It was a bright spring morning. The sun glanced merrily into the windows of Omer's office, but those present did not notice its flirting. Sapphire's shareholders and executives looked gloomy and worried. A thick sheet of paper with letters pasted on it, which someone had painstakingly cut out of glossy magazines, was passed from hand to hand. When the sheet returned to Tranba, he hid it in the brown envelope and asked:
- What do you think about this?
"Someone wants to bring confusion and wants us to quarrel," Sinan answered first.
- The information in this, - Defne pointed to the envelope with her chin, - the anonymous letter is partly true. I truly made a gift for people dear to me...
"We did it," Omer corrected her.
"We did it," Ahtem said in unison with him.
- We did it, - Defne agreed and continued: - I drew a pendant. Omer and I bought materials for it at our own expense. Ahtem did it in his free time, at home. This work did not affect Sapphire's income in any way.
"Even if it were different," Tranba reassured her, "you had every right to create a gift apart of your company. Another thing is strange - this libel was written by someone from Sapphire. One who knew about the pendant and decided to make it a bone of conflict.
- But who? - Defne exclaimed. - I will vouch for everyone in the company!
- Me too, - Laura supported her. - Besides, none of the employees knew about the pendant. Only we...
- Only we ... - repeated the words of his wife Ahtem and thought. He rubbed his temple, and then turned to Omer: - Do you remember that day when in the evening we were your guest and brought the pendant? - He nodded in the affirmative and Ahtem continued: - In the afternoon I came to you here, in Passionis. You and I spoke and mentioned plans for the evening. And also that the amulet is ready, and Laura and I will bring it.
- I remember, so what? - Omer also rubbed his whiskey. Some vague guess was spinning in his head and did not want to clear up.
- Your assistant was here ... - Ahtem hesitated and corrected himself: - that is, a former assistant. She heard our conversation...
- Did you fire your new assistant? Tranba interjected. - So fast? And what did she do?
- Later. It's a long story," Omer dismissed him and turned to Ahtem: "You're right. Laila was here and overheard our conversation."
- So this snake has not calmed down? - Narrowing her eyes, Defne said through her teeth. - Still trying to hurt us. Listen, can we arrange for her a beating?
- Wow, what passions! Tranba goggled. - A beating?! I didn't know you are so bloodthirsty.
- If you had talked to her, I would have seen what you would say then, - Defne retorted.
Omer, calming his wife, lightly stroked her shoulder.
- Hush, love! This trash isn't worth making you nervous.
"Exactly," Tranba said. - Besides, this, as you say, rubbish, once again screwed up. The desired effect was not obtained. We continue to be one team. So she wasted her time cutting out the letters, - he looked around at his partners and suggested: - If the situation has been clarified, maybe we will have a coffee?
Iz, throughout the meeting, sat in silence, covered her mouth with her hand, and rushed out of the office.
- What's with her? - Sinan was surprised, and Deniz jumped off and ran after his wife.
Defne and Laura looked at each other meaningfully and Laura said:
- Our ranks are growing!
- Exactly, - Defne agreed with her cheerfully and winked at Seda: - You are the only one left!
"You think," Omer asked. - Are she pregnant?
- One hundred percent! Defne assured him. - And she is sick even from the word "coffee". So be glad that I'm sick of...
- Shhhh! - Laura stopped her. - Did you forget? We do not speak these words.
- Oh Allah! - Under a friendly male laugh Sinan grabbed his head and looked at Seda. - What should I wait for? What food product will become taboo?
"I don't know," she shrugged. - This can hardly be understood until a woman becomes pregnant.
- Honey, - Sinan kissed her hand and looked into her devotedly, - I agree to any. You must know that!
- How you reassured me! - Seda said ironically. - But let's not run ahead of the locomotive. Maybe I won't have toxicosis at all.
Sinan's eyes popped out of their sockets.
Deniz, without ceremony, flew after Iz into the women's toilet and saw an unpleasant picture - his wife was vomiting.
- Get out! She croaked between spasms and grabbed the wall with a trembling hand.
He silently walked up to her, grabbed her waist with one hand, and with the other gathered her long hair into a fist so as not to interfere.
- Maybe we go to the hospital? - He asked.
- No need, - Iz answered straightening up and asked: - Better bring water.
Deniz ran out of the toilet, flew into Omer's office, under the surprised looks of the others, silently grabbed a bottle of water from the table, and rushed back. Iz was not in the booth. She stood by the sink and washed her face. Deniz went up to her, pulled a paper napkin out of the holder, and began to gently wipe the transparent drops from her cheeks and forehead. She took the bottle of water from his hands and drank several sips greedily.
- Ugh, - removing the bottle from her lips, she sighed. - I feel better.
Deniz took her chin and gazed into her bloodless face.
- What happened to you? - Asked fearfully. - What's poisoned you? Or is it a virus?
"Yeah," she said sarcastically. - Virus! Pregnancy is called. You've infected me!
- What? - Turning pale, asked Deniz and slid down the wall to the floor. - You are pregnant?
- Yes, - tears sparkled in Iz's eyes. She sat down next to him and asked: - Aren't you happy?
He exhaled and, clasping her head in his palm, pressed his forehead to hers, and closed his eyes.
- Silly! - He answered in a trembling voice. - I am relieved ... very scared. And from joy ... my legs do not hold. Inside fireworks explode. Allah! - He threw back his head and, laughing, shouted: - You are pregnant! I will become a father!
She embraced him by the neck and, too, crying and laughing, threw back her head and shouted:
- I am pregnant!!!
Iz and Deniz Tranba, some of the most beautiful and wealthy people in Istanbul, sat hugging on the floor in a public toilet. They laughed, cried, said something incoherent, and felt like the happiest people in the world.
***
After lunch, Zubeyir appeared at the office. Without the usual headphones in his ears and a wide, silly smile on his face, he looked ... strange. Lost and broken
- What happened to you? - Nazlican asked him sympathetically. - You look like dead. Has the flu worn you out?
"Yes, the flu," he nodded and headed toward his office.
Nazlican changed the topic and told him the latest news:
- Yesterday the e-mail crashed. They couldn't get through to you. Mr. Omer was very angry because the Italians were waiting for urgent documents with his electronic signature, but he could not send them. The situation was saved by Mert! Imagine this boy is a computer genius! Found a bug, fixed it. Updated the e-mail on all laptops in Passionis. Gold, not a boy!
Half listening to her chirping, Zubeyir entered the server room. The first thing he saw was the flowers. Green chlorophytums in clay pots. A wave of anger rose inside and flooded his consciousness. Not remembering himself, he grabbed one and slammed it hard on the floor. The pot cracked. The soil scattered in all directions and the unfortunate flower crumpled lonely on the floor. Zubeyir stepped on and trampled on it.
- What are you doing? - Nazlican was frightened and backed away from the door. – Crazy! Is it because of Mert? But we had no other choice!
- What's going on here?
Zubeyir and Nazlican turned their heads at the angry voice.
Omer stood in the doorway and frowned at his subordinates. Zubeyir lowered his head guiltily, and Nazlican hurried to excuse him:
- Zubeyir accidentally hooked and dropped a flowerpot with a flower on the floor.
- Call the cleaning lady, let her clean up, - the boss told her and turned to the programmer: - Let's go to my office.
Closing the door, Omer went to his place but did not sit in the chair. He leaned his hip against the end of the table and folded his arms across his chest and looked intently at Zubeyir. He, with his head bowed, stood in the middle of the office.
- How do you feel? Omer asked him.
- Thanks, I am already well, - the programmer answered.
The boss looked at him for a few minutes, and then, minting words, demanded an explanation:
- Tell me why the e-mail has not been updated in the company for a month?
Zubeyir bent his head even lower and muttered:
- I beg your pardon, Mr. Omer. It is an accident. An unexpected mistake. I set the settings to automatically update every five days. I was sure that it worked, and therefore did not pay much attention to the mail.
"This is even though the problems with it began a few weeks ago," said Omer sternly. - Tell me, what was your head so busy that you didn't think to check the settings?
"Sorry, Mr. Omer," muttered Zubeyir. - I'll fix everything.
"It's already fixed," the boss snapped. –This is the last warning. Once again, if something like this will repeat - and we will say goodbye to you. - Zubeyir silently nodded. - One more question. What exactly did you do a few days ago with my laptop and Ms. Defne's laptop if the e-mail was not updated?
The guy turned pale. Raising his head sharply, he looked the boss in the eye and opened his mouth to speak, but then shut it. The head sank back down on his chest and Zubeyir said monotonously:
- I checked the program. It was fine and I didn't do anything. Mr. Omer, forgive me. I have been absent-minded lately. Mom is sick and I'm a little out of my mind.
Omer felt sorry for him. He knew from his own experience what it means when mom is sick. Nodding towards the door, he ordered:
- Get back to work. And don't forget my warning.
- Thank you, Mr. Omer, - the programmer hurried out of the office.
***
Koray spent the whole day, usually, between the office and the club where it was planned to hold the presentation. Toward evening, he stumbled into his office, fell on the couch, stretched out his legs, and loudly ordered Ozzy to bring cappuccino and chocolate truffles.
The guy dashed off to obey, and the concept director's phone rang.
- And who needs me? - He grumbled, but seeing the face on the screen, clapped his hands and hurried to answer:
- Nero! My dear! How bored I am! Forgive your Korish! But this job! Eats up all my time. How are you, my life?
- Ah, Korish! The voice on the telephone answered plaintively. - My life is broken! I will die! I'll die...
- Ouch!Ah! - Frightened goggled eyes Koray and threw up his free hand, palm forward. - What are you saying, my Nero?! How can this be?
"Korish," sobs came from the speaker. "Necmi and Sude have gone to the States. They didn't take me. They said - I have nothing to do there! They will build a business there, and I will only interfere with them. Not that I wanted, you know, I am a patriot, I love Turkey and Istanbul! But it's offensive and lonely. Only the maid Mine remained. But she's stupid! She agrees with me in everything, but I want a conflict and a showdown. But that's not the point. Korish, Black Mamba left me without the maintenance!
The sobs turned into sobs.
- What are you saying?! Cried Koray. - How without money?! And what does Necmi say?
- And what can he say?! He has no money of his own. Also depends on daddy Hulusi. Says - accept the condition.
- What kind of condition?! Nero, don't weary me! Speak!!!
- Black Mamba said-a-al that he will maintain the house on condition that I go to work-a-a-ah! Korish, what should I do? How to work?! I can't do anything! I called Omer, then Sinan, and they are like parrots: - Aunt Nero, not a single vacancy.
- They lie! - shouted Koray. - They are surely lying! Don't cry! We'll figure something out now! Nero, what can you do?
- What can I do? - Neriman asked plaintively and answered: - I can gossip. I know how to come up with intrigues. I know how to be beautiful. Style icon. I know how to make purchases.
- Ay, Nero, it's not that! - Koray interrupted her and joyfully exclaimed: - I figured it out! You know how to drive! You will be my driver!
- What?! - forgetting about sobs, the woman cried out in shock. - You're out of your mind?!! I, Neriman Iplikci, a driver?!!
- Well, what are you screaming? Koray waved his free hand. - You already drive me everywhere, and now you will receive a salary for this, and the Black Mamba will return your allowance. Nero, imagine we will be together all day! We will gossip, eat chocolate. Well, I will of course work. But you will be there. You will support me like Bonnie Clyde and...
- Korish, how kind you are! - Neriman exclaimed and immediately asked: - Will Omer agree?
Never! - Minting the words, cut off the angry Omer, and jumped to his feet. As he paced the office, he chastised the concept director - Are you out of your mind?! Neriman in Passionis! A driver !!! Well, how did you think of it!
Koray, pulling his head into his shoulders, blinked and tried to insert a few words into the angry speech of the big boss:
- Omyush! Don't be so nervous! You will use up all the nerve cells, what will be left for the skinny one? - he turned to Defne and asked her: - Right, my life?
She sat with wide eyes and looked dumbfounded from her husband to Koray. Hearing the latter's question, she bit her lip and nodded her head in agreement.
"You see, the skinny girl agrees," said Кoray.
Omer looked at his wife in surprise. She shrugged and flapped her eyelashes innocently. Like - I have nothing to do with it, dear. I didn't know anything by sleep or spirit; I came so that Koray could not wear out my brain.
Omer once again stabbed his stern gaze into his concept director.
- Koray, the conversation is over! Neriman won't work here. This is my last word! Go and get busy!
- Ah!Ouch! Koray rolled his eyes and grabbed his chest. - I feel bad! Heart stopped.
- Korish, the heart is on the other side, - bending to him, Defne quietly prompted.
The plump hand immediately moved to the other side of the chest, and Koray, groaning even louder, pretentiously recited:
- I'm dying! Nero! Forgive me, dear! I tried to melt this frozen heart, but even I, dying of a heart attack, cannot do it!
- Koray, stop acting out a tragedy! - Barely restraining himself from anger, ordered Omer.
- Yah! And I thought a comedy, - Defne muttered under her breath.
- A bull will envy your health! Omer continued. Koray even gasped with indignation and jumped up from his chair. But then, remembering about the imitation of a heart attack, he fell into it again, throwing his head back and looking at the heartless boss with one eye. Omer's jaws were shaking. Looking into the face of the photographer, he muttered through clenched teeth: - Koray! Humanly beg you, get out of here!
Koray scrambled to his feet and proudly threw up his head, barked:
- No!!!
- Yes!!! - barked Omer
- Oh! Defne turned her eyes and, covering her mouth with her hand, muttered. - What will happen now!
- Let Nero be my driver!!!
- Only over my dead body!!!
Omer and Koray stood with their necks stretched out, scanning each other with fierce glances. Defne got up and in a honeyed voice turned to her husband:
- Darling, maybe...
- Defne don't interfere! - Omer cut her off and she wisely closed her mouth.
This Koray could not stand.
- Allah! He cried. "This tyrant, this heartless iceberg, is screaming at his pregnant wife! Skinny! - He grabbed Defne by the hand and, backing away, pulled her to the door. - You are moving to live with me! Or Nero! Then we'll decide. You can't stay with this despot! - He squinted at the dumbfounded Omer. - And then the baby will be nervous. Let him live for himself and think how ugly it is to leave the elderly woman. "He slapped his lips and lifted his eyes to the ceiling. - Forgive me, Nero! - The eyes returned to Omer, - a woman, and a relative, without a job.
- But Neriman never worked a day in her life! - Omer was indignant and caught his wife by the other hand.
- Hey! - Defne finally found her voice. - You will tear me apart! I am pregnant! Did you forget?
- Koray, let go of the skinny's hand ... Defne! - ordered Omer!
- Let Nero work in Passionis! Koray demanded.
- Let go of me both! Defne blurted angrily.
Omer pulled her hand from Koray's paws, pushed his wife behind him, and growled:
- Damn you! Let her work! But if she ever catches my eye or interferes with the employees - blame yourself! I will fire you both!
- What? - Koray widened his eyes. - Let her work? - He clapped his hands and shouted: - Nero, I'm coming to you, baby! - And evaporated from the office.
- I knew that he would not hear the last phrase, - muttered Omer and turned to Defne. - Darling, I'm sorry! I didn't want to raise my voice.
Defne covered her face with her hands and her shoulders trembled. Omer's face got gray with fright.
- Darling, - at the moment he repeated in a hoarse voice and took her by the wrists. - You cry?
Some strange sounds were heard from under the palms.
- Defne! Omer pleaded.
- Ay, I can't! She removed her palms and laughed openly. - You agreed! I can't believe it! - She looked at him with eyes sparkling with laughter. - Darling, what did you sign up for?
***
Oddly enough, Neriman, who appeared in Passionis the next day, conscientiously performed her duties as a driver and behaved quieter than water, below the grass. Omer and Sinan did not come across her, Koray did not distract from work. True, she tried to visit Defne, but Alina blocked her way at the reception and said that Mrs. Defne was very busy and asked not to let anyone to her. Neriman sighed and went to get some cheesecake for her beloved Korish.
In the evening, Omer received a call from his grandfather and asked if his grandson had a fever or amnesia. And while Defne was giggling next to him, he sarcastically enlightened his grandfather that if it were not for his condition, then the grandson would not have to make such a decision. He admitted that, perhaps, he got excited, but he would not retreat and let Omer be patient. Defne's giggles grew louder. Omer, finishing the conversation with his grandfather, screwing up his eyes threateningly, turned to his wife. She, laughing, tried to run away, but the noticeably grown tummy prevented her from doing it. Omer caught her and gently pressed her against the wall.
- Who is laughing at her husband here? - grumbled in her ear and tickled her neck with his beard.
- Ay-ay! I won't anymore, - Defne dodged, laughed, and pressed her ear to her shoulder. But Omer was determined. While she hid one side of her neck, his lips moved to the other and burned it with kisses.
- Surely you won't? - He purred and Defne swore an oath:
"Exactly... I won't... today," she added with a sly smile.
- Are you playing with me? - asked and made his way with his palms under her loose shirt.
His lips were touching the skin so softly and sensually that Defne sighed and, closing her eyes, threw her head back, exposing her neck to his kisses.
"Let's go upstairs," Omer whispered and she nodded.
He took her hand and led her up the stairs to the bedroom. Defne walked, but inside everything melted with anticipation. She knew what would happen now. Hot passion will scorch her body with desire, and she will be lost in the hands of Omer, who will work magic with her. Torment her with pleasure and kindle blood with delight.
He loved her slowly, without hurry. Tenaciously, he ran his hands over her body, and it burned under them with fire. Kissed fingers, wrists, delicate skin on the bend of the elbows, snow-white shoulders, and large cherries of nipples on her breast. It was so sweet ... so sweet that she was drowning in this sweetness and did not want to swim out of it into the real world. Even the peak today was not a dazzling flash of light and an explosion of pleasure, but long waves of delight that rolled over and over again and made Defne tremble with tenderness, and Omer was dying from the sweet pain to be in her. Burying his face in the hair on the back of her head, and clasping her full breast with his palms, loved her, and pour out deep inside as hot as fire, pleasure.
They fell asleep - without separating their bodies, without opening their hands. In a dream, Omer continued to hug and carefully warm his happiness named Defne.
The next day Defne's car broke down. And it happened exactly at the moment when she was expected in the workshop. Omer's car and he were not in the office. He went to the master Sadri for the wedding shoes of Jansu Baisal, and then he was going to meet with her and her father to give them. To call her husband and tell him that she was left without a car, and he would have immediately got into a taxi and gave his wife the car with the driver, but Defne did not want to do this. It's not fair to hang all her problems on Omer. Koray came to the rescue and offered the cute skinny girl his car and driver. Defne hesitated. The Koray's driver frightened her, to put it mildly, but there was no choice - she had to get to the workshop immediately and there was no time to wait for a taxi. She agreed.
For the first time since the wedding, Defne met her nightmare. The woman who nearly destroyed her life.
"And brought you to Omer," an inner voice recalled.
"Good morning, Mrs. Neriman," she greeted, gently holding her belly as she sat down in the back seat of the white SUV.
The glamorous woman at this moment tinted her lips looking in the rearview mirror. Seeing the passenger, she was delighted and, turning to her, bombarded her with questions:
- Defne! How long have we not seen each other! How are you? How is your pregnancy?
"It is okay, Mrs. Neriman," Defne replied with restraint. - Let's hurry. They are waiting for me in the workshop.
- Of course of course! - starting the car, Omer's aunt murmured and Defne heard that in her thoughts she just called her Black Mamba.
Stifling a laugh, Defne dictated the address and leaned back in her seat. The enlarged belly pressed on the internal organs and it became problematic to sit upright.
- You are pregnant and continue to work, - noticing Defne's manipulations in the rear-view mirror, Neriman said. - Why do you need it? Omyush is rich! You should sit at home and torment him with whims.
"Mrs. Neriman," Defne answered patiently. - I do not know how to be capricious and like to work.
- Allah-Allah! - She was outraged, deftly driving the car and maneuvering in a continuous stream of cars. - Likes to work! Same like Omer! - She clucked her tongue in displeasure and blurted out: - Why do you like to work?
- Because it's interesting.
- Holy heaven! What's interesting? Here's shopping - it's interesting! And the gossip is interesting! And to work ... it's so boring!
- Madam Neriman, are you bored now? - Defne asked her and she snorted:
- Why do you ask? Of course not!
"But you're at work now."
- Oh, yes? Precisely at work! But this is a different job. Driving is not boring.
"I'm not bored with creating jewelry either," Defne said.
- But the baby will be born soon! How will you handle her and the work?
- There is Zehra and grandmother. If possible, I will work at home, and in my office, I will arrange a children's corner and I will take Emine with me when my presence in Sapphire is needed.
- Ay, you have thought, and planned everything! - Neriman muttered with displeasure and then it dawned on her. - Emine! - She exclaimed. - Will you name the baby Emine?! And Black Mamba, well, that is, daddy Hulusi in the know?
"I don't know," Defne shrugged. "Maybe Omer told him, maybe not. But what's the difference? This is our daughter and we will call her whatever we want.
- Why, this is the name of Omer's mother! And Black Mam ... Daddy Hulusi hated her, - reminded Neriman. - Maybe, before it's too late, come up with a new name?
- What more! - Defne was indignant at such tactlessness. - Besides, so much time has passed, and Mr. Hulusi rethought a lot, changed his attitude to many things.
- Sure sure! - Mrs. Neriman mockingly assented. - Of course, he did! And also - the rain is dry, and the earth is flat. This is Black Mamba! He's like a vampire! He will never change his mind about anything.
Defne did not answer and silently turned to the window. Neriman, as usual, chattered incessantly, but she let her chatter pass by her ears.
When the car stopped outside the workshop, Defne opened the door and said:
- Don't wait for me. Return to Passionis.
- How? - Neriman was surprised. - And how will you get back?
- I'll stay here until evening. Omer will free himself and take me. The car is needed in Passionis. The presentation of the spring-summer collection is tomorrow. Koray will need to go to the venue more than once. Don't delay him, go. Have a nice day.
Nodding goodbye, Defne went to the workshop. Neriman looked at her dignified, albeit heavy gait, proud head position, unfolded shoulders, and muttered:
- Nero, you are a genius! What kind of queen did you make out of an ordinary neighborhood scum? She married the rich and handsome Omer Iplikci. And what thanks for that? She didn't even think that the child could be called by my name. Neriman Iplikci the second! Sounds royal! What did they think of? Emine, - Neriman mimicked Defne's voice and winced. - Is that a name for a princess? We need to discuss this with Korish! - Neriman started the car and rushed to Passionis.
Hearing her idea, cute Korish choked on a strawberry smoothie. Clearing his throat, he widened his eyes and muttered:
- Nero, something has brought you to the wrong side. Forgot what you did to Omyush and the skinny girl?
- What did I do to them? - Capriciously stamped her feet Neriman. - The love of his life I brought to Omer, and from the simpleton Defne, I made a princess and introduced her into the upper world. Look at them! Would they be so happy, rich, and successful if not for me?!
"That's right," Koray agreed. - But when Omyush found out about the game of love for rent, do you remember what happened? He abandoned everyone and ran away. And the skinny girl almost died...
- Well, she's not dead! Neriman exclaimed angrily. - Alive and healthy! Rich! Manages her company! Also pregnant! And I'm unhappy, - she theatrically brushed away a tear. - Everyone left me! Left on the street without a penny in my pocket!
- Well, so, and without a penny! Nero, do not exaggerate, - protested Koray and clapping his hands, offered: - Let's go to the rehearsal and make fun of the models!
Neriman's eyes lit up with delight.
- Make fun of? Over the models? Favorite hobby! Let's go faster!
***
Defne spent the whole day in the workshop. She watched the work of the masters, carefully selected diamonds, argued with Ahtem, arguing why the marcasite she liked was better than the opal he had chosen. He resisted for a long time, but in the end, he agreed. When the stone took its place in the ring, Ahtem admitted that Defne's instinct was more important than his knowledge of the principles and postulates of jewelry making.
Towards evening, Omer drove in to pick her up, for some reason very pleased. Defne looked at him suspiciously until they left the workshop, and when they got into the car, she told him to confess what was the matter. The husband, with a too innocently honest look, began to talk about how Jansu Baisal liked the wedding shoes he created, and how she was scattered in compliments and thanked Passionis and Master Sadri. Imagining Jansu spill in gratitude, Defne raised an eyebrow skeptically, but Omer pretended not to notice this and from Jansu switched to master Sadri and Iso. This topic has already been more interesting. Defne bombarded her husband with questions. He spoke in detail about every word spoken in the workshop.
- Oh, how I miss them! She moaned plaintively. "I haven't seen Iso for a hundred years. He has a family, and I don't even know Aysegul and her son yet.
"Let's invite them to visit next weekend," Omer suggested. - Both Topal and my grandfather. Let's arrange a family feast for no reason!
- Wonderful idea! - Defne was delighted. She was a little strained by the mention of grandfather Hulusi, but she decided not to spoil her mood with such thoughts. Instead, smiling broadly, she exclaimed: - Oh, how I want! Thank you, darling!
She kissed him on the cheek, and Omer broke into a satisfied smile. Everything inside him seethed with impatient anticipation. For a whole week, secretly from Defne, he was preparing a surprise for her, and today it was finished. Omer felt happiness inside him to look at his wife's face when she sees it.
They entered the house and Defne, as usual, went upstairs to change. But she stopped at the last step. Omer, who followed her, smiled slyly and stepped forward. Defne looked at the open door of the children's room. Her face blossomed into a radiant smile. Looking incredulously at her husband, she walked into the room and gasped. The gray walls were covered with milky wallpaper in blue clouds. The white ceiling was strewn with tiny, star-like lamps and crystal beads hanging on thin chains. In the middle was a chandelier with a dark blue shade. The curtains on the windows were the same color. On one wall hung an intricately carved wooden plaque painted with white paint. On it, letters shone in gold.
- Emine, - Defne read and turned to her husband. Her eyes shone with admiration and boundless joy. - When did you have time?
"The decorators worked during the day when we were at work," he explained. - The most difficult thing was not to let you look into the room these days. But I did it! Omer praised himself.
- So that's why you followed me at home all week ?! - Defne guessed and laughed. And then she hugged her husband, kissed him, and whispered in his ear: - Thank you! It is beautiful.
Little feet pounded in her belly. Omer knelt, kissed the place where they hit, and spoke to his daughter:
- Daddy's bead, do you like the room?
The legs pounded even more vividly.
"She says she likes it," Defne translated with a smile. - And asks, what will she sleep on?
"On the most beautiful and comfortable bed," Omer growled, pressing his cheek to her belly. - Which mom and I will buy on Sunday. - He got up from his knees, winked cheerfully at Defne, and presented her with a fact: - The day after tomorrow we are going to buy furniture and other necessary things.
- Hooray! - She happily answered him. - I will come off in full!
"And so, - looking at her happy smile, thought Omer. - One surprise was successful. I wonder what she will say on Monday when she walks into the Sapphire meeting room and ... my office! "
Omer left in the morning. As he explained to Defne -to check how the preparation for the presentation is going. He promised to be back by three o'clock to prepare for the evening. After seeing him off, Defne went up to the nursery. She walked around the room, touched the walls, curtains, hit the crystal beads with her fingers and they rang melodiously. And then she went to the plaque. She looked for a long time at the most beautiful name in the world and her eyes grew darker and darker with anxiety. Mrs. Neriman's words swirled in her head and worried. Even the slightest possibility should not be allowed for Emine to be denied love because of her name. Putting her hand on her belly, Defne promised:
- I will resolve this, kitten! Believe me.
She quickly dressed, called a taxi, and drove to an old mansion in the heart of Istanbul.
The door was opened by the assistant of Mr. Hulusi and led her into the living room. Grandpa appeared a couple of minutes later. He leaned heavily on the cane, but his face was shining with joy.
"Daughter," he said, hugging her. - How happy I am to see you! You're alone? Without Omer?
- There is a presentation in Passionis today, - Defne answered. - Omer controls the preparation. And I ... Mr. Hulusi! - Defne resolutely looked him in the eye. - I came for an important conversation.
Her tone alarmed the old man. He sat down in a chair and told her:
- Speak, daughter!
Defne drew in a full chest of air and said:
- Omer and I decided to name our daughter Emine.