“Ah, Enzio, long time no see.” The man who came forward to greet them was small. Ellie guessed him to be in his mid-sixties.
“How’s your father? Please give him my regards.”
“He’s well. I’ll tell him.”
Allegretti pointed at Ellie. “Miss McKenna, Clara’s personal assistant. And I take it you remember Nick?”
The man extended his hand. “Miss McKenna, I am Joseph Abrahams.” He shook Nick’s hand and said: “I didn’t know you were a Capetonian these days, Nick.”
“Just visiting. I don’t understand how you can willingly stay in a place with such foul weather.” Nick gestured at the rain streaming down the windowpanes.
The older man laughed and led them to a table on which there were dozens of boxes containing diamond rings. Ellie had never seen diamonds that size before.
“You said she’s young, so I tried to select rings to suit the taste of a young woman.”
Allegretti sat down at the table and motioned for Ellie to sit as well. “What do you think?”
“I’m no expert.”
He laughed. “Don’t worry about the quality. Joseph sells only the best stones. What designs do you think she’d like?”
Ellie studied the boxes carefully and wondered what the rings cost. Suddenly she was livid. Why should she help an arch scoundrel like Allegretti buy a revoltingly big diamond for a girl who didn’t even know who and what she was yet? With money from any number of illegal transactions. While her father had been shot dead at a roadblock, by people like Allegretti. Her thoughts raced; before she knew it, she was thinking of the engagement ring in the drawer at home. She felt a mixture of nausea and fury, and she forced herself to take a deep breath. As if the size of the stone would be any guarantee.
Nick stood watching Ellie and saw her pull her shoulders back and try to control her breathing. She had clearly been in a bad mood when she got into the car, and at the moment she was visibly angry.
He had been surprised when Allegretti had said he’d asked her along.
“Why don’t you take Gabriella?”
“Are you crazy? She’ll spit on the ring.”
A few minutes later Ellie pointed at a large stone flanked by two smaller oblong gems. “I think she’ll like this one.”
“A good choice. The yellowish stones are youthful and light-hearted.”
Allegretti nodded. “Then it’s a deal.”
Nick watched as Ellie got up and went to the window. Her shoulders were still tense. He would find time during the day to try to do damage control. Last night’s call had been a mistake.
Back in the car, Allegretti touched Ellie’s shoulder. “Thanks. I appreciate it. I have one more favour to ask. I don’t want Clara home before tonight. And when you fetch her, I want you to take something along. The dress I want her to wear.”
Ellie wondered how much Allegretti had snorted. His eyes were shining and he couldn’t stop fidgeting. He wiped his nose, fumbled in his pocket, looked at his cellphone.
“What if she doesn’t want to come back?”
There was a brief silence before Allegretti burst out laughing. Ellie thought she detected a note of desperation in his laughter. “Nice one, my dear. I trust you to have her home by tonight. Dressed and ready for the evening of a lifetime.”
Back at Allegretti’s house, she fetched her bag from the boot of her car. She was surprised when Nick Malherbe took it from her in the entrance hall and carried it upstairs to her flat.
“About last night …”
Ellie waited for him to continue.
He gave her a lopsided smile. “You could make it easier.”
“By doing what?”
“Saying you’ve already forgotten about it.”
“You threatened me.”
“I was high as a kite after keeping Enzio company all day.”
“Isn’t there a proverb that says in wine lies the truth?”
“I hadn’t had any wine.”
“I don’t feel like walking on eggshells around you all the time. I’m scared to breathe, I can’t sleep, because any moment you might burst into my room and accuse me of all kinds of things. So, no, I don’t want to make it easier for you. On the contrary, I don’t actually want to speak to you at all. I have a job to do and every time you accuse me of something, it distracts me, and I can’t afford that. Nazeem Williams is not paying me to be sloppy.”
“I’m sorry. As I’ve said, it wasn’t my best day. I’ll try to control my paranoia in future.”
Ellie sighed. “I understand your job is difficult, and I wouldn’t want to change places with you, but you need to realise that my job isn’t easy either. This is my first big contract, and though it’s largely what I learnt during my training, it’s also very different. I’m not even quite sure why I’m here. Who am I supposed to protect my client against? Her own boyfriend? You? Who knows. I’m not complaining, because it’s a job and I’m grateful for it, but, Lord knows, it’s not easy every day.”
He put out his hand. “I’m sorry I questioned your bona fides. And just for the record, I’m not a danger to your client, so as far as I am concerned, you can relax.”
She hesitated before she took his hand. “Thanks. It helps.” Then she smiled. “You don’t look too good.”
“I’ll ask Patrice to make me a sandwich, then I’ll be my cheerful self again.”
She opened her handbag and took out a container of pills. “Take two after meals. They’re fast-acting and will kick-start your liver.”
“Thanks. I’ll give them back to you. Dare I ask why you have liver pills in your handbag?”
“If I ever get shipwrecked on an island or lost in the desert, I want to be ready for all eventualities.”
He shook his head. “You’re a strange person.” He started walking up the stairs, stopped, and looked back at her. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, why do you ask?”
“It looks like your weekend wasn’t easy either.”
“It was exhausting, actually.” When she said nothing more, he walked on. She started unpacking. For a moment she had considered asking him what he had been doing near her house on Saturday night, but she’d decided against it. She might do it later. Did he really think the moment he offered his broad shoulders she would tell him all about her weekend? How arrogant can you get?
“This is Clara’s dress.” Allegretti held out a flat white box. “And this is for you.”
“What is it?”
“Tonight, my dear, you’re going to party with us. No excuses. I’ll phone Williams myself if you’re afraid it’s against the rules. Clara will want you there.
“Mr Allegretti, I can’t accept gifts.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, don’t be so bourgeois. You’re not breaking any laws.”
“It could look like a bribe. My boss won’t like it.”
He laughed exuberantly and Ellie wondered whether there was any cocaine left in Cape Town, given the rate at which he’d gone through the stuff today. “Okay, the dress remains my property. You’re just borrowing it. I don’t want anyone at the party who looks like she’s going to arrest me any minute.” He winked. “Tonight we’re going to party hard.”
In her bedroom Ellie opened the box meant for her and caught her breath. “Damn!” The man had either missed his calling, or he was being very attentive. She lifted the delicate dress out of its tissue-paper nest. It was a deep aquamarine and she didn’t have to look in the mirror to know it was the exact colour of her eyes.
But that wasn’t what took her breath away. Neither was it the fact that the hem would end several centimetres above her knee. It was the skimpy top that made her stare. If she had never shown cleavage before, she was going to do so tonight. Whether she had anything to show, or not. What kind of underwear do you wear with a bloody dress like this?
Her cellphone rang. When she saw it was Clara, she sighed. For some reason she had hoped Clara wouldn’t call.
“Hi, Ellie. Sorry
I’m only calling now but I’ve had a girls’ morning. Two of my cousins and I had our hair and nails done and went for facials. But I’m ready now. You can fetch me.”
She was glad Clara had been for a beauty treatment. She had wondered how to suggest it without making the girl suspicious. Clara would never forgive her if she didn’t look her best tonight.
“Fine, but I can’t come right now. I’m at the office. I’m afraid I can’t fetch you before tonight.”
“Shall I phone Nick?”
“No, he and Enzio are very busy.”
“I suppose I could stay a little longer. The girls are so glad to see me. They’ve been talking non-stop, my head is spinning.”
“See you later, then.”
An hour later Ellie stopped at the office. Brenda let her in.
“Why do you look so flustered?”
Ellie told her about the dress and the party.
“I’ve been rushing around for a pair of heels. I can’t go in my weekday shoes. Now I’ll have to eat dry bloody bread for the rest of the month.”
“Shame, life can be such a bitch. So unfair of them to expect you to wear a beautiful dress and kick up your heels.”
“You don’t understand. I’m not in a party mood.”
“Who ever is? But it could turn into an interesting evening.”
“Everything okay here?”
“No probs.”
Ellie looked at the papers beside the computer. “What are these?
Brenda looked away and Ellie could swear she was embarrassed. “I’m doing a typing course.”
“Seriously? Why are you embarrassed? I think it’s a brilliant idea.”
“You sound like a Jehovah’s Witness who has just plucked a sinner from the jaws of Satan and put him on the road to redemption. That’s why I didn’t want to tell you. Don’t make a big thing of it. What else am I going to while I’m sitting here?”
Ellie shook her head and laughed. “Has Happy been back?”
She’d barely finished the question when the doorbell rang.
“Yes, yes! Thought you were never coming,” Happy called out.
Ellie unlocked the door and let him in. He waved in Brenda’s direction. “Sister.”
She ignored him.
“Why have you been looking for me?”
“You could ask how I am.”
Ellie sat down and motioned at a chair. “Sorry, please sit. How are you?”
“I suppose I could be better, but I don’t like to complain. You?”
“I’m very well, thanks.”
“Are they still treating you well up there on the mountain?”
Ellie wanted to ask him how he knew where Allegretti lived, but she realised he would probably sidestep the question. He was always on the move and knew Cape Town like the back of his hand.
“They’re treating me very well.”
“Good to hear. I worry about you.”
Ellie saw the quick smile, but when she looked into his eyes, there was a strange earnestness.
“Thanks, Happy. I appreciate it.”
He looked at Brenda, who was busy on the computer. “Is it safe to talk here?” he whispered.
Ellie got to her feet to turn up the radio and sat down beside him again.
“Sounds like Williams and his buddies are sitting on a big load of abalone.”
“Where did you hear this?”
“It’s what people are saying.”
“That’s interesting.” Ellie was dying to question him, but she stopped herself just in time.
“I thought you’d find it interesting, seeing he’s your boss. But maybe you’ve known all the time.”
“Mr Williams doesn’t discuss his affairs with me. And he’s our client, not my boss.”
“Okay.” When he didn’t move, Ellie took money from her handbag. “This is my own money, so please don’t waste it.”
“I didn’t come for money.”
Ellie pressed a note into his hand. “It’s not for the information. Let’s say it’s your birthday.”
“My birthday is still some way off.”
“Never mind.”
He got up. “Thanks.”
“We don’t do hand-outs here. You can help me move a cabinet. I want to clean behind it,” Brenda said when he got up to go.
Ellie looked at her. “Which cabinet do you want to move?”
“The one in your office.”
“Cleaning isn’t part of your job.”
“I know, but I’m sure I saw a cockroach run behind it this morning when I got here. I’m not working in a place that’s infested.”
Ellie looked at her watch. “I can’t help you. I’ve got to run.”
“Fine. Enjoy tonight. And try to get lucky. If you do, enjoy it. You look hopelessly stressed out.”
Ellie shook her head and waved over her shoulder as she walked to the door.
Clara was like a little girl when Ellie gave her the box and told her Enzio wanted her to wear the dress.
“Holy shit! He bought it for me? Remember, I showed it to you in the magazine? I just love him.”
Ellie looked at the white-and-gold ankle-length dress with the long slit. Clara’s skin glowed against the fabric. Ellie stayed in the entrance hall while Clara hurried up the stairs, the dress over her arm.
Halfway up the stairs, Clara turned. “Why are you so dressed up? Are you going out?”
“Yes.”
“You look really nice, but you need a bit more makeup. You have good features, but you don’t do anything with them. Never mind, I’ll show you as soon as I’ve finished.”
Ellie knew she hadn’t spent hours in front of the mirror, but she had thought her efforts merited a little more than “nice”.
“Miss McKenna. I didn’t know you were here.” Nazeem Williams appeared from somewhere inside the house. Ellie saw he was no longer wearing the ankle brace, though he still walked with a slight limp.
“Mr Williams, please call me Ellie.”
He took her arm and led her to the living room where they had sat the first day they met. This time the house was quiet.
“How are you?” He sat down in his chair.
“I’m fine. I see you’re not wearing the brace any more.” She had often wondered whether Allegretti could have had anything to do with her dad’s death, and she wondered the same thing about Williams. Yet she never got this strange shiver in Allegretti’s company.
He turned his foot first this way, then that way. “It’ll teach me to watch where I’m going at my age. I take it you’ve come for Clara?”
“Yes, she called and asked me to fetch her.”
“Prayers aren’t always answered, are they? I suppose I just have to be patient.”
Ellie wondered whether she should tell him about the ring. She decided against it. The more she tried to find a reason for the decision, the less she understood it. It just didn’t feel right.
“Seems she’s happy with Mr Allegretti after all.”
“Clara is happy with whoever spoils her.”
And who made her that way? Ellie thought. She certainly didn’t do it herself.
“Isn’t that a universal need? The need to be spoiled occasionally?”
“And who spoils you?”
Ellie smiled. “At the moment I’m too busy to think about that.”
“I want you to know that Clara is very fond of you. We appreciate what you’re doing for her. The day I found you was a good one.” He got up out of the chair. “Where are my manners? Can I offer you a drink?”
“Thanks, it would’ve been nice but I think Clara is just about finished. Besides, I have to drive.”
“Next time. Please excuse me for a moment.”
Ellie looked around the room. She hoped Reggie wasn’t there. Soon Williams returned with a white envelope. He put it on the coffee table. “A little something to spoil you. I know how hard you’re working.”
“It’s really not necessary.”
“I
know, but I’d like to do it. Ask my wife, I like spoiling the women in my family.”
Ellie found it interesting that he didn’t hand her the envelope but left it for her to take herself.
She hesitated. Then she thanked him, picked up the envelope and put it in her handbag.
The next moment Clara walked into the room and Ellie and Williams fell silent. Ellie stared at the girl. Not only did Allegretti have an eye for a beautiful woman – he also knew how to make her look even more gorgeous.
Clara spun around in front of them. “Isn’t this the most beautiful dress you’ve ever seen?”
Ellie got to her feet. “You look stunning.”
Williams got up as well. Clara stepped closer, kissed his cheek and smiled. “Thanks for a wonderful visit, Uncle. Give my love to Auntie Mavis. Tell her we’ll do it again soon.”
“Be good, Clara, and look after yourself. Remember where you come from.”
“I will, Uncle.”
“And call your mom sometime.”
She waved over her shoulder. “I will.”
On their way to Bantry Bay, Clara could hardly sit still. “Are we going out? Why am I dressed like this?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where are you going?”
“To a party.”
“Do you think Enzio missed me? He must have. Why else would he buy me a present like this? I missed him like flippin’ mad.”
Ellie listened to the girl’s excited chatter.
The entire street in front of the house was jam-packed with cars when they arrived.
Clara clapped her hands. “Only Enzio can throw a party on a Monday night and everyone comes. I love it.”
The guard opened the gate and Ellie drove into the garage. Clara was out before she had properly switched off the car. Then she stopped and fumbled in her handbag. “Wait, I said I’d fix your makeup.”
“Clara, I look like a scarecrow when I wear too much makeup.”
“Stand still and close your eyes.”
Ellie felt Clara doing something to her eyes.
“Open up. Hmm … much better. You have such pretty eyes. They just need a little smokiness tonight. Enjoy your evening.”
“Thanks, but I’ll go up with you first.”
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