During the next week several young men were interviewed by Mrs Seretsi, even though all the desks in the office had been filled. Sipho feared that perhaps it was his turn to end up like Stanley (of the crumpled photograph): without a job, with his picture in the dustbin.

Thank goodness Mrs Karabo was helping him to report his case to HR, and they were doing it discreetly. Neither one of them wanted to create drama or embarrassment. Rebecca Seretsi did not know she was under investigation.

Sipho smiled at the young men coming for interviews and he wondered, like all the other staff members, where one of these men could possibly fit in. In the meantime, to establish his own boundaries, he had taken Mrs Karabo’s advice on the matter.

When Mrs Seretsi summoned him to carry things for her, he immediately said, “Sorry, I’m on a sales call.”

He did the same if she called him to make coffee for her. When she called him directly to her office, he’d walk in and stand in the doorway, but refuse to close the door or sit down. Mrs Seretsi did not like any of this. She thought this was a game – and she did not like losing.

In addition, on his desk Sipho displayed a lovely picture of Lesedi. She was in her flowing, white and yellow matric farewell dress, with Sipho standing beside her in a tuxedo. It was a clear signal that Sipho was unavailable.

* * * * *

Lesedi, meanwhile, remained unaware what Sipho had been going through.

Then one day she called him at lunchtime with a strange story. A Mrs Rebecca Seretsi from Masego & Partners Scrap & Steel had sent her a friend request on Facebook. Lesedi told Sipho she had accepted the request, because this woman was obviously one of Sipho’s bosses, and she was scared that if she didn’t it would seem rude. Things would be awkward for Sipho in the office.

Sipho panicked: he hadn’t told Lesedi anything of what had happened. He couldn’t tell her why he didn’t want her to be friends with Rebecca Seretsi, because then she’d want to know why. But if Lesedi and Mrs Seretsi started a friendship and start talking, Mrs Seretsi could tell Lesedi everything – or anything!

He needed time to explain things carefully to Lesedi. He couldn’t do it over the phone. He only hoped she trusted him enough to believe him.

“She’s too old for you to be friends with!” Sipho blurted out.

To which Lesedi replied, “But we both have many older friends, and some older people are good contacts. What do you really think? Is she a good person to be Facebook friends with?”

“No, I don’t, but I can’t say anything now. I’m at work. Let’s talk about it tonight.”

“OK,” said Lesedi. “But there’s something else I need you to explain. She sent me photos of you acting like a model. What’s that about?”

Sipho’s heart skipped a beat. “Whatever you do, do not meet with her if she invites you to. She’s dangerous Lesedi! Trust me. I’ll explain everything tonight. I’ll come straight to your house after work.”

When Sipho hung up the phone he went straight to Mrs Seretsi’s office, anger welling up inside him. “What do you want with Lesedi?” he demanded.

“I just thought we could be friends,” she said, not even looking up from the papers she was reading.

“You leave her alone. She’s the love of my life, and there’s no reason for you to mess with her. Do you understand me?” demanded Sipho.

“Too late. I’ve already told her everything. I don’t think she’s going to be the love of your life anymore!” Mrs Seretsi looked up. Her eyes were cold as steel.

* * *

Tell us what you think: Is this situation Sipho’s fault for not telling his girlfriend about trouble he was in?