The next morning, Sarah arrived at the library, five minutes late. Mehmet sat at the head of the table, reviewing notes with Kerman and two others about the week's deadlines. His gaze flicked up as she entered, sharp and assessing, before returning to his papers as if she weren't there.
The meeting ended, and everyone dispersed. Sarah was almost at her desk when his voice cut through the hum of activity:
"Miss Sarah. My office."
She followed him inside, placing her draft on his desk.
"You didn't send this last night," he said, signing papers without lifting his eyes.
"You didn't specify when you needed it," she replied evenly.
The tall window behind him let in muted morning light. That's when she noticed it: a square-cut green emerald on his hand, glowing faintly in the light. Wealth like this wasn't bought—it was inherited. She stared a moment longer than she should.
Without looking up, Mehmet asked, "Something wrong, Miss Sarah?"
"No," she answered quickly. His eyes flicked up briefly, just long enough to make her question whether he had caught her thoughts, then returned to his work.
"Close the door on your way out," he added.
Later, at her desk, Eric approached.
"Everything okay?"
"Yes, this software isn't working. Probably a glitch," Sarah replied, keeping her focus on the screen.
Eric leaned close, enough that she could smell his cologne, then pulled a chair beside her. As he adjusted the program, he handed over her laptop.
"Oh, Eric, thank you," she said, offering a small smile.
"Anytime Anything, Sarah," he said softly. She felt the faint shift in his tone but ignored it.
Mehmet passed by, his gaze lingering on the laptop.
"If you're unfamiliar with the software, you can ask Kerman," he said before walking away slowly, each word measured, controlled.
"I'm not unfamiliar with anything," she whispered.
An hour later, she was called back to Mehmet's office to review a contract. Leaning over the papers, she absentmindedly brushed a strand of hair from her face. His eyes followed the movement for a fraction of a second before he forced himself to return to the contract.
Another strand fell, and she gathered her hair into a bun using a pencil from his desk. Mehmet's lips twitched with an almost imperceptible smile. He looked back at the papers as if nothing had happened, but the brief moment lingered between them.
"Done," she said, handing him the file.
"You completed this in four minutes with twelve mistakes," he noted, scanning quickly.
"I didn't," she said, shaking her head. A stray hair slipped again.
His gaze faltered, then snapped back to the page. Leaning in slightly, though the table still separated them, he began giving instructions.
"Those are minor mistakes. Who will notice them?" she asked casually.
"I will, Miss Sarah," he replied abruptly. She caught him looking up again for the briefest moment, and the intensity of his attention unsettled her slightly.
"If you don't mind, can I take leave tomorrow?" she asked cautiously.
"I'll definitely mind," he said flatly.
"Mehmet, sir, I'll forward all files and contracts, but I need to take a leave. We're going to explore Istanbul," she added, tucking a stray strand behind her ear.
"So… you all aren't coming tomorrow?" he asked, frowning and she nodded.
"I'll think about it," he said finally. "You can go."
Sarah left, and Mehmet turned to the window, the emerald on his hand catching the muted light as his mind seemed to wrestle with something unspoken.
________________________________________
Tayyep arrived around six, waved at the others, and went straight to Mehmet's office.
"Don't forget to come tomorrow. Anne invited you," he said, settling into a chair.
"Ask Eric to come too," Mehmet said without looking up.
"Why? I mean, okay, I'll invite him, but is everything fine?" Tayyep asked, slightly taken aback.
"Don't invite Sarah," Mehmet replied curtly, ignoring Tayyep's question.
Tayyep leaned in, frowning. "What's going on in your mind?"
"Eric," Mehmet said, his voice low.
"What did he do?" Tayyep pressed.
"Give me all your questions at once so I can reply," Mehmet said sharply.
Tayyep raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. Relax. I won't invite Sarah. I'll invite Eric and the other two." He hesitated. "But it's a little odd. Sarah is a nice lady."
Mehmet remained silent, eyes on the window.
"Look, Mehmet, if I'm inviting Aniya, I should invite Sarah too. Otherwise, I'll just ask Eric to come," Tayyep said after a pause.
Mehmet shifted his gaze, finally meeting Tayyep's. After a long breath, he said, "Invite her."
Tayyep blinked, bewildered.
"Will you ever speak in anything but codes?
I don't get you. You said you don't like her, you don't want to see her, then recently you said there won't be any day you like her—and still, you sent those guards for her in Istanbul, and came back early from Izmir when the deal was still pending.
You never looked at someone the way you looked at her yesterday. What's going on, Mehmet? Tell me—I want to help."
Mehmet's calm look didn't waver. "I don't know anything, but..." He paused.
"But?" Tayyep asked anxiously.
"Keep Eric away from her, Tayyep. Or I'll deal with it myself," Mehmet said firmly.
Tayyep shook his head. "You're still saying you don't know? If you don't like her, don't want to see her again, then let Eric do whatever he wants. I think he likes her…" Tayyep began, but Mehmet stepped closer, cutting him off.
"Eric!! Keep him away, Tayyep. I can destroy him, and you know this," Mehmet said, voice low and dangerous.
Tayyep raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, don't worry. Let me handle this."
After discussing a few more points, Tayyep left the room.
In the common room
"Hello, guys," Tayyep greeted the others again in the common room.
"Hi," they all replied.
"Come tomorrow to my home for dinner.
Anne will love to see you all," Tayyep said, sitting near Aniya.
"Mehmet isn't giving us leave," Sarah muttered.
"Tell him I invited you," Tayyep suggested.
"He'll say we can go after work," Sarah countered.
"I'll ask him," Eric stood, determined.
"Yes, please. Go—he's waiting for you," Tayyep thought sarcastically.
"How was your Istanbul 'tour',Sarah?" Tayyep teased about her lost adventure.
"I wasn't lost. I was just exploring," Sarah laughed.
"Yes, I know. Exploring the streets, looking for tunnels," Tayyep teased further.
"And your Izmir tour?" he asked Aniya.
Abdullah sat nearby, headphones on, playing a game.
"He agreed," Eric announced as he returned.
"We're waiting downstairs," he added, heading out with Abdullah and Tayyep.
Aniya rifled through her files, searching for a paper, while Sarah remained nearby.
Suddenly, Mehmet's voice cut through the room.
"Miss Sarah, send me the files before tomorrow evening."
She turned to see him standing in the doorway of his office. Their eyes met for a millisecond, a flicker of something unspoken passing between them, before he walked away.