Hazel sat in Julia’s sitting room, helping herself to some biscuits. I guess the maid had served her. If it were up to me, though, that bitch wouldn’t be served anything…ever.

“What the hell are you doing here? Are you crazy?” I asked.

Julia arrived in the sitting room then, looking very sour. She took a seat opposite Hazel, who looked smug as shit.

“I hear you are going to be a daddy,” Julia said. “But that’s not all I heard. I also heard you two are crazy in love and that you are just using me so you will be able to raise your child together with my money.”

“This bitch isn’t even pregnant,” I said frowning.

“Are you telling me that this pregnancy test is lying, Thapelo?”

I was not prepared for all that. Hazel was really pregnant? I quickly walked over to Julia and snatched the pregnancy test from her hand, throwing it at Hazel.

“Babe, even if she is pregnant, it’s surely not mine. I definitely used protection with her and I haven’t slept with her for months. I don’t know what her problem is.”

“Really? Thapelo, really? You used a condom with me? How come I don’t remember it that way?”

Julia cut her off, getting out of her seat, “Oh just shut up and leave! It’s high time you admit defeat and leave my man alone. That’s right, he’s my man you little bitch. You think I can’t see what you are planning to do here?”

“No it’s true. I’m pregnant,” she said between tears.

“I don’t care if you are. Thapelo doesn’t seem to know who impregnated you, so bug off. And if I see you anywhere near him again, there will be hell to pay my dear. Areye voetsek out of my house.”

Phew! I didn’t expect things to go so smoothly. I was expecting her to kick me out of her house too, taking back the car. I was very impressed. And when I am impressed, I do what is expected of me. Shortly after Hazel left, I made sure Julia forgot all about that horrendous, lying witch.

“Love, please don’t take all these girls seriously. Everyone is just jealous, not only the girls, but the guys too. They keep saying nasty things, but I don’t care. You are the only thing I care about. You gave me a home. You are there for me. You make me feel like a man, and you spoil me rotten. You are like my heaven sent angel. Love, where do you think I would be today if it weren’t for you?”

With my reassuring words, I saw her face brighten and a little smile emerge at the tips of her mouth. I could see her eyes shining with tears too, and I knew that I had her just where I wanted her…wrapped around my little finger.

“Am I the only woman for you? No more surprises?” she asked with a shaky voice.

“No surprises. I promise,” I said as I kissed her on her neck. She seemed to enjoy every moment of it. I was getting very good at this game of manipulation. So much so, that I even surprised myself. I did love Mimi, and I desperately wanted to be with her, but Julia on the other hand, needed to be kept happy, because when she was happy, things went pretty well for me.

I wiped the little tears from her eyes, poured her a glass of wine, ran a bubble bath for her and prepared and cooked her the most delicious dinner: oxtail and vegetables. And for dessert, I didn’t need to prepare much; there was a mint chocolate pudding in the fridge with crumpled biscuits. If a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then surely we could say the same about women. I could see how impressed she was when I pulled a chair out for her in the dining room. Especially because, at that moment, I was wearing nothing but the apron. Sis Jacky, the maid, had knocked off at around five and there was absolutely nothing and no one to disturb us.

While I watched her eat, I couldn’t help but think about how badly I wished she would hurry up with her meal and go to sleep. I was dying to find out how things had gone between Thabo and Mimi. I had had to switch my phone off while cooking because I didn’t want any phone calls that would anger Julia.

“Mmm…your mom really taught you well ne,” she said with a wide smile on her face.

“Actually, my dad was the cook. Me and my mother, we have never been close. Dessert?”

“Mmm. Dessert sounds nice, but I think I’ll take my dessert in bed lover boy,” she said with a wink as she pushed back her chair.

Oh god! I was close to bursting into tears. That woman was a sex addict. I thought dinner was more than enough to keep her happy, but clearly I was wrong. I followed her to the bedroom, and once we were in bed she never wanted me to leave her side. She finally fell asleep at around two o’clock in the morning. Can you imagine? What a sex-crazed maniac!

I slowly snuck out of bed, searched my trousers for my phone, closed the bedroom door softly and headed to the sitting room. I was just about to call Thabo when I got a text message from Mimi. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was intrigued.

Mimi: If you think buying me gifts would change my mind, you’ve got another thing coming. I only kept them because your friend refused to take them back. Stop buying me gifts with the money you got from your sugar mother. It’s just not right!

Fuck! I felt like I had just been slapped. So the whole world knew about me and Julia? News really did travel fast. My heart ached. I could afford to lose anything or anyone in the world, but I was not willing to lose Mimi; I loved that girl. I loved her with all my heart. Why is it that girls never get it?

And then there was Hazel, a girl I never loved. I was only intrigued by her nice body and nothing else. I never told her that I loved her. I never made her feel special or ever bought gifts for her the whole six months that we dated, but she acted as if we were married. And Mimi, I told her I loved her every single second she was by my side. I told her my secrets. I shared my dreams with her. I made her laugh. But now she acted as if all that meant nothing.

Man, I was really smashed by her SMS, but I still wasn’t ready to back down. I loved that girl with all my heart and I couldn’t give up on her yet.

I tried calling Thabo to thank him for his help, but the phone kept ringing without an answer. What was I thinking? Of course he wouldn’t answer; it was two o’clock in the morning! My only option left at the moment was to go to sleep. Saving my relationship with Mimi would have to wait till morning.

***

Tell us: Do you think Thapelo will be able to save his relationship with Mimi? What about Hazel? Is she really pregnant with his child?