I was halfway through the lobby yesterday, jaw clenched tight with tears threatening to fall, stomping my heels hard when I heard a voice call my name behind me.

It was a man's voice so there was no way it was Brie, she never returned from getting her shit, and I doubted that it could ever be Mr Sin-- he doesn't strike me as the type to chase women through lobbies- so that only lefy one person.

I stopped and turned around and just as I predicted, it was Zayn rushing towards me.

Every piece of me wanted to run away before those tears made it down my face and I embarrassed myself in front of some man and those jerks at the reception but I forced myself to stay rooted and forced my tears to stay in my eyes if they knew what was good for them.

And it wasn't that I was crying over anything that asshole of a man said or how he said it, I was just frustrated if that's even the right word. I had exhausted all options available to me, I didn't know what I was going to do

"Hey, look I am sorry for my brother," Zayn said a bit out of breath, "He is, well he is--"

"No need to apologize for your brother, he's a dick but he's not obligated to give me a job," I explained to him how it's nobody's fault but mine that I am royally fucked, "He doesn't know me from under a rock in the ocean, so there's nothing to be sorry for."

"No, I know that. It's just his demeanour that bothers me," He said, "He shouldn't have been so rude about it is all but listen, let's go to lunch so we can talk--"

I immediately refused, "No it's okay, thank you. You look like a nice person and everything but I should be getting home."

And pick up cans in the streets, that's what I'd have had to do to replace the money I spent on yesterday's fruitless excursion.

He smiled kindly showing faint dimples on his cheeks, "Relax Imani, you need a job and if I am to convince my brother to rehire you then I should at least know a thing or two about you."

Convince his brother to rehire me?

"Brie tried already."

"Brie is full of shit."

"And you're not?" I'm a very suspicious person.

"Listen, I'd hire you myself but I already have a housekeeper and it would be unfair of me to replace her with you. She's been working with me for years."

I weighed his offer-- the lunch meant better food at least but do I really want to work for a person who doesn't want me working for them?

Did I even have a choice?

I took the nth deep breath of the day, "Ok, Mr Sin, lead the way."

He rewarded my response with a big, closed mouth smile and lead me outside to where his black car was parked, and I have to say that car is a beast.

He opened the passenger door for me then rounded to the driver's side and got in.

"Nice car," I complimented when he started the engine, "Thought you'd be in a limo or have a driver or whatever shit you rich people do."

He laughed and tore off the pavement, "No, my brother and I like to do our own driving."

"So you are not very trusting then?"

He raised a thick, black eyebrow at me, "You are very perceptive," Wasn't meant as an insult, just a mere observation.

Brought a small smile to my face for the first time since the sun rose, "It comes with territory Mr Sin."

"Call me Zayn, Mr Sin is my grandfather."

I didn't say anything back to that, just sat back in the car and trier to gather my thoughts. If you had told me when the week started that I'd be riding in a sleek car with a strange white man going to lunch, then I'd have told you to slap me with a marshmallow.

The drive to Zayn's restaurant of choice was not long so I didn't have to sit in thwt small space with him kucj longer.

And of course Zayn's restaurant of choice had valet parking, I was in for a treat. Good thinking on accepting his offer-- it may not come as a shock to many peoole but I have champagne taste and not even a beer budget.

"This way Mr Sin," The maître met us by the door and lead us into the modern upscale eating bistro.

She was in black slacks and a black plain blouse, red hair up in an updo, tall, thin, and absolutely gorgeous,

I kept my eyes firmly on Zayn's thick, black hair and paid no mind to the nicely dressed patrons who kept stealing looks at us.

We were led to an outside eating area which was thankfully empty, couldn't deal with everyone's eyes on me. People wouldn't stop looking at Zayn for some odd reason-- or was it me? Am I what people couldn't stop murmuring and glancing about?

"Ignore them," He said to me as he pulled out a chair for me, the man does have manners, "Everyone is always in everyone's business, they're just surprised to see a new face."

"Are you sure it's just the face? A few jaws have dropped," I said taking a seat.

"Their jaws drop easily because they have weak chins," He dismissed them and turned to the maitre'd who'd just placed menus in front of us, "Get me Ulrich," Zayn said handing her the menus back.

The woman smiled at us and gave a little nod before leaving to go get Ulrich.

A few seconds later, a broad fellow with a big, brown beard and brown hair in a ponytail dressed in a white uniform walked up to us and stopped a foot from our table.

He reminds me of a friend Rea has, and because of that and the warmth in his vibrant green eyes I decided that I love him already.

"Uli," Zayn greeted warmly with a big smile, "I've missed you you big brute."

"Boss," The accented voice coming from him matched him through and through with its husky deepness, "What are you doing on our side of the world in the middle of the day?"

Boss?

"I came to see your ugly face, you big chump," Zayn said and they both laughed, "This is my friend Imani. Imani, this is my friend Ulrich. He owns this joint."

Didn't he just call him boss?

I turned to the big man and face him an equally big smile, "Hey, nice to meet you."

Ulrich raised an eyebrow at Zayn before turning to me, "Nice to meet you too boss Zayn's friend."

Zayn chuckled along with his friend, "It's not like that, she is just a friend. Works for Dixon."

"Oh," Ulrich says softly, "Oh!" His voice raises an octave.

"Yeah."

What the fuck?

"Anyway, what can I get you good folk today?" Ulrich changed the topic as quickly as it came on and I had no idea what to do about it.

I didn't want to leave it but on the other hand I was really hungry for something more than just leftover rice and chicken.

Zayn looked at me, "How about my usual Uli, I have the feeling that Ms. Olifant will appreciate your fine work."

Ulrich looked at me as well and smiled naughtily, "I have that exact feeling boss."

"What did I just get myself into?"

"Oh you wait and see," Zayn's expression matched Ulrich's, "You're not allergic to anything right?"

I slowly shook my head as I narrowed my suspicious eyes at them.

Ulrich retreated to the kitchen leaving Zayn and I alone and a few seconds later, a waiter showed up with two glasses of white wine but I turned mine down and ask for iced tea because I don't drink alcohol--

That surprised Zayn a lot.

"Wait til you see what Ulrich is going to whip up for you," He promised, "You are going to worship him."

"He owns the place?"

"Yeah, we opened it together a few years back. He had the passion, I had the money but I sold it to him because having his own restaurant has always been a dream of his."

And somehow he still calls him boss. It seems like a good friendship that they have and that's good because very often money and friendships make a bad combination. Money has a way of ruining even the best of relationships, even tearing families apart which is why I don't want my friends to give me money to take care of my family. That's one complication I can do without.

I decided to ask him the most important question, "So what's all this about?"

"What do you mean?"

"You are paying for my lunch, offering to get me my job back. Why? What's in it for you?"

"What does there have to be something in it for me?"

Now it was my turn to raise a sceptical eyebrow at him, "Because people don't just do good for nothing."

"People actually do," The man countered.

"No, people don't. There's always an ulterior motive," I said matter of factly, "What's yours?"

He took a sip of his wine and leaned back in his chair regarding me very seriously, "You need a job and my brother is a dick, two birds one stone."

"You're using me to piss off your brother?" I don't know how to feel about that, "I didn't summa cum laude for that."

"Let's talk about that... how in the hell do you go from business school to cleaning flats? No offence."

"None taken--"

"So tell me," He relaxed in his chair, "What exactly happened? Did you graduate?"

"Of course," I sighed loudly, "I don't know what happened, life?"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I graduated. Couldn't afford any of it but I graduated. Got an internship, mom got really sick so I got sacked for all the time off I took to care for her," Like I said, haven't had many pleasant run-ins with managers, "She got better and I got a second internship but...

"But?" He sipped his wine.

"But let's just say I should've chosen boyfriends better when I was younger..." And that's all I said about that.

He took a deep breath and steadied himself, "Okay, I can get you your job back with Dixon."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"You don't want me to spy on him for you or anything like that, do you?"

He smiled a little, "No, but he was being a dick for you and he needs to apologize. That's no way to treat a person, and he can make things right by hiring you again, he's my brother and I will do anything to make sure that he acts right, it's my duty."

I mulled over his proposal, it sounded innocent enough and there were no strings attached which I love because I hate strings, strings ruin everything.

"And I, myself, don't have any companies in this country and you don't seem like the type to want to leave your family behind but..." He leaned closer and placed his elbows on the table to really look at my face, "I'll take your C.V and let you know as soon as something comes up, most of my family has business here. I'll keep my ear to the ground."

"Really?"

"Don't sound so shocked."

"Well, why? What's in for you?" I was shocked, shit like that don't just happen.

"I believe we already had that conversation," His blue eyes seemed very sincere, "I got Uli out here so you can see that I'm trustworthy."

"And so in the mean time?" I sipped my iced tea too and leaned back in my chair.

"In the mean time, you have your job back at Dixon's. With a raise. And you don't have to wear that uniform..."

I thought it over for a second, seemed too good to be true but who the hell was I kidding? It's the best offer I've gotten in months.

"Okay but it will only be a week before he fires me again," I let him know that I am not going to be employed for long, "I don't like him and I tend to speak first and think later. I'm not going to be able to pretend to be nice to him."

He chuckled knowingly and nodded, "That's not going to be a problem, and he is not going to fire you. I will make sure of it."

He is up to something that Zayn Sin, but as long as I am getting paid-- I am in.

I haven't stopped thinking about Zayn's proposal since he dropped me off at the train station yesterday.

Still sounds too good to be true. I mean why? Why do all that to help a stranger? What does he stand to gain?

I'm out here chopping down trees to gather a week's worth of fire wood but it's all I can think about.

And Mr Sin...

I hope he's back to wherever he was when I first worked there, I hope I never have to see him again.

He intimidates me to no end and there's just.. something about him. I don't know but I know I don't like it.

It's a damn good deal though, Mr Sin or not--

I would be able to use electricity without fear of it running out in the middle of the month and not having money to get more. Won't have to break my back and tear my hands like I am now just to be able to have hot water in the morning and to put hot food on the table.

The wood gathering is one of my brother's chores, he has not done anything but steal money from me and get high out of his mind with his friends, which means all his duties have now fallen upon me.

I just thank whatever lucky stars I have left that I don't have to push the wheelbarrow with buckets all the way over the train track to the RDPs to get some water-- also one of my brother's neglected duties-- I now get my water delivered by one of my neighbours, Bra Thepza.

He sells small containers of clean, fresh water for 20 bucks per container- it is a little expensive but beggars can't be choosers. I bought a big JOJO tank a couple of years back and used it to collect and store rain water that way we didn't have to buy water but it got stolen almost as soon as I put it up. Can't have nothing in the ghetto.

Vivid also used to bring me water sometimes with his father's van or one of his friends' but he's been acting up since we officially broke up, I don't know which way is up with him and I vowed to not beg him to do anything anymore. I just made another plan because that's what I do.

I'm really not the type of person to beg for help from people, and that might not be a good thing seeing as how poverty and I are in the same WhatsApp group but it's something that I just can't help. I would rather break my back and work my fingers to the bone than beg anyone for help-

The only person I ever begged was that Mr Dick Sin and even then I didn't do much begging, just informed him of my desperation for a job and that's as near as I've gotten to begging. And it's not because of pride, I just don't like bothering people and I don't like being a nuisance. Everyone has their own problems and I don't want to add mine on top of theirs.

It's when I gather all the twigs and branches that I have chopped down in a couple of bundles that I realize that I didn't bring anything to tie them together meaning transporting them all the way back home is going to be difficult even with a wheelbarrow.

There's a strong breeze whopping through the bushes and it's going to cause trouble. So I grab the end of my old skirt that I wear especially when I do work like this, it's worn out and tarnished from years of this sort of abuse, I tug with all my strength and the material rips off easily. I repeat the action again and soon I have two long pieces of cloth.

I set the pieces of cloth on the ground next to each other and throw almost equal amounts of the wood that I've gathered on them, then I proceed to wrap the cloth around making a nice bundle before tying the ends of the cloth tight to prevent it from coming loose. I do the same with the other bundle and soon I have both bundles loaded on the rusty wheelbarrow and am ready to walk the five or so k's back home.

Sweat is dripping off my body, the sun is beating on my back, I am sticky and covered with a thick layer of dust my feet being the worst with the little bloody cuts from the shrubs-- I won't be wearing short things for a long time it seems. I am ready to get home, make a fire to heat up water and just take a hot bath.

But I have to wait for some of the ladies I came with-- we come in groups because it is not safe to walk around the woods alone. There have been far too many cases of women being cornered and raped in the woods; a lot have even lost their lives here. It is safer to go in groups of five and or more because we have pangas and axes which we use to chop the wood, and won't hesitate to protect ourselves and each other with our tools if we have to.

"Enhle," One of the ladies I came with, Anna, calls my name and hands me a bottle of water.

I thank her for the water and take a huge gulp, I forgot mine on the table at home. I always fucking forget my water bottle on the table at home. But she is nice enough to always give some of her water even though I never ask for it.

She gives me a small smile, picks up her bundle of wood and puts it on her head. She didn't bring a wheelbarrow today. If I was smart enough to wear a doek as well today, I would carry an extra bundle on my head.

I pick up the handles of my wheelbarrow and look around to see if some of the other ladies are done, then we all set off on the way home together.

I drown out their voices as they discuss the latest gossip, stories that they shared on our way here and while we were busy mind you but they just can't seem to get enough so I tune out and focus on trying to think of solutions for my pending calamities-

Two down, a dozen more to go.

__________

I made a little open hut at the back of our shack to make fires in to prevent the wind from blowing them out and that is where I am on my knees stirring an iron pot of hot pap with a wooden spoon when I hear my mom call for me.

There are tears running down my face and I am sniffing up a storm because of all the smoke. Smoke is in my eyes, smoke is in my nose, and even though I wrapped my hair I know that smoke is in my hair as well.

I stop what I'm doing, close the pot and put the spoon in a bucket of water before running out the shed and around the shack to tend to my mother.

"Your phone," She whizzes, she's getting the flu again and the medication that the nurses left seem to be doing nothing for her.

I need to get her to a doctor, I don't know how or how I'm even going to pay for it but she needs to see a doctor soon.

I grab my phone and see that I have missed a call from Rea, Nandi and Zayn. I send them please call me's because there's no way that I am spending my airtime on them, it's for emergencies.

In the meantime--

"Ma, you need to see a doctor," I say walking into our bedroom.

She's lying in bed under what seems like a million blankets even though it's scorching hot outside.

She immediately shakes her head, "I'm fine, the medication is helping."

"No, it's not," I say to her, "It sounds like you're getting worse."

It breaks my heart to see her like this, not many things hurt me at this point but seeing my mother in constant pain is a constant ache in my heart. I keep telling myself that she'll maybe get better but that just sets me up for more heartbreak when she falls ill again.

"And how are we going to pay for a doctor Enhle?"

"Don't you worry about that, but we need to get you out of this bed and to a doctor soon."

She just waves me off, "I don't need a doctor and you don't need to spend any more money on me, I'll be fine."

I am about to protest but I am interrupted by my phone ringing. I left it on the fridge in the kitchen so I have to walk out to get it. Luckily it's only four or so steps from the bed to the fridge. I press the green button without checking the name and put the device against my ear.

"Imani, hello," I don't even bother to be polite when I speak.