I Knew You Were Trouble

Chapter Nineteen

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

December

‘What hemisphere are we in again?’ Duncan grunts from the wide wooden sunbed that he is occupying, parallel to mine.

‘Back in the northern,’ I sigh, without opening my eyes. It’s twenty-nine degrees out. ‘Technically, it’s winter.’

The real winter seems a world away. We’re back at another Park Hyatt: this one sprawling and low rise, with stunning Middle Eastern touches. I wordlessly thanked the executives at Silverpix the moment we checked in to the property at Dubai Creek. The band’s accommodation is located somewhere extortionately expensive over on The Palm.

Duncan is quiet for a moment, before he mutters, ‘I could get used to this. I don’t know what day it is, what date it is, I feel like I’m living in this other transient dimension where nothing matters but how loud the girls scream and how expensive the hotels are. Lex, I know I’m supposed to hate it, but this is the best job you’ve ever given me. Don’t know how I’m gonna go back to living in a tent after this.’

I glance up over my sunglasses, chuckling as he sits up to take a sip from his bottle of beer. Duncan may have pale Scottish colouring, but he works out, and his are some of the most impressive biceps I’ve ever seen, complete with a well-defined six-pack and a Celtic tattoo on his right shoulder. Other than Aidan, he’s the only memorable lover I’ve had, yet lying here, I think it’s a shame Meredith isn’t here to witness the glory that is my cameraman’s stacked physique. Right now, Meredith is hanging out with Tun, or so she’d said.

I’d be lying to myself if looking at Duncan in only his swimming shorts with his shirt off, lounging by the most glamorous swimming pool I’ve ever seen, doesn’t make me think about Aidan. After the final show in Cape Town, on his way to the airport with Bodhi, he’d bombarded me with improper messages on my phone, letting me know just how much he’d enjoyed our time together. My cheeks redden at the memory of his fingers caressing me, only three evenings before. I expected to hear from him after we touched down in Dubai, only he’s gone quiet. I’ve had one or two messages, telling me that he can’t wait to see me again, though the quantity I thought I would receive hasn’t materialised. I’m torn between playing it cool and keeping things casual, or climbing in a taxi to track him down, marching into his hotel room and demanding that he kiss me again.

I’m still thinking about Aidan half an hour later when I spy Meredith approaching, wearing a floaty zebra print cover-up and a sun hat, walking at speed in a pair of flip-flops towards us, weaving in and out of the palm tree trunks and other sunbeds. She comes to a halt at the empty sunbed next to Duncan’s. He raises his head as Meredith throws off her cover-up to reveal her bikini underneath. I watch in amusement as Duncan’s jaw drops. Though petite, Meredith has a gorgeous, curvaceous, womanly figure that clearly hasn’t escaped my camerman’s attention.

‘Two things,’ Meredith announces, taking off her hat and scraping her loose hair into a ponytail, causing her to lean back and thrust out her chest. I check, and Duncan still hasn’t dragged his gaze away.

‘Number one,’ Meredith says, holding up her index finger, ‘I’ve been invited to Miller’s party over at the Dubai Marina tonight. I hear some of the band are gonna be there. Do you want me to… you know… like, film anything?’

I cock my head to one side. ‘You mean…’

Meredith lowers her voice. ‘You know, like hush-hush .’

I straighten, checking there are no other members of the tour crew close by. ‘Uh, no, Mer. I don’t think that would be fair to ask you to do that. I’m trying to abide by this moratorium, anyway. But thank you for the offer.’

Duncan raises his eyebrows, as though taken aback by my decision.

‘Well, I’m happy to if you want. It’s in some penthouse somewhere.’

My mind is ticking, wondering if I can get away with it. Meredith has never worn a covert camera before. The sensible part of my brain tells me to disregard the proposal immediately. The filmmaker in me says wire Meredith up.

‘Can I think about it?’

Meredith nods. ‘Sure,’ she replies in a cheerful tone, reaching into her bag for some sun block and spraying up her arms. ‘I won’t be leaving until about eight.’

‘So, number two,’ Meredith then continues, as she perches her rear on the edge of Duncan’s sunbed, on the side nearest me, her voice sobering a little. I glance behind her. ‘Duncan, can you spray my back, please?’ she asks.

‘ Errrrr ,’ Duncan mumbles, looking panicked. I conceal a grin as he sits up and takes the sunblock from her. ‘Okay.’

‘Thanks,’ Meredith says, lifting her ponytail away from her neck.

Duncan gets to work, spraying the lotion and massaging it into her skin. Moments later, I conceal a second smile as he reaches for a T-shirt and drops it into his lap.

‘Seems the latest gossip is that that Aidan is so over Taylor Wetherill. Some article just appeared online and he’s been photographed kissing Samara Al-Noori again.’

I stiffen, my pulse quickening. Meredith doesn’t know that I’ve been spending time with Aidan. But Duncan does – albeit in scant detail. His eyes shoot to mine, concerned.

Meredith thanks Duncan and gets to her feet, going back to her sun bed. She rummages in her bag. ‘Dammit, I forgot my book,’ she sighs. She picks up her cover-up and slings it back on. ‘I’ll be back in a bit.’

I watch her skip off again. I blink, stunned.

‘You gonna look?’ Duncan asks me.

I swallow the lump in my throat. I’m not sure I can face it.

‘You want me to?’ he asks.

My hand covers my mouth, as I question whether I’ve just been taken for a ride.

‘Are y’alright?’

He reaches down, pulling his phone from his backpack, which is underneath the sunbed.

‘Duncan—’ I begin.

‘He can’t treat you like that, Lex.’

‘It might… it could just be a misunderstanding.’

I watch Duncan as he unlocks his phone. Panic brews in my chest. What if it’s true? What if he’s changed his mind about me? Am I stupid for thinking that it meant something?

As he reads the article, I watch as Duncan’s expression collapses into a scowl.

‘You wanna see it?’ he deadpans, when he’s finished.

I feel sick. ‘What does it say?’ I whisper.

‘“ Aidan McArthur sparks reconciliation rumours with ex-girlfriend Samara Al-Noori as the pair are pictured holidaying in Dubai. ” Got a few pictures of him with the girl. They’re on a massive boat.’

‘Are they…?’

Duncan goes silent for a moment. ‘Aye. Couple of images.’

His words cut through my skin, tears stinging my eyes. I hold out my hand, and he passes me his handset. I skim the contents of the article, which contains precious little detail, but enough to make me tear up. There’s no mistaking the paparazzi photos taken on a yacht, not so far from here. They are as plain as day.

‘Guess we just rumbled the real reason behind the moratorium,’ Duncan says grimly.

Emotions explode in my brain. Hurt. Anger. Insecurity. Did he lie to me about Miller trying to persuade the others?

I hear my phone vibrate. I reach into my bag for my handset, seeing the name on screen, my chest tightening.

‘It’s him,’ I say.

‘Don’t answer. Send it to voicemail.’

I take Duncan’s advice, drawing my knees up to my chest. Moments later, Aidan’s name flashes up again. ‘He’s calling back.’

‘Slippery bastard. Block him.’

Once again I send the call to voicemail. Then the messages start coming.

Hey. Can you call me when you pick this up?

Need to talk asap.

Been thinking about you. Need to see you.

A x

I press the bridge of my nose. He’s calling again. ‘Do I talk to him?’

‘That depends. You’re just gonna get excuses. I’m not gonna say I told you so.’

I look at Duncan, feeling like I want to cry. ‘I think you just did.’

I toss my phone into my bag. A minute later, it vibrates again. ‘He’s not giving up,’ I say, only when I pull out my handset it’s Ziggy’s name I see. I wonder whether, if I answer, it’ll be Aidan’s voice that I hear.

‘Ziggy,’ I say, cheerful. ‘How are you?’

‘It’s Dubai, innit. I love this gaff.’

‘I’ve been to worse places.’ I try to chuckle, but my insides are completely cut up.

‘Listen, you got plans for tonight? We’ve got drinks lined up at about six over here in the bar at the hotel. Private function. You’d be welcome to join us. Without cameras, of course.’

‘Tonight?’

‘Six o’clock. Just in time for happy hour cocktails.’

‘Right, that’s kind. Are Duncan and Meredith invited?’

‘’Course.’

‘Thank you. Yes, we’ll… we’ll think about it.’

‘Great. Hope to see yas later then.’

He hangs up.

‘Ziggy’s invited us for cocktails tonight at six,’ I say.

‘Are the band gonna be there?’

‘Don’t know.’

‘If Aidan knows you’re goin’, he’ll be there. On his knees, probably.’

‘What do I do?’

Duncan contemplates my question. ‘Go. Wear a knockout dress. You have one drink then you and I go grab dinner somewhere totally different. Leave him hanging. Lover boy won’t know what to do with himself.’

In the evening, I hook Meredith up with a spy camera, using my butterfly broach. Perhaps out of spite, I’ve confessed to everything that’s happened with Aidan, and she was shocked by my admission. And to hell with the bloody moratorium.

‘I don’t know that he would do that to you on purpose,’ Meredith says as I check the position of the camera on her dress.

‘He would have known he would have had paparazzi lenses on him, right at that moment. The whole time he was on that yacht.’

‘I just don’t think Aidan is like that. Not if he was into you.’

‘That’s the point. Maybe he’s not into me. How well do you know him? How well do I really know him?’

I spent the afternoon alone in the Dubai Mall, buying an off-the-shoulder revenge party dress and a pair of bandage zip-back black suede stilettoes with a three-inch heel, before getting my hair and nails done. I switched off my phone.

I keep telling myself to be strong, but underneath the facade, I know my heart is a little bruised.

‘Are you sure about this?’ I ask her about the camera, looking down into Meredith’s innocent, wide eyes. ‘Duncan’s not so hot on the idea. I don’t want to push you into anything you don’t want to do. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, go into the nearest toilets and rip it out. Although, please bring the whole kit back to me. This thing was expensive.’

Meredith gives me a nervous laugh. ‘I’ll take good care of it, I promise.’

‘I find the best thing to do is try to forget it’s there.’

There’s a knock at the door. ‘How’d I do?’ I ask Duncan as I open it.

There’s a moment when he looks me up and down, and I think I see a hint of sadness in his eyes, perhaps because it’s not him I’m dressing for. Eventually, he says, ‘They’re gonna have to peel his tongue off the carpet.’

‘Good evening.’ I smile as Bodhi opens the door for us to the private bar on the top floor at the Atlantis, The Palm Hotel.

Bodhi grins in return. ‘May I say you’re looking very lovely tonight, Lexi,’ he says. ‘You too, Meredith.’

‘Thank you,’ Meredith and I chime in unison as Duncan follows.

‘What ’bout me, eh?’ Duncan questions, as Bodhi bursts into laughter.

I will my legs forward, nerves churning in my stomach. I squeeze Meredith’s hand. ‘Are you comfortable?’ I ask.

‘Perfectly,’ she says, as she flashes me a smile.

‘Rebel Heart alert,’ Duncan whispers in my ear as we approach the bar.

I keep my head high, though sweat breaks out on my top lip. I can see all the boys up ahead, along with some of the other musicians and tour staff. On spying me, Aidan peels away from the group. When our eyes lock, I want to look away, but I can’t. He looks nervous. Nigh on terrified.

Heat creeps up to my cheeks. I hate that he can make me flustered in this way. I hate that I’m jealous of his former girlfriend.

He moves closer, the initial helpless look on his face replaced by something duskier as his gaze travels the length of my body. I turn then, stopping at the long side of the bar, allowing myself a breath. Duncan swoops in from behind and orders a round of three cocktails.

‘Nice work,’ he whispers close to my ear. ‘You definitely got his attention.’

For the next minute, I engage both Duncan and Meredith in conversation, aware of the heat of Aidan’s stare but resisting the temptation to turn and look. I only know he’s standing behind me when Duncan straightens his back, his chin jutting out in a protective stance.

I feel Aidan’s fingertips caress my elbow.

‘Hey, beautiful,’ he whispers close to my ear. ‘Can we talk for a second?’

I might have told Duncan and Meredith, but in my mind, I question who he’s told.

I feel his breath against my neck. The last time I saw him, his lips were kissing me there.

‘No,’ I say, without turning to face him. ‘We can’t.’

He retreats a single step. ‘I need to explain a few things.’

‘I think the internet saved you the trouble.’

‘Lex.’ His voice is pained. ‘Can we please just go somewhere? Please.’

‘I don’t think you understand,’ I reply, keeping my tone purposefully light, still refusing to face him. ‘You don’t get to have me. Not after today.’

‘It isn’t what it looked like; I swear to you.’

I whirl around and hiss at him. ‘I will no longer trust anything you say. You can keep your girlfriend. It’s alright, Aidan. I don’t care.’

He places one hand on my arm. I snatch it away. Near me, Duncan is paying attention, his look murderous, Meredith standing as stiff as a post, a cocktail in her hand.

‘You look incredible tonight. Just come somewhere with me, please.’

‘Duncan’s taking me to dinner.’

Aidan raises his voice a fraction, visibly frustrated. ‘Okay, so what’s it gonna take for Duncan to switch places with me?’

‘Mate, you’re all over the news,’ Duncan interjects at full volume, pushing in between us and squaring up to Aidan. ‘Anyone looking online can see it. You think you can treat her that way and she’ll turn a blind eye?’

I’m stunned. Aidan is caught off guard but meets Duncan’s hard stare. I take a step back as tensions boil over, Duncan shoving Aidan, sending him flying into the side edge of the bar. Aidan angrily shoves him back. Before I know what’s happening, the other band members all come over. They’re looking at me and I wonder if they know that there is something between me and Aidan. Because, judging by the looks on their faces, they all know. And they’re all on tenterhooks, ready to dive into this fight if they need to.

‘This is nothing to do with you,’ Aidan snaps at Duncan.

Duncan shakes his head. Furious. And suddenly, I know what’s coming.

‘I know her better than you think and I know she deserves better—’

‘What does that mean?’ Aidan questions, his eyes flashing to me. ‘Is there something I should know about?’

I can’t look at him. ‘It was a long time ago…’ I manage to mutter, but it’s enough that he can put two and two together.

A ripple goes through the bar. Whispers. My stomach turns over. Aidan is taken aback. He looks to Duncan, then back to me, then to Duncan again, his chest rising and falling.

‘Duncan’s your ex ?’ he questions incredulously.

I raise my chin. I may not like Duncan revealing our history in front of everyone, but right now I have to hold my cameraman in higher esteem than I do Aidan McArthur.

I swallow. My eyes flit to Meredith, who looks terrified.

Danny Miller steps forward, putting himself between the two men and squaring up to Duncan, with everyone in the bar area looking our way. ‘Think it’s time you got the fuck outta here,’ Miller snaps.

Duncan takes a step forward, the rage in his eyes something I’ve never witnessed until this moment. He towers over Miller. ‘Well tell your friend he’s a lying scrote. And you’re no better either.’

It’s obvious Miller is about to throw a punch when Ziggy’s voice cuts above all the commotion. ‘ Riight ,’ he snaps. ‘What is going on ’ere then, eh?’

My heart slams into my ribcage as Ziggy pushes between Duncan and Miller.

‘This dude and Lexi were just leaving,’ Miller hisses, backing away and shaking out his shoulders. I look to Aidan but he doesn’t look at me. There’s a scowl on his face that I recognise from the first few times I met him in Tokyo.

Duncan’s eyes flit to my face. I give a swift nod, wishing I’d never come. Duncan grabs his glass and downs the contents, before banging it back down onto the surface of the bar. I hand Meredith my glass with an apologetic look, before walking towards the exit, without looking back.

‘Sorry,’ Duncan mutters as we wait together for the lift to come. ‘That was my fault. Couldn’t hold back.’

‘We should have stayed at the hotel,’ I say, clicking my tongue in frustration.

‘You can’t just ignore it, Lex. You can’t just ignore what he did. I know I can’t tell you what to do, or what to feel—’

‘No, Duncan. You can’t. I can look after myself.’

He shakes his head. His voice is hoarse when he speaks. ‘You know that I would protect you from anything. Anything . I would have been there for you. For always. But you wouldn’t let me.’

I open my mouth to respond. ‘You!’ a voice booms behind me, and my eyes slip shut. I turn to find Ziggy marching towards us, wagging an impatient finger in my direction. ‘I thought you weren’t gonna cause me any trouble. But ohhh no , Aidan begs me to invite you over here tonight. Now I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t wanna know, but this is all I have to say. Stay away from Aidan McArthur. How many times do I have to say it? Do your filming for this sodding documentary but keep your nose clean. Do not mess with the talent, are we clear?’

He’s reached me, sweat dappling his brow. It takes a moment for me to nod my head. I swallow tightly. ‘We’re clear. I apologise.’

‘And you .’ Ziggy spins his ire towards Duncan. ‘If I catch you even thinking about throwing a punch at one of those lads, you’ll be on the first plane back to bloody Glasgow to collect your P sodding 45, alright?’

‘Actually, I’m from Edinburgh,’ Duncan coughs.

Ziggy is already stalking back towards the bar. ‘You can be from Timbuktu for all I care! I don’t need your sort on my tour!’

At three a.m., I lie in bed, unable to sleep. I pick up my phone, glancing at it for the twentieth time, stroking the cold, hard screen, missing the steady stream of pleading messages that came from Aidan all afternoon, messages I’ve read and re-read, which, since the incident in the bar earlier, have now come to an abrupt halt.

I’ve looked at all the articles online, the pictures of a shirtless Aidan relaxing in a black pair of trunks on the front of a mega-yacht, next to a bikini-clad Samara, a lump swelling in my throat. There is no denying the kiss that took place. And as much as I don’t want to be, I know I’m jealous.

I’m frustrated with Duncan. I always felt bad that I could never be the girlfriend he wanted me to be. I adore him, and I want to see him happy. Equally, I wish he hadn’t said those things in the bar, before I’d confessed to Aidan that Duncan’s my ex-boyfriend, before it came to light. Twice Aidan has commented on my relationship with Duncan, and I’ve never owned up to the truth, so tonight I only have myself to blame.

A soft knocking at the door causes me to bolt upright in the darkness. When I check the spy hole, I squint and see Meredith. As I open the door, my assistant gives me a wobbly, intoxicated smile. I hold up my hands as though taking communion, my open palms promptly filled with the wires from the hidden camera, all bunched up in a technical bird’s nest around the butterfly broach.

I check the hotel corridor, tugging Meredith inside.

‘I had to take it off,’ Meredith slurs. ‘I’m sorry.’

I take the knotted remains of the covert camera, hoping that it still functions. ‘Did you only just get back? How was the party?’

‘Party was gooood ,’ Meredith purrs, trying but failing to open her eyes properly. ‘I had sooo much fun.’

‘I can see that,’ I say with a smile at drunk Meredith.

‘The apartment was owned by a friend of Miller’s who works in the Dubai financial sector,’ she breathes, struggling to get the word ‘financial’ out. ‘You shoulda seen this place. It was like a playboy’s palace.’

I’m wary of any place that fits that description. ‘Were the boys all there? Do you think you picked up any footage?’

‘Only Miller and Cal. I don’t know what happened to Cal. There were girls. Girls everywhere. I just remember a lot of verrrry pretty girls. There was dancing. Drinking. Some drugs, too, I think.’

‘What kind of drugs? Who was taking drugs?’

I start to untangle the camera so I can view the footage, despite the fact that it’s the middle of the night.

Meredith turns in befuddled circles. ‘He actually paid me some attention. He actually decided to speak to me again. Since our kiss, there’s been nada . But tonight… oooh, Lexi.’

‘Miller?’

‘Of course. He’s so dreamy.’

I grimace, reaching for my laptop. ‘I thought you were over the whole kissing Danny Miller thing.’

‘No, I mean, I am, but… maaan , he is the cutest .’

‘You make him sound like a puppy. Which he definitely is not, by the way.’

Meredith lets out a hiccup. ‘I may have fooled around with him a bit.’

I lift my brow, worried for Meredith, despite the fact that I did the same thing with Aidan barely a few nights ago. I think about Vaughn Herrera, and what a disaster this is all rapidly turning into.

‘Just… be careful, Mer.’

I log in to my laptop, before plugging the USB from the camera into the side of the machine. It opens to a single video file. I double-click on it, fast-forwarding through the raw footage, realising Meredith has picked up absolutely everything that took place at the bar earlier, including Duncan and Miller squaring up to one another, the soundtrack crystal clear. I am also aware that Meredith is still slurring something about Miller behind me, yet the footage has me engrossed. I scroll through to the party, most of the picture indecipherable due to Meredith’s shorter stance, meaning no one is visible above shoulder level. The sound too is distorted in parts due to the heavy drum and bass playing in the background. It’s only when I scroll through further, almost to the end, that it seems Meredith has been sitting right opposite Miller at a low table. On the surface are little paper tabs that look like LSD, tablets that could be ecstacy. The music pulses. The imagery isn’t clear enough to tell, but whatever the case, the look on Miller’s face tells me that he’s high.

Beside me in the hotel room, Meredith is still swaying, but she remains silent during the playback.

‘I think I need to get to bed,’ she mutters when I stop the video. ‘I’ll see you in the morning.’

‘This is good stuff, Meredith. Thank you.’

She mumbles something unintelligible.

‘Are you okay getting back to your room?’ I ask.

Meredith walks away, but she stops and grips the wall for support. ‘I’m fine, I promise. Lexi, I just need to tell you… to say that…’

She falters, her head dropping down to her chest. She hiccups again.

‘Tell me what?’ I ask.

‘Nothing. It’s nothing. I had fun tonight is all. Goodnight, Lexi.’