Eva Mazza - Sex, Lies & Stellenbosch

“You’re right. The major thing that does concern me, though, is Patty. Our group wasn’t comfortable about you poaching her from the club. We told you. We were worried, and you assured us everything would be fine.”

John refilled his glass. “Jen wants Patty gone, so she’ll have to go. Anyway, things would be a little weird with her around.”

He saw Lee’s eyebrows lift. “So, she’s okay to go?”

John threw in some ice. “Not exactly. She’s threatening all sorts of things.”

“And are we compromised?” John knew what Lee meant by “we”. He was afraid that he and their group were going down too. Well, fuck it. Fuck them all.

John’s tone was resolute. “I don’t give a fuck any more what Patty says or does. I fired her because I have nothing more to lose. How much worse can it get? My wife saw us, and Brigit knows about us, so I’m pretty much screwed.” He looked at Lee who didn’t reply. “So, she’ll squeal to our wives about the club. We’ll admit to going.” John could tell by Lee’s facial expression that he didn’t quite agree with him. He continued, nonetheless. “We’ll get a slap on our wrists like wayward teenagers and maybe the cold shoulder for a while, but it’ll be yesterday’s news before you know it.”

Lee’s words were calm but firm: “Here’s the thing, John, you’re basically saying that we’re all going down with you and that you couldn’t give a shit.”

John finally sat down on the couch opposite Lee. Just last night this very room was filled with friends celebrating his birthday. To try and take his mind off things, he had been watching yesterday’s rugby game between the Lions and the Stormers. The Lions had become a team to be reckoned with. He continued to watch the game as he spoke.

“Look, Lee, I’m not saying that at all. I just don’t want to be at the mercy of this bitch. Most men go to whorehouses; they’re known as strip clubs.”

Lee picked up the remote and turned off the television. “Okay, I need to be clear here, John, as I don’t think I can say this any other way. You know that the club is one of the best-guarded secrets? Do you know why?”

John shrugged. He chewed on a piece of ice.

“Let me enlighten you. It’s run by very powerful okes. They don’t want to be exposed, John. This will make the front page of the newspapers if Patty has her way. Christ, do you think she’s just going to tattletale to our wives?” Was Lee ridiculing him? “She’ll go to the media. She knows if the club is exposed, someone’s head is going to roll, and she’ll make sure it won’t be hers. It would cause a media frenzy if anything should happen to her.”

John got up to pour himself another drink. He was starting to feel drunk and, with that, very brave. “So, the club’s exposed. What the fuck?”

Lee slammed his empty glass on the coffee table. “When you poached her, I warned you not to because I was instructed to. I got a call this afternoon. Patty has already threatened to expose them. If Patty does anything to jeopardise the club, your head will roll, and they’re not speaking figuratively.”

John laughed. He couldn’t believe the shit that was coming out of Lee’s mouth. “You are joking right? Come on, Lee, we’re not in Italy. This is not a fucking Mafia movie.”

“No, we’re not. We’re in South Africa, true. But, who do you think runs sex clubs? The boy scouts? The thing is, I’m afraid for your kids’ lives. I’m also afraid that you’re gonna jeopardise our safety.”

John still wasn’t buying into Lee’s bullshit story. “Kak man.”

“How do you think you got into the club?” Lee asked.

“Frans had connections.”

Lee smiled at John condescendingly. “It was through me. I got you invited.” This is what irritated John about his friend. He liked to flaunt the fact that he was more connected than him. Richer than him. Fuck him!

“That’s how it works. I know one of the, erm, shareholders, for want of a better word. He’s given me business, good business, and I’ve been a member of his club for a couple of years now. Frans was invited through me, and we thought it would be fun if we went as a group.” John carried on drinking while Lee spoke. “You caused major crap when you poached Patty. I had a lot of explaining to do, as I was the one who put you forward as a member. Patty’s threat has rattled them. You need to stop her◦– whatever it takes and no matter how much money it costs. I’m not taking the rap for this, John. It was your blowjob. You pay for it.”

The phone rang several times before Patty answered.

“Hello, Patty,” John said. She didn’t answer. “I feel very cheated out of a happy ending. In fact, the endingsssh been anything but happy.”

“You’ve been drinking, John.” She curled her legs under her bottom. This was going to be tedious. She took a sip of her coffee. It was nice and hot.

“That’sh right, Patty. It’sh been a fuck up from shtart to finish. What ju want?” he slurred.

“I beg your pardon?”

“How much ju want to shut the fukup?” He was incoherent. Patty wondered where everyone was. It was his birthday, after all.

She told him the amount she wanted. “Happy birthday, by the way,” she added.

“You’ve got to be kidding?”

Patty was business-like. “No, I’m not kidding. I take it Lee has spoken to you, so I don’t have to tell you how serious this is, John.”

“Okay, okay,” he said, irritated. “That’sh a shiiit load of money. D’you think I have that kind of money lying around in my bottom drawer?”

“No, I don’t. But I do know that you’ll work something out. You have till Friday.” She wasn’t sure if he was capable of anything with all the alcohol flowing through his veins. “Why don’t you cede one of your insurance policies?” she suggested. “I’m sure Frans will help you.” She smiled, knowing that her knowing he had policies to cede would irritate him.

“How do you know…?” He changed direction. “It jush doeshn’t sheem fair. I mean, you got to be pleasured and I’m fuucking paying for it.”

She really wanted to drink her coffee uninterrupted. It had been a tiring day. She had had a lot of explaining to do, and fixing, for that matter. “You’ve got until the end of the week, John,” she said, wrapping her hands around the warm cup.

“Did you shcrew me over, Patty? I can’t help thinking that you fucked me over.” Patty ignored him.

“Do not put the money into my account. I’ll text you an account number.” She wondered if John would remember anything tomorrow. “Phone your financial advisor, John.” Her sarcasm was lost on her drunk, soon to be ex, boss. “Phone Frans now. I’m sure he’ll be able to help you, even on a Sunday night. I don’t want cash. Remember to deposit the money, John.”

“Yesh, up your arsh!”

Patty laughed despite herself. John couldn’t help laughing either. “I’ll send you an account number. Now phone Frans. And then go and have a good night’s sleep. Maybe you’ll dream about me, John, ’cause there never will be a happy ending with me. Ever.”

Jen and Claudia walked back to Jen’s lodge. What a wonderful evening it had turned out to be. There had been an immediate connection between them and, after the initial seriousness of Jen’s situation, they had moved on to the issues of men, ageing, children and just living in general.

“So, tell me a bit about yourself?” Jen had said.

Claudia smiled that warm, endearing smile. “I was widowed only five years after my wedding. My husband was killed in a car accident.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It was the darkest period of my life◦– his death and the fact that we couldn’t have children. Daniel and I had tried to fall pregnant without success. I love children. I guess that’s why I work with them; I feel as if I owe it to those kids who haven’t been given the parents or the love they deserve.”