A HEART REPLACED chapter Eleven
Chapter elevenMKHUSELI ’S POV
As he embarks on a new week, he's still recovering from the challenges of the previous one. Despite the struggles, he's determined to move forward, having found solace in the cleansing ceremony and the difficult task of giving away his late wife's belongings to the relatives.
Mondays are always the most daunting, but he pushes through, starting his day with a refreshing shower and a meticulous grooming routine. He slips on his formal suit, feeling a pang of sadness as he struggles to tie his tie, a task his wife Londeka used to do for him. He sighs, hangs the tie around his neck, and prepares his work bag.
Downstairs, he finds Nonhlakanipho has prepared breakfast, a rare gesture that brings a hint of warmth to his morning. ”Good morning,”he greets, his voice a little gruff.
“Morning,”she replies, her tone subdued. She places the porridge bowl in front of him and returns to the kitchen.
“Thank you,”he says, taking his seat and savoring the taste of the porridge.He doesn't remember when he last had breakfast before going to work.
Nonhlakanipho joins him, eating her porridge in silence. He notices she hasn't bathed yet, and a pang of concern strikes him. “uhm--Nonhlakanipho,”he calls out, feeling a little awkward as it's the first time he's addressed her directly.
“Will you be able to stop by the company today?”
“Uhh..yeah, do you need anything?” she asks.
“Not really, I heard you're looking for a job, and I have a position available that needs to be filled urgently.”
“Okay, I will be there then,” she says, and they fall into silence again, eating.
“Belimnandi I polish,”he says, getting up, taking the bowl to the sink, then returning to grab his work bag and heading out. He pauses, wanting to say something, but stops himself and continues on his way to his car.
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He approaches the reception desk, Thoko greets him with a warm ‘Good morning, Sir.’ Mkhuseli returns the greeting and continues on to his office, aware that he has a heavy workload ahead of him. With a series of meetings lined up in his schedule, he knows it's going to be a busy day. And to make matters worse, his personal assistant is currently out of town for a few months, leaving him to navigate his own schedule. He opens his planner to review his tasks for the day, preparing himself for the challenges ahead.
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NONHLAKANIPHO’S POV
After her refreshing shower, she slips into her cozy clothes, perfect for a casual outing. She checks the time - 11:25 - and heads downstairs to find Mam Khethiwe enjoying a snack after completing her household chores.
“Won't you be visiting your husband without preparing a meal for him?” -Mam Khethiwe
“I'm not married, and besides, he didn't request anything.”Mam Khethiwe shakes her head, saying, “Akunandaba ukuthi he asked for it or not. You are his wife now, you have to act like one, that way you will have his heart.”
She's not trying to win anyone's heart, and she is not a wife to anyone.’
“Angiboni Ku necessary Loko Ma,”
Mam Khethiwe insists, “Yeka inkani ngane, make a lunch box for Mkhuseli.”
She ended up preparing that lunch box and took a taxi .After long drive and the heading from taxi people bluberring and abusing chappies, finally she gets of ,she heads inside where she meets the receptionist that gave her attitude.
“Afternoon,where can I find Mr Mbatha's office?”,the receptionist looks at her up to toe
“Which Mr Mbatha ? because baningi oMbatha kule company Sisi" the rude receptionist asks
“Ngifuna uMkhuseli ”
“Pho bungasho yini ekucaleni?”
"It's very hot to be dealing with your rude *** sisters ,uzongisiza noma?”
She decides to ignore the receptionist's attitude and makes her way to the elevator, leaving the receptionist hanging. As the doors open, she steps inside and finds herself face to face with Khulekani, Mkhuseli's brother. She sighs inwardly, unprepared for this unexpected encounter with the eccentric sibling. The elevator begins its ascent, and she's trapped, forced to endure the awkward silence between them. Khulekani's piercing gaze makes her feel uneasy, and she struggles to find something to say, but her mind goes blank. The tension builds, and she can't wait for the elevator to reach its destination and escape this uncomfortable situation.
“Sawbona nawe Nobuhle” Khulekani greets her, intentionally using the wrong name. “Sawbona Malume Khulekani” Khulekani bursts into laughter, “Haibo? Segiwu Malume njalo?”
Vele she'll call him ‘Uncle’ to show him I regard him as an elder, not a romantic interest.
“Uzobona uBafo?”He asks, and she nods, remembering she needs to ask about Mkhuseli's office location.
“Where can I find his office?”
“Khululeka, I'm heading there,”he says.
Finally, they exit the elevator and head to Mkhuseli's office. Khulekani opens the door and gestures for her to enter first, observing the courtesy of "‘adies first.’
“Buka ngikuphathele Bani Bafo wena,(look who I brought to you)”he says, announcing her arrival to Mkhuseli, who looks up and sees Nonhlakanipho.
“Usufikile mengithi awusezi,”Mkhuseli says, seemingly surprised she arrived despite expecting her.
“I'm here,”she responds.
“Let me do my job and leave you two; give me that file I gave you in the morning, Bafo,” Khulekani says, and Mkhuseli hands it over before exiting the office.
“Take a seat, please,” Mkhuseli says, pointing to the chair, and she sits down, taking in the spacious and well-ventilated office, which is beautifully arranged.
“Mam Khethiwe asked me to bring you this,” she says, handing him the lunch box.
“Ngiyabonga,” he thanks her, and promptly opens the container, revealing the savory lunch inside. His stomach growls in anticipation, having not eaten since his morning porridge. He digs in, and Nonhlakanipho observes him savoring each bite, her eyes watering in sympathy as she watches him chew and swallow. After finishing his meal, he wipes his hands and mouth clean.
“We can start discussing the position that needs to be filled,” he says, ready to begin with what she's here for..
“I'd like to offer you the position of Creative Director,” Mkhuseli says with a smile. “Pearl has shared your qualifications with me, and I'm impressed. I believe this role would be a great fit for you.”
Nonhlakanipho's eyes widen in surprise. “Are you serious?” she asks, her voice laced with disbelief.
Mkhuseli nods affirmatively. “Yes, I am. You can start on Wednesday. In the meantime, please review these files today and tomorrow. I'm confident you'll be up to speed by then.”
He hands her the files, and she takes them, still in awe. “I don't know what to say, but I promise to do my best in this position,” she says, her voice filled with gratitude.
Mkhuseli dismisses her with a wave of his hand. “No problem, you can leave now.”
she exits the office, she can't help but think, “Wow, this is really happening!”She may not have experience as a Creative Director, but she has a solid understanding of how it works, so she's not too anxious. She's determined to give it her all.
Her next stop is Pearl's office. She wants to thank her for putting in a good word, which led to this opportunity. Without Pearl's support, she wouldn't be in this position, and she's grateful for her help.
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Her father has been blowing up her phone with non-stop calls, but she's not ready to engage in a conversation that pretends everything is okay. She's still fuming with anger and forgiveness is not on her radar anytime soon. She dismisses his calls and tosses her phone into her bag as she exits the taxi.
The weight of the files is a physical reminder of the task ahead, and she's exhausted. All she can think about is unwinding with a refreshing shower, cooking a satisfying meal, and devouring it before diving into the files. She needs to thoroughly understand the contents, and she's determined to do just that.As she walks into the house,Mam Khethiwe has left,she drops her bag and files on the couch and heads straight to the shower. The warm water soothes her tired muscles, and she takes a moment to breathe, letting go of some of the stress .
After her shower, she puts on comfortable clothes and heads to the kitchen to cook for her and Mkhuseli when he arrives he will dish for himself. The aroma of sizzling vegetables and rice fills the air.
Finally, with a full belly and a clear mind, she settles in to tackle the files. She spreads them out on the coffee table, takes a deep breath, and begins to read.
To be continued...
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