Stars Aligned

Insert 96

THANDO'S POV

"Congrats Thando" "Well done on that case Thando" "You did good" Everyone at work was just crowding me. I couldn't breathe properly. I needed air and I needed it soon. So I went to the elevator and went straight to the ground floor of the parking lot. It was empty and just filled with expensive looking cars and not so much. I sighed and tilted my head up as I leaned on the wall. All the good wishes were overwhelming. I didn't do this alone. Leone helped me and I just wanted to scream that loud so they stopped making me sound like some good short lawyer. But how do you shout that the man you fell in love with who's also in the mafia helped you catch a cult.

Leone. God I missed him so much. So much it hurt, literally my heart ached. I rubbed at my chest maybe the ache would go away if I just rubbed it off. But it didn't. It was a far fetched idea anyways. Nothing would shift this ache in my heart. I wished I could run to him and hug him and tell him I was sorry for everything he had to go through. Tell him that it wasn't his fault that his father was a monster or his mother died or that his brother was the way he was. But I couldn't. Something about society and the way I grew up prevented me from doing anything with the man I loved. Growing up with people around you thinking that just because your family was poor and you had no father you would end up being nothing in life.

The stereotypes of the world I grew around. Having an absent father and a domestic worker of a mother and to top it all off a gay brother didn't help my life in any way. No matter what people said to us we held on and stuck together as a family. I wouldn't trade them for anything in this world. But I couldn't get rid of the whispers or the expectations people had of me. I wanted to prove them wrong, to prove that I was not like that. I would not fall into the trap of the world that Leone was in. A world that killed and tortured and lived off other people's pain. I vowed to never be like that and now being with him felt like I was slowly becoming what I had hoped I would not be. Fuck! I hate society sometimes.

My phone vibrated in my suit pants. I took it out to see a text from my boss that he wanted to see me immediately. I weaved out a sigh and stood up straight from the wall. With my clicking stilettos, I walked to the elevator doors and waited for them to open. I hoped it was nothing about the case I had won. I was so fed up with hearing those half genuine wishes from a bunch of fake people. I didn't need any gratitudes from anyone because I did what I was getting paid to do. And I also did it for my brother. I arrived at the 9th floor where my bosses office was located. I knocked onced and heard a firm come in from my boss. I walked in as soon as I opened the door.

I immediately got irritated seeing Mark there. Mark was this colored colleague of mine. Don't get me wrong I didn't hate the guy, I just didn't like him. He was arrogant and thought he ran the place just because he looked good and actually was a fucking good at what he did. I hated self centered people like him.
Me: You called for me sir?
I stood next to Mark who sat in front of the boss's table not bothering to look at me. My boss, Mr Mosane gestured for me to take a sit. I did and looked at him expectedly.
Mosane: Firstly well done on your last case Miss Mashilo. Now moving on...

My boss, Matlhatse Mosane was a no shit kinda guy. He was a middle aged man who looked like he was in his early thirties. Yeah that's how handsome the man was. His wife, Mrs Cindy Mosane was one lucky woman. Anyway, this man was a hard to crack kinda man. Always so serious about his work and wanted the same from his employees. I always admired him for it. That's why his firm was one of the best of many firms in South Africa.
Mosane: I have assigned you to a new case. The African Mafia and the Italian mafia have somehow joined hands and caused havoc an innocent man was caught in the crossfire of it.

I felt myself going to a panic mode. This wasn't happening. Oh God why not, why me.
Mark: The CEO of the Mashaba Inc. He has been shot and the police have a witness who saw the bastards that did it. This is a state case, meaning-
Me: Yeah I know what a state case means Mark I'm not dense. I'm sorry sir but why can't Mark do this himself? He's more than willing it seems and-
Mosane: Miss Mashilo I really admire your work and I really think you a great lawyer, however this is my firm and I am assigning you to work. Just because you put some cult behind bars doesn't give you any rain to disobey my orders. Unless of course you don't value your job anymore.

I wanted to scream so loud it pierced their heads and they exploded all over these white walls. At the corner of my eye I saw Mark smirking, probably at the fact that I was just told off in front of him. I didn't care about that, what I cared about were the people who were almost like family to me. I couldn't go against my family right? Could I?
Mosane: Miss Mashilo I asked if I was clear on the matter or should I expect your resignation letter by the end of the day?
I cleared my throat and looked at my boss.
Me: Clear sir.
Mosane: Good. Everything you'll need to work on this case is with Detective Losi, I suggest that you get started. Now get out of my office.

***

Mark: Could you at least act like you want to do this. I don't even know what you fussing about because this case will boast your career even more. If we nail thee biggest criminals ever we'll not only be rich but we'll be known globally for being amazing.
Me: Could you shut up. Is that really all you care about? Some fame and a few cents. Get a reality check Mark, there's more to the world than what your conceited brain knows. Jesus.
Mark: Someone's a little pissy today. You know if I didn't know better I would say you don't want the nice life.
Was this guy dense or something.
Me: Well look at that, you don't know any better, surprise surprise. Really I'm shook.

Mark: Geez what crawled up your ass and died? No need to get all pms on me.
Me: Your stupid and arrogant jerkass personality crawled up my ass and died Mark.
I would really appreciate it if you didn't talk anymore. Being next to you is hard enough, especially when you driving like a tortoise.
I snapped and looked away, out the window.
Mark: Woman.
I really want to kill him brutally.

We finally arrived at the police station where detective Losi had asked to meet us. I didn't even wait for Mark to find a parking spot as I bolted out of the car. Being in the same confinement as that man was suffocating me. I walked to the front of the police station. Inside it was just like any police station would look like. A bunch of people there to either file a complaint or get their loved ones out on bail or just there to get their stamps. But majority of people were just being dragged to the back where they would be locked up for whatever felony they had committed. I walked to the receptionist and asked for detective Losi and was led to an office just as Mark came in too.

He jogged up to me and we arrived in Detective Losi's office.
Losi: Mark! Been a minute mei broer, howzit? ( It's been a minute my brother, how is it going?) come on in sit.
I had to watch and listen to these shitheaded dickheads get all testosterone, suffocating me more than I already was. Great.
Me: Excuse me Detective but we kinda in a rush so can we get started.
Both men looked at me. The detective nodded and smiled. Mark rolled his eyes at me. Like I gave a shit about what he thought.

The detective took out a file and placed it in front of us.
Losi: This has everything you need on the case. I have been trying to nail these bastards for a while now but seems like they know how to cover up their tracks. Also I suspect some of the men here are on their payroll and I know for certainty that the captain is also in their payroll as well I just need proof. I hope this helps.
Mark: Sick bastards think they can do whatever they want and get away with it.
Me: Well they did so get over it. Detective, there was something about a witness?
Losi: Yeah, a woman in her 20s who's working for Mr Mashaba as an assistant said she saw and heard everything that took place that day.

Well this was proving to be more interesting and that meant more weight on my chest.
Losi: Miss Nomi has been put on protection witness, but I will arrange for you to meet if you'd want.
I nodded in thanks at the detective. I had one thing that bugged me though.
Me: Detective if I may ask, do you perhaps have any information that could prove vital on Mr Mashaba?
Losi looked at me with a perplexed look. I sighed. I knew south African police were dense but I always got wowed.
Me: You know for more info on the case. We need to know everything there is on the man too, no surprises in count type of thing.