Same, same but different!

Part 8

Veritas Gallery- 09:07 am

Kıvılcım stepped into the office. Like always Esma was waiting for her at her door.

Esma (hesitantly): Good morning Kıvılcım hanım, are you okay?

Kıvılcım has never been late for work. She has always been on time, but now she was more than an hour late. Esma has never seen her late so her question was valid.

Kıvılcım: I'm okay Esma, I just for the first time in years has lost track of time.

Esma walked a little closer, concern still etched into her expression.

Esma (gently): Kıvılcım hanım… I don't want to disturb you, but… you had a meeting scheduled this morning with Ünal holding.

Kıvılcım blinked. She got even more flustered. She didn't need to see Ömer now and they were already sitting in the meeting room.

Kıvılcım (quietly, then sighing): I thought it's tomorrow. Okay Esma, inform them that I'll be there in a minute.

Without another word, she turned, heading towards her office, where Fatma had just arrived and caught sight of her.

Fatma had seen Kıvılcım in every mood possible:1 furious, polished, tired, poised, but today was different. Kıvılcım looked... softened. Her usual sharpness wasn’t gone, but it was mellowed. She wore a long-sleeve mini dress that clung in all the right places, paired with elegant heels and her signature coat, but it wasn’t the outfit that struck Fatma.

It was her face.

There was a faint flush to her cheeks that hadn’t faded since she walked in. Her eyes, though tired, seemed to carry a glint. And her hair it was down, loose, tumbling over her shoulders in waves, not tucked away in a bun or pinned up like usual.

Fatma tilted her head, narrowing her eyes in observation.

Fatma (playfully suspicious):
Kıvılcım hanım... You're late this morning? Did something or someone cause you to "lose track of time"?

Kıvılcım paused, hand on her door handle. She turned slightly, offering a small smile.

Kıvılcım: We have meeting right now Fatma.

Fatma (crossing her arms): Yes we do. But we'll talk about this later canım.

Kıvılcım didn’t respond but the corner of her mouth twitched, betraying her amusement as she walked away. Fatma stood in her doorway for a moment longer, watching. Something had shifted.
She just didn’t know what yet.

Ömer was already seated at the long table, he kept glancing at the door, a slight furrow between his brows. Can sat across from him, arms folded, watching Ömer. Ömer's eys has been locked on the door.

Can (eyes narrowed): Earth to Ömer. What has your mind so clouded this morning?

Ömer just smiled not answering.

The door opened.

Kıvılcım entered, composed, but her cheeks still tinged pink. She met Ömer’s eyes for a single beat a brief flash of tension that only they understood before she turned to address them all (Can, Ömer, Fatma, Gamze and Esma) .

Kıvılcım (formally): Apologies for the delay. I lost track of time this morning.

Ömer’s lips quirked, just slightly.
Of course she did.

She took her seat at the head of the table, business as usual, flipping open her notes but the air had changed. Ömer kept stealing glances when he thought no one noticed. Kıvılcım, for the most part, ignored him.