Page 41 of What Happens in Dubai

Ashley sat up, rubbing her eyes.

‘Why are you always so awake!’ she huffed. ‘Fine, I’ll go get ready!’ Ashley threw back the duvet and made her way for the door, with me following a few steps behind.

We sank into sun loungers just before midday. Considering she’d spent most of the previous day spewing her guts up, Ashley looked glam with her cut-out swimsuit and gigantic shades on, wholly engrossed in the latest gossip magazine. Raj was successfully frying his skin, macerated in coconut oil, while I lay beneath the brolly scrolling through YouTube videos of my famous French ‘almost-husband’ from the previous night. I finally felt relaxed and at ease in Dubai. No glitz, glamour, fancy parties, and it was the happiest I’d been; lazing about with my best friends, chatting shit by the pool.

‘Zara, have you checked out Botox Boxx’s Instagram? Your client Peter is on their grid photos and had his lips filled! Badly, may I add.’

‘Let me see!’ I peeled my sticky arse off the sun lounger and grabbed Ashley’s phone.

‘Is it him?’ Raj asked, tilting his sunglasses. I nodded, too shocked to speak.

‘Sly bugger! Didn’t think he had it in him! They must be poaching our clients,’ Raj tutted, looking incredibly disappointed.

‘They are probably adding them from our socials, sending our clients messages to go there. It’s simple but genius, when you think of it. Like, they almost have ten thousand followers and they’ve been open a few weeks. That’s insane!’ Ashley sounded impressed.

‘Well, you’re the head of Individualise media and marketing – you should be putting in the same amount of effort,’ Raj replied.

‘Don’t worry, I intend to, boss!’ she sniggered.

‘But play fair. I don’t want our reputation getting tarnished because of dirty tactics.’

‘Oh you’re such a spoil sport!’ she replied. ‘You know I like to play dirty!’ She winked over to me playfully, trying her best to make Raj feel uncomfortable.

‘Aye, and look where it’s got you, lady! Enough!’ he joked back.

Ashley rolled her long black eyelashes at him sassily, choosing not to retaliate and ended the conversation.

‘If it’s worth mentioning, guys, after last night’s fiasco, I’m completely over dating and in fact, I’m over men in general. I’m going to give it at least a good six months to a year before chatting to anyone else. My head is firmly stuck on saving the clinic!’

I turned to Raj and Ashley who remained silent and then burst out laughing.

‘What? Stop it!’

‘No, I love your dedication, Zara. I really do.But,I’ll believe it when I see it,’ Raj replied.

The entire day raced by, and we spent it laughing and revelling until the sun began to set. We returned to our rooms to get organised for home. Our suite had been deep cleaned, and as soon as we entered, Ashley and I inhaled the clean scent.

‘Finally!’ Ashley screamed. ‘Fresh air and fresh bedding!’

‘Yep, just in time for us leaving.’

Ashley slumped down on the sofa in the living area, dropping her beach bag to the side.

‘Zara?’ she mumbled.

‘Yeah?’

‘What am I going to tell Dave?’ Her eyes seemed heavy. I sat alongside her and sighed.

‘You know, you don’t have to tell him anything. What happens in Dubai and all that …’ I smiled, gently squeezing her thigh.

‘I honestly don’t know if I can face him knowing I did this. Thank fuck you guys found me or it could have been worse.’ She ran her hands through her thick extensions, looking distressed.

‘Technically, you just kissed,’ I said. ‘Dave doesn’t need to know the location of your lips. If you need to tell him something, tell him that,’ I shrugged, and she attempted a grin.

‘And if you don’t want to tell him anything, then don’t. Raj and I can keep a secret. Don’t make a crazy decision from a moment of madness. Sleep on it.’

Ashley rested her head on my shoulder.

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