Hard decisions.

Themba led Dineo into his room.

"Sit down". He said in a tone that sounded more of a command.

" Thank you". Dineo sat down and examined the room with her eyes.

It was a plain white room with white and blue furniture. The room contained a large bed with white beddings, a set of white chairs and a glass table, a large wooden wardrobe and blue curtains.

"It's beautiful". Dineo commented.

" I got it from Paris".

"You got a whole room from Paris?" She asked.

"What, a room?". Themba was confused.

" You thought I was talking about your clothes?". Dineo couldn't help but smile. "Well, they are beautiful too".

Themba fumed inwardly but didn't let his anger show. His plan was to lure her into marriage and then take his revenge on her.

" First you messed with me at the airport and then ruined my car a day after and now you're making fun of me. Wait Dineo, you just wait and I'll show you". He thought wickedly to himself.

"So, tell me a little about you". Dineo asked.

" Well, I am the heir to big cooperation".

"You're stating the obvious. Tell me something I don't know".

" I love your sister". He said before he could stop himself.

Dineo held her breath and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

" Love?" It was all she could say in response.

" Even in death, I still do".

" I don't know what to say".

"You never knew her, she is very special and very much unlike you".

Dineo's head rang. She had been overshadowed by her sister all her life and now it's happening again. She felt stupid to have thought things would change in Joburg where her sister was widely known. Tears streamed her face.

" Very much unlike me?".

"Oh common! She is beautiful, nice, intelligent and very dear in everyone's heart".

" And I'm not?". She stammered.

"You're just a village girl that owes me a lot of money". He paused to observe her reaction. " Your father stole my money and you're are payment for his debt, if you even worth enough".

A voice screamed in Dineo's head, a voice that told her Themba's words weren't true.

"You're a liar". She screamed with all her might. " Ayanda is the one that owes you".

"No, she isn't. I love her and she loved me too. We agreed to date because it would save her father and also make us happy. It was my plan to make Ayanda mine".

" You bastard". She said and regretted her words almost immediately.

" I will watch what I say if I were you, you slave".

Dineo walked angrily out of Themba's room and headed straight to the gate.

" Dineo, Dineo, come back here". Her mother screamed behind her.

She left the house, deciding in her mind never to go back.

*******************

Dlane Villa, later that night...

Themba slept that night with deep regret. He hated the way he spoke with Dineo.

"She didn't deserve it. She shouldn't have to be punished because of my inner demons. No, she shouldn't". He said aloud. He dialled her number to apologize to her but her phone was switched off. He wanted to go to her hotel room but restrained himself. Themba felt deeply sorry for his actions but woke up the next day with his heart hardened and a new plan of revenge in his mind.

*******************

Dineo's eyes were stained with dried-up tears as she made the hardest decision of her life. She took her pen and paper and started to write.

Themba Dlane,

I sincerely apologize for the inconveniences I might have unknowingly caused you and your family last night, I never meant to. It will never happen again as I am set to leave for the Eastern Cape. I don't know what my family owed you but I am not ready to be anybody's slave, I have bigger plans. I hope you will be able to sort things out with my parents or accept Ayanda's love as enough payment.

- Dineo Ipleng Khumalo.

After writing the letter and having it delivered to the Villa, she packed her luggage determined to go back to the Eastern Cape There was no going back. She had had enough of the ill-treatment meted out to her.

The phone rang, it was her mother. Dineo refused to pick the call. Her mother was the last person she needed to talk to at the moment. She figured her mother had heard about the text and wanted to persuade her not to go.

Her phone beeped again, it was a text message from her mother. She rolled her eyes.

" Your dad got arrested". The text read.

"What". She screamed aloud.