Chapter 5

I was enjoying staying at my brother’s home for many reasons but the main reason being, having a lot of space. Now, again, Jabu did buy a bigger family home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms but our family home was nothing compared to the five bedroom five bathroom home. The bathroom has so much space and not to mention the endless supply of food in Jabu’s kitchen. You would swear that he lived with an army of starved men, but it was just him alone. 

I hadn’t contacted my parents just yet, I was waiting for the right moment and building up the confidence and guts to walk up to them and tell them I dropped out of nursing school and I was now a waitress. I know they won’t take it well, especially since I was the one who spent so many years and time proving to them that nursing was really something that I wanted to go into. I had spent so much of my time as well; two full years at nursing school and I have nothing to show for it. 

Bringing myself out of the nervous thoughts about telling my parents the truth, I focused on what I was doing. I hummed, walking around the kitchen as I danced to the music playing from the speaker. I was playing my favourite genre of music: amapiano and I was dancing to the most recent popular song in the country as I searched around my brother’s kitchen for food. 

If Jabu was here, I would’ve asked him about what I was allowed to eat because I did understand that this was his space and I needed to respect it as much as I can. Besides, I grew up in a family with lots of siblings so I know how it feels when you have your own food stored for later and someone else decides to eat it. But Jabu wasn’t here so I just decided to eat any leftover food and if he got upset when he comes back home, I’ll reason that he wasn’t here so I didn’t know any better. 

I would have to get ready for work soon and wait for Jabu to come pick me up. I was definitely going to make sure that I step up my game from last night because I had never felt more out of place (and I was an albino who stuck out from my family wherever we went).    

My booty moved with each step as I found some left over pizza in his fridge and took it out, before placing two slices on a plate and putting it in the microwave. 

When the microwave beeped, I rushed to take the pizza out and drooled when I looked at the warm sizzling cheese as I took a slice into my hands and lifted it to my lips but just before I could take a bite, I heard three knocks on the door and then the ringing of the doorbell. 

I groaned but put the slice down, I mean do I answer? It's not my house and what will happen if it's one of his "girlfriends". I don't like dealing with that kind of drama. 

I sighed when they rang the doorbell again and I walked to the door, I unlocked it and then opened it. Surprised by what greeted me.

Two massive white guys in suits, with black shades on and tattoos on their bald heads. 

"Yes?" I asked, a bit nervous as I looked at them and they looked down at me. 

"Your brother sent us to fetch you," the one responded and his voice almost made it feel like there was an earthquake. 

I gripped onto the door handle and looked at them with wide eyes. The man had a different accent, one I've never heard before but it was very heavy and his English sounded broken. 

"Jabu?" I asked them just wanting to make sure and they didn't even nod in confirmation or anything they just looked down at me and I swallowed, "uh...I'm not really sure..." I said as I looked up at the two men and went to slowly start closing the door, "my brother probab-" 

"He's busy with the restaurant. He wants you in on time and sent us to escort you, you've got 10 minutes to get ready," the other replied and I jumped as I bit my bottom lip nervously and my stomach growled. 

"Uhm...ok," I whispered as I closed the door, locked it and then sprinted. 

I ran into the kitchen and grabbed the slice of pizza I was going to eat and ran out of the kitchen as I rushed to the bathroom to take a two minute shower. I whistled when I accidentally bit my tongue while I was biting into the pizza while running up the stairs that lead to the bathroom. 

15 minutes later and I was running back down, out of breath when I heard the doorbell being rung again. I was a bit pissed off that I couldn’t get ready in time like I had planned to. I really wanted to look my best but I was working on a strict time limit so I had to pull out the first dress that I had set my eyes on in my wardrobe. The dress was a plaid bodycon that hugged my shape in a complimenting way and the pink of it brightened me up even more. I decided to let my hair down because it made me feel prettier since I didn’t have on any make-up. 

"I'm done," I said out of breath as I looked at the man who stepped aside for me and showed me to an unfamiliar van and opened the back door for me. 

I clutched my purse which contained pepper spray, a pocket knife and my phone, tightly in my hands and let out a breath as I got inside the car and the man closed the door behind me before he went to the passenger side and got in. 

I held my breath, my heart racing as I sat still in the car, looking at the two silent burly men who were rigid and not giving me any attention, and looked outside the window to see if we were taking the same route as the one I took yesterday with my brother. 

I was starting to panic until I saw the familiar Chinatown and I let out a low breath of relief as I saw the familiar roads that led to my brother's restaurant. 

The car slowed down as we parked outside the restaurant and I was more than glad. I didn't even wait for them to fully stop the car before I opened the door and stepped out, not caring and just wanting to get away from the two men. 

I did a little high heel jog to the glass doors which were closed and pulled them open, entering the restaurant and looked around. 

It was... surprisingly empty. There was no Kelly or any of the other waitresses. There wasn't even music playing. I looked around confused until the doors opened and closed behind me and I turned to see the two men and they pointed up the stairs and I gave a slow nod as I climbed the stairs. 

I hadn't come up here last night because it was a VIP section that only Kelly and some other girl served at. But I felt that something wasn’t right because it was just too silent. My mind was running wild thinking about the reason that Jabu could’ve brought me here so early. Maybe my parents were here? Oh God, let it be a terrorist or something else, just not my parents. 

I bit my bottom lip as I looked around the VIP area and I was shocked. The place was a complete disaster, it seemed like a tornado had torn through the room. The tables were thrown all over the place, the chairs were broken and the chandeliers that once swung around here just last night were gone. I brought my hand to my lips in shock.

 "His office," the big man spoke and I jumped at his tone as I turned around and looked to where he was pointing. 

I walked around the tables, and to the brown door. I opened it, and stepped in, seeing my brother sitting down in a chair behind a desk. I would’ve expected him to greet me like he always does, with an eye roll or clicking of his tongue but instead he looked downright terrified when he set his eyes on me. It was like he’d seen a ghost.

My eyes glanced around the room and I realised that Jabu wasn’t alone. A strange man was sitting on the corner of my brother's desk, his legs crossed as though he was the most relaxed he's ever been in his life. He was the complete opposite to the vibes that Jabu was giving out. This man seemed…harmless. I assume that’s why Jabu was a bit nervous but he really did seem harmless. 

The man had boyish features, beautiful innocent looking brown eyes, perfectly pink lips that were a little bit pouty that made him seem like a pretty girl. His nose was the usual pointy nose that you would see on Caucasian men and his skin was a light olive tone with a healthy glow. He was tall, even though he was sitting down, I could tell that he was tall and had to be at least 6 feet. He wore a suit that was definitely designer, and it hugged his body in a complementary way but not hugging his form like second skin. 

He looked like a businessman. 

"Jabu?" I called softly, wanting to walk towards him but I couldn't because just after I spoke one of the men kicked me behind my knees, causing me to fall onto my knees before I was then held in a headlock. His thick arms were around my neck and pressed harder and harder each time I struggled and tried to fight him. I wanted to scream but when I tried to, the air was being drained out of me. 

My heart began to beat faster and it felt like my head was going to explode the more he tightened his hold. I dug my nails into the man's arm but it did nothing. I lost my sight the longer he held on and I could hear Jabu shouting but it was nothing compared to my pounding heart. 

My blurry eyesight became a series of odd colours and shapes, and my feet were kicking, trying to fight the pain but unable to. 

Then suddenly, it all stopped and I gasped, sobbing as everything that I had eaten came right out of my throat and onto the floor. I felt weakened and finished, and I couldn't even fight when one of the guys picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, making me even more nauseas. 

I knew I was supposed to scream, or do something but at that moment I felt the weakest I've ever felt in my life.