A Cinderella Story - ZeyBar

Chapter XI

Zeynep.

My alarm wakes me up in the dark morning. Today is the trip to Ankara, and my suitcase is waiting for me at the door. It wasn't a good idea to come home so late, now I can barely open my eyes.

I take a taxi to the building where I work, and from there we get in three cars to take us to Ankara. The trip is about four hours, spent mostly talking with Leyla and the others I travel with.

We arrive at noon in front of the hotel where the seminar will be held. Mr. Savaş greets us with a warm smile. From the reception we are given the keys to the rooms and Leyla and I head to ours, which we will share tonight. 

We have half an hour to rest from the trip and get ready for lunch downstairs in the restaurant. A huge round table is set aside just for our company and we are sit around it. Only one thing is missing - our boss, whose chair remains empty. He should have arrived in Ankara by now..did something happen?.. My appetite dies after the thousands of thoughts that go through my head and I am more and more burning with the desire to call him, but who am I to do so ..

In fact ... Maybe I'm not no one, after what happened in his car the night before, when we agreed to "try" to get to know each other better here, away from my mother, away from his. Am I involved in something that will drive me crazy? Yes. Am I sorry? Definitely not.

I lean over Ceren's ear, who sits to my right, and whisper.

"Mrs. Ceren, where is Barış Bey? Shouldn't he have arrived by now?"

"He's here, Zeynep. He's here, but I have no idea wher-. Ah! Here he comes!"

I turn my head to the entrance of the restaurant and I really see him. He talks to Mr. Savaş and they laugh together. I take a deep breath that nothing bad has happened and focus on what Leyla is blabbering on about.

"Hello, Afiyet olsun! How was the trip?" - smiling, Barış sits on the chair, which was empty so far and we exchange a second glance. Several people answer him, I don't say anything.

After lunch with Leyla, Ceren and a few other colleagues, we agree to leave the hotel and walk around the streets of Ankara.

"Where to?" - our boss stops us in the lobby.

"Barış Bey, we're going for a walk. We won't be late for the seminar, we promise," Ceren smiles friendly, he nods and the others head for the exit. I stay last and a moment before I go out I turn to him with challenging look.

"Would you join us?" I ask him. He laughs and comes after our small group.

...

Our short tour takes us to the small and narrow streets of Ankara, full of friendly merchants and many shops wherever you turn. Everyone goes in and out of store and our group falls apart, everyone looks, tries and buys. I lost sight of Mrs. Ceren a long time ago, she enters every souvenir shop, followed by Ipek. Kaan and Fikret were also left behind, stopped by a talkative chestnut seller. It is difficult to walk through these streets without being enchanted by the words of a merchant and come out with at least two bags of shopping.

Leyla and Barış Bey and I are walking together. Rather, Barış and I follow Leyla, who also likes to stop in front of almost every stall.

Walking behind Leyla and next to him, I feel his hand touch mine for seconds and I don't know if he's doing it on purpose.

Leyla stops again in front of a souvenir shop and pulls me inside with her. We enter, followed by our boss in silence. We walk around a few minutes before Leyla finally chooses what to buy for her little niece.