QUEEN OF DIAMONDS

CHAPTER 30

I practically ran across the office to the boardroom, that's how late I am to this meeting. When I approached the door I slowed down a bit and caught my breath. I opened the door and looked at my watch, 9:01, just in time. I surveyed the room and was met by the intense stares of two men. "Good morning gentlemen, thank you for waiting," I said walking in, they greeted back and introduced themselves. I sat down at the head of the conference table and opened the laptop and notebook Kim had already set up for me, I love her so much. I was meeting with the doctors I needed for the medical team for the shelter. "Uhm, I can see someone is missing but I guess we'll start witho-" I started when the door opened. I almost fell out of my chair and had to will myself to not let my face show how I surprised I was. I looked down at the list of names of the doctors Kim had printed for me, faces included. "Dr.... Cantrell?" I asked even though I knew exactly who it was. "No, Thwala, Dr. Cantrell couldn't make it so I'm filling in for her," Mark replied and I merely nodded. I gestured for him to  sit down and he did so without averting his intense gaze. "Shall we begin then gentlemen? Dr. Haynes, would you like to start?" I asked one of the doctors and they nodded and stood up. I forced myself to pay attention to his presentation and took down notes as I tried to not concentrate on Mark's cologne. When he was done, Mark followed him and he kept his eyes glued on to mine making me feel awkward. When the last of the presentations were done, I shook hands with the men; Mark's longer than he should have and bade them goodbye. I had to head off to to see the shelter so I went out after about 15 minutes after the doctors left. I stepped outside and was hit with a waft of nicotine. I looked to my side to find the source and almost walked in to Mark. "You smoke?" I asked and mentally face palmed myself as he chuckled. "Hello to you too," he said smiling but I just stared at him. "Occasionally yes," he said after awhile. I nodded and tried to move past him to the car but he side stepped and stood in front of me. One of the bodyguards stepped forward but I raised my hand to stop him. "Mark I need to go," I said impatiently, as I tried to ignore the scent of his cologne and nicotine. "You look nice," he said casually and I narrowed my eyes at him. "That's the best you could do? Nice?" I asked but immediately regretted it. "Aren't you married?" he asked coyly. "Yes I am, and I also have to go," I said side stepping him. He let me pass this time and jogged to the car to open the door for me. I rolled my eyes before thanking him. "And they say chivalry is dead," he said and I smiled at that. "Opening a door? That's basic, the least you could've done was carry the car to me," I said and he laughed. We looked at each other for a while and had a conversation with our eyes which conveyed a clear message: let's just be friends." Bye Keabetswe," he said and I smiled. "Dr Thwala," I said nodding and got in to the car.

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Andile

I walked in our room and was hit with the scent of my wife's soap and perfume. She was sitting on the bed working on her laptop and did not hear me come in. Her 'weave' as she would call it was wet at the ends and her face was slightly red in that sexy post bathing way. She rubbed her neck and bit her lip, her weird version of a coping mechanism. She was wearing a t shirt, sweatpants and socks which I was pretty sure belonged to me. "How long are you going to stare at me Mkhize?" she asked without looking up. I smiled as I took off my suit jacket. "As long as I can," I replied walking towards her. "Wenzani?" I asked as I kissed her. "Writing my final essay," she replied yawning. "Okay, let me not disturb you," I said and kissed her on her forehead. "You don't want to fuck me?" she said going back to her laptop and I laughed as I went to shower. My phone rang and I looked at the caller id, Stones. "Stones," I said answering. "The message has been delivered," he said. "Any problems?" I asked and I heard him laugh and light a cigarette. "There are always problems, Mkhize. But this one was more agreeable, didn't have to lay a hand on him. I do think he ruined his pants and carpet though," he said laughing and I rolled my eyes smiling and hung up. Now let's hope Mark understood the message.