Zenon's Game Chapter 207

The first thing I saw in Dubai was the inside of an air-conditioned car. And it was great.

Water bottles were handed out to us as we piled in. The heat crept into the car with us and lingered for a few seconds before the air con came on.

I was momentarily overwhelmed: disoriented, exhausted, excited and... shy. I felt out of my element here. If we're being honest, I feel out of my element every day. But this was a whole other level.

I've never been on a group vacation before, let alone one that included Zenon Albert, Axel Thomas and... Bryce.

Everyone in the car was talking, laughing, joking but then Zenon connected his phone to the speakers and turned the music way up. The energy in the car turned up with it and the bass vibrated my seat. I was happy I packed my ear plugs.

I tried to subtly put them on, without anyone noticing.

~Bryce's villa~

Bryce lowered the volume as we entered a gated community and the car rolled slowly down the private road.

I stared out at the sandy colored villas. Palm trees dotted the street and dusk cast a cooler spell over our surroundings. Only one other car passed by.

I stared up at the multi floor villa sitting on a green lawn. Giant arch windows reflected like mirrors. Balcony rails lined the second and third floors and I wondered what the view looked like from up there.

"Wow," I exhaled to myself.

I don't know why but I felt an urge to clean my shoes before stepping foot inside.

I was the last one to get out. I gathered my backpack and hopped out. It was evening and the heat was still present. I wondered what it was like during summer. I waited by the car.

Zenon turned around when he realized I wasn't with the others, "Candace, what are you waiting for? They'll bring our bags."

"They?" I asked, "Who's they, Zenon?"

He laughed and slowed down, letting the others walk up ahead.

I caught up to him, still blabbering away, "We don't talk like that. You know I don't speak Bryce."

"You will after this week," Zenon answered.

He walked alongside me up to the house. The doors opened to show a cool marble floor and wide-open space with fancy décor. Random objects were stylishly positioned around the house.

The light fixture in the living room looked like it belonged in a museum. Giant LED circular lights rotated overhead.

I never understood why these interior design people like to put random vases and empty bowls everywhere. Or those pretty books stacked artistically that no one has read. They'll stick a feather on a stand and charge $1000 for it.

But I'm told I don't have an eye for design.

And then I found the motherload.

Something so absurd that it made me stop in my tracks:

It was a giant portrait of Roland Chadwick II staring down at me.

"Oh my...."

"I can't get it out of my head either," Oma said, pushing open the glass door and stepping into the living room from the pool outside, "You should check out your room. It's your first time here, right?"

"Isn't it yours?" I asked back.

"We came here for Zenon's birthday last year. It was a surprise trip."

"Is that what friends do for each other?" I asked and clapped my hand over my mouth.

She didn't take it personally and disappeared into the back garden. Do they even call it a back garden in a villa? It was more like a back paradise.

That reminds me, I really need to pluck those weeds out of my backyard when I get home.

I explored upstairs, with no clue which room was mine. There were so many rooms and most had balconies.

"Psst," Cynthia whispered, calling me into hers.

I found her suitcases already open on the floor and clothes spilled out in a colorful mess.

Cynthia was so excited that she was talking at 2x human speed again. "Remember when I asked you if you were sharing a room with Zenon because then I'd have to share a room with the devil wears prada?"

"Yes."

"It turns out none of us are sharing! We all get our own fricking personal private individual rooms!" she squealed, throwing her hands in the air.

"I can't believe this all worked out," she exclaimed, "We're in Dubai and I have to call my mom in thirty minutes for our first daily check-in. I can't believe you didn't accept my offer on clothes by the way."

"What offer was that again?" I asked, trying to remember.

"The LUKY girls offered up their wardrobes to us," she said, "They said we could choose fresh outfits for new years'."

"Oh, did they?" I considered it, "Yeah, I remember you mentioned that, but then I thought of all the million things I'd rather do and one of them is die."

"Well I took up the offer," she said, "I won't say no to a bomb free outfit. They're sucking up to join our crew now. Funny how the turns have tabled."

I added, "Funny how LUCKY rhymes with YUCKY. I didn't notice that until now."

~Three hours later~

Everyone was in their rooms, sleeping. I had changed into comfy PJs, eaten dinner and was now more than ready to sleep.

I opened the door to Zenon's room and stepped inside. He was sleeping, his head resting peacefully on the pillow. He had his clothes still on.

It warmed my heart to see him like that as I walked towards the bed to join him. I pulled the covers over me and turned towards Zenon, curling my body to mirror his.

My eyes drooped shut and I found sleep easily, the feel of his warm skin under my arm.

BANG

The doors flung open and Axel came bursting in. "2 MINUTES ALBERT! Oh, hi Candace."

Axel nervously tried to back out of the room.