LIKE FINE WINE 30

 

LIKE FINE WINE 30

Thoko had taken leave, something she had not done in a long time but it was clear she could not face me. I had well made peace with myself and I was in better place, in a place where I needed no permission to be happy. I finished my gratitude notes to management and fellow employees, I had two days to go before I officially left work but I ensured I had written it all. Elisha and I had talked at length in the course of the month ayd he was completely apologetic for how everything had turned out, I was now joining another organisation and this time one that had me in charge. I was joining the Coopers as director finance, although he didn’t have to, Elisha pulled some strings and I was considered for the position after their director left for Ireland. The coopers was a prestigious auditing firm and also a long standing client for all of Elisha’s father’s estates. It was a big position but I could handle it, I was well groomed for it. It all made sense. That evening I left work knowing I was going to have dinner with Elisha but I was tired, I had worked so hard to ensure all my files were left clean, I had zero energy for anything else but the dinner had to be had. I had been standing my man up for days, our relationship needed to unfold well now that we had the freedom. I couldn’t believe it but I was actually now in a relationship.

My phone rang as I just pulled out of work, I parked y the side and I picked the call. I had no idea who it was but the voice sounded very authoritative.

“Good evening my lady… I am sorry for disturbing”

“no sir.. it’s fine.. my I please know who I am talking to?”

“Elisha’s  father”

My heart skipped a beat. Elisha ND I had barely spoken of his father, I knew now that he was a ministers and there was a lot of talk about meeting him someday but we were just knowing we ach other and I died not want to to keep my hopes up. The one time I went to Elisha’s house I was blown away and I imagined what it would be like going to the minsiters house and meeting him someday. However, I left everything to chance just as how our relationship played out.

“Sir.. I am so sorry.. I didn’t know” I did trying to get myself together.

“no it’s okay dear I am calling to confirm tonight’s dinner… I was hopping I could officially invite you to my home.. I will be in a meeting until much later in the evening but I will be so happy if you could wait for me” he said.

“Alright sir..uhmm.. I would love to meet you too” I mumbled

“great then.. see you”

I could not believe myself, I quickly went to WhatsApp and dialed Thandi and luckily she picked up quickly.

“fire on the mountain!” I screamed.

“what??” Thandi asked as she sat upright

Thandi was in a towel and she had a surprise that she still had not brought herself to tell Enesie.

“you’re going to shower?” Enesie asked.

“Can you speak please don’t mind me.. what is going on?”

Enesie stopped to catch her breath but soon heard somebody talking to Thandi in the background

“is that Christian?”

Enesie asked as her mouth hang low in shock.

“Girl speak.. I have exciting news but please speak” Thandi said but accidentally wabed her finger in the camera exposing the diamond rock on her finger..

“”arrggh!!!!! Thandi!?! Thandi what’s going on?”

Thandi finally flashed the ring in the camera as tears ran down her cheeks.

“He surprised me yesterday and engaged me this morning.. it’s still sinking in… I don’t know what to do” Thandi said calmly before Christian passed by in a bath robe and waved

Hai inlaw” Enesie waved to excitedly.

“what did you want to say?” Thandi asked tired and clearly overwhelmed by everything that’s was happening.

“Elishas dad called me.. I am going for dinner with them”

***********************

Enesie turned over and staggered to the bathroom, it was finally the day before her last day work. It was a holiday. She drunk the previous night after work  as she reminisced on the good times she had at work, she was happy Elisha was there with her to remind her it was for the better and that now a new chapter was to start. Enesie was now a common face in the ministers house after the dinner which had gone great. Elisha’s dad had a strong liking for Enesie because of her intelligence and how she easily got along with everyone. Now, she was always going over with Elisha. The two were inseparable. Enesie prepared herself that morning to see Elisha for breakfast. Elisha was picking her up for a breakfast date, not one day had the two gone without seeing each other.

Earlier that morning, Elisha had driven to the floral shop and picked out some flowers and run a couple of other errands before he returned home to prepare for his date, all along his mother’s words repeatedly replayed in his mind regarding a conversation they had two days earlier..

“if you feel she is the one, don’t waste time. You both sparkle and gravitate towards each other.. I am routing for you”

Elisha looked himself in the mirror one more time, he was clad in a white smart shirt and black smart trousers paired with black shoes. He smelt good and had a clean cut. Elisha gave himself a short pep talk of how he could do it before walking to the car with the roses in his hand. While Enesie imagined a simple breakfast, Elisha had a whole violin and saxophone crew playing in the beautiful green landscape of the lovely Ciello Resort Bonanza hotel. Enesie was picked from mandahill mall as she insisted to rush there to fix her hair which she had trouble combing that morning. While at it, she quickly fixed her manicure too. She looked well put together in an all white loose fitting off the shoulder jumpsuit. Her hair well styled falling on her shoulders. A simple silver necklace with a crystal pendant hang in her neck and her ears flaunted the matching earrings

“You look amazing” Elisha said as he held her hand and walked with her to the car.

As Elisha drove, he looked nervous and uneasy. Enesie could not have thought of anything much aside the breakfast and basking in this new life and status she had acquired because she felt like a celebrity. Literally, every tabloid was watching her social media pages and she was giving them a show by dressing appropriately, Elisha was guilty for already spoiling her with expensive dates and even shopping sprees in just a few weeks of officially being together. Thoko watched Enesie’s Instagram stories that morning as she had teabreak at work, she hated her life and she wanted to tell Enesie off but Enesie was not at fault and she knew it

Walking through the beautiful landscapes of the hotel, Enesie noticed the violin guys and smiled..

“I love this kind of rhythm” she said not knowing it was all set up for her.

She soon noticed as they were walking nearer that there were petals spread on the ground spelt in to the word “Enesie”

Enesie looked at Elisha as she quickly let his hand go..

“Honey this is sweet…” she said not knowing there was more to it

Elisha grabbed her hand again and walked up closer to the violin guys he stopped right before her name and got on his knees.

“Elisha..” she said in shock covering her mouth

Elisha was shaking but managed to pull the ring box from his pocket and opened it. While facing her and with utmost certainty, he asked her.

“Enesie,  I didn’t think I would ever be this certain this fast but I am. My parents are and so is Emily. We are all overjoyed by how well you for into our family, Emily you are the daughter my mother ever longed for and not just a mother but the best mother Emily ever. Gosh! You are a whole package my love.. everybody has a special way f relying with you. Even my house helps. I did know it was possible to have it all but God granted me all and I do not want to waste time.  Will you marry me Enesie? I love you so much and I have never been more certain… I want all of you, all of you Enesie, flaws and all. Please marry me?” he said breaking down.

Enesie nodded her head with little to say, her face was flooded with tears as Elisha slipped the ring on her finger. In the shortest period, their pictures were all over the internet and soon Enesie’s phone was buzzing. Everybody at her work place was talking and wondering if she would even show up for her last day at work.

*************************

They say revenge is a meal best served cold. That morning, I had a stylist on standby to do my hair and make up artist to ensure I glowed naturally but elegantly. I wore a beautiful two piece black suit paired with a white shirt, the trousers was just long enough to show my black stilletos and just tight enough to accentuate my curves. In hand was gucci bag I got from Elisha as a present a week earlier. I also drove to work in a black Mercedes 2021 edition which belonged to my man. There was a board meeting that morning and I could see my enemies look and feel poor. Thoko was equally present and totally embarrassed, everything Thoko ever said she would be, everything she ever said she deserved was all I had and more. In that moment as I scrolled through my ipad in the meeting and minding my own business, I could hear the regret in the overall Directors vlice as he wished me the best in my future endeavours and that same morning the Coopers published me in the news as their new Finance director. The tabloids were on it and it was trending already. The Director congratulated me on my new job and I appreciated before switching back focus to my ipad ensuring my diamond rock was in full view for everybody to see. During lunch break my benefits entered my account as I sat in my chair, the notification hit my phone and I smiled with relief. I ensured I closed off on a good note. Elisha passed by work to bring me lunch at the reception, Thoko was just rushing out and she did not stop to greet him but he was kind enough to greet her. She nearly fell as she responded hurriedly to escape our presence. I left at 4pm as my day was done and I had signed off everything, I was not going without seeing Thoko. There was an awkward silence as I stood by the door in Thokos office, a friendship broken beyond repair and two lives now far apart.

“I am leaving, thank you for everything” I said to Thoko who ignored me as she stared at her PC

“I wish you all the best”I added

“Thank you, congratulations ok your engament” she said finally looking at me.

“and on your job” she added

“thank you..” I replied

“You must have wanted my life so bad Enesie...but anyway.. now you have it”

“Your life?” I asked with a bit of shock.

“How does it feel knowing Elisha is only with you because I didn’t want him?” she asked with a smirk

“better than you must feel knowing he was everything you ever wanted in a man but don’t have him.. point of correction.. I didn’t want your life Thoko. I have my life and you have yours. We are not the same..” I said before leaving.

To be fairly honest, I was going to be mad that she said what she said but going home that night and for the first time spending a night away with Elisha, unplanned and definitely special, I could not hold any grudge.

We did not have time to  celebrate our engagement the previous day as Elisha had a work commitment and I was prepping for my last day at work. But finally we went away, back to the Cielo Resort where friends and family danced the night away celebrating our engagement and first intimate with my soon to be husband. I remember it like it was yesterday as Elisha pulled down my robe, it was just after I left the shower that night. I could count the starts or how many times I called his name. I had me a man who knew exactly what he was doing. October 16^th, exactly two months after the engagement, Elisha and I tied the knot at a beautiful small intimate ceremony in Milan and I discovered the morning of my wedding that I was actually pregnant. We later celebrated something a little bigger with many friends and family back home a month later which was combined with Thandi’s wedding. The last time we heard of June was when she returned to Zambia after she was deported upon getting into a fight with Isaac over his promiscuous behaviour. It was a public scandal which had many tabloids talking. Emily went off to Yale University with her best friend and Elisha and I welcomed a son a few months later. I settled into work well and finally in a place I could call home. Thoko remained scorned and still fighting for a promotion after her visa was delayed many times to join her family. A former workmate told me she had been telling whoever cared to listen that I had grabbed her man. She had also accumulated a lot of date by living a fake life to prove she was doing very fine. It was the last I heard of her. I couldn’t have asked for a better marriage or a better life, I have been truly blessed. With every passing day, our love has only become better,  just like fine wine.

 

THE END