Chapter Fifty-One Zola
Chapter Fifty-One
Zola
It was the evening of the launch party, and Zola, Katy and Ella had gotten ready in their most elegant dresses.
Ella practically shone in a silver floor-length dress encrusted with tiny jewels and crystals, while Katy kept it more classic in a black floor-length number with a huge split up the leg.
Zola had more trouble deciding, always keen to make a trend statement, and in the end, she opted for a puffy, Cinderella-style navy-blue gown with white gloves that came up to her elbows.
The three friends sipped champagne, waiting for the car to arrive.
Zola noticed Ella being particularly quiet, and she wasn’t sure if it was because Philip would be at the ball, or Jimmy would.
The girls had booked their flights home to Glasgow the day before and had only twenty-four hours left in New York.
Zola raised her glass. ‘To New York. It’s been tough, full of tears, but it’s brought us closer.’
The three of them clinked their glasses together.
‘To Stars and Swipes,’ Katy added. ‘The app that’s going to change the world.’
They toasted again.
The intercom buzzed. Zola grinned. ‘This is it! Ready?’
Ella nodded, slightly zoned out.
‘Ethan’s going to be at the party!’ Katy said, suddenly energetic.
Zola swung her head around. ‘How do you know?’ she said, watching Katy reply.
‘He’s texted me, obvs!’ she said, still typing. ‘He’s picked out a nice suit for tonight too.’
Zola’s face fell into a smile. ‘He looks good in anything.’
The three friends left the apartment and headed into the sleek black limo Jimmy had arranged for them to travel in style. As Zola stepped in, she noticed how silent Ella was and gently rubbed her arm to comfort her.
‘It’s going to be fine,’ she said reassuringly, as the car began moving. Katy was so busy texting on her phone that she didn’t even notice.
‘My head’s just fucked, Zola,’ Ella admitted as the car sped through the glittering city lights.
‘Why? What’s going on?’
Ella’s lip trembled. ‘I loved Philip, but he hurt me so much. Now he wants me back, but I don’t want to be hurt again.’ She sighed. ‘And I have to say goodbye to Jimmy, the only genuinely nice guy I’ve ever met.’
She turned to the window, thinking.
‘Philip’s maybe got in my head a little,’ she said at last. ‘He said he got me to open up, stopped me from being uptight and lonely like I was before, and he’s sort of right.’
Zola squeezed her hand. ‘So what? Curtis taught me how to cook spaghetti – doesn’t mean I stick around for him.’
‘What if he has changed, and I’m just too scared to try again?
’ Ella said. ‘I was happy at the start with Philip in Glasgow. And what if I’m only clinging onto Jimmy because I know it’s ending.
Fuck, I feel like I did when I was fourteen and had to leave my Turkish boyfriend, Usif, after a two-week Marmaris trip.
’ She almost smiled. ‘Jeez, it was awful.’
Zola pushed Ella’s head onto her shoulder. ‘Do you know what I think? I think you meet some people in life who teach you things, yeah? Particularly about yourself. So, imagine, life is this one big journey, in this big fancy limo, OK?’
Ella smiled. ‘OK . . .’
‘And some people in life jump in your limo for a ride, they sometimes teach you great things, then have to get off, because it’s your fucking limo, babe. Some people’s journeys will last longer than others, too; all the while, you’re learning, you’re changing.’
‘So . . .’ Ella shrugged. ‘You think Philip should get out of my limo?’
Zola giggled. ‘Babe, he was out of your limo a long time ago! Thatt cunt’s trying to catch back up, but you’re going way too fucking fast!’ She winked.
‘And Jimmy?’ Even saying his name hurt.
‘Jimmy might just be one of the awesome people who come in for a short time and make the drive incredible, but that’s up to you, I guess.’
Ella agreed, taking a deep breath as the car slowed down, pulling up at the Four Seasons.
‘You do realise she heard that whole limo analogy thing on TikTok?’ Katy said. ‘I saw it too!’
‘And you do realise you’d need a fucking double-decker bus for the number of cunts you have let ride your limo!’ Zola pushed her on the shoulder, and we all began laughing.
The driver opened the car door and allowed Katy to step out on to the red carpet, then Zola. Zola turned back and watched Ella hover, ‘Come on, babe. We got you,’ she said.
But Ella looked terrified. ‘I can’t. I don’t want to,’ she admitted.
Katy lowered her head. ‘Ella, it’s our night! What are you doing? Come on.’
Zola crouched down, too. ‘You’ve worked so hard on this, Ella. You deserve to celebrate.’
Ella managed a smile. ‘I know I have, but I’m going to enjoy it more alone, somewhere I can actually hear myself think, somewhere it is my achievement and not Philip’s. You two can handle the speeches, right?’
Zola grinned, feeling proud of her friend’s decision but also gutted she was missing out. ‘Absolutely. Unless you want us to come with you? We could patch this full night, really leave New York in style?’
Ella shook her head, laughing. ‘No, I think I’d rather be alone. I’m sorry. I just really need to do this.’
The driver closed the door and headed back inside the car. Zola and Katy stepped out to the bright lights of the gorgeous hotel and walked up the steps, waving to the assembled photographers.
‘Where is she going?’ Katy whispered, posing for the pictures. ‘Do you think she’s OK?’
Zola nodded. ‘She’s strong as hell. She’ll be fine.’
They entered the grand hall, where groups of stunningly dressed people surrounded them as a beautiful singer sang on stage.
Katy pointed, noticing the gratitude tree that Ella had spoken about.
People surrounded it, writing little notes of what they were grateful for, before hanging them on the tree.
Exquisite round tables were set out perfectly with candelabras decorating the centre.
Zola spotted Ethan writing and tapped him on the shoulder.
‘What are you grateful for then?’ she asked. ‘Working with me?’
‘Yes. And meeting you. All of you,’ he said as Katy joined them.
‘Great venue,’ Katy said. ‘You look so handsome, Ethan,’ she added with a giggle like a crazed teenager.
‘Thanks.’
Zola lowered her head as Katy complimented him. She knew she had feelings for Ethan, but she wasn’t entirely sure what they were yet.
‘Er . . . Zola, would you perhaps like to dance when the band plays?’
Zola glanced at Katy, who went from smiling to glaring.
‘I like to dance too!’ Katy butted in.
But Ethan seemed to ignore Katy and stood awkwardly, as if he had to get something off his chest and now was the only time he could do it. ‘I wasn’t sure if I should ask you, but now you’re leaving and—’
‘Yes,’ Zola cut him off, thankful for the gesture. She turned to Katy, ‘If you don’t mind? I mean . . .’
She shrugged. ‘Sure, I don’t care.’
‘I won’t dance with him if you don’t want me to, Katy. I just . . .’
‘See that bouncer guy who follows Jimmy about? He has been seriously checking me out since we arrived. I’m going to find out his name and check his Insta!’ Katy flicked back her hair, then wandered up to stand beside her latest love interest.
Zola turned back to Ethan. ‘I sort of thought you and Katy maybe had a thing going on?’ she said, curious, and needing to be honest, but not wanting to seem insecure.
Ethan laughed. ‘No, she’s sweet, but too much like my sister.’
Zola shook her head, smiling as she took in Ethan.
He was helpful, kind, honest and incredibly smart.
She knew she was beginning to like him more than as friends.
‘Well, I would love to dance when the band plays.’ She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
He stood up straight and grinned. ‘In America, we kiss more like this.’ Ethan placed his hand on Zola’s lower back, pulling her close to him.
He grinned and then pushed his lips against hers.
Instantly, she felt a rush of adrenaline and desire, opening her mouth and snogging him.
She felt his hands move up and down her back.
‘Wow!’ She laughed as they eventually broke away. ‘I think I prefer the American way.’
‘Mmm . . . me too.’ Ethan smiled. He seemed relaxed, happy. Zola blushed.
‘I should make sure Katy’s OK.’ Zola’s eyes skimmed the room, trying to track her friend.
‘I’ll get us drinks and come find you.’
As Zola headed back into the crowd in search of Katy, she noticed Philip and Jimmy were cornering her. Zola picked up the pace and pushed them back a little.
‘Hey! What’s going on?’ Zola hissed.
Katy popped her hand on her hip, turning slightly to face the others. ‘These two want to know where Ella is. I said I don’t know.’ She pushed Philip’s shoulder back as he towered over her, asserting some space between them.
‘And she’s right,’ Zola concluded. ‘In the car, she said she needed space and didn’t want to come in.’
Jimmy rubbed his forehead. ‘I didn’t realise the investor was her ex! Is that why she’s gone?’ He seemed panicked, as if he’d only just found out.
‘Yip, he’s her ex, all right,’ Zola said as she ran her eyes up and down Philip.
‘Do you know where she’d go? I do need to talk to her,’ Jimmy continued.
‘And so do I!’ Philip nudged Jimmy with his shoulder. ‘Did she get my letter?’
‘She got it and read it. She still needs space,’ Zola said, holding her hands up.
Jimmy leaned in. ‘Zola, what did she say, exactly? Please. Think.’
‘She said she needed a place to think, somewhere quiet, away from it all.’ Zola shrugged. ‘I have no idea where she’s gone, all right!’
Philip sneered. ‘So, she’s hitting the fucking library, then?’
Jimmy, on the other hand, smiled, his face lifting into a grin. ‘Thank you, thank you, both!’ Then he bolted towards the exit.
Philip turned to Zola and then to Katy, confused about what had just happened. ‘If he worked that out from that description, he fucking deserves her,’ Philip muttered, pacing the floor anxiously.