Next day
"You should go for a walk with Eric. You'll understand the difference," Aniya said to Sarah.
"We planned it for tomorrow," Sarah hesitated.
"Call him, he's free," Aniya insisted.
The next moment, Sarah found herself getting ready for the walk.
The morning was crisp, sunlight spilling over the streets as Sarah tied her shoelaces, the soft hum of the city around her. Eric was already waiting, leaning casually against his car, that easy smile making her feel… comfortable.
"Ready for our walk?" he asked, bowing his head.
"Sure," Sarah said, smiling.
They strolled through the narrow lanes, past cafés and street vendors, the air carrying the scent of fresh bread and roasted coffee. Eric shared stories about local legends, and Sarah laughed freely at his jokes. He was attentive, considerate, and kind in every way.
And yet… it didn't feel like home. He was listening carefully, but he wasn't noticing her. He didn't catch her subtle expressions or the way her laughter sometimes masked tension, like Mehmet always did.
There was a weight, a comfort, a tension that Eric could never match. Not because he lacked charm, it simply wasn't him.
Eric nudged her lightly. "You've been quiet. Thinking about something?"
Sarah hesitated, forcing a smile. "Just… enjoying the walk."
Even as she said it, her heart whispered the truth: enjoying it wasn't enough.
Later, back at her apartment, Sarah sank onto the couch with Aniya, tossing her bag aside.
"I don't know… Eric's nice, but…" Her voice trailed off.
Aniya didn't even need her to finish. "But Mehmet feels like home, right?" she said with a knowing smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Sarah groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Why do you always know everything before I even say it?"
"I've been watching you," Aniya teased, tapping her nose. "I knew this from the start. The way you light up around him. Eric's fine, but Mehmet… he's more than fine."
Sarah let out a shaky laugh, her chest tight. She exhaled, resting her head against the couch. "I don't know how to stop thinking about him. He's… dangerous, I guess. I saw scars on his neck. Who knows what he does besides literature and business?"
Aniya nudged her shoulder. "Stop thinking? Who said you need to? Just… pay attention to what it makes you feel. That's all the clarity you need. And the scars? He doesn't do mafia stuff, but business rivals… he's a billionaire. Things happen."
Sarah stayed quiet for a moment, letting Aniya's words sink in. It wasn't about choosing right now. It was about admitting the truth to herself first.
And that truth, as undeniable as the sun streaming through her window, was simple: Mehmet wasn't just another person she liked. He was home.
_______________________________________
Sarah rejoined the office with Aniya. The office was exactly as she had left it—the quiet hum of heaters, the clicking of computer keyboards, the familiar scent of books mingling with hints of jasmine and tulips. Everything was the same.
But as she shifted her gaze, her eyes fell on his empty chair.
"He's away with Anne," Tayyep came over and said casually.
"When will he come back?" Abdullah asked.
"In two days," Tayyep replied.
"I'm your new boss," Tayyep smirked, giving her a playful glance.
"Watch yourself, Tayyep Bey," Sarah laughed.
"Huh, Miss Sarah, you won't understand me," he acted dramatically, puffing out his chest.
"Nice to see you, Sarah," Kerman greeted.
"Kerman Bey," Sarah said, bowing her head politely.
The morning passed slowly, each tick of the clock reminding Sarah that Mehmet wasn't there. By midday, she found herself glancing again at his empty chair, feeling his presence more than she cared to admit. She reminded herself that he had said he wouldn't force her choices but even so, the gap of his absence, the memory of his devilish eyes that softened only for her, lingered.
The day passed like this, a quiet emptiness settling over her. When she left with Aniya, she carried that strange, lingering weight with her, a subtle ache that whispered something.
________________________________________
Two days later, the office air shifted before Sarah even saw him. Then he walked in, a dark suit, sharp gaze, silence trailing like a shadow behind him.
Sarah froze mid-sentence at her desk. For two days, she had prepared herself for this moment, rehearsed what she might say if she saw him again. But now, every word dried up on her tongue.
He didn't glance her way at first. His stride was steady, his expression unreadable, but the room seemed to bend around him.
Kerman approached him with a file. Mehmet took it with a curt nod and went straight into his office, the door closing with a muted click.
Later, she knocked on his door, her hand trembling against the wood. His voice, deep and calm, came from inside.
"Come in."
She stepped in, clutching a file she didn't need. Mehmet was standing by the window, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a pen he wasn't writing with.
"You weren't here," she said quietly, though it wasn't a question.
His eyes lifted to hers, and for a moment, something softened then he hid it.
"I had business."
Sarah hesitated. "Business that kept you away for two days?"
"Yes. And why are you asking?" His tone was clipped, final. But his gaze lingered on her longer than it should have.
She looked down at the file. Before she could reply, he moved past her and picked up another folder.
"You may go now, Miss Sarah."
Her name on his lips sounded like a wall slamming shut. She left, but her heart was a storm.
After an hour
Mehmet sat at his desk, his pen unmoving over the page. The tension in his jaw betrayed his still-raw anger.
The door opened without a knock. Tayyep stepped in, shrugging off his coat.
"You look like hell," he said dryly, dropping into the chair opposite him.
Mehmet didn't look up. "And you sound like a man who has nothing useful to say."
Tayyep laughed and ignored the bite in his tone. "I just came from Kerman. Edem's men are moving quietly. He's not reckless enough to strike again in the open… but he will. And when he does, she'll be his target."
At that, Mehmet finally raised his head, his eyes sharp and burning.
"Then he dies before he gets close."
"That's not enough. You should've killed him that night." Tayyep leaned forward, lowering his voice. "For the next two days, she shouldn't be in Istanbul at all. Edem won't move outside the city. Too much risk, too many eyes. If you want her safe, you take her out."
Mehmet's fingers tapped against the desk, silent calculation in every movement.
"And where do you suggest? A cave?"
"Cappadocia." Tayyep smirked faintly. "You call it a company retreat, a trip for your employees. No one questions it, not even her. Meanwhile, Kerman and others clean up Edem's mess here."
For a long moment, Mehmet said nothing. His gaze drifted to the window, where the city stretched under a dull sky. Finally, he exhaled slowly.
Mehmet's jaw tightened,he didn't argue. He closed the file in front of him with a sharp snap.
"Fine. Cappadocia. Two days. Kerman should settle everything before I bring her back."
Tayyep nodded once, satisfied.
"She'll be safe. That's what matters."
In the common room later, Abdullah and Tayyep clapped their hands together.
"Hello guys, listen! We'll leave for Cappadocia tomorrow for a business trip," Abdullah announced. "We did a lot of work, and now Murat's book is finally going to be publicly released. So, we're going for a trip."
"Tomorrow? You told us really early, you should tell us an hour before departure," Aniya taunted.
"Lady, look, just pack two or three things. That's it. It won't take more than one hour," Tayyep cleared his throat and tried to sound serious. "And if you think we're rushing, you can talk to Mehmet."
Aniya's eyes darted to Sarah with a mischievous smile. "So he planned it for you?"
Sarah's chest tightened. "He didn't bother to reply to my questions, so don't think he planned this for me," she said curtly.
Aniya tilted her head, her voice soft but firm.
"Oh, so what were you expecting? You'll throw a paperweight at him, slap him, then call him to rescue you?
Sarah, he keeps you in his place where he never invited anyone, takes care of you, treats you like family, changes himself for you and then you compare him with someone he doesn't like? And still you expect him to stay soft with you?"
Sarah's lips parted, but no words came.
" Listen to me Sarah, He's a human too. Let him breathe.
If you're scared, admit it. But don't punish him for loving you differently than anyone ever could." Aniya whispered.
A deep layer of regret sank into Sarah's chest.
Next day
The next morning, they gathered at the office before departure. Mehmet was already there, speaking to a woman—elegant, polished, clearly someone important from the art world. His voice was steady, professional, almost too calm. Not a trace of warmth, no smile.
Still, Sarah felt her chest tighten.
Why does it bother me? He's just… working.
Mehmet finished the conversation, handed the woman a file, and dismissed her with a curt nod. When he turned, his gaze immediately found Sarah.
"We leave in an hour," he said, his eyes unreadable.
Sarah could only nod.
"Have a safe journey Sarah," Kerman smiled gently at her when she walked past Kerman's office..
"Why you're not coming with us?" Sarah questioned.
"I'm old now. What will I do there?" Kerman brushed it off.
" Oh man, who said you're old?" Sarah mischievously said.
"Mehmet bey" Kerman shrugged.
" Don't listen to him. He's probably jealous of you Kerman bey." Sarah teased him and he laughed gently.
"You make the best kehwa in the whole Istanbul, Kerman bey." Eric passed and commented; Kerman smiled a little.