Loving a married Xhosa man

8.

Dikeledi

I woke up with a smile, feeling warm and content. The morning sunlight was soft as it streamed through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the love of my life, who was still fast asleep beside me. His face looked so peaceful, and I couldn’t resist leaning over and planting a soft kiss on his cheek. I lingered there for a moment, just looking at him, my heart swelling with affection. He was everything I’d ever wanted - a kind, strong, and loving man. I was sure of it.

Carefully, I slipped out of bed and took a quick shower, letting the cool water wake me up fully.

Once I was dressed, I decided to make us breakfast, hoping to surprise him before I headed to work. I tiptoed into his kitchen, pulling open drawers and cupboards as quietly as I could. I was still getting used to where he kept everything, but I wanted to make him something nice. Soon, the smell of eggs and toast filled the air, along with freshly brewed coffee.

I’d just finished plating when I felt his presence behind me.

“I see you now know where things are in my house." he teased, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.

“You’re getting comfortable, I see.” he added.

I turned around, laughing as I caught his playful smile.

“Well, someone’s got to make sure you don’t starve..." I teased back.

He stepped closer, his eyes warm, and wrapped his arms around me for a moment and we kissed before we sat down to eat together.

Breakfast felt perfect - just the two of us, sharing stolen moments before the busyness of the day began. He reached across the table to hold my hand as we ate, his thumb brushing gently over my knuckles. We laughed, shared little stories, and for a moment, I felt like I was in a world where only he and I existed.

But time was ticking, and soon, I had to get ready. I slipped into my work clothes, gave him a quick kiss goodbye, and ordered an Uber. The ride to work was peaceful, though I kept replaying our breakfast in my mind, feeling grateful and happy. I loved him more than anything.

Once I arrived at the law firm, I dove into my tasks.

Being a legal secretary was busier than I’d anticipated, but I liked the sense of accomplishment that came with the job. The buzz of the office kept me on my toes, and the day seemed to fly by.

When lunchtime rolled around, I decided to grab something quick to eat, relishing a few minutes to unwind. After I ate, I headed back to my office, settling into my desk as I organized files and prepared for the afternoon.

Just as I was going over some paperwork, the door creaked open, and Thobile Ngcobo, one of the attorneys, stepped inside.

Her usually calm and confident expression was clouded with stress. She sighed heavily, lowering herself into the chair across from me, and I could tell something was not right.

I offered her a gentle smile.

“Ms. Mfete, I need to take a few days of family leave. Can you handle reassigning my cases in my absence?”

I nodded, but curious about who’d be taking over.

“Of course. Who should I transfer them to?”

“Stephen Pilane.” she said.

I tried to keep my face neutral, though the name caught me off guard. I’d heard about Stephen Pilane - a senior attorney known for his tough as nails demeanor. People joked that he didn’t know how to smile and that his favorite person was himself. No one in the firm really warmed up to him, and he preferred it that way.