your barriers. Why is that? Don’t you trust yourself? Why won’t you let a man get further than a kiss?’ Her chin jerked into the air. ‘Maybe I was waiting for you. Maybe I’ve always held out for you.’ ‘What are you saying?’ Eyes darkening, he gripped her by the arms. ‘That you’re still in love with me?’ Realising she’d made herself vulnerable, that her emotions were too close to the surface, Mandi decided to backtrack. She tried to shake herself loose, but he held her in his steel-like grasp. Tears burned behind her eyes. ‘Why did you leave the country so soon after we broke up?’ ‘I had my reasons for going to Paris–’ ‘Tell me.’ ‘Why do you always want to dig up the past?’ he growled. ‘It’s behind us.’ ‘Answer me!’ ‘I had to leave,’ he clipped out. ‘Why?’ ‘I can’t tell you but, believe me, I didn’t expect to stay away so long. I wanted to come back ... but there was nothing to come back to ...’ His voice trailed off. ‘Was it another woman?’ she asked softly. His eyes flicked to the side, back to hers. ‘Oh, God, it’s complicated – ’ Mandi had heard enough. ‘You don’t owe me anything, not even an explanation. Why don’t you just go?’ He didn’t let go; he gripped her more powerfully. ‘Don’t make me leave, don’t do this, I want you back, Mandi, I want you .’ Themba’s head swooped low for another kiss. Mandi wouldn’t surrender this time. His mouth formed a crushing pressure against her closed lips. No desire this time, only a sick dread. He wanted to mark her, claim her, bruise her. With her remaining reserves of strength, she broke her wrists free and twisted her body away. ‘I’ll never let you kiss – touch me – again.’ Ragged breath tore from her lungs. ‘I’m not someone you can bend to your will, Themba.’ His eyes flew open. He backed up against the wall, upsetting a small printed frame behind him. ‘Did I hurt you?’ Her wrists stung, but she shook her head. ‘No.’ ‘Mandi –’ ‘Please, Themba,’ she snapped. ‘I think it’s better if we called it a night, before we both say things we can’t take back.’ Themba nodded. ‘I’ll call you.’ ‘There’s no need –’ ‘About business,’ he snapped. ‘About the boutique, damn it. We can at least work together on that. I insist.’ Too emotional to answer, she just nodded her head. Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest as she watched him walk to the door. He stood in the doorway, his back to her, a dark forbidding silhouette cut by the shadows. Without turning he said, ‘I wish things could’ve been different back then.’She didn’t know what to say, just bit down on her lip. Slowly, he turned and faced her, his face sombre. ‘Remember you walked away from me. You left me.’ She closed her eyes against fresh tears so she didn’t have to see him leave. When she heard the door close, she rushed to lock it behind him. The key turning in the chamber was like sealing all the pain inside her heart. Slumped against the wall in her entrance hall, Mandiwas fighting a feeling of despair. No, she couldn’t change the past, that much she knew, but she couldn’t escape it either. Nothing had been resolved, she realised. The past still stood between her and Themba like an invisible wall or a dark river. His coming back into her life to help her sort out the mess at Midnight Rose was just a complication, because he’d woken all the emotions she’d fought so hard to forget over the years.