Chapter Fifteen

STRING OF PEARLS: FIFTEEN -

ONEZWA

I clear my throat and continue packing, sensing Troy's intense gaze on me. After securing everything, we lock up and head to the car. The drive back to the beach house is long and uncomfortably tense. My mind replays the store's successful launch, overshadowed by the encounter with Mcedisi.

"Who was that man?" Troy asks as soon as we step inside.

"Mcedisi," I reply casually, but his scrutinizing look demands more.

"He's my late husband's brother," I explain.

Troy's smile, usually radiant, twists into a rare frown. "Bullshit!" he snaps.

"I'm telling you the truth," I assure.

He chuckles. "That man looked at you like you're the love of his life. He ignored me, like I'm invisible. He's sending a message – you're his."

I chuckle uncomfortably. "With my brother-in-law? We haven't seen each other in years; he was probably taken aback."

Troy nods and walks past me without a word.

The tension between us is palpable, and I hate it. We've never fought or exchanged harsh words in our year together.

After a quick shower, I find Troy already in bed. Despite exhaustion, I don't want us to sleep angry.

As I get into bed, I start kissing his back, my hands tracing his contours. "Thank you for tonight," I whisper.

He responds, and I continue, my touch igniting passion. We make slow, passionate love until we collapse in each other's arms and subsequently drifting off to lala lands.

The next day...

Troy drops me off at my store, its first operating day. In my office, I scroll through social media, thrilled with the reviews.

A knock on the door breaks my focus. "Come in!"

It's Busi, my assistant. "Someone to see you."

I glance at the monitor screens – Mcedisi Mthethwa.

"Let him in," I instruct.

Busi nods and exits.

Mcedisi enters, and we lock eyes.

"How can I help you?" I ask, breaking the silence.

The air feels thick.

"Are you well?" he asks.

I nod.

He pulls up a chair, sitting intensely.

"You did well for yourself. The store is beautiful," he compliments.

"Umuhle," he says, and I fight a blush.

"Mcedisi, what brings you here?" I ask.

"Asilwi anginthi?" (Are we fighting?) he asks.

"No, asilwi. Where's MaSibiya?"

"She's around." He says nonchalantly.

"Good, greet her and your mother for me." I say getting up

I extend my hand for a handshake but he gets up and walks around the desk, standing uncomfortably close.

"Back up," I whisper.

_MCEDISI_

I didn't sleep a wink last night, Onezwa occupying my thoughts. First thing in the morning, I got into my car and drove straight to her store. I sat in the parking lot, feeling like a stalker, and watched as her yellow-bone boyfriend dropped her off. Summoning some courage, I decided to walk in.

I'm not standing too close to her, but she's trembling – not out of fear, I hope. Her body is reacting to my proximity. I love her sweet scent; it's unforgettable.

"Please allow me to kiss you," I ask softly.

She shakes her head. "Please," I beg, closing the space between us.

"I can't," she whispers, her eyes locked on my lips.

I choose to ignore her words and listen to her body language instead. I capture her lips, and the kiss is slow and passionate. She doesn't kiss me back at first, but I slightly bite her lower lip, and she gasps. That gives me the opportunity to insert my tongue.

The kiss deepens until she comes back to her senses and pushes me off.

"What the hell are you doing?" she snaps.

"Don't tell me you didn't feel that?" I ask softly.

"And I love you. I love you so much," I confess.

Her eyes widen in surprise, and then she bursts into laughter. "You love me? Oh please, you don't love me. You are here because you thought no man could love me. You rejected me, and..."

I interrupt her. "Rejected you? Last time I checked, you're the one who rejected me on the eve of our wedding. You bloody well ran away from me!" I shout.

"Because I thought you were using me to get to Qhawe's fortune. I was young, and...I was told that you don't do love. That you only care about your brother's fortune. That you were only marrying me for that. I panicked, okay?" she yells.

I shake my head vigorously. "Why the hell did you think that?" Who told you that?" I ask

She looks away. "Onezwa," I say softly.

She shakes her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm with someone who loves me. Troy loves me, and I love him," she says.

I clench my jaws. "You wouldn't have kissed me like that if you didn't feel something for me," I say.

"Please leave. You wanted me to leave after my father died. And my aunt made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with me. The Mthethwas were all I had. I had just lost my father, but you wanted me gone because you didn't want me to upset your wife. Aren't you upsetting her now? You said I shouldn't hover around your family; now what is this?" she asks tearfully.

I feel like shit.

"Please leave," she repeats.

"I'm happy now. I'm so happy; please don't ruin things for me. You have a wife, and we just aren't meant to be. We can't," she says, more to herself than to me.

I nod, pecking her forehead before walking out.

_NARRATED_

Onezwa's words continue to resonate within Mcedisi. Clearly, she harbored feelings for him, but his own pain and guilt had driven him to push her away two years ago. Seeking solace, Mcedisi immersed himself in work at a coffee shop before returning home.

"Hi," he greets his wife, MaSibiya, hanging the car keys on their holder.

MaSibiya smiles warmly, taking off his jacket and offering him a Heineken.

"How was your day?" she asks as he settles onto a kitchen stool.

"It was okay. I ran into Onezwa," he shares.

MaSibiya's expression shifts, her irritation poorly concealed.

"Oh," she says, feigning nonchalance.

"She owns a clothing store in the city," Mcedisi continues.

MaSibiya's interest piques, her frown deepening.

"She's here in KZN?"

Mcedisi nods.

An uncomfortable silence falls between them as MaSibiya warms up his dinner in the microwave.

"Thank you," Mcedisi says, digging into the pap and chicken stew.

MaSibiya leans against the counter, watching him eat.

"Onezwa revealed something interesting about why she left seven years ago," Mcedisi says, his piercing gaze intensifying.

MaSibiya's composure falters.

"I should have known she'd tell you eventually," MaSibiya retorts. "The dating pool must be empty, and now she wants to drive us apart. Yes, I helped her escape."

Mcedisi's suspicions are confirmed.