ANOTHER KIND OF DIAMOND (24 page)

That’s cool! I will think about that too and give you a call, okay? Wallis said. Eventually the talk melted to other issue and Pena sensing he shouldn’t overstay his welcome took his leave.

Soon after the guests departed, Isabel also left for her apartment because another agenda was on her mind, so she hurried home to meet up with an all-night party in a friend’s house.

For Isabel, her new life in South Africa is in complete disparity with whatever goals and aspirations Wallis is gunning for even though he is in the dark about this. In her understanding, what the new environment offers is an opportunity to see the world and enjoy all the good things it offers with new found wealth, no more no less. Never in her imaginations did she foresee the kind of goodies coming from Wallis in the present ‘cause even if such thing as riches ever crossed her mind, she never thought it will come from the Wallis she used to know in LA. But all of sudden, wealth dropped at her feet by his hand and she is still struggle to get used to the whole idea. There are times she wondered about how Wallis suddenly turned to gold but would always reach the conclusion that this matter shouldn’t really add up to her concerns so she never asks questions. After all, what Isabel feels for Wallis is not what anyone would describe as a girl’s love for a man and in her own understanding she is here in South Africa by forced circumstances not because she followed her heart. Even so, Wallis has done so much to earn for himself some of her respect so she sometimes considers it necessary to do things right. Besides, as things stands, she has no choice but stick with him while she waits to see what other opportunities that come up in South Africa of her future, but how long the relationship lasts, that what she can’t guarantee.

In her mind set, Isabel never stops searching for her idea of treasures hidden beneath the skies just like Wallis. The difference is that she has no goals because she hates to dream ‘cause it brings back so many memories that are so hard to deal with. So, in the crescendo of night lives and all that goes with it, she tries to build reality out of nothing as frivolous mind basks in euphoria.

Her friends are basically picked out of girls of the nights. Some of them like Fajita are not the core ones and she follows from a distance but to fiery players, Isabel gives her whole heart. The club houses of South Africa rich in good dancing music and amenities like what she was used to back home captured her soul and she embraces fully, parting away the nights with compatriots in frivolity.

She still lives apart from Wallis which to her understanding is a very good development. It offers the opportunity for that pattern of life she aspires and pursues, so night clubs are constant games arenas and she plays without remorse, games well concealed from Wallis’s eyes.

Meanwhile, the man remained steady in his own quest! A better future for his family is all that mattered and Wallis was ready for the sacrifice. On a sunny Saturday in a summer afternoon, Pena came and took Wallis to the Neo Concept Business Men Council for the first time. And just like Pena said, it turned out a very rewarding experience. As he found out, it was indeed a good starting point if you seek to become part of South African business circles. And that day at the Council, Wallis met with a lot of business people and talked to a lot of them on his intentions while seeking good suggestions on how to invest. A dinner party was part of the entire package for added flavor and Wallis liked it all. At the end of the show, he was so delighted that he began considering adopting Neo Concept Christian Fellowship which is the parent body, as his sole place for fellowship as long as he lived in South Africa.

With all the business information he gathered from the outing, he got home and began thinking along the line of opening up a grocery store in the major shopping area of the city. It’s the only business he felt would succeed within the means available to him and in line with all the suggestions he gathered so far. Besides, it also happened to be the kind of thing he is passionate about.

His first step towards realizing his dreams would be to inform Isabel and see how she reacts. If she is favorably disposed towards the idea, both of them will go find a good location for the store and start immediately.

He got home from the business council late Saturday night and went to sleep soon after. The next day which was a Sunday he followed up and went to worship with the Neo Concept and that also turned out quite rewarding. After service, he drove home, had lunch before setting out for Isabel’s apartment. Wallis journeyed to Isabel’s place in high hopes and expectations but all that is now being challenged by the kind of reaction coming from Isabel. She also got home in the early hours of that morning but from a completely different kind of outing because while Wallis sweated it out with business discussions on the floors of the Neo Concept building last night, Isabel was also sweating, but in the bowel of a club house. She was barely awake when Wallis got into her apartment and he questioned that. Why are you still sleepy at this time of the day, what happened last night?

Wallis, don’t come up with that stuff, ok? But if you must know I went out with Ginger!

Who is Ginger?

My new girlfriend I talked to you about! Isabel continued.

Where did you guys go? Wallis asked.

It was an all-night thing in a night club! We went dancing!

How could you go dancing without me Isabel?

Wallis I wasn’t thinking you’ll like to come with me, okay? With the way you are going these days, I don’t think you still care about that sort of thing ‘cause you don’t show interest any more in all the things we used to do back home because of this business thing you’ve got in your head, Isabel continued.

So who was it that had all the time in his hands you went dancing with all night?

Nobody! I just danced with everyone! Listen, Wallis I miss doing stuff like we used to do it back home, that’s all! You got to understand!

Isabel! All these things I’m doing are for your own good! I’m trying to focus and build something for us and you know how hard it is when you are getting started but that doesn’t translate to what you’re talking about. You need to be careful with the way you go about things in this country please.

Chill man! I know what I’m doing okay? You just go ahead and continue to do what you think is right for you! I’ll be doing my own little things too, Isabel said.

Anyway, there are things I want us to discuss so freshen up and join me in the living room.

Reluctantly, she went to shower, dressed, and came out. Care for a beer? She asked.

No thanks. I just came back from a church! Wallis said.

Really! She said with a hint of surprise. What church?

The one Pena talked to us about and I think is a good place to worship. I’ll be going there more often. I hope you come with me sometimes.

I don’t wanna talk about that right now, Isabel reacted.

Baby you are very young. 21 is a difficult time but I’m sure you will understand how things work with time.

I kind of like the way you said that, you know! Isabel reacted. This is my time and I got to enjoy it! What is it you want us to talk about?

It’s about this store I want us to start. I’ve been doing a whole lot on it lately, talked to so many people and did some investigations on my own and from the look of things I’m convinced a Grocery store will work for us. What do you think?

I’ve got no clue on how this kind of thing works but I’m not trying to discourage you. Keep up with it ‘cause is not a bad idea. Isabel reacted

I’m looking for the ideal store building in a good business area and I want us to go see what we can find.

When?

We start on Monday!

Ok! That will work!

Wallis stayed in the apartment with her until the following day and later morning both left for the town in search of their need. He had to put everything to the hunt since he wasn’t ready to settle for just anything. “If you are interested in grocery store business, the key is in finding the right location which must be in an area with the potentials for pulling crowd” That was the chorus in the song of everyone he spoke with and Wallis was convinced too that this is an idea worth trying out thus it became the compass directing all his quests until they found the exact thing they wanted. Luckily too he had the resources and as Pena summed it up, once you have the money, you will always find what you want just like Wallis did.

It didn’t take so long before Folks Super Store began taking roots and with so much energy he threw in it, the venture sprout and stood firmly in no time at all. ‘Pena and Pena Enterprise’ was contracted for the supply of much of the goods.

Now, considering the quantity and quality of items reflected on the floor of Folk store today on the opening day, Wallis had no doubt in his mind he made the right decision. All brands of goods, from simple to the most complex and from all most all parts of the world showcased in the Store. And a proof of how it turned out was an instant hit with the locals and with that began a fast boom.

Chapter Thirteen
 

N
ow, obvious to everyone’s eyes is the fact that Wallis’s life is heading another direction in this land so far away from home. As it turned out, he is a well-established man and flourishing in every sense of the word. This is the fourth year he with Isabel made their successful passage into another land and in that short time he already achieved so much that is pleasing to the heart. His life’s dreams are all gradually fitting in place as he continues making progress.

Another two years consolidated the business arena before his attention shifted to the home front. Since his intention is to stick to the norm in everything he does with Isabel he chose to begin with a formal marriage proposal, and then a wedding would follow.

His choice place for proposing to his bride to be on the floor of one of the most popular Restaurants in Jozi did not come as a surprise to Isabel, but what swept her off her feet was the way and manner Wallis presented the package. He had plotted all the way on how to give his bride the greatest surprise of her life in such a way that every single bit of the whole arrangement was shared only between Pena and Wallis. As Wallis and Isabel left in his car headed to the restaurant, she thought it was for a dinner outing with some friends as she was told by her husband to be, an idea she had loved so much as to invite two of her friends but for the sole purpose of showing off her rich future husband.

Getting into the venue of tonight’s mini party as she described it and noticing the elaborate decorations in a private room set out exclusively for the group, she felt it was unusual but didn’t show surprise. She liked the decorations without doubt because they were really good and made up in beautiful feminine colors that appealed to her artistic mind and for that she was more relaxed as the two took their seats. Soon after, waiters, without beaconing, appeared with reserved orders and sipping from glasses of best South African wine, they waited for their guests
.
Pena was the first
to walk in, shortly after Isabel’s friends also came in, one after another.

With progress in time, every one chattered about things that get talked about in such occasion with each one’s idea of what a good meal is like..

After dinner, drinking continued for a while before Wallis suddenly went on his knees, out of his pocket he took a diamond ring glittering with the beautiful lighting in the room and inscribed in bright colors on a small paper attached to the ring were these words ‘Loretta marry me’! Words Wallis was now reading out loud and clear to Isabel’s hearing.

Isabel’s reaction was that of surprise mixed with some kind of joy that is not easily describable. In her mind she is already committed to Wallis so there is nothing new with his proposal but that he chose the setting in which she now found herself to do it was something she knew she will never forget till her dying day. As a matter of fact, that was the event that earned Wallis some space in her heart where he will be forever remembered as a good man. Meanwhile, her frivolous mind was thinking about what to say for a second when it occurred to her that the spectacular part of this event meant more to her than whatever it is Wallis intends to communicate. There are on lookers and some of them ladies she brought here to impress and for these reasons, she toed the line of; yes! Yes! And their guests applauded with other witnesses and onlookers. It was a successful night in some ways for the occasion achieved its purpose, at list by Wallis’s estimate. Dinner finally came to a close and they set for their homes.

The wedding arrangements followed. Wallis was careful to avoid anything that would bring him and his bride into the spotlight so he planned for something very simple. A private court marriage witnessed by very few close friends like Pena and his wife, Rev. Ache and his wife, a guy he met at the Business Men Council and some of Isabel’s friends like Ginger and Fajita, plus a few more others. Then, after dinner that turned out one of a kind for the few guests followed.

For honey moon, the newly wed settled for a site seeing outing the next day. First was a visit to the Museum where both had astonishing experiences. There were so many beautiful artifacts to see and they loved them all. Some of the things they only thought belonged to the TV screen were right there in their faces and in so many varieties and colors that both were grateful for the opportunity.

The Zoo proved even more interesting. They could see live all kinds of animals they thought belonged only to the TV. Isabel was particularly drawn by the Lions and the Tigers and taking a closer and more critical look at them she saw nothing but a blend in beauty and furry and unable to connect this association in her mind she turned to her husband. Wallis, she beckoned, look at these lions and tigers in their unique kind of fur ain’t they beauties? Now they seemed calm and minding their business yet could lose their cool and harm someone in a minute, why? How could something so beautiful be so dangerous at the same time? Isabel has never seen such animals that close before now and she gazed on in wonder. For a moment, she thought of herself as something closer to a tigress than the normal human female as she tried to relate to one in a more personal way. She tried probing more intensely as if in search of what it truly represents and could find nothing but the exclamation, “awesome!” “But ruthless,” the sound of Wallis’s voice echoed. “That’s if you tease them!” Isabel who was focusing on a caption ‘DO NOT TEASE’ on a wall facing her reacted spontaneously. The caption seemed to engage her for a moment but quickly she shifted eyes to her husband. Thinking of what to say to him right now, I love you was formed in her brain but her heart refused to register, instead she drew him real close and gave him a shallow kiss. Wallis liked that all the same and responded fully.