Love on the Menu. Lerato Matsaneng

put on a puppy face, hoping to manipulate at least one of her friends into joining her.

      “No thanks, choma!” they said in unison and burst out in cheeky laughter. The girls weren’t fond of Kgotso and they made no secret of it. When the three friends had first met, Lebo was just getting out of the relationship with him, and her friends had witnessed all her tears and heartache. So no matter how much she begged, they didn’t share her sentiments about keeping things civil.

      She was going to Sebokeng all by herself, it seemed, so Lebo decided she would just drop in quickly at the party and then disappear without anyone noticing her exit. After she and her friends had finished their drinks, she embarked on the hour-long drive to her home town.

      The party was being held at the local Shisanyama, which had become the place to be for people who were looking to get noticed. Judging by the cars parked outside, all of Sebokeng had come out to have a good time at Kgotso’s party on this chilly night. Lebo walked in and wandered around aimlessly, hoping to bump into a friendly face.

      Kgotso spotted her and came rushing towards her, saying that he had been about to call her and check if she was still coming, because he had a surprise for her.

      “I’m here, surprise ya eng?” Lebo said dryly. She really wasn’t in the mood for his lame attempts at winning her back and wanted to get this party over and done with as fast as possible.

      “I want you to meet someone. He can help you ka business, ya hao. I’m trying to get you on the road to success, baby,” Kgotso said, holding Lebo’s hand as if trying to convince her that he had changed. But she wasn’t buying it.

      “Ke mang this person you want me to meet?”

      “Molemo Tladi, he’s an associate of an old buddy of mine,” said Kgotso.

      Lebo had heard about this man, but she had never met or seen him. Everyone knew him. He was the local “it” guy.

      Molemo was about thirty or so, and from what Lebo had heard, he had businesses in construction and transport. His parents were based in Sebokeng and he had a number of business interests in the area, so he was often spotted there. However, he apparently lived on a fancy golf estate in Johannesburg.

      He drove around in an ivory white Range Rover with tinted windows and personalised Molemo GP numberplates. From what Lebo had heard, Molemo was one of those guys girls threw themselves at, and apparently he was known to be the kind of gentleman who would not let them fall; he caught each and every one of them.

      Lebo didn’t care about these rumours, as long as this man could help her with her business – that was all that mattered.

      “Baby, this is Molemo Tladi. Molemo, meet Lebo. Remember I told you she wanted to start her own business and needed some advice?” Kgotso said as he introduced the two to each other.

      While Kgotso spoke, Lebo just stared at the man she was being introduced to. He was tall, clean-shaven, dark and attractive, exactly the way Lebo liked her men. She was taken aback by just how handsome he was, with big brown eyes and full lips. He was well built, with broad shoulders, and looked very secure in himself with his relaxed demeanour.

      Molemo was wearing a powder-blue sweater with dark blue jeans; he had thrown a black scarf casually around his neck. He wore a black leather biker jacket and a pair of expensive-looking white tackies.

      “Hi, Lebo. Pleasure to meet you.” Molemo looked into her eyes and spoke directly to her.

      Lebo could see why he was so popular with the ladies. He possessed a kind of charm that took great confidence to pull off but drew people to him instantly.

      “How can I be of assistance?” he asked with his hands in his front pockets as he casually pressed the tip of his tongue against his upper lip.

      “Well,” Lebo said, “I want to start my own catering company, so I need guidance from someone in the business world.” She looked enquiringly at Molemo. The more she looked at him, the more handsome he got.

      “The past two years I’ve mentored a few young entrepreneurs on starting their own small businesses. I haven’t done any of that this year, so maybe I can help you. My main operation is construction and engineering, but though there are very few common elements, if any, between construction and catering, the business principles are the same.” He paused to take a sip of his drink, then continued, “I could guide you through the intricacies of establishing your own business, if you’re keen?” He smiled at Lebo as he posed that rhetorical question.

      She smiled back with an accepting nod.

      Reaching into the back pocket of his jeans, Molemo pulled out a Louis Vuitton wallet, looked inside and gave Lebo his business card.

      “Thank you, I hope with your help I’ll soon be able to get going with my own business,” she replied. Not having any business cards, Lebo dictated her number to him and he saved it in his BlackBerry.

      “So why catering?” Molemo asked. “Are you a good cook?”

      He seemed genuinely interested in talking to Lebo and finding out more about her business.

      “Ke rata ho pheha and . . .”

      While Lebo was still telling Molemo about her ambitions, they were interrupted by a girl who came galloping along and threw herself at him. True to the rumours, Molemo caught her in his arms.

      “Hey, stranger, haven’t seen you in a while. Where’ve you been hiding?” asked the girl, who was still in Molemo’s grip and completely ignored Lebo’s presence.

      As Molemo got wrapped up in conversation with the girl, Lebo slipped back into the crowd, leaving the two of them to do whatever it was that they did at such places. She hated coming to these local parties – all people did was drink and gossip. It felt a lot like the pretentious celebrity parties she attended regularly as part of her job at the newspaper.

      Lebo walked around the packed venue, looking for a familiar face. She was delighted to spot Brian and Tebogo, friends of Kgotso’s who had become good buddies of hers after she and he had split up. They treated Lebo like one of the boys and loved using her as bait when they wanted to attract girls.

      “Hey, boys, why aren’t you entertaining any beauties, kajeno?”

      It was rare to see Tebogo and Brian at a party without a bevy of girls fluttering around them.

      “Lebo, please meet our dates for this evening: these beautiful ladies dressed in green – Castle Light and Windhoek Lager,” Tebogo said as he pointed to their beer bottles.

      The three of them shared a laugh, then Lebo told the guys about meeting Molemo and how excited she was about him helping her.

      “Watch out, ngwanana. He’s a dodgy one,” Tebogo said in a stern voice.

      He had never spoken to Lebo like that, so it sounded to her as if he really meant what he said. She promised both Tebogo and herself to be careful. She couldn’t afford to get caught up in any drama – this venture was far too important to her. Unlike other girls, she did not intend to be in awe of Molemo and become a bimbo in his presence. This was strictly business, and she would make sure of that.

      Lebo wished the boys good night and headed to her parents’ home.

      Chapter 2

      2

      Lebo looked at the business card on her desk. She read it again, for what could have been the hundredth time. It listed her possible mentor’s contact details:

      Molemo Tladi

      CEO Madumo Construction & Engineering

      Office: [phone]

      Fax: [phone]

      Mobile: [phone]

      E-mail: [email protected]

      It had been a few days since she met Molemo, but she had not called him yet. Every time