My Turkish Heart

Chapter 12

She looked at Rachel and before she could say anything, Burak appeared with an exquisite bouquet of flowers in his hand. He came over to where Izzy was seated to hand her the flowers.

"İyi akşamlar. Can we talk?"

" Is it work related?"

"Izzy, please!..." he pleaded.

"If it's not then I don't think we have anything left to say to each other"

She got up to leave then he grabbed her arm.

"If you have nothing to say please listen to me. 2 minutes is all I'm asking"

Izzy took a deep breath and asked him to lead the way.

He took her to a quaint room with a fireplace burning, it made the room feel very cosy.

They stood in silence and stared at each other before anyone said anything.

" Do you actually have something to say Burak Bey?"

"Yes...firstly I really am sorry and do ask for your forgiveness. What I did was childish and dishonest. In no way did I mean to hurt or harm you. I'm not really good at apologies.. It's not easy for me to get close to a woman, because then it's either in the media, or my family intervenes because they want me to find a wife or it's women using me for money or fame or something. I wasn't sure with you, so I wanted to test you, but then I started falling for you and I knew you liked me for me"

"Test me?!"

"Not like to test you.. Offf! I can't find the right English term now. I wanted to make you want me or like me first.."

He was getting frustrated at how to best express himself.

"Burak..look, yeah I am mad at you and would have preferred you trust me enough to be honest, but you didn't. Also trying to make me fall for you? Love is not a spiteful game."

"I know, I know...I tried to tell you, but never found a good time.."

"It doesn't matter anymore.. Thank you for the pleasant time, but now I would prefer for us to just have a business relationship only"

"Izzy, I can't! I have feelings for you"

"I'm sorry..I can't offer you more"

She broke their intimate gaze and walked out of the room in tears.

Burak was beside himself as he wanted to grab her close and hold her tightly in his arms, but he knew she wouldn't let him.

"Offf! Burak Offf!"

He cursed aloud as he stood in the room thinking what to do next. Walking out the room he saw Rachel, he knew she would be mad too, but he was willing to risk it.

"Rachel Hanim, may I please have a word"

Her unenthusiastic posture and facial expression already braced him for the worst.

"I know you probably strongly dislike me right now, but please hear me out. I really do have feelings for Izzy and I....'

"Burak Bey, with all due respect... If you really care for Izzy then give her the space to process everything. You're just adding fuel to the fire constantly reminding her, let her go a bit"

The words bursted Burak's bubble before he could even ask Rachel's help, but he knew she was right.

"Tamam.."

He left and looked back at the hotel in hope to see her one more time.

The next few days were unpleasant for Burak; he felt off and moody. Even his Father questioned him on his foul mood,but he just kept on burying himself in work. He kept track of the days and knew that Izzy's flight back to South Africa was the following afternoon. It was a battle within himself if he should go say goodbye and try one last time or just give up. The memory of Izzy in tears haunted the walls of his mind daily. It felt like a distant memory of the carefree and bold Izzy who loved the simple things in life. If he knew things would have turned out like this would he have still pursued her or left her alone? Everything felt so messy and unclear, which Burak despised.

Back at the hotel, Izzy and Rachel started packing to return home. They started early as Rachel had bought so many things to take back home. It was a bittersweet feeling for Izzy, as a part of her wasn't ready to leave, but also she knew it was for the best that she did. She often thought about him and wondered how he was or if he had someone else already. But she would quickly brush those thoughts aside as she knew she did not fit into his world.