Lerato pushed back her chair, and stood up. She smiled across the desk at the young couple facing her and extended her hand.

Lerato noticed that they had the excited glow about them that all first time home owners tended to have. She felt happy for them, and immediately began to write a story about them in her head.

Lerato always tended to do that. She was always writing the people around her into some story or another. Her mother had always told her that she had been born with her head in the clouds.

Lerato’s heart constricted in her chest. Even after all these years, thoughts of her mother still caused Lerato’s heart to ache. She shifted her consciousness back to the couple sitting before her.

“It was very nice to meet you,” she said, as they each took her hand in turn, and shook it. “The transfer of your house will go through without any difficulty. I know you’ll be very happy in your new home.”

The young couple smiled and nodded, and Lerato escorted them to the main door of the attorney’s office. She was just saying goodbye to them when Gugu appeared in the lobby outside.

Gugu stepped out of the lift and darted towards Lerato, calling out cheerfully, “Hello there, just a moment, holding the door …”

Gugu was carrying a pile of files under one arm, and holding a brief case with the other. Gugu always made Lerato smile.

From the very first day, when Lerato had begun to work for the firm of attorneys, Gugu had taken Lerato under her wing. That was four years ago now.

Lerato had followed Gugu’s advice in every way from the beginning of her time at the firm. It had always been wise advice. Lerato trusted Gugu completely.

But lately things had changed a little. Lerato was now very established in the firm, and most of all, she had her own dreams and ambitions. Sometimes Gugu struggled with that. Lerato could sense it.

Gugu came towards where Lerato was standing, still holding the large brass door handle, as Lerato held the door open for her.

“Thank you,” said Gugu. As she brushed past Lerato, she blew a kiss into the air, “You’re a darling.”

The large pile of files threatened to drop to the ground, and Lerato sprang forward to catch them, and then she followed Gugu, as she teetered on incredibly high spiky heels, to her office.

“Oh my! What a morning!” said Gugu, once she had reached her office, and collapsed onto her large, black leather chair.

Lerato dropped the pile of files onto another chair.

“Well,” said Lerato, “how did it go? Did you win the case?”

Gugu threw back her head, grinned again, and said, “What do you think, darling? What do you think?”

Lerato moved to the other side of the desk and reached down to give Gugu a gentle hug, placing her head gently next to Gugu’s cheek, and pursing her lips to smack the air on either side of Gugu’s face.

“Well done,” said Lerato, “you’re making quite a name for yourself aren’t you?”

Lerato moved to the table next to the wall in the rather large office.

“Well, yes,” said Gugu, with a trace of smugness in her voice, and nodding her head slowly, “it would seem that I am. It would seem that I am. You know, darling, this is still a man’s world. And for a woman to win a case is pretty special. Especially when she’s wearing Jimmy Choo’s! And especially when she’s up against that divine hunk of a lawyer, Philani Dlamini.”

“You won against Dlamini?” asked Lerato, incredulously.

“I absolutely did, baby,” said Gugu, with a satisfied sigh.

“Good,” said Lerato, “I can’t stand him.”

“Oh, really?” said Gugu, with interest. “I didn’t know that. Why on earth?”

Lerato evaded the question.

“Coffee?” asked Lerato, indicating the coffee machine, and picking up a mug. She was relieved that Gugu didn’t notice that she had changed the subject.

“Yes, please,” said Gugu, kicking off her shoes for a moment, under the desk.

Gugu stretched her legs, and pointed her toes. “So,” she asked, “how are things in the world of conveyancing?”

“Fine,” said Lerato, “David is away again, so I’m basically running the department. I don’t mind, of course.”

“But that’s great for you,” said Gugu. “You shouldn’t mind. Make yourself indispensable. That’s what I always say.”

Gugu smiled at Lerato, adding, “Make it impossible for David to contemplate life without you.”

Lerato shrugged, lifting her shoulders, and started pouring coffee into two mugs.

Gugu frowned.

“Hey, girl,” said Gugu, “this is your opportunity here. Right there.”

She tilted her head to one side, “I hope you can still see that.”

“Of course I can, Gugu.” said Lerato. “It’s just that you know how I feel about my writing work.”

“No man, Lerato!” said Gugu, with an exasperated tone. “There’s no money in writing. I mean, sure, keep it as a hobby, but that’s all it’s ever going to be.”

“Actually,” said Lerato, passing Gugu a cup of coffee and moving to sit in a chair, with her own cup, “I have another little assignment this week. I plan to finish writing it tonight.”

“Not tonight you won’t,” said Gugu, “tonight’s the function with Vuka Associates, remember?”

“Oh, yes,” said Lerato, striking her head with the palm of her hand. “Damn it! I forgot.”

“How could you forget?” asked Gugu incredulously. “And anyway, Andile will be there.”

“I don’t care if Andile will be there,” said Lerato, a little irritated. “You know that Andile and I have always just been friends.”

“Only friends?” said Gugu, placing her hands firmly, palms down, on the desk in front of her. Lerato stared for a moment at the perfection of Gugu’s nails.

“When did you have time to do your nails?” Lerato asked, vaguely.

“Don’t change the subject,” said Gugu firmly.

Gugu continued, “Friends are little boys who play with you in the back garden when you are both kids.”

Gugu lifted one long red-nailed finger and pointed it at Lerato, waving it firmly from side to side, and continued, “Friends do not,” and here Gugu paused, to run her perfectly manicured hand through her long plaited weave, before tossing her hair back over one shoulder, and then leaning forward, towards Lerato, “Friends do not,” Gugu repeated herself, “drive red Ferraris and wear Armani suits, or give Gucci handbags as birthday presents.”

“I didn’t want to accept that present,” said Lerato, “it was way too expensive.”

Lerato stood up, and put down her coffee cup.

“I need to get back to my office,” she said, adding, with a shake of the head, “I’m just about ready to give up with you, darling!”

Lerato began walking out of the office, turning to smile at Gugu over her shoulder.

“I will see you later, Gugu. And, even though you may think otherwise, I do care about my career. Besides,” she added, “you know how I love those functions. I want to have it all. A girl can dream, can’t she?”

“The right kind of dreams, yes,” said Gugu, “and Lerato, you have a dream right in front of you. Wake up!” She threw her hands up in frustration.

***

Tell us what you think: Do you think Lerato is telling the truth when she says she doesn’t care if Andile is at the function? Do you think Gugu is right when she says that Andile is more than a friend if he gives Lerato such gifts?