TILL DEATH DO US PART

Chapter 3

Nsika
It's been two weeks since I arranged for flowers and a small gift to be sent to Nozi's house. However, it seems she didn't appreciate the gesture, as she hasn't acknowledged it, even though I included my phone number on the card. Disappointed by the lack of gratitude, I've decided to take a step back. Currently, I'm at my office, preparing to attend a meeting in the boardroom where we'll be introduced to the new specialist tasked with revamping our IT systems.

As I'm about to leave my office, I run into my PA, who accidentally spills coffee. Fortunately, it doesn't end up on me, sparing her from potential consequences since I can't afford to be late for the upcoming meeting.

Nsika: "Next time, please watch where you're going!"
PA: "Yes, sir. I apologize for that."

Entering the boardroom, I find my father, the chairman of Fuze Group, and my brothers already seated.

Nsika: "Sanibona" (I greet in a low tone).

Dad: "Ya ndodana, you don't look good. Are you okay?"

Nsika: "Ngyaphila baba, I'm just fatigued, nothing serious."

Dad: "Mhhh."

Sthe: "Weeh hlampe waliwe lo." (My brother tries to provoke me, and the others laugh, but I choose to ignore them.)

The board members start flocking the boardroom and my heart almost stops when I see an angel in human form enter the room, she enters and does not look my direction and heads for her seat and gets seated and opens her iPad and starts scrolling up and down. A guy she entered the room with passes her a bottle of water and she gulps it, her eyes move around the room while she drinks and she almost chokes when her eyes land on me. The meeting commences and I'm still wondering what her role is in this meeting, because as far as I know my family and hers are rivals in business. The cyber security manager is done with his presentation and asks the IT specialist to rise and present how she'll help in revamping our systems and I'm surprised when Nozi stands up and heads to the front damn God, she's gorgeous and I didn't know she was in IT.

Nozi
(I wasn't ready to find Nsika here, I know he's the CEO but I thought I'll be presenting to the Cyber Security Manager and a few individuals however, it's a full house. I present my strategies and implementation process and they're quite happy with my presentation and they ask some questions which I answer and surprisingly Nsika raises his hand)

Nozi: Mr. Ngcobo," I said, gesturing for him to speak.

Nsika: "I believe everyone here knows you as Nozibusiso Zungu, the sole daughter of the founder of Nyamakayishi Group, which gives birth to Manzini Logistics, our direct rival. I'm curious about your assurance that you won't compromise our database or, worse, engage in any unauthorized transactions with our company accounts," he stated. (I couldn't make sense why he would suspect me like that.)

Nozi: "Mr. Ngcobo, I cannot speak for your previous IT specialist's actions, but I assure you that I am among the best in the field. I hold high ethical standards, and my allegiance now lies solely with this company. I won't disclose any information to my family, and I certainly won't engage in any financial misconduct. Please don't underestimate me. I hope everyone here trusts me, but if not, I'm prepared to terminate our contract. You can choose someone else to handle your systems because I cannot work in an environment where trust is lacking," I asserted. (Nsika rolled his eyes.)

Mr. Ngcobo Snr: "MaZungu, I believe that concludes the matter. We are pleased to have you on board, and I'm sure my son was merely expressing concern," he stated. (I returned to my seat, shooting Nsika a glance, and he responded with a disdainful look. People indeed change in the boardroom. It had been two weeks since I last saw him, and now fully healed, I'm now walking without the boot and crutch.)