PERIOD OF VENGEANCE

Chapter 4

At Blank Ink Zandile, Percy and Andile are still in shock after the press conference. 'Who called those reporters?' ask Percy. 'I don't know, they just came out nowhere' says Andile. 'I thought you were going to call three reporters, all that were going to ask questions that were going to put us in a good light, so how did those reporters know about this?' ask Zandile. 'I don't know, I only called Kabelo, and his two colleagues' says Andile. Enter Nothando. 'Percy what is going on with you? you did not come home again yesterday' says Nothando. 'Nothando, I don't have time for that, right now I have important things I have to worry about' says Percy leaving. Nothando follow him. 'What do you mean you have important things to worry about?' ask Nothando still following him. 'I mean just that' says Percy getting inside his office Nothando also get inside. 'Where did you get those clothes, you are wearing?' ask Nothando. 'I bought them, where else could I have gotten them' says Percy. 'Percy, are you cheating on me?' ask Nothando. 'Oh God, Nothando I really don't have time for this, right now I have to think of a plan to try to fix the problem that we have, instead of you supporting me as my wife you are busy interrogating me' says Percy sitting down on his chair. 'I am sorry it just I was worried about you' says Nothando also sitting down opposite him. 'I know, it just I am really worried about this scandal, so I am trying to fix it' says Percy. 'I am really sorry' says Nothando. 'That is fine just don't doubt me again' says Percy holding her hand. 'I won't do it again' says Nothando. 

At Twinkle Books Lunch Bar, Top deck and Noah have just finished watching the press conference so they are laughing. 'KB is starting to be my favourite reporter' says Top deck. 'And I was so sure that he is on their pay roll' says Noah. 'Me too but now I am starting to doubt that' says Lunch Bar. 'Or he wants a raise what he did to that press conference was just to motivate them' says Noah. 'Well, he sure is getting a raise' says Top deck. 'This bad publicity on the Zulu's is going to work to our advantage tomorrow when we release our book' says Lunch Bar. 'Where is NJ?' ask Noah. 'I don't know, maybe he is in a hospital with his grandmother' says Top deck. 'Oh, that let me call and check how she is' says Lunch Bar. Njabulo get in. 'Hey man we were just talking about you' says Top deck. 'Why are you talking about me and not working? did you come here to talk about me or to work?' says Njabulo. 'What is wrong with you? we were just worried about you and your grandmother' says Lunch Bar. 'Did you come here to be worried about me or to work? is everything ready for tomorrow since you have time to be worried?' says Njabulo. 'Alright we understand that you are worried about your grandmother, but you can't talk to us like that, and another thing you are not our boss, we are all equal here so do not tell us what to do, you know what I am leaving I will come back tomorrow when you have cooled down' says Noah taking his car keys and leaving. 'Everything is ready for tomorrow; we are also leaving you seem like you need to be alone' says Top deck taking his lap top and car keys and they leave. Njabulo go to his office sit on his chair and cry. 

At Sky Princess Michele have come to see the designs, she is with Lwazi, Tshego and Qhayiya in Lwazi's office. 'I really love this one' says Michele pointing to one of the designs. 'We are very happy to hear that' says Lwazi. 'You did great by opening your own company imagine you would also be involved in the mess that is happening on social media about Blank Ink' says Michele. 'Miss Michele thank you, we will call you when the dresses are ready' says Tshego. 'Oh yes let me leave you to it then' says Michele standing up. 'Let me see you out' says Qhayiya. They leave. 'Is Michele talking about what happened in the press conference this morning?' ask Tshego. 'Yes, I think she is talking about that' says Lwazi. 'We need to find a way to help' says Tshego. 'Maybe we can invite Noah for a drink today' says Lwazi. 'Sure, let me text him' says Tshego taking his phone out and text him. 'We have to make sure we get something from him today' says Tshego putting his phone back in his pockets. 

Later that day Njabulo is sitting in his office enter Top deck and Lunch Bar. 'I thought you said you will come back tomorrow' says Njabulo. 'We figured you have calmed a bit so we can talk' says Top deck while they both sit down opposite him. 'I am really sorry guys for talking to you that way, there is no excuse to justify the way I talked to you' says Njabulo. 'It is alright man, how about next time when you feel like that you just talk to us, we are all brothers right?' says Lunch Bar. 'Yes, we are' says Njabulo. 'So, what happened?' ask Top deck. 'My grandmother found about all this, she wanted me to leave everything and come back home' says Njabulo. 'So, you are leaving that is why you were upset?' ask Lunch Bar. 'No, I am not leaving but grandma said if I continue with this I must not come back in her house' says Njabulo. 'Sorry man' says Top deck. 'No this is fine, this way I can protect her, so she won't be caught up in this mess' says Njabulo. 'You are right, you can talk to her when all this is over, she will understand' says Lunch Bar. 'I hope so, where is Noah?' ask Njabulo. 'We don't know, I am sure he is out just clearing his head' says Top deck. 'I should call him and apologize' says Njabulo. 'Yes, you should' says Lunch Bar. Njabulo call him but he is not answering his phone. 'He is not answering, I will check again later' says Njabulo. 

The next day Top deck, Lunch Bar and Njabulo have just gotten to their company. 'So did you apologise to Noah?' ask Top deck. 'No, I found him in a bar drunk, I don't know if he is the one who called me or it was one of the waiters, he could not even talk' says Njabulo. 'What? Noah has never been drunk to the extent that he can't talk' says Lunch Bar. 'I was also surprised, so I don't think he will come today' says Njabulo. Njabulo's phone ring he answers it after some time the call ends. 'Shit' says Njabulo kicking a chair. 'What is wrong?' ask Top deck. There comes Noah. 'Have you seen the news that are trending right now?' ask Noah sitting down. 'No, what is going on?' ask Lunch Bar. 'Blank Ink released a book at midnight, and that book is everything that everyone is talking about right now' says Njabulo. 'Its sales are up the roof, everyone is buying it' says Lunch Bar looking at his laptop. 'The book that we were supposed to steal and release today' says Top deck. 'This book was not supposed to be released for a week what made them change their mind? why would they release it at midnight?' ask Njabulo. 'It like they knew that we were planning to release a book today and then they released theirs at midnight' says Lunch Bar. 'No, they did not know that how would they have known? we were the only ones who knew about our plan' says Top deck. 'What are we going to do?' ask Lunch Bar. They all keep quiet. Noah is sitting down while his head is so painful. 'Are you alright?' ask Njabulo. 'I am fine' says Noah. 

At Blank Ink Zandile, Percy, Andile, Tshego and Lwazi are celebrating. 'Now this book made people forget all about that nonsense' says Percy. 'Lwazi and Tshego you did great, I am so happy with the way you handled things yesterday and came back with useful information' says Andile. 'Have you checked on your friend? he can't suspect you' says Zandile. 'I have already written him a message; he replied so I don't think he remembers he told us something yesterday' says Tshego. 'Now that is good, you have to keep him close, those boys are slick I knew they were planning something' says Percy. 'Don't worry uncle, everything is under control trust us' says Lwazi. 'Now I love the sound of that' says Andile. 

At Twinkle Books Noah is sleeping on a couch in his office, enter Njabulo with a bottle of water and medicine. 'Here' says Njabulo giving him. 'Thank you' says Noah taking it. 'I want to apologise for what I said yesterday, I should not have said those things' says Njabulo sitting on a chair. 'It is fine man; I have already forgotten about that' says Noah. 'Alright, but I am still sorry' says Njabulo. 'Fine, I forgive you; will you stop apologising now hearing you apologise is making my headache worse' says Noah. 'Thank you' says Njabulo. 'What happened yesterday why did you drink that much?' ask Njabulo. 'I was out with those boys we were drinking, I guess I drank too much' says Noah. 'And they left you there?' says Njabulo. 'Come on NJ, I am sure I am the one who said they can leave' says Noah. 'If you say I am sure, that means you don't remember' says Njabulo. 'I don't remember a lot of things all I know is that I had fun with them they are great guys at least yesterday I did not feel like I was in an interview' says Noah. 'Alright' says Njabulo. 'And you know today one of them wrote me a text asking how I was feeling, it felt good to know they care' says Noah. 'Do you trust them?' ask Njabulo. 'I think I do' says Noah.  They both keep quiet thinking about what is happening. 'What are we going to do?' ask Njabulo. 'I don't know for now, but I know we will come up with a plan we always do' says Noah. Enter Lunch Bar and Top deck. 'Hey guys we might have a plan to recover all we lost today' says Top deck. 

The following morning Percy is still sleeping he is woken by his phone ringing, a woman next to him also woke up. He answers it. after the call has ended, he stands up and start wearing his clothes in a hurry. 'What is wrong? why are you in a hurry?' ask the woman. 'I have to go to work, there is an emergency' says Percy. 'You will come back, right?' ask the woman. 'Yes, I will be back later' says Percy. 'I will cook your favourite food and get your favourite wine' says the woman. 'I can't wait' says Percy kissing the woman after he leave. At Sky princess Qhayiya has just gotten to work her phone ring, she answers. 'Yes?' says Qhayiya. 'I wanted to tell you that everything is ready for the big day' says a woman on the other side. 'That is great, I will contact you soon' says Qhayiya after she ends the call and smile.