Aşk Yasak

Chapter 1

"Serkan Bey" acknowledged the valet as he opened his car door.

Serkan stepped out of his black BMW and nodded towards the valet. He made his way into ArtLife, the company built on his sweat and hard work. He had just returned from a 3-day conference meeting in Italy regarding one of the greatest business deals for his company. Inside ArtLife, Leyla was frantically trying to make sure everything was at perfection before Serkan Bolat made his entrance.

Leyla saw the text message from Serkan's driver 'HE'S HERE!!!'

Leyla screeched at the news. "Serkan Bey is here! Hurry, get to work. Not a single thing should be out of place," she said to nobody in particular. Burak stared at Leyla's face "but he wasn't supposed to come until later tomorrow?!" he exclaimed. The rest of the employees in the office scrambled to make sure they were in their spots when he came. Engin and Pyril, side by side, watched the scene unfold in front of them, amused.

"Vay vay. Are you seeing this Pyril?" Engin chuckled.

"It's always like this Engin. Let's hope he got the deal, or else I will not want to be near him if he's on the verge of explosion."

Serkan finally made his entrance into his office and stopped at the open doors of the common area. Leyla rushed to his side as soon as he entered. "Serkan Bey I have settled everything as you wanted. Let me know if you would like any changes to your schedule. I will send your coffee to your office right away," she let out in one breath. Serkan merely nodded at her.

"Uhh Serkan Bey I thought you were arriving tomorrow?" Burak realized what he said and looked down. Serkan slowly turned his head towards Burak and raised his eyebrows.

"So now I need to let you know before I come and go in my own company? Really?" Serkan asked incredulously. Burak mumbled a quick apology and looked up to see Leyla glaring at him. Serkan then turned his attention to Engin and Pyril who were already making their way towards him. They were his best friends from college in London and the three of them have been together since. They are also the other two partners to ArtLife alongside him.

"Grab your things and meet me in my office in 5 minutes" was all he said to them before going upstairs to his room.

The other two partners looked at each other and sighed, unaware of what they were going to face in that room. They gathered the necessary files and took them to his office. Serkan was on a call when they entered and quietly took their seat in front of him.

"Alright, thank you. I look forward to our meeting." He ended the call on a quick note.

"Sooo? Abi?" Engin started. "Did you get it?"

Serkan smirked at his best friend, stood up and made his way in between the two partners and leaned against the desk.

"Has there ever been a deal I wanted but didn't get?" He asked rhetorically.

Engin jumped from his spot and hugged him. He knew how important this deal was for Serkan and was elated that he was able to crack it.

"YES! I knew it!" called Pyril, still seated and smiling at her two guy best friends.

Serkan took his seat again and the atmosphere shifted. Now that they had this deal, they would have to work twice as hard to prove their worth to the Italians. Afterall, this world famous Italian company received thousands of offers from architectural businesses, yet they only chose one for their projects. Considering that ArtLife was able to make this deal, his company would get the boost that he had wanted for the International project that was coming up in two weeks.

"And now that we have this deal, the IAO (International Architecture Organization) will be convinced to give us that International project for BIOEXPO 2021 and not them." Serkan was confident that this project was going to be his, making him the most successful Turkish businessman of the year, a title which he has already been holding, but the respect and honor would definitely make a rise. Pyril and Engin smiled at that, as they knew just as well as him how much stronger this Italian deal will be for their company's reputation when the time comes for that international tender.