Chapter 5:A Fresh Beginning

'Holiday Ohh, Holiday, and the best one of the years dozing off underneath my sheets, while I cover both my ears.

But if I wait for that holiday, could it stop my fears?

To go away on a summer's day, never seemed so clear.' ~ Vampier Weekend

The song traveled through Etienne’s ears as he stared out his window of their Uber that had come to pick them up from the airport about 15min ago, it was a drive but there were finally in the city, seemingly fascinated by the city of Sandton. He smiled at the marvelous architecture, the people going about their day, the different colors, everything just left him in awe, a contrast to where he was before.

“André tell me how life is really like here, I’m really excited about the life here…I’m not sure why, but a part of me feels like I’m home"? asked Etienne looking at him eagerly to hear his answer.

“Of course, it’ll feel like home, you spent quite some time here with your family, and yeah, it's really cool here, they have a lot of franchises here local and international. Once we settle in we can go get lunch at Woolies Café, they have the best carrot cake, I’m sure you’ll love it.”

"You are really trying to make me hungry…and it's working, but first we have to visit the hospital and make sure granny’s okay, it was a long journey, why couldn’t they fly here as well?”

“You know Etienne the specialist preferred that she drives here instead, I took was a bit surprised, but I surpassed it, don’t think too much about it, all is well.”

Etienne nodded in response.

They made their stop at the entrance of a complex “La Casa de Rivonia”. It was an apartment block the size of `half a skyscraper, colored in grey, white, and cream with a big sign hanging off one of the buildings that had the name of the apartment on it, and at the entrance stood 4 security guards.

“Good day, Dr. de Villiers, it’s great to see you…hope the trip was great?” asked one of the security guards with a warm smile. After pressing some things on his phone, the gate opened and the Uber driver drove in and was told where to stop, Etienne had a glance at Andre due to the formalities he had just witnessed.

“Go this way, the elevator is on the right,” said André as the two dragged their bags on.

“André, this place looks like a business park than an apartment”.

“Ha, you’re funny Etienne, you think this is grand, there are far more amazing places and apartments. La Casa de Rivonia is a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment, with 93m² double garages with a beautiful view from the balcony. It has a fully equipped gym, big pool, underground parking areas, meeting rooms, and my personal favorite biometric access control to the facility. I really like the area and house, though it is a bit far from work, I manage.”

Etienne was amused by the place, and he knew he was going to have a blast living there.

Growing up around André was fun and exciting cause of all the fun things they would do together when he was around him, he never felt sad for losing his parents because André reminded him of his mum by resemblance, and the way he acts reminded him of his dad’s fun and bubbly personality, so he got the best of both worlds in one single person. André was there for him then and now, how lucky he was, knowing that henceforward his life would always be filled with joy.

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"Bryson, listen...there's this club we have to try, it's called ‘Diamante’ they have the best singers, dancers, both male and female strippers, we should definitely try it and see how it goes…they’re even offering a 10% discount for first-time guests". Said Seth as he was scrolling through his phone.

"I am in no time to be going to clubs, I’m extremely busy, besides this company can’t run itself…moreover how the heck did you even find such a place"? asked Bryson as he continued typing on his computer.

“Come on man, it’s a club…people always find clubs. Andrew already bailed on me…something about having to strengthen our company’s ISO security.” Seth responded.

“Why can’t you just go by yourself, I’m really busy don’t feel like going out at the moment.”

“I can’t go clubbing alone, your just 26, why you are acting like you are 45…you better not be rejecting because of Natalie, man I thought that girl was out of your mind.”

Bryson glared at him.

“Yes, I am 26 and own a multi-million company that I am planning to take to the next level, Natalie is past news and I have gotten over her, but what you’re not going to see is your age of 45 if you don’t get the hell out and let me work…get someone else to go with you.”

“Geez, such a buzz-kill…fine I’ll get someone else. You and Andrew can stare at your screens all day.” With that Seth left with Bryson side glancing at him before chuckling.

“What the hell was I thinking when I made him the CFO (Chief Financial Officer)”.

Bryson really was busy running his company. Lawsons’ Corporation was a group of companies that dealt with many aspects of the corporate world, from entertainment, logistics to real estate and business management solutions, he needed to have all hands on deck for this business, and being the Executive Director didn’t make life any easier, but he worked smart and not hard. He was the chief of the hiring committee and only took in the best in the corporate world, getting into Lawsons’ was like trying to go get into a prestigious university like Oxford or Harvard, hence with his commitment and top-class dedicated staff he and his business was a force to be reckoned with.

Although his business life was a great success his personal life was well…not so much. His parents were understanding but overbearing at the same time…don’t even know if that’s possible. He was constantly under pressure to get a girlfriend, marry her, and bear heirs that will take over his company, and being his age it wasn’t helping matters. What his family didn’t know was that Bryson was homosexual, and for the longest time since his high school days, he knew he wasn’t interested in girls, and to top it off he was ridiculously picking…like f*ck, if he saw one mishap in the person he would bail like fast.

Only his friends know this and by friends, I mean Seth and Andrew, 2 of the people he trusted with his life, there were there for him through thick and thin and they were the first people he came out to more like the one 2 people he came out to. This trust was what made him include them in his business, Seth the CFO, and Andrew the Marketing and Software Executive.

He had a nice life, but he couldn’t ignore the feeling in his chest of having to find his partner, a significant other, another he will love and cherish for all eternity. It was just unknown that, that person was soon approaching.