So how did I end up here? Alone in Kyoto? Like some shit homage to a noughties pop song.
Although, to be fair I’m not entirely alone. Not if I don’t want to be.
I had thought, before I came here, that that’s what I needed, but actually now I’m on the ground and I’ve had a moment to come round, I’m beginning to wonder whether I’ll go a bit stir-crazy on my own.
Maybe I should go for a swim in the communal hotel pool and see who’s around. Check the place out a bit. There might be other people like me that I can strike up a conversation with to distract myself. In fact there are bound to be. There might even be someone I recognise here.
Someone else.
I’m not expecting, or hoping, to see Chloe there though. I suspect she’ll be dead to the world right now, judging by how tired she’d said she was.
Yeah. A swim and a drink by the pool might be just the thing to calm my rattled nerves.
I take a fast shower and change into my swimwear, then put on the robe and sliders the hotel has helpfully left by the door.
The path to the outdoor pool is quiet, but when I reach the poolside it’s buzzing with people. There are a couple of loungers free on the opposite side of the pool, so I head over to them and lay my towel along one.
I’ll take a swim first, before lying on it. It’s pretty warm here, even though we’re still in the spring season. It’s certainly much warmer than it was when I left the UK anyway.
I prepare to dive in at the deep end, aware of a small group of women lounging in the water at the shallow end of the pool, sipping cocktails. I feel their gazes on me, and the attention gives me a thrill.
Yeah, I’ve still got it. Even if Katya doesn’t want me any more, there’ll be plenty of women who do. I know my strengths and make the most of them. I’ve had to. She’s been working as a model for the last year and was always surrounded by the hippest, most attractive people, so I’ve been taking good care of myself. It’s taken me hours a day in the gym and an eye-watering fee employing the skills of one of the top personal stylists in London to create the appearance I’m rocking now. Tough work, but totally worth it.
It turns out even a perfectly honed body and thousand-pound personally tailored suits weren’t enough to keep Katya’s attention though.
She’s now back with her ex, I hear, even though it’s only been a month since she killed our engagement. He’s a billionaire too and Raffa tells me he’s recently bought the coolest, most exclusive fashion house of the moment, which, surprise-surprise, she’s going to be the new face of. A hot ticket to ultra-fame, for a model.
So that explains a lot.
One of Katya’s skills is getting friendly with people who are going to get her to where she wants to go. Fame and success are her key driving forces, which didn’t used to bother me when we first got together – I’m ambitious too – but this swerve back to her ex smacks of desperation for the limelight.
Which isnotattractive.
Anyway, I’m not going to think on that shit while I’m here.
I take a step to the edge of the pool and launch myself in.
I’m pleased with how smooth the dive is, and I power through the water, enjoying the cooling effect against my skin. When I get to the shallow end, I pause for a second to nod to the women, who all smile back at me, flashing startlingly white teeth, before setting off on my next lap.
Yeah, this is going to be good for me.
Restore my faith in myself.
I do twenty laps of the pool before I feel tiredness dragging at me. Time to get out and lie in the sun for a while. Top up my tan.
As I’m walking back to my lounger, I signal for the waiter to come over and take my drink order, a bottle of Japanese lager, then stretch out, feeling the sun start to warm my cool, wet skin.
This is the life.
My drink arrives quickly and I chug most of it in one go, surprised by how thirsty I am. I guess that’s the dehydrating effect of flying for you.
There’s a gentle sound of happy conversation and tinkling laughter coming from the other side of the pool, but I don’t look over at the women again. I’m too tired to engage in any more eye-fucking right now.
Instead, I close my eyes and let the alcohol and the waves of heat on my skin soothe me into a blissful sleep.
3
CHLOE
