“Why does my house look like this?” My dad says. It’s 6am. Where is he going? I was going to clean up before breakfast. He’s already wearing a tracksuit and a beanie looking super shady. 
“Papa, I’m working”, I say. 
My mom comes down the stairs in a lingerie gown. These two probably just had sex. They can never get enough of each other. 
“Ruri Seete! And then?!” My mom. 
“Guys! I couldn’t sleep. I’m nervous as hell. So, I worked through the night”, I explain. 
“Ruri, you have multiple offices – an office per store. You couldn’t work there?” My dad. 
“My offices are not big enough”. I’m putting Tholoana Kingdom’s very first fashion week together. My parents talked me into this. 
“Then maybe you should consider getting a head office where you’ll have a room to do all of this!” My dad. What’s his problem? And wasn’t he on his way out? 
I just give them a side look. 
“Or you can go do this at your boyfriend’s house. There’s a reason why we keep our work at work!” Dad. 
“Papa, ke tla phutha. Sorry”, I say. 
“Nana, what’s going on?” My mom asks me. 
“This is going to be the very first fashion week that Tholoana Kingdom will be hosting. The world is coming here in the name of fashion and it’s all on me. I’m stressed. I’m not even sure if I’m ready.” 
“This thing is a month away. You cannot back out now. Sponsors have already made their payments. The stages are already being set up.” My mom. 
“I know, mama. And I’m nervous as hell. Over and above the organisation and planning, I still have to oversee my own line. It’s the showstopper. It has to be top tier.” I say. 
“Ruri, you have three assistants helping you. You have teams upon teams doing stuff for you. Why does my house look like this?!” My dad. 
“Maboko bathung!” My mom. 
“Fine! I’ll just have breakfast at Khabane’s place when I pick him up. Ruri, get a head office. This is not happening again”.
I just pull a face. 
“Can we borrow her space at Seete Enterprise?” My mom asks him. 
My dad looks at my mom. 
“We have three vacant floors”, my mom. 
“That will be rented out. We make money off those floors. Each floor is R250 000 to rent per month. Is Ruri going to give us R750 000 per month?” 
“The companies that have moved out are still paying us as per their lease agreements. We will be paid until the end of the year. The new companies will come in beginning of next year. We can afford for Ruri to move in until the fashion week is over. Then if after the show she still needs a head office, she can invest in one.” My mom. 
“Fine! Whatever! But can I please have my breakfast in a clean space tomorrow. Bona fela! Ke ma sila fela everywhere. There are needles, and threads and all this nonsense. If it’s not thread being stuck on our outfits, it’s still needles poking our asses when we attempt to sit down. Aowa!” This man is so extra! He’s unnecessary nje. He kisses my mom then leaves. He will probably eat at my brother’s house. 
“Go get some rest, nana. I’ll get someone to clean this up, set up your offices and have this taken to your offices. What will you need at your offices?” 
“Just an office, a showroom, a sewing room…” 
“Basically, a Chris Jenner office or a Kim Kardashian office space?”
We both just laugh. 
I indeed head up to go sleep. 

…

My office space!!!
First of all, shout out to my dad! He was annoyed as hell this morning, but I guess after eating some breakfast, he became nice. 
He bought me a head office space! Imagine! That’s how much he doesn’t want me working in his house. The minute I walked into my office, I found a huge bunch of flowers from him with a note that reads “my house is off limits for work. Love, your dad”. 

Lol! The head office is close to school as well as the mall that has my main and first store. 
The gate has security. It has an entry for staff and for visitors. All is access controlled. I love having rich parents who know what to do with money! Their justification for this is that they bought Bane his first two petrol station businesses. So, they are helping me with mine. 
The parking lot is big. I also have an area where all the V300 staff transport vehicles are parked.

As you come into the entrance, the reception desk is there. It’s black and glass – so beautiful. My name and brand is on there in pure rose gold – RURI. 
I’m in love! 
On your far left is a waiting area. The waiting area is attached to a coffee spot. I put Mnqobi’s franchised coffee spot in here. He just pays me rent to work here but all the profits are his. There is the restroom area decently placed. 
On your far right of the reception desk is a showcase of RURI work. It’s styled mannicans. There are 75inch plasma screens all around the floor and it’s displayed RURI work and RURI stores’ content. 

As we go up a flight of stairs, it’s a sewing space. This is where the magic happens. This is where we create. It is an open plan office set up… each big desk has various machines to put clothes together. Then each desk has a cupboard at its edge. When clothes are done, they are hung in the cupboard. That’s where they get their work audited. This floor is huge! I have 25 employees on this floor alone. Surrounding the open plan office space are offices. These offices are where my junior designers sit. All offices are transparent. Auditors sit in these offices too. 
Then up the stairs again, on the third story of this place is my space. 
My office is closed off – transparent of course. Then outside my office sits my two secretaries and my PA. My HR person also sits here with me. You need HR everywhere. HR and Finance. Both my HR and Finance Managers sit up here. There is an open space for desks right outside of my office. My office is HUGE! I have my desk that’s big and black. My chair is massive plus comfortable – black and white. 
Behind my office and chair, I have a wall-to-wall bookshelf! Then, I have an 85inch TV screen in here. I have two chairs opposite my desk, a round meeting table with chairs then two sleeper couches. Everything in here is black and white. No joke. There are trims of gold everywhere. This is beautiful. All the cups in this place are RURI labelled. In my office, I also have a space to sew. I love sewing, so I’d like the option to do so when I want to. Then I have a wall-to-wall cupboard for my finished products. The fourth story and last tier of this building is my showroom. I’m in love with this place!!! In love! 

Wehweh, Zaza and Mapho are helping me move in. I invited the others because I actually need the extra hands. Breezy came here with that Thendo girl. And that Thendo girl has been asking me for a job. I don’t know what I’d give her as work. I don’t trust her enough to be my PA or secretary. I just put her on the events team that’s planning the fashion week. She’s working under someone who I know will keep her honest because I don’t trust that girl at all. They have space on this floor with my HR, Finance, secretaries and PA personnel. But she’s also here helping us move in. 
Khanya is here with Khosini. He works for Wehweh’s dad now and is back at school. He visits his brother more often now and seems to be a bit more… normal. Rea is here. Khabane is here. Mnqobi came with Banathi. Molise came here with some doctors too. 

Movers are doing most of the work. Staff is moving their things in. Everyone here is helping me move into my office. I’m so happy. My dad is honestly the best! I love him! 

…

I decided to sleep over at Rena’s house. It’s been a long day, so hey…
We are in her bedroom, lying on top of her bed and catching up. 
“I went to see him”, she says.
“Him who?” Me.
“Him him.” Her.
“Bathung Rena! Are you not tired of all the drama that comes with that relationship? You know it’s what broke your relationship with your dad.”
“Ru… we got married.” 
I have never jumped up and off a bed that fast. I’m the one with knots in my stomach as if I’m the one who will get killed here.
“Usohlanya?!” Me. 
“I love him. And I’m going to run away –
“Please… don’t say anything else to me. I don’t want to be the only person with information again then I get into shit for not saying anything. It’s best if I don’t know anything.”
“But Ru, I need your help.”
“Rena! Wahlanya wena! I haven’t forgot the slap that my mom gave me when you decided to lose your virginity to him and then confess. Teboho Seete almost put me in a coma with that slap.” 
She looks at me, sitting up.
“I need you to help me get out of the kingdom.” 
“You leaving the kingdom too?”
“Yeah. We are going to live in the UK. That’s where he decided to settle… away even from his own family. He even has a job there already. He drives a town car and lives in an apartment. We will stay together and be happy. Plus, I’m his civil and registered wife – unlike the cultural two.”
“Lefatselabarena! Why?! Why, Lefatselabarena, why?!”
“He makes me happy. He makes me very happy. I know that my parents will disown me at this point, but it’s fine. I love him. I’ve tried to make my dad happy, but I’m just not happy and he will never forgive me no matter what I do. So, I might as well be happy.” 
“You do realise that they’ll kill him, right? The two of you have at least spoken about this, right? Because it’s going to happen. The church is everywhere! Everywhere, Lefatselabarena.” 
“I’m pregnant”, she says.
WORSE! 
I honestly just brush my forehead because I’m in disbelief… I’m out of words… I just have nothing else to say at this point. 
“And if they kill him, I’ll expose the church.” 
Now I laugh. 
“I’m serious.”
“So was Mohale’s mother. So was some man called Qaphela and his entire family. I’m so tired of people like you not realising that it’s the church and then everything else – not the other way around.” 
“I’m the pope’s daughter. They wouldn’t touch me.” 
“Mohale’s mother was the next queen… the pope’s daughter-in-law and the mother to Uncle Ona’s heir. You are not special. And if you dare be a liability, I guess we will be burying you soon.” 
“I actually mean something. My parents are not employees in the church.”
“Rena… surely you know why Mohato died, right?”
Silence. 
“This man is not even worth it, Rena. Look at what he’s doing to his wives and the mothers of kids! Look at what he did to his brother – sleeping with his wives and giving them kids! That’s the same man that’s watching you disrespect your family and turn against everyone who loves and protects you for him! That is typical abusive behaviour! He is isolating you so that when you have successfully iced us out, he can do as he pleases with you!” 
“I don’t have to listen to this! I love Tumelo! Why can’t you just be supportive and happy for me? Why?! I support you with everything concerning Khanya… I don’t remind you how messed up his family is and how he could possibly have aids with his father spreading it faster than mosquitoes spread malaria.” 
“Ukenya Khanya jwale?! Really?!”
“I’m just saying –
“Just saying what?! You use sensitive information to defend masepa that your man does? It doesn’t make him a better man and you will regret this!”
“Hai bo! Hai! Yini na?!” Aunt Phuthi has now come in and asks us.
We both look at her.
“Nothing. We are fine.” Rena.
“I’m actually going home.” I say.
“Hai bo! Aren’t you sleeping over?” Aunt Phuthi.
“Not anymore”, me.
“The last time the two of you fought like this, it had everything to do with Tumelo. I hope this isn’t about that”, Aunt Phuthi. 
I giggle.
“Lefatselabarena!” Aunt Phuthi.
Silence. 
“If you don’t start talking, I’m calling your father”, Aunt Phuthi.
“No mama, please don’t.” Rena.
“Then talk!” Aunt Phuthi.
I’m just looking at them.
I try to leave then I hear, “Awuyi ndawo!”

–

Here we are on the same couch next to each other while our parents surround us. I’m already bored! This girl better talk or I will.

“Ke Tumelo?” Uncle Ona. 
I look at Rena. She looks at me.
“Ruri!” My mom.
“Rena, buwa! I’m not about to be slapped into a coma again.” I say.
“If you care about me at all, you will keep quiet.” She says.
“Are you being serious right now?” Me.
“Yes.” She says.
“Fine, then I’ll just send men out to go look for him. And I’ll make sure that they bring me back his body”, Uncle Khotso. 
I see fear in Rena’s eyes. 
“Rena! Don’t be selfish. Talk!” I say.
“Papa please!” Rena.
“I’m not going to beg you. Talk!” Uncle Khotso.
“Papa, I’m pregnant”, Rena says. 
Her dad stares at her. STARES. 
My dad scratches his head. Uncle Ona is ANGRY! 
“Tell them the other part!” I say.
“Why?!” Rena. 
“Hah ah Rena! You know it’s wrong! Buwa!” Me. 
All our parents are staring at us. 
“Buwa!” I say. 
“We got married”, Rena says. 
The room is blown away. 
“Jwang Rena? We didn’t even receive a chicken for your lobola”, Aunt Thabi. 
“We signed”, Rena. 
Uncle Khotso literally stands up and leaves the room. Aunt Phuthi follows him – I think running after him more than anything. 
“I WANT HER OUT OF MY HOUSE!” We hear Uncle Khotso say. 
Rena is just sitting here shaking her head. 
“AYEPHI KHOTSO?! AYEPHI?!” Aunt Phuthi. 
“SHE’S SOMEONE’S WIFE! I DO NOT LIVE AND SUPPORT OTHER MEN’S WIVES!” 
“KHOTSO – 
“PHUTHI! EITHER SHE LEAVES OR I LEAVE THIS HOUSE!” 
“REALLY KHOTSO?! UFUNA NGIKETHE PHAKATHI KWAKHO NENGANE?!”
“CHA! NGITHI I AM NOT LIVING WITH LEFATSELABARENA UNDER ONE ROOF EVER AGAIN! SHE DOESN’T EVEN DESERVE THAT NAME. SHE HAS NO RESPECT FOR BORENA AT ALL! SHE HANDLES HERSELF AS SOMETHING THAT’S EVEN BENEATH A COMMONER! NOW THAT SHE IS MARRIED, I AM GLAD THAT SHE WILL LOSE MY LAST NAME! I HOPE THAT MOTHIPA FAMILY RENAMED HER BECAUSE I REGRET HONOURING HER ENOUGH TO GIVE HER A NAME THAT SAYS NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, AS LONG AS YOU ARE IN HER PRESENCE, YOU ARE ON ROYAL LAND”.
Now Rena let’s out a tear, standing up from this couch and moving out of the TV room. 
There’s silence in the house. 
“Ke tla tsamaya”, Rena says. 
My mom leaves the room, I think going to them. 
“She’s coming with us for tonight”, I hear my mom say. 
“Thank you, Teboho”, Aunt Phuthi. 
Uncle Khotso is silent. 
“Ruri! Maboko! Let’s go!” Aunt Teboho. 
“We need to find that boy”, Uncle Ona. 
“And abort that baby”, Aunt Thabi. 
“They were planning to run away to the UK together. Apparently, he already has an apartment, a town car and a job there. So he’s either somewhere close waiting for her so they can run away together or he’s already there”, I say. I have to! Rena has gone too far! 
They all look at me.
“Thank you”, Uncle Ona says. 
I get up and leave. 

– 

I’m in my office today. Rena was asleep when I woke up. I had school in the morning and now I’m in my office pushing through for the fashion week. 

I see Aunt Thabi walk into my office. 
“This is nice”, she says. 
“Thank you”, I say. 
She has coffee for herself and myself. 
“I hear the coffee is just as great. I had to experience it myself”, she says. 
I stand up to hug her. She hugs me back. 
“I’m sure you didn’t take a break from leading this beautiful country just to taste coffee from Mnqobi’s shop and view my offices”, I say. 
“You are very smart. That’s why I’ve always liked you. You are the more fitting one to be a princess. Look at how well you are doing and how respectful you are compared to that stupid friend of yours.” 
I’m quiet because really, what am I supposed to say? 
“I need your help”, she says as we both settle on my couches. 
“With?”
“A little secret between the queen and yourself”, she says. 
I look at her. 
She hands me some powder in a plastic. 
“These are crushed abortion tablets. We need to get rid of that child she’s carrying and le wena you know it. I know Maboko leTeboho are better parents than all the Mohales combined. Their kids respect our culture and are ideal – pretty much the type of kids that should be prince and princess. So, I know that you understand why Rena cannot be married to that Mothipa boy and why she cannot have his child.” 
We look at each other. 
“The Mothipa boy is already dead. I need you to put this powder in Rena’s drink – even water… she won’t notice a thing. Then, we marry her off. There’s actually a family out there that’s still prepared to marry her regardless of her insolence and the consequences that have come because of that insolence”, she says. 
I accept the package from her saying, “Fine. I’ll do it by tonight”.
“Good girl”, she says then she leaves. 
Eish!