Page 50 of What Happens in Dubai

‘Raj?’ I probed.

‘Two cancellations this afternoon. I can’t keep doing this, Zara. It’s soul-destroying. You should just take the rest of the afternoon off. Be with Ashley or something.’

‘What?’ I was astounded. ‘Have I done something wrong?’

Raj snapped out of his dwam and smiled.

‘Of course not, but there’s just no point in both of us being here. Spend the day with Ashley, get her back to her crazy self, and we can talk about social media strategy ideas next week. We’re going to need something to turn this place around.’ He looked dampened.

‘You know, I could come in tomorrow and we could brainstorm together?’ I offered.

Raj raised his eyebrows. ‘I have a few scattered clients, don’t be silly. Just enjoy your days off.’

‘Or … I could do some research about the facial balancing idea I was—’

‘Zara!’ he snapped. ‘Just take your days off. We’ll talk about ideas next week with Andy and Ash. And I’ve already said before: facial balancing isn’t suited to younger clients. Drop it.’

My face fell in disbelief.Wow.That was me told.

‘Sure thing. See you Friday.’ I turned around, opened the door and headed back out to the street.

What a dick!I thought, as I stormed across a bustling George Square. I mean, I knew things at work had quietened down since Botox Boxx had opened right across the street, but I never realised how stressed Raj was about it all. Then it occurred to me: maybe it was my fault? I stopped dead as I realised I was the most recent aesthetics practitioner hired. What if Raj was beginning to regret training me up altogether? There were never any issues booking enough clients when Tom worked with us. I found myself doubting my abilities more and more as my head scrambled, thinking up lips and cheeks that weren’t up to scratch. What if Raj felt my work just wasn’t as good as his, and that’s why he told me to leave?

Before I knew it, my worried legs had cut off to the right of the square, and I was standing directly outside the window of Botox Boxx.

The clinic looked fresh, inviting and utterly packed full of younger clientele. A selfie station was set up in the corner, and customers were queued up to stand with the cardboard cut-out of Jackie Stallone holding the‘I’m with her’ props. My eyes squinted through the window, admiring the on-trend décor, from pink shaggy rugs to golden chandeliers to a spray-painted mural of Mona Lisa smoking a joint in the corner. Wow, I got it. I completely understood the buzz.

I moved closer, aching to examine their clinic rooms.

‘Zara?’ Andy had marched out of the clinic and collided straight into me.

‘Andy, wow, hey,’ I giggled clumsily.

‘What are you doing here?’ He began to laugh at how misplaced I looked.

I edged away from the window. ‘Honestly?’ I cringed. ‘I was kind of spying.’

‘On me?’

‘Oh my god, no! No, not at all, sorry – on this clinic.’ The words were pouring out of my mouth at a million miles per hour. ‘This place is so cool and lively, and I suppose I wanted to know why!’ I put my hands to my face, trying to conceal my rosy cheeks.

‘Mon walk down here a wee bit before your cover gets blown, Bond,’ Andy said, ushering me away from the window. ‘What’s going on?’ he asked.

‘Raj sent me home today; there’s not enough work. And I thought I would have a look at the competition, you know. Suss them out.’ I pretended to punch his arm jokingly, before realising how weird I must seem.

‘You know,’ Andy said, placing both hands on my shoulders, pulling me in and whispering in my ear, ‘if you wanted to see inside it, you could have asked me to take photos. I could be your double agent!’ He burst out laughing and started to walk again. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as the smell of his Creed Millésime lingered between us. ‘I sell Juju products to them too, Zara,’ he said.

‘Would that be unethical?’ I asked, walking alongside him. ‘Besides, Raj said we’d all have a meeting about it next week.’

‘No really. Fuck it, I won’t tell if you don’t. Do you know what it is – Raj’s brand doesn’t tailor to that age group. Maybe that’s your problem. Botox Boxx is cool and hip; you guys are classy, high-end and—’

‘Struggling, it seems!’ I interrupted.

‘I’ll tell you what. I’ll get my thinking cap on for you guys next week. The ad campaign shoot is out in a couple of months too and you’re the fucking star! Honestly, your picture isooft!They will be lining up at the door for you!’ Andy stopped and leaned against his grey Mercedes casually; I couldn’t help but admire the shape of his large muscular arms. ‘So, hey, how was Dubai? I bet you’re gutted to be back?’

I felt my face pulsate at Andy’s compliment. ‘Yeah, it was pretty amazing.’ I smiled up towards his tall shadow.

‘Any dramas or anything I need to know about?’ he asked, raising his eyebrow suspiciously.

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