At the end of the day, Lerato packed up her desk, slid her laptop into her bag and joined Gugu in the foyer.

“A little touch-up might be necessary,” said Gugu, indicating Lerato’s eye make-up, with the tip of a perfect nail.

“But, of course,” said Lerato, pulling away slightly.

Sometimes Lerato felt like Gugu treated her like a daughter. She was, in fact, only ten years younger than her.

“One of these days you’ll clean my cheek with your spit,” said Lerato, with a smile.

“Ugh! Never!” answered Gugu, leading the way to the bathroom.

Gugu produced one of the largest make-up bags Lerato had ever seen.

“Allow me,” said Gugu, digging into it, saying, “Voila!” as she held up a small container of false eyelashes.

“Okay, then,” said Lerato, with a giggle.

“Wow,” said Gugu, softly, as she deftly applied the lashes to Lerato’s own, “you’re going to knock ’em dead.”

Gugu plunged her long nails back into the make-up bag, and produced a lipstick, which she applied expertly to Lerato’s lips.

Gugu stood back to examine her handiwork. She reached over and quickly undid the top button of Lerato’s shirt.

“There, now!” said Gugu, with satisfaction.

“No, thanks,” said Lerato, doing it up again.

“Spoilsport!” said Gugu, shaking her hair, and giving a big sigh, before attending to her own make-up needs in the mirror.

“Mmmm,” said Gugu, when she was done, “not bad, even if I do say so myself. And, I’m telling you, darling, if you don’t make a move in Andile’s direction any time soon, I might not be responsible for my actions!”

“You’re welcome to him,” said Lerato, following Gugu out.

Vuka Associates was situated in the same building as the legal firm that Lerato worked for, but on the top floor. Their cocktail parties were always served on the penthouse roof garden.

“Looks like it’s going to be a perfect evening,” said Gugu, glancing out the window, before getting into the lift.

Gugu and Lerato were alone in the lift.

“I guess Philane will be there,” said Gugu, absently.

“Well, it is his firm,” said Lerato, with a shrug.

The lift came to a halt on the top floor and both women got out. The foyer outside the lift was filled with people, all moving in the direction of the glass doors, which had the name Vuka Associates stencilled across them.

Gugu immediately disappeared into the crowd, kissing and hugging everyone. Lerato found herself alone, but she tossed back her head and, wearing her largest smile, she walked in.

“Hello, Lerato.”

It was Andile. Before Lerato could respond, he had enveloped her in his arms. Pressed up against his chest, Lerato could hardly breathe. He did smell good, though. Lerato had to admit that.

Andile stood back and studied her.

“As usual.” he said admiringly, “the most beautiful girl in the room.”

Lerato bowed her head, “Why thank you, Andile.”

“And, as usual,” said Andile, caressing the top of Lerato’s arms, “so modest. Oh my, my mother is going to love you!”

Lerato laughed, and extricating herself from him, she moved away into the room.

Lerato found Gugu. “Why did you leave me alone out there?” she said to Gugu, teasing, “you know how shy I am.”

“Andile would have taken care of you,” said Gugu, all the while smiling across the room at someone, and wiggling her fingers, in a little wave.

“Darling, you do know that that man is going to be one of the richest men in this town any day now. That development he is doing is going to make millions.”

“I know all about that,” said Lerato, “he’s always telling me how he trusts me to get all his new transfers through, without a hitch, once the houses are all sold.”

“Just think,” said Gugu, with a wink, “you’ll be seeing him just about every day.”

“Can’t wait,” said Lerato, with a false tone of excitement in her voice.

Gugu wafted over the plush carpet to a group of attorneys on the other side of the room, and Lerato wandered over to the open doors, leading onto the roof. She paused to pick up a cocktail on the way, and took a sip.

Outside on the roof the air was still and warm. Lerato took a deep breath. She strolled over to the edge of the roof, and ran her hand along the metal railing. The sun was just beginning to set, making the sky look like soft purple velvet. The lights of the city had just begun to shine. The windows in the surrounding buildings sparkled, making the buildings look like lemon jewel boxes.

Lerato glanced down at the street far below. The cars were streaming slowly home, with their lights switched on, their yellow and red beams glimmering and glowing. It struck Lerato that they looked like a long bejewelled snake. She made a mental note to remember that description and write it down later.

“You obviously have no fear of heights,” said a voice beside her, making Lerato jump.

“Oh,” said the voice again, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Lerato turned around.

“Oh hello, Philane,” said Lerato, frowning slightly, “no you didn’t, and no I’m not. Frightened of heights, that is.”

“Can I get you another cocktail?” asked Philane.

Lerato noticed, with surprise, that she had finished her drink.

“No,” she said, “I’m driving. I always drink these things far too fast.”

“They really are very good,” said Philane with a smile, adding, “Let me at least take your glass.”

Lerato handed him her glass, noticing as she did so how long and slender his fingers were, with clean, square cut nails. Philane put the glass down on a nearby table. Lerato wanted to move away from him as quickly as she could. She spied Andile, on the other side of the roof.

”Oh,” she said, brushing past Philane, “I really must have a word with Andile. About his new development. You know.”

Philane stood aside, to let Lerato pass.

“Do you know a lot about Andile’s ‘so called’ development?” asked Philane.

Lerato paused, turning to Philane.

“It’s not ‘so called’, Philane. I am doing all the property transfers. We’re handling all the conveyancing.”

Lerato walked off. Andile saw her approaching, and stepped towards her. Lerato dodged his embrace, and took, instead, the cocktail he offered her, which she really didn’t want.

“What’s old serious Philane been saying to you?” said Andile, adjusting the cuffs on his powder blue shirt.

“Oh, nothing,” said Lerato, with a shrug and a smile. She sipped her cocktail, noticing, out of the corner of her eye, that Philane was watching her. Then he walked away to a group of his colleagues sitting on low couches placed in the middle of the roof.

Lerato felt bad for a moment, but then saw Gugu coming towards her.

“Lerato, what are you up to?”

Gugu embraced Andile, and the three of them stood chatting easily together. Andile and Gugu always made Lerato feel relaxed and happy.

“I really must go,” said Lerato, a little later. She had drunk two cocktails, and had had hardly anything to eat. Her father had been right. Most of the food was sushi, and try as she might, Lerato couldn’t stand it.

Her stomach was rumbling, and she was starting to salivate at the thought of Busi’s cooking. Busi had definitely inherited their mother’s gift in the kitchen, which Lerato most definitely had not.

During the past few years, when Busi had not been very well, her poor father had had to endure Lerato’s spectacularly bad cooking. He had never complained, and she had tried harder, and had eventually improved.

Lerato grinned to herself at the memory. Still, Lerato was very relieved to know that Busi was so well now, and that there would be a steaming hot plate of lamb stew, or something equally delicious, waiting for her when she got home.

“Got to go,” said Lerato to Gugu, looking around her, “if I could just remember where I put my bag.”

“Hey, girl, are you all right to drive?” asked Gugu.

“Of course I am,” said Lerato, “I’ve only had two cocktails.”

Lerato gave Gugu a kiss on each cheek, saying, “See you tomorrow.”

Lerato spied her bag, left on a table, and she went and scooped it up and made her way to the lift. Thankfully, her head began to clear as she stood alone, waiting for the lift doors to open. She rubbed her eyes, cursing under her breath as she felt one false eyelash come off under her finger. She looked down to see where it had fallen, and then she heard his voice again.

“May I help?”

“Philane,” said Lerato, irritated, “you’re always appearing from nowhere.”

“Sorry about that, Lerato,” said Philane, with a grin, “but you appear to have lost … this,” and with that Philane reached one of his fingers towards her, and gently lifted her missing false eyelash off her cheek.

“Thanks,” said Lerato, feeling herself blushing. “I don’t normally wear them. Gugu …” her voice trailed off.

Lerato felt relief as the lift doors slid open.

“Got to go,” said Lerato, stepping into the lift, muttering as she did so.”Work, you know, …”

Philane moved on towards his offices on the same floor. “Me, too,” he said, “See you soon, Lerato.”

Lerato fumbled in her bag for a moment, searching for her car keys, as the lift door opened in the basement. She was alone in the underground car park.

‘If only my head would clear,’ she thought to herself. ‘Damn Andile, and Philane. If it wasn’t for the two of them I would never have had that second cocktail!’

***

Tell us what you think: What would you do if you were Lerato?