Page 85 of What Happens in Dubai

Just after four, we’d seen our last clients for the day, and came out onto the shop floor to find an overeager Ashley encircled by boxes.

‘What’s all this?’ Tom opened a box and began to lift out silhouette vases shaped like women’s bodies. He was examining them carefully, both the curvy ones and the skinny ones.

‘Watch you don’t get a hard-on holding them, Thomas,’ Ashley teased.

Tom laughed and then winked at me. My cheeks grew hot.

‘Right, did you call the customers and ask them to model?’ I asked Ashley.

‘I sure did! They’re meeting Alfredo at his studio in an hour!’

‘What? Where’s that? We better hurry!’ I exclaimed.

Ashley turned to me. ‘No way, I bags’d it! I’m an expert at that kind of stuff. I need you to wait here on deliveries. There are so many things getting delivered today. Oh, and the selfie wall needs to be put up.’

I huffed. ‘What if they’re shite? I need the pictures to be flawless, Ash.’

‘Do you think I’d let them be shite? Calm it, Janet, and unbox.’

Tom crouched down beside me. ‘I can help too. I don’t have any plans tonight.’

Aye, probably because you emptied your balls last night, son,I thought.

‘Aw, that’s great, Tom. She’ll probably need a hand,’ Ashley said.

Fantastic, I thought, rolling my eyes at her.

Ashley left the clinic half an hour later, and Tom and I were left sitting on the sofa unboxing more deliveries. I had unravelled a magazine rack and Tom was openingWomen Don’t Owe You PrettyandHow to Embrace the Female Bodybooks.

‘Are you hungry? I’m famished. Shall we call for some food while we’re working?’ he suggested.

‘Sure. What you thinking?’

‘That new noodle place is just around the corner. It’s meant to be delicious. I could walk round and grab us something?’

‘Yeah, that sounds good.’

He lifted his suit jacket and headed towards the door. Suddenly I felt a rush of anxiety at being left alone.

Get a grip, Zara,I told myself. Still, as soon as Tom had left, I galloped to the door and locked it, ensuring the place was secure.

I took a deep breath and returned to unpacking Ashley’s spree of accessories. I loved the attention to detail she’d shown in her choices, from body-positive coasters to golden, fuzzy pampas grass in ceramic vases. She’d picked cream cushions with ‘Individualise Me’ printed in bold gold lettering. I adored it all. She totally got the concept and, if anything, added to it.

I glanced around the room at the chaos and couldn’t help but smile. My vision was coming to life and I had a burst of proudness.

There was a loud knock at the door, and my heart plummeted. Through the glass, I could see Andy standing with his hand up for me to let him in. Relief washed through me. I unlocked the door and walked back to the desk.

‘Hey! How are you?’ I beamed.

‘Aye, I’m good. I saw the lights on and thought I’d stop in. This looks great, bit cluttered but great.’ He stepped over the boxes and admired the clinic.

‘Thank you! I honestly love it. Can you believe how quickly this place is changing?’

‘Aye. It just shows you what can happen when you have your head screwed on. You just staying back here by yourself?’ Andy asked casually.

‘Yes. Well, no. Tom went to grab some food. He’s just unpacking boxes with me. Like, just unpacking and putting some frames up.’ I felt my cheeks turn red as I couldn’t stop talking.

‘Well, you two sound like you have it covered then. But anytime you need a hand in here, I’m about and I’m pretty decent with a hammer.’ Andy rubbed his hand over his bristly head, looking shy, and I instantly smiled at his offer.

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