57.

Nikki

 

I didn’t want him dead. Even though he deserved it but still. None deserves to die. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that he was dead, I didn’t want to believe it.




It’s been a few days since Aiden died and were sitting in the backyard, on the lawn. Xander had his eyes closed, I think he was asleep, and I had my head on his lap. I was looking up at the cloudy sky. Praying to god that he had at least in his final moments asked for forgiveness and that he was in heaven.




Our lobola was in three days and I was excited, but I was also anxious. My dad’s side of the family was a tough bunch. Being half Xhosa and Zulu was not a good mix. My dad’s side of the family was Xhosa. I loved them to bits, unlike my maternal side, who decided to cut ties with my mother after she decided to marry my dad. Tribalistic idiots.




“You okay down there?”




I nod, “Yeah I’m okay. I’m just really nervous about Saturday,”




Xander sits up and he looks down at me with his mesmerizing blue eyes. I was marrying this hunk of a man and boy was I the talk of the town.




“Everything is settled, babe. Xlanti is finalizing the final details of the day and he gave me his word that he would make sure that everything is ready, and so did Charles,”




I nod, “Okay, I trust you.”




“Good, because I have something I need to tell you,”




“I want to gift you 25% of my shares to you and 10% to our baby,”




I sit up and look at him. He has to be joking.




“Xander, I don’t know what to say,”




Xander smiles, “Nikki, I need to move on with my life and leave everything behind and sign this off. Selling my properties and cutting off everything that had to do with my dad was something I needed to do.”




“I understand that but honey, I can’t accept those shares, I can accept the 10% for the baby but not the 25%, it’s not fair.”




Xander frowns, “Why not? It’s for our future.”




I nod, “Yes it is but I never worked for them, and I think it would be best if maybe you gave it to your mother.”




He raises his eyebrow and I loved it when he did that, something about that just made my body tingle.




“Your mother had everything taken away from her by your father and so was your sister. I think it would be an honourable thing to do. Give your mother and Jessica the shares.”




He gives me a pensive look, but he nods.




“I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before,”




I smile, “Good, all you have to do is go to your mothers and give her the papers,”




He cups my cheeks and gives me a wet kiss.




“You are amazing. Let me call them,”

He gets up and runs into the house.




Xander

 

“Hey mom, are you home?”




‘Yes we are, is everything okay?’




“Everything is good mom, I just want to see you and Jessica. Maybe we could go out for lunch?”




‘That would be lovely,’

 

I smile, “Great, I’ll pick you up in the next hour.”




‘Okay, I’ll see you soon.’

 

“Bye.”




I hang up the phone and find Nikki standing behind me with a smile on her face.




“You heading out?” she asks as she snakes her arms around my waist.




I nod, “I’m taking them out for lunch. Are you sure you don’t wanna join me?”




She shakes her head, “No baby, I’ve got work to do and besides, I don’t think Jessica will appreciate me being there. I don’t think she likes me.”




Xander huffs, “I’m sorry baby. I’ll speak to her.”




“Please don’t. it’ll look like I can’t fight my own battles and then she’ll hate me more.”

“Okay, okay. I just want you two to get along because, whether she likes it or not. You are here to stay.”




I kiss her and she lets me go.




“Bring me back some pickles, we are all out,”




I laugh, “I’ll buy all of them this time.”




“Ha, ha, very funny baby.”




I give her one more kiss. I go out to the garage, pick up the Mercedes Benz SUV and leave the house.




I drive to a little suburb just fifteen minutes away from ours called Glen Hove. Nikki’s house was in Houghton, a very popular suburb for South African billionaires.




I park outside the gate and ring the intercom, the gate opens and my mother and sister come out. They get into the car, and we drive to Hyde Park.




“So, what’s the deal, Xander?”




I shake my head, “Nothing. Nikki needed some space to work, and I missed you guys.”




“We missed you too,” my mother replies, “We know you’ve been busy with the lobola, and we are super excited to be there.”




“I take it you received the attire,”




Jessica groans, “Do I really have to wear them though?”




“Jessica, yes. It’s called showing respect for one’s culture,” my mother scolds.

“Mom is right Jess, we have to show our respects to Nikki’s family by wearing the attire and following customs,”




She slumps down on her seat, ‘Fine, I’ll wear the outfit. Only for you Xander.”




Why is she acting like a spoilt brat?




We park the car, in the VIP parking lot at Hyde Park and I can see X’s security team is already there waiting for us. We walk into the building and everyone just stops and stares at us as we walk through. I had to hire security to keep my mom and sister safe.




We get to Chillers Café, and I’m greeted by the manager. He escorts us to Nikki’s private dining area, and we are seated. He gives us menus and he tells us that a waiter will be with us.




“Is it true that Nikki owns Chillers Café?” my mother asks.




I nod, “Yeah she does. She’s got one in almost every province, except KwaZulu Natal.”




Jessica scoffs but ignore her.




The waiter comes and we place our drink orders and food orders and the waiter leaves.




“So, I have something to give you guys,” I say




I pull out two envelopes and give one to my mother and one to my sister.




“What’s this?”




“Shares to dad’s company. I gave you each 12,5%. What dad did to the both of you was unfair and I thought why not right those wrongs and make him turn in his grave and give you shares.”




My mother looks at me with tears welling in her eyes, “Oh Xander.”




“There is no need to thank me, just take them, sign and I’ll transfer the shares.”




“I’m sure Nikki has more than we do,”




Okay, that’s it.




“You know what Jess; I am sick and tired of you bad-mouthing my wife. She did nothing to you she suggested that I give you these shares. Whatever issues you have with her you better resolve them now or forget about the shares and about calling me your brother.”




“I’m sorry,” she stutters.




“She’s the one that helped me find you with Charles,” I add, “All she wants is for me to be happy. All I’m asking is that you respect her Jess.”




She bits her lip, “I’m sorry. I will, I promise. I didn’t know that she was the one who helped us find you. I misjudged her and that was wrong of me.”




“Apologize to her not me,” I say.




“I will,” she says,




“Thank you,”