Perpetual

Whatever Sasha was trying to do wearing this dress at the office is working because she looks like a woman on a mission. I stand up when she gets to where I am seated waiting for her. I got to her office and was told to wait outside because she had stepped out but would be back shortly.

‘Good morning.’ I say standing up my hand extended to her but instead she pulls me in for a hug. My hands land on her back, it’s so warm and bare.

‘It’s a beautiful morning Leo and I am excited for what’s about to happen the rest of the day.’

‘I hope the beauty extends to my life too.’ I say.

I walk behind her and even though I don’t want to, I find myself staring at her back and her behind. I didn’t notice how well shaped she is until now and I am embarrassed that I am staring.

‘You are welcome.’

‘Thank you.’ I respond taking a seat even before she can offer me one.

‘How is Pearl doing?’

I sigh deeply.

‘Oh oh, fire on the mountain?’

‘We are fine.’ I lie not wanting to let her in on what is happening exactly. Sasha might be helping me now but she is not my friend and I wouldn’t want her knowing the things happening between Pearl and I.

‘You know if push comes to shove, she is not going anywhere right?’

‘I know.’

‘Leo my cousin loves you and you are not my favourite person but I hope whatever you have lasts.’

I don’t believe her. I really don’t know why but something just seems a little off even as she speaks. Sasha is not the type of person to trust with your life.

‘I am guessing you coming here means you have thought about my offer right?’

‘Do I have an option?’

‘Of course you do, there is no gun to your head. You can say no and lose everything you have worked hard for to your so called best friend and board of directors or we could walk away with fifty percent each.’

‘I really want to know what you are getting out of this Sasha because I don’t believe that you can just claim the fifty percent without wanting anything else.’

She looks at me, pain almost registering on her face.

‘I am not as bad as you think I am you know. If only you got to know me you would know that I have some good traits in me and…’

I cut her short before she can finish her sentence by lifting my hand in the air.

‘Sasha we didn’t start off on a good note and you continue to treat Pearl like she is some sort of common person that you can use for whatever you want, someone that you can trample upon. Now I can handle anything you try to do to me but that is my woman and there is no way I am going to watch you to treat her like that.’

‘Okay someone.’ She says before rolling her eyes

‘Should you even be wearing such a dress to work?’

‘What is wrong with it?’

‘The back, exposing your tattoo like that. You should cover up unless you have a mission that your dress should spell out.’

‘Another man in your shoes would be drooling and telling me how good I look. Hell they would even want to be in my bed.’

I decide to lean back and listen to whatever she has to say.

‘So you are telling me that you dressed like this to get someone in your bed?’

‘I didn’t say that.’

‘Of course you did.’

She sounds uncomfortable as I say that.

‘You can talk to me.’

‘Drop it Leo.’

‘Wait a minute, did you dress like this for me?’

Silence.

‘No.’ I say holding my mouth.

More silence.

‘Oh my God Sasha you wanted to seduce me? Fully aware that I am dating your cousin and will probably marry her?’

‘I said drop it.’

‘You are twisted in that head of yours Sasha. I should have seen this coming. You will always want things to work in your favor. You will never want anything to go another person’s way and yes you want to see Pearl doing well but not better than you. Oh you’re sneaky.’

‘Stop it’ she says cutting me off.

‘Right.’ I respond with a chuckle.

‘You know what, the deal is off.’

‘And you are going to lose your company.’

‘I built it. I would do it again in my sleep, but what I have with Pearl, that’s special so you can go to hell for all I care.’

I stand up, straighten my trousers and look at her one more time.

‘If you only took time to put yourself in Pearl’s shoes, you would know that you are not half the woman she is and nothing close to anything I would want to be with.’ I say that and walk out with my head held high, my chest full and my spirit lifted because I know I was about to make the worst mistake ever but not anymore.’

Once in the car I get my phone so that I can call Pearl but find a message saying she has gone to the hospital because she is not feeling too well.

…

Kwenje’s Girl

Winnie

🙇🏾‍♀️