Xoli's Reluctant Groom

By Thabi Majabula

Xoli has what she considers an unfortunate crush on her client, Ike. She thinks he is the best thing on two legs, he despises her. Working with him becomes harder. Unexpectedly, she meets him while out with her friends, and they both conclude that he is as mad about her as she is about him.

The contract finally ends. She does not get on well with her family, and at time when she needs to be getting over her crush, her family remembers her. She cannot understand why she is related to people like them.

Ike does not completely leave her life, and she finds herself hopeful that she can have a relationship with him. Those hopes are dashed by their different outlooks on life.

Xoli finally concludes that she has to get over him, but she is not finding it easy. When Ike hears that she wants to adopt children, he offers to marry her. She refuses him, knowing that there is no future for them, but he will not go away.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thabi Majabula
• Release date: Sep 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301247295

Thabi Majabula

Good romance stories are mood enhancers. I am thankful to all the romance writers who improved my mood many times. I am also thankful to be among romance writers, and I am thankful to all entities, physical and spiritual, who make it possible for me to write. I am thankful to you, reader, and I am thankful for every single person who has read any of my stories. I hope reading the stories gave you as much pleasure as writing gave me. Best of all things, Thabi

Book preview

XOLI’S RELUCTANT GROOM

By

Thabi Majabula

Published by Thabi Majabula at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Thabi Majabula

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although this is a free book, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed, this book, please encourage yourfriends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com. Thank you for your support.

This is a work of fiction. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

EPILOGUE

GLOSSARY

OTHER BOOKS BY THABI MAJABULA

CHAPTER ONE

Xola stilled on hearing a throat being cleared. Please let it not be Msimang, she prayed as she turned to see who it was. Msimang was standing at her office door, looking directly at her, with clear disapproval.

This is not what it looks like, she said. She felt stupid and guilty for saying something that inadequate. Mark kissed her cheek. She pushed him in irritation. He laughed, took his arms from round her and left her office.

Xola was mortified. Msimang had not wanted her on his account. He had wanted someone older, more professional, more experienced, someone male. Mark had just succeeded in making him keener to take his account somewhere else. I have to think fast and say something, thought Xola. No words came to her.

She watched Msimang come into her office. At six foot two, and built big, he looked very daunting. She felt tiny standing before him, regardless of the fact that she was five foot ten, and voluptuously built. His handsome square face was marred by disapproval and disgust. Xola looked at his mouth. She had always wondered how his kisses would taste. He had full lips that simply begged a woman to kiss them. He opened his mouth, she licked her lips.

Is this the way you conduct business? Let me assure you now that I expect to get every single cent's worth of my money, and I won't be joining your stable of lovers to cement the deal, he said icily in his deep, gravelly voice. Xola's fantasy about kissing him flew out of the window as she gasped in horror at his words.

If this account is beyond your capabilities, kindly let me know, he continued.

I have it under control, I can... she said. He threw a file on her desk and turned on his heel. Xola fell back into her chair, closed her eyes and cursed.

That better not be the language I hear when you give me feedback in twenty minutes, said Msimang. Xola opened her eyes in horror.

You're not supposed to be here! she gasped.

Twenty minutes, Ms Mkhize, he said, then he left. Xola wanted to weep. The feedback presentation was supposed to be in forty-eight hours. Her notes were disorganised, and with her PA, Nikiwe off sick, there was no way she would have everything ready in fifteen minutes.

Quickly, she gathered the most pertinent facts on the project, praying that she would remember the minor details if she was called upon to do so. She rushed to the boardroom with two minutes to spare. The boardroom was empty. Her cell phone rang.

Where are you? demanded Jake.

In the boardroom, said Xola.

What are you doing there? The Msimangs are waiting for you in my office, said Jake curtly, then he cut the call. How was I supposed to know that, Xola asked herself as she made her way to his office. She found him with Msimang and his father. She greeted Msimang snr and set up her computer.

How's it going, ntombazana? he asked.

Very well, everything... she said.

We need proof, not words, interrupted Msimang.

Of course, said Xola. She started her briefing and presented invoices and photos of the project to show how well everything was going.

Well done, I didn't think you could do this, but Jacob swore by all his ancestors that you were the best, said Msimang snr. Xola smiled and glanced at Msimang. He was frowning at her.

Any further questions? she asked. He did not deign to reply. Xola asked Msimang snr if he had questions.

I'm very happy, MaMkhize. Keep up the good work, he said, then he and his son left.

You know how to rub Ike the wrong way, said Jake.

I don't mean to. I'd never want to make a client mad, sighed Xola.

You impressed Msimang snr, but Ike still has reservations about you. He was impressed by your presentation, but there's still something not right about his attitude towards you. Keep doing your work and try not to antagonise him any further.

Xola drove home despondently. Mpho and Carol were coming to dine with her. She and Carol had planned to cheer Mpho, who had been dumped by her fiancé. Xola wanted to cancel, but the girls were on their way. She ordered pizza, then she showered and dressed in her pyjamas and dressing gown. She was making coffee when there was a knock on the front door. She let the girls in and hugged them.

I'm starving and I don't smell food, said Carol.

I ordered pizza, said Xola.

I suppose that's better than nothing. So, what's making you so miserable?

Msimang and Mark.

What did they do?

You know Mark's always flirting with me.

Yes.

Today, he put his arms round me and Msimang found us. I was trying to push Mark off, but from Msimang's face, you'd have thought Mark and I had been in the process of taking our clothes off.

So what?

She likes him, she doesn't want him thinking she has a man, said Mpho.

I do not like him! gasped Xola.

Of course you do. You're always talking about him and it's only his bad attitude that upsets you. The world could collapse and you'd remain cheerful, but if Msimang so much as frowns in your direction, you want to kill yourself.

I'm not that bad. How are you doing, Mpho?

I'm tired of talking about me. Tell us more about you and your Msimang.

He wishes I'd disappear.

And that makes you sad?

Yes. No! No. What he thinks and feels has nothing to do with me. There was a knock on the door. Xola went to receive and pay for the pizza. She and her friends took it to the kitchen, it was cosier, and everything was within reach. They shared the pizza, opened their drinks and started eating.

Tom came to see me, said Mpho.

Why? asked Xola and Carol.

He wants us to have an affair behind his new woman's back.

You must be joking! said Carol.

What did you say? asked Xola.

What could I say? returned Mpho. Carol and Xola looked at each other, then at Mpho. She was running a finger round the rim of her glass.

I'm going home tomorrow. I've taken a month's leave. Hopefully, I'll clear my head and get over... said Mpho. Sobs prevented her from finishing her sentence. Carol put an arm round her, she threw it off and ran to the bathroom. Xola and Carol ran after her. She locked the door. They could hear her sobbing piteously.

Mpho, Mpho, Mpho, open the door, said Xola. Mpho did not respond. Xola and Carol returned to the kitchen. They cleared away the food and sat waiting for Mpho. She joined them a while later. Xola opened her mouth to say something.

I don't want to talk about it, said Mpho. Xola and Carol nodded.

Is there a chance that Msimang likes you as much as you like him? asked Mpho.

Not that again! said Xola.

What exactly did he say?

He said he expects me to do my job and won't sleep with me to motivate me.

He did not say that, Xola! gasped Carol.

He did.

He likes you, said Mpho.

He does not!

He was jealous.

He was not!

Then why did he think of you and a bed in the office? He must have been fantasizing about you.

Mpho!

Admit you like him.

I do not!

Not even a little bit?

Maybe.

Carol, how's your love life?

Don't mention that subject to me. I'm through with men, said Carol.

You say that every three months, then a week later, you have another man.

This time, I'm serious.

What did your latest do wrong?

He was married.

Did you know that when you started dating him?

No! How can you even ask me that? I don't do married men. Sies!

Sorry.

We need to go out to a holiday resort, just the three of us, before any of us finds a man, said Xola.

It has to be in the next few days, you know Carol will have a new man this time next week, said Mpho.

If I can get us a booking this coming weekend, will you postpone your trip home, Mpho?

You won't get a booking, said Carol.

Wait and see, said Xola.

The following day, Xola accepted the offer made by one of her clients for an all-expenses paid weekend at a holiday resort. When she phoned Carol and Mpho to tell them, they were very impressed. When Xola returned home from work, she found Mpho on her doorstep.

Can I stay with you? I don't want to be in my house. I keep expecting Tom to arrive, said Mpho.

Of course you can stay, said Xola. Next day, she returned home from work at lunch time and found Mpho crying. Mpho pulled herself together quickly.

We're going to pick Carol up, then we'll go on our retreat, said Xola.

Oh, Mpho said unenthusiastically. She was quiet all the way to the resort. She only spoke when she saw the resort. It was beautiful, and she was able to express her appreciation. The friends checked in, then they were led to their chalet. They unpacked their belongings, then they freshened up and ate. Afterwards, they lay on the couches in the lounge, having decided to mellow out using candle light.

I hoped Tom and I would get married. We've been engaged for two years, and we dated for three years before that. We were members of each other's families. We were to get married tomorrow! What kind of man spends so many years with a woman and leaves a month before the wedding? I was sitting in your house, Xola, wondering how long he's been cheating on me. What's wrong with me? Why do men leave me? asked Mpho.

There's nothing wrong with you, this is a reflection on him, not on you, said Xola.

It must say something about me. Thokozani left me just after we got engaged, and Tom left just before the wedding. They both had someone even before leaving me. I'm all alone again. I thought my days of being alone were in the past.

It's only been a month, Mpho, said Carol.

You find men in a week, why can't I do the same? They were all quiet for a while, then Mpho changed the subject.

The following day, they were treated to massages, pedicures, manicures and other body treatments.

After all this, I hope we're going out. I can't look and feel this good and not be seen, said Carol.

There's a club nearby, we can go there, said Xola. Carol convinced Mpho, and they prepared for their outing.

At the club, Carol spent most of the time on the dance floor, sometimes alone, sometimes with various partners. Xola coaxed Mpho into dancing. She was pleased when Mpho agreed to dance with other people. Xola tired and stood on the sidelines, watching.

Someone touched her elbow and she turned to see who it was. Her heart thumped hard. Msimang was looking at her. He inclined his head slightly and left. Xola followed him. She found him waiting for her outside.

Ms Mkhize, he said.

Hello, Mr Msimang, she said.

Are you alone?

I'm with friends.

I'll leave you to it.

Xola? said Mpho. Xola noticed her and Carol a few paces behind her.

Mr Msimang, these are my friends, Mpho, and Carol, she said.

Oh! said Carol and Mpho, studying him closely. Msimang shook their hands.

Call me Ike, please. Are you ladies with anyone else? he asked Mpho.

No, we're alone, said Carol.

Can I offer you dinner? Xola gaped at him.

That would be lovely, said Carol.

We don't want to put you out, said Xola.

It's no trouble. I hope I'm not interrupting, said Msimang.

Not at all, said Carol.

My car's this way.

Take Xola, Mpho and I will follow you in my car, said Carol, leading Mpho away quickly.

You don't even know what the car looks like, called Xola.

You know their car, we'll find them. Come, Xola, said Msimang, as he led the way to his car. Xola followed him, surprised he knew her first name.

Where are your friends parked? he asked as he drove out of his parking space. Xola directed him. They found Carol and Mpho waiting for them. Xola lowered her window and waved, Carol flashed her lights then Msimang drove off. Xola could not think of a single word to say and Msimang was quiet. He put on some music and drove into a shopping complex.

This is a great place, I wasn't expecting to see something like this in the middle of nowhere, said Xola.

It's for the tourists who come to the holiday resorts, said Msimang as he climbed out of the car. They waited for Mpho and Carol to join them, then Msimang led them to the only restaurant in the complex. The waiters all treated him as if he was royalty. There were no free tables, he and his guests were led to the manager's office.

Sit down, ladies, he said. The ladies sat down. Waiters brought them menus and took their orders.

Msimang excused himself, then the waiters left.

Why does everyone treat your Msimang as if he's God? asked Carol.

He is not mine! said Xola. A waiter returned with their drinks.

"Who is the man who