A WEB OF DECEIT ✔️

chapter 36

Thelani

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After my investor meeting at Bryston over a casual lunch, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The meeting had gone well, and all my preparations seemed to have paid off. But after a long weekend of organizing for today, I was exhausted. I was supposed to go back to work, but honestly, my body and mind were screaming for rest. So, for once, I decided to do something different-I went home to relax.

The moment I stepped into my apartment, I could feel my muscles ease. It was such a rare thing for me to take time off in the middle of the day. I headed straight to the kitchen, grabbed a wine glass, and poured myself a generous amount of red wine. I walked to the living room, set my playlist to shuffle, and let the music fill the room.

Sinking into the couch, I exhaled deeply. The familiar rhythm of the music flowed around me, and I felt myself begin to unwind. I stretched my legs out on the sofa and closed my eyes, letting the sounds and the warmth of the wine loosen the tension that had been building up inside me for days. I thought about nothing. It was peaceful.

But just as I was starting to drift off, my phone buzzed on the coffee table. I opened one eye and reached for it, expecting it to be someone from work, maybe a colleague or a last-minute task that I had forgotten about.

"Hi..." I answered casually, thinking it was nothing important.

"Hello, beautiful," a deep, smooth voice replied on the other end.

I froze for a second. My heart gave a quick, unexpected flutter. I wasn't expecting this voice at all. For a moment, I couldn't even respond.

"Uh... who is this?" I asked, though I already had a strong feeling of who it was.

"It's Nkosikhona," the voice replied with a soft laugh. "It's really nice hearing your voice again. How are you?"

I let out a slow breath and smiled. "Oh, hi, Nkosikhona. I'm good, how are you?" My voice wavered slightly, and I felt a bit nervous. It had been a while since I had spoken to someone like this, and I wasn't sure why, but talking to him made me feel a little bit giddy.

"I'm doing well, beautiful," he said, his voice warm. "I was just thinking about that lunch you promised me for 'next time.' What do you think?"

I laughed softly. "Oh, about that... well, I've got a pretty full schedule this week. Maybe we could do it next week?"

He sighed dramatically on the other end, teasing me. "Next week? That's so far away!" His tone was playful. "I don't think I can wait that long. How about we make it dinner tonight? No pressure, but I'd really love to see you."

His offer caught me off guard. I hesitated for a moment, weighing my options. The truth was, I had no plans for the evening. Part of me wanted to keep relaxing, but there was something exciting about the idea of seeing him again. It had been a while since I'd gone out on a date, and I had to admit, I was curious about him.

"Uh, sure," I finally said, biting my lip. "Send me the details-location and time-and I'll meet you there."

He chuckled softly. "Actually, I'll pick you up. Be ready by 8 p.m."

"Pick me up?" I started to ask, but before I could say more, he had already hung up. I laughed to myself. How was he planning to pick me up when he didn't even know where I lived? It was a bit strange, but there was something about it that I found amusing. The idea of being 'fetched' felt almost old-fashioned. But the thought of seeing him again made me feel a flutter of excitement. Even though I wasn't exactly looking for a relationship, there was something about him that intrigued me.

By the time 8 p.m. was nearing, I had already gotten ready. I chose a long black dress with a simple, elegant dress. It wasn't anything too fancy, but it made me feel comfortable and confident. I let my hair down, keeping my makeup minimal. I didn't feel like dressing up too much-after all, I was tired from the long day. I chose to wear flat sandals instead of heels because, honestly, I couldn't bear the thought of dealing with the discomfort of stilettos tonight.

Still, I was curious. I kept glancing at my phone, waiting to see what he had planned. Then, just as I was wondering if he'd forgotten or changed his mind, my phone buzzed again.

**Nkosi:** "I'm outside."

A smile tugged at my lips. He was serious after all. A part of me liked that. There was something sweet about his persistence.

I grabbed my things and headed downstairs. And there he was-leaning casually against a sleek black BMW parked outside. He looked even better than I remembered. He wore a black shirt with the top two buttons undone, showing just a hint of his chest. His black pants fit perfectly, hugging his tall, lean frame. And as I walked closer, the scent of his cologne hit me-something warm and spicy that instantly pulled me in.

When he saw me, his eyes lit up, and he quickly moved to open the car door for me. "Hey, beautiful. You look stunning," he said, his gaze lingering on me for just a moment longer than it should have.

"Thank you," I replied softly, feeling a bit shy under his gaze. "But tell me-how did you know where I live?"

He gave me a playful smile, but didn't answer. "Don't worry about that," he said, his voice light, but his eyes were full of mischief.

I raised an eyebrow at him but couldn't help smiling back. For someone getting into a car with someone they barely knew, I felt strangely at ease. There was something about him-his confidence, his charm-that made me feel safe. It was odd, but I wasn't complaining.

We drove for a little while, not saying much, but the silence between us wasn't awkward. It felt comfortable, like we didn't need to fill the space with words. I glanced at him from time to time, watching the way his hands moved on the steering wheel, how relaxed he seemed. Every now and then, he'd glance over at me and smile, and I'd feel that flutter in my chest all over again.

Soon, we arrived at a small restaurant I'd never been to before. It wasn't fancy, but it had a cozy, intimate feel to it. The lights were dim, and the place was quiet, with only a few people scattered around. We got a table by the window, and as we sat down, I felt a sense of calm settle over me.

We ordered our meals, and for the next few hours, we talked-really talked. He was funny, charming, and easy to open up to. I found myself telling him things I hadn't planned to, He listened carefully, asked thoughtful questions, and made me feel seen in a way I hadn't felt in a long time. By the end of the night, I found myself laughing more than I had in weeks, feeling lighter than I'd expected.