Dating a Gangster

Chapter Four: The VIP

The time is 12:40, exactly twenty minutes before lunch time. Today is rather a slow day at work and seemingly it’s like everyone in the office is experiencing Monday blues. I still haven’t responded to Lukhanyo’s message, in fact let me give him a call with my work telephone.

The phone rings once and he answers “Lukhanyo speaking, hello.” the deep baritone echoes. “Good day. I’m calling with regards to a booking you have at 1pm Sir, and I just wanted to confirm whether you’ll be coming or not? We’ll be more than happy to pop the slot in for someone else though so don’t even worry about that.” I say with a more polished and office Secretary voice. He chuckles. “Amanda I know your voice okay? And yes ma’am I’ll still be coming. Even though it’s almost fifteen minutes before the reservation and I still don’t know the location.”, says Luks sarcastically. “Well worry not Sir, just like the old Proverb says: ‘All good things take time.’ How’s Sanook Cafe here in Berea?” I ask. “Well I guess this good thing had to take the whole morning but nonetheless, no complaints. Sanook sounds great. I’ll start driving that side in five minutes, just want to wrap something up quickly.” He says with a rather excited voice. “Okay then. I’ll see you in fifteen minutes. Don’t be late, I’m paying!” I exclaim. He laughs, “Oh so I can be late when I’m the one paying the bill? Haha, oh I see this. Don’t worry ma’am I’ll be a good boy and be there on time.” I giggle and put the phone down.

It’s exactly five minutes before lunch time and I close my laptop. Sanook Cafe is literally a two minute walking distance from my office.That is the reason why I chose it because it means that there’s no need for me to be ordering and getting on Ubers. I walk out of the office and make my way to the restaurant. Just as I walk towards Sanook I notice the black Porsche from this morning, parked neatly on the side of the road. He’s already here, early bird I see. I walk in and quickly spot him in his all black outfit, with black Versace sunglasses. This man has so much s*x appeal and presence that you can’t help but be attracted to him.

I quickly walk up to the table. He lifts his head up, sees me and gets up with a smile. “Hug?” He says while opening his arms wide. “What’s with all this affection, my guy are you okay?” I say mockingly as we embrace each other in a warm, bear hug. He laughs, “Oh wow, look at you using my lines on me. I see that.” He walks around to pull the chair out for me and I thank him and take a seat. I’m pretty impressed by the good mannerisms I have to say. “So, you’re late.” He says while taking his seat. I check the time and it’s literally 13:03. The three minutes doesn’t count because I’m sure as day that I walked in here at exactly 1 o’clock. “Need I remind you who’s footing the bill?” I say while gesturing my hand in a questioning manner. He laughs, “May these rules apply to me as well when I’m the one paying. Please I need to experience this A-class, big boy treatment.” The waitress walks up to us with two menus. “Afternoon guys, here’s your menus. Is there anything in particular you’d like to order to drink or should I give you a few minutes?” She chimes with the sweetest voice ever. “I’d like a craft beer please. And can I have a Bacon and Avo sandwich? With egg as well please.” He says without even looking at the menu. “Okay Sir, and you ma’am?” She turns and looks at me. “Can I have a glass of dry red wine and sparkling water please.” I say “and I think I’ll eat a toasted ham and cheese sandwich.” “Okay. Seems like you guys didn’t need the menus at all.” The waitress laughs. Lukhanyo and I both smile as she walks away. I’ve been here a million times thus I’m sure I know that menu like the back of my hand by now. Lukhanyo on the other hand, probably has been here a number of times too.

“So you’re drinking dry red wine but you still have to go back to work an hour later?” He takes his sunglasses off and stares at me. “Listen, okay, just because I showed up at work and got through the morning, doesn’t mean that this hangover isn’t dealing with me woman to woman. So I just need something to tone it down and you know what they say, the cure is the cause. Besides I’ll drown my breath in fresh mints so that will do.” I say while pulling a strip of breath mints from my bag for him to see. He smiles, “I mean I wasn’t judging, I was just asking.” “Don’t you have to go to the office but you’re busy ordering craft beer?” I say sarcastically. “I work for myself. So I can rock up there smelling like whatever I want to smell like. No one will say anything. My employees mind their own business.” He says coldly. I mean after seeing that he seems to have some pretty expensive taste in everything, I did make a small conclusion that this man definitely has no regular office job. Unless he’s in an office and committing fraud.

The waitress interrupts us whilst putting our drinks on the table. “Thank you.” We both sing in a tune while pulling our glasses towards ourselves. He takes a sip of his beer and looks at me. “So, why do you still live with your parents?” He asks. “It’s convenient and it just makes sense to me right now. I mean I just recently started working and personally I don’t believe in living hand to mouth when I have a much more comfortable option that could help me save. I mean don’t get me wrong, I do obviously contribute financially at home but it leaves me with a lot of breathing space to save up for when I do move out, I move out and move into style and comfort.” I say while looking up at him. “Okay no I hear you. It’s just that I’m so used to people, especially ladies who grab the very first opportunity to move out of home irrespective of how it dents them financially.” He says. “Yeah, I also know a lot of people who do that but hey, different strokes for different folks. Anyway what about you? Where and with whom do you stay?”. “I stay alone in Beacon Bay ma’am.” He says. “Apartment or house?” I ask. “No I bought a house there, at Bishops Estate.” He says casually. “You like luxury right? Like everything must be of a top, peculiar standard?” I ask inquisitively. He laughs, “Not necessarily man. Like it’s not even about standard or luxury or anything like that. I think mostly for me it’s about exclusivity. I know what the other side of Sandton feels like and I’ve worked hard to be in Sandton so why not enjoy the fruits of my labor in the best way I know how?” He chimes. What a good analogy.

I take a sip of my wine and look at him. He looks like he has ten baby mama’s. “Do you have children?” I ask. “Haha, no ma’am. Actually haven’t gotten around that. And yourself?”, he reverts. “No. No children, no cat, no dog, nothing.” I shrug. Personally I find it odd that he lives alone and has no children. Where’s the girlfriend or wife to enjoy the riches with? This sounds a bit sad and lonely to me. “So why did you want to take me out for lunch Lukhanyo?” I ask. Let’s get straight to the point. “Because I’m interested in you Amanda.” He answers. “Elaborate on your interest.” I say with a smug on my face. He chuckles, “There’s honestly nothing to elaborate on here. I’m a guy who saw you and got attracted to you irrespective of the fact that you spilt my drink on me. But I let that slide, until I came across you again as a damsel in distress. I decided to put the ‘S’ on my chest and save the day.”, he shrugs proudly. “So you only helped me because you want or wanted me?” I ask. “Let’s not say wanted because I still want you, I like you, I’m interested in you, it’s a present thing, not past. And I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t help you with hopes of getting you in bed, no. I helped you as a precautionary measure on my side. I wouldn’t want some scum bag to act as though they’re helping you only for them to take advantage of you and your friend, do you get me?” He asks. He sounds sincere though. That I have to give to him. But what does he want? A relationship? In fact I won’t even ask him that because it will put me off and end up in us probably never meeting again. I’ll just ride the wave here and see on which part of the ocean I’ll end up on.

I sip my drink in silence. “So you’re not going to answer me?”, he asks. I smile, “It’s not that. I’m just wondering why you’re speaking as though you care about me or whatever but you don’t even know me. Why would you care about scum bags taking advantage of me but you only knew of my existence probably two hours prior and don’t even know my name?” He sips his beer, “Well I guess only time will tell then.” The waitress interrupts us, she’s carrying a tray with both our sandwiches and chips. We make way on the table for her and puts our food down, asks us if we need anything else and walks away gracefully. Without thinking twice we dig in in silence, chewing away the fresh, tasty and saucy sandwich with it’s condiments. In less than ten minutes, both our plates are left with nothing but crumbs. I wipe my face and grab my phone to check if I got any messages or new emails. Lukhanyo wipes his hands and looks up at me.

“Don’t you know it’s rude to be on your phone whilst you’re on a date?”, he asks. “I’m sorry. You were still eating so I didn’t want to disturb.”, I put my phone down. His phone rings, he picks it up and puts it next to his ear without saying a word. “Which airport? How exactly will they make it to Doca if they’re stuck in Istanbul?… My man, I want results, not excuses. Fix it and only call me to tell me progress not problems.”, he says in a calm yet very stern voice. I wonder what all of that was about. “Is everything okay?”, I ask. “Why wouldn’t it be?”, he asks back with a smile. “You just got off a very unfriendly call. I’m assuming it’s business related.”, I shrug. “Aargh don’t worry about it, it’s nothing serious. So I’m picking you up after work?”, he asks casually. “For what?”, I ask, genuinely shocked and confused. “You’ll have to see at four o’clock.”

Two big and buff men, dressed in black clothing, wearing black masks and big sunglasses, walk up to our table. “Boss…uhm, we need to go. Right now.”