Some of the lines used here are from one of my favourite books by Wanitta Praks, Maid to the Mafia.
Mandy is forced to marry a heartless and abusive mafia king to pay back the loan her parents took 15 years ago.
Ayanda didn't think he'd change or fall for a woman since his mom left him when he was only 5. But that's until he meets Mandy a loving and caring 20 year old girl who doesn't want him at first but eventually falls for him.
Excerpt:
I always knew that my parents disliked me but today they showed that they don’t dislike me they hate me so much. They know very well that I’m starting a new job tomorrow, actually not just a new job it’s my dream job but they decide to drop a bomb on me.
It’s 8AM I am taking a long bath after cleaning the yard and house for 3 hours. I always wake up at 5AM every Sunday so I can clean the house and yard. My parents are the most untidy people ever. They always host their stupid parties almost every Saturday with the food I bought, and I have to clean up when I wasn’t part of their parties. Psssh as if I’d join them.
“Mandy hurry up, we have guests” my mom budges into my room without even knocking I hate it when she does that.
“Give me 5 minutes” I tell her.
“You need to hurry up. They are very important people they can’t be kept waiting” she tells me.
Gosh this woman can be annoying. She can see that I’m still bathing after 3 hours of cleaning their mess.
“I said 5 minutes if they can’t wait that long they can leave” I tell her.
“You’re so annoying” she leaves slamming the door it rattles on its hinges. I bought that door you know.
I take my time, her guests can’t tell me what to do and what not to do. Why is she even dressed up? When was the last time I saw her dressed up? Gosh I can’t even remember. Now I’m curious let me hurry and see her guests. After 10 minutes I’m done. I walk into the lounge and the atmosphere changes. There’s something about the men in black suits. They are very powerful and very handsome I must say. Even my loud parents are very quiet. I walk into the room, all eyes on me. I sit next to my mom. I greet them. The old man smiles and greets me but the young one just nods looking around the house with a disgusted look. So rude. We sit in uncomfortable silence.
“Mntanami (my child) we have something to tell you” my dad tells me.
Okay something huge is going on here. My dad has never called me that even when I bought him the most expensive whiskey. Okay maybe not that expensive but it did cost me a lot you know and he finished it within 2 days my God was I hurt.
“Kanti didn’t you tell her?” the young man asks clearly annoyed.
“What’s going on here?” I ask when my parents go mute.
“Can you tell her already, we don’t have all day” the young man replies.
“Ayanda relax. Will you?” says the old man.
So his name is Ayanda he’s really handsome even Trey Songz is not this handsome gosh. Pity he’s rude.
“This is not easy Mandy, the Nxumalo’s are here because your father…” that’s my mom she doesn’t finish the sentence. I just keep quiet I’ll wait for them.
“Your parents took a loan from me 15 years ago and when they couldn’t pay me back, they made a promise that when you turn 21 they will marry you off to my grandson” Mr Nxumalo tells me.
I’m sitting here hoping it’s some kind of a sick joke. I mean my parents have been tryna hook me up with people for money. That’s why I kinda ran away after Grade 12. I decided to stay at res only came home unannounced and leave the very same day. Besides I had to work otherwise we’d live in a 2 room shack forever.
“Is this one of your annoying jokes mom?” I ask my mom. I see tears in her eyes.
Why is she crying? What kind of parents make promises like that? Are they even my real parents?
“I’m not marrying him” I tell them pointing Ayanda. “And I’m not leaving” I tell them and I walk outside with the plan to run away and never look back.
I can’t marry an arrogant ass. I walk out the gate. But there are men in black carrying big guns. What have my stupid parents done? All the neighbours are peeping through their windows. I try to run but I can’t outrun these men. They stop me I scream my lungs out with the hope that someone will call the police or be brave enough to help me but none of that happens. My parents run towards me with worried faces but I know they are not worried about me. Some parents we have. The guards take me back to the house. My head hurts from all the screaming and fighting. I’m still screaming when they put me on the couch.
Mr Nxumalo is still smiling at me if I had a gun I’d shoot that mouth I don’t need his stupid smile right now. Ayanda is typing on his phone like nothing is happening.
“Mandy stop it” my mom screams at me. I see Ayanda flinge.
“Don’t you dare” I tell her. I’m very respectful but right now I feel like slapping the shit out of her. Never felt like that before. I need to come up with a plan. I need to get myself out of this mess right now.
