Bianco's lawyer could not teleport. But on the other hand, he had good acquaintances at an Istanbul law firm, which has an impeccable reputation. He called there, and when Niko arrived at the notary's office, one of the best lawyers in the city was already waiting for him.
"I am familiar with the situation," he said. "I must warn you — we can call the police and accuse Mr. Remarco of blackmail."
"No," Niko objected. "The risk is too high that what happened will get into the press and hit on Miss Jansu. This cannot be allowed. Your task is to force Remarco to sign a tough commitment and to intimidate him so that he no longer dares to renew the blackmail."
"As you wish, Mr. Bianco," the lawyer sighed. He took a document from his briefcase and handed it to Niko. "I drew up a document. Check it out."
Niko looked at his watch and shook his head.
"There's no time for that. I trust your professionalism. Let's go inside."
At the reception, they were met by a secretary girl in a formal suit.
"Mr. Notary is waiting for you," she said, - and pointed to the door.
The notary turned out to be an elderly bald man with intelligent eyes. After a short greeting, the lawyer put the document on his desk and explained that the shares would be transferred only after Mr. Remarco signed it and Mr. Notary had certified it. The notary read the undertaking fluently and nodded his head, declaring,
"Certainly, gentlemen."
Tony Remarco entered the office. Only the lawyer answered his greeting. He introduced himself and explained the conditions under which Mr. Bianco would transfer his shares of the Association of Jewelers to Mr. Remarco. Tony, not expecting such agility from Niko Bianco, shot him an angry look. He looked confident and calm, like the Sphinx.
"Read the commitment and sign it." The lawyer pushed the document to Remarco.
He took it in his hands and, while reading, turned purple more and more. In the end, Tony looked like a ripe tomato.
"This is blackmail!" he exclaimed shrilly.
Niko just grinned. The lawyer, rather sarcastically, asked, "If this is blackmail, then what are your actions called?"
Remarco pursed his lips, grabbed a pen from his pocket, and signed the document. Niko took the shares out of a case and put them on the table. The notary looked at him sympathetically and took out a donation form from a drawer.
There was a noise outside the door.
"Wait! Where are you going? Mr. Notary is busy!" The agitated voice belonged to the secretary.
She was answered by a determined and ringing voice, "Believe me, my dear, your boss is busy now with my person!"
Niko looked up and stared at the door. The hand froze over the form.
"Sign it!" Tony shrieked.
The door opened and Jansu appeared in the doorway, imperiously commanding the dazed Niko, "Don't you dare!"
She ran up to her ex-husband, snatched the pen from his hands, and turned to Remarco. Narrowing her eyes, she asked wryly, "What kind of fraud is going on here? Niko won the bet, so why is he giving the shares and not you?"
Two more girls appeared in the office, but no one paid attention to them. Everyone's eyes were on Jansu. At that moment, she looked like an Amazon.
"Jansu, don't interfere," Niko ordered quietly.
"You will not give this bastard the shares!" she said.
New faces appeared in the office. A man, a pregnant woman, and a girl of about four years old. The room looked like a pumpkin overflowing with seeds. The Notary just looked from one face to another with a confused look. He completely lost control of what was happening.
Remarco, stung by the epithet "bastard," threatened the warlike Amazon,
"If Bianco does not give me his shares, tomorrow all the newspapers in Istanbul will write the news that Jansu Baisal, without being married, spent the night with a man in his hotel room."
Jansu casually waved her hand and ordered, "Go ahead!"
"Not!" Niko growled. "It will not happen. I won't allow it!"
Jansu turned to him and, looking into his eyes, asked, "Why?"
"Because I love you!" he answered with desperate fury.
Everyone gasped in unison and only Emine Diana smiled with satisfaction and said, "Finally! I told you there will be a wedding."
Her father came forward. Omer Iplikci looked into Tony Remarco's face and said with an icy calm that shook his veins, "Don't you think, Mr. Remarco, that it is permissible for a bride to be alone with her future husband?"
"He's her ex-husband, not her future!" he cried.
"What?" asked Emine in surprise and looked reproachfully at Jansu.
She shrugged guiltily and said, "Sorry."
"I will forgive you," the girl promised and, slyly screwing up her eyes, put forward a condition, "If you tell Niko that you love him."
Jansu turned to her ex-husband and obediently said, "I love you."
"Well, that's nice," the notary rubbed his hands. "Young people on the way to marriage. There is no scandal in their behavior, you can leave everything as it is and disperse peacefully."
"What?!" Remarco surged. "How do we split up? The bride is not a wife, and she ..."
Omer elbowed him in the stomach with an elusive movement. Remarco bent in half.
Defne took her daughter by the hand and said, "Honey, you settled the future for Jansu, and now let's go outside and wait there. There are serious topics here that are not for little girls' ears."
The topics were very interesting to the little girl's ears, but she did not contradict her mother and obediently left the office with her.
Tony Remarco looked like a fish washed ashore. He gasped for air, and shock was reflected in his bulging eyes. The following words of Jansu Baisal finished him off.
"Eh, no!" she objected. "How do we go away? Was there a bet? It was! Did Niko win it? Won! Mr. Remarco, give back the agreed percentage of the shares."
"Jansu," Niko growled.
"No!" Tony yelled. "Bianco said that there was nothing between you! It was he who lost, not me."
"When did he say that?" looking at the enraged Niko, she asked.
"The morning you left his room," Tony replied angrily.
"Hey!" Niko snapped at him. "More respect."
"And I say the opposite," declared Jansu with a challenge. "It was..."
"Jansu!" Niko said warningly.
"Well, stop repeating, Jansu, Jansu!" she was indignant. "I'm only seeking justice."
"Madam Jansu is right," the lawyer, who was silent and attentively watching the stormy scene, suddenly spoke up. "Mr. Remarco broke the law and more than once. The first is fraud. He tried to get someone else's by deception and cunning. The second is blackmail. Both the first and the second are crimes that carry criminal responsibility. I think it's worth calling the police and going to the prosecutor's office."
Tony turned green. He had never expected such an outcome. Going to prison was even more terrifying than losing your shares.
"Don't need the police," he croaked. "I'll give the shares."
"And you will immediately leave Turkey," demanded Omer Iplikci.
"I'll leave," he promised and added angrily, "Damn it, your Turkey, and with the crazy Turkish women!"
The notary and the lawyer took over the registration of the transfer of shares from Tony Remarco to Niccolo Bianco.
Omer left the office. His presence was no longer required, and the beloved girls were waiting outside for the husband and daddy.
Niko took Jansu's hand and asked, "How did you get here?"
She pointed her eyes to the side and smiled. Niko looked around. Ornella and Lucia stood near the wall, silent like mice.
Niko slapped his forehead with his palm and said, "Of course! How did I not guess?"
Lucia was the first to approach him. Smiling guiltily, she said, "Sorry. I honestly went upstairs and almost reached the room."
"And then she met me," Ornella stood up for her. She, too, went to the trio. "I decided to eavesdrop," she admitted honestly. "And I don't regret it!"
"And don't be sorry!" Jansu told her and smiled warmly. "You're an angel!"
She nudged Niko with her shoulder and asked, "And you do not regret that you broke off the engagement with such a girl?"
Niko's eyes widened in surprise.
"Do you know Ornella?" he asked in shock.
"Yesterday we met," confessed Jansu. "She opened my eyes a lot."
"I only told her the truth," Ornella replied modestly.
The notary, after scrutinizing Remarco's signature, called Niko, "Mr. Bianco, we need your presence."
Niko didn't want to leave Jansu for a minute and didn't give a damn about all the shares in the world. But she looked at her watch and was horrified.
"Oh, Allah! I have a video call with Croatian partners in twenty minutes. I ran!"
"Wait," Niko held her hand and quietly said in her ear, "In an hour I'll come to Sapphire. We need to talk."
Jansu nodded and answered just as quietly, "I will wait."
She waved goodbye to Ornella and Lucia and walked out of the office with a brisk gait. Niko looked at the closed door, and inside everything sang. "I'll wait," she said, and these words were the best music in the world.
"Mister Bianco," the notary called again.
"I'm coming," he said.
But first, he looked at his sister and cousin and said in a hoarse, overflowing voice, "Thank you! I will never forget this."
"Don't make it up!" Ornella answered him and ordered, "Become, finally, happy!"
Niko smiled a boyish, reckless smile, winked at her, and said,
"Now I am happy!"
But when, an hour later, he entered Sapphire's office, his confidence diminished. Doubts arose again. What if Jansu said those words on emotions, but now she has comprehended everything and changed her mind? He grabbed the doorknob, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and flung the door open.
Jansu was sitting at the table and she looked as confused and frightened as Niko himself. She stood up to meet him. Their gazes met and both could no longer take their eyes off each other. Niko stepped forward, Jansu took a step forward. When the distance was no more than a meter, both stopped. Niko swallowed. Jansu sighed softly.
"Forgive me," both said in one voice.
The same, touching smiles appeared on their faces. The eyes sparkled. Niko held out his right hand with his little finger tucked out. Jansu mirrored the gesture.
"Peace?" both said again in unison.
The smiles widened, - and then turned into low laughter. Niko put his hands around Jansu's face and pressed his forehead to hers.
"Did Emine have a conversation with you too?" a voice hoarse with emotion, she asked.
"She loves you very much," he replied. "And wants to see you happy."
"How strange," Jansu threw back her head and looked into Niko's eyes, "the little girl was the only one who understood that without you I would not be happy."
"She looked with her heart ..." Niko said, but his eyes did not leave Jansu's lips. More than anything, he wanted to kiss her. But first, they need to talk and remove all obstacles. Enough of stepping on the same rake.
"Jansu, I know why you ran away four years ago," he said muffled. "I learned yesterday from your sister and her husband. And before ... I thought you betrayed me - gave it up when you found out about Bianco's debts."
Jansu pressed her hand to his lips and said, "I know. I learned from Ornella yesterday. God, I hated her so much, and she was the only person who managed to break through my stubbornness."
"And what else did she say?" Niko asked.
"Everything," confessed Jansu. "About breaking off your engagement. On the wild notions of the Salvatore family. That your mother lied to you about the reasons for my escape after the wedding ... and your reasons for prompting you to make this stupid bet."
Niko smiled wryly. The stupid bet still made him burn with shame and anger towards himself.
"And how did my dear cousin know the last two points?" he said.
"You got drunk very well the night before yesterday," Jansu reminded him.
Niko blushed and muttered, "God, what a shame."
"But you don't need to torture yourself," Jansu asked him. "After all, everything was right and on time. If you weren't drunk, you would never have told Ornella what torments you. This means that she would not come to me and open my eyes to the lies in which I lived for many years and which almost ruined my life."
"And mine," Niko said hoarsely.
"And yours," Jansu agreed.
He squeezed her face in his hands and whispered, "Forgive me... I am sorry for everything."
Jansu shook her head and pleaded, "Don't ask for forgiveness. We are both to blame. I am no less than you. If I had not been so selfish and stubborn, if I had listened to you, these years of hopeless melancholy would not have been ..."
"Shhhh," Niko whispered. "Don't punish yourself. Experienced and forgotten. Now there are no doubts and resentments between us. No, isn't it?" asked, and in his voice was heard fright.
"No," Jansu assured him. "Without any doubts. No hard feelings. If I stand on the roof, and you are below, and tell me – 'Jump, I will catch you!' - I will jump."
"I'll catch you," Niko said.
"I know," she whispered.
At that moment, real and defenseless, who had thrown off all the masks, Jansu was incredibly, touchingly beautiful. Niko realized that he loved her more than life and did not want to spend a single minute apart.
"Will you marry me?" he asked in a muffled, hoarse voice.
"Yes," she said, just as hoarsely. "A thousand times, yes!"
Niko leaned over and kissed her. The kiss was heady and sweet. There was not a drop of bitterness in it, not a shadow of resentment and doubt. Only love.
The door opened quietly. A curious little face with olive eyes peeked into it. Emine Diana watched the kissing couple for a minute, and then said with satisfaction, "Now, for sure, there will be a wedding!"
A month later
A tiny island in the Sea of Marmara with a not at poetic name Rabbit turned into a fairy tale for one day. It was buried in flowers and received guests who sailed up to it on a large snow-white yacht. The gangway, thrown from it to the shore, was probably the longest in the world. And rather flimsy. It swayed slightly on the waves and elegant guests stepped on it very carefully. When they went ashore, a beautiful and happy bride and groom appeared on the gangplank. Niko Bianco grabbed Jansu in his arms and carried her to the island. And she was not at all afraid. She hugged him by the neck and enjoyed every moment. After all, all fears and phobias are in the past.
The bride had a very beautiful and unusual dress. It was decorated with emeralds, amethysts, and rhinestones - symbolizing loyalty, devotion, and eternal love. This dress was a gift from her only sister. It was Defne who created it and was now beaming with a joyful smile. She was happy for Jansu, - because she knew firsthand how important it is to find the strength to forgive, let go of doubts and give a second chance to love.
Little Emine Diana had an important mission - to scatter rose petals in a small meadow, in the middle of which there was an arch entwined with flowers. Witnesses and a marriage registrar were waiting for the bride and groom under it. Emine stood the entire ceremony, listening carefully to every word. When the registrar announced the bride and groom as husband and wife, she spun on the spot and shouted,
"Hooray! Jansu and Niko got married!"
The wedding planner announced the first dance of the newlyweds. To a slow melody, Niko hugged his wife and led her in a dance. Beautiful, in love, they sparkled with happiness and tenderness.
Defne went to her father, took his arm, and pressed her head to his shoulder. He looked at her with a loving look, and then returned his eyes to the youngest daughter bride.
"Are you happy?" Defne asked him.
"Yes," he replied without hesitation. "I always knew that Niko was the one Jansu needed. I only regret that I became fainthearted and did not force her to listen to me then ..."
"Don't be sorry," Defne said. "Everything always happens on time."
"True," said Omer, who approached his wife and father-in-law.
He carefully examined Defne's face, touched her belly tenderly, and asked with obvious concern,
"Aren't you tired?"
Defne shook her head and slipped her other hand under his elbow. Surrounded by beloved and loving men, Defne felt herself in seventh heaven. Funny Omer. How can you get tired of happiness?
"Aren't you tired?" circling his wife in a dance, Niko asked quietly.
He was obsessed with her. Absolutely and completely hooked. His love and tenderness were so much that Jansu wrapped herself in them like a shawl and felt herself the most necessary and most needed.
"You're funny," she pressed her hand to his cheek, and smiling tenderly and sweetly, she answered. "Is it possible to get tired of happiness?"
Niko grabbed her veil, blocking her from prying eyes, wrapped himself and his wife in it, and covered the beloved lips with a kiss.
Eight months later
Jansu and Niko stared at the ultrasound monitor screen. There, in a shimmering triangle, a funny frog jerked with tiny arms and legs.
"It's a boy," said the doctor.
"Boy," whispered Jansu affectionately.
"Boy?" Niko asked in frustration.
Why a boy? He was expecting a girl! Green-eyed with chestnut curls and an obstinate character.
"Niko, I'll hit you right now!" In an angry whisper threatened Jansu.
Niko stared at the screen. Boy. A touchingly gentle smile appeared on his face.
"A boy is good," he said.
And then he looked at his wife and, in a tone that did not tolerate objection, declared,
"But then we will have a girl!"
"Yes, at least ten!' she promised.
Jansu knew what she was saying. She and Niko simply had to give birth to a dozen children.
After all, there should be many happy people in this world.