Chapter 21 - Chapter Nineteen — Chandré

The beach club isn't that big, but it is spectacular. Done out entirely in white and gold, it manages to be pristine and decadent at the same time. The soft leather couches and chairs, the crystal chandeliers throwing diamond light down over everything, the mirrored bars — all of it should scream excess and somehow only whispers money. The dance floor juts out over the water so that it looks like it's floating. Boats of every size are moored along the edges like cars in a parking. Our yacht sits a little further out, looming there like a grim reminder that it, and the end of this whole idyllic thing, are waiting for me.

"Having fun?" Puleng asks over the music. She looks beautiful, her hair swept up off her neck and a slinky dress moulded to her curves. Nothing about her says mother of two, but I've watched her sending voice notes to Lonwabo's mother, who has the kids, and video-calling them at bedtime with the phone held up close to her face.

She's a devoted mum. A hot one, too.

"The party's amazing," I reply. "That dress is gorgeous, by the way."

"Yours!" Her eyes sweep over me. "You look so good. But then you always do. So confident."

"Confident, or I don't care what anybody thinks. Bit of both, I suppose."

"You're exactly what Naz needs. He's quite reserved, hey, and a bold woman like you shaking things up is good for him."

"He's good for me, too."

"Well, I'm glad he tricked you into coming," Puleng says, her lips quirking.

"It wasn't much of a trick," I say wryly. "My eyes were pretty wide open."