ZWELIBANZI
I am out on bail and everyone is going to know that they can't mess with me. Khanyi is going to sign over everything my dad gave my kids. First I need to deal with Sima. Speak of the devil:
Me: I was just coming to you. Please sit.
Sima: What's wrong?
Me: What is this I hear about you trying to kill Khanyi?
Sima: who told you that?
Me: I am only going to say this once to you and once only. Stay away from Khanyi. I need that woman alive not dead. This life you are living now will end if you refuse to listen.
Sima: Zweli I'm tired of everything being about Khanyi. It's always Khanyi this and Khanyi that. I still want to know what your father meant when he said that Khanyi went through hell with you.
Me: and I told you that everything and anything that has to do with Khanyi and me is none of your business, stay out of it. pay attention to your relationship with me and the twins and leave everything else alone. Do you hear me Sima?
Sima: fine. It's your way or the high way, you won't even tell me what you were arrested for. I won't waste my breath trying to talk to you. I am also taking your father's advice and starting my own business. (she stands and walks out. This woman is going to be the end of me. I need to make a call)
***********
Him: Boss
Me: how is our guest doing?
Him: very quiet it scares me.
Me: I'm on my way, maybe he'll talk to me.
Him: Sure boss
******************
I grab my keys and my wallet and walk out. I bump into Sima.
Me: I'll see you in a few hours.
Sima: whatever. (she is sulking, she'll get over it.)
(I walk to my car and drive off. I hope this plan works. When I get to my destination, it is very quiet. I walk in the house and see Songezo.
Me: Where is he?
Songezo: in the special room. Come with me. (I walk into the room and there he is tied up on a chair)
Me: thanks Songezo, please leave us. (and he walks out) how are you feeling?
Him: Let's see, I'm in a cold room, tied up on a chair, been here for a day now and I haven't eaten, I couldn't be better.
Me: you are very cocky, I would be nice to me if I were.
Him: Why should I be nice to you when you have nothing I want.
Me: but I do have something you want, your freedom
Him: Oh please, do you really think my freedom is in your hands, I think it's the other way around. You need me more than I need and I know you won't kill me, you need me alive because your life depends on whether I live or die.
Me: you are right about that. I'm keeping you alive until I get what I want.
Him: if you think you are going to get anything by keeping me here then you are more stupid than I thought. Do you really think keeping here and starving me is really going to make a difference on how things turn out. You haven't thought this through. Your anger and your greed drive how you think as a result you just made the biggest mistake of your life. Keep this in mind Zwelibanzi, I'm only here because I'm letting you to keep me here.
Me: You are so sure of yourself aren't you.
Him: let's just say I had a good trainer.
Me: I see . make yourself comfortable , you are going to be here for a while. Before I forget I just need to take a few pictures of you and you are going to have a roommate tonight (I walk over to him and untie the ropes and walk out the room, making sure I lock the steel door.)
I guess he is a lot tougher than I thought.
Me: Songezo I need you to get the big guy as well, I'm sure that will be easy. Get him and bring him here.
Songezo: Sure sure boss.
KHANYISILE
Bandile and Lwazi eventually bought groceries and they went back to their own houses yesterday. I know for sure by dinner time they will here. Qhawe went to the office. Eddie and Andile are out to God knows where. I have this very uneasy feeling that something is wrong and Khaya is not answering his phone which is so unlike him maybe they are busy at the studio. I am waiting for my guest to arrive. Yes speak of the devil, Jason walks in with my guest.
Me: thank you Jason, please take the kids to the game room and organise them some snacks. (he takes the kids and walks away ) Hello Sima, how are you dear?
Sima: what am I doing here?
Me: Ok, straight to the point. I am making your job easy. You don't have to send anyone to kill me, you can do it yourself. Here take this (I say taking out my gun from under the coffee table and she looks shocked.)
Sima: you must be crazy
Me: hayibo Sima, how is it that I'm crazy, you are the one that wanted to kill me but you know what, as for me I am going to kill you but before I do, I want us to talk a little bit.
Sima: unless you are signing over my kids company and their trust funds over to me, then we have nothing to talk about.
Me: Oh Sima darling that's not going to happen and you don't have to talk, you can just listen.
Sima: you are wasting my time Khanyi, Zweli will be home soon. (she stands getting ready to walk to the same direction she saw Jason.)
Me: Sit down Sima. (she folds her arms across her chest and stares at me>)
Sima: Where are my kids. I need to leave
Me: I said sit down. (I say it in the most calm manner and point the gun at her) SIT DOWN MRS TOM!
Sima: I don't understand what you want. You have everything, everything is always about you. It's always you and those brats of yours. I'm tired of it. yes I wanted to kill you because I'm tired of leaving in your shadow. Even though you left him, he still wants you. I hate you, you are ruining my life. I can't even kill you because Zweli needs you alive for some reason.
Me: Wow, that was a mouthful. Sima do you know how it was for me living with Zwelibanzi, the six years that I was married to him? Let me tell you. You see everytime when he came back from being with you, he would force himself on me, he would beat me, he would say hurtful things to me and my kids. He gave my kids emotional scars that took a very long time to heal. He left me with physical and emotional scars that still haven't completely healed. Your precious Zwelibanzi broke me into a million pieces that I am still trying to put together. (she is so shocked, she can't believe the things I am saying to her.) he abused this family that he claims to love today. If you look at this correctly, I should be hating you because you lived comfortably. He loved you and showed you that he loves you, as for me I suffered with my kids while you were happy. When one of his friends tried to help me leave, he almost killed him. When I left four years ago, that was the beginning of a new life for me and my kids and what you see here is all my doing. I worked hard to be where I am today and I am not about to let a stupid little spoiled wife and her idiotic husband take that away from me. You see Sima, a woman already tried to kill me because she wanted Qhawe and look at me now. Now you want to kill me because you think I want Zwelibanzi. You are very stupid. (my phone beeps, I take it and look at the message and what I see turns me into ice. I look at Sima then at my phone and smile.) it looks like you are going to be staying for a while. (Jason shows up.) Jason please do me another favour and take our guest to the games room, I'm sure they miss her.
Jason: Sure thing boss lady.
Me: Thanks Jason. Oh and Sima don't think about escaping, you won't even make it to the front gate without being caught. I'll join you soon. ( I call Qhawe but he doesn't answer. He's probably in a meeting. Andile and Eddie walk in.)
Me: Where were you?
Eddie: I had something to take care of. (I take my phone and show him the picture I received)
Me: I hope for your sake that this is what you were taking care of. (they look shocked and angry at the same time) was this the business you were taking care of.
Andile: No it was not but we'll get on it.
Me: and do what exactly, Andile don't piss me off more than I already am.
Eddie: how did this happen?
Me: you are asking me, you are seriously asking me that question, the same question I should be asking you Eddie. (I am being tested.)
KHANYISILE
I had a doctor's appointment today. The bullet wounds have completely healed, I don't feel pain anymore. My doctor gave me a clean bill of health. As I walk into the house these guys are sitting in the lounge busy on their laptops. Lwanele walks down the stairs, she greets and walks to the kitchen.
Me: Where is our guest? (Before they could answer me Lwanele walks in holding a small bottle of juice.)
Lwanele: Mom is dad still at work?
Me: yes he is Princess, do you need anything?
Lwanele: no mom. I just have this uneasy feeling about him. Oh the twins are here.
Me: I'm sure he is ok and I know about the twins. Do me a favour and call their mother for me. Thank you (she runs off.) guys I need you your attention, please put the laptops away. (just then Sima walks in) Please sit Sima. (My phone beeps again and it's another picture and this makes my knees week. If I was standing I probably would have fallen. I try to collect myself and keep calm.)
Sima you and your husband are playing with fire and you are going to burn. You guys are really messing with me in the wrong way. When I had you brought here, I had no intentions of keeping you longer than I had to. That plan has changed. You are going to stay until further notice all because that stupid husband of yours did something stupid, something that is going to get him killed.
Sima: Khanyi you can't kill him please. The kids still need him.
Me: I'm sorry Sima but Zwelibanzi did this to himself. I am going to send someone to your house to get a few things that you will need. Take this write down a list and I'll call the help to pack the things for you.
Sima: Khanyi please don't do this.
Eddie: Just do as she says.
Me: Sima answer me this; looking at the current situation between you and me, who should be killing who? (she looks at me with tears in her eyes and she doesn't have an answer for me.) I thought so.
(I take out my phone and open the pictures that were sent to me.) Look at these pictures, that's my son and that is the man I love. Yazi Sima wena nomyeni wakho, ninyathele inyoka emsileni. {You know Sima, you and your husband just stepped on the snake's tail.} do you know what happens when one does that, they get bitten and they die.
Eddie: he has Qhawe too. This is bad.
Me: Take my phone and take that number down you can also download those pics. Call Zack and Sandiso they need to be here. I need them to trace the calls that he is going to be making to me.
Andile: I'll call Lwazi and Bandile to come over.
Me: You don't have to. They are probably on their way, they love the food in this house too much besides, they bought groceries so obviously they want to eat here. (I feel a bit light headed right now. maybe I stood up too fast.)
Eddei: Khanyi you are not ok. Why don't you sit down and breathe a little.
Me: Eddie he is messing with me, he is messing with my family Eddie. (I feel my tears falling on my face. Eddie just holds.)
Eddie: I know Princess and we are going to find them.
Me: I'll be upstairs, Sima go back to your kids I'll deal with you later. Andile take my phone and take pictures of her and the kids. (I walk away and go upstairs.)
Zwelibanzi is really playing with fire. He still thinks that I'm that woman i was when I was married to him, the woman he broke. He is really shitting on me right now and he is going to regret this. I strip naked and walk in to a shower, I need the hot shower to clear my head. The water feels so good. I need my boys to hang in there. Qhawe looked liked he was out. I wonder what he used to drug him. I get dressed in one of his shirts and leggings, I go and check on the kids and they are going to want to know where they are, why they are not home. Sibahle has become so close to Khaya now. The relationship that these kids built between themselves in such a short space of time is amazing, their bonds with each other are so tight and the relationship my kids have with Qhawe is that kind of relationship Zwelibanzi should have with his kids.
I hope my kids will forgive me one day because the only way out of this for Zwelibanzi is death. It's time I put the things Eddie taught me into use. When I get downstairs Zack and Sandiso are here and Bandile and Lwazi just walked in.
Bandile: what's going on?
Eddie: Zwellibanzi took Khaya and Qhawe
Bandile: how did that happen Eddie?
Eddie: they both didn't have their guards with them and Qhawe was really being stubborn about it this morning. (Sizwe walks in)
Sizwe: he is not going to do any thing to them, not yet anyway. We need to find them before he hurts them.
Me: he is not going to do anything to them at all. He is not even going to break a single hair on their body.
Sizwe: Why are you so sure?
Me: I have what he wants and what he loves. He needs me and he knows if anything happens to them, he gets nothing.
Sizwe: you don't get it, he is trying to break you Khanyi, by using the most important men in your life.
Me: I am going to break him. I need you all to listen to me. We are going to do this my way, we are going to get them back and we are doing it my way. I'm tired of Zwelibanzi thinking he can get away with everything he does to me, not this time.
Eddie: but Khanyi ......….. (I don't let him finish what he wants to say.)
ME: No buts Eddie. We are doing it my way.
Sizwe: Let her be, remember she knows him better that we do. (my phone rings and Andile hands it to me, he looks at Sandiso who just nods and andile tells me to Answer.)
*********************
Phone converstion:
Me: hello
Zweli: Angel Face. How are you?
Me: I'm good and you
Zweli: I'm good too. Did you get my messages Angel Face?
ME: Call me Angel Face one more time, I'll end this call. I got your messages. What do you want?
Zweli: Angel Face is such a beautiful name and it suits you. (this guy is really testing me right now.) I think you know what I want. Sign over everything my dad left to my kids and we go our separate ways.
Me: you really must have a screw loose in that head of yours. I'm not signing anything. What I am going to do though is to find you and when I do, you will die.
Zweli: we both know you won't kill me. Your conscious won't allow you because you won't be able to answer the kids when they ask about me
Me: I used to think that but I don't care anymore. I swear if they have even a single scratch on them because of you. Your life depends on whether they live or die and if I were you I'd try my best to keep them alive.
Zweli: that's funny because your son said the same thing.
Me: He was taught well.
Zweli: I have the documents drawn up, just sign them and this will be over soon.
Me: like I said I'm not signing anything
Zweli: not even to save the new man in your life.
ME: Not even to save him. (I tried so hard to say it with conviction and I think he picked on my slight hesitation.) bye Zweli (and I hang up)
*********************************
Lwazi: you hesitated and he picked up on it.
Me: I know. (my phone beeps again, when I check it he sent me a video this time his guys are beating up Qhawe, he is helpless, both his hands and feet are tied, he can't even fight back. It's a very short video, at the end of the video Zwelibanzi says something to me. "I know you love him probably more than you ever loved me and for him you will sign.") Andile get Sima for me. Sandiso, Zack anything on the trace?
Zack: Nothing yet. He has a scrambler. It will take a while to get his actual location.
Me: fine, just find him. (Andile walks in with Sima.) Sima come with me.
Eddie: where are you taking her?
Me: Basement
Eddie & Andile: Khanyi NO!!! (the rest of the guys look at them and then me probably wondering what happens in the basement.
Me: He is playing dirty and I'm not holding back. Bring me the twins.
Andile: the twins are sleeping.
Me: perfect, hopefully they won't wake up until I'm done. BRING THEM.
Andile: Khanyi not the kids, please.
Me: what makes you think I'm going to hurt them, just bring me those boys.
Sima: why are we going to the basement:
Me: Patience my dear Sima. You'll find out.
Lwazi: I want to see this basement that every one is so afraid of. (he says that following me to the basement. When we get there I switch on the lights and I see the shock in both their faces.)
Me: Sit Sima. Lwazi since you are here, make yourself useful and tie her up. (Andile walked in with the twins still out like a light. They must be really tired.) Put them on the mat next to their mother, take the cable ties and tie them up. Hurry I need to do this while they are sleeping. (Sima is busy crying which is good for me at this moment.)
Sima: Khanyi please don't hurt us. (I keep quiet and give Andile my phone and instruct him to take a video.
ME: I am going to make a video and send it to your husband and we'll see how much he loves you. We'll see if he loves money more than he loves you guys. (I slap her) that is for planning to kill me. (I slap her again) that is for your husband's stupidity. (I tell Andile to stop the video.) did you include the boys in this video.
Andile: yes i included them, he'll be able to even see the cable ties.
Me: Good. You can take the boys upstairs do not forget to cut the cable ties.
Lwazi: you are really good at this.
Me: I'm pissed off Lwazi and these two are going to pay and I haven't done anything yet. Sima you can stay here for a while. Don't think I've forgotten you tried to kill me. Maybe you can choose a weapon you want me to use on you from the ones you see.
Lwazi: I feel sorry you Sima. (she is tears and scared for her life.)
Me: Lwazi stop tormenting the poor woman, come on let's go.
Lwazi: Me tormenting the woman. Khanyi please. You are the one tormenting her, she's even scared of you, she really thought you were going to hurt the kids and I think what scares her the most is that she doesn't know what you are going to do to her. I am going to steal you from Qhawe and make you my wife. (he says that laughing)
Me: In your dreams clown boy. (we walk into the lounge where everyone is laughing and talking. I sit down on the couch and send photos of Sima and kids having fun in the game room with our kids. Caption: BEFORE YOU LAID YOUR HANDS ON HIM. After that I sent him the video and a few pictures from the basement. Caption: AFTER YOU LAID YOUR HANDS ON HIM.
Let's see what's more important to you, money or your little family.