Holding On To A Promise

Chapter Thirteen

The meeting that morning lasted a lot longer than expected. Metin had never invited her to set in on the meeting like that before so she was a bit nervous. She still had a pile of paperwork to do and Can would be there for their lunch date in less than an hour. She dug into the files, trying to make headway before Can got there. Metin tapped on her door, " Hey you can up for air you know, those files will be there after lunch." He smiled, as he helped himself to a chair. She sighed, " I know but these files need to go to the courthouse by 2:00, and I'm not nearly through with them." She replied, glancing at the clock. Metin had already figured out that Sanem and Can had made plans for lunch, that was the reason for the rush. In his mind, he knew things were moving fast for the couple, maybe too fast for his liking. He would need to slow things down a bit until he was able to make Sanem see that Can would never be the man for her. But maybe he would just straight to the source, he could just set down with Can and tell him how he felt. He smirked as he thought, " That would never work with Can, he always thought he knew better, always thought his way was the best, and always expected so much from everyone." He had loved him as a brother, had depended on him through most of his early life, but the day he turned on him for making the right decision, actually, it was the only choice he had as a lawyer, well it made him look at him in a whole different way.

Metin slapped his hand together, " Here, I have a solution, I will help you. I'm going to order some lunch for us, and we can bust through these files in no time."  Sanem looked at him quickly, he had never offered to help her before, why was he acting so strange and how would she be able to decline his offer. He was her boss after all, and this was her job, but she already had plans for lunch. Metin pulled his chair closer to the desk, but seeing she was hesitant he asked, " What? I can help you, do you not want my help. You said yourself these files need to be at the courthouse by 2:00, so we can do it."  He smiled, reaching for a file. " Well, I did have plans for lunch, Can was picking me up and we were going to the Deli down the street.  Metin smiled, "Well you may have to reschedule, I mean your job is important, is it not." He asked, with a challenging look. Sanem felt her heart drop, she had so been looking forward to spending her much time with Can, but she guessed that Metin was right.

Cans workout had been more intense this morning, he needed to work off a lot of anxiety. He went through all of his normal routines and then he hit the ring with his friend and trainer Umet. The boxing always seemed to distract him more than anything, it helped him clear his mind. They finished up just in time for him to shower and drive to Metins office to pick up Sanem. That was the only thing he had been thinking about all morning. He was only a few blocks away from the office when his phone rang, he saw it was Sanem and he immediately knew something was wrong. " My love, I'm almost there, are you ready to go." Can asked as he answered the phone. The hesitation from the other end of the phone confirmed his suspicion, " Can, I'm sorry but things are backed up here and it looks like I'm going to work through my lunch break, I'm so sorry." Her voice cracked with emotion. She hated to be the one to cancel, but her hands were tied, Metin was right, it was her job. Can pulled over the side of the road, " What happened, is it an emergency, but you have to eat so let me pick something up and bring it to you. I can keep you company at least." He suggested, ready to do whatever it took to spend time with her. Her reply came quickly, " Oh, well Metin is helping me with the files, and he is ordering in our lunch, but you're more than welcome to come and share our lunch, I'll just be working through all these files." She answered. 

Her words hit him like a freight train, so Metin was helping her. "Oh I see, is that normal, ...for Metin to help you. I thought he had meetings today." He replied, trying not to sound doubtful about it, but that's exactly what he was. He could feel it in his gut, Metin had set it all up to happen that way. " Thanks for the offer, but I did want to disturb you both or keep you from your work, so I will just pick you up at 5:00. Will that be ok?" He asked, trying to control the anger in his voice. Metin stared across the desk at Sanem as she talked to Can on the phone, his heart beating hard. Hoping that Can didn't take her up on her offer of sharing their lunch. He really didn't like himself right now, this wasn't at all like him to lie and deceive, especially to a friend like Sanem. But he had already watched her regain her life after the accident, but then there was Omer. He had watched that relationship and prayed that she would see that he wasn't for her. But when that happened it was only because Can had reappeared. Metin knew Can, and all too well. He knew it was just a matter of time before he would get that urge to wander, and that would leave Sanem hurt and broken again.....that was something he didn't want to see again.

Sanem was disappointed but knew it was for the best, " Ok, you're probably right, but yes you can pick me up at 5:00. I'm sure I'll  be through and ready to go by then." She spoke sounding happy about the arrangement. She had so been looking forward to seeing Can for lunch, but Metin was right her job was important. She said her goodbyes to Can and hung up, " Ok Metin let's get busy, we need to get this all done quickly." She replied. Metin shook his head but smiled secretly inside. Just a little at a time, drive that wedge between them, it wouldn't take long before Can will get tired and go back to his old ways, and he would be there to pick up the pieces of her broken heart.

Can sat there for a minute processing the phone call. So Metin was there helping her, that didn't sound like something a high-powered lawyer would do. What about all those meetings that he had Sanem set up for him yesterday, and the reason he had interrupted their time together last night. He knew this was all a plan to keep him and Sanem apart, but he wasn't about to let that happen. Lifelong friend or not, Metin was not going to come between them. He reached for his phone, thinking about how special he wanted that night to be, he called a person that he knew could make it just that. An old dear friend that had a lot more experience in how to turn a place into a magical and romantic oasis. 

Can wanted nothing more than to sweep Sanem off her feet...

He wasn't about to let Metin spoil the love they had....