Yes, Lets Just Be Friends

by grannydew, posted in The Friends Series

Chapter 1

THE EXCITEMENT OF HER BIRTHDAY WAS HAD BEEN DIMINISHED TO A DULL PAIN. USUALLYTHE HAPPIEST DAY OF THE YEAR, NOW HAD TURNED INTO THE WORST. MOVING AROUND THE OFFICE TRYING TO LOOK BUSY WAS ALL SHE COULD DO. NOT ABLE TO BEAR HIS IGNORING HER ANY LONGER, SHE ESCAPED TO THE RESTROOM.  THE HURT RIPPED AT HER BUT MOSTLY THE FACT HE THOUGHT SHE COULD POSSIBLY BE WITH FABRI NOW. HAD HE EVER REALLY KNOWN HER, TO THINK THAT MEANT HE HADN’T.

AFTER A LENGTHY STAY IN THE RESTROOM, SHE WENT BACK TO HER DESK.  CEYCEY HURRIED TO HER TELLING HER THE CONVERSATION HE OVERHEARD FROM GULIZE. ” SANEM, CANBEY IS THE ONE THROWING YOU THE BIRTHDAY PARTY TONIGHT! “SHE FROWNED AND SHOOK HER HEAD, ” YOK.” SHE SAID, ” I DON’T THINK SO, HE DOESN’T EVEN LOOK ME IN THE FACE. ” CEYCEY RECITED WHAT HE HEARD AND SAID IT TO BE TRUE. SANEM BEGIN TO IMAGINE IT, MAYBE HE HAD FORGIVEN HER AND SHE IS USING HER BIRTHDAY TO SHOW IT…

HER HEART RACED AND THE EVENING COULDN’T GET HERE QUICK ENOUGH.  WHAT TO WEAR WOULD BE HER NEXT PROBLEM. SHE HAD HARDLY REACHED HOME WHEN A PACKAGE WAS DELIVERED FOR HER. HER AND AYHAN OPENED THE BOX TO FIND A BEAUTIFUL AND EXPENSIVE DESIGNER DRESS. AN EXQUISITE BLUE DRESS, JUST HER SIZE. REMEMBERING THE ORANGE GOWN THAT HE HAD PICKED FOR HER BEFORE, AND NOW THIS ONE, IT COULDN’T BE ANY BETTER. HE HAD FORGIVEN HER.

THE PARTY WAS IN FULL SWING WHEN SHE ARRIVED, ALL HEADS TURNED AS SHE ENTERED. CAN SWUNG AROUND TO MEET HER IMAGE WALKING TOWARDS HIM. HIS EYES FIXED ON HER, THINKING, HOW IS SHE SO BEAUTIFUL, HOW COULD SHE HAVE DONE THE THINGS SHE DID. THE REGRET AND ANGER COURSED THROUGH HIS BODY. 

HER EYES MEET HIS AND SHE MELTED. SHE WAS WALKING ON AIR, WITH EYES ONLY FOR CAN..

FABRI SMILING, STEPPED OUT AND AROUND CAN TO TAKE HER HAND.  CONFUSED AT HIS GESTURE, SHE SMILED AT HIM, BOWING HER HEAD AS TO SAY HELLO. HER EYES QUICKLY RETURNED TO CAN, BUT HIS EYES HAD CHANGED TO A BLACK PIT OF ANGER.  WHAT IS GOING ON, HER MIND IS SWIMMING WITH FEAR.  FABRI USHERS HER TO THE CENTER OF THE ROOM, SHE IS STILL SEARCHING CANS’ FACE FOR ANSWERS, DESPERATE, EMBARRASSED AND HUMILIATED. NOT ABLE TO LOOK AT CAN ANY LONGER SHE CAUGHT THE FRIGHTENED LOOK OF HER FRIEND CEYCEY. SHE SHOOK HER HEAD AT HIM, AND HE KNEW THAT SOMEONE HAD PLAYED A VICIOUS TRICK ON HER.

THERE WAS A BIRTHDAY CAKE, FABRI WAS TALKING, SHE WAS BLOWING OUT THE CANDLES, BUT IT ALL SEEMED TO BE AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE.  THE STARE FROM CAN, BROKE HER, SHATTERING HER SOUL. THIS NIGHTMARE HAD TO END…. FABRI ONCE AGAIN TOOK HER HAND AND LED HER TO THE DANCE FLOOR. CAN HAD WATCHED ALL HE COULD STAND. THIS TORTUROUS DISPLAY WOUNDED HIM, HIS HEART WAS DRAINED. 

HE WALKED OUT TO TRY AND GAIN CONTROL. SHE BROKE AWAY FROM FABRI, EXCUSING HERSELF. SHE RAN AFTER CAN, CALLING HIS NAME. BEGGING HIM TO STOP, FINALLY HE STOPPED AND SPUN AROUND. WITH DISGUST ON HIS FACE, HE TOLD HER SHE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER EMPLOYEE AND DIDN’T WANT TO LISTEN TO ANYTHING SHE HAD TO SAY. SHE WAS FREE TO BE FABRI’S LOVER.  THE WORDS STABBED HER WITH A FORCE THAT WAS UNIMAGINABLE. SHE TRIED RELENTLESSLY TO EXPLAIN BUT HE REUSED HER.  IN DEFEAT, SHE SPEWED THAT SHE WOULD RESIGN FROM THE AGENCY AND LEAVE HIS LIFE FOR GOOD.  

WALKING AWAY, LEAVING HIM STANDING THERE IN HIS ANGER, SHE TOOK A CAB HOME. OWNING THE REALIZATION THAT IT WAS OVER, SHE CRIED HERSELF TO SLEEP. THE NEXT DAY, KNOWING THAT THE PARTY HAD BEEN A TERRIBLE GAME PLAYED ON HER, SHE WAS DETERMINED TO SEVER ALL TIES WITH THE AGENCY.  WRITING HER RESIGNATION LETTER, SHE HEADED TO THE OFFICE. 

CEYCEY CALLED HER TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE MISUNDERSTANDING.  AILEEN HAD GIVEN GULIZE THE FAKE INFORMATION, KNOWING SHE WOULD SPREAD THE NEWS. CAN OVERHEARD THE CONVERSATION, FURIOUS THAT SANEM HAD BEEN A VICTIM OF AILEENS’ GAMES.

SANEM, ARMED WITH HER RESIGNATION LETTER AND THE DRESS TO RETURN TO FABRI, SHE ARRIVED AT THE AGENCY.  

FIRST, SHE FACED FABRI AS HE WAS COMING FROM CAN’S OFFICE. RETURNING THE DRESS TO HIM AND WARNING HIM NOT TO OFFEND HER AGAIN, SHE ASSURED HIM THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A WORKING RELATIONSHIP ONLY… HE MADE HIS APOLOGIES AND PROMISED THAT THE SITUATION WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN.

NEXT TO CAN’S OFFICE, HE HAD WITNESSED THE ALTERCATION WITH FABRI WITH PRIDE AND FELT THE TWINGE OF GUILT FOR BEING SO HARD ON HER AND NOT BELIEVING HER. 

SHE KNOCKED ON HIS DOOR, WAITING FOR HIS LOOK OF APPROVAL TO ENTER.  HER ANGER WAS SEETHING, SHE PLACED THE LETTER ON HIS DESK, “I’M RESIGNING AND BROUGHT A LETTER TO MAKE IT PROFESSIONAL. ”  

Chapter 2

“CAN, I AM FULLY AWARE OF THE DEBT THAT I OWE THE AGENCY, ” SHE SPEWED, I HAVE EVERY INTENTION TO REPAY IT IN FULL, ” CAN WAS DESPERATE TO GET HER BACK TOTHE AGENCY. HE NEEDED HER THERE. THE FACT HE JUDGED HER TO QUICKLY AND REFUSED TO HEAR HER EXPLANATION, WAS THE MAIN REASON HE HAD GONE TO SEE HER AT THEIR FAMILY GROCERY STORE. HE PLEADED WITH HER TO RETURN TO HELP THEM WITH A NEW POTENTIAL CUSTOMER.  

THE THOUGHT OF RETURNING MADE HER UNEASY, BUT SHE DID HAVE THE LOAN TO REPAY, SHE DEFINITELY DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT HANGING OVER HEAD.

EVERYONE WAS GLAD TO SEE HER, ESPECIALLY CEYCEY. HER FRIEND HELD ON TO THE GUILT OF TELLING HER THE WRONG INFORMATION. HE KNEW HE SHOULD HAVE NEVER LISTENED TO GULIZE.  SHE GOT RIGHT TO WORK, UNTIL CANBEY CALL HER TO BRING HIS TEA. THAT WAS PART OF HER JOB. ANGER STILL FILLED HER, SHE WAS BLUNT AND TO THE POINT WHEN HE ASK HER ABOUT THE WORK HE HAD DONE FOR THE NEW CAMPAIGN. TELLING HIM HE SHOULD THROW IT AWAY AND START AGAIN. CAN HAD HIS WORK CUT OUT FOR HIM, GETTING HER TO LET GO OF HER BITTERNESS WOULD TAKE SOME DOING. 

WITH THE GRIND OF THE DAILY ROUTINE, SHE IS LEARNING HOW TO MANAGE HER FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS. THEIR ENCOUNTERS ARE PROFESSIONAL AND SHE MAKES SURE TO STAY CLEAR OF ANY PERSONAL TOPICS. NO MATTER WHAT CAN DID TO MAKE IT BETTER, SHE CONTINUED THE SAME ATTITUDE. HE HAD TO GET THROUGH TO HER, SO THEY COULD GET PAST THEIR PROBLEMS. ONE EVENING, AFTER WORKING LATE, HE ASKED IF THEY COULD TALK. ” WHAT DO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT EXACTLY, ” SHE ASKED. ” YOU KNOW WE NEED TO TALK THIS THROUGH SANEM, IF WE ARE TO WORK TOGETHER. ” CAN STATED.  SHE FELT THE SAME, SO HEADING TO HIS CAR TO BE ALONE, SHE HOPED MAYBE HE WOULD GIVE HER ANOTHER CHANCE. THEY COULD START FRESH, A NEW BEGINNING. AS THEY SAT ALONE, SHE TOLD HIM SHE WAS SORRY FOR ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED, THERE LOVE WAS DEEP AND IF THEY TRIED, MAYBE THEY COULD START NEW. 

CAN WANTED TO SO BADLY, JUST WANTING TO TOUCH HER AND HOLD HER NEARLY DROVE HIM CRAZY AT TIMES. ” I CAN’T TRUST YOU SANEM, NOT RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE SO SPECIAL TO ME AND I DON’T WANT TO LOSE YOU BUT WE CAN ONLY BE FRIENDS. ” HE WHISPERED. HIS WORDS TORE AT HIS HEART, IT WAS THE HARDEST THING TO SAY.  

SANEM CRINGED BUT ACCEPTED HIS DECISION. IF IT’S FRIENDSHIP YOU WANT, THAN IT’S FRIENDSHIP YOU’LL GET CAN DIVIT. SHE HAD HUMILIATED HERSELF ENOUGH WITH THIS RELATIONSHIP, IT’S TIME FOR A NEW SANEM….

THEY AGREED TO REMAIN FRIENDS, THEY BOTH DID VALUE ONE ANOTHER. IT WAS FOR THE BEST. THEIR JOB WAS DEMANDING AND HE NEEDED HER TO GET THEM THROUGH AND GET THE CAMPAIGN FOR COMPASS SPORTS.

THEY HAD WORKED EXTREMELY HARD ON THE PRESENTATION. SANEM HAD CAPTURED THE SLOGAN AND DEVELOPED THE ADVERTISEMENT. CAN WAS SO PROUD OF HER. HE FELT CLOSER TO HER THAN HE HAD FOR A WHILE. HE LOVED SPENDING TIME WITH HER, SHE BROUGHT A FRESHNESS TO EVERYTHING SHE DID. THE SIGHT OF HER SOMETIMES MADE HIM STOP IN HIS TRACKS. HER EYES THAT SPARKLED WITH SPECKS OF GOLD, AND MY GOD, THOSE LIPS…..

SANEM WAS HANDLING WORKING WITH CAN A LOT BETTER THAN SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD. MAYBE FRIENDS WERE ALL WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE, SHE THOUGHT. BUT AT TIMES, JUST HIS PRESENCE IN A ROOM MADE HER HAVE GOOSEBUMPS. BUT YOU KNOW, SHE PROBABLY WASN’T THE ONLY WOMAN THAT FELT THAT WAY…. SHE WOULD RETRAIN HER MIND AND HER HEART, FOR FRIENDS WERE ALL THEY COULD BE.

HER NERVES WERE JUMPING AND HER MOUTH WAS DRY. CAN WAS GIVING HER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GIVING THE PITCH TO THE DIRECTORS OF COMPASS SPORTS. HE WAS TRYING TO CALM HER DOWN AND REASSURE HER THAT SHE WAS THE BEST PERSON TO DO THIS. ” YOU KNOW THIS PITCH, YOU’RE THE ONE THAT INVENTED THE CONCEPT. YOU’LL DO GREAT. “ HE SMILED AND GAVE HER A KISS ON THE CHEEK.  SHOCKED, SHE SHIED AWAY THINKING, ” WHY DID HE DO THAT. ” SEEMED A LITTLE UNCALLED FOR. IS HE TRYING TO MESS UP MY HEAD? ” SHE THOUGHT. 

AS THEY WAITED FOR THE GROUP TO ARRIVE, SANEM WENT OVER HER NOTES, THEY WERE ALREADY INSCRIBED ON HER BRAIN BUT SHE NEEDED SOMETHING TO CALM HER NERVES     

” THEY ARE HERE,” DEREN SAID. SHE BROUGHT THEM IN AND STARTED THE INTRODUCTIONS. “THE DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING ASLI ERDOGAN.  HER ASSISTANT NILAN AKSOY AND THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR TANER YILMAZ.”

SANEM WHIRLED AROUND TO SHAKE HANDS, WHEN SHE RECOGNIZED HER FRIEND FROM COLLEGE. THEY BOTH STARED IN DISBELIEF. ” TANER,” SHE SQUEALED, ” I CAN’T BELIEVE IT.” ” SANEM, IS THAT YOU?” I CAN’T BELIEVE IT EITHER. ” HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN.” HE QUICKLY SCOOPED HER UP AND SWUNG HER AROUND. “MY GOD, I HAVE MISSED YOU.” HE BLURTED. HE PUT HER DOWN AND HUGGED HER GIVING HER A KISS. CAN STARED WITH HIS EYES GLARING AND HIS MOUTH OPEN.

DEREN WAS SHOCKED. SHE ASKED SANEM HOW THEY KNEW EACH OTHER. CAN STILL STOOD LIKE A STATUE, FEELING THE BLOOD LEAVE HIS BODY. SANEM EXPLAINED THEY MET IN THE UNIVERSITY, ON THEIR FIRST DAY TO BE EXACT. SHE CHIMED. ” ACTUALLY, HE WAS THE CLOSEST THING TO A BOYFRIEND I HAD AT THAT TIME. “ TANER SCOFFED, ” NOW, I THINK I WAS YOUR BOYFRIEND, IF I’M NOT MISTAKEN.” SHE LAUGHED, ” YOU’RE PROBABLY RIGHT. ” 

CAN, FINALLY ABLE TO TAKE A BREATH, CLEARED HIS THROAT. ” SHALL WE GET STARTED, ” HE SCOFFED. ” SANEM, DO YOU WANT TO SHOW THEM WHAT WE HAVE DESIGNED OR THEM. “ SHE GLANCED AT CAN AND COULD SEE THE BLAZING GLARE SHOOTING AT HER. ” OK, LET GET DOWN TO BUSINESS, SHALL WE. ” SHE SAID WITH CONFIDENCE. 

CAN’S EYES WERE FIXED ON HER, HIS LIPS WHERE TIGHT AND DRAWN. ” WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THAT? AND WHO IS THIS GUY?” HIS THOUGHTS WERE RAMPANT. 

SANEM FINISHED HER PRESENTATION AND WAITED FOR THEIR REACTION.  TANER STOOD AND CLAPPED. ” PERFECT, THAT WAS PERFECT, JUST LIKE YOU SANEM. IT’S A YES FROM ME ON THE PROGRAM, AND I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER.” THE WHOLE ROOM ERUPTED WITH APPLAUSE, EVERYONE BUT CAN.

Chapter 3

SANEM WAS ELATED AT THE RESPONSE. MAKING HER WAY AROUND THE TABLE TO TANER, SHE REACHED OUT HER HAND TO SHAKE HIS IN AGREEMENT OF THE PROPOSAL. HE SHIRKED. ” THERE’S KNOW HANDSHAKING GOING ON HERE, COME HERE. “ HE ENCIRCLED HER PETITE BODY WITH HIS MASSIVE ARMS AND LIFTED HER OFF THE FLOOR. ” YOU ARE FANTASTIC, ” HE SHOUTED. ” AHH, THERE’S THAT SMELL I HAVE MISSED ALL THIS TIME, WHO COULD EVER FORGET THAT. “ BURYING HIS FACE IN HER NECK.

THE DEAL HAD BEEN STRUCK BUT CAN LOOKED LIKE HE HAD BEEN STRUCK DOWN.

EVERYONE GATHERED THEIR THINGS AND STARTED OUT OF THE CONFERENCE ROOM. TANER HAD A TIGHT GRIP ON SANEM WITH NO INTENTIONS OF LETTING GO. DEREN THREW HER HEAD UP, GRABBED HER LAPTOP AND STORMED OUT OF THE ROOM IN A HUFF. GULIZE WAS WAITING AT THE DRINK STATION, ” WELL, HOW DID IT GO?” SHE INQUIRED. DEREN FLIPPED AROUND, GLARING AT HER, ” IT SEEMS WE HAVE ANOTHER MAN THAT IS GAGA OVER SANEM. HONESTLY, WHAT DO THEY SEE IN HER. ” SHE SHRIEKED. JUST THEN SANEM AND TANER WAKLED OUT WITH HIS ARM FIRMLY PLANTED AROUND HER SHOULDERS. CAN FOLLOWED BEHIND, WITH EYES SQUINTED AND HIS FOREHEAD WRINKLED. HE LOOKED AT GULIZE, EYES BLAZING. AND SHOUTED, “BRING A COFFEE TO MY OFFICE, NOW!!”

THEY WATCHED AS TANER WALKED SANEM TO HER DESK. ALL EYES WERE ON HIM. WHAT A SPECIMEN OF A MAN. BLACK HAIR, SHORT WITH A SPIKED STYLE, TAN FLAWLESS SKIN THAT STRETCHED OVER A MUSCLED BODY, FIRM AND FIT. TALL, AT LEAST 6’3.  A CHISELED FACE, CLEAN SHAVEN AND SMOOTH.  HIS SMILE DEFINITELY MADE ANY WOMAN TINGLE.  

YES, THAT WAS ONE FINE SPECIMEN OF A MAN.

CAN STOMPED TO HIS OFFICE. ” WHAT WAS HE TALKING ABOUT? THE SMELL HE HAD BEEN MISSING. EXCUSE ME, BUT THAT IS MY SMELL.” HE WATCHED AS THEY TALKED, AND SHE LAUGHED AT EVERYTHING HE SAID. HE LOOMED OVER HER, CLOSE, WAY TOO CLOSE HE THOUGHT. HIS STOMACH CHURNED AND HE FELT SICK. GULIZE ARRIVED WITH HIS COFFEE, SITTING IT ON HIS DESK, SHE CHIRPED, ” SANEMS OLD BOYFRIEND IS A MAGNIFICENT LOOKING MAN,” SMILING AND RAISING HER EYEBROWS. “HE USED TO BE A MODEL FOR COMPASS SPORTS, I UNDERSTAND.” SHE GAZED OUT THE GLASS DOOR AT THE TWO OF THEM LEANING AGAINST THE DIVIDER WALL, TANER SMOOTHING HER HAIR AND SANEM LAUGHING. GULIZE GULPED AND MUTTERED, ” WOW, THAT’S-“ “GULIZE!!!” CAN SHOUTED, ” THAT’S ENOUGH, GET BACK TO WORK.” 

SHE QUICKLY EXITED THE OFFICE EMBARRASSED AT HER ACTIONS.  

TANER AND SANEM MADE PLANS FOR DINNER THAT EVENING, AND HE WOULD PICK HER UP AT THE OFFICE WHEN SHE WAS THROUGH.  SAYING THEIR GOODBYES, HE MADE HIS WAY TO CAN’S OFFICE. HE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR. CAN WAS DEEP IN THOUGHT, AND IT STARTLED HIM. HE MOTIONED FOR HIM TO ENTER. TANER SAID, ” I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR SUCH A POWERFUL AND WELL-THOUGHT-OUT CAMPAIGN. I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE A WINNER. ESPECIALLY IF SANEM IS IN CHARGE. SHE REALLY IS A SPECAL WOMAN. I’M SO GLAD WE HAVE FOUND EACH OTHER AGAIN.” SMILING, HE REACHED OUT HIS HAND TO SHAKE CAN’S. CAN TOOK A DEEP BREATH, RESISTING THE URGE TO TAKE A SWING AT HIM, HE GAVE HIM A FIRM HANDSHAKE. ” WE NEED TO HAVE DINNER TOGETHER SOMETIME; I UNDERSTAND YOU’RE AN AVIVID MOUNTAIN CLIMBER. I’D LIKE TO SWAP STORIES WITH YOU, YOU KNOW. MAYBE WE COULD PLAN A CLIMB SOMETIME, JUST AROUND HERE CLOSE. I HAVEN’T BEEN IN A WHILE.” HE CHATTERED. CAN WAS QUITE ANNOYED AT THE THOUGHT OF SPENDING THAT MUCH TIME WITH HIM.  “YEAH, MAYBE.” HE SMIRKED. ” WE’RE REALLY BUSY RIGHT NOW, SO I DON’T KNOW WHEN THAT COULD HAPPEN. ”  

TANER CONTINUED HIS CONVERSATION, BUT CAN WASN’T LISTENING. ALL HE COULD SEE IN HIS MIND WAS BEING ON A CLIMB WITH HIM AND ” ACCIDENTALLY ” CUTTING HIS ROPE. HE QUICKLY BROUGHT HIMSELF BACK TO REALITY, SHAKING HIS HEAD TO REMOVE THE IMAGE. 

CAN AGREED TO MEET SOMETIME FOR DINNER, HASTILY USHERING HIM OUT OF HIS OFFICE.  HE STROLLED DOWN THE HALL, WITH THE EYES OF ALL THE WOMEN FIXED AND FOLLOWING HIS CONFIDENT STRIDE. HE WAVED AT SANEM AS HE PASSED, THEN BLEW HER A KISS. EVERYONE GASPED WITH ANTICIPATION. 

CAN SAT DOWN ON THE SOFA IH HIS OFFICE, LAYING HIS HEAD BACK AGAINST THE WALL, HE TOOK A FEW DEEP BREATHS. THIS DAY HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A DISASTER. WHAT A BRAZEN PERSON, COMING IN HERE, TAKING HER OVER LIKE THAT. WHO DID HE THINK HE WAS. 

SANEM GLANCED AROUND TO SEE EVERYONE STARING AT HER WITH WIDE EYES.  ” HE’S AN OLD BOYFRIEND, ” SHE STATED. ” I HAVEN’T SEEN HIM SINCE THE UNIVERSITY. ” FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE, SHE TOOK OFF FOR THE RESTROOM. “WOW,” SHE THOUGHT. TANER HAS CERTAINLY DEVELOPED INTO QUITE A HUNK. HE ALWAYS DID RECEIVE A LOT OF ATTENTION, BUT THIS IS JUST SINFUL.”

GULIZE MET HER AS SHE CAME OUT OF THE RESTROOM, ” CANBEY WANTS TO SEE YOU IN HIS OFFICE.”  SHE GIGGLED. ” I THINK HE’S A LITTLE JEALOUS OF YOUR OLD FLAME.” SHE DREADED TO FACE HIM, JUDGING FROM THE LOOKS HE WAS GIVING HER IN THE MEETING, SHE KNEW HE HADN’T APPROVED OF TANERS’ DISPLAY OF AFFECTION. ” OH WELL, TO BAD. ” SHE CONCLUDED, HE’S THE ONE THAT WANTED TO “JUST BE FRIENDS.”

” YES CANBEY, YOU WANTED TO SEE ME. ” SHE STATED. HE WALKED PAST HER TO SHUT THE DOOR, TURNING, BORING HIS EYES DIRECTLY INTO HER SOUL, HE GROWLED, ” WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING SANEM?” 

” ARE YOU JUST TRYING TO DRIVE ME CRAZY?” 

Chapter 4

SANEM WAS FURIOUS, ” WHAT DO YOU MEAN CANBEY, HOW COULD I POSSIBLY DRIVE YOU CRAZY? WE GOT THE ACCOUNT WITH COMPASS SPORTS, ISN’T THAT WHAT YOU WANTED?” CAN BENT DOWN TO LOOK DIRECTLY INTO HER EYES, ” THAT’S NOT WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT AND YOU KNOW IT.” HE SPUTTERED. ” WHO IS THAT GUY? YOU TOLD ME YOU HAD NEVER HAD A BOYFRIEND BEFORE, SO WHERE DID HE COME FROM?”  

SHE WAS GETTING MADDER BY THE MINUTE. TRYING TO STAY CALM, SHE LAUGHED, ” OH YOU MEAN TANER, WE WERE TOGETHER AT THE UNIVERSITY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. I REALLY DIDN’T THINK HE THOUGHT OF ME AS HIS GIRLFRIEND, BUT I GUESS HE DID.” SHE STATED.

” HE IS REALLY A NICE GUY, AND QUITE THE ATHLETE TOO. DID HE TALK TO YOU ABOUT GOING MOUNTAIN CLIMBING?” SHE ASKED. ” I TOLD HIM THAT YOU LIKED TO DO THAT TOO.” SHE WAS BABBLING ON ABOUT THIS AND THAT, FINALLY CAN SLAMMED HIS HAND DOWN ON THE DESK AND SHOUTED, ” STOP SANEM, JUST STOP! I’M REALLY OUT OF SORTS HERE AND YOU’RE NOT HELPING ME. I NEED A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM YOU, IF YOU CAN DO THAT. “

SHE FOLDED HER ARMS AND ROLLED HER EYES, BLURTING OUT, ” I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT ME TO SAY CANBEY, HE’S AN OLD FRIEND, AND I WAS HAPPY TO SEE HIM. THERE, END OF STORY. ” 

” CANBEY? SANEM WE’RE WAY PAST THAT DON’T YOU THINK. WHY ARE YOU CALLING ME THAT NOW?” HE SHOUTED. SHE TILTED HER HEAD AND FROWN, ” WE ARE IN THE WORKPLACE, ARE WE NOT? “ CAN THREW HIS HANDS IN THE AIR AND GROWLED, ” YOU ARE THE MOST INFURIATING WOMAN I HAVE EVER MET. “ SHE SIGHED, LOOKING AROUND SHE SAID ” ARE WE DONE NOW? IF SO, I HAVE A LOT OF WORK THAT I NEED TO GET DONE. ” SHE TURNED TO LEAVE. CAN SAID, ” WAIT SANEM, WAIT A MINUTE, DID YOU TELL HIM ABOUT US? “ PUZZLED SHE LOOKED BACK, ” WHAT ABOUT US CANBEY? WHAT WAS I TO TELL HIM? THAT WE ARE FRIENDS? YES, YES, I TOLD HIM THAT WE WERE FRIENDS. “ SHE TURNED AND WALKED OUT THE DOOR……

SHE SAT AT HER DESK WITH HER EYES CLOSED, TALKING TO HER INNER VOICE. ” WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS, HE ONLY WANTS TO BE MORE THAN FRIENDS WHEN HE THINKS SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT BE INTERESTED. WELL, THATS NOT HOW THIS GAME WORKS CAN DIVIT. I’M ONLY GOING TO BE YOUR FRIEND AND THATS IT. MY HEART CAN’T TAKE THIS MERRY-GO-ROUND RELATIONSHIP. ” 

IT WAS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AND SHE NEEDED TO HURRY IF SHE WAS TO GET HER WORK DONE. TANER WOULD BE BACK TO PICK HER UP IN AN HOUR. SHE CALLED HER MOM TO LET HER KNOW SHE HAD PLANS AFTER WORK AND WOULDN’T BE HOME FOR DINNER. CAN WALKED UP JUST AS SHE WAS DELIVERING THE MESSAGE AND OVERHEARD THE CONVERSATION. ” MOM, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE WHO I SAW TODAY ” SHE GIGGLED. ” TANER, MOM. TANER CAME HERE FOR THE PRESENTATION THAT I GAVE. HE’S A BIG SHOT AT COMPASS SPORTS.”  “YES, I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. WE’RE GOING OUT TO DINNER, SO I’LL BE HOME LATE.” “OK, I’LL TELL HIM. BYE MOM.” CAN STOOD THERE STARING, WITH EYES FULL OF ANGER AND HIS FACE RED. HER EYES MADE CONTACT, THEN LOOKED AWAY, BACK TO HER WORK. HE STORMED BACK TO HIS OFFICE.

SHE WAS TIDYING UP HER DESK WHEN SHE HEARD EVERYONE GASP, LOOKING UP SPOTTED TANER MAKING HIS WAY DOWN THE HALL. ALL THE WOMEN HAD STOPPED TO WATCH. HE SMILED A VERY SMUG SMILE, ONE THAT OOZED SENUAL. HE WORE A DARK TEAL COLORED SHIRT WITH BLACK JEANS. THAT, WITH HIS TANNED SKIN, HE ALMOST LOOKED ELECTRIFIED. HIS EYES LOCKED WITH HERS AND THEY BOTH SMILED.  HE WALKED UP TO HER, TAKING HIS HANDS OUT OF HIS POCKETS, HE SWALLOWED HER WITH A HUG. ” HOW’S MY GIRL? ARE YOU READY TO GO? WE’RE GOING TO A NICE PLACE WHERE WE CAN EAT OUTSIDE, IS THAT OK WITH YOU? “ HE CROONED. SHE STAMMERED, “ UHH, YES THAT SOUNDS GOOD, AND YES I’M TO GO.”

CAN WATCHED THE WHOLE ENCOUNTER FROM BEHIND THE WALL DIVIDER. HIS EYES FILLED WITH TEARS AND EVERY INCH OF HIS BODY WAS TREMBLING. 

“NO, NO, NO. THIS WAS NOT GOING TO WORK. I’LL THROW THE WHOLE COMPASS SPORTS ACCOUNT IF I HAVE TO. I COULD MOVE SANEM OVER TO ANOTHER ACCOUNT, AT LEAST THEY WOULDN’T BE TOGETHER ALL THE TIME. WE COULD GO ON THAT CLIMBING TRIP AND THAT “ACCIDENT” MIGHT HAPPEN. OH MY GOD, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. GET A GRIP, THINK OF SOMETHING REASONABLE. YOU COULD ALWAYS KIDNAP HER UNTIL SHE COMES TO HER SENSES. YEAH, THAT’S IT, THAT’S SOMETHING REASONABLE DIVIT..”

THE RESTAURANT WAS GREAT, AND THE ATMOSPHERE WAS EXCEPTIONAL. THEY EAT, THEY LAUGHED, THEY REMINISCED OF THEIR UNIVERSITY DAYS. IT WAS TOTALLY FUN.

HE HAD CHANGED SOME SINCE SCHOOL. HE WAS CONFIDENT, DIRECT AND SHE COULD TELL HE KNEW JUST WHAT HE WANTED. THOSE WERE THE EXACT SAME QUALITIES IN CAN, THE ONES SHE ADMIRED SO MUCH. TO BE TRUTHFUL, THEY WERE A LOT ALIKE.  THINKING OF CAN SENT A SPARK OF GUILT TO HER HEART. HE HAD BEEN VISIBLY HURT TODAY AND SHE WAS PRETTY MEAN ABOUT IT. MAYBE SHE WOULD CALL WHEN SHE GOT HOME??  

BUT THEN AGAIN, MAYBE I WON’T…

Chapter 5

SLEEP DIDN’T HAPPEN FOR CAN. THE THOUGHTS OF SANEM ERUPTED LIKE A VOLCANO IN HIS MIND, WITH THE HOT BURNING LAVA, SLOWLY AND METHODICALLY DEVOURING HIS HEART. SHE HAD A PAST WITH THIS GUY, HER FAMILY EVIDENTLY ACCEPTED HIM TOO. SHE WAS ANGRY, HE KNEW THAT, SO WAS THIS JUST AN ACT TO MAKE HIM JEALOUS? IF SHE WAS ACTING, SHE WAS DAMN GOOD AT IT. CAN FINALLY GOT UP, SHOWERED AND DECIDED TO HEAD IN TO WORK.  IT WAS EARLY, BUT MAYBE HE COULD GET SOME WORK DONE BEFORE SHE SHOWED UP AND CONSUMED THE REST OF HIS DAY.

HER AND TANER STAYED OUT WAY TOO LATE. THEY BOTH LOST ALL TRACK OF TIME AND WHEN HE BROUGHT HER HOME, HER MOM WAS WAITING UP FOR THEM. MEVKIBE WAS EXCITED TO SEE TANER, THEY HAD GOTTEN TO KNOW HIM QUITE WELL THE FEW YEARS THAT HIM AND SANEM WERE TOGETHER. HE WAS PART OF THEIR FAMILY. SHE GREETED THEM AT THE DOOR, HAPPY TO SEE HIM, SHE GAVE HIM A BIG HUG. INVITING HIM IN FOR TEA SO THEY COULD VISIT, SHE BUSTLED ABOUT THE KITCHEN CHATTING ABOUT THE PAST FEW YEARS. 

TANER HAD FORGOTTEN HOW SANEM’S FAMILY HAD WELCOMED HIM IN AND ACCEPTED HIM AS THEIR OWN. HOW WARM AND SINCERE AUNT MEVKIBE WAS. SHE PAMPERED HIM AND INCLUDED HIM IN ALL FAMILY FUNCTIONS. THIS ALWAYS MADE HIM FEEL SAFE AND HAPPY. 

FINALLY CALLING IT A NIGHT, HE EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD A VERY BUSY DAY AHEAD AND IT WOULD START EARLY.  

TELLING SANEM GOODNIGHT WITH A LONG AND LOVING HUG, THEY MADE PLANS FOR THE WEEKEND. HE WAS VERY OUTDOORSY AND HAD ALWAYS ENCOURAGED SANEM TO JOIN HIM ON SEVERAL OUTINGS. THAT WASN’T REALLY HER THING, BUT SHE WASN’T OPPOSED TO IT. ” I WILL CALL YOU TOMORROW AND CONFIRM OUR PLANS. IT’S GOING TO BE GREAT. ” HE EXCLAIMED. HIS SMILE WAS INFECTIOUS AND SHE FOUND HERSELF BASKING IN THE WARMNESS OF IT. “WOW” SHE THOUGHT. THAT CHARM OF HIS REALLY SHOULD BE ILLEGAL, AS SHE WATCHED HIM SAUNDERS TO HIS CAR. HE TURNED, WAVED AND BLEW HER A KISS… YEP, HE WAS DEFINITELY A CHARMER.

SHE WAS RUNNING LATE, SHE HOPED DEREN DIDN’T NOTICED. CEYCEY MET HER AS SHE WALKED IN THE DOOR. ” SANEM YOU’RE LATE. DEREN HAS ASKED ABOUT YOU ALREADY AND CANBEY HAS BEEN CAMPED OUT AT YOUR DESK. ” HE CHOKED. ” WHY DO YOU KEEP PUTTING ME IN THESE SITUATIONS. “ AS SHE APPROACHED HER DESK, CAN STOOD WITH HIS HANDS ON HIS HIPS, HE STARED AT HER. SHE ROLLED HER EYES AND SHOOK HER HEAD. ” IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO FOR YOU CANBEY? “ SHE INQUIRED. HE WHISPERED. ” YES, YOU CAN GET ME SOME TEA AND COME TO MY OFFICE. “ SHE INHALED DEEPLY, LET HER HEAD FALL BACK AND EXHALED WITH FORCE.  ” SO, YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR ME TO ARRIVE, JUST TO BRING YOUR TEA? ” SHE SPOUTED. HE CLOSED HIS EYES TIGHTLY, ” NO, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU IN MY OFFICE. ” HE SPEWED THROUGH GRITTED TEETH. SHE SQUINTED HER EYES AND INQUIRED, ” IS THIS A BOSS TO EMPLOYEE TALK, OR A FRIEND-TO-FRIEND TALK? “ HE SHOT HER A LOOK, AND SHE KNEW SHE WAS PUSHING HER LUCK. SHE UNLOADED HER ARMS AND HURRIED TO THE DRINK STATION.

BRINGING IN HIS TEA, SHE DEMANDED THE REASON HE HAD CALLED HER INTO HIS OFFICE. ” I’M QUITE SURE YOU DIDN’T WANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION OUT THERE IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. “ HE HUFFED.. HIS EYES FULL OF PAIN AND QUESTIONS, HIT HER HEART LIKE AN ARROW. ” TALK CANBEY, SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO  SAY. I’M LISTENING. ” SHE SAID IN DEFEAT. THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG DAY, SHE THOUGHT. ” I WANT YOU TO TALK TO ME SANEM, TELL ME WHATS GOING ON. ” HE BEGGED.  FEELING EVERY OUNCE OF HIS PAIN, BUT KNOWING SHE HAD TO BE STRONG, SHE REPLIED, ” THERE’S NOTHING GOING ON CAN,  THAT IS IF YOU’RE REFERRING TO WORK, BECAUSE YOU HAVE ME IN YOUR OFFICE ALL THE TIME. “ HE HUNG HIS HEAD, ” OK, OK,  GO BACK TO WORK. ” HE MUMBLED. 

WHAT A WAY TO START THE DAY, SHE WAS GLAD IT WAS FRIDAY.  SHE WAS READY FOR THE WEEKEND.  

THE COMPASS SPORTS CAMPAIGN WAS A BIG EVENT AND THE BUDGET WAS LARGE, SO THEY WOULD EXPECT THE BEST. ENGROSSED IN HER WORK, SHE HADN’T NOTICED CEYDA WALKING IN UNTIL CEYCEY RAN OVER TO HER DESK, FLINGING HIS ARMS SAYING, ” SANEM, CEYDA’S HERE, CEYDA’S HERE. “LOOKING UP, SHE COULD SEE CEYDA STARING AT HER. SHE NODDED HER HEAD IN RECOGNITION AND DROPPED HER EYES BACK TO HER WORK. SHE STILL STIRRED THE HEAT OF JEALOUSY IN HER. WHY WAS SHE HERE? JUST TO DRAPE HERSELF ALL OVER CAN IN FRONT OF EVERYONE? WHAT A DESPERATE WOMAN… STAY ON TRACK SANEM, DON’T LET HER OR CAN SEE YOUR FEELINGS, BURY THEM, YOU CAN MAKE THEM AWAY…

AFTER A FEW MINUTES, SHE TAPPED ON CANS’ DOOR, HE LOOKED AT HER AS SHE WALKED IN. “AHHH, THERE SHE IS,” HE THOUGHT. HAD TO CHECK IT OUT, MAKING SURE CEYDA WASN’T GETTING TO CLOSE. THAT MADE HIM HAPPY INSIDE, SHE’S STILL MINE. HE RELISHED. STICKING HER HEAD IN SHE ASKED, ” IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN GET YOU TWO? COFFEE OR TEA?” CEYDA SMILED, ” I’LL TAKE A COFFEE, IF YOU DON’T MIND. “ SANEM LOOKED AT CAN, ” AND FOR YOU CANBEY? “HE QUESTIONED WITH HIS LOOK,SAYING, “NO, I’M FINE, THANKS.”

SHE HURRIED TO MAKE HER COFFEE AND TO COMPOSE HERSELF. CEYDA PUSHED ALL OF HER BUTTONS, MAKING HER FEEL INSECURE AND UNWORTHY. SHE HATED THAT FEELING.

BRINGING HER THE COFFEE, SHE EXCUSED HERSELF AND STARTED OUT WHEN CEYDA STOPPED HER. ” OH SANEM, I UNDERSTAND YOU DEVELOPED THE CAMPAIGN FOR US, IS THAT RIGHT?”  “YES, I DID, ” SHE STATED. ” I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY WITH IT. “ “ WELL, TANER IS THE ONE YOU HAVE TO IMPRESS FIRST, AND FROM WHAT I HEAR YOU HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT FAIL. ” SHE CHIRPED.

SANEM FELT HER FACE TURN RED AND HER EMBARRASSMENT WAS OBVIOUS. 

CEYDA SMILED, LOOKING AT CAN…

Chapter 6

CEYDA WAS ENJOYING THE UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION THAT SHE HAD PUT SANEM IN. THE THOUGHT OF HER POSSESSING SUCH POWER OVER CAN AND HIS FEELINGS ANGERED HER. SHE HAD TRIED FOR WEEKS TO GAIN HIS ATTENTION. THE MANY VISITS TO HIS OFFICE AND THE NUMEROUS DINNER MEETINGS, HAD HER EXHAUSTED AND FRUSTRATED. SANEM ALWAYS INTERRUPTED OR INVADED THEIR TIME TOGETHER. TANER WOULD BE THE ONE PERSON TO BREAK THIS HOLD THAT SANEM HAD ON CAN. THINKING BACK TO THE TIME WHEN TANER JOINED THEIR COMPANY, HE STARTED AS THEIR TOP MODEL FOR THE ADS, THEN MOVED TO THE CREATIVE SIDE. SHE HAD HIGH HOPES FOR HIM AND DREAMED FOR A RELATIONSHIP TO DEVELOP. WHEN THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN, SHE OPTED TO USE HIS LOOKS TO BETTER THEIR ODDS IN OBTAINING THE TOP AGENCIES TO WORK WITH… THEN SHE SAW CAN DIVIT, AND SET HER SIGHTS ON HIM, NO HOLDS BARRED.

CAN SHOT CEYDA A DIRTY LOOK AND STARTED TO SPEAK IN SANEMS’ DEFENSE, BUT SANEM CUT HIM SHORT. SANEM, IN A MOST PROFESSIONAL WAY, ASSURED HER THAT JUST THE FACT THAT HER AND TANER WERE OLD FRIENDS HAD NOT AND WOULD NOT INFLUENCE THE WORTHINESS OF THE CAMPAIGN. SHE EXCUSED HERSELF AND LEFT THE ROOM. CAN WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED, FOR SHE NEVER LEFT CEYDA ALONE WITH HIM FOR ANY LENGHT OF TIME. THIS WAS A DIFFERENT SIDE OF SANEM, AND HE DIDN’T LIKE IT. HOW WOULD HE BE ABLE TO REGAIN THE AFFECTION OF THE WOMAN THAT MEANT THE WORLD TO HIM. HE FELT LIKE IS LIFE WAS FALLING APART….

SANEM WAS ANGRY AND UPSET THAT SHE HAD LET CEYDA GET TO HER. THE FACT THAT CAN WAS READY TO TAKE UP FOR HER AGAINST A TOP CLIENT EASED HER EMBARRASSMENT. WOULD THE FACT THAT HER AND TANER WERE OLD FRIENDS SOMEHOW TAINT HER INVOLVEMENT ON THE CAMPAIGN? SHE HOPED IT WOULDN’T.

AS SOON AS CEYDA WALTZED HER WAY OUT, BEAMING WITH SATISFACTION, CAN APPEARED AT HER DESK. ” I’M SO SORRY SHE INSULTED YOUR WORK EHTICS LIKE THAT. I WOULD HAVE SET HER STRAIGHT IF YOU HADN’T STOPPED ME. ” HE SAID. ” IT’S FINE, AS LONG AS WE KNOW IT’S NOT TRUE, THATS’ ALL THAT MATTERS.” SHE LOOKED AT HIM AND CONNECTED WITH HIS GAZE. IT MADE HER FEEL SAFE, LIKE HE ALWAYS HAD HER BACK. THEY SMILED, AND FOR A MINUTE THEY WERE IN THEIR OWN PLACE, TOGETHER AND HAPPY.  

THEY BOTH JARRED THEMSELVES OUT OF THEIR FANTASY, AND CAN QUICKLY WALKED BACK TO HIS OFFICE. SITTING IN HIS CHAIR, FEELING THE EMOTION OF THE ENCOUNTER, HE LET THE POSSIBILITY WANDER IN HIS MIND. HE KNEW SHE HAD FELT IT JUST AS MUCH AS HE HAD. HIS ENTIRE MOOD CHANGED, HE HAD HOPE.

IT WAS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON AND SANEMS’ ENTHUSIASM WAS BEGINNING TO WANE. NEEDING A BREAK, SHE HEADED TO THE DRINK STATION. MAKING HERSELF A GLASS OF TEA, SHE LEANED AGAINST THE COUNTER. CLOSING HER EYES TO REST THEM, HE STARTLED HER, ” MAY I JOIN YOU? ” HE ASKED SOFTLY.  ALMOST SPITTING HER TEA EVERYWHERE, THEY BOTH LAUGHED. SHE POURED HIS TEA AND HANDED IT TO HIM. ” GRAB YOURS AND LETS GO TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM. ” HE SAID TIMIDLY. THEY SAT DOWN, SHE AVOIDED HIS LOOKS, BUT FELT THEM AS SHE STARED OUT THE WINDOW. HE SOAKED HER IN, EVERY INCH, SCANNING OVER HER LIKE IT MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME HE WOULD EVER SEE HER…….WHO WAS HE KIDDING, HE LOVED HER, HE LOVED HER FULLY AND WITH INTENT. NOT LIKE A FRIEND, IT HAD NEVER BEEN LIKE A FRIEND, IT COULD NEVER BE LIKE A FRIEND……

SHE FINALLY BROKE THE SILENCE, ” I THINK THE COMPASS SPORTS CAMPAIGN MAY BE THE BIGGEST FOR OUR COMPANY YET, DON’T YOU THINK? ” SHE ASKED NERVOUSLY. TOTALLY DISTRACTED WITH THE THOUGHTS IN HIS MIND, HE DIDN’T HEAR HER SPEAK. ” CAN, CAN. WHERE DID YOU GO? ” SHE QUIZZED. HE SHIFTED IN HIS CHAIR, LOOKING AROUND, AS IF SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO READ WHAT WAS IN HIS HEART. ” OH, SORRY, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN, YES, I AGREE, IT WILL BE RECORD BREAKING. ” 

” LISTEN,” CAN STATED, WHY DON’T WE GO TO THE MOUNTAIN HOUSE TOMORROW, SPEND ALL DAY THERE AND WE CAN WORK ON THE PROJECT TOGETHER. I’LL BUILD A FIRE AND COOK ON THE BRAZIER, LIKE BEFORE. ” HE PLEADED. HER HEART QUIVERED AT THE MERE SUGGESTION OF IT, BUT HER MIND REFUSED TO ENTERTAIN THE THOUGHT. THIS WAS HARD ON BOTH OF THEM, BUT SHE KNEW HE HAD THOSE DREADED TRUST ISSUES AND SHE HAD THE FEAR OF HER HEART BEING CRUSHED AGAIN. IT HAD TO BE JUST FRIENDS.

” I’M SORRY CAN, ” SHE SAID, I HAVE PLANS FOR TOMORROW. “ HIS HEART SANK DOWN TO THE DEEPEST DEPTHS. ” OH, REALLY, ALL DAY? “ HE ASKED. ” IT LOOKS LIKE IT. ” SHE STATED. ” OK, WE’LL TRY ANOTHER DAY. “ HIS VOICE DRIPPED WITH SADNESS. SHE COULDN’T BEAR TO LOOK IN HIS FACE, SHE KNEW IT WOULD REFLECT WHAT SHE HAD HEARD IN HIS VOICE. HER SOUL CRIED FOR THEM…

GULIZE BOUNDED INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM CARRYING A LARGE AMOUNT OF FLOWERS. ” SANEM,” SHE SHRIEKED, ” LOOK, AREN’T THEY BEAUTIFUL. THESE CAME FOR YOU. “ SANEM GASPED, ” FOR ME, ALL OF THEM? ARE YOU SURE?” THERE WAS A EXTRA LARGE BOUQUET OF ASSORTED WILDFLOWERS, ALL HER FAVORITES, AND A BOUQUET OF ROSES, 2 DOZEN TO BE EXACT. HOT PINK AND YELLOW ROSES, THEY WERE GORGEOUS. HER AND GULIZE BOTH SQUEALED WITH DELIGHT, DOING A LITTLE HAPPY DANCE. SHE FOUND THE CARDS ATTACHED AND THEY BOTH READ THEM SILENTLY, GULIZE WAS SWOONING AT THE MESSAGES. 

CANS’ MIND WAS SWIRLING, HIS HEART BEAT SO HARD IT HURT. THIS IS TOO MUCH, I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. WITH ONE SWIFT MOVEMENT, HE STOOD AND SHOVED HIS CHAIR ACROSS THE ROOM, LETTING IT CRASH AGAINST THE WALL. STORMING OUT OF THE ROOM AND STRAIGHT OUT THE FRONT DOOR.   

GULIZE QUICKLY RETREATED FROM THE ROOM, LEAVING SANEM THERE STUNNED AT HIS ACTIONS. SHE HATED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT IT WAS UP TO HIM TO DECIDE IF HE COULD TRUST HER AGAIN.  

SHE WOULD KEEP MOVING FORWARD UNTIL CAN MADE HIS MOVE TO TRUST AND FORGIVE….

Chapter 7

CAN STORMED TO HIS CAR, THE IMAGE UNABLE TO ESCAPE HIS BRAIN. ” THIS GUY DOESN’T MISS A THING, ” HE SNORTED. ” IT’S REALLY GETTING ON MY NERVES. “ HE DECIDED TO STAY AT THE MOUNTAIN CABIN, TO TRY AND CLEAR HIS MIND. HOW AM I GOING TO COMPETE WITH HIM, HE THOUGHT. SHE HAS A HISTORY WITH HIM, IT MAY NOT BE A STRONG ONE BUT NEVERTHELESS IT’S A HISTORY. HIS MEMORIES OF THE CABIN AND SANEM FLOODED HIS THOUGHTS. ALL THE SPECIAL TIMES THEY HAD THERE, HOW SHE WANTED TO SPEND THE REST OF HER DAYS THERE WITH HIM. SOME MEMORIES WERE NOT SO GOOD, THE LAST TIME AT THE CABIN PROVED TO BE THE WORST. ALL THE TERRIBLE THINGS HE SPEWED TO HER, THINGS HE WISHED HE HAD NEVER SAID. HOW WAS HE GOING TO GET HER TO LISTEN TO HIM AND BELIEVE HIS CHANGE OF HEART….

SANEM’S HEART ACHED FOR THE PAIN THAT CAN DISPLAYED. MAYBE HER COMING BACK TO WORK THERE HAD BEEN A BAD IDEA AFTER ALL. IT SEEMED TO BE MAKING THEM BOTH MISERABLE. SHE NEEDED TO GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT. SHE COLLECTED HER THINGS ALONG WITH HER VERY LARGE AND BEAUTIFUL FLOWER BOUQUETS, SHE HAILED A TAXI TO TAKE HER HOME.  

AS SHE ARRIVED AT HOME, THEIR NEIGHBOR MELIHAT CAME RUNNING OVER TO INSPECT THE FLOWERS. WAVING HER HANDS WITH EXCITEMENT, SHE BOMBARDED HER WITH QUESTIONS. ” DID CANBEY SEND YOU THOSE MARVELOUS FLOWERS?” SHE EXCLAIMED. ” AHHH, HE IS SURELY A GENTLEMAN. SO, I TAKE IT YOU TWO HAVE RECONCILED? ” SANEM WRINKLED HER FACE SAYING, ” NO THESE ARE NOT FROM CANBEY, THEY ARE FROM TANER, A FRIEND FROM MY DAYS AT THE UNIVERSITY. “ MELIHAT GOT EVEN MORE EXCITED, SLINGING HER ARMS AROUND AND LAUGHING, ” ALLAH, ALLAH. LOOK AT YOU MY DEAR, OF ALL THE SUITORS. ” WHAT IS CANBEY SAYING ABOUT THIS, OR DOES HE KNOW? “ SHE STATED. SANEM SHOOK HER HEAD, UNLOCKING THE DOOR SHE DUCKED INSIDE. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, WHAT WOULD THEY DO WITHOUT GOSSIP…

UNLOADING HER ARMS, SHE WENT TO FIND A VASE FOR HER FLOWERS. HER PHONE RANG, IT WAS TANER, ” HELLO THERE, ” SHE BABBLED, “THANKS FOR THE GIFT. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL, I REALLY LOVE THEM. ” ” MISS  AYDIN, YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME. “ HE REPLIED. ” THOUGH NONE CAN COMPARE TO YOUR BEAUTY. ” SANEM LAUGHED, ” OH MY, TANER, IT’S ME YOU’RE TALKING TO, YOU KNOW, SANEM. “ IT MADE HER A LITTLE EMBARRASSED FOR HIM TO TALK TO HER THAT WAY, IT JUST DIDN’T FEEL NATURAL. HE TOLD HER TO BE READY BY 8:00 THE NEXT MORNING, HE WOULD PICK HER UP FOR THE DAY. ” BE SURE AND DRESS SPORTY WITH HIKING SHOES, AND YOU MIGHT BRING A LIGHT JACKET JUST IN CASE. ” HE SAID WITH EXCITEMENT. ” OK, I’LL BE READY, HOPE WE’RE NOT GOING ROCK CLIMBING, BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT THAT. ” SHE ANNOUNCED. ” YOU’LL SEE MY DEAR, TRUST ME YOU CAN DO IT. “ HE LAUGHED.

CAN SLEPT OUTSIDE IN HIS FAVORITE LOUNGE CHAIR, WELL HE TRIED TO SLEEP ANYWAY. HE AWOKE WITH THE SAME THOUGHTS AS THE NIGHT BEFORE. ” WAS HER PLANS TODAY WITH HIM?“ HE WONDERED. ” PROBABLY SOMETHING FANCY AND ELABORATE, SOMETHING SHE DIDN’T CARE FOR. “ SHE WAS MORE INTO SIMPLE AND MEANINGFUL, I THINK, I DON’T KNOW ANYMORE. “ I THOUGHT I KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT HER BUT NOW I’M NOT SO SURE. “ THAT DEEP INNER CONNECTION THAT I ALWAYS FELT WITH HER IS BEING PUT TO THE TEST. SHE’S PUSHING ME AWAY, AND I CAN’T HAVE IT, MY LIFE IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT HER IN IT.  ALL THAT I AM TO BE, IS BECAUSE OF HER. YOU KNOW IT DIVIT, NOW JUST GETTING HER TO KNOW IT. THE ACT OF HUMILITY WAS NOT HIS STRONGEST POINT, BUT THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING HER FOR GOOD WAS NOT AN OPTION. SHE LOVED ME ONCE, WITH ALL HER HEART, I DON’T FEEL LIKE IT HAS CHANGED, MAYBE JUST A BIT CLOUDED. GO TO HER AND TELL HER THE TRUTH, MAKE HER LOVE YOU AGAIN.

SHE WAS UP AND READY TO GO. FEELING ANXIOUS ABOUT THE DAYS ACTIVITIES, SHE ATE VERY LITTLE, AS NOT TO UPSET HER STOMACH. TANER WROTE A MESSAGE, ” BE THERE IN 5 MINUTES, ARE YOU READY? “ SHE REPLIED, ” YES , READY TO GO. “ SHE WORE LOOSE FITTING JOGGER PANTS WITH A T-SHIRT. HER HAIR WAS IN A BUN ON TOP OF HER HEAD, A BANDANA TIED AROUND HER NECK.  ” I GUESS THIS CASUAL ENOUGH, AT LEAST IT’S COMFORTABLE. ” TANER ARRIVED IN A BLACK JEEP WITH THE TOP OFF. HE SPORTED ARMY GREEN CARGO SHORTS AND A TIGHT-FITTING TANK, A CAP AND SUNGLASSES. HE HONKED, SHE GRABBED HER BACKPACK AND BOUNDED OUT THE DOOR. SHE LOVED THE JEEP ” THIS JUST MIGHT BE FUN, ” SHE THOUGHT, ” DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT OUTING, BUT I WILL RESERVE ALL OPINIONS UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY.

THEY HEADED OUT OF TOWN. CONVERSATION WAS STRAINED BECAUSE OF THE NOISE. WITH THE WIND SWEEPING THROUGH, SHE WAS GLAD HER HAIR WAS IN A BUN. ABOUT AN HOUR OUSIDE OF TOWN, HE TURNED ONTO A DIRT ROAD. FOLLOWING THE ROAD FOR SOME TIME, HE PULLED OVER. HE GOT OUT, SO SHE STEPPED OUT ALSO. ” IS THIS WHERE WE ARE GOING? ” SHE QUIZZED. ” WELL, NOT EXACTLY,” HE RESPONDED. THIS IS JUST OUR STARTING POINT.” SHE LOOKED AROUND IN WONDERMENT, ” STARTING TO WHERE.” SHE THOUGHT. ” JUST GET IN AND BUCKLE UP TIGHT, WE ARE GOING ON A RIDE. ” HE STATED. SHE DID WHAT HE SAID, LOOKING OVER AT HIM WITH DOUBT. HE SMILED A HUGE SMILE. HOLD ON.

HE TORE OFF DOWN A SMALL TRAIL, BARELY WIDE ENOUGH FOR THE JEEP TO FIT. THE TRAIL WAS NARROW WITH LOTS OF ROCKS AND ROUGH TERRAIN. HE MANEUVERED THE JEEP OVER, AROUND AND THROUGH THE MOST FORBIDDEN COUNTRY SHE HAD EVER SEEN… WITH HER SCREAMING ALL THE WAY…

SHE LOVED IT.

Chapter 8

CAN STAYED THE WEEKEND AT THE CABIN. HE RE-EVALUATED HIS WHOLE LIFE. EVERYTHING THAT HAD DEFINED HIM OVER THE PAST TWENTY YEARS. THE DEVASTATION OF HIS MOTHER ABANDONING HIM SO EARLY IN HIS LIFE. THE LONELINESS THAT HAD BECOME HIS LIFELINE TO SURVIVAL. SANEM HAD BROKE THROUGH ALL HIS FEARS, TO SHOW HIM THE WAY THAT LIVING WAS DESIGNED, AND GIVE HIM THE STRENGTH TO LET HIS HEART OPEN. IF YOU BELIEVE IN YOUR LOVE, YOUR LOVE WILL LIVE. IT WAS MEANT TO BE, HIM AND SANEM. HE WAS MEANT TO BE HERE AT THIS TIME. HIS HEART WAS FULL YET SO EMPTY.  

THE WEEKEND HAD BEEN THE BEST, PROBABLY THE BEST IN A WHILE. AS SHE MADE HER WAY TO WORK, HER MIND WAS FOCUSED ON CAN AND REMEMBERING WHEN HE STORMED OUT OF THE OFFICE. SHE WANTED TO GO AFTER HIM SO BADLY, BUT THAT IS WHAT SHE ALWAYS DID. HE EXPECTED IT. TANER HAD BEEN A GOOD DISTRACTION FOR HER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. BUT, AS CHARMING AS HE WAS, THERE WAS SOMETHING MISSING, SHE COULDN’T QUITE PUT HER FINGER ON IT. SHE HAD TAKEN SOME WORK HOME WITH HER TO FINISH UP ON SUNDAY, BUT SHE WAS SO TIRED FROM SATURDAY SHE DIDN’T GET IT ALL DONE. SHE WOULD HAVE TO GET STARTED ON IT RIGHT AWAY. 

CAN WAS DETERMINED TO GET THINGS BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE, SO HE STROLLED INTO THE OFFICE WITH CONFIDENCE, GREETING EVERYONE AND SMILING. SANEM WAS BUSY WORKING ON THE FILES AND HADN’T PAID MUCH ATTENTION AS HE CAME IN. HE STOPPED IN FRONT OF HER DESK, JUST STANDING THERE UNTIL SHE LOOKED UP. ” GOOD MORNING SANEM, COULD YOU PLEASE BRING MY TEA AND COME TO MY OFFICE. “ HE SAID, SMILING AT HER. ” IT WOULD BE MY PLEASURE CANBEY, BE RIGHT THERE. “ SHE SAID. SHE BREWED HIS TEA AND WALKED TOWARDS HIS OFFICE, SHE PECKED ON HIS DOOR AND WENT IN. SHE WAS READY FOR A CONFRONTATION BUT HE SEEMED HAPPY AND EXTREMELY GLAD TO SEE HER. HE ACTED DIFFERENT, CALM, IN CONTROL, ALMOST LIKE THE OLD CAN.

” HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND? ” HE ASKED. ” IT WAS GOOD, AND YOURS? ” SHE REPLIED. ” I SPENT MINE AT THE CABIN, ” HE SAID, “IT WAS GREAT, DID A LOT OF THINKING. ”  ” OH, THATS GOOD, I BET IT’S BEAUTIFUL THERE RIGHT NOW. ” SHE STATED. CAN STOOD, WALKED TOWARDS SANEM, ” I REALLY DID A LOT OF THINKING, THINKING ABOUT US. MOSTLY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO US. MY HEART IS STILL SO FULL OF LOVE FOR YOU I THINK IT MIGHT BURST.” HE MOANED.

THE WARM TINGLY FEELING THAT ALWAYS OCCURRED WHEN HE WAS NEAR, MADE ITS APPEARANCE. MAKING HER MOUTH GO DRY AND THE TINY HAIRS ON HER NECK STOOD UP. ” HOLD IT TOGETHER GIRL, ” SHE SCREAMED IN HER HEAD. THE EFFECT HE HAD ON HER WAS UNDENIABLE, BUT NOW WAS NOT THE TIME TO SURRENDER. HE WAS SO CLOSE TO HER, SHE COULD FEEL HIS BREATH ON HER FACE. “CAN..” SHE STARTED. THERE WAS A KNOCK ON HIS DOOR THAT INTERRUPTED THEM, THEY BOTH JERKED AROUND TO SEE TANER WALK IN SMILING.. ” CAN, HOW ARE YOU?” HE SAID. ” HOPE I’M NOT DISTURBING YOU. “ I WAS LOOKING FOR SANEM, AND THEY TOLD ME SHE WAS HERE. ” HE REACHED OUT TO SHAKE HANDS, BUT CAN HAD ALREADY TURNED AROUND TO SIT AT HIS DESK. TANER DISMISSED IT AND TURNED TO SANEM. ” HOW ARE YOU? NO DAMAGES FROM SATURDAY I TAKE IT.” HE LAUGHED. HE LOOKED AT CAN SAYING, ” DID SHE TELL YOU WHERE I TOOK HER ON SATURDAY? WE REALLY HAD A BLAST. I TOOK MY JEEP AND WE WENT OFF-ROADING, THEN WE HIKED TO THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE LAKE AND HAD A PICNIC. IT WAS A PERFECT DAY, DO YOU AGREE SANEM? ” 

SANEM LOOKED AT CAN WITH A PLEA OF FORGIVENESS IN HER EYES. AFTER A MINUTE SHE FINALLY ANSWERED, ” YES TANER IT WAS A NICE TIME, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN. ” SHE MUTTERED. SHE GLANCED AT CAN, ASKING IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE THEY NEEDED TO DISCUSS, NOT ABLE TO LOOK DIRECTLY IN HIS EYES, SHE LEFT THE ROOM.  

TANER WAS FLAMBOYANT IN HIS DESCRIPTION OF THE OUTING TO EVERYONE IN THE OFFICE. SANEM WAS SELF-CONSCIOUS ABOUT IT ALL AND WAS STILL WORRIED ABOUT CAN. HE ASKED IF SHE HAD PLANS FOR LUNCH, HE WOULD PICK HER UP AND TAKE HER SOMEPLACE SPECIAL. SHE DECLINED THE OFFER SAYING HER WORKLOAD WAS HEAVY, AND SHE WOULD PROBABLY EAT AT HER DESK. ACCEPTING HER ANSWER, HE TOLD HER HE WOULD CALL HER LATER AND THEY COULD MAKE PLANS. HE WAVED AT EVERYONE, GAVE HER A KISS ON THE CHEEK AND WALKED OUT. GULIZE SWOONED, ” HE IS THE MOST PERFECT MAN ” SHE WHISPERED. SANEM THOUGHT, ” WHY AM I NOT FEELING IT? MY INSTINCTS ARE USUALLY RIGHT. MAYBE THATS WHY WE NEVER MADE THAT SOLID CONNECTION IN SCHOOL.”

CAN SAT, STARING INTO SPACE. ” YOU CAN’T GIVE UP, YOU SAW THE LOOK IN HER EYES. STAY CALM AND MAKE A PLAN TO BE ALONE WITH HER. ” YOU JUST NEED TO TALK AND BE HONEST WITH HER. NO MORE FRIENDS, WE ARE BACK TOGETHER TO STAY. HE TRUSTS HER AND ALWAYS WILL. THIS HAS GOT TO WORK. 

SANEM FINISHED HER WORK ON THE COSMETIC FILE AND WENT TO THE DRINK STATION FOR SOME TEA. SHE BREWED TWO GLASSES AND HEADED FOR CANS’ OFFICE. SHE TAPPED ON HIS DOOR AND ENTERED. HE WAS ON THE SOFA WITH HIS HEAD LEANED BACK, AND EYES CLOSED, THINKING HE WAS ASLEEP SHE STARTED TO LEAVE. ” YOU DON’T NEED TO GO SANEM, I’M NOT ASLEEP, JUST THINKING.” HE SIGHED. SHE PUT THE TEA ON THE TABLE AND SAT DOWN BESIDE HIM. SHE REACHED FOR HIS HAND, HER DEFENSES WERE DOWN AND GUILT WAS FILLING HER BODY. HE TOOK HER HAND WITH A STRONG GRIP, HE LIFTED HIS HEAD, TURNED AND POURED HIS SOUL INTO HERS WITH HIS EYES.  

SANEM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME.

Chapter 9

” NO CAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME, ” SHE SNAPPED. ” ONE MINUTE I’M NOTHING TO YOU, SOMEONE YOU CAN’T TRUST, THEN YOU WANT ME AGAIN, BUT JUST AS A FRIEND, AND NOW YOU TELL ME YOU LOVE ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART. ” HE DROPPED HIS HEAD REALIZING ALL SHE WAS SAYING WAS TRUE. HOW DID HE GET IS THIS SHAPE, SO HELPLESS TO CONTROL WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN HIS LIFE. ” I DO APOLOGIZE FOR TANER COMING IN HERE AND BLURTING OUT ALL THE EVENTS OF OUR WEEKEND, I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU MYSELF BUT HE INTERRUPTED THAT. ” SHE STATED. HER HEART WAS CRUMBLING AS SHE SPOKE, ” CAN, YOU’RE CONFUSED, SO DON’T MAKE ANY DECISIONS ABOUT ME UNTIL YOU HAVE A CLEAR HEAD.”

STILL CLINGING TO HER HAND IN DESPERATION, HE WHISPERED, “ I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LIVE FROM DAY TO DAY WITHOUT YOU. THE FEAR OF BEING ALONE NOW TERRIFIES ME. IT USED TO BE MY PREFERENCE BEFORE YOU ENTERED MY LIFE. ALL THAT I SAID TO YOU THAT NIGHT I DEEPLY REGRET, THAT ALL CAME FROM MY OWN INSECURITIES.” HE CRIED.  

SANEM’S VOICE WAS SHAKING WITH EMOTION AS SHE SPOKE, ” I TOLD YOU ONCE THAT WE DIDN’T FIT TOGETHER, THAT MY MISTAKES OF THE PAST WOULD TAINT YOUR FEELINGS FOR ME.” SHE MUMBLED. “I AM NOT PERFECT AND NEVER CLAIMED TO BE. WHAT I DID CLAIM TO BE WAS COMPLETELY AND WHOLLY IN LOVE WITH YOU. READY TO DO WHAT EVER IT TOOK TO PROTECT YOU AND OUR LOVE. THAT, TO YOU, SEEMED TO BE A BETRAYAL OF WHAT I FELT FOR YOU. “ SHE TRIED TO COLLECT HER THOUGHTS, SHE CALMLY CONTINUED, ” WHAT I WOULD HOPE, IN THE DEEPEST PART OF MY HEART, IS YOU WOULD HAVE LOVED ME ENOUGH TO DO THE SAME IF THE SITUATION HAD BEEN REVERSED. I’M TRULY SORRY FOR LETTING YOU DOWN, THAT WAS NOT MY INTENT. NOW IT’S TOTALLY UP TO YOU AS TO HOW WE MOVE FORWARD FROM HERE. ” 

JUST THAT SHE DOUBTED HIS HEART AND THE DEPTH OF HIS LOVE, HURT MORE THAN HE COULD IMAGINE. ” I WOULD LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU SANEM, ” HE CRIED. ” IF YOU WANT ME TO WALK AWAY AND LEAVE WHAT WE HAD, THEN YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED, BECAUSE I WILL NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN.” THE LOOK OF DEVOTION AND DETERMINATION COVERED HIS FACE, HIS EYES GLEAMED WITH DESIRE FOR HER. THE RENEWAL OF LOVE FOR HER, RELEASED HIS FEELINGS OF EMPTINESS. HE ACCEPTED HER AS WHO SHE WAS. JUST PURE AND HUMAN, AND THAT WAS WHO HE NEEDED.

THEY DIDN’T REALIZE HOW LONG THEY HAD BEEN THERE, SITTING, TALKING, POURING OUT ALL THEIR THOUGHTS. THE OFFICE WAS EMPTY AND IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE. NOT WANTING HER TO TAKE THE BUS AT THAT HOUR, HE OFFERED TO DRIVE HER HOME. THE TRIP WAS QUIET, WITH ONLY AN OCCASIONAL LOOK AT EACH OTHER, BUT THE LOOKS WERE FAMILIAR AND COMFORTING. SHE HAD SEVERAL MESSAGES FROM TANER AND A FEW MISSED CALLS, BUT SHE OPTED NOT TO RETURN THE CALL UNTIL SHE GOT HOME. CAN WATCHED HER AS SHE READ THE MESSAGES, TRYING TO JUDGE THE MEANING THAT THEY HELD. ” OH CAN, TANER SAYS THEY HAVE SOME NEW PRODUCTS THEY NEED TO TEST AND WANTS TO KNOW IF WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN PROVIDING THE FIELD TESTING. WHAT DO YOU THINK? “ SHE EXCLAIMED. HE TWISTED HIS MOUTH A LITTLE, LOOKING AT HER WITH CONCERN. ” WHAT DO YOU THINK SANEM, THIS IS YOUR PROJECT. ” HE STATED….” WELL, IF YOUR WILLING, I THINK IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL. ” SHE CHIMED..” MAYBE FUN TOO, “ SHE SMILED HER BIG SMILE AT HIM.

” OK, THEN LET’S DO IT ” HE SHOUTED. HE FELT THE FIGHT IN HIM COME OUT AND HE WAS NEVER ONE TO LOSE.

THEY STARTED MAKING THE PLANS THE NEXT DAY. TANER HAD ALREADY PICKED THE PLACE AND MADE ALL THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CAMPING TRIP. HE WAS ANXIOUS TO TRY OUT THE NEW PRODUCTS AND HAVE A CHANCE TO BE ALONE WITH SANEM….

THE OFFICE PERSONNEL WAS EXCITED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN. WITH CAN AND EMRE HAVING SUCH A RIFF IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP, HE DIDN’T HAVE ANYONE BUT THE GUYS THERE TO BOND WITH. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO BE OUT IN NATURE. MAYBE GET SOME ALONE TIME WITH SANEM, HE THOUGHT.

THE VANS BROUGHT EVERYONE TO THE CAMPING SITE, THE AREA WAS BEAUTIFUL AND ALL THE NECESSARIES WERE IN PLACE. ALL THE TENTS WERE UP AND EQUIPPED. TANER ARRIVED A COUPLE OF MINUTES AFTER THE VANS, GREETING EVERYONE IN HIS USUAL WAY. HE TOOK CHARGE IMMEDIATELY AND OUTLINED THE EVENTS TO FOLLOW. HE BROUGHT ALONG TWO EMPLOYEES FROM COMPASS SPORTS TO AID IN THE TESTING.THEY HAD A NEW GPS TRACKING SYSTEM AND A VOICE COMMAND NAVIGATION. 

FIRST THE AGENCY EMPLOYEES GOT SETTLED IN THERE ASSIGNED TENTS, SANEM HAD BEEN PAIRED WITH GULIZE AND THEIR TENT WAS PLACED NEXT TO TANER’S. CAN WAS ALONE IN HIS TENT AND WAS PLACED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AREA. SANEM WAS INSTANTLY ALARMED. BEING THAT FAR AWAY FROM CAN AND IN THIS ENVIRONMENT HAD HER UNEASY. HE ALWAYS MADE HER FEEL SAFE, NO MATTER WHAT. CAN, SEEING THE LOOK ON HER FACE AT THE ARRANGEMENT, ASSURED HER HE WOULD STAY CLOSE AND SHE HAD NOTHING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT.

AFTER LUNCH, THEY WERE TO MAKE THEIR FIRST TEST OF THE GPS SYSTEM. THEY WERE TO GO IN PAIRS. THEY HAD TAGGED ITEMS THAT HAD BEEN PLACED ABOUT IN DIFFERENT AREAS, TO FIND AND RETURN. TANER PAIRED WITH SANEM AND MOVED GULIZE TO PAIR WITH CEYCEY AT THE LAST MINUTE. CAN PREFERRED TO BE ON HIS OWN, SO HE LEFT EARLY, BEFORE THE SWITCH HAD BEEN MADE. AS THE AFTERNOON WORN ON AND THE PEOPLE STARTED TO MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO CAMP WITH THERE FINDS, SANEM WAS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. SPOTTING GULIZE AND CEYCEY, CAN RUSHED OVER AND ASKED ABOUT SANEM. GULIZE TOLD HIM THAT TANER HAD SWITCHED PARTNERS AT THE LAST MNUTE AND HE WAS WITH SANEM.

IT WAS LATE AND THE AFTERNOON WAS SLIPPING INTO EVENING. CAN WAS FRANTIC AND ASKED ONE OF THE OTHER COMPASS SPORTS EMPLOYEES TO ORGANIZE A SEARCH FOR TANER AND SANEM, STATING HIS CONCERN FOR HIS OWN EMPLOYEE. PULLING CAN ASIDE, HE WHISPERED. ” THERE’S NO NEED TO WORRY MR. DIVIT, THEY ARE FINE.  MR. TANER HAD A ROMANTIC PLACE SETUP FOR THE TWO OF THEM FOR DINNER. ” HE SAID WITH A WINK.

HIS BLOOD WAS BOILING. HE WOULD HAVE TO TRUST SANEM AND NOT MAKE A SCENE.

HE DID TRUST HER, HE THOUGHT, BUT HE DIDN’T TRUST TANER.

Chapter 10

TANER LED HER DOWN A TRAIL THAT NONE OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WERE ON. HE TOLD HE KNEW WHERE THE BEST OBJECTS WERE HIDDEN AND THEY WOULD GET THEM FIRST. AFTER QUITE A HIKE INTO THE WOODS, THEY CAME TO A CLEARING THAT HAD BEAUTIFUL WHITE LIGHTS STRUNG FROM TREE TO TREE AND A TABLE WITH ELABORATE DECORATION. THERE WAS A FULL COURSE DINNER ALL LAID OUT FOR THEM. HE HAD WINE ON ICE AND BIG PILLOWS LAYING IN A PILE. SANEM WAS SURPRISED AND EMBARRASSED, SHE WASN’T SURE WHY HE DONE SUCH A THING. ” DO YOU LIKE IT? ” HE ASKED WITH A SMILE. ” I WORKED ALL DAY ON THIS, NOT THAT I’M COMPLAINING OR ANYTHING “ HE LAUGHED.  

SANEM WAS SPEECHLESS, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL BUT TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. SHE THANKED HIM, ” YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE GONE TO SO MUCH TROUBLE, TANER. IT REALLY WASN’T NECESSARY. “ SHE MUMBLED. HER THOUGHTS WERE WITH CAN, KNOWING HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT HER, SHE TOLD TANER THEY NEEDED TO MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO CAMP BECAUSE HER FRIENDS WOULD BE WONDERING WHERE SHE WAS. HE EXPLAINED TO HER THAT HIS EMPLOYEES KNEW WHERE THEY WERE AND THEY WOULD ASSURE EVERYONE THAT THEY WERE OK.

SHE FELT NERVOUS AND SHE WAS READY TO GO BACK, BUT SHE WENT ALONG WITH WHAT HE HAD PLANNED. HE POURED THE WINE AND THEY SAT DOWN TO EAT THEIR MEAL. SANEM REMEMBERED WHAT HAD BEEN THERE PROBLEM BEFORE, WHEN THEY WERE AT THE UNIVERSITY. TANER ALWAYS RUSHED THINGS, HE DID THEN AND HE WAS NOW. THATS WHY HE THOUGHT THAT HE WAS HER BOYFRIEND, EVEN BACK THEN, WHEN THATS NOT HOW SHE THOUGHT OF HIM… ” WE’LL JUST EAT AND HIKE BACK TO CAMP. ” SHE THOUGHT.

TRYING TO MAKE CONVERSATION WITHOUT SEEMING TENSE WAS BECOMING HARDER THE LONGER HE INSISTED THEY STAY.. FINALLY, SHE JUST HAD TO TELL HIM THAT SHE WAS READY TO GO BACK. HE ACTED OFFENDED, WANTING TO KNOW THE REASON WHY SHE WANTED TO GO BACK…” TANER, THIS IS JUST NOT WHAT I HAD EXPECTED TONIGHT. ” SHE BLURTED. ” I APPRECIATE THE GESTURE, BUT THIS IS ALL A BIT MUCH. “

” SO YOU DON’T FEEL THE SAME AS I DO? “ HE QUESTIONED WITH A DROP OF SARCASM. “ LET ME GUESS, YOU’RE INFATUATED WITH CAN DIVIT, RIGHT. I HAD A SUSPICION THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE. ” HE STATED.  ” OK, WE CAN HEAD BACK BUT DON’T THINK I’M GIVING UP ON YOU, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A MISTAKE.” SANEM WAS STUNNED AT HIS CONCLUSION, AND THE INSINUATION. THEY GRABBED THEIR LIGHTS AND HEADED BACK. THE HIKE WAS LONG, SHE WAS TIRED AND SCARED. WHEN THEY MADE IT TO THE CAMP, SHE REALIZED EVERYONE HAD TURNED IN FOR THE NIGHT, OR SO SHE THOUGHT. SHE STARTED TO HER TENT WHEN SHE HEARD CAN CALL HER NAME. HE WAS SITTING BY THE CAMPFIRE WAITING FOR HER. TANER TURNED SUDDENLY AND WAVED HIS ARMS SAYING, ” THERE’S CAN WAITING FOR YOU, HOW NICE.” SANEM SHOT HIM A LOOK OF DISGUST AND WALKED TOWARDS CAN. HE STOOD AND PUT HIS ARM AROUND HER, ” ARE YOU OK? I WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOU.” HE ASKED.  

SANEM SMILED AND TOLD HIM THINGS WERE FINE. KNOWING NOT TO LET CAN SEE THAT TANER HAD RATTLED HER NERVES A LITTLE.. ” HE HAD A NICE PICNIC SET UP JUST A WAYS DOWN THE TRAIL” SHE TOLD HIM. ” NOTHING SPECIAL, BUT I’M REALLY TIRED SO I THINK I’LL TURN IN. “ SHE SAID. HE WAS GLAD SHE WAS BACK AND SAFE, BUT FELT LIKE THERE WAS MORE TO THIS THAN SHE WAS TELLING. SHE STOOD ON HER TIPTOES TO GIVE HIM A QUICK HUG AND HE SMOOTHED DOWN HER HAIR, WHICH WAS SOMETHING HE ALWAYS DID. SHE HURRIED TO HER TENT AND SNUGGLED INTO HER SLEEPING BAG.

CAN DIDN’T SLEEP, HE SAT BY THE CAMPFIRE GOING OVER ALL THE THINGS HE AND SANEM HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT EVENING IN HIS OFFICE. THE TRUTH OF WHAT SHE SAID TO HIM STILL PIERCED HIS MIND. SHE WAS RIGHT, HE HAD EXPECTED A LOT FROM HER, HE PUNISHED HER FOR TELLING THE LIES AND FOR TELLING THE TRUTH. IT’S NO WONDER SHE SOUGHT ACCEPTANCE FROM SOMEONE ELSE. THIS TANER GUY HAPPENED TO SHOW UP AT THE WRONG TIME, OR WAS IT THE RIGHT TIME. MAYBE THATS WHAT I NEEDED TO CLEAR MY HEAD, TO WIPE OUT THE FEAR OF HAVING TO FORGIVE. IT IS HARD BUT LIVING THIS HELL I’VE BEEN LIVING THE PAST WEEKS HAS BEEN HARDER. I HAVE FORGIVEN HER FOR THE THINGS THAT MY BROTHER FORCED HER TO DO. I KNOW THAT ISN’T IN HER NATURE TO DECEIVE, BUT IT WAS IN EMRES’. WE HAVE TO MOVE PAST THIS.

SANEM TOSSED AND TURNED ALL NIGHT FRETTING ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF TANERS’ ACTIONS. SHE REMEMBERED THE TIMES AT SCHOOL WHEN SHE HAD FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HIM BUT DIDN’T RECOGNIZE WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME. THE DEMANDING POSITIONS HE HAD PUT HER IN AT TIMES AND NOW, WITH HIM BEING EVEN MORE CONFIDENT, THE SITUATIONS SEEMED TO BE ELEVATED.  

EVERYONE WAS OUT AND ABOUT EARLY. SHE CLIMBED OUT OF THE TENT, LOOKING AROUND FOR CEYCEY AND GULIZE. SPOTTING CEYCEY TALKING WITH CAN BY THE FIRE, SHE WALKED THAT WAY. SHE WAS STARTLED WHEN TANER RAN UP BEHIND HER, PICKED HER UP AND SWING HER AROUND. PUTTING HER DOWN AND LAUGHING HE SAID, ” DID I SCARE YOU? SORRY I WAS JUST PLAYING.” SHE PUNCHED HIS ARM AND YELLED AT HIM, ” YES YOU SCARED ME, YOU KNOW I’M JUMPY. ” HE LEANED DOWN OVER HER, GIVING HER CHILLS AND STATED, ” YEP, I DO KNOW YOUR JUMPY, I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU, REMEMBER. ” SHE MOVED AWAY IN A HURRY AND CONTINUED TOWARDS CAN AND CEYCEY. TANER YELLED AS SHE WALKED AWAY, “ SEE YOU AT BREAKFAST. “ SHE CLOSED HER EYES, HOW IS THIS HAPPENING AGAIN…

CAN WATCHED THE ENCOUNTER CLOSELY, LOOKING AT THE EXPRESSIONS ON HER FACE. SOMETHING HAD CHANGED IN HER DEMEANOR; SHE WAS GUARDED AND EDGY.    

HIS INSTINCT TO PROTECT HER BECAME HIS PRIORITY…

Chapter 11

CEYCEY WAS HAVING SOME SORT OF ANXIETY MELTDOWN AND CAN WAS TRYING TO HELP HIM. SANEM RUSHED OVER TO LEND A HAND. IT ALWAYS TOOK A FEW MINUTES TO GET HIM TO CALM DOWN. ” WHAT’S BROUGHT THIS ON CAN? ” SHE ASKED. HE LOOKED AT HER AND SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS AS TO SAY, HE WASN’T SURE. CEYCEY WAS RANTING SOMETHING ABOUT TANER WANTING TO SWITCH PARTNERS AGAIN FOR THE TEST OF THE LAST PRODUCT. CAN LOOKED AT SANEM WITH QUESTIONS IN HIS EYES. “WHAT’S UP WITH THAT, SANEM?” HE ASKED. “HE KEEPS CHANGING THE RULES ON EVERYTHING.” SHE SHIFTED HER EYES OVER TO SEE WHERE TANER WAS AND SPOTTED HIM BY THE FOOD TABLE, STARING STRAIGHT AT THEM. ” I HAVE NO IDEA, ” SHE SAID, “IT’S HIS SHOW SO I GUESS HE CAN RUN HOW HE WANTS. “ CAN COULD SEE THE LOOK OF HESITATION ON HER FACE. HE TOOK HER ARM, TURNING HER TO FACE HIM, ” YOU CAN GO WITH ME SANEM, DON’T LET HIM INTIMIDATE YOU. ” HE STATED. ” HE CAN’T FORCE YOU. ”    

FEELING HIM STILL STARING AT THEM, SHE TOLD CAN IT WAS FINE, NO PROBLEM. SHE DIDN’T WANT A SCENE THERE, LETS’ JUST TEST THE LAST PRODUCT, PACK UP AND LEAVE. TANER SMILED, WAVED AND STARTED THEIR WAY. SANEM QUICKLY WENT TO INTERCEPT HIM, BEFORE HE GOT TO CAN. ” TANER WHY ARE YOU CHANGING PARTNERS AGAIN, EVERYONE IS GETTING SUSPICIOUS.”  SHE DEMANDED. ” NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT SANEM, YOU’RE GOING WITH GULIZE, CEYCEY GOING WITH AHMET AND I’M TEAMING WITH CAN.” HE SAID COOLLY. “WHAT, WHY TANER? JUST LEAVE IT ALONE, PLEASE.” SHE PLEADED. HE PINCHED HER CHEEK PLAYFULLY, AND WALKED TOWARDS CAN. ” CAN, I AM TEAMING WITH YOU ON THIS TEST, SINCE WE ARE THE MOST EXPERIENCED IN THIS TYPE OF NAVIGATING, I THOUGHT WE COULD REALLY PUT IT TO THE TEST. ARE YOU GAME? “ HE SPOUTED. 

WHAT’S HIS ANGLE, CAN THOUGHT, ” YES THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. ” HE SAID. HE GLANCED AT SANEM, GAVE HER A QUICK WINK AND WENT TO GET SET UP FOR THE TEST. SANEM’S STOMACH WAS CHURNING, SHE KNEW THAT CAN COULD HOLD HIS OWN IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT TANER HAD TAKEN ON A DIFFERENT CHARACTER, SHE WAS A BIT NERVOUS…

THE TEAMS WERE ON THEIR WAY. HER AND GULIZE REALLY DIDN’T HAVE A CLUE WHAT THEY WERE DOING SO THEY JUST PICKED A GOOD SPOT AND SAT DOWN. IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR GULIZE TO DRILL HER ON THE LATE NIGHT DINNER THAT TANER HAD PLANNED. ” WELL SANEM, HOW WAS YOUR ROMANTIC DINNER WITH TANER. YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN CANBEY WHEN THEY TOLD HIM WHERE YOU WERE. HE WAS NOT HAPPY, I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BREAK THE CHAIR HE WAS SITTING IN. ” SHE LAUGHED…” WE TRIED TO GET HIM TO GO TO BED BUT HE REFUSED. ” SANEM ROLLED HER EYES AND SPOUTED, “ GULIZE I REALLY DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, OK. JUST FILL ME IN ON SOME OF THE OTHER GOSSIP. ”   

TANER AND CAN WERE MAKING GOOD TIME, PUTTING THE NAVIGATOR THROUGH IT’S PACES. ABOUT 30 MINUTES IN, TANER STOPPED, LOOKING AT CAN, HE SAID, ” WHAT’S YOUR PLANS WITH SANEM? HOW SERIOUS ARE THINGS WITH YOU? I’M ONLY ASKING BECAUSE I COULD FEEL THE TENSION BETWEEN YOU TWO EVERY TIME I AM AROUND. “ CAN SHOT HIM A LOOK, ONE THAT COULD KILL. ” IF I THOUGHT IT WAS ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TELL YOU. BUT SINCE I DON’T, I WON’T. “ HE GROWLED. ” WELL,” TANER STATED, “I’LL TELL YOU, I WANT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HER BACK. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. I LOST HER ONCE BEFORE AND DON’T INTEND TO LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.” CANS’ HAIR BRISTLED LIKE A CAT, HIS HEART POUNDED, IN ONE SWIFT MOVE HE HAD TANER PINNED AGAINST A TREE. ” LET ME TELL YOU, SANEM IS NOT PRIZE YOU WOULD WIN FROM A FAIR. SHE IS A SPECIAL PERSON, SPECIAL TO ME AND I DON’T APPRECIATE SOMEONE LIKE YOU TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HER. WHAT IS BETWEEN US, IS BETWEEN US. ” CAN SHOVED HIM AND TURNED TO GO BACK TO CAMP. TANER STOOD SMILING, “WELL I GOT MY ANSWER ANYWAY.” HE LAUGHED. “MAY THE BEST MAN WIN.”

SANEM AND GULIZE MADE THEIR WAY BACK TO CAMP, LOOKING FOR CEYCEY TO SEE IF THEY PASSED THE TEST. THE TEST SEEMED TO BE A SUCCESS, THE COMPASS SPORT EMPLOYEES WERE HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS SO FAR. THEY WERE WAITING FOR TANER AND CAN TO RETURN, FOR THE FINAL TALLY.  

CAN STORMED HIS WAY BACK TO CAMP, HIS BLOOD RUSHING THROUGH HIM LIKE A RAGING RIVER. ” THAT GUY HAS SOME NERVE, ” HE YELLED, AS HE WALKED UP TO SANEM. ” GET YOUR STUFF, WE’RE LEAVING.”  “CAN WHAT HAPPENED, WHERE’S TANER. ” SHE SHOUTED. SHE HAD VISIONS OF HIM LYING AT THE BOTTOM OF SOME RAVINE OR SOMEWHERE. ” SANEM, GET YOUR STUFF. “ HE HUFFED. “WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS?” SHE ASKED, RUNNING TO HER TENT TO COLLECT HER STUFF. CAN HAD ALREADY GRABBED HIS THINGS AND WAS HEADED TO HIS TRUCK. CEYCEY WAVED HER ON, TELLING HER NOT TO WORRY, THEY WOULD TAKE THE VAN.

TANER STROLLED INTO THE CAMP, FULLY SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS, BOTH WITH THE NAVIGATOR AND WITH HIS CONFRONTATION WITH CAN. ” SO HE HAS A TEMPER, HMM, THAT COULD BE USED TO MY ADVANTAGE. “ HE MUSED.. 

SHE BARELY GOT IN CAN’S TRUCK BEFORE HE TORE OFF DOWN THE ROAD. ” CAN, CAN, WHATS’ GOING ON? STOP FOR A MINUTE. “ SHE YELLED. ” WHAT DID YOU DO? CAN, ANSWER ME. ” SHE DEMANDED. HE LOOKED AT HER WITH RAGE AND FEAR FLYING FROM HIS EYES. THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO SCARED HER, BUT ALSO MADE HER WANT TO TAKE HIM IN HER ARMS. WITHOUT SAYING A WORD, HE REACHED FOR HER HAND, GRASPING IT, HOLDING IT WITH ALL HIS MIGHT. HIS LOOK SOFTENED, AND HE SMILED SLIGHTLY. 

“EVERYTHING’S FINE, SANEM, EVERYTHING’S FINE NOW.”

Chapter 12

THEY DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY BACK HOME IN SILENCE. HE WOULD GLANCE AT HER FROM TIME TO TIME WITH THE LOOK OF DEVOTION, OR WAS IT PURE UNDENIABLE DESIRE. HE NEVER RELEASED HER HAND AND SHE FELT THE COMFORT THAT IT BROUGHT FOR THEM BOTH. TANER HAD DONE OR SAID SOMETHING THAT HIT HIM IN THE CORE, SHE COULD SENSE IT, HE WAS SO EASY FOR HER TO READ. THE PROTECTIVE SIDE OF CAN DIVIT WAS PERHAPS WHATS MOST ATTRACTIVE. TO BE IN HIS LIFE MEANT HE ALLOWED YOU IN. HE DIDN’T ACCEPT SOMEONE JUST BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO BE. THAT WAS HIS DEFENSE MECHANISM. ALWAYS IN CONTROL.

WHEN THEY ARRIVED BACK IN TOWN, HE ASKED TO TAKE HER HOME TO MAKE SURE SHE GOT THERE SAFELY. SHE AGREED, KNOWING THERE WOULD BE NO OTHER WAY. HE WAS CALM NOW, BUT STILL WOULD NOT TALK ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT THE CAMP. ” SANEM, YOU DON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT IT, ” HE TOLD HER . ” I WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING. “ THAT CONCERNED HER MORE. “ WHAT IS IT YOU’LL TAKE CARE OF CAN? I REALLY NEED TO KNOW. “SHE BEGGED. CAN LOOKED AT HER, SMOOTHED HER HAIR AND SMILED, ” YOU, YOU SANEM. I WILL TAKE OF YOU ALWAYS.” EMBARRASSED, SHE NODDED HER HEAD, GRABBED HER BAG AND TOLD HIM GOODNIGHT.

THAT FEELING, LIKE A SWARM OF BUTTERFLIES, HAD ENTERED HER BODY AND MADE HER WEAK. HIS GAZE ALWAYS PENETRATED HER, STRAIGHT INTO HER SOUL. HE WAS A LION, THERE TO GUARD AND PROTECT WHAT WAS HIS. SHE TURNED AND WAVED AS SHE WENT INSIDE. WAS HE READY TO FORGIVE HER, ACCEPT WHAT SHE HAD DONE AND THE REASON BEHIND IT? SHE KNEW IT WAS HARD FOR HIM TO THINK LIKE OTHERS, TO LOOK AT THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE SHE HAD GIVEN HIM. HE STILL NEEDED TIME, SHE NEEDED TIME, IT HAD TO BE RIGHT THE NEXT TIME, OR SHE WOULDN’T SURVIVE….

TANER FELT LIKE THE TESTING WAS A BIG SUCCESS. THEY PUT THE PRODUCTS THROUGH THE PACES AND THEY PERFORMED AS THEY SHOULD. NOW TO MARKET THEM. HE WAS PROUD OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE COMPANY AND WITH CAN DIVIT. HE COULD SEE THAT CAN ACTED FROM ANGER. IT WAS THAT IRRATIONAL AND SPONTANEOUS BEHAVIOR THAT WOULD CAUSE CAN TO LOSE. ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS WAIT FOR SANEM TO SEE IT, MAYBE WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIM.

THE NEXT DAY WAS CRAZY IN THE OFFICE. SO MANY DEADLINES TO MAKE AND DEREN WAS IN A TERRIBLE MOOD. NO ONE HAD TIME TO EVEN LOOK UP, UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON. SHE HAD MOVED TO THE ARCHIVE ROOM TO FINISH THE RESEARCH ON THE TIRE COMPANY, WHEN CAN POPPED HIS HEAD AROUND THE CORNER, ” HEY, THERE YOU ARE, ” HE SAID. ” I HAVEN’T HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY, AND I’M ABOUT TO LEAVE SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY GOODNIGHT.” HE SAT DOWN ON THE FILING CABINET NEXT TO HER DESK, HE TOUCH HER HAND. ” ARE YOU OK? YOU SEEM QUIET. ” HE ASKED. ” I’M SORRY ABOUT TODAY BUT IT’S JUST BEEN HECTIC.” SHE SMILED AT HIM WITH RESERVE AND NODDED HER HEAD, TO ASSURE HIM SHE WAS FINE. ” I’M WONDERING HOW YOU ARE, AFTER YESTERDAY AND WHATEVER THAT THING WAS THAT HAPPENED WITH TANER. ” SHE QUESTIONED. CAN RAISED HIS HAND AND SAID “ LET’S NOT EVEN MENTION HIS NAME, OK ” HE STATED, ” IT JUST GETS ME ANGRY. BUT I’M OK NOW. “ SHE AGREED. SO HE TOLD HER GOODNIGHT AND MAYBE TOMORROW THEY COULD HAVE LUNCH TOGETHER AND TALK. SHE SAID GOODNIGHT AND HE LEFT.

SHE FINISHED HER WORK AND CALLED IT A NIGHT. STILL CONCERNED ABOUT CAN AND TANER, AND ALL THE PRESUMPTIONS THAT TANER HAD CAME TO. JUST TO ASSUME SHE WOULD STAY THE NIGHT WITH HIM IN THE WOODS HAD ANGERED HER. THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A SERIOUS TALK.

THE NEXT DAY HAD SERVED UP THE SAME CRAZINESS. RIGHT BEFORE LUNCH TIME, CEYDA AND TANER MADE THEIR APPEARANCE, DRAWING ATTENTION FROM EVERYONE IN THE OFFICE. SHE WALTZED INTO CAN’S OFFICE AS IF SHE OWNED THE PLACE. TANER STOPPED OFF AT HER DESK, SHE STOOD AND HE GAVE HER A HUG. ” HOW ARE YOU? ” HE ASKED. ” THINGS GOT A LITTLE BAZAAR AT THE CAMPOUT, I HOPE IT’S BACK TO NORMAL NOW.” SHE CONFIRMED SHE WAS FINE, ” CAN I ASK YOU WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU AND CAN THE OTHER DAY? HE WON’T TELL ME ANYTHING.” SHE QUIZZED. ” OH THAT, ” TANER REMARKED. ” IT WAS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, I WOULD SAY. HOPE YOU’RE NOT MAD AT ME, BUT I ASK CAN WHERE THINGS STOOD BETWEEN YOU TWO. YOU KNOW, JUST SO I WOULD KNOW. ” SANEM LOOKED AT HIM QUESTIONING ” AND, WHAT DID HE SAY? ” ” HE ASSURED ME THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS STRICTLY A FRIENDSHIP AND NOTHNG MORE, BUT HE GOT UPSET WHEN I ACCUSED HIM OF LEADING YOU ON, WHEN HE KNEW YOU HAD FEELINGS FOR HIM.” TANER RELAYED.

SANEM HAD EVERY FEELING OF HURT AND ANGER YOU COULD IMAGINE. SHE YELLED AT TANER… ” WHY DID YOU SAY THAT? I NEVER SAID I HAD FEELINGS FOR CANBEY, WHERE DID YOU COME UP WITH THAT? “ SHE WAS FURIOUS WITH HIM. HE QUICKLY APOLOGIZED, “ I SO SORRY, I HAD NO INTENT TO UPSET YOU, I JUST NEEDED TO KNOW. BUT I’M GLAD I FOUND OUT HE’S NOT INTERESTED IN YOU.” HE SAID SMILING. SANEM SUNK IN HER CHAIR, FEELING LIKE A HUGE WEIGHT HAD COVERED HER. “I CAN’T BELIEVE IT.” WAS HE PLAYING WITH HER JUST TO PUNISH HER FOR THE THINGS SHE HAD DONE. SHE THOUGHT SHE KNEW CAN DIVIT!! MAYBE NOT..

CEYDA WAS WITH CAN, PLAYING HER PART AS CAN’S POTENTIAL GIRLFRIEND, IT WAS SO OBVIOUS. SANEM WATCHED FROM HER PLACE AT THE DIVIDER WALL. CEYDA ALWAYS SAT A LITTLE TOO CLOSE, TOUCHED HIS ARM A LITTLE TOO LONG AND LAUGHED A LITTLE TO HARD AT EVERYTHING HE SAID. SHE STOOD THERE, STUDYING HIS FACE, HIS EYES. WAS HE THE MASTER OF DECEPTION OR……

…. HAD SHE SEEN ONLY WHAT SHE WANTED TO SEE….

Chapter 13

CAN AND CEYDA CAME OUT OF HIS OFFICE, HE WALKED HER TO THE ELEVATOR, IGNORING TANER. SANEM SAID GOODBYE TO TANER AND HE FOLLOWED CEYDA TO THE ELEVATOR. CAN NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED HIS PRESENCE. SANEM QUICKLY WALKED TO THE RESTROOM, SHE WASN’T READY TO ENCOUNTER CAN JUST YET. CAN LOOKED FOR HER BUT DIDN’T SEE HER, SO HE RETURNED TO HIS OFFICE. CAN WAS GOING OVER WHAT CEYDA HAD TOLD HIM, WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES WOULD BE IF COMPASS SPORTS WERE TO OPEN UP ANOTHER LOCATION.  

SANEM WAS STILL HURT AND CONFUSED AS TO WHY CAN WOULD HAVE TOLD TANER THAT, HAD SHE MISUNDERSTOOD HIS ACTIONS. ” WELL, IT WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN, ” SHE THOUGHT, AS SHE GOT READY TO LEAVE FOR THE DAY. IT WAS A LITTLE EARLY BUT SHE HAD TO GET SOME FRESH AIR. SHE HEADED OUT THE FRONT DOOR TO CATCH THE BUS. SHE WAS BOARDING THE BUS WHEN CAN CAME JOGGING OUT OF THE BUILDING CALLING HER NAME. AS SHE STOPPED IN THE DOORWAY OF THE BUS AND LOOKED AROUND, HE WAVED FOR HER TO COME BACK. SHE STARED AT HIM, THINKING, “MY HEART HAS HAD ENOUGH, THERE’S NOTHING LEFT TO FEEL…” SHE STEPPED INTO THE BUS AND DIDN’T LOOK BACK…

CAN YELLED, “ SANEM, WAIT! HEY, WE NEED TO TALK. ” BUT THE BUS DROVE AWAY WITH SANEM INSIDE. “WHAT ‘S WRONG WITH HER?” HE WONDERED. HE GRABBED HIS PHONE AND RANG HER NUMBER, THE CALLER IS UNAVAILABLE. WHAT’S SHE DOING? CAN WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED, WAS SHE UPSET ABOUT CEYDA. HE WENT BACK TO HIS OFFICE TO FINISH UP WHAT HE HAD GOING, THEN HE WOULD JUST GO TO HER HOUSE AND SEE HER.   

SANEM GOT OFF THE BUS AT HER REGULAR STOP, BUT SHE DIDN’T FEEL LIKE GOING HOME, SO SHE HEADED TO THE COAST. SHE CALLED HER MOM TO LET HER KNOW SHE WOULDN’T BE HOME FOR DINNER. THE AIR WAS WARM AND COMFORTING, HER THOUGHTS MADE HER ANXIOUS. WHY WAS HE DOING THIS? HE WAS THE ONE THAT SAID HE WANTED TO BE MORE THAN JUST FRIENDS, THAT HE LOVED HER, WHEN DID IT CHANGE… LETTING HER HEART HOPE HAD BEEN A MISTAKE, SHE KNEW IT WOULD BE…

TANER RANG THE BELL AND MEVKIBE OPENED THE DOOR. ” TANER, HOW ARE YOU? HOW CAN I HELP YOU?” SHE SAID…” MS. MEVKIBE, I’M LOOKING FOR SANEM, IS SHE HOME YET?” HE ASKED. ” NO SON, SHE CALLED AND SAID SHE WAS GOING TO THE PIER FOR A WHILE TO GET SOME AIR.” SHE INFORMED HIM. ” OK THANKS, I’LL CATCH UP WITH HER THERE THEN. ” HE STATED. HE DROVE TO THE PIER AND PARKED, LOOKING AROUND FOR A MINUTE,  HE SPOTTED  HER SITTING AT A TABLE IN THE OUTDOOR CAFE. ” SANEM, THERE YOU ARE, BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU. ” HE YELLED. SHE SPUN AROUND, NOT EXPECTING HIM TO FIND HER THERE. “TANER, WHAT DO YOU WANT?” SHE ASKED. ” I THOUGHT WE WOULD GO FOR DINNER, IF YOU WANT? “ HE ASKED. ” I’M NOT GOING TO BE VERY GOOD COMPANY TONIGHT, ” SHE SAID, ” I HAVE A LOT ON MY MIND. ” HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT AND WANTED TO HELP HER GET CAN OF HER MIND. ” THAT’S NOT POSSIBLE, ” HE SAID, ” YOU ARE ALWAYS FUN TO BE WITH. COME ON LET’S GO. I KNOW A GREAT LITTLE FISH PLACE A FEW BLOCKS FROM HERE. ” 

CAN DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE PIER FIRST BEFORE GOING TO HER HOUSE. HE KNEW SHE SOMETIMES WENT THERE TO CLEAR HER HEAD. AS HE PULLED UP TO THE SPOT SHE LIKED TO GO, HE SAW HER GETTING INTO A CAR WITH TANER. THAT’S JUST GREAT, HE THOUGHT. IF HE DOESN’T STOP, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE A REAL PROBLEM… ” OK TANER, I’LL PLAY YOUR GAME. “ HE SPOUTED. HE DROVE TO SANEMS’ STREET AND PARKED, HE WOULD WAIT UNTIL SHE CAME HOME AND THEN THEY WOULD TALK…

SANEM WAS DEFINITELY IN A BAD MOOD, SO DINNER WAS QUICK AND SHE REQUESTED TO GO HOME. TANER KNEW HE HAD TO PULL BACK SOME, SINCE THE FAILED ATTEMPT AT THE CAMPOUT. HE PULLED UP IN FRONT OF HER DOOR, SHE GAVE HIM A SLIGHT HUG AND STEPPED OUTOF THE CAR. ” GOODNIGHT TANER, THANKS FOR DINNER. “ SHE MUMBLED. HE WAVED AND DROVE AWAY. CAN JUMPED OUT OF HIS TRUCK AND RAN DOWN THE STREET TO HER DOOR. ” SANEM, WAIT. I NEED TO TALK TO YOU. ” HE SHOUTED.

SHE TRIED TO GET IN THE DOOR BEFORE HE REACHED HER, BUT WASN’T SUCCESSFUL. ” WHAT DO YOU WANT CAN? I’M TIRED AND WANT TO GO TO BED. “ SHE BARKED. ” HEY, SANEM WHATS’GOING ON? WHY ARE YOU ACTING SO MAD AT ME? “ HE BEGGED. ” I’M NOT ACTING, I AM MAD. ” SHE SHOUTED. CAN TOOK HER HANDS IN HIS, “ WHY, WHAT HAPPENED, YOU HAVE TO TELL ME.” HE WHISPERED. ” WHY WERE YOU WITH HIM TONIGHT? DID HE SAY SOMETHING TO YOU?“ LOOKING INTO HIS EYES WITH FURY, ” WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE TO YOU, WE ARE STRICTLY FRIENDS AND NOTHING MORE, RIGHT?” SHE SPEWED, FEELING THE TEARS BURN HER EYES. ” NO, AND WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT? THAT’S NOT MY FEELINGS AT ALL. “HE SPOUTED. ” WHERE DID THAT COME FROM, ” HE ASKED. SHE TRIED TO PULL AWAY, BUT HE HAD A SOLID GRIP ON HER, ” SANEM, TALK TO ME, DID TANER TELL YOU THAT. PLEASE.”

” YES, ” SHE SAID, SHIFTING HER EYES AWAY FROM HIM. ” HE TOLD ME WHAT YOU TWO HAD WORDS ABOUT WHEN WE WERE CAMPING. ” WHAT? ” HE SAID “I TOLD HIM WE WERE ONLY FRIENDS? ” CAN WHIRLED AROUND KICKING AT THE DIRT. ” THOSE WORDS NEVER LEFT MY LIPS SANEM, NEVER, I COULDN’T EVEN DREAM OF SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.” HE SHOUTED. ” DON’T YOU SEE WHAT HE’S TRYING TO DO? HE WANTS YOU, THAT’S WHAT HE TOLD ME. WHY I DIDN’T BEAT HIM THEN, I DON’T KNOW. BUT HE’S NOT GETTING AWAY WITH THIS. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME SANEM.” LIFTING HER HEAD AND CATCHING HIS EYES….

THOSE EYES, THEY LOOK INTO MY SOUL AND I KNOW….

Chapter 14

HIS EYES HOLDS HER HEART, BUT HER MIND IS STILL SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH. SHE BREAKS FROM HIS GRIP AND QUICKLY ENTERS HER HOUSE. CAN LEANS AGAINST THE DOOR, HIS ARMS BRACING HIM, HE WHISPERS,  ” SANEM, YOU ARE MY BELOVED, I WILL NOT LET YOU GO.“ HE WALKS BACK TO HIS TRUCK AND DRIVES HOME. IN ALL MY LIFE, THIS FEELING OF HELPLESSNESS HAS NEVER BEEN SO GREAT, HE SURMISED. HOW DO I MAKE HER LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS DOING. MY OWN FAULTS HAVE CREATED THE DOUBT IN HER MIND, CAUSED HER TO BE UNSURE OF MY FEELINGS FOR HER. STAY PERSISTENT AND LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN….

SANEM KNEW THAT LOOK FROM CAN, THE DESPERATE LOOK OF TRUTH. BUT SHE HAD TO BE SURE. SHE HAD TO CONFRONT TANER. THE NIGHT WAS LONG WITH LOTS OF DEMONS CHASING HER THOUGHTS. HE WOULD BE AT THE AGENCY TOMORROW, SHE WOULD GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT THEN.

THE MEETING WAS EARLY, CEYDA AND TANER ARRIVED AND WENT STRAIGHT TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM. DEREN WAS GATHERING THE CAMPAIGN FILES IN HER USUAL DRAMATIC WAY, YELLING AND DEMANDING HER COFFEE. CAN HAD CALLED TO REPORT HE WAS RUNNING LATE; HE WAS CAUGHT IN A TRAFFIC JAM AND WOULD BE THERE SHORTLY. SANEM DECIDED TO MAKE HER WAY TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM TO GET SETTLED. AS SHE APPROACHED THE DOOR, SHE HEARD CEYDA TELLING TANER ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF COMPASS SPORTS. CONGRATULATING HIM ON THE PROMOTION, SHE DETAILED HIS JOB DESCRIPTION. SHE NEEDED A PERSON SHE COULD TRUST TO OVERSEE THE NEW BRANCH IN KAYSERI. SHE CHOSE HIM BECAUSE HE COULD ALWAYS GET PEOPLE TO DO WHAT HE WANTED. TANER WAS ELATED AND EXPRESSED HIS APPRECIATION TO THE COMPANY. CEYDA INQUIRED ABOUT WHAT HE WOULD DO ABOUT SANEM, NOW THAT THEY HAD BECOME A COUPLE. ” WELL,” HE STATED, “I PLAN ON ASKING HER TO COME ALONG, WHAT DO YOU THINK? “ CLAPPING HER HANDS, CEYDA CHIMED, ” THAT’S PERFECT. WE’LL INSIST, SAYING YOU WILL NEED HER TO DEVELOP THE AD CAMPAIGN FOR THE NEW STORE. OF COURSE THE HARD PART WILL BE CONVINCING CAN.” SHE LAUGHED AND SAID, ” THIS WAS THE PERFECT IDEA WE HAD TANER, ABOUT YOU REKINDLING YOUR OLD FLAME WITH SANEM. BY THE TIME SHE RETURNS, IT WILL BE TOO LATE, CAN WILL BE MINE. ” 

SANEM HAD THE URGE TO KILL, BUT SHE HAD TO STAY CALM. CAN ARRIVED AND RUSHED TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM. EVERYONE WAS ASSEMBLED AND READY TO START. HE SCANNED THE ROOM, NODDING TO CEYDA AND WELCOMING HER. HIS EYES LANDED ON SANEM, HE QUICKLY OBSERVED HER, TRACKING WHAT HER EYES MIGHT SAY. HER LOOK WAS STRAINED AND UNCOMFORTABLE. HE STARTED THE MEETING, CEYDA LAID OUT THE NEW PLANS AND DELIVERED THE NEWS THAT THEY NEEDED SANEM TO RELOCATE TO KAYSERI FOR A WHILE TO HELP TANER WITH THE DEVELOPMENT. CAN INSTANTLY OPPOSED, SAYING CEYDA DIDN’T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PROPOSE SUCH A THING. CEYDA COUNTERED, “ CAN, MY DEAR, WE ARE THE SINGLE MOST VALUABLE CLIENT THIS AGENCY HAS, SO I THINK THAT DOES GIVE ME THE AUTHORITY,” SHE SMILED, LOOKING AT SANEM.

LISTENING TO THIS ALL AND RERUNNING THE CONVERSATION FROM EARLIER, SANEM FELT THE DISGUST OF BEING USED. TANER SMILED AND WINKED AT HER, AS IF TELLING HER, HE HAD WON. CEYDA CONTINUED, OUTLINING THE DETAILS OF THE EXPANSION AND THE IMPORTANCE THAT IT WOULD HAVE FOR THE AGENCY. EVERYONE WAS EXCITED FOR THE RECOGNITION IT WOULD BRING THEM, ESPECIALLY DEREN. ” THIS WILL BE A HUGE BOOST FOR THE AGENCY, AND I WILL GET RID OF SANEM ALSO, HOW COULD IT GET ANY BETTER, “ SHE REJOICED IN HER THOUGHTS.

CAN ADAMANTLY DISAGREED WITH THE WHOLE CONCEPT. HE KNEW HIS DECISION AND THAT WAS IT. THEY ALL TURNED TO SANEM, TO GET HER OPINION OF THE SUGGESTION. ” THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, ” SHE CALMLY VOICED. SHE LOOKED AROUND TO SEE THE EXPRESSIONS. CEYCEY GASPED, PUTTING HIS HAND OVER HIS MOUTH. GULIZE’S MOUTH FLEW OPEN. ” OH MY, HOW ROMANTIC. “ SHE BABBLED. DEREN WAS ALL SMILES. CEYDA JUMPED UP, CLAPPING HER HANDS, SHE EXCLAIMED, ” SUPER, WE’LL START THE BALL ROLLING. WE WILL START IMMEDIATELY SO THE TRANSITION MOVES SMOOTHLY.” WITH THE MEETING OVER, CAN STORMS TO HIS OFFICE, NOT WANTING TO CONFRONT SANEM IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. SANEM RETURNS TO HER DESK WITH TANER IN PURSUIT. ” SANEM, THIS IS GREAT, LETS GO TO KAYSERI TOGETHER. IT’S A FRESH START FOR US. WE ARE THE PERFECT PAIR. “ HE WAS OVERJOYED. ” I’M LEAVING OUT TOMORROW FOR KAYSERI, COME WITH ME, WE CAN GET THINGS GOING.” HER FEELINGS OF RAGE MARCHED THROUGH HER MIND WITH A VENGEANCE. TELLING TANER SHE WOULD THINK ABOUT IT SEEM TO APEASE HIM FOR THE TIME BEING. WITH HIS AIRE OF CONFIDENCE HE STATED, ” MY FLIGHT LEAVES AT 10:00AM, PLEASE MEET ME THEN AND WE CAN GO TOGETHER. ” SHE SMILED AND WHISPERED TO HIM, ” I WILL MAKE MY DECISION BY THEN AND YOU WILL KNOW. ” HE GAVE HER A BIG HUG AND WALKED AWAY.

CAN WAS PACING IN HIS OFFICE. WHAT WAS SHE THINKING, NO, SHE WASN’T THINKING. IT WAS HIS DECISION IF SHE COULD GO, SHE WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF THIS AGENCY, AND THAT DECISION WAS ” NO. ” UNLESS SHE RESIGNED. SHE WOULDN’T DO THAT…NO.NO.NO…. HE HAD TO TALK TO HER BUT NOT IN THE OFFICE. AT LUNCH TIME HE WOULD TAKE HER OUT AND MAKE HER SEE WHAT TANER WAS TRYING TO DO.

SANEM NEEDED TO EXCAPE THE OFFCE FOR A WHILE, NOT WANTING A CONFRONTATION WITH CAN AT THIS TIME. SHE TOLD DEREN SHE NEEDED TO THINK, SO SHE WANTED THE REST OF THE DAY OFF. DEREN AGEED SAYING WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY SHE HAD BEEN OFFERED. TELLING HER  SHE SHOULD TAKE IT…. SANEM TOOK HER BUS AND WENT TO THE COAST, WANTING TO BE ALONE TO ANALYZE HER LIFE AND HOW SHE KEEPS LETTING PEOPLE MANIPULATE HER. KNOWING CAN WOULD BE LOOKING FOR HER THERE SHE WALKED TO THE OLD HOUSE SHE VISITED AS A CHILD, WATCHING THE BIRDS AND WRITING HER POEMS OF WHAT HER LIFE WOULD BE LIKE. IT WAS LATE INTO THE NIGHT WHEN SHE FINALLY WALKED HOME.

CAN FRANTICALLY SEARCHED FOR HER, EVERY POSSIBLE PLACE HE COULD THINK OF, BUT NO SANEM. HE GOT TO THE OFFICE EARLY SO THEY COULD TALK BEFORE EVERYONE ARRIVED. SHE WASN’T THERE BY 9:00 AND HE PANICKED. THINKING OF LEAVING TO SEARCH FOR HER AGAIN, HE SAW CEYCEY COMING TOWARDS HIS OFFICE. HE TAPPED ON THE DOOR AND CAME IN. ” CANBEY, I KNOW IT’S NOT MY BUSINESS BUT SANEM HAS GONE TO THE AIRPORT TO MEET TANERBEY, SHE DIDN’T WANT ME TO TELL YOU, BUT I FEEL I MUST.” HE SAID. ” OH MY GOD, CEYCEY, WHEN DOES THE FLIGHT LEAVE?” HE YELLED, GRABBING HIS FRIEND MY THE ARMS. ” AT 10:00, ” HE SHOUTED, “HURRY AND MAYBE YOU CAN MAKE IT. ” 

CAN RAN LIKE HE HAD NEVER RAN BEFORE. HE WAS A GOOD 20 MINUTES FROM THE AIRPORT ON A GOOD DAY. PRAY THERE’S NO TRAFFIC. MAKING RECORD TIME HE PARKED IN A DROP-OFF ZONE ONLY, AND RAN…. HE STOPPED AND SCANNED THE DEPARTURE SIGNS FOR THE GATE, THERE IT WAS, ” OH DAMN, ” HE YELLED. HE SPRINTED THROUGH THE CROWD. AS HE NEARED THE GATE HE COULD SEE THEM, THEY WERE STANDING NEAR THE TICKET DESK, HE YELLED AT HER BUT SHE DIDN’T HEAR HIM. IN HIS HASTE HE BUMPED INTO A LADY CARRYING SEVERAL MAGAZINES, MAKING HER DROP THEM ON THE FLOOR. HE QUICKLY EXCUSED HIMSELF AND REACHED TO PICK THEM UP. AS HE RAISED UP, LOOKING FOR THEM, REALIZING HE HAD LOST SIGHT OF THEM. HE STARTED YELLING FOR HER AS LOUD AS HE COULD, WITH EVERYONE STARING AT HIM. THEN HE SAW THEM, THEY HAD SAT DOWN. HE RAN TOWARDS HER, ” SANEM, WAIT. YOU CAN’T GO, ” HE PLEADED. SANEM JERKED AROUND IN SHOCK, ” CAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? ” SHE SHOUTED. HE CRIED, ” YOU’RE MAKING A MISTAKE, I NEED YOU, WE ARE ONLY FOR EACH OTHER. I LOVE YOU.” TANER STOOD, LOOKED AT CAN, ” I ALSO THINK SHE’S MAKING A MISTAKE, ” HE SPEWED. “ I DEFINITELY DON’T THINK THE BEST MAN WON, BUT NEVERTHELESS, SHE MADE HER CHOICE. ”   

SANEM LOOKED AT CAN…..WITH HER HEART AND SOUL.

“SORRY TANER, BUT THERE WAS NEVER A CHOICE.”

CAN COVERED HER WITH HIS ARMS AND SHOWERED HER WITH HIS KISSES.

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