Chapter 21

The tour resumed and we did what tourists did, walking though the souks in the old town and exploring the fort. Rashid pointed to the dead coral embedded in the walls of the fort and explained about it to Lydia, while I looked on from a distance away as Alisha tried to explain other interesting facts about the desert to me.

Rashid: We have plenty of sand but no stone. So we used coral from the sea as building materials. Our wealth in oil was only discovered about 50 years ago. So everything new you see around us is...

I mentally zoned out from Rashid’s explanation but Lydia was hanging onto his every word. She was the type that would follow the guide around, asking question after question because she was genuinely interested in the place’s history. I kept looking at Lydia and Rashid who were starting to walk closer and closer together. It was like Lydia knew that I was watching her and she was doing it deliberately. Without realising it, I started taking photos together with Alisha as well. I replicated the same pose Lydia did with Rashid. I went behind Alisha and put my arm around her back while I held up my camera in my free hand with my face beside hers.

Alisha: Oh ... oh my ... hahaha...

Alisha blushed but she still smiled for the camera. I made sure to take long enough doing it so that Lydia would see what I was doing. She did, and the stakes started getting higher. It became like a competition, each of us trying to see how we could outdo the other. Lydia asked Barkar to take a picture of her and Rashid. She linked arms with our employer as she posed for the camera, prompting a wide smile from Rashid that was captured in the photo. I tried to do what Lydia did with Alisha but Alisha was still a bit reserved. In this competition, there appeared to be only one winner, and that was Rashid.

Despite being a little more reserved and shy, Alisha was still very friendly. As we chatted, it suddenly struck me what Alisha’s role in this was. She was there for me. Just like how Rashid made sure that Maiko was there to satisfy my needs, Alisha was now here to replace her. As sick as the thought might be, I felt excited by the hopes of being able to sleep with such an exotic beauty. When it was time to take a break for lunch, Rashid brought us to the Palm Island. I had only seen the place in photos and on TV. I never thought I would get to see it for myself in real life. As the convoy pulled up to a grand looking hotel, I looked at its name, ‘Atlantis’, and I Googled it. It was a luxury resort located at the end of the Palm Island.

Alisha: This is a nice resort, very family orientated. It has a water theme park too. James: I see ... Have you gone to the theme park before? Alisha: I have ... James: Would you like to go again?

I was trying my luck to see if I could get a glimpse of Alisha in a bikini.

Alisha: Hahaha ... maybe not this time...

There was no need to wait and there was no need to checking in. Everything was ready and waiting for us. All we needed to do was to follow the hotel manager who seemed eager to win favour with Rashid. Alisha followed us into the hotel and I saw several hotel staff greeting her as if she were a regular at that establishment. My wife could not stop taking photos and videos of the grand hotel lobby. Looking at the interior, it felt rather familiar; I think I might have seen it before in a Jackie Chan movie. I was expecting to be given a cheap room while Lydia was given a suite like before but Rashid was full of surprises. It was impossible to guess his next move or what he was thinking. The manager assigned a suite to Lydia and me, and another for Rashid. I saw the doubt on Lydia’s face but she said nothing. It was not polite to turn down the gesture of a generous boss, especially not in front of others.

Rashid: Wash up and we will meet for lunch at the restaurant in 30 minutes. Alisha: I’ll go ahead to the restaurant and make sure we get the best table! James: Thank you Alisha. Manager: Sir, Madam, I require your passports.

We handed them over to the manager and followed him into the suite. Stepping into the suite, I was blown away by the view. The large and luxurious looking room came with its own private terrace that commanded a view of the Palm Jumeriah Island.

James: Wow ... Manager: This is one of our most sought after suite after the presidential suite. Lydia: Wow, this is amazing. Thank you ermmm...

My wife looked at the manager’s name and thanked him for showing us to the suite. I thanked him as well but upon seeing how he lingered around and kept offering more assistance, I knew exactly what I had to do to make him leave.

James: Thank you Bobby.

I handed him a 50 AED note and he gave me a smile as he touched his heart with a slight bow. Walking him to the door, he pulled something out from his pocket and then palmed it to me. It was a room card. My eyes widened when I looked at the card which was for a room located on a different level.