Precious Rosé

CHAPTER THREE

In the Prince's arms, unknowingly.

"Hey, the storm is over now." I open my eyes only then I realize I'm wrapped in his arms. I quickly pull away, our eyes lock, I want to say something but he puts his finger on my lips silencing me. "No need to say it, I know what you are going to say." He gives me a handkerchief to wipe my face.

"Thank you." I really mean it, if it wasn't for him I would surely be dead by now.

"Come on, let me take you home." He offers or orders, I can say.

"Home?"

"To your parents, Nomtha or you want to sleep here today?" I shake my head. "Well then, let's go." I'm shivering, I don't know if its really cold or it's the fear. Spha removes his jacket and makes me wear it. It smells of him, not in a bad way but its a unique fragrance.

The drive to my house is quiet. The engine goes dead, just then I realize we are at my house. How did he know this is where I live? Before I can ask him, he gets down the car, opens the passenger door and I get off the car. I want to give him back his jacket and handkerchief but he tells me to bring them tomorrow at work. I thank him, he drives off.

"Princess!" Dad shouts as soon as I enter the house. I run to him and hug him tight. Tears fall afresh when I remember how scared I was. He makes me sit on the couch and wipes my tears.

"I was scared, dad." I sob.

"I know. I'm sorry, okay?" I nod and sniffle at the same time. Mom brings me a cup of tea.

"Here sunshine. It will calm you and warm up your body, you're shivering." I sip the tea, it tastes a little bit sour.

"Maa, what did you put in here?" My body cringes every time I taste something sour.

"Lemon. I don't want you to catch a cold, just drink up my baby." How can I say no to her when she's being this sweet.

"Who was that?" I knew this question was going to be asked but I decide to play dumb and raise my eyebrow. "Princess!" Scolds dad.

"Ok, dad. That was my boss, he saved me from my astraphobia." He nods. "Dad!" He faintly smiles.

"Ok. I understand but I don't like you getting too close to men, they are problematic, especially these men with money." He looks away.

"Is that all?" I know my dad very well, he is a man of few words but I can read his mind. Mom comes back in the living room and tells me that she has prepared a hot bath for me. I ask them where Sne is but they both clueless. I hope she's safe wherever she is.

It's around 3 a.m when I here sounds from the main entrance, I hope this is not what I think. I put on my robe and go to the main entrance to check. I'm met by a tottering Sne pucking all over the place. Damn! She's drunk. She burps loudly.

"Shhh.... Sne, if dad sees you like this you are dead. Please, contain yourself let me take you to your room." She mumbles, tries to jerk my hand away but almost falls. I put her other hand around my neck, my hand around her waist and help her to walk. I go straight to the bathroom, she falls, I drag her under the shower tape and open cold water. She mumbles and curses, I help her shower, wrap a towel around her and take her to the bed. She falls fast asleep as soon as I finish covering her with blankets. "My poor sister, only God knows what went wrong with her." I mop the kitchen floor, clean her bathroom and go back to my room.

My alarms goes off startling me. I quickly make my bed, take a bath and after a few minutes I'm done getting ready. Mom is already in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

"Good morning Maa."

"Morning, angel. How did you sleep?"

"Not bad mama."

"Where is Sne?" I hope this conversation isn't going where I'm thinking.

"In bed, probably." I pour myself some tea.

"I'm your mother, I heard everything yesterday."

"Maa, I'm sorry but I have to leave." I'm not ready for a lecture this early in the morning. She is my blood, do I have to abandon her only because she's straying from the right path? Then who will guide her if we all desert her?

"Morning. I brought you coffee and muffins." I look up.

"Morning, Sir. Thank you but I don't take coffee."

"No problem I will make you some tea." What? Is my boss out of his mind?

"Sir, no! I will do it myself." I can't let him serve me like I'm the boss here.

"Nomtha, sit down. I will make tea for you." With that said he disappears and comes back with a cup of tea. He orders me to drink it, I do as I'm told.

"Thank you for the breakfast." I say wiping my hands with a serviette.

"My pleasure. There's a business conference I would like you to accompany me to."

"Okay, when?" I thought my job was only to deal with his paperwork and calls but it has been much more different. Spha sometimes make me do presentations and write business proposals.

"We're leaving tomorrow. Eight o'clock in the morning, it's a five days conference in another province." I was never ready for this! Will dad agree to it? I hope so because I can't lose this job.

"Okay, Sir. Noted."

I'm really tired, I need to get some rest. I'm about to go to my room when Sheila walks in. I love my friend but what I need right now is to lie down and rest.

"Hey Chomie." She hugs me tight.

"Hi darling. Can we go to my room, please." She agrees.

"You look like you don't want to be with me."

"That's not the case, I'm really tired. I feel like I've been working for my whole life." I throw myself on the bed.

"That's why you didn't tell me that you find yourself a rich man?"

"What? What are you saying friend?" She tells me how other maidens are gossiping about me. They all believe I'm into prostitution since they saw a big car dropping me at home. They even claim to have seen me in expensive hotels with different men. Holy Heavens!

"Thus not true. That man is my boss, nothing else." I defend myself.

"I know but they don't." She looks at the jacket on my bed. Oh no! "And this? Did your boss happen to have slept here and forgot his jacket?" She can't be serious right now.

"Sheila, I'm sure you don't mean that." She laughs, I sigh relieved. I couldn't bare it if my best friend was to think otherwise about me.

"Relax, I'm pulling your leg. But, I must say, he seems to have good taste. Nice jacket and a rare quality fragrance. Impressive."

We chat, I tell her all about my colleagues who hate me because I'm always with the boss. How my boss treats me special, yeah, I kinda feel like special around him. He's such a gentleman, I wish to meet the lucky lady someday. Surely, he can't be single. Spha is a whole package, he can have any girl he wants. My friend tells me to be careful of men as they cause heartbreaks. I don't like my boss in that way, I respect him.

Spha comes to pick me up, I wonder why he didn't send the driver as he had said before. I say my goodbyes to mom and dad, they both tell me to take care of myself and to work hard always. My sister is fast asleep so I leave her a note. Despite all her flaws, I love Sne dearly.

We arrive at the hotel, its a very nice place. Spha tells me to wait as he gets the keys to our rooms. I sit on the couch, but just then I hear him screaming to the receptionist.

"I said call the damn manager!" He screams. Okay? What's going on here? Why is he so angry? "Or should I call the owner of this place?" He is really fuming. What do I do? I tap his shoulder, he looks at me.

"Sir please, calm down." He jerks my hand away.

"No, Nomtha these lousy workers only reserved one royal suite, how am I suppose to calm down?"

"Ok. Can I talk to them, please." He gives in to my request. I talk to the receptionist and she tells me they made a mistake. She also tells me they have a one bedroom apartment that is not occupied. "Fine. Give me the key to the apartment." Spha gives me a stare. "Let's go, Sir." He shakes his head but follows me.

The apartment is really beautiful. I love the outside beach view. Sometimes I wish I was one of those rich kids who can afford places like this. I have been in hotels a number of times before. The last time was when I represented my province at a quiz contest, the hotel wasn't so nice but I enjoyed myself there. Sne would love this place, I can imagine my sister sipping her ton and gin in that jacuzzi tub out there on the terrace. Sheila would definitely love to read a romance novel sitting on one of those chairs on the terrace. Oops! Day dreaming already.

"Nomtha, I'm really sorry about all of this." Spha apologizes for someone's mistake.

"It's okay, Sir. I'm used to sharing, I don't know about you?" He smiles. "Besides, its not like we will be sharing a bed anyway, I will sleep on the couch." He sighs.

"Hungry?" I shake my head. "I will be inside, I have to make a few calls. We will meet in the lounge 5:30 pm, our first meeting starts at six." I nod, he disappears into the bedroom.

I throw myself on the couch. Wow! So much comfort, this is the life. Sne hasn't called me up yet, I hope she's not still fast asleep at this hour. I take my phone and dial her number.

"Little Sis." She answers.

"Why are you being nice, if I may ask?" I'm surprised by this affectionate side of hers.

"Can't a girl be nice? Anyway, since you asked, I'm in the warm and strong hands of a handsome rich guy." Someone laughs in the background.

"Sne!"

"What? Are you jealous? How is your boss? And the hotel, how is it?" My sister is really crazy, and she expects me to answer all these questions.

"No, I'm not jealous. My boss is fine and the hotel is exquisite."

"I have to go. Enjoy your trip darling." She drops the call. I wonder who is this man keeping my sister busy. I decide to text my best friend.

***Arrived safely. The hotel is just wow!***

She replies immediately.

***I was starting to worry. I'm glad you are safe. I would love to chat but mom sent me on an errand. Take care.***

After calling mom and dad telling them I arrived safely, I decide to rest a bit.

I wake up to see a tray of food on the table, I wonder who brought this here. Spha is not inside, I wonder where he went. After eating, I decide to take a long hot bath. I dress myself in a black organza evening dress, black heels, matching silver earrings, neckpiece and bracelets, I then style my hair into a beehive style and finally put on my red lipstain. I look myself in the mirror, I'm satisfied with how I look, I'm sure this is the reason why it is always said a woman must own a black dress for dressing up or down. I mean black is magical, it suits everyone. I take my clutch and leave the walk-in closet.

I'm met by Spha who is looking all kinds of dashing and handsome in his one of the most expensive black tuxedos, and a white shirt. Today he's not wearing a long tie but a bowtie. He looks up, our eyes meet and his mouth goes wide open. What? Is there something wrong with my outfit? He stands, walks towards me, our eyes are still locked, he stops when he's inches away from me.

"Wow! Nomtha, you look elegant, stylish and most of all, beautiful." He smiles revealing the gap in his front teeth and his dimples. Oh my word! For a minute I forget he's my boss and my insides melt. How can one man be so perfect like a sculpture? "Hey." He snaps his fingers and I snap out of it.

"Umh....thank you. You don't look bad yourself."

"Shall we?" He leads the way outside and to the elevator, down we go where the meeting is going to be held.

We are a few minutes late as everyone is sitting around the long table. They all look up, some smile but some make faces. One of the men leaps to his feet, shakes Spha's hand.

"Welcome Mr Tshabangu." Spha nods. He pulls one of the empty chairs and motions me to sit, the rest of the people seem like they just seen a ghost. A man sitting on the far left side clears his throat.

"What a grand entrance with a beautiful lady. I thought you were bringing your personal assistant but this stylish and sexy lady cannot be your employee." Spha gives him an ugly stare, he shuts his mouth.

"Ladies and gentleman, good evening. Most of you we met earlier---" What did he meet with them while I was sleeping? "Meet Miss Nomthandazo Mahlangu." They all look at me and back to him. I'm sure they expected more from his introduction. "Now, can we start with the business of this evening?" A short guy walks in, switches on the projector and the laptop. Spha stands up to give his presentation which goes smoothly with hiccups here and there as the investors keep questioning him. They ask him how much establishing a new plant will cost and how long it will take to finish.

"Ummm..... Nomtha, I trust you to give us an estimate of the costs and time." He helps me up, gives me the remote, he whispers in my ear. "I trust you." O-okay? I have always dreamed of holding down the fort in the conference room but I never thought my dream was going to come true this early, that too without even a warning. Nomtha, show time! Unprepared and all, let's show these men and women your super intelligence. I greet them, and take on the challenge. I surprise myself when I actually talk for more that twenty minutes, when I'm done, everyone is on their feet and clapping, including my boss who looks on, amused.

"Wow! This newbie knows what she's talking about. Where were you four years back when the Tshabangu enterprises Ltd needed an intelligent someone like you." A man in brown tuxedo shakes my hand.

"I was still at school back then, Sir." I smile and he smiles back.

"Tshabangu better be paying you well otherwise I'm gonna steal you from his company." He kisses my hand.

"Easy Mr Kruger." Spha says looking at me still smiling. "Well done, Nomtha." He hugs me, I feel something happening in my body. What is wrong with me? Why am I developing crazy feelings for my boss?

The waiters come in with trolleys full of food, drinks and the fancy edible stuff. I'm not hungry, I have to think of how to escape this meal. I try to decline the food but Spha insists until I finally give in.

"So Nomtha are you part of the elite group?" A beautiful lady sitting opposite me asks.

"No. I'm just an ordinary someone."

"Doesn't look like it." Says the man sitting next to Mr Kruger. After eating dinner, he says our goodbyes and we leave to our small villa on the 32nd flood.

I throw myself on the couch, quickly remove my shoes and lie back. This is the more reason why I hate heels, my feet are killing me now. I feel someone touching them, my eyes are feeling heavy so I keep them shut until I feel warm soft hands massaging my feet. I try to move but whoever is working magic on them holds me still, my eyes spring open.

"Sir!" I'm really shocked.

"Spha. We are not at work now." He smiles making me melt inside once again. He continues working magic on my feet, I feel his hands moving to my legs. What is his intention? It's not the first time Spha has given me a massage, I remember the day we went on site, he actually worked his magic on my body. I'm used to his massage but not this tense yet so soothing.

"I think you should go to bed." I attempt to move but before I do he picks me up making me squeal like a child.

"Shhh. We don't want the management kicking us out, do we?" I keep quiet, he opens the door with his one hand, walks towards the bed and carefully puts me on the bed. "There." He smiles. What is this guy up to? I'm not sharing a bed with him, is he crazy?

"Why are you doing this?" I don't understand him sometimes. When I asked before why he was being nice to me he told me he liked my company and him being nice is his nature but this?

"May I sit?" I nod. "You're a beautiful young vibrant lady Nomtha, I don't know why I'm doing this but the first day I saw you in my office I felt something, something I hadn't felt for a long time. If I'm honest with you, I think I like you. I tried not to fall in love with your caring and bubbly personality but the more I tried, the more I fell hard."

"What? You're my boss Spha, how can you say that? What will your other employees say?"

"I know I'm your boss but we are talking matters of the heart here, Nomtha. I don't care what the whole world says as long as you are by my side." Woah! This is some revelation.

"This is wrong Spha." I scratch my head, I'm confused. I have developed crazy feelings for him, he's my boss and now he's saying such things.

"Forget the world. Follow your heart, if you don't feel the same way I will understand and I promise it won't come between our friendship and your job." He looks down. I crawl to him, tilt his head so we are face to face.

"I don't know what to say, you are a good man, yes..."

"But?" He raises his eyebrow.

"Umh.....Spha I don't know, I'm confused, this is all too much." I attempt to leave but he pulls me back.

"You need time, I will wait. I'm a very patient man, Nomtha. Get some rest, we have a big day tomorrow." I sigh.