An up and coming property developer is excited at the opportunity of a project which will elevate his career and afford him the opportunity of fulfilling his life’s dream. A secure business and family life to share with his lovely partnering wife and the family they plan to start soon.
After battling for many years to bury the nightmares and demons from a life of killing and violence during his years in a special task force unit during his compulsory military service, he could now set this behind him and build a new life.
When his wife, unknown to him stumbles onto the dark side of their employer, his life is turned into turmoil and he is forced to now face a new war to survive a wave of murder and strife.
He has to muster all his skills and training from the years he had fought so long to forget. Will he be able to penetrate the net and fort of his former employer in order to uncover the dark secret before they get to him?
Jt Gilliland was born and raised in South Africa. He spent most of his life in the project management environment and although he has published two books in this field he has decided to dust the novel he had been keeping in the bottom drawer for almost two decades.
His first novel, Molatlhegi was recently released and he carries with him a host of stories. The second novel, a sequel to Molatlhegi is already in advanced stages of development.
In Chapter 3
Anthony suddenly has second thoughts about his dream project however Jane re a firm her confidence in him.
This project will provide them the stability and security required to settle down and start the family they so much long for.
Book Excerpt
Molatlhegi
They covered the drive to their favored restaurant on the banks of the Hartebeespoortdam in silence, Jane not wanting to push and Anthony still deep in thought with his latest feelings of anxiety about the project. "Good evening Mr. Jenkins, Mrs. What a pleasant surprise for you to join us tonight. Would you like a drink at the bar while I prepare your regular table?" "Thank you Dave, yes this was a sudden decision, glad you managed to accommodate us on such short notification. We got some good news and something special to celebrate. Thank you, we will enjoy a drink in the meantime." "Please relax and enjoy your drink; I'll let you know as soon as your table is ready." The fact that he managed to find a reservation at short notice must be a good omen, he thought. While waiting for their table to be prepared they engaged in small talk. Anthony sipping at a whisky and Jane a martini, the view was astonishing with the reflection of the moon dancing on the rippling water to the backdrop of the dark shadows of the Magalies Mountains. "Good evening Mr. Jenkins, Mrs. Welcome with us, I will be taking care of you for the night. Your table is now ready; you are welcome to come through whenever you are ready. " "Thank you Steve, we are ready to go through. Tonight is a special occasion. I'd like for you to suggest the best champagne available." Their regular table offered magnificent views of the lake and the mountain from a secluded spot which created an ambiance of privacy and intimacy, It was easy to imagine, you were the only guests, and the staff went a long way to make you seem special. "Please be seated,” Steve said while seating them, “I will be back shortly to take your order, in the meantime I will research the champagne." After tasting the champagne, a 1985 Dom Pirignon with an aroma of acacia honey and preserved fruit with a fig and raisin flavour, Anthony sat back. "Jane, remember I told you about the tender I have been working on for Hilton Cosmetics?" "Yes, I do. Did you get it?" "Well, no, or not yet, rather it's not decided yet, but I received a call this afternoon to tell me that I'm shortlisted. The race is now apparently between B&C and myself. We need to each submit a final proposal and presentation and based on that the Hiltons will make a final decision." "That is super!" "Well to be honest, that is what I thought, but thinking about this now I am having some doubts about whether I can actually do this. I'm not sure that I have the infrastructure or the real capability and experience for this. I went into this as a test to see how I would fare against the large contractors and for a feel for bidding against them and for such a project. I did not really expect this to happen. What amazes me now, is that only B&C and myself are left in the race. Even with my doubts, I believe I would do a better job than them, though, with a customer such as the Hiltons, money is not an issue, why are the large contractors out? Perhaps I made a huge error in my tender? A big contract like this, should I fail, this will ruin us." "And now, where has my excited husband of earlier disappeared to, I just started to prepare myself to get used to being filthy rich and now you want to fade on me. That is, besides the fact of course that I expect to get the interior decorating contract." The moment was saved for Anthony and his doubts by the waiter returning with their dinner. "Enjoy the dinner, and if you need anything else, please let me know." He said, while topping up their glasses. As soon as he disappeared Jane continued. "Don't get ahead of yourself here, as you say, it is not decided yet, and in any case, should you bail out now, you would not achieve your objective of even completing the tender process. If you are awarded the contract, and you are still uncomfortable, you will still be able to back down. Make sure you are open and honest with your client and don't create unreasonable expectations. They're a large company who certainly did their homework. The success of the project will be extremely important to them, they would not select you without doing their homework, and for whatever it means, I believe you can do this." "I guess you are right, somehow I suddenly gone negative on myself, it happened just so soon, I got caught off guard and now I have this uneasy feeling." "Promise me you are going to be positive about this. All you can do is what I have known you to always do, which is delivering your best. Be positive, the means will take care of themselves." "Thank you my love, as always you know how to lift my spirit when I am down." Although Anthony found it difficult to regain the excitement of earlier the day he felt better once Jane confirmed her trust in him and for the rest of the evening they just enjoyed the time together and before they realized, the time was nearing midnight. "Look at the time, I need to be in the office early for a ten o clock meet with the Hiltons and I still got some preparation to do." Outside at the car Anthony took Jane in his arms. "Thank you my love for a wonderful evening, and also thank you for always being there to cheer me up when needed. We should do this more often." "Don't we always say that? But yes, I did enjoy the evening very much and whatever happens let us take it as it comes." Anthony, after the excitement of the day and the anticipation of what lay ahead found sleep difficult to come and was already in the office by six the following morning preparing for the meeting scheduled with the Hiltons for later the morning. The meeting between Hiltons Cosmetics, B&C and himself to discuss the requirements for the final submission lasted the remainder of the day and it was almost six o clock Friday evening by the time Anthony arrived back at his office. The Hiltons were not going to be an easy client. They were clearly experienced businessmen and as they indicated, they would happily pay the price but they expected quality work. They had a lot to do over the next few weeks, Jenny had gone away for the weekend, though he now desperately needed her. With her here they could have done a lot of preparatory work. After he poured himself a cup of coffee he called Jane to tell her about the meeting and that he would still be at the office for a while. He reviewed his notes from the morning’s discussions while still fresh in his mind, making some additional notes and reminders as well as creating a to do list for Monday morning when Jenny would be back. Perhaps her break was a good idea after all, over the next few weeks there will not be much time off. Close to eight when he left the office, he thought about taking files home, but decided against it. This would also be the last weekend he would be able to spend time with Jane for the next few weeks and there was not that much he could do before Monday in any case. The weekend dragged by. Saturday morning Anthony found himself continuously looking for an excuse to go to the office. Lying in bed, awake by five Sunday morning he thought of rushing into the office to collect some files, he can be back home before Jane even woke up, he thought. By six, unable to contain himself any longer, he woke Jane up with breakfast and coffee in bed. "Come on, if I sit around for another minute I may as well go in to the office. How about, I challenge you to a round of golf." "Sounds good to me, take your wallet, the looser buys lunch." "You're on." It was a lovely Sunday morning and soon Anthony got so absorbed by the game that for the first time the weekend he managed to blank the office from his mind. Both keen golfers, Anthony playing off an eight handicap and Jane off a fourteen, and all too soon they were approaching the eighteenth green with the game all even. "Gotcha mister!" Jane exclaimed as she hit her shot about two meters from the pin. "Looks like you are buying today." "Don't get too excited, I still have to play and you are still a mile away." Anthony's shot was followed by a loud groan as he pushed it out, ending up in the bunker. "Shall we just go now or do you still wanna play?" She teased as he prepared for the bunker shot. As Anthony struck the ball he realized he was never going to live down the defeat as he stared after the ball flying over the green with Jane yelping with joy. "Thanks for the game, let's go for lunch, I'm starved!" Jane called after Anthony as he tried to retrieve his golf ball from the long rough on the other side of the green. The golf club had a lovely outdoor restaurant and for the rest of the afternoon they enjoyed themselves. Enjoying one another’s company and making idle chit chat, avoiding discussion of the project. They completed the day sipping sun downers and watching the sunset as it turned the lake into golden honey until it seemed to be swallowed down in the distance by the lake.
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