Disclaimers: This work is a work of fiction and is my property.
The story and characters are fictitious and any resemblance to anyone or any actual event is coincidental. There are three distinctly different main characters that will appear as the story progresses.
You should be legally allowed to read this type of material before continuing.
As it is based on an actual book, I had published a few years ago – free for your enjoyment – the story will not contain explicit material in all the chapters BUT don't fret, as it is more the exception than the rule.
Note that there will be a violent scenario. If this will trigger any trauma for you, please be aware of it before you start reading.
Please direct any comments or feedback to my email address at davidrolsynauthor2019@gmail.com.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
James
Our session on the beach earlier was unbelievable. I took a risk in taking Daniel like that, but I wanted him to know how fucking crazy I was about him. First, physically and then verbally.
He didn't say he loved me, although, on a physical level, I know it to be true. It's just in the way he responds to me. I suspect it's because he's scared. Afraid that all this will come to an end when I leave, just as he's getting himself back on track, emotionally. I haven't even begun to ask him what he's planning to do now that he's unemployed and has no parents to go back to.
So, laying here on my bed with him in his room, I have time to think about how I can make this work. When I leave for the States, all this will be over and no matter how much we may try to make a long-distance relationship work, it will not survive.
Our relationship is simply too new, for starters, and with me permanently based in New York, it will become too difficult and painful to maintain.
With my thoughts plaguing me on what's an inevitable outcome for us, I fall asleep.
The next morning, I wake up with a realization hitting me square in the head. I work for myself and have no ties that bind me back home. Except for my mom and my business network, who I chat too mostly via social media, email, Skype or my phone, I can pretty much work from anywhere in the world.
That's the beauty of my chosen career.
Thank God for technology and I know what I need to do.
After breakfast, where Daniel continues to be quiet, I tell him I'm going out for the day. His face pales a little but I don't react on it. Rather play dumb to his obvious displeasure.
I call Joe and thirty minutes later he arrives to pick me up.
I get in. "Hey Joe. How you doing?
"Good morning James. I'm well and you? You sleep well?"
"Yes, thanks. Please take me to a coffee house or something similar but not around here. I need some privacy to make a few calls."
"Sure thing." And he drives off.
As we drive towards the city, I give Mark a call.
"Hey there James. Is Daniel ok?"
"Yes, thanks, he's fine. He's not the reason I'm calling you though. I was wondering if you know of any reputable estate agents you can refer me to?"
He pauses. "You thinking of staying here permanently?"
"Yes."
"I'm not surprised. I thought you might, since it's obvious to me that you care a lot for Daniel. And, I do know somebody, but let me get her to contact you. She sold me and my wife our place a few years ago and was very professional and diligent. I trust her."
Coming from him, that's a huge compliment.
"I would appreciate it immensely. You're welcome to give her my details. I'll wait for her call then."
We chat a bit more about how our respective businesses are doing, since we both work for ourselves and hang up, just as Joe stops in front of the entrance to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. I haven't been here yet.
The entire complex is huge, made up of a mall, an open-air shopping centre and a harbour pier, with a multitude of restaurants. I make my way to the harbour side and sit outside a coffee house.
Sea gulls are annoyingly everywhere, making loud shriek noises. So much so, that I get up and move inside.
I call my mom first and explain what I'm planning. She isn't too pleased about it but is happy for me. Since she also travels a lot, she understands the concept of a global village very well.
With a, "I'm happy for you, son", and, "I hope to meet him soon," we end the call.
While sipping on a Cappuccino, my phone rings. It's an unknown number with a South African dialling code. For a split second, I'm apprehensive that it may be Johan, but then recall my earlier conversation with Mark and answer it.
"Hello, James Leonard speaking."
"Good morning Mr Leonard. It's Samantha Cloete here. Mark gave me your number."
"Pleased to hear from you. Please call me James."
"Same here, call me Sam."
"I'm looking for a house in a decent enough area in and around Cape Town and since you can probably hear I'm American, or maybe Mark told you so, I have no idea where to look. I want to buy it in the name of myself and a South African young man. I'll be paying for it in full and don't need a mortgage."
"Wow, that's exciting. Can I make an appointment to meet with you and show you what we have in our listings? Then we can go have a look at the ones you'll be interested in?" Her voice gives her eagerness away. This must mean a lot for her in terms of commission. So be it.
"Sure. Where would you like us to meet. I'm at the V and A Waterfront, I believe the locals call it."
"Our offices are about an hour away from you. If you're prepared to wait, I can come over right now."
"Perfect. I'll be here. Just give me a call when you arrive, so that I can get one of the waiters here to direct you."
"See you soon, Mr Leon... James."
I swear I heard her shout for joy before the phone disconnected. It makes me smile. Hopefully more than just myself will be happy about my decision. I certainly hope Daniel will be.
Sam arrives less than an hour later and has a catalogue of houses for me to look at. We match those in my price range, and the areas she suggests, and head off in her car to go have a look at them. I text Joe to leave and that I'll call him when I need him later. He knows he'll get paid either way.
In her Mercedes Benz, we first head off to an area called Plattekloof, which is way out of Cape Town itself and is on an escarpment, overlooking the low-laying suburbs, with Table Mountain, the city and the ocean in the distance.
The view is nice enough, but I don't feel I'm old enough or have children to live in this kind of environment. It's also too new an area for my liking.
Then we drive all the way back to the city and head up a steep road at the foot of Table Mountain into an area called Tamboerskloof. I remember passing by this area a while ago and it's more my style. Eclectic and bohemian in a way, especially when I look at the different styled houses, some old and some modern, and the types of people walking around the neighborhood.
We look at two houses and the second one I like. It's a three-level modern home with a deck on its flat roof, overlooking the city and the mountain, to the right side.
To my left, I can just make out the ocean.
I hand her my business card. "It's perfect. I'll take it. Can you possibly have someone, probably an interior designer, quote to furnish it and make sure I have all the linen, curtaining, crockery, glassware and cutlery I need? Not forgetting, household appliances and the like. I will take care of any artwork. I want to choose those myself."
I'll bring some personal affects and a few art pieces back from my place, when I go to give up my lease and wrap things up back home.
"We actually have a division that does that and I'll let them send you some ideas." She brims with excitement.
"I want this to be in both me and my lover's names and I'll mail you his details. He doesn't know yet, so please don't let anyone contact him. I want to surprise him with it. Once he accepts my proposal, we will sign and the designer can get to work. Ok with you?" I can see by her expression that she realises that all this depends on whether Daniel says yes. She looks down and then back up with a less than genuine smile.
I try and appease her fears. "I'm sure he will, so let's just get the basic details in place, and then I will let you know on Monday, maybe even during the weekend, if he has said yes. I have to play this right. Timing is everything."
"Very well." She says rather curtly.
She'll just have to be patient. My timing with Daniel has to be right and I'm not signing an Offer to Purchase until he says yes and signs it with me.
"I know I have to make an offer, so you can draft that in the meantime, with both our names, and send it. As soon as he signs, I will scan and email it to you and then give you the original when I see you."
"Sounds good. As I am obligated to take the first offer I receive, I'll make an exception and wait on this. If I haven't heard from you by Monday at noon, I'll make it available again should anyone else be interested. Fortunately, I have sole mandate on the house."
Probably means she's the only agent selling it.
"Agreed and thank you. In any event, I'll have the decency to contact you regardless of what happens."
"Thank you. I'd appreciate that."
She takes me back to the hotel at around four in the afternoon and I go upstairs, looking for Daniel. I'm excited to tell him but I contain myself. Difficult but possible.
He isn't in his room when I knock and I head back downstairs and find him napping next to the pool, under an umbrella.
He's only got those sexy light-blue swim briefs of his on.
I pause to study him. He's really such a gorgeous man.