Title: From Emalahleni To Sandton

Chapter 2: First Day In Sandton

The taxi left Emalahleni at 5AM and I was already sweating. Not from heat, from fear.

I wore my white shirt again, washed, ironed with pot. My shoe was glued, but glue was white on black shoe, everyone could see. I had R20 left. Mama gave me bread with peanut butter.

7:15 AM. Stone Tower. I was early. 15 minutes early. My heart was beating like I stole something.

The guard smiled. You again. You are early today also.

Yes, I said. Mr Stone said 7:30, not 7:31.

He laughed and opened door. Inside, marble floor cold, aircon cold, people cold. Sandton people dont smile. They walk fast, phone on ear, coffee in hand, R50 coffee.

I stood at reception. The beautiful girl from yesterday, her name was Candy, looked at me like I was cockroach.

You actually came back, she said. Wow.

Mr Stone said I must come, I whispered.

She rolled eyes. Wait in meeting room. He will be late.

I waited in small glass meeting room. Glass everywhere. I could see Sandton city, tall buildings, Gautrain, money everywhere. And I was from Emalahleni where dogs sleep in road.

At 7:30 sharp, Alexander Stone walked out of elevator. Grey suit today. Grey eyes. He saw me immediately. He checked his watch.

You are on time, he said. Good.

Follow me, he said.

His office was big like my whole RDP house times ten. Glass desk, two big screens, view of Sandton, Africa's richest square mile. I never saw office like that, only on TV.

Sit, he said.

I sat, but chair was too soft, I almost fell.

Naledi from Emalahleni. You typed 45 words per minute yesterday. That is not enough. My receptionist must type 70. My receptionist must speak English like Sandton, not Emalahleni English. My receptionist must wear closed shoes, not glued shoes.

I looked down, shame burning my face. Sorry sir, I said.

But you have something others dont, he continued. You waited 3 hours. You didnt leave. That is rare. In Sandton, people leave after 5 minutes if no one helps them. You stayed. Why.

Because I need this job, I said honestly. My mother is sick. She has TB. She needs R800 medicine. We have no money. If I dont work, she dies.

He was quiet. He opened drawer, took out small bottle water, gave me. Drink.

I drank. Hands shaking.

I will give you one week trial, he said. One week. R5000 per month if you pass. But you must change. First, we buy you shoes. Second, you learn. Third, you never lie to me. Understood.

You will buy me shoes, I asked, shocked.

He called Candy. Candy, take her to Woolworths downstairs, buy black closed shoes, size. Put on company account.

Candy's mouth opened. Sir, company account for...

Do it, he said, voice hard. Now.

Candy took me to Woolworths in Sandton City. The shop was bright, expensive. Shoes cost R899. R899! My mother medicine for one month! I wanted to say no, but Candy already paid. Black closed shoes, size 5, beautiful, soft inside, closed, no glue.

You are lucky, Candy said, jealous. Mr Stone never buys anything for anyone. He is cold. He is billionaire, he doesnt care. Why you.

I dont know, I said. I really dont know.

We went back. Alexander was on call, speaking fast English, numbers, millions, billions. I sat outside his office, wearing new shoes, feet feeling rich for first time.

When call finished, he called me.

Shoes fit, he asked.

Yes sir, thank you sir, I said, tears in eyes. I will pay back.

No, he said. You will work back. Today, you will learn reception. Answer phone, say Stone Finance, how can I help you. Transfer calls. Write messages. Dont say um. Dont say like. Dont speak Zulu on phone, only English. Understood.

Yes sir.

Good. Start now.

First day was hell. Phone rang every minute. Stone Finance, how can I help you, I said, voice shaking. People shouted, Where is Alexander, Put me to Alexander, Is Candy there. I transferred wrong calls, I forgot messages, Candy laughed at me.

At lunch, everyone went to eat sushi, burgers, R120 lunch. I had my bread from Emalahleni. I ate in toilet, because shame.

At 4PM, Alexander came to reception. How is she, he asked Candy. Slow, Candy said. Very slow. She will not make it.

He looked at me. Come to my office, he said.

I followed, scared I will be fired day one.

You ate, he asked.

Yes sir, I lied.

Where, he asked. I saw you have no lunch card. Canteen needs card.

I... in bathroom, I whispered.

He was quiet, then angry, not at me, at something.

Naledi, in Stone Tower we dont eat in bathroom. You eat like human. Take this, he gave me R200. Go to canteen, buy food, eat at table, like everyone. If anyone says something, tell them I said.

I took R200 with shaking hand. R200! That is 2 days taxi.

I went to canteen, bought chicken and rice, R85, ate at table alone. People looked, but no one said. New shoes, full stomach, I felt like Sandton girl for 10 minutes.

At 6PM, work finished. Everyone left. I stayed to arrange reception desk, clean, learn.

Alexander came out at 6:30, saw me still there.

You finish 6PM, he said. Why still here.

I want to learn sir, I said. I want to be ready tomorrow.

He stared, then said, I will drive you to taxi rank. Sandton at night is not safe for Emalahleni girl.

No sir, I can take Gautrain...

My car, now, he said. Not request.

His car was black Mercedes, worth millions. I never sat in car like that. Leather soft, smell rich, quiet. He drove me to Sandton taxi rank, not far.

Naledi, he said before I got out. You did okay today. Not good, okay. Tomorrow be better. And dont eat in bathroom again. You are now Stone Finance. Act like it.

Thank you sir, I said, crying again. I cry a lot, but I am not weak, I am just full.

I took taxi back to Emalahleni, 2 hours because traffic, arrived 9PM, Mama waiting, worried. I showed her new shoes, R899 shoes, she cried and prayed.

Mama, I said, today I ate chicken in Sandton, and billionaire drove me to taxi rank in Mercedes.

She said, My child, God has seen us. Emalahleni to Sandton, He is carrying you.

That night I slept with new shoes next to my bed, not on floor, next to bed, like treasure. My feet were painful, but heart was full.

Tomorrow is Day 2. Candy hates me, work is hard, Sandton girls laugh at my English, but I have closed shoes and R200 in pocket and boss who is cold but not cruel.

Alexander Stone. Grey eyes. Why did he help me. Why me, poor girl from Emalahleni with glued shoe. I dont know. But when he said Act like Stone Finance, I felt something in chest, not just fear, something else, warm, dangerous.

From Emalahleni to Sandton is 120 kilometers, but from poor girl to billionaire office is million kilometers. I started walking it today, in new shoes.

TO BE CONTINUED in Chapter 3 - He Calls Me At Midnight...