Within a minute, her phone bleeped with a message.
Adira quickly picked it up, her heart thumping.
Undelivered, it read.
Chapter 31
It had been a very long day for Jasper. Inevitably, leaving his position next month meant a great deal to sort out. The first job had been to inform all his colleagues and clients of his imminent departure. He’d dictated his farewell message, thanking all those he’d worked with, to a very subdued Zara. As he had rattled off the words, rather speedily and without any emotion, she had sat in silence, straight-backed and stony-faced. When Jasper had finished reciting his goodbyes and thanks, he rubbed his hands together and poured himself a coffee. Job done.
Meanwhile, Zara was motionless, in shock. Jasper was leaving her. She couldn’t bear it. Why? Why was he going? Panic began to set in. Then those photographs of him with that woman sat on the massage bed flew into focus, making her blood boil.
After numerous meetings and conference calls, Jasper jadedly made his way back to his apartment. His appetite had left him since his return to Dubai, but tonight he intended to make himself a decent meal.
He slammed the door shut behind him and threw his briefcase on the sofa, then headed straight to the kitchen to pour himself a cool drink. One thing for sure he wouldn’t miss about Dubai was the lack of alcohol in his fridge. At times like this, he could murder a cool beer. Instead he made do with icy cold water and a dash of lime.
He went out onto his balcony and took in the splendid beach view. He’d miss this though, sitting in the warmth and looking out at the golden, flat sand and pink skies strewn with lilac. Still, The Laurels offered good views too, and he always welcomed the change of seasons in the UK, as opposed to permanent searing heat.
After a few minutes sat unwinding, Jasper returned to the kitchen and looked to see what he could whip up for dinner. Nesima had dutifully filled the cupboards and fridge with his shopping order, so he had a wide choice. He opted for salad with a cheese omelette, something nice and light, with a ready-made dessert of tiramisu. He thought back to the last time he’d eaten that, in the Italian restaurant with Adira.
Adira. The thought of her filled his senses. Although he couldn’t help but feel disappointed she hadn’t contacted him. She was obviously busy travelling, he consoled himself.
Having eaten, he turned on the TV and relaxed for a couple of hours. Eventually his eyes grew heavy and he decided to shower and go to bed.
He stared at his reflection in the mirrored bathroom cabinet. He looked knackered; dark smudges under bloodshot eyes, skin pale and drained. He opened the cabinet to get some fresh shower gel when something struck him. The packet of condoms normally discreetly hidden at the back behind other toiletries was lying flat down at the front of the shelf. He frowned. He definitely hadn’t left them there. Who had been in here? His mind turned to his cleaner, but again, knowing how careful and respectful she was, he couldn’t envisage it being her.
Who, beside Nesima, had access to his apartment?
Then another dark thought crept into his mind like a thief in the night. With a slow, rising inkling, all the pieces were falling into place; the open bedside cabinet drawer, the long dark hair on his bed sheets and now this, evidence of someone rooting in his bathroom. He remembered telling Zara where to find his car keys, little did he know she’d also make use of his apartment key, which was attached on the same key ring. It must have been Zara who had been in his apartment. He also recalled her knowing his favourite coffee, not remembering ever ordering it in front of her. She’d seen for herself on his kitchen shelf what coffee he bought.
How dare she?Fury emblazed him. His initial instinct was to confront her, but that could prove tricky, as her father had a prominent position in the company. Still, she had abused his trust and her position, invading his privacy like this. One way or another, she would face the consequences of her actions, of that he was determined.
Jasper strolled through the enormous shopping mall at the heart of Dubai. His very first visit there had initially left him awestruck. Such was its vastness, with eight floors and hundreds of designer shops. More impressively to him, though, was the gigantic aquarium and underwater zoo, where divers could explore the water and its inhabitants – including sharks – from the safety of diving cages. It had a huge waterfall feature with life-size silver figures diving into it and, most extraordinarily, on one of the floors was an actual dinosaur skeleton from one hundred and fifty-five million years back, perfectly preserved. Jasper had found it mind-boggling, to walk round the colossal bone structure, knowing when it had last roamed the earth.
Yet today Jasper failed to be amazed by any of it. He walked rather subdued from shop to shop, not taking any pleasure in it. He longed to know what Adira was doing, but if she cared about him, she’d have made contact, wouldn’t she? He was still seething with anger at Zara and the way she had taken liberties by entering his apartment and having a good look round. It beggared belief.
His eyes were drawn to one of the stalls he’d never noticed before. It contained exquisite jewellery, not the usual bright gold bling, but beautiful glass stones in aquamarines, sea greens and hazy blues. He looked at the necklaces, bracelets and rings and decided to buy something for Adira. Though when he’d see her, he was unsure.
After inspecting the colourful gems, he plumped for a necklace, thinking how it would accentuate the colour of her eyes. God, he wanted her. His desire was growing by the day and not hearing from her only made it stronger.
‘Could you gift-wrap it please?’ he asked the man behind the stall. He would send it to The Laurels in the hope she would be returning there before he did.
‘Certainly.’ The man gave a big beam. It always struck Jasper how everyone was happy to please in Dubai; the service was excellent.
Immediately, his mind turned to Colin, The Laurel’s estate manager, and how lax he had been. Not any more though, Jasper thought, judging by his latest emails keeping him updated.
He was eager to get back to Lilacwell and really make an impact, not that he hadn’t already, but Jasper wanted to be there first-hand to oversee the glamping business he envisaged. He pictured Adira’s camper van parked up in the field, then he flashed back to her bathing in the river. That urge came back with a vengeance.
The next day, his bad mood still hadn’t lifted as he walked into the office. In fact, seeing Zara sat behind her desk made it plummet even further. He placed the small wrapped parcel in front of her.
Zara’s face lit up, thinking Jasper was giving her a present, then it fell like lead on seeing the address label, and more infuriatingly who it was addressed to:Miss Adira Summers, The Laurels, Lilacwell, Nr Clitheroe, Lancashire, England. Her mouth pursed, then she looked accusingly at him with blazing eyes.
‘Send that special delivery would you, Zara?’
‘Yes, Jasper.’ She almost choked on the words.
Jasper was still stood looking down at her. ‘Zara, I’d like to take you out to dinner, as a thank you for all you’ve done for me,’ he suddenly stated.
Zara’s eyes flew to his face, not quite believing her ears.
