Second Time Lucky. Malihanelo Molapo

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СКАЧАТЬ about her made this man so curt with his answers, so cold in his stares and so annoyed by her presence. He seemed to want to get away from her as soon and as far as possible, just like the last time.

      “All right, Mr Dlangamandla. Please give me your e-mail address and I’ll send them once I’ve reported back to my boss.”

      He took out his card from the breast pocket of his jacket and gave it to her.

      “No later than tomorrow morning, please.”

      Then he swiftly got up and walked out of the door without even so much as a goodbye, leaving that woody, musky smell of his behind.

      Criselda was angry – at him, but more so at herself. Why did this man have such a strange influence on her? How could she allow him to throw her off balance like this? He had no manners, and to top it all, her job was on the line because of him.

      3

      Criselda knocked nervously on Martin Thobejane’s door. “Enter!” he boomed from inside. She opened the door and walked in gingerly.

      “Ah yes, Criselda. I’ve been looking for you all morning. There seems to be some commotion in the programming department today, but as usual, nobody is saying anything to me. I’m just hearing a lot of whispering in the corridors,” he said, labouring for breath as always.

      The big-bellied fifty-year-old man sat on his brown leather chair with mahogany arm rests that complemented his massive shiny mahogany desk. It was adorned on the front corners with ancient motifs in gold and silver. The black blinds with their ancient drawings were half-drawn, as he preferred them to be the whole day.

      Criselda and Suthukazi always joked that you could probably fit at least seven soccer balls into his belly. He had a German-style haircut that sat neatly above his chubby baby face. Martin was very confident, and very particular about his likes and dislikes. Other than that, his staff thought highly of him and always nominated him in the annual regional Boss of the Year awards.

      “You’re right sir, there is quite a commotion,” Criselda ventured. “There’s been an incident with one of our major clients.”

      “What incident? Come on, out with it,” he said impatiently.

      “Hampshire Holdings, sir. Their system was hacked into over the weekend. All their databases have been wiped clean.”

      “What?!” Martin shouted as he shot up from his chair and went around to the side of the desk to start pacing up and down in the room.

      “How the hell did this happen? I keep telling you to take extra care with Hampshire. They’re our main bread and butter. Which part of that haven’t you understood?”

      Criselda nervously went on to brief her boss about the other developments that were taking place as a result of the incident.

      The meeting was intense and long, so it was already dark by the time she walked out of the big glass doors at Baikopanyi. It’s a good thing Kazi was able to pick up the kids from aftercare and look after them until she got home. Criselda hurried across the car park, got into her car and drove straight to the grilled chicken place so that they could all have a quick supper before bed.

      Having ordered the number six special, she was waiting patiently for it when a familiar scent hit her senses. She turned around to see Justice, who had just walked in and was ordering his meal at the counter. He caught her staring as he made his way towards the waiting booth.

      “Ms Moyo,” he briefly greeted her and nodded as he sat down next to her.

      Criselda was shocked by the thoughts that suddenly flooded her head. Thoughts of him grabbing her and giving her a passionate kiss. She imagined him holding her tight and ...

      “You should’ve used the Micro Special 2.24. It’s impenetrable. And that’s common knowledge to any programmer worth their salt.”

      Her thoughts were interrupted by his annoying comment. “Excuse me?” she said, taken aback. “How dare you insinuate –”

      “That’s my opinion, whether you like it or not,” he finished off.

      This was the first time he had started a conversation with her, and yet he was even ruder than before. Criselda had not seen him smile once and his frown seemed permanent, but still she wanted to delve deep into his world and find out what he was all about.

      Why would such a good-looking, good-smelling and clearly intelligent guy be so curt and rude to her all the time? Was it because of the way she looked? But Criselda knew she looked very good, because even in her hectic schedule she always made time to take care of her tall frame that was complemented by a tiny waist, firm bust and well-shaped hips.

      When she wore heels her legs, caramel and well toned, seemed to go on forever. Her hair was always neatly and firmly braided in a bun. Her big brown eyes had naturally thick lashes, and her small nose went well with full lips that always looked good enough to kiss. Couldn’t he see all of that?

      “Number two-twenty, your order is ready! Two-twenty!” the clerk in his yellow-and-red shirt shouted into the small group of people waiting. Criselda checked her slip and found it was her number. She got up, looked Justice straight in the eye and said coldly, “Your opinion noted, Mr Dlangamandla.”

      As she headed for the counter something unexpected happened. She felt a warm, firm hand grab hold of hers, and turned around.

      “Justice. You can call me Justice,” he said with a faint smile, revealing a perfect set of pearly teeth. The effect would have been irresistible, had it not been accompanied by the frown and dark, sad eyes.

      * * *

      “Mom, Mom!” the children shrieked, running to her as she walked into her house.

      “Aunty Kazi let us watch the cartoons!” Sandile shouted.

      “And she helped us with our homework,” Siyanda added.

      Criselda greeted the twins and her friend. She sighed when she saw that the lounge was a mad mess of crayons, colouring books, scatter cushions and toys on the floor, with the cartoon network blaring loudly on the plasma.

      She smiled at Suthukazi. “I really owe you one. I got this for supper, at least you won’t have to cook when you get home.”

      “Hey, Criss, all I’m interested in is you telling me how it went with the big boss. We aren’t fired, are we?”

      Criselda motioned her friend to the kitchen and while fixing the plates, she told her all about her meeting and that Martin had eventually calmed down.

      “He said we should make sure we’re fully involved in the investigation, lest JD decides to pull a fast one and take over our account.” Then she went on to tell Suthukazi what had happened at the chicken place.

      He friend frowned. “Maybe you shouldn’t get too involved with him, Criss. He sounds a bit Jekyll and Hyde to me. Maybe he’s a serial killer or something.”

      “Oh, but he can kill me any day with those eyes,” Criselda said. “I tell you, there’s something about him I feel I need to discover, no matter how standoffish he is.”

      Criselda couldn’t help СКАЧАТЬ