Michaela left the office to attend a board meeting. She wasn’t fond of meetings and this one was going to be a long one. Her chair was overlooking the CBD and she kept looking out the window, distractedly.

“Michaela do you have any suggestions, you haven’t said anything since the meeting began?” Mr Van Rooyen asked looking straight at her.

She looked at everyone at the table. All eyes were on her as she fidgeted. Finally she finally managed,”Mrs Dlamini has clarified everything and this is a very profitable idea. I’m very thrilled that we are all on board.”

“Michaela l would like to have a few words with you,” Mr Van Rooyen said as the others were leaving the boardroom. Michaela hoped it wasn’t about what happened earlier on in the meeting because truly speaking she didn’t have an explanation.

“Looks like he finally did it,” he said gazing at her ring.”Isaac is a nice chap. Please don’t let him down.”

She managed a smile and assured him, “I love him very dearly sir. I am sure that’s why he took this step.”

“I knew there was something up with you two. Congratulations!” he said taking his file and leaving the room.

“Phew! Thank God he didn’t continue with the conversation,” she sighed with relief. As she went back to the office lrene welcomed her with the most unexpected news.

“Guess whose back in town?” she said playfully.

“I was in this boring meeting and I just couldn’t concentrate,” Michaela said, “so tell me who is back in the Mother City?”.

“Lanre is back and he left a message that he would like to see you,” lrene said studying Michaela’s facial expression.

“Irene please stop your jokes, not now okay,” Michaela said quickly, “Lanre never said he’d be coming back, hayi manje.”

“He gave me his contact details because he kept on calling until l gave him your number. Call him if you think this is a joke,” she said handing her her notepad. “Somehow it seems he knows about the engagement”.

Michaela sat down on her chair and stared blindly at the note pad. Of all the times he could show up, why now when l’m engaged to someone else? she asked herself.

When Lanre left to further his studies in the UK they lost contact. She had tried to search for information about him but couldn’t track him down. Rumour had it that he was dating an lrish girl he had met at University. She waited for him to show up one day and fulfill the promises they had made together, but he never did. Then she met Isaac.

“Uzoyenzani kemngani wami, l hope you’re not going to break off your engagement because of this jerk who left you broken hearted,” Irene said firmly.

“I’ll meet up with him this weekend and find out why he’s come back all of a sudden, without telling anybody, ” Michaela tried to sound relaxed.

“My apologies for giving him your contact details, but he wouldn’t stop phoning the office. But if you say you have no feelings for him then there’s nothing to worry about,” lrene said giving Michaela a stern look before she went out of the office.

Days passed as Michaela worked flat out on the new project that Mrs Dlamini had suggested. She didn’t get time to call Lanre, until the end of the day on Friday. As she dialed his number she tried desperately to think of the appropriate words to say to him.

“Hi Lan, its Michaela,” she said.

“Oh thank God you finally called,” he said sounding excited, “how have you been and where are you staying now, ngoba kufanele sikhulume?”

“I’m at No. 12 2nd Avenue in Fish Hoek, pop by on Saturday late morning,” she answered him softly.

“Perfect! Tomorrow it is then.”

“Have a good evening hey,” she said before she hung up.

***

Let’s chat: What do you think will happen next?