‘It is not her concern.’
‘Why? Is she at some other bar, whoring it around the same as you?’
His face hardens, dark eyes burning like coals as a flare of light from the dance floor flashes across his face. The expression is fleeting, anger melting into an insipid smile. ‘You would no more find an Emirati wife in a meat market like this than you would find her washing her own floors.’ Smiling at his own joke, he relaxes back into the chair, expansive hands now behind his head. My distaste deepens. If this is a meat market, I’m under no illusion what he thinks this makes me. ‘Does Kai know you’re here, habibti?’
I ignore the endearment this time, using my teacher’s voice instead. ‘Are you suggesting I need permission?’
‘You would know better than me. Controlling, isn’t he? It comes with the territory, of course. You have met Faris, my esteemed uncle?’
‘Are you, like, making small talk, or do you actually have something to say?’
‘Me? No, wallah—I swear!’ He holds out his hands. ‘Only...’ He smiles wolfishly, his pale imitation of Kai. ‘I think you are perhaps not aware of his father’s favourite pastime. Controlling his son? For instance, this Riyadh... what would you call it? A merger? A union?’
Not him as well, what’s with all this Riyadh talk? I didn’t even know there was such a place until last week.
‘Yeah, I know he’s there. What of it?’
He laughs. It’s almost as though he forces the sound from his chest. ‘I think you do not truly know.’ I don’t like his tone. Scratch that, I don’t like him. Or his smirking face. ‘Personally, I’d call it a merger, not that it is my place.’ He taps the side of his nose. ‘Ask him. I dare you.’
‘I don’t play childish games and what he’s doing in Riyadh ishisbusiness.’
‘Very trusting,habib—’ Halting the endearment mid flow, he shrugs with acquiesce, watching me through hooded eyes. ‘Secrets. We all have skeletons lurking in our closets. I know for certain Kais’ rattle chains.’
I’m not playing his guessing games and am almost out of my chair when he speaks once more.
‘You seem like a nice girl. You should know Kais has certain...predilections. I think you are not yet aware. And in a no win situation. A job tied to your, what would you call him, lover, perhaps? And he tied to his father’s plans.’
‘I don’t have to listen to this.’ I make to rise again when a hand rests on my shoulder, pressing me back into the chair.
‘She’s not interested. Shift, you’re in my seat.’ Niamh’s gaze narrows before flaring with recognition. ‘Ah, the elusive Khalid. What? Left the little woman at home tonight?’
‘Essam,’ I correct. ‘And apparently his wife wouldn’t be seen dead in this knocking shop.’
‘Wife? You’ve not married her already!’
‘They’vealready... got a baby?’ I answer, confused.
He turns in a gesture of irritation, eyes shining hot and angry as he glowers at Niamh. ‘I think you have me confused with someone else.’
‘You wish,’ she sneers, satisfaction settling around her like a favourite coat. ‘So, does yourwifeknow you’ve got a girlfriend stashed away in some skeevy flat? What about Sarah? She know your real name, that you’ve got a wife?’
‘Is there a problem here?’
Rob’s familiar figure joins our table as Essam stands. With a contemptuous look, he edges around Niamh, disregarding Rob. ‘You must ask him about Riyadh,’ he says with a last penetrating glare.
‘I can’t believe the neck of him! A wife and he goes and gets an apartment for Sarah!’
‘Who’s Sarah?’ Rob asks, sitting next to Niamh. ‘Who’s he?’
‘A bastard is who he is. She’s a mate, maybe more a friend of a friend. A hairdresser, been here about eight months when that... thatbollixtells her he loves her and wants her to give up her job and move in with him. And she does, the daft cow. Only, he’s not there all of the time. Leading her a merry feckin’ dance and I can see why. A wife!’
My thoughts tumble like water over rocks; Niamh’s warnings, Jen’s brunch insinuations that sounded neither sane nor true. I begin to wonder if Kai knows about Essam. True, he didn’t look overly pleased when he turned up at his mum’s art thing, but a wifeanda girl on the side? Surely he can’t know.
‘You okay?’
‘Matt.’ I shake my head, and confusion away, perturbed to see his face inches from mine. His hand rests on the back of my chair. ‘Yeah, fine. I’m okay.’ Not nearly as fine as Niamh, I notice, as Rob slides his arm around her shoulder.
‘Can I get anyone a drink?’ Matt straightens, his hand resting now on my shoulder.
