Chapter 4

RULE #1: ALWAYS DO AS YOU'RE TOLD — ESPECIALLY WHEN IT INVOLVES GETTING ON YOUR KNEES FOR THAT RICH UMHLANGA DADDY.

Presh

"This can't be right."

The house I'm looking at is a three-storey white place with manicured palms, arched windows, and a paved driveway that curves up from the road.

I swear, if the guy I was just dating is secretly loaded, I'm going to be so gatvol. We literally dug under our couch cushions for enough coins to get a bunny chow for supper. There's no way this is where his dad has been living all along.

Climbing out of the car, feeling very out of place in this bougie neighbourhood on the ridge, I brush the dog hair off my black velvet skirt and walk up the paved steps to the front door. I can literally hear the sea from here.

This is ridiculous.

This guy is probably wiping his ass with my seven thousand rand right now.

I ring the bell, but it goes unanswered for about thirty seconds. Usually, I'd be relieved that nobody seems to be home and I'm spared the awkwardness of having to talk to strangers, but I'm too broke to be relieved. I need that cash.

I promised Amahle I'd take her to Comic Con in September, and her birthday is around the corner. Also, I need to not live in the cottage behind my mother's house forever. So I knock again.

"Coming!" a sweet voice calls, and I hear heels clicking against hard stone floors. When the door is pulled open, I'm looking into the wide eyes of a woman with soft brown skin and full lips.

"Hi… I'm here to see Mr Mthembu."