Chapter Eleven

I was ready for the impact with my eyes closed, my hand automatically shot out to protect my face from kissing the concrete beneath me, but the fall never happened as strong hands wrapped around me steading and preventing me from falling, but my ankle betrayed me. A sharp and excruciating pain hit me so hard in my ankle, I fell back and tightened my hands at however that had saved me from my horrible faith, whoever it was that was holding me only tightened their hold on me giving me a safe and warm feeling for once in my life. When the pain had subsided a bit, all I wanted to do was continue with my way and go straight to my house. Whoever that had saved me couldn't see me like this, so I attempted to free myself when I heard a low growl from the person holding me.

"Slowdown will you, that ankle is probably strained.’’ The voice I was dreading to hear the whole day said to me. Green eyes came to my rescue again.

"Come, let me look at that, we’ll need ice to stop it from swelling.'' He said while giving my sore ankle a gentle massage, making me flinch. I wasn't even sure if I was flinching from the pain or from the touch of this man’s hands on my skin.

''Tell me love, why are you always crying when I see you”.

He grabbed my face with his big hands tenderly and I flinched, he was looking at me as if he were trying to read the answer through me since I had just been crying all along. I avoided his gaze, his eyes scared me to tell the truth. I live in a black community where mostly everyone has black eyes, I mean it’s even rare to find someone with brown eyes unless they're mixed race now imagine seeing green/blue eyes for the first time in your life and to make matters, this man was like in my face, staring at me with no shame. He was standing so close to me and smelled enticing. He smelled like herbs and mixed spices hmm... wow even his perfume is unique, I thought. I could feel tingles in my face as he was still holding me, but I forced myself to get away from him, there was just something with this man and it was pulling me to him. I know this sounds crazy, but I felt safe around this beautiful stranger.

"Alright" Gage said raking his hands in his hair, I think he was frustrated.

"I won't ask you why you are crying anymore or who made you cry because I saw you with your boyfriends mother talking before you came running out but please just tell me one thing angel. Why do keep going back to these people if they make you cry?". I just stood there without giving him an answer.

"I'm taking you home then, your ankle needs attention and this time I’m afraid I don’t have the right equipment to help but we might find some ice at the bar to prevent the swelling”. Gage softly said to me lifting my chin to look at me in the eyes, I refused, I felt like those beautiful green orbs could read my soul and whenever I looked at them, I had this weird feeling spreading through my whole body making me shiver, his touch was just making things worse.

"Get away from her this instant Gate before I do something I might regret, the only person that’s going home here is you. Your colleague's are waiting for you". Nick came striding towards us with Natasha trailing behind him, he looked raging mad, but I was as angry as he was this time.

Two weeks had passed since the incident at Nick 's house, and I was still angry whenever I thought about the events of that day, I know dwelling on the past doesn’t help. I haven’t seen Gage since that day he and Nick behaved like caveman in front of everyone, putting me in an ugly spot. Mr Klaus was shocked when he saw what transpired outside his yard while he was busy celebrating his birthday. The moment Nick arrived outside fuming as hell, he came straight to me and attempted to drag me away from Gage but Gage on the other hand wouldn't hear of it and instead punched Nick straight in the jaw, while Nick stumbled backward and tried to regain his composure, I went to stand in between them to stop their nonsense, but Gage shoved me behind him in an instant. Nick was so mad to the point that he forgot about the scene he was about to cause and lunged himself at Gate forgetting that I was standing behind Gage all along.

I was sent flying towards Gage’s car and hit my head so hard I ended up seeing stars. Luckily, there was only a few audience watching the scene since it was already dark, and people were already intoxicated. Nick and Gage went at it as if they had a long-time grudge that had to be settled while I was laying half unconscious next to Gage's expensive sports car, the only person that noticed me was Natasha I suppose because when I woke up, she was cradling me in her arms cursing at both Gage and my stupid boyfriend. Mrs Klaus was glaring at me this whole time and obviously blaming me for everything that happened. She was smart though because she waited for Gage and his brother to move away from us before started calling me names as usual.

Mr Klaus was just confused and kept asking what was going on even though he could see that there was a fight happening although no one gave him a straight answer since there was not much to tell, I think Nick couldn’t tell his father that they were fighting over me or was it even me they were fighting for? I think Mr Klaus was scared for his business deal and their reputation because he ordered Nick to take me home and come see him the instant he got back and I on the other hand was too damn angry to even let any of those two arrogant fools near me. I told Natasha to take me home in my dusty state, my dress was dirty, and my ankle kept throbbing all this time. Thankfully, Natasha offered to take me to her house instead of mine because she knew I was avoiding my Aunt. I told both Gage and Nick to stay the hell away from me that night.

All of this was just new to me, to have two rich men fighting over me really scared me, I wondered what my mother would think of me if she heard a word about this. Ma raised me well and taught me to respect myself and not let men dominate my life and ruin my reputation, but it seemed like what I was running away from all these years was suddenly catching up with me. There’s a reason as to why I remained a virgin until my age but now I was scared that all my sacrificing would go to waste, people in my neighbourhood enjoy gossiping and I was scared I would be the talk of the town now besides Nick 's mother didn't make the situation any better by saying I caused the fight and calling me a slut in front of people.

I missed Nick so much but my stubborn self-kept insisting that I shouldn't forgive him for what he did, I still had a small scar on my forehead to remind me of what happened that night however Enhle said she could help cover it up for tomorrow's journey. Gage on the other hand hadn't stopped calling and sending me messages nonstop, all of his messages consisted of worry’s and asking to see me to make sure I was fine, but I didn't bother to reply back to him, he was a stranger and he had to stay far away from me because I just couldn't understand his motive towards me.

Mr Klaus came to my house to apologise about what happened, mom was shocked of what she learnt from Nick 's father about that night since I had lied to her about my injuries saying I drank too much wine and fell at Natasha's house and that’s how I got the scratch on my forehead. My mom was confused about the so-called white man that fought with Nick and gave me a stern look that said will talk about this in private, but when we did talk, I lied again. What was I supposed to tell my mom honestly, I was scared that I had been on the wrong myself? If only I hadn't spoken to Gage maybe I wouldn't be in this situation.

Aunt Jane was ears dropping at us this whole-time cause when I saw her, she just said “I always knew that you’re no angel brat and one day your dirty laundry will be laid bare for everyone to see, pity I don't think your mom will be around to witness the show”. After that she gave me one of her mean looks and left me alone. Nicks father came with good news though, he came to tell me that he found me a job at a hotel in Rosebank and I had to be there tomorrow morning for an interview. He assured my mom that I would get the job since the owner had asked him personally if he knew anyone that needed a job and he had thought about me. I was excited when I heard I would be working but I was stressed about leaving my mom with my Aunt, I was worried they wouldn't take good care of her but I couldn't miss this opportunity, maybe I could finally get to finish my studies and change our miserable lives.

Once I was fully prepared for tomorrow's interview and had everything I would need, I went to bed with my mom lightly snoring beside me. I was quite nervous and couldn't fall asleep. I hadn't been out in quiet some time and having to go to an unfamiliar place all by myself was stressing me. I contemplated going to get some warm milk, but I couldn't risk going to the kitchen and coming across Prince, I made sure to stay away from him all the time since Enhle had also warned me that he was quiet a dangerous person to be around.

Morning came too soon for me, my interview was scheduled to be at ten but I knew I had to leave early because I was using double transport and that was going to cause me problems if I didn't leave early and I also didn't know where I was going to, I had only been to Johannesburg CBD a couple of times but that place always gave me the creeps, it was always packed and if you were not familiar with it, you could easily get yourself lost or worse find yourself in the lion’s den. Johannesburg CBD has a diversity of people but most of all there are thieves and criminals that could easily spot their prey. I was dressed in a grey pencil skirt and a white shirt with black wedges to lift my height, my hair was tied into a neat bun at the top to avoid it flying all over. Enhle helped me with makeup but I insisted she make it light since well I didn't really like to have mud on my face, but I had to cover that scar that was prominent on my forehand. Ma was also up and conversing with Enhle, I was glad she was around to help with my nerves and telling me to go and make her proud. I didn't really care about the type of job I would get, all that mattered to me was getting a job and earning a salary.

Finding Rosebank mall was quiet easy, once I got to the taxi rank in Johannesburg I asked the queue marshals for directions and they were very eager to help get to my destination but the problem was that some of them were perverts and all over me, I have to admit though some of them were way to grumpy and scared the shit out of me but I managed to get some decent guys who showed me the right taxi to take and assured me that it would drop me a couple of blocks away from the Mall and I would find the hotel I was looking for. It had been a fifteen-minute walk once I got off the taxi before I found the place I was looking for, I checked the time on my wrist watch that Nick bought me last year on my birthday and noticed that I was super early so I had an hour to spend before I could go in for the interview. I thought about wondering around and checking the place out, but I was scared I would get lost, so I headed for the tall building with a beautiful, decorated glass exterior.

There were huge words written in bold gold letters outside the building saying Hart Hotel and my God the place was stunning ,actually Rosebank in all was a breath taking place, I’ve always dreamed of living in places like this when I was a child, my dream was to buy my mother a beautiful house in plush suburbs, driving an expensive car with a good career and a loving husband someday but I suppose dreams don't always come true since here I was standing outside this tall building watching people go in and out of that building with poise while I was here for my first job interview at the age of 24. I could tell that I just didn't belong here, I had been staring at the building for rather some time now, I saw classy men and women in tailored suites driving expensive cars and smelling of expensive fragrances, they just passed without even sparing me second glance. I think they could that I didn't belong there, when I left home, I was super confident that I looked good but now I felt like a beggar wearing cheap clothes. I brushed all my negative thoughts aside and reminded myself why I was here before slowly approaching the entrance praying for the best.