Sanem sat by the window, watching as Jan tossed the basketball effortlessly through the hoop while Aziz spoke to him animatedly. She could tell from their body language that they were still upset about Emre's behavior earlier at dinner. A small sigh escaped her lips.
Just then, Ceyda breezed into the room, a mischievous grin on her face. "Hey babes," she greeted, plopping down on the bed next to Sanem. "I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd come keep you company."
Sanem smiled warmly at her sister-in-law. "You're always welcome," she said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Ceyda chuckled. "Yeah, but your husband might not be too happy about that," she teased, waggling her eyebrows.
Sanem felt her cheeks flush at the implication, but she couldn't help the affectionate smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. Jan and Aziz's conversation drifted through the open window, and Sanem found herself wondering what they were discussing. Was Emre's behavior really still upsetting them that much?
"What do you think they're talking about out there?" Ceyda asked, following Sanem's gaze.
Sanem shrugged lightly. "Probably still upset about Emre," she murmured, her brow furrowing slightly.
Ceyda made a sympathetic noise, reaching out to give Sanem's hand a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry, babes," she said reassuringly. "I'm sure it'll all blow over soon. In the meantime, how about we have a little girl talk, hmm?"
Sanem couldn't help but smile, grateful for Ceyda's presence and the distraction she provided. As the two women settled in for a cozy chat, Sanem felt her worries start to melt away, replaced by a sense of contentment and the warm glow of sisterly affection.
Ceydà leaned against the bedpost, "Trust me, babes...my foolish brother is crazy for you."
"It's not like that," Sanem blushed.
Ceydà snorted, "It's more than that. You know, Jan was a bit of a bad guy back in his teens. He was the bully, but he never bullied the weak ones. He was also an anti-romantic guy."
"But he had a girlfriend," Sanem said, hinting about Polen.
Ceydà waved it off. "His engagement with Polen was political. Though he tried to make it work, he hates people who betray him. Good for him that he dumped Polen."
Sanem internally gasped. She knew she had betrayed Jan once. Would he do the same to her? Dump her?
"Sanem, you should keep my brother happy," Ceydà's statement broke her thoughts. Sanem looked at her in confusion as Ceydà added, "Jan had endured so many storms, and you are the rainbow in his life."
Sanem felt guilty as Ceydà sighed and continued, "You saw the news?"
"What news?" Sanem asked, a pit forming in her stomach.
"That...your cousin Fahadh...he's been banished from his position and barred from contesting in the election," Ceydà revealed, her voice heavy.
Fahadh's name sent a wave of disgust rushing through Sanem's body. Ceydà added, "His sex tape with a woman went live. The man is going to have a scarred face forever."
"Good for him," Sanem replied, her tone dripping with contempt. "People like him can never do any good for society."
At that moment, Jan entered the room. Seeing Ceydà, he said, "Are you spoiling my wife again?"
Ceydà stuck her tongue out at him, the candy she was eating turning it a vibrant purple. "Okay, Sanem, goodbye," she said, flirtatiously kissing Sanem's cheek as Jan shot daggers at his sister. Her actions clearly annoyed him, and she scurried out as Jan closed the door, looking at his wife.
Sanem stared at Jan, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "I... I think baba should have given the money to Emre," she stammered, her throat suddenly dry. She watched as Jan's expression shifted, a flash of anger passing across his face as he changed his shirt.
"Do you not want me to give rest to your body?" His words sent a shiver down Sanem's spine, making her flustered. Without another word, she rose from her seat and hurried to the bathroom to change.
When she returned, Sanem began her nightly routine, smoothing creams and lotions onto her skin. Suddenly, Jan appeared behind her, his hands grasping the knots of her dress, slowly fastening them up. Sanem couldn't help but smile at the way he was looking at her, his gaze both inviting and intense.
"Emre is spoilt. He wastes money on things he has no idea about," Jan purred, his voice low and close to her ear. He turned Sanem to face him, his fingers playing with the strands of her hair. "Pack your things."
"For what?" Sanem whispered, her lips mere inches from his.
"Our honeymoon," Jan replied, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Baba has booked our flights."
Sanem's heart raced with excitement and anticipation. This was all so sudden, but the thought of being alone with Jan, exploring the world together as newlyweds, sent a thrill through her. She reached up, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw, and smiled.
"Then let's get packing."
Jan pouted before nibbling the tip of her nose, "Before that, don't you think we should practice?"
Sanem glanced at him with her doe eyes, "What?"
"Are you really that innocent?" he replied, pulling her closer. "We should practice what we are going to do on our honeymoon. So that the results would be excellent."
Sanem chuckled as Jan carried her to the bed. She said, "But you said for me to pack the bags! If you do this, how will I..."
He placed a finger on her lips. He gulped, tracing her thin, sweet lips with his finger before placing a chaste kiss on them. "Then don't pack. We will buy things when we go there."
Sanem looked at him with anticipation as he gently laid her back, mounting over her figure as she closed her eyes. Their hands intertwined as they reveled in each other's scent.
It was nearly 3:30 am and Sanem slept soundly, wrapped beneath the sheets. Jan, however, was still awake, watching her with an unreadable expression. He was captivated by her, giving her the best moments of her life. Yet, he knew that sooner or later, she would fall into the depths of an abyss - an abyss he had unknowingly created.
Jan himself was so deeply entangled in his feelings for Sanem that he could no longer find a way to break free. He took out his phone and made a call, his eyes still fixated on her as he grazed her hair.
The next morning, Sanem woke up in a delightful mood. As she looked at Jan, she noticed his reddened eyes and was a bit surprised. "Are you angry?" she asked.
Jan took a moment to compose himself and replied, "Not really, just some addictions that did it."
"You are an addict?" Sanem gasped, worry etched on her face.
Jan replied with a cheeky smile, "Am I not addicted to you?"
Sanem rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. They got ready and made their way to the car, the air between them light and playful, despite the underlying tension.
______________________
Aiyleen stared down at the agreement, her brow furrowed in disgust. The terms that Fabri had laid out were utterly vile - he would help her secure the coveted top advertising award, but only if she sent the most beautiful models from her agency to sleep with him.
"This bastard..." she muttered under her breath, her fingers clenching the papers tightly. She knew all too well the depths of Fabri's perversion and lack of character. There was a time when they had been a couple, but that had ended badly, the reason their marriage couldn't last.
And yet, as much as she loathed Fabri, she couldn't fully rid herself of him. He was a shrewd, calculating businessman with a vast network of contacts - the only person who could truly compete with her rival, Fikri Harika. And Aiyleen desperately needed to win that advertising award. It would be a crowning achievement for her agency, solidifying its position at the top and opening the door of opportunities for her.
Aiyleen's heart raced as she pictured herself holding the prestigious award, a smile spreading across her face. But the sudden ring of the doorbell snapped her out of her daydream. "Whose that?" she frowned.
To her surprise, she heard Emre's voice. "It's me, babe."
Quickly, Aiyleen hid the agreement paper she had been studying under her bedsheet before going to the door. As she opened it, Emre's smug face greeted her.
"Emre, if you have something important or useful, then you're welcome. Otherwise, please go - don't waste my time," she said curtly.
Unexpectedly, Emre pulled her close by the waist. From his pocket, he produced a diamond-studded necklace, and Aiyleen gasped as he placed it around her neck.
"Where did you get the money? I remember your account was almost closed," she questioned, aware of his every financial detail.
Emre flashed a confident grin. "The surprise doesn't end here..." he teased, leaving Aiyleen curious and intrigued.
Emre gestured as Aiyleen rushed over to the sleek, limited edition sports car he had just surprised her with. He had hoped she would be overjoyed, but her face quickly fell as she realized it wasn't the top-of-the-line model she had been eyeing.
"It's the limited edition, right?" Aiyleen asked, her excitement turning to disappointment.
Emre nodded hesitantly. "I wanted to save as much money as I could. I transferred the funds into your account already."
Aiyleen scoffed. "How many days do you think you'll have to beg your parents for money and live off your meager savings? Jan probably has an unlimited credit card by now."
Emre felt his irritation growing. "You know I'm trying my best here," he said, defensively.
"That's the problem," Aiyleen interrupted. "You were the one running your father's company from the start. And then Jan, with no experience, came in and saved it from drowning. Now every other brand is begging to feature their products on Fikri Harika."
Emre clenched his jaw, hating how right she was. He had been handed the reins to the family business, but his lack of ambition and leadership had allowed Jan, his college roommate, to swoop in and turn it around. Now, Aiyleen flaunted Jan's success, while Emre struggled to keep up.
"I'm going to change that, Aiyleen," Emre said, determination burning in his eyes. "I'm going to prove to everyone, including you, that I can be just as successful as Jan. This is just the beginning."
Aiyleen raised a skeptical eyebrow. For now,she couldn't toss him aside.
____________________
The flight landed on time in Costa Rica and Sanem was in awe. The lush, verdant landscapes and the warm tropical air were a stark contrast to the cold, grey skies she had left behind. Jan was smiling at her all through their journey to the resort, his excitement palpable.
They were warmly welcomed by the friendly staff as they arrived at their honeymoon suite. "You can take a shower and change. I have a call to attend, I'll come in a few minutes," Jan said to Sanem, who nodded and began unpacking her things.
As she was neatly arranging her belongings, Sanem's phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the unfamiliar caller ID and picked up, her tone casual. "Hello?"
"Don't you feel any shame?" The voice on the other end was crude and accusatory. Sanem was taken aback, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Who are you?"
"That's none of your business. Just know that I know your every secret. I know you worked for your husband's brother as his spy to take down the company for some filthy money."
Sanem's heart raced as she listened to the words, a pit forming in her stomach.
She felt her world stop at that moment. Her breathing ragged, "Who are you? Are you trying to blackmail me? How do you know all this?"
"I said it's none of your business," the voice spat. "Your greedy mother didn't even tell the darkest secret of your life and got you married to a rich man. How can you stoop so low?"
Sanem's heart raced as the weight of the stranger's words sank in. How could they possibly know the skeletons in her closet? She thought she had buried that part of her past, but it seemed to have resurfaced with a vengeance.
"What do you want?" Sanem felt her voice thinning with every second.
The voice sneered, "Confess to your husband. Tell him the truth." Before she could respond, the line went dead, leaving Sanem in a stunned silence.
She sank into the nearest chair, her mind spinning. How could she possibly tell her beloved husband the truth? The shame and guilt she had been carrying threatened to consume her. But the alternative - being blackmailed - was even more terrifying.