Page 87 of What Happens in Dubai

I puffed my cheeks out in frustration, still only a few inches from his face.

‘But can we let this moment last a little longer, Zara?’

I shut my eyes, trying to avoid reacting to the mound of cream being released between my thighs, while feeling my heart twang.Why does my vagina not understand girl code?I knew he was bad news, and I wouldn’t be duped by this man all over again.

He must have sensed my hesitance because I felt his soft lips kiss my forehead and then he pulled away.

He bent down, lifting the photo from the ground and smiled.

‘Let’s get this packed up, eh?’ he said. ‘It’s been a busy day!’

Gently, he pushed my shoulder, and I giggled back. We lifted the boxes out the back and placed the goodies around the clinic.

After Tom dropped me back home, I showered and looked over invoices from the past few days. Ashley had headed to Emily’s for dinner after the shoot, and was taking her time to return. As much as I enjoyed the peace, everything felt incredibly quiet without her. I continued to examine the figures, trying hard to concentrate before the Ashley madness returned. But no matter how much I tried not to, my mind swayed. I couldn’t help replaying that moment between Tom and I. That enticing moment. My head was full of what ifs.What if I had just kissed him?Tom was undoubtedly wrong for me, I didn’t want a relationship with him at all, but the connection I felt when I was with him was electrifying.Why do I feel like this after everything he did to me? After the months of cursing him and wishing I had never even met him, of building myself back up again. What did I actually want? Closure? An opportunity to fuck him over? Decent sex? I honestly didn’t know.

I lay in bed tossing and turning, hoping for a moment when my mind would switch off Tom Adams and get back to business, but it never came.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Over the next few days, my mind remained obsessed with my close encounter with Tom. I played it down, convincing myself it was nothing, but still found myself pining over his WhatsApp picture, carefully calculating when he went online and wondering who he was actually speaking to. More than once, I had to have a severe chat with myself, which left me feeling entirely in control of the situation. But the moment I saw him, I found myself laughing harder at his piss poor jokes than I ever had before. Maybe I was just enjoying the attention … I hadn’t had any decent action in a while now.

I didn’t reveal to Ashley how I felt because I found it difficult to comprehend it myself. After all, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was feeling. Maybe I was just really horny and needed a good shag. After all, Cameron hadn’t been up to much. Was I just craving a rebound?

But at the back of my mind, I was afraid it was more than that. Why was I rediscovering this unhealthy obsession with him? The cunt who almost cost me my career, diminished my self-love and provoked me into forgetting about personal hygiene entirely. Surely not?

I had to stay strong. The clinic was getting more productive by the day. We hadn’t even revealed the new concept on our social media platforms, but Ashley had shared tasteful ‘coming soon’ videos, providing flashes of the newly refurbed clinic. Clients who were previously booked in got the complete facial balancing package and recommended it to their friends, causing waves.

Raj seemed none the wiser when he FaceTimed most nights. I was riddled with guilt as I kept the refurb of his business completely under wraps. My plan was to show him the figures first and hopefully he would understand the concept later. Raj luckily didn’t ask many questions about the clinic and was more boastful about his current digs in Dubai. He worked only a few hours a day and said he spent more time socialising with Juju reps. He was devouring Dubai and seemed thankful for the change of prospect.

It had been almost a fortnight since Raj had left, and I’d worked every day since. Tom and Ashley insisted I took the morning off, and given the fragile state of my mental health, working every second with my sexy hunk of an ex, I decided some time away from the situation would be good. I found myself wandering to Coia’s for brunch with Emily, keen to catch up.

‘Hi, Zara,’ she smiled as she greeted me in her tiny white tennis skirt and crop top.

‘Hey, Em,’ I replied, mimicking her high-pitched tone of voice. ‘You look insane. Like tiny and straight off a Robinsons advert or something, but insane.’

She laughed. ‘Thanks. I had a match at the gym this morning.’

I immediately felt put to shame. I’d been in such a hurry that morning I hadn’t even managed to brush my teeth.

‘So, how are you?’ She looked concerned, given the last time she saw me I was trading insults with Tom and legging it out of the Corinthian.

‘I’m good. Honestly, I’m kind of great just now. I’ve got some things going on with the clinic. We’ve completely refurbished it and we’re rebranding it while Raj is away.’

Emily looked surprised and begged me to continue.

‘What can I get you, ladies?’ Marco, our usual waiter, asked.

‘Full fry-up for me and a can of Irn Bru, please,’ I said and patted my stomach hungrily.

Marco gave me an impressed thumbs-up then turned to Emily.

‘Just toast, please, and a decaf coffee,’ she smiled.

‘Wait, I’d better make that a Diet Bru, Marco. Need to be good!’ I said.

Marco bowed and walked back to the kitchen.

‘So basically, I have so many ideas with the clinic, and everyone loves them!’ I continued.

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