The Candidate's Wife

THE CANDIDATE’S WIFE

By

Thabi Majabula

Published by Thabi Majabula at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Thabi Majabula

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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of this author.

This is a work of fiction. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER ONE

You don’t have many options. You either marry a citizen of this country, or go back home in three months, said Senator Tyger, returning Za’s work and travel documents.

I can’t go home. I just can’t, said Za. She was unable to put the papers in her bag as her hands had lost the power to do anything.

Then get married.

I don’t know anyone I can marry in so short a time!

Marry me.

Excuse me? said a shocked Za. The Senator was not cracking a smile, she was looking at her with all seriousness.

Marry me.

But Senator…you’re a woman, gasped Za.

Are there men lining up to marry you? Za looked down.

In this country, you can marry a person of any sex. I need a wife, you need citizenship, it’s a perfect match, said the Senator. Za stared at her, trying to ascertain if she was playing with her or being genuine.

Go home, think about it and let me know in fourteen days. If I don’t hear from you then, I’ll find someone else to marry, continued the Senator. Za put her documents in her bag and stood.

This part of our conversation is private. If I read or hear that you mentioned my proposal to anyone, you’ll be on the first plane back to wherever you came from, said the Senator. Za left in a daze.

She caught the bus home on automatic pilot. In her apartment, she sat in the dark, going over her conversation with the Senator. She had been through all the suggestions that the Senator could have made, but it had never occurred to her that the Senator would have made such an unconventional proposal.

Over the next few days, she went on several dates with people she had grown up with, but as she had known, there was no way any of them could marry her, and no way that she could marry any of them.

After her fourth date, she decided to phone the Senator.

Tyger, said the Senator.

Good evening Senator. My name is Zamile Vela, we met last week about…

I remember.

I’ll take you up on your offer.

Meet me on Monday evening at six. Can you make it to my office?

Yes, Senator. The phone clicked, the Senator had cut the call. Za looked at the phone, thinking that the Senator was very rude. It cost nothing to say bye before ending a phone conversation.

She wondered how she would tell her parents that she would be marrying a woman. They would hit the roof. She decided to marry first, and tell them later.

She was nervous as she entered the Senator’s office.

Sit down, said the Senator, without looking at her. Za sat down and watched her. She was perusing papers before her on the desk. She raised her eyes and looked at Za.

We’ll get married over the weekend, she said.

So soon? Za was shocked.

You’ll move in with me, and appear at as many functions as I need you to.

Senator…

"We need to have one story about when we met and why we married each other. I can’t divorce you before we’ve been married for at least two years. Don’t bother asking me for a divorce before then. Firstly, if we divorce before then, you’ll be deported, secondly, my political opponents will accuse me of involvement with illegal immigrants and I’ll lose credibility and votes. I’m going places, Ms Vela, and I can’t afford to get involved with anyone or anything that will discredit me.

If we do this, I expect you to be available on demand, and I expect you to be discreet. I need to be able to trust you completely. You’ll run my home, and you’ll have many people asking you questions about me, you, our relationship, our marriage, and my political career. You’ll work with my image consultants this week, they’ll groom you on what to say and how to carry yourself and dress.

I work!

Quit. You still have ten weeks’ stay in the country, no one will send you away before then.

I need money.

I’ll settle an amount on you as your wedding present. If we divorce, you won’t be getting any more money from me. The wedding present will also be the divorce settlement. We’re getting married out of community of property. We’ll fly out to another state to get married. Our marriage will become public knowledge in about ten days, then you’ll be thrust into the lime light. Do you have questions?

Why me?

That’s not important. The important question is, are you in or out?

I’m in.

We’ll go on several dates this week, then you’ll move in with me after we marry.

This is all happening so fast.

I’ll see you tomorrow evening, I’m coming to your house for dinner.

What?

This has to look real. People will be suspicious if we marry from nowhere. On Wednesday, you’ll come with me to a meeting. On Thursday, you’ll join me for dinner in my home. On Friday, we’re going to a dinner together. My driver will take you home after my image consultant takes your measurements. She’ll bring you new clothes tomorrow, when your training begins.

What is the rush? Instead of responding, the Senator looked at the papers before her.

We’ll sign a prenuptial contract. I’m looking at it, but I won’t give it to you yet because I don’t want our arrangement going public. I’ll give it to you to read and sign the night before we get married.

I won’t have time to look it over with my lawyer.

Ms Vela, I don’t need problems. You’ll get training, and if my consultants are happy with you, then you’ll see the contract.

Is that fair to me?

Life’s not fair. That’s a fact of life. Let’s go. I’ll be dropped off at home, then my driver will take you home. I’ve had you thoroughly investigated because I don’t want nasty surprises. Let’s go.

In the chauffeured car, Za sat watching the Senator, who was constantly on the phone. Her calls ended.

You’ll meet my consultant when we get to my home. It’s imperative that I introduce you to people so there can be no cases of mistaken identity. Unless I introduce you to someone, do not believe anything they say I told them to say or do to you. Do you understand?

Yes, Senator.

Have you eaten?

No.

You’ll dine with me.

The car stopped, Za looked about. There were beautiful grounds and the house beside the car was big and beautiful. Za could not stop her jaw from dropping. The door opened and the Senator climbed out of the car.

Madam? said the driver. Za looked at him and realised that he was waiting for her to climb out. She climbed out and followed the Senator. There was a butler at the door who greeted her and closed the door behind her. She looked about as she followed the Senator. The place was decorated well and everything blended well.

Za noticed that the Senator had stopped, she stopped as well, and looked about. They were in a lounge, and there were people in it. The Senator was talking to them, some of them kept glancing at Za. She felt her heart pound with nerves. The Senator turned to her and beckoned. Za approached and stood beside the Senator.

The Senator was a few inches taller than her, and of medium build. Za was slightly more full figured. The Senator introduced her as someone who would be among her personal assistants. She introduced everyone to her as they would all meet in the course of their work. Za did not remember a single name, there were so many of them and so many faces.

The only ones whose names and faces she memorised were Maura and Terry. Terry was the Senator’s aide and Maura was her image consultant. Dinner was announced and everyone went to the dining room. Za did not eat much. She was glad that no one paid her any attention. After dinner, the Senator walked her to the car.

Senator… said Za.

My name is Rose, use it, said the Senator.

Rose, I’m not sure that I can…

See the week out, then we’ll talk, said the Senator, then she left.

Next morning, Za went to work as usual.

What are you doing here? asked Phil, her supervisor.

I work here, remember?

You resigned.

I did not!

You sent me an email.

I…

It was from a different address, but it was from you. Sign the email and be off. Your pension will be paid out to you as you requested.

But…

Sign, Zamile. I don’t have all day to spend chattering. Za looked at the printed email, it had her name at the bottom. It was informing Phil that Zamile was resigning, effective immediately, because she had pressing family business to attend to. She looked at Phil. He handed her a pen. She signed and left in a daze. What was she going to do, now that she was jobless?

She was surprised to find someone waiting for her outside her apartment.

Ms Vela, we’ve been waiting ages. Senator Tyger doesn’t like to be kept waiting. If you’re to work with her, you’ll have to be prompt, all the time, said Terry, one of the women that the Senator had introduced Za to.

What are you talking about? asked Za.

We had an eight o’clock appointment with you, it’s half past nine now. I won’t be able to get through everything today. We’ll have to start at seven o’clock tomorrow, if we’re to get through everything. Let’s get into your home, and get to work.

Terry left at half past seven in the evening. She and Za were starting to get on each other’s nerves. Za was glad to see her leave. She noticed the time, and rushed to put a meal together. She had hoped to impress the Senator with her cooking skills, but given the short time that she had before the Senator arrived, she knew that she could not accomplish that.

Her doorbell rang at eight o’clock exactly. She went to open the door.

Senator, I mean, Rose. Welcome to my home. Come in, she said. The Senator greeted her and entered, looking exhausted. Za led her to the lounge and invited her to sit down. She excused herself and went to fetch drinks in the kitchen. When she returned the Senator was asleep. Za did not have the heart to wake her. She went to finish cooking and brought the food to the lounge. When everything was set, she sat on the arm of the Senator’s chair and watched her.

She’s absolutely gorgeous, she thought. The Senator had a long face, her eyes were closed, fanned by long black lashes. She had a nose that suited her face, and she had full lips. She looked like a member one of the Native American tribes. Za could not resist caressing her cheek. The Senator opened her eyes and frowned.

It’s time to eat, said Za.

You can stop touching me now. Za removed her hand and sat in her own seat. The meal was eaten in silence. Za was unhappy that the Senator dealt with the food as if it was something that she had to get over and done with quickly, instead of savouring it.

"Did