GOLD MASK

CHAPTER 9

“So let me get this straight, I am going to be your chauffer for what? Months until you buy your own car?” Fiona asks as we drive out to meet with the first food truck owner whom we are meeting at a restaurant. I chuckle and shake my head.
“As if you are not going to have shares in my business.” She rolls her eyes.
“I will even demand them.” I look at her and we both laugh. “So how did the date go last night?” I sigh and sit back. Don did emphasize that we should keep the nature of your relationship a secret but if anyone asks, we can just say we are boyfriend and girlfriend.

“It went well. The guy is really handsome and he actually asked me to be his girlfriend.” Submissive. “And I said yes. He is quite the catch friend and he is going to help me get my business off the ground. He is going to give me a lot of money for that.” she turns to me with her eyes popped out. “Eyes on the road friend.”

“Hey, why don’t you drive so that I can attack this issue without any disturbances?” she parks the car on the side of the road and I laugh as we exchange position. My friend is so dramatic. I fasten the seatbelt and check on the incoming cars before joining the road. “I am not trying to discourage you or something but you know our life, what we do and how much money we make now. Are you going to abandon all of that just because you have found a personal sponsor? What if one day he decides to leave you high and dry and even destroy your business because seemingly you will be using his money to start it?”

“I understand your concerns babes. I really do. But you know I can handle myself. I have enough money to retire on the prostitution business and start my own business. I don’t need Mfihlo to do that but I really like him and you know sacrifices are made in relationships.”
“Goldie, money is never enough. You know that. Or else we would have long ago quitted this lifestyle. You don’t even know this guy chomie. You have been acquainted for what? 3 minutes? And already you are changing your whole life for him? Hhay friend. I am not trying to bring negativity into this situationship but realism. And how are you going to adapt from having sex with multiple partners to having sex maybe once a week with one man? Just make me understand.” Well friend you wouldn’t understand that there is a million rand at stake here which we will discuss further with Don on our next meeting with is tomorrow.

“Can we talk about this over lunch after this meeting?” she scoffs and taps on her phone.

My friend is very dramatic but I understand her concerns very well. If Don wasn’t paying me all the money upfront, I wouldn’t even have considered his deal. We finally arrive at the restaurant and after parking the car, we both climb off. We are looking formal in dress pants, tight formal shirts and heels. One would swear we are not prostitutes but in the end, how does a prostitute look like? I immediately spot Zamalinda. We did exchange pictures, so that’s why I am able to recognize her. We make our way to her table and after exchanging pleasantries, we sit across her.

“It’s really a pleasure to meet you Miss Zamalinda.” I say with a smile.
“The pleasure is all mine, and please call me Zama or Linda.” She responds and I nod. “I was very surprised to get contacted by a young lady asking for business advice and guidelines. Usually they do as they please and many of them fail because they think just cooking and posting on social media is all there is to the catering business.” She is in her late forties. I quickly take out my notepad.
“So did you do consumer science in school or you fell in love with cooking along the way and began cooking using cooking books and videos?” she shakes her head.

“My mother worked as a kitchen cleaner in a hotel. Every day she would observe the head chef preparing hundreds of dishes and she would also prepare them for us when she has enough ingredients. Eventually she showed the chef just how much of a fast learner she was. The chef was impressed and he gave her the position of being an assistant chef. From that day on, mom didn’t prepare dishes for us but she would instruct me to do what she was doing at work and after that food became my passion. We started a catering company but she didn’t quit her job. After her death, the company went downhill but it picked up again after I started the food truck business and I gained more customers than before.” -Zamalinda

“Where did you get the money to start the business and how did you manage to keep it afloat for all these years?” I questioned.

“Having a business that is not that strong means you don’t get to live your life the way you want to. Any little money you get, there is no enjoyment. The only think you think about is the success of your business. I got the capital from my then boyfriend who is now my husband. With the money he gave me, because I already had a car which belonged to my mother, I purchased a food trailer, food, banners and got clearance certificates and permits. The first three months were rough and there were many times where I wanted to give up but my husband would go all mashonisa on me and I would go back to pushing hard.” Both Fiona and I laugh while she chuckles. “He was really tough on me but his toughness and my will to be successful made my business what it is today. Keeping the business afloat means you forget about the soft life and just focus on the wellbeing of your company, your baby. When you master that, you will surely succeed.”

“So how many food trucks do you have now?” Fiona asks.

“About 4 in four different cities here in Gauteng. We also have an office in Joburg Central. I also have a container outside my home where I spend most of my time in. marketing your business doesn’t only mean posting it on social media because not everyone on the internet want you to succeed. Many envy your life, so they won’t even bother sharing your ads. Starting a business is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and be willing to work really hard. It means waking up at 3 am or 4 am to start your day early because people always need food, even at 5 am.”

“What other ways of marketing can you suggest?”
“Participating in Farmers’ Markets, getting permits to sell outside stadiums or concerts. Those World Globe nton ntoni concerts.” I chuckle while Fiona laughs.
“You mean the Global Citizens Festivals?” I ask and she nods with a smile. Her phone beeps and she checks on the message. Her smile widens.
“I have to go. I am sorry for cutting our meeting short.”
“Oww no. I got all the information I needed and even more. Thank you very much for sparing me a few minutes of your time.” She stands up and extends her arms. I hug her.
“Walk me out.” she says taking her bag.

“Friend I will be right back.” I say to Fiona who is already calling for the waiter. She nods. Zama and I walk out. When we get to the parking lot, she takes out a booklet from her bag and hands it to me.
“Everything you need, you will find here. And please don’t ever hesitate to contact me for any clarity. I can even be your mentor if you like.” I smile at her. My heart is content.
“I am going to be a mosquito in your ear, I swear.” She laughs and opens the car in front of us. “OMG! Is that yours?” she continues laughing. The car is a mustard McLaren 720S Spider.

“It belongs to my husband. I stole it and he was telling me that he is going to punish me for it.” She climbs inside and she hoots before smoothly driving out of the parking lot.
“Such a role model.” Fiona’s voice makes me nearly jump. She is carrying a glass.
“How did they let you out with that glass?” she shrugs.
“Connections Goldie.” I roll my eyes and we head back inside the restaurant. “So when am I meeting this mysterious gangster boyfriend of yours?” she asks as we settle down.
“He is not a gangster. Just because he owns a sex club doesn’t mean he is a criminal.”
“Note owning a sex club is not legal. So that makes him a criminal.” I give her a bored look and she chuckles. “You know I am right.”