♦Gurur Ve Önyargi♦

Chapter-10

SANEM

Life is so unpredictable! What should I even call it other than this? If five years back, on that night, anyone told me that we would have to tolerate each other's presence furthermore I would perhaps laugh or roll my eyes. But right now right here he is sitting before my eyes and in return, I am helpless and left with no option but to breathe that in for the sake of my business—our business. After all, I am the one who agreed to this deal of dealing with my nervousness no matter what the outcome is gonna be.

A few months back when Osman informed me that his boss Mr Divit wanted to collaborate with our small firm I could not trust my ears. To clear my doubt he also added the title Firki Harika in particular. I froze to hear him but my reaction was cool and moderate like the way I treated  The Boss a few moments back. But he had no good intention himself. I expected him to improve but he shocked me with the way he squeezed my hand. The beastly man is still bloated with pride while the manner he exhibited and still now expressing proves his uncouth insolence.

Though I have been preparing myself and building the strategy to deal with him, maintaining a distance, I failed when our roads crossed again and my knees got weak when the mountain of handsomeness came out of the elevator. My heart pierced as the wound he gave me last time became more overwhelmingly alive when certain agility whirled in his dark orbs as soon as they met mine. I behaved NORMALLY as much as my spirit allowed and he functioned more warmly than I expected him to be. I knew something was wrong. His friendly manner and the generosity in his conduct seemed to be an ominous affair. Just what I thought! He clarified my suspicions later, as soon the discussion starts at the conference table.

"So, Ms Sanem, as you make the formulas and product illustration too I hope you would satiate my curiosity. I intend to know what inspired you to think that the beauty products should only be the affairs of young women and ladies?" His posture is erect as he is studying the files and not sparing me even a mere look he completes his question.

I feel a bit offended as though he is taking an interview while the nervous glance of Leila, from the other side, makes me more uncomfortable. Shaking off all distressing beliefs I start,  "First of all, Mr Divit, I think you have not reached the last page yet, or you didn't get my presentation that I demonstrated a few moments before. That's why the confusion is arising in your mind."

"Sorry!" Lifting his head he looks straight at me, frowning. "I don't get your point, still. For your information, I don't lose my focus in anything that I take in my hand or consider to be taken in. so there is no question of confusion you just referred in this issue, I think, unless you have not either missed or mixed up something."

Procuring a gentle smile I convey, "Pardon me, Sir, for the inconvenience. But trust my words, there has neither been anything missed nor mixed. I am still stuck to my saying. But if I have to explain for the second time, it won't pain me at all." I smile again and sense his stinging ego through the tightness of his jaws when I continue, "So, your query was about the product description on the labels and taglines and advertisements, right?" He nods curtly and I begin, "well, when we started this business, I must confess, we only thought about women and their skin-related issues as we know how conscious they are about maintaining their beauty. They crave to make it long-lasting adding with utmost lustres. For this reason, to attract success we raised the market value with all the stuff that is still printed on the labels, taglines and advertisements. But recently I have got an idea as I felt how wrong I was doing in this business by depriving the other sex while they can also enhance their loveliness with the aid of Bio Fruits. Dear Sir, if you please turn on the last few pages you'll see what I am saying is written and planned categorically. I feel very glad to inform you that Bio Fruits is going to launch gender-neutral products very soon. Inshallah!" I finish and in response he just humphed.

"That's fabulous!" Mr Emre's reaction makes me smile and looking at him I notice he is peeking at Leila to read her face. Weird! What's happening here?

"Well, I learned that before in the digital board when the demonstration was going on." That same thick voice drags my mind to concentrate on the source as he proceeds, "I didn't miss that, you see. But there was no explanation about why Bio Fruits only focused on women. Now I got it. It's a praiseworthy thought that the company is going to launch gender neutral commodities which means more demands and more profits. Inshallah! The graph will reach the height as I can predict through my experience. Still, I am not the only holder of Firki Harika. So,..." He turns to the side of his bother as he implores, "Emre, brother, what do you say?"

To be honest, I am surprised to see such an egoistic person like him has laid equal importance to his younger one. It's laudable and I am impressed to gather he is not a total monkey!

"Of course, Abi! I trust your counts." Mr Emre confirms squeezing his shoulder and I feel an urge to let out, "Awww..." But I don't and control my emotion.

"Isn't he cute and adorable, Sanem?" Leila whispers to my ear. Noticing her pink cheeks I exclaim, "Holy cow, Lei, you're blushing again! Yes, he is a gentleman, I must say, but not all kind of gentleman makes you blush like this. What's the matter?" Instantly she blurts out, "It's him, Sanem. It's him."
For being puzzled I ask immediately, "Whom?" She reacts, reddening tremendously, "Whom I gave my heart at the very first sight!" My eyes become wide in awe and forgetting the influential folks around me I almost shout, "HOLY FUCK!"

My goodness! I can't believe I just did this.

No sooner do I lost the restraint on my tongue and throat than the startled gazes around stare at me as though I am one of the red-listed species of the planet. While Osman, Leila, Mr Emre and the legal advisers are gaping at me with an offended look, I notice a queer mirthful mood in the countenance of the ponytail-ed Divit who entreats me in the next second, "Are you alright, Miss Sanem?"

"Evet!" Swallowing hard I try to evade his playful eyes.

Then stretching his hand taking the glass kept before him on the table he says, "Drink! You'll feel better."

"Thank you!" I respond shortly and without having any clue I curl my fingers around the cold crystal goblet only to be jolted by an electrifying spark that transpires from his skin to mine as soon as the tip of my fingers connects his. 

GOD BLAST ME!

Like a fucking idiot I mess up more when in nervousness I loosen my hold and the glass of water gets tossed drenching his sleeve and mine too. 

"I am sorry! I am sorry! I am sorry!" In anxiety, I repeat for hundredth times when he stops me saying, "It's okay! Not a big deal, Ms Sanem."

"Sanem, relax!" Leila hands me the tissue box.

"Yes, cool girl. Don't panic!" Osman becomes conscious of my troubles.

"Take it easy, Ms Aydin!" Mr Emre confirms "We can wait. Don't worry. Both of you should go and dry yourself."

"No, it's alright. I am fine with it. The tissues will do a great job." With his long fingers, the soaking-sleeved-Divit takes out some tissues from the box to dab it against the wet material of his coat when I feel more guilty of my bluntness.

"No, it's my fault, Mr Divit. Mr Emre is right. I should show you the washroom and clean myself too. Let me assist you." Surprisingly he doesn't reject as he says, "Well, whatever you feel right." Nodding my head I get up from the chair and following me he does the same and together we excuse ourselves from the rest of the others.

.........

Woh! Wheeeeee! Woah!

Dear readers, don't feel shy to share your thoughts on whether or not they are going to warming up the bathroom? Hahaha! 😉😉