Precious Rosé

CHAPTER SEVEN

AT THE ROYAL PALACE.

Everyone else is fast asleep except for Sbu. He's pacing up and down contemplating on whether to go and check with Samke if their deal is still on. Sbu is a s*x addict although he doesn't want to acknowledge his problem and seek help before its too late. Someone lightly knocks on his door, he quickly opens the door, his eyes meets with of Zodwa the maid. He stares at her, feels his manhood erecting but fights the urge to grab her right away.

"My Prince you wanted to see me." Her voice comes out as a whisper, fidgeting with her fingers.

"Come in." He holds the door for her, she is not able to understand what is going on because Sbu has never allowed any maiden into his room except Samkelisiwe. He closes the door and locks it, she looks at him nervously. "Remove your clothes." He orders.

"My Pr-----"

"Just do as I say damn it! Or you want to get yourself fired?" She shakes his head and do as he says. "Leave your torn panties on and turn around, don't look at me until I tell you to." He steps closer to her, inspecting every inch of her body. She grabs her braided hair making her wince. "Shhhh...... If you behave I'm going to take this slowly granting you the time to enjoy it but if you don't, I will just have to be quick and it will be more painful that way." He pulls the hair to the side exposing her neck, he sucks it, she tries to move but he holds her still. His right hand moves to her breasts, he plays with the t**s, circling his fingers around it and then pinching it. His manhood is ready for the work but he decides to take it slow, it's been a while since he slept with a virgin. He picks her up, quickly throws her on the bed, tears stream down her face, he licks them and smack her hard at the same time. "Don't cry baby. If I'm pleased with your behavior and your p**sy I might consider making you my queen." He circles his tongue on her belly button, she moans involuntarily. "Thus more like it baby." He repeats the process earning moans from her. He tears off the already torn panties, pauses, looks at the cake, leans closer and inhales. "Mmmm.....smells nicer that I thought." He continues to play with her body until she's wet down there, he puts his finger into the cookie jar, removes it and sucks it. "Tastes even more sweet." Zodwa has stopped crying, she looks like she's enjoying what the prince is doing or it's the promise Sbu made to her. "I'm going to insert my finger, it will hurt a little." She nods. He inserts his middle finger, she moans and cries at the same time. His manhood can not wait any longer, he pulls his shorts down and his erection spring free, Zodwa's mouth goes wide. "What? Do you like it?" She nods shyly. "Here, take it." He puts her hand around it, she moves her hand up and down and he closes his eyes enjoying every moment of it. "Stop! I don't want to come, not yet." He leans closer, kisses her and tries to insert his manhood, Zodwa cries. "Be a strong girl, baby.".........

After like how many rounds, I even lost count, Sbu finally falls on his back letting out a loud breath. Zodwa tries to cover herself using a bedcover but Sbu pulls it down. "Do you want to leave all my bedding dirty? Get off my bed!"

"But my Pr---"

"Shut up! We re done here, go and take a bath in your room." She shamefully grabs her clothes, puts them on, picks up pieces of her underwear, Sbu opens a drawer and retrieves an envelope. "Take this. It's $1000 buy yourself some nice appetizing lingerie and try to find a perfume, lady million or something that smells nice." She takes the envelope tears falling down her face when she realizes that the Prince only wanted s*x from her. "And yes, not a word to anyone about this. If you talk, I will deny everything and you will be fired for trying to frame the Prince of Umlazi Kingdom. Now leave!"

******************

TWO WEEKS LATER.

Spha and Nomtha have been inseparable, even the blind can realize that the two are deeply in love. He treats her like a Princess that her father sees in her. They had a minor argument when Spha deposited $10000 in Nomtha's account after they went shopping together. She felt like Spha was pitying her and her family. Spha tried to explain that he wants the best for her and wants her to be happy all the time not to be worried about financial problems. She was adamant but Sheila convinced her to keep the money or give it to her parents to start a small businesses. She decided to do the latter, now her parents run a tuck shop in the yard. MaNcube couldn't stop spreading rumors about Nomtha being a prostitute. It didn't take a few minutes for Sne to jump in and defends her sister.

Nomtha wakes up before her alarm goes off. She quickly does her everyday morning routine and goes to the kitchen. She's about to light the burner to boil some water for tea when her mom stops her.

"You won't be doing that anymore. Sne have to do the cleaning and cooking, we can't keep feeding a 26 year old while all she does is sleep, bath and slay."

"Maa, I don't mind doing this. I'm used to cooking for my family besides, Sne will always be my elder sister we can't make her feel inferior to me only because I'm earning a few thousands. Family is family when we still stick to our values and respect each other."

"Nomthandazo! I'm warning you, your sister will never try to find a job if we keep feeding her like a small child."

"Mom, I respect and love you a lot but please don't be too harsh on my sister please."

"So, Zandi you now want me to become Nomthandazo's cleaner?" Sne says leaning on the door frame.

"No Sis, it's not like that." She looks at Zandi, then to Nomtha and back to her mother, hurt and anger is written all over her face. She clicks her tongue and turn to leave but Nomtha pulls her hand. "Let go of my hand!"

"Sis please don't do this-----"

"I'm not your sister, if I was, you wouldn't be planning to make me your cleaner."

"Sne..." She gives her a deadly stare and walks away. "Maa, you see what you have done?" Nomtha throws a dish towel on the table in exasperation and walks out leaving her mother calling out to her. She bumps into her father in the corridor.

"Princess, why are you running?" Asks her father after saving her from falling.

"Good morning dad. I'm sorry, I'm late for work."

*******************

"Good morning Sweetheart."

"Spha, what are you doing here?" I'm surprised and shocked at the same time.

"Are you not happy to see me?" He looks away.

"I am but the question is why are you here. You are the Prince Spha will you please behave like one. You can't be seen picking up a girl this early in the morning, people talk."

"Babe, I love you not the people. I won't be scared to express my feelings only because people will talk, let them talk I don't care." He hugs her and kisses her lips. "Get in." He says holding the door for her. He gets in drives off.

Spha tells Nomtha that he has business to take care of at the bank so he won't be going inside. He leans over and kisses her goodbye. "See you soon babe. Check your email as soon as you get in the office." He says, gets down to open the door for her. She waves smiling as he drives off. She gets in still smiling to herself wondering what good deed could she possibly had done in the past to deserve a man like Spha.

"Hey bitch." Aisha greets her, just then Ana appears whistling to herself wearing sneakers, ripped jeans and a T-shirt.

"Nomthandazo Blessing Mahlangu." Nomtha's heart skip a beat upon hearing Ana call her full name. Ana walks around her and resumes her whistling. "What did you think? That you can get away with snatching our man? You were wrong baby girl, if we can't have him, so do you."

NOMTHA'S POV

I really don't know what these two are up to but I'm scared. Why did Spha have to leave me alone with these two devils......"Talk!" Ana shouts startling me.

"Seems like the lover girl just lost her voice but don't worry I will make her talk." I look around the reception area to try and see if there is no one or anything to help me escape.

"Only the three of us are in this building." Aisha grabs my chin making me wince, her long nails are sinking in my skin, tears stream down my face as something that I feared comes to reality. She let's go of my chin but slaps me hard, blood oozes out of my nose. Ana kicks my chest making me cough as I feel like I can't breathe. I'm trying to catch a breathe when she again smacks me hard sending me crashing on the floor.

"What have I done to the two of you to deserve this? Spha won't spare you!" They both laugh looking down at me.

"We will go to jail but you will be gone to the land of the dead." My world stops! How can I die when I'm still this young? My dad will die, not to talk of my beloved mother. Ana's hand moves to her back as she retrieves a knife, I gasp for air. They both kick my ribs countless times until I can't cry anymore.

"Please don't kill me, I will resign and go far away from this place, I will even flee this community." I sob. Ana is about to stab me when someone's hand blocks her hand and the knife falls next to my head. Whoever just saved my life slaps her hard, Aisha tries to run from the scene.

"If you know what's good for you, you will quickly come back here." He says with a deep voice and pulls out a gun. Aisha reluctantly walks back. "Stay there. Run and you and your family will soon be history." To say that the two are shocked and scared at the same time will be an understatement, they are shivering. The guy turns to my direction, his face features are like that of Spha. He gives me his hand and helps me up.

"Are you ok?" I nod. "Sit here. I have to finish what I started with these two witches." He says helping me sit on the couch.

"Hey, take out your phone and report your selves to the police." He orders.

"P-p-lease!" They both beg him, he smiles.

"I'm not joking nor am I amused by what you just did."

"We will leave and never trouble her again." Ana says too fast almost choking on her own words. The guy pulls her hair.

"I'm not your boss who is a kindhearted man! You don't want to see what's behind this cute face." He lets go of her hair. Just then Anele comes in and her mouth goes agape.

"Nomtha!" She runs to me and hugs me tried tight but I groan in pain. She runs behind the reception desk and comes back with a first aid kit. She cleans my wounds. "Is it what I think it is?" I nod tears still falling freely. She charges towards them, it all happens too fast, I only realize what's going on when I see Aisha and Ana's bloody faces. Anele is raging. The guy holds her and tells her to stop. The police come and take the two away. The guy sighs and turns to my direction smiling.

"Sbusiso Tshabangu."

"Thank you for saving my life. God knows what could have happened if you didn't show up." Tears fall afresh remembering how I escaped death. Anele wipes them off and comfort me.

"I think we have to take you to the doctor. You might have a broken rib who knows?" He shrugs. This brother of Spha is something else. I tell them that I want to call my family and Spha before leaving.

"Don't worry I will call them. Go to the hospital, please."

Sbu carefully picks me up and rushes to the car. He balances the weight of my body on his knee as he opens the door. Attentively he puts me on the back seat, gets in and drives off. We are about to reach the hospital when I start having blurry visions, I try to say something to him but I black out, immediately.

*************

NARRATED.

At the royal backyard Clementine is arguing with her friend Agnes. They seem to be having a huge misunderstanding about something.

"Agnes, I told you to bring me that portion. The King can not start to open his eyes now that we are close to our goal. If he's not put on a leash we will lose everything that we have worked so hard for. Why didn't you go to that witchdoctor? Huh? Is this what I'm paying you to do?"

"Clementine, don't you dare raise your voice at me! Do you hear me? I told you that man wants a heart of a ten year old child in order to help us, where do I get that? Huh? You think it's easy, why don't you do it yourself?" Agnes turns to leave but the Queen pulls her back.

"Friend please let's not fight. Find your guys and let them do the dirty work, I'm ready to pay anything." Her words are music to Agnes's ears.

"Anything?" Clementine nods.

"Okay. I want that plot I told you about and a brand new SUV. Also, cash to pay the boys."

"Noted." Smiles the Queen.

"Consider it done." They hug. Agnes uses the small gate to exit the palace smiling to herself.

**************

Bab' uMahlangu is feeling nervous, he feels like something bad is happening to someone close to him. Zandi tries to calm him down saying its his paranoia but the feeling is more than just that. Sne comes in the tuck shop holding the phone to her ear.

"Okay thanks." She hangs up. Both her parents' eyes are on her because this is her first time inside the tuck shop. "Mom, dad-----"

"What is it Snegugu? Is my daughter Nomtha alright?" She looks down but quickly gets a hold of herself.

"Nomtha was attacked. It's nothing serious but her bosses have taken her to the hospital."

"No! No! Not my Princess!" He grabs his jacket, wallet and runs out.

"They took her to Umlazi mission hospital." Sne calls out to her father who's already on his motorbike. Zandi collapses on the floor and screams.

"Mom Nomtha is not dead please stop this screaming. You know how our neighbors are like, they will start flocking in here like someone has died. Please, calm down." For the first time after so many years, Sne hugs her mother. "It's okay mother. She will be fine." She comforts her.

***************

"My Rose." Spha cries as he collapses on the chair next to the hospital bed. Nomtha is sleeping peacefully with her bruised face, bandage around her ribs. The machine next to her has green lines and then it keeps beeping continuously. "Nomtha, please wake up my love. I'm sorry for leaving you alone. I didn't know that Ana's obsession was out of control. It's all my fault, I should have protected you. Please forgive me honey."

"Control your emotions bro. She will be fine." Sbu says lightly patting his brother's shoulder. "You didn't tell me you were in love, why? And that too with your employee brother!" All of a sudden Sbu is angry at his brother.

"I'm sorry bro, I was waiting for the right time to introduce you to her." Spha apologizes with tears in his eyes.

"It's okay brother." Just then Bab' uMahlangu enters the ward, he charges towards Spha and grabs him by his collar, it's clear he heard everything.

"If my baby dies, I swear on my ancestors, I will burn you alive!"