51.

Nikki

Today Chantel and I were meeting up at our usual chill spot, for our weekly kiki session. I’m getting dressed and I get text from Chantel to pick her up from her house because her car was in for repairs. I put on my leggings and over size t-shirt, my sneaker and I tie my hair up into a puff and leave. I get into my Ford Ranger and leave my mother’s parking lot.




I make the thirty-minute drive to Chantel’s apartment complex and find her waiting outside for me.




“Hey girl, looking cute as always,” she greets as she puts her seatbelt on.




“Girl, stop it. You look good and you smell good too, is that the perfume Charles got for you?”




She nods, “Yes honey and let me tell you the amount of dudes that have come up to me and asked me out, tell me I smell good and all,”




I laugh, “I would to.”




She rolls her eyes, “You wish, if you were a dude, you’d be ugly.”




I laugh, “So would you bitch,”




I drive out of the parking, and we make our way to the Maboneng Precinct, a small little strip of land with one of the finest restaurants in the whole of Johannesburg and one of them owned by Chantel and me, that we called Chillers.




We get to Chillers, and it is packed, but we have our rooftop private table, and the hostess takes us there and leaves to bring us our drinks.




“So, when is your mans coming back to town?”




“Tomorrow, I think. Midnight their time,” I reply, taking my phone out of my bag.




Chantel sits cross legged on the chair facing me and nods.




“So, he’ll be here Saturday. That’s cool, so is it for good or for the time being?”




“He says its for good, he’s giving up his seat as CEO but still owns a major chunk of his father’s empire, he sold his mansions and signed off any responsibility he has to the country.”




“Damn, he’s really serious about being with you, giving up all off that,”




I nod, “Apart of me thinks he is making a mistake but at the same time I want him to make the best decision for himself, if letting go of everything that belongs to his father and starting a new life is that best decision then I have no choice but to support him as his partner.”




Chantel smiles and shakes her head.




“What?”




“Nikki, you’re living every woman’s dream. Successful, beautiful, engaged to a billionaire, pregnant and defying odds. You are an inspiration, and I am so damn lucky to have you as my best friend,” she says.




I can’t help but get emotional, everything was finally coming together for me. After everything I’ve been through, I deserve this, to be happy, to be at peace.




“And I wouldn’t have done with without the right people by my side, and that’s you bestie. Beside every successful woman is her very successful best friend,”




“Girl, period,”




I laugh, “So when am I going to meet your new man’s, I feel like he’s avoiding me,”




Chantel gives me a nervous laugh, “He’s a busy man.”




I glare at her, “Tell me the truth Chantel, you know I would never judge you; I will correct you or advise you.”




The hostess returns with our drinks, and we give her our meal orders and she leaves. Chantel gulps down her gin and tonic and then looks at me with fear in her eyes.




“It’s Damien,”

                                  

I try my best to hold back my cuss words.




“Why? For how long has this been going on?” is all I ask.




Chantel rubs her face and sighs, “He is amazing, he is funny and so caring, I mean Charles glow should tell you everything you need to know about Damien. And for about three months now.”




“This is another mans man Chantel, its wrong, and three months?”




She groans, “Fuck I know but I can’t help it. We were all going through it Nikki. I was helping him out with the commission, and I was worried about you and Xander, we all were. There had been sexual tension between us from before, but it was only heightened and then one late night, it got too much and we gave in. We couldn’t help it; we still can’t help it.”




“We? You’re speaking for him now?”




“It takes two to tango girl, so yes I am,”




I sip on my juice, “Sustained. So, what about Charles? Have you spoken about the nature of your relationship?”




“He says he’ll speak to Charles about making me their surrogate. Damien has spoken about a polyamory relationship and if I’d like to be their third.”




I almost choke on my drink, I start coughing and Chantel pours me a glass of water and I drink.




“Are you out of your mind?”




Chantel rolls her eyes, “You said you wouldn’t judge.”




I sigh, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry but come on Chantel, a polygamous relationship?”

“I don’t mind really, I think it’s a good idea, my parents don’t mind it because it’s part of our culture in case you forgot, I am half Swati,” she explains.




“I mean yeah but I thought you wanted to break away from that, and be different, like your brother did.”




She shakes her head, “I did too but I guess the right person had to come along and convince me otherwise.”




I understood where she was coming from and honestly, Chantel has never been a monogamous woman, she’s always had multiple partners and she was happier that way but I doubt Charles was going to accept their relationship or maybe I am wrong.




I reach my hand over to her, “Friend, I just you to be happy and sure of what you’re doing because I love you.”




Chantel takes my hand, “I know baby and I appreciate that.”




“I’ll tell you one thing though, be prepared for anything because Charles is an unpredictable individual and he is going to need time to process it when Damien does tell him,”




“He’s doesn’t have a choice at this point.”




I look at her, “What do you mean?”

“I’m pregnant.”




I feel the air in my lungs disappear and I want to scream but this time I contain myself.




“Chantel please tell me you’re joking because this isn’t funny,”




She laughs, “No I’m not, I’m four weeks pregnant.”




My best friend is pregnant, we are pregnant. She’s having a baby; my baby is going to have a bestie too.




I squeal, “Pregnancy besties.”




Chantel laughs and I get up from my chair and go give her a hug.




“I’m both and happy and scared for you girl,”




Chantel scoffs, “Damien knows, and I’m hope he does the right thing.”




I sigh, “Me too girl, me too.”




There is no way this is going to end well, and everybody had to be prepared for what was coming, including myself. I am happy for my best friend, but I just didn’t want her to get hurt. I have to call my husband and spill this hot tea.