Unhinged Love

CHAPTER 38

The following day, I just silence everything and focus on my work. Yes, I was beginning to fall for Melisizwe. He is handsome, he is smooth and he seems like a very loving and kind person. But being with him will cause more harm than good. What will happen if someone from his family decides to make me trend about this? what will the investors say? What if they want their money back? The business is doing well and can probably survive if they were to withdraw, but I still need their money. I still need to expand Healthy Eats and go big. That means I can’t be involved in any scandal.

I read this post on Facebook about a girl who dated her ex’s father two years after she broke up with the ex. She was really attracted to the man and she did mention that it wasn’t some evil plan. It just happened. The reason why she broke up with the ex was because he was abusive, emotionally and once physically. She had healed from the abuse and was ready to move on with her life. Her ex’s father happened to be the man who was there for her and made her feel validated, loved and heard. I guess they developed feelings for each other. Even after hearing the whole story, people still judged her and made fun of their relationship. Many made assumptions that she was there for the money even though the man was not that wealthy.

I placed myself in her shoes and just wondered how people will judge me should I really decide to make things serious with Melisizwe. Worse, it hasn’t even been three months since I broke up with Mbulelo and I am ready to jump his father’s pants. Sure, my friends won’t judge. They would probably try to understand where I am coming from, but the whole world will. Do I really want to put myself through that? Just for love? What if things don’t work out in the long run with Melisizwe and our thing causes more harm than good?

As the day continues, I ignore his messages and his calls. I know I should be more mature about this and straight up tell him I don’t want to do this. but I hate confrontations. I owe him an explanation, but I don’t want to explain this. he knows the consequences of what we are trying to do. Hopefully he will see things from my perspective and understand where I am coming from. And hopefully he won’t barge in here and ask that I answer my calls because seeing him would be the end of him. I don’t think I have enough resolve to resist him if he is in front of me but it is so easy over the phone.

Today I am meeting with an event’s planner. Ever since paperwork for the farm was sorted, we have been contemplating doing an event just to let people know that the farm is now under new management. Not everyone perse, but the employees and the investors. We just want to make a small event to celebrate this achievement. This is what I should be focusing on, and not a silly relationship that will blow up in my face.

Pamela, Mitchy, Nqobile and Lineo are part of the meeting since they are shareholders. The planner is Buhlebenkosi. I found her on social media. She is not very famous but something about her work made me trust her.

“So, what type of event do you want to have? And how many attendees are we expecting?” she asks.

“A maximum of hundred guests. And we want something that is not fancy and that is relatable. Something that aligns with our line of business. So, a farmer’s market in a way.” Mitchy responds. Those hundred guests include the farm employees, the investors and their plus ones, and a few of Healthy Eats staff. Maybe a few members of the press. Even though we want people to know about this new farm we have, we don’t want it to be in their face too much.

“We will have lunch, vineyard style. It should be long tables where everyone will be able to interact with a stranger beside them. Healthy Eats is a family and that’s our brand. We want to continue that way. We also need a photographer of the day who will create content and capture every moment. In one event, we will be promoting our farm and restaurant. We want people to know that the farm is open to host outdoor events, like vineyard weddings and all those things. And we also want people to know what kind of produce the farm has.” I add and Buhle nods as she jots down everything.