By morning, Defne felt almost healthy. The head did not hurt, and she had no fever. The throat slightly hurts, and her voice remained hoarse, but such trifles could be ignored. She hinted at going to work, but Omer didn't even want to hear about it.
- Have you lost your mind?! - He was indignant. - Do you want complications and go to the hospital? Stay home and gain strength. Please, - remembering the independent character of his wife, added and kissed her on the cheek.
Defne did not want complications. To the hospital too. So she prudently listened to her husband's request and stayed at home. Overjoyed by her consent, Omer kissed her, promised to return early, and left for Passionis.
In the office, before going to his room, he looked at the assistant and, without greeting, ordered:
- Laila, come to me. Immediately.
"All right, Mr. Omer," she replied meekly. - I'll just make your coffee.
When Layla entered the office with a cup in hand, the boss was sitting in his chair, and his expression did not bode well. She put the coffee on the table and walked back a couple of steps. Scanning her with an impenetrable gaze, Omer asked:
- Laila, did you come here yesterday in my absence?
The assistant smoothed her red hair and licked her full lips with a sharp tongue. Then she raised her innocent eyes to the boss and said:
- Yes, Mr. Omer. I brought in a folder with documents. I was only here for a couple of minutes.
- And in those two minutes, you managed to answer my wife's phone call? - Omer did not ask but stated a fact. Cold and ironic.
"The naive was not so proud," thought Laila angrily. She felt uneasy, but the cunning girl was not going to show it. Blinking wide eyes, she hurried to justify herself:
- Yes, it happened. You were not there, and Mrs. Defne called. I thought the call was important and answered.
- You thought that the call was important, but didn't tell me anything about it?
Black eyes scanned her and burned through her. Laila lowered her gaze and feigned remorse:
- Excuse me, Mr. Omer! But your wife didn't say a word. Immediately ended the call. I thought ... nothing urgent...
- Don't you think that you're thinking too much, but not what is needed? Let me decide for myself what is important and what is not," the boss chided her, minting words. "It was your duty to inform me of the call. No more, no less. Making decisions for me or my wife is definitely not your responsibility. Kindly never allow yourself to do that again.
"I beg your pardon," the assistant whispered in a dull voice and, sniffling, dabbed the knuckle of her index finger under her eye. But the iceberg did not pay any attention to her tears. He continued the questioning:
- This is, firstly. Secondly, how did it happen that Defne's call disappeared from my phone?
"I don't know, Mr. Omer," Leila stammered. - Maybe something with the phone? Ask Zubeyir.
"You can go," the boss pointed to the door with his chin. - Ask Zubeyir to come to me.
Leila jumped out of the office and leaned against the wall with her back. Here you are! Are these crazy people telling each other every little detail?
- Received a scolding from Mr. Omer? - Nazlican smiled sympathetically from behind her counter.
- Uh-huh, - Laila nodded.
- Do not worry. Mr. Omer is strict but fair. Try not to mess up anymore today, and by evening he will forget about everything.
"Thanks for the advice," Laila held out and hurried to Zubeyir.
She flew into the server room, fell into a chair, and burst into tears. The frightened programmer cackled around her like a hen:
- What happened to you? What happened? Who hurt you? Just tell me and I will...
- Zubeyir! I accidentally deleted the incoming call from Mr. Omer's phone, and he will kick me out of work!
- How did you remove it? Don't cry! Explain clearly. We'll come up with something.
- Mister Omer forgot his phone in his office and left. And I came in with a folder. His wife called. I picked up the phone. She hung up. I wanted to call her back and accidentally erased her call. And I was afraid to say. Mr. Omer found out that his wife called, and I answered and now asks where her call got from the phone. If he finds out that I erased it, he will kick me out! He is calling for you now!
- She found a problem because of what to cry, - Zubeyir reassured her. - I will say that this is a glitch in the phone software and suggest updating the programs.
- Will you really do it for me? - Laila grabbed his hand and smiled seductively through her tears. Zubeyir felt dizzy. He broke into a silly smile and nodded in the affirmative. - Adore you!
She kissed him on the cheek and pushed him toward the door. - Go! Don't keep the boss waiting.
Zubeyir stopped in front of the door and timidly asked:
- Laila, is your grandmother not feeling better? Let's go to the cinema?
- Ah, don't ask! Things are looking bad, " she grimaced. - All the evenings I am with her.
"Hold on," he said with genuine sympathy. - I'm with you.
The door closed, and Laila was left alone in the office. The unhappy expression on her face was replaced by a stinging mockery:
- Hold on! I'm with you! She mimicked the programmer. - What an idiot!
- Mister Omer, did you call me?
Omer looked at the smiling face of Zubeyir sticking out from behind the ajar door and nodded to him:
- Come in, - he briskly walked into the office and stopped near the table. Omer handed him the phone. - Look what happened to it. Yesterday I received a call, but for some reason, it was not saved in the inbox.
Zubeyir took the phone and, poking his finger across the screen, jabbed:
- It happens sometimes. The software is out of date. Need to update. Let's do it now. Soooo! Let's wait for the end of the installation. Let's reboot ... It's done! - He handed the phone to the boss.
He took it and thanked:
- Thanks! You can go back to work.
When Zubeyir left, Omer called Defne.
- Yes, darling - her voice sounded hoarse but cheerful.
- What is my soul doing? He asked and heard a satisfying laugh.
- I admire the sketch!
- Finished?
- Uh-huh! It turned out beautifully. I like it.
"If you like it, it turned out not just beautiful, but great," Omer said kindly, and Defne laughed in response. Her laughter enveloped his soul like a balm. Smiling, he asked: - How do you feel?
"Fine," she replied. - Zehra made me tea with ginger and honey. My throat said thank you to her - there was a click on the phone, and then Defne exclaimed: - Omer, I will disconnect. Laura is calling! Kisses!
- Kisses, - said Omer and put the phone on the table.
A smile unconsciously spread across his face. Dear Defne! The sound of her voice alone is enough to make him calm down and feel happy.
***
- Defne, don't kill me! Tell me you finished the last sketch! - Laura demanded in a plaintive voice, and Defne hastened to calm her pregnant friend:
- Finished! Do not worry. Now I will scan it and send it to you and Mirai by mail.
- Hooray! You are our honey bee! And I was already worried. Today, before two in the afternoon, I need to send an application for stones in Diamond. It is almost ready, but I only need to add a list of sapphires and diamonds for the last sketch.
- Don't hang up. I'm already scanning, - Defne put the sketch into the scanner and pressed the corresponding icon on the laptop. - So ... done! I am sending it! Open your mail.
- A-a-a-a!!! - She heard a desperate cry from the phone. - Mail doesn't work! I'll call Zubeyir now. Defne, I'll call you back in five minutes!
Laura did call back five minutes later and, almost crying said that there were problems with the mail in Sapphire. If you believe Zubeyir, it takes at least three or four hours to solve them.
- And Ahtem, as luck would have it, left in the morning for the old workshop. I could have asked him to bring it, but he has a meeting with new masters. And Mert won't show up until after lunch. Defne, what should we do?
- Honey, don't cry! You must not, "Defne began to persuade her friend. - Does the e-mail work in Passionis?
- Works.
- That is great! I will now send the sketch to Omer, and he will print it and give it to you. By the time our e-mail is working, you will have time to complete the application.
- You are a smart girl! - Laura exclaimed. - I'm waiting.
Defne sent the sketch to Omer and called him.
- Darling, the mail is not working in Sapphire, and Laura immediately needs the sketch. I sent it to you. Please print it out and have someone take it to her in Sapphire. Just do not be angry that I am impudent.
- Are you impudent? - Omer laughed, opening the letter on the laptop. - My love, be as cheeky as you like. I will only be happy.
- Thanks! I owe you!
- I count on your word! - Omer lowered his voice and purred into the receiver: - I missed you.
- Me too, - Defne whispered, and he got goosebumps. Allah! How can he wait for the evening?
Having printed the sketch, Omer called Laila to his office. Holding out the drawing, he ordered:
- Immediately take it to Sapphire and give it to Mrs. Laura. But fast. She is waiting.
Laila went out of the door and looked around the waiting room. Nazlican was not at the counter, and the employees in the office were doing their own work and paid no attention to her. Laila slipped into her office and closed the door behind her. She didn't know why yet, but, just in case, she decided to make a copy of the sketch. Having passed it through the copier, she hid it in the safe and carefully looked at the original. And the necklace is beautiful! As the name that has been assigned: Starry Night. Naive Defne is really talented. She needs to think about how to use Defne's talent for her own purposes.
Laila smiled slyly and carried the sketch to Sapphire.
Laura was waiting for her at the secretary's desk. Next to her stood a beautiful blue-eyed woman. Laila vaguely recalled that this was Sapphire's employee. After greeting her, she handed the drawing to Laura.
- Thank you so much! - She said and handed it to the blue eye woman. - Mirai, scan it, enter it into the database, and immediately bring it to me.
"All right, Mrs. Laura," the woman answered and went into her office.
- To the database? Laila asked. - Does Sapphire have a database of the sketches?
"Yes," Laura answered automatically, dialing Defne on her mobile. - Mrs. Defne is very punctual and loves order in everything. I'm not holding you back anymore. All the best - she, on the way talking on the phone, went to her office. - Defne! Everything is fine. The sketch is in Sapphire, and Mirai registers it in the database. By the way, Ahtem finished work on the pendant. It turned out just magical. Wait for us to visit you tonight. What's for dinner? Laura laughed merrily. - Yes, anything, except what you and I do not even mention the name.
Laila looked after her and listened carefully to every word.
"Dear," Alina turned to her sternly. - Do you have so much free time?
- Ay, - Leila smiled flatteringly. - I was thinking. I'm leaving. Have a nice day, dear!
***
After lunch, Ahtem dropped in to see the creative director of Passionis. Omer was just dictating a letter to Laila for the Ardini trading house. Seeing his friend, he blossomed with a joyful smile, got up from the table, and held out his hand to him. Ahtem answered with a handshake.
- Hello! Sorry to interrupt your work. I'll be there for a minute. I came to Sapphire to sign an application for Diamond and decided to drop by your place. We have to talk.
- Well done, brother. Sit down and tell me what brought you to Passionis - Omer nodded to the chair and sat down in his.
- I wanted to warn you. I don't want to disturb our pregnant girls. They will worry, but they don't need it...
- Wait, wait! - Omer exclaimed and again jumped to his feet. - Our pregnant girls? Is Laura pregnant?
- Didn't Defne tell you? - Ahtem was surprised and got up too.
- No. Probably wanted me to find out from you. Come hug - the men hugged. Omer patted his friend on the back and wished: - May everything go well! Congratulations, brother!
- Thanks! To tell the truth, I have not yet recovered from this news. I'm flying! - Ahtem admitted and returned to the chair.
- I believe! - Sitting down in his own, answered Omer. - I still fly. So what's the warning?
- There is such a company - Gold of Turkey. I had to deal with them several times ... slippery guys. They do not shun anything. Plagiarism, theft of ideas, intrigue, and setups of competitors. They have bribed journalists from the worst kind. Those publish laudatory odes about them and throw mud at honest companies. I have heard rumors that they are overly interested in Sapphire and Defne's sketches. We need to keep our finger on the matter.
"Thanks for the warning." Omer's gaze became sharp as a blade. "I'll notify security."
- The correct decision - Ahtem supported him. - Moreover, they also applied for participation in the exhibition in Ankara. With my skin, I feel that these intriguers are plotting some dirty tricks.
"Hands are short," Omer said in an icy tone and looked at his friend. - Thank you for the warning.
Laila sat in her chair as quietly as a mouse and listened intently to the conversation. The men paid no attention to her as if she was an empty place, but for the first time, this circumstance did not bother her. Her twisted brain was already working ... it was working well, as Laila thought smugly.
- Well, brother - Ahtem got up, and Omer got up after him. - I will not detain you. See you later tonight.
- Yes, Defne called and said that you will visit us today.
- We will bring the pendant. - Ahtem smiled. "The one Defne drew for your Polynesian rescuers. I finished working on it. It turned out very well.
"I don't even doubt that," Omer said, accompanying his friend to the door.
At the threshold, they shook hands, and Ahtem left. Omer returned to his desk and only then saw Laila sitting in the corner of his office.
Heck! He completely forgot about her. Frowning, he said abruptly:
- Where did we leave off?
The assistant answered, and the boss continued to dictate the letter. When the work was completed, Laila went to her room.
"Wait," Omer called out to her.
She stopped, slowly looked around, and stroked her hair with a casual gesture.
- Yes, Mr. Omer - her voice oozed honey.
"Forget what you heard in this office," the boss ordered sternly. - If I find out that you are chatting about confidential information, Passionis will say goodbye to you.
- Well, what are you saying, Mr. Omer - Laila smiled charmingly. - I am not chatty, and I do not like gossip.
"Excellent," he gestured toward the door. - Go to work.
Laila went into her room, closed the door tightly, sank into a chair, and whispered triumphantly:
- That's it! If it is not possible to round this block of ice, the money can be obtained in another way. Yes, and this neat, Defne Iplikci, to be disgraced for the whole of Turkey. But this is option B. First, I will try to bring to mind option A - to get into Omer Iplikci's bed and drive him crazy with my sexuality.
But ... how to get into his bed? And not be thrown out of it and from work in a couple of hours?
***
- Darling, I'm home! - Omer called loudly, barely crossing the threshold of the house. - Where are you?!
- Here!
Defne appeared at the top of the stairs. She was wearing a soft green loose dress that softly hugged the round tummy and beautifully set off the red hair gathered at the back of her head.
- Your voice has emerged? - Omer was delighted and held out his hands to her.
"Almost," she replied cheerfully and ran downstairs into his arms.
- I'm glad, - kissing her tender cheek, he purred. - How do you feel?
- You asked me about this fifty times today, and I answered you fifty times - fine! - Defne threw her hands around his neck and smiled mockingly.
- So answer the fifty-first, - he was not at all embarrassed and clasped his fingers at her waist. - I'm worried.
- I feel great - she assured him and winked: - The soul flies, and the body has forgotten about all diseases.
- Excellent - Omer smiled slyly and brought his lips to her ear. - So tonight ... - Ding-ding! - The doorbell sounded, and the man groaned: - Well, they couldn't come ten minutes later! I didn't even get enough of you.
- Stop grumbling! - Defne wriggled out of his embrace and went to open the front door. Casting a naughty glance over her shoulder at her husband, she blew a kiss and ordered: - Run, wash, and change. The sooner we feed them dinner and send the guests out, the sooner we will get to bed.
- Defne?! He breathed in amazement. - Are you serious? - She winked. - I'm running!!!!
Two heads, fiery red and pitch black, bent over the box with the pendant. Defne touched her finger to the mysteriously shimmering stones and smiled at Omer. He answered with a fiery look.
Ahtem interrupted the silent conversation of their eyes.
- Is that what you wanted? He asked Defne.
"Yes," she replied. - Very beautiful.
- Imagine, I finished working on it, and a minute later, Laura ran into the workshop and said that we would have a child - Ahtem looked at his wife with love. - Like some kind of magic.
"We create magic ourselves," Defne said in fascination and took out the pendant from the case. Clutching it in her hand, she closed her eyes and raised it to her lips. Whispering a few words, she handed the amulet to Laura. The friend exactly repeated her gestures.
- Hey, sorceresses! - Omer teased them. - What kind of rituals?
- We charge it with the energy of pregnancy, - Defne cheerfully enlightened her husband. - And tomorrow, we will go with you to the delivery service and send the amulet to Bora Bora. But first, let's go to the Grand Bazaar and buy gifts. Turkish, colorful.
- Whatever your soul desires, - promised Omer and kissed the warm palm of his wife.
Defne put the pendant in a case and carried it upstairs to their room with Omer. When she returned, her husband and guests together set the table for dinner. She joined and went to the kitchen for risotto and salad. Omer followed her. And even, catching her in a corner, he stole a kiss. Exciting and sweet. And he whispered a couple of words in her ear, from which Defne's cheeks lit up with a scarlet blush. She looked at him reproachfully, but he just winked slyly and smiled with one corner of his mouth. From that crooked smile, Defne's legs turned to jelly, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. The husband, grabbing a dish of risotto and a salad bowl, evaporated from the kitchen... but a couple of minutes, she came to her senses and fanned her flaming face with her palms.
During dinner, Defne asked if Laura had time to send the order to Diamond.
- Yes! She exclaimed triumphantly. - And even received confirmation that the shipment is being formed and the dispatch will be in three days. In a maximum of a week, the stones will be with us, and Ahtem and the guys will be able to start making the collection.
"We won't wait that long," objected Ahtem. - Tomorrow, we'll start working on the frames. In fact, this is a hard job. It must be made very precisely.
- And I will start drawing a necklace for the daughter of Mr. Baisal, - Defne said and turned to Laura: - Did he signed the contract?
"Signed," she replied. - And even accepted all our conditions.
- Well! Then I will call him tomorrow and agree on where and when I can see the dress, "having finished the phrase, Defne looked sideways at her husband. He sat with pursed lips and looked displeased. Very dissatisfied. She imperceptibly pushed him under the table with her foot and, when he looked at her, slightly raised one eyebrow.
- Good good! - He raised his hands. - I am silent and endure!
Laura, looking from Defne to Omer with a blank look, asked:
- What are you talking about?
"Omer has an antipathy to Ozcan Baisal," Defne explained.
- Why? - Laura was even more surprised.
"Because," Ahtem suddenly spoke, "he considers it permissible to show attention and look at a married woman incorrectly.
- What?! - The girls cried in one voice, and Omer thanked his friend with a glance.
- Why did you say that? - Defne added indignantly and, narrowing her eyes, looked angry at her husband.
- I have nothing to do with it! - He hastened to justify himself.
"He has nothing to do with it," Ahtem supported his friend. - I noticed the glances of Baisal at the presentation of Sapphire. And the way he kissed your hand.
- How did he kiss?! How did he kiss?! - Defne got angry. - The usual courtesy! Or do you consider me a woman who would allow herself to flirt? And calmly reacted to the courtship of another man?
- God forbid - Ahtem answered conciliatorily. - Nobody thinks that. But a man always recognizes another man's interest in a woman. It happens by itself. At a subconscious level. By the way, it's the same story with women. You always feel who's eyeing whom.
- Did you hear? - looking into his wife's angry face, Omer pointed to Ahtem with his hand. - It is not my jealousy that speaks, but a reasonable, sane person. Listen to him.
The sane, sensible man ironically raised his eyebrows and shook his head.
- Good! - Defne resolutely folded her arms across her chest. - I listened! And what should I do tomorrow? Don't go to a meeting?
- What more? - Laura was indignant. - We have a contract! What difference does it make who is there and what they feel? Baisal behaves decently! This is what matters. Or you, - she turned to Omer, - will you keep Defne under lock and key and won't let any man look at her?
- No, of course! - Omer protested and turned to his wife. - Go to the meeting. But not just alone. And please don't be alone with him. That's all I ask. "He smiled affectionately and kissed her frowning forehead. - Now calm down and smile. Negative emotions are contraindicated for you.
Ahtem hugged his wife and muttered in her ear:
- It concerns you too.
The girls looked at each other and smiled with very satisfied smiles.
- Okay, - Defne agreed, - let's change the subject. Monsieur Jean called me today. Said the first shipment of pearls is ready to ship.
"Good news," Ahtem was delighted, and Laura supported her husband with a smile. - If the pearls arrive no later than the stones from Diamond, there will be no delay in the production of the collection for the exhibition. We can prepare everything calmly and thoroughly.
- Amen! - Cheerfully, in one voice, summed up Defne and Laura.
***
Omer got out of the shower. Throwing a towel over his head, he wiped his hair and ran it casually over his body. Pulling on his pajama pants, he winked at himself in the mirror and hurried to his wife.
She was not in the bedroom. He went out into the corridor and looked down. The light was on there. Thinking that her sweet tooth wanted something tasty before going to bed, Omer smiled and went downstairs to the kitchen. But it was empty and quiet. As in the living room. A streak of yellow light shone from under the office door. The man hurried there. Defne, in a silk robe thrown over a lace shirt, was sitting at the table and writing something. Seeing her husband, she put down her pen and turned to him. Her eyes stuck to the water droplets that trickled from his tousled, wet hair and traced paths along his naked torso. Omer came over and sat down on the table next to her.
- What are you writing? - asked and pulled the hem of the robe, exposing a rounded shoulder. Fingers began to draw patterns on it. Their gentle touch made her soul tremble. Defne closed her eyes and swallowed. She froze and answered hoarsely:
- Letter to Maya. I'm almost done.
"You'll finish it tomorrow," said Omer and pulled her hand from the table. - Let's go upstairs. I'm dying, so I want to love you.
Defne stopped him. Looking into eyes blazing with a hot fire, she asked:
- And if I change? Well ... I don't know ... I'll grow ugly ..., I'll grow old ..., there will be scars ..., wrinkles. I'll get grumpy. And then you will love me and ... want?
"Silly," he put his hands around her thrown back face and gently stroked her cheeks and dark-red arches of eyebrows with his thumbs. - I will love you ever. A naive girl, an adult, beautiful woman ... it doesn't matter. You're my soul. Do you notice wrinkles or scars on your soul? - Tears rolled from the huge, shining eyes of Defne. Omer rubbed them off and kissed the trembling lips. - Well, what is this, darling? Do not cry. Believe me - in my heart, in my thoughts, in my soul - you are everywhere. Everything is covered by you. Always. Every minute. And I know for sure - this will not change. Never! I will love you and ... want.
Defne stood on tiptoe and stretched her lips to him. He covered them with a kiss. Hot and tender at the same time. Demanding and submissive. He subdued Defne's will, and at the same time gave her a feeling of power over her husband. Omer gave himself to her but demanded her in return. Every molecule of the body. Every heartbeat. Soul and thoughts. Everything. A naive girl and a grown woman. With nonsense in her head and butterflies in her stomach...
He released her lips and lifted the light body into his arms.
"I haven't carried you in my arms today," he purred in a velvet voice and kissed the temple.
Defne threw her arms around his neck and sighed sweetly. It's good that traditions do not change!
Omer was insatiable. The unhurried, tender kisses and caresses were replaced by burning and greedy. He showered them on Defne's body and she no longer understood what kind of light she was in and what kind of sky. His touch turned her skin into a bare nerve. She was losing her mind from desire, and sharp, incomparable pleasure. Defne wanted to return him, to give Omer caresses, as bold and hot as she received from him, but he would not allow. He intercepted her hands and, holding them above her head, boldly looked into the amber eyes clouded with passion, and whispered:
- Not today, my love ... if you touch me, I will go crazy ... explode...
"But I'm already crazy," Defne moaned, and his eyes lit up with fire.
- Go ahead! - He ordered, and with hot lips burned the slim neck and the breast as white as nougat. - I want to feel your madness. I want to give you such pleasure that you cannot think of anyone else but me. To want only me ... love only me.
- I love ... and I want ... only you! Always ... only you, "Defne whispered feverishly, dying under his arms.
Her words blew away the remnants of his mind. Omer released her wrists and ran his palms over her graceful body. It reached out for his hands and melted with sweet honey. Hot honey. And this honey was his. Only his. To the last drop!
Now he will take her. He will penetrate deeply, absorb Defne's pleasure, and electric discharges will run through the veins, turning the body into a trembling string.
- Now ... - directing himself into her womb, he whispered. - Now, darling ... now...
His arms were bulging with muscles and ropes of veins protruding through his skin. Keeping his body weight on them, he began to move smoothly and slowly. Sweat covered his body. Teeth clenched tightly. He looked at Defne. On her face changing with passion, on quivering eyelashes and bitten lips.
With his penis, he felt a tremor originating in the depths of her body. How this tremor of pleasure is reflected in the wife's face. She hugged him and pulled him to her. In one movement, Omer rolled onto his back. Defne did not let go of his neck. She lay flat on him and clung to his broad chest and flat stomach with her whole body. Omer put his hands around her hips and moved in her quickly and powerfully. Catching the cry of her pleasure with his lips, he moaned hoarsely and joined her.
***
In a sparsely furnished room, Laila sat on one of the two narrow beds and studied something on the laptop screen. The door opened inaudibly and a girl entered the bedroom. Her face was an exact copy of Laila's, only her hair was dark blond and her skin was not so white.
- What are you looking for? - She asked her sister and looked over her shoulder at the screen. - Miniature video cameras? Why do you need them? Again up to something? Laila, can you give up these intrigues and work calmly? You have a great job, a good salary. What else is needed? Live and be happy. Find a good guy. Fall in love.
Laila looked at her sister and laughed angrily.
- Good job? Salary? Lydia, don't make me laugh! Is this what I deserve! I want everything! Wealth. Power. A smart man next to me. Everything that Defne Iplikci has. I want to get out of this neighborhood cursed by Allah and send our moralist daddy to hell.
"Father wants us to be well," said her sister.
"Yeah," Laila snorted derisively. - But his good is already like a bone in my throat.
"But don't you understand, you cannot steal the life from someone. You are not Defne Iplikci. Red hair and white powder won't make you her. So is the invented grandmother. Even if you imagine that you did it, and Omer Iplikci fell in love with you. How will you explain to him and others where your beloved grandmother has gone?
- Just think! I'll say that she has died and I'll play an inconsolable granddaughter, "Laila portrayed grief on her face, and then burst out laughing.
- And this guy, Zubeyir, - did not give up trying to reach her sister Lydia. - After all, he is aware of your intrigues. Aren't you afraid that he'll tell someone?
- This naive idiot? Do not make me laugh. He is just as involved in the fraud as I am. If he threatens, I will quickly put him in his place.
Lydia sat down next to her sister and took her hand. Looking deeply into her eyes, she said:
- Laila, I'm scared. You are my twin, the dearest person to me. I don't want you to get into trouble and hurt yourself. I am afraid for you.
Laila slammed her laptop shut and hugged her sister.
"Don't be afraid," she reassured and, narrowing her eyes, looked in front of her. - Not for that I collected the dossier on Iplikci and his entourage for six months to be defeated. Everything will be OK. If Plan A does not work, there is also Plan B. But in any case, we will become rich and forget about this beggar's house and our dad.
Lydia sighed sadly and hugged her sister too. Pressing her temple against her temple, she asked:
- Be careful. You are more important to me than money and rich life.
***
Beaming with a joyous smile, Defne entered her office.
"Good morning, Mrs. Defne," Alina greeted her and held out the mail. - Look, they sent invitations to the Blue Diamond ball.
- Wow! - Defne exhaled enthusiastically and opened the envelope.- March 1st at eight in the evening!
- Exactly! - Laura's cheerful voice was heard behind.
Defne turned to her and took a breath. Blinking her eyes, she shook her invitation in her fist and exclaimed:
- Do you understand what this means? Sapphire is recognized in the jewelry sector! We did it!
- We did! - Laura answered her in tone, and the girls, embracing, screeched with glee.
Alina looked at them and smiled. When they calmed down and remembered that bosses should be serious, the girl said:
- Invitations for the entire leadership of Sapphire and their companions. I wonder who Mr. Kartal will invite?
- Alina! Laura shook her head reproachfully.
"I'm silent, I'm silent," the girl looked slyly.
"And so that you don't have time for wrong thoughts," Defne told her, "today you are going with me to the studio of the famous Istanbul couturier to meet with Mr. Baisal and his daughter.
- Wow! - Alina's eyes flashed with delight. - I agree!
- Have you called Baisal yet? - Laura was surprised.
- Yes. From home. I did not play for time. He offered to meet at the atelier. At eleven o'clock.
- Very well!
"And I think so," Defne agreed. - And after lunch, Omer and I will go for gifts, and then to the International Delivery Service.
- Will the pendant fly away to Maya? Laura smiled.
Defne, closing her eyes, gently stroked her stomach and nodded:
- It will fly!
***
At half-past ten, Defne and Alina left the business center and headed towards the brand new Audi. Sapphire had only recently acquired it, and Defne still couldn't get used to having a company car and a personal driver. It seemed unrealistic. But when she told Laura and Seda about this, they only laughed and advised her to get used to her position as the owner of the company.
The car was approaching an exquisite building in the heart of Nisantasi when Alina's phone rang. She looked at the screen and turned pale.
- It's my mom! She never calls me during office hours. Something happened.
With a shaking hand, she brought the phone to her ear. Hearing the agitated voice of her mother, the girl turned pale even more and her eyes filled with tears.
- OK, Mom! I'll be right there," she answered and turned her frightened face to Defne. - My father has a suspicion of a heart attack. An ambulance took him to the hospital. I have to go there!
- Of course honey! - Defne with a sympathetic gesture touched her hand and turned to the driver:
- Mehmet, stop at the atelier, and take Alina to the hospital.
"Okay, Mrs. Defne," he replied and stopped the car at the very entrance.
Defne went out and stopped indecisively. She again breaks the word given to Omer. Not willingly, but still ... Shaking her head, she resolutely took out her phone and called her husband.
Omer worked on sketches and glanced at his watch. Almost eleven. Defne left to meet with Baisal. Anger boiled in his chest at the mere memory of this. He honestly tried to be understanding and not offend his wife with unmotivated jealousy, but feelings did not obey reason. Only one thing reassured him - she left with her secretary, and would not talk to this handsome dude in private.
The telephone on the table rang. Omer looked at the screen and, frowning, quickly raised it to his ear.
"Darling," came a guilty voice from the speakers. "I know I made you a promise, but the circumstances are above me. Alina's father has a heart attack. She found out about it when we already drove up to the atelier. I asked Mehmet to take her to the hospital. I can't cancel the meeting. So I go alone. - Defne paused, but Omer was silent, and she spoke again: - Please, stay calm and trust me. Good?
Omer did not answer. A heavy sigh was heard on the phone, then a quiet: - See you, - and there was silence.
Omer slowly lowered his hand with the phone and looked in front of him. In his eyes, with the speed of an avalanche, a dark flame flared up.