The Unexpected Princess (Completed)

Chapter 27

The lights shone bright with an orange glow that was calming. A band was on stage serenading the crowd. Naledi swayed to the music, but she wasn’t all the way relaxed even though the setting was just right. The flea market was perfect at night as they had predicted. Food scents filled the air, the night air was balmy and sweet coaxing one to relax. And Naledi was almost there.

Except Dr Maatle was due to meet them any minute. Dineo had spoken to him and he had told her he was almost there. Naledi watched Dineo now standing at the entrance to the market, waiting for him.

A nervous energy coursed through her. She wasn’t sure she was ready for this. But she had to try. See what was out there. Maybe if she looked hard enough she might find something worth holding on to.

The prince was not her future, she knew that. She just wished it was easy to accept that fate.

Naledi took a deep breath, and focused on the musicians on stage. They were really good.

A few minutes later Dineo came rushing towards her the colourful kimono top she wore flapping around her. A tall form followed closely behind her.

Naledi could see Dr Maatle’s excitement from where she sat. She forced a smile to her lips as they came closer. She wished she could easily switch off her feelings and take a chance. A good man was going to be standing right before her in a few minutes and she couldn’t even dredge up a speck of excitement.

What was wrong with her, Naledi asked herself.

This was it! The beginning of a new chapter. She needed to give herself a chance to get to know him.

“Naledi, it’s nice to see you again,” Dr Maatle said as he reached her. Naledi got to her feet, and extended her hand in greeting.

“You too, Dr Maatle.” They held hands, and Naledi could see that he was really happy to see her.

“No, call me Len,” he said stepping closer to her. An awkward silence ensued as they stared at each other. Naledi didn’t know what to say to him. And he smiled at her as though it didn’t matter what she said, he was happy to be in her presence. She stepped away taking her hand with her.

Damn, this was awkward. She gulped feeling like she was doing something wrong.

“Shall we get going,” Dineo interrupted with a bright smile, “the night is still young.”

Naledi nodded and followed Dineo as they walked out.

Dineo called an Uber for their trip to the club. Within a few minutes they were on their way.

“You’re going to enjoy The Glitz, they have a nice rooftop sitting area with a view that is beyond spectacular,” Len leaned close to whisper in Naledi’s ear as they sat in the back of the car.

Naledi sat still and plastered a polite smile on her lips. She nodded, as her voice was frozen in her throat. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to relax. She needed to enjoy this moment. Needed to move on with her life.

Naledi internally sighed feeling like she was going around in circles in her own mind. There was no turning away from the truth. .

How many times was she going to tell herself that? She knew what she had to do.

Anthony Tloung wasn’t part of her future.

“You’ll have to show me,” Naledi said shutting her mind to the ambivalent thoughts that were confusing her. Len graced her with a beaming smile that made her feel relaxed despite the churning of her stomach.

***

Anthony watched the gyrating bodies on the dance floor with regret. The crowd moved with the beat of the music adding to the already hot space of the club. The Glitz was packed as usual, and as one of the most popular clubs in Pretoria there was no question about it. Anthony wasn’t even sure why he agreed to meet his brother there because he knew there wouldn’t even be room to move around let alone have a conversation.

Well, he knew why he agreed. His brother was in his save-the-little-brother-mode and he wanted the whole episode to end as painlessly as possible. So agreeing to come meet with him was his stage one of mollifying his brother. Once Mogale saw that he was fine he’ll let go and get back to his own life.

Anthony turned to the bar where his brother was buying them drinks. He’ll have one drink and then head home, he decided as he watched Mogale return with a drink in each hand.

“One gin and tonic,” he announced as he handed Anthony his drink.

“Thanks,” Anthony said taking a healthy dose of the bitter drink. He stared at his brother over the rim of the glass waiting for him to begin his talk.

“I didn’t call you here for that,” Mogale said as if he could read his thoughts. “It’s your life Anthony you can live it any way you want. Gauta is from a good family. I’m sure she’ll make you a good wife.” Mogale lifted his glass in a toast. “To the good life.”

Anthony stared at him not sure what to make of his sudden change of heart. His brother was as stubborn as a mule. And he never changed his mind easily. What was he up to?

Anthony lifted his glass and clinked it against his brothers.

“To the good life,” he uttered. He took a sip of his drink, relaxing a bit. He was tired of explaining himself. A reprieve from the drama from his life would go a long way. “Then why am I here?”

Mogale stared at his drink for a minute not saying anything. Anthony knew he wasn’t going to like anything he had to say.

“Are you going to tell me?”

“Promise me you won’t over react and then freeze me out for the next two years.” Mogale stared at him, his face serious.

Anthony returned his stare, anger rising in his eyes. He’s done that once in his life when his father had been wrapped in his own life and his women forgetting he had sons that needed him, because they had just lost their beloved mother. That time he’d lost his faith in anything that had to do with the heart. For it seemed those who allowed it to rule them ended up emotionally distraught and a little insane.

“Yeah, okay. I just had to check.”

“Tell me whatever you want to say.”

“The twins reached out to me. Roby to be exact, Tau is still MIA. Roby doesn’t even know where he is,” Mogale said softly as though he was treading on landmines. Anthony took a deep breath. He finished off his drink, and immediately wished for another one. Mogale kept quiet, giving him time to mull over what he had said.

“What does he want?” Anthony finally asked.

“He’s our brother. What do you think he wants?”

“Half…half-brother, he’s not my mother’s son,” Anthony said through gritted teeth. All the emotions from the past he’d buried deep within his heart came rushing back. His father’s betrayal of his mother’s memory and his utter neglect of his sons was like a fresh wound in his chest.

Anthony couldn’t sit there any longer.

Mogale leaned over, his hand closing around his on the table as if to keep him from walking away.

“Does it matter?” he asked empathy in his eyes.

Anthony got to his feet. He dislodged their hands as he walked away, “I need a drink,” he threw over his shoulder as he disappeared into the crowd.

He walked to the bar blinded by the resentment he’d felt over the years. The twins were the result of his father’s insane years. After finding out of their existence he had never been the same.

Damn. He really needed that drink.

As he reached the bar he almost collided with a woman wearing a colourful silk kimono. She had drinks in her hands, and she moved her hands up to prevent them from spilling. Anthony’s eyes followed the movement of her hands to her face.

He froze as his eyes collided with hers. His narrowed in recognition.

Dineo froze in place as she came face to face with the prince. Her heart thudded in her chest as she thought of Naledi. She was just a few paces away from the bar. She trained her eyes on the prince, not looking where Naledi was. Of all the places they’ve been she never thought he was here.

Dineo clenched her teeth. She prayed that he didn’t ask her about Naledi, because she didn’t know what she would say. She bit her lip waiting for him to say something.

She stared at his blank face, not sure what to make of him. The man was hard to read. Dineo wished she knew what he was thinking, or maybe not.

She didn’t want to know what he thought of her friend.