Five-star Seduction by Louise Make

haven’t told me why you did what you did yesterday.”
    Thomas sat back, smiling at her enigmatically. All evidence of his mischievous sense of humour had disappeared from his eyes.
    â€œOf course I have, my dear. It’s all I’ve been doing this entire lunch.” He leaned towards her. “There was a second reason I wanted to speak to you. Lazola called me earlier. He’s been called overseas on business and won’t be back for another week. He asked me to apologise to you on his behalf.”
    Langa tried to hide her disappointment. “I see.”
    â€œHe has many demands on his time, my dear. The hotel is only a small part of that.”
    And so are you.
    Langa heard the silent addition loud and clear. Lazola was a busy man with no place in his life for a demanding relationship. His work was everything to him. Langa needed to either accept that or look elsewhere.
    Lazola had woven himself into her being within a matter of months and she couldn’t imagine anything similar with anyone else. But did that mean that she could accept his detachment from her? His feelings obviously didn’t match hers. Could she settle for coming second? Would that not be worse than simply making a clean cut and walking away while she still had the strength?
    â€œThank you for clarifying things, Thomas.” The stiffness in her tone brought sadness to the older man’s eyes. “I’ll be checking out early. Could you see to it that a driver be ready to take me home in ten minutes?”
    Thomas’s hands folded in resignation. “Of course.”
    * * *
    â€œOh sweetie, that’s wonderful !”
    Langa stopped crying for the first time since her friends had arrived at her place. She hiccoughed at Angela in amazement.
    â€œH-how is that wonderful, Ang? I’m t-telling you that I just had my heart broken by a brute and you’re ready to bring out the ch-champagne?”
    â€œShe doesn’t mean it like that, sunshine.” Vuvu plopped herself down on the bed beside Langa. She’d found grapes in Langa’s fridge and was munching her way through a bunch. “It’s more the fact that you’re lying there, a complete basket case over a man. You’re a weepy mess and look like you’ve had a run-in with a locomotive.”
    â€œGreat. Tell me again why I’m friends with you two?”
    â€œBecause you love us?” Angela grinned hopefully.
    â€œI thought it was because of my amazing looks and sense of style.” Vuvu lay down beside her and popped another grape into her mouth. “Now look, you’re not going to see it right away, but from where we’re standing this is pretty flipping marvellous. You’re in love. You’ve found the one for you. It’s the best thing that could ever happen, and Ang and I are happy that you have that.”
    â€œBut I’m not, Vuvu,” Langa sniffed. At least the tears seemed to have stopped. “And I’ll never have him, not the way that I want.”
    Angela sat down on her other side and patted her hair. “Of course you will, sweetie. You just need to calm down a bit and let things run their course.”
    Vuvu nodded. “Yes. Quit trying to tackle the runaway horse and let it come to you.”
    â€œI thought it was a runaway train.”
    â€œThat too. You know what I mean. Step back a little and gain some perspective.”
    â€œYou’re right.” Langa sat up and wiped at her tears. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Lord, Vuvu was right about the way she looked. “There’s no use crying over what I can’t have and can’t change. I need to distance myself from Lazola and pick up the pieces. It’s the only way to heal.”
    Angela jumped up. “No, no, no, sweetie! That’s not what we meant . . .”
    â€œIt’s the only way, Ang. Sorry, but there’s no fairy-tale ending this time.”
    * *