Sudden decisions

32 - The Showdown

Can

She shoots me a fiery glance before turning around and stopping the first passing taxi, getting into it and driving off, leaving me there to watch its tail lights recede. I stand still for a long time watching the waterfront traffic without seeing it, reflecting on what she said.
A long time later I reach the shore of the Bosphorus to stop and watch the lights on the other side reflecting on its waters while I am lost in thought. I stand in the same spot for a long time, heedless of the cold wind from the sea, hearing her words repeated in my head until I realise what I have to do. I head for home with a clear plan in mind, I must remedy once and for all the absurd situation I have got myself into.

The first move is a message to Polen before getting into my off-road vehicle.
"Can you meet me tomorrow morning at the agency around 11.00?". I hear a notification arrive shortly after, as I'm driving, but I wait until I get to the cabin to read her reply. "Of course dear, see you tomorrow, good night." I throw the phone on the couch and go back outside, into the dark garden where the moonless night is only brightened by starlight. My mind replays the night I was here with her, captivated by the light in her eyes as she babbled nonsense due to alcohol and I can only regret what is happening between us.

After an almost sleepless night I reach the agency very early and set to work to organise everything as best I can, it takes hours for everything to be ready. I know that Sanem must have arrived at the agency a long time ago, but I prefer to wait for the right moment to meet her. At 11.00 a.m. I reach my office together with Deren and have Sanem and Cey call. I see her enter my office shortly afterwards with a serious expression and a low stare that doesn't want to meet mine, at the same time here is Polen walking down the corridor with that manner of hers that only now I can recognise as extremely snobbish and arrogant. With her is Huma, I had no doubt that she would come too.

They enter my office as if they were the masters of it and throw Sanem a satisfied smile that only increases the growing aversion I feel towards them.
"Good morning Can."
Polen approaches with the clear intention of greeting me with the usual kiss on the cheek, but I anticipate her by moving to the side and without answering her greeting I head for the door.
"Deren, as arranged I'll be waiting for you downstairs in five minutes."
I am aware that I am leaving the office under the bewildered gaze of everyone, including Sanem, but she soon understands. I go downstairs to the large space in front of the archive, where I have set up the photographic set. I finish putting the last details in place and here they come. In the lead is Deren, with Cey Cey and Sanem, while behind them a reluctant Polen flanked by Huma comes down the stairs. They both look like they have swallowed a lemon so stiff is their expression.
I greet them hurriedly. "Well, let's start right away. Polen sit in that chair. Cey Cey you move the lights to the position I will indicate from time to time and you Sanem" I approach her, taking her hand to accompany her near the seat I have prepared. "Please honey go to the pc and start editing the photos you will see appearing as I have taught you in the past few days. This way we will finish soon and I will have fulfilled my commitment to the Humanitarian Relief Foundation"

Polen starts to protest. "But Can, what does that mean? I thought we would take our time, maybe meet beforehand to make arrangements on how and where to do the photo shoot." The stymied tone of voice seems to pout like a child.

"You thought wrong Polen, you've been getting a lot of misplaced ideas lately apparently. I said I would donate a photo shoot and that is what I am doing. I am the photographer and I decide when and where it should be done. I appreciated the good heart you showed by donating an exorbitant amount of money to build an orphanage in Sudan, a beautiful gesture yours, now I am doing my part. I have several advertising campaigns going on, I'm in the middle of preparing for my wedding and I think it's time for you to go back to London and your life."

"But Can! I'm in no hurry..."

"I am, I think we each have to go our own way, I am starting a life path with Sanem and that is what I want to focus on from now on so I want to get rid of any ties or bonds."

As I talk to Polen I see out of the corner of my eye Sanem turn her head to look at me, so I turn to meet her gaze, trying to get the message across to her that I have understood, that I have thought long and hard exactly as she advised me to do the night before.

 "Let's get to work." I pick up the camera as a reluctant Polen goes to sit where I told her and then follows my dry directions for more than two hours of shots, scene and location changes. My brother joins us and goes to sit next to Huma as I take the last few photos.

"OK, we're done." 

Polen looks at me dumbfounded as it is my mother who speaks. "As you have already finished, all the money she shelled out is worth far more than two hours of work." I turn to look at her, it's time to come to terms with her too. "Dear Huma I think it is none of your business, I don't know why you are here, indeed I don't know why you are still in Istanbul. You attended Mr Taruk's reception, it is time for you to leave too" She appears surprised "How? Do you want me to leave? But you just said you are getting married!"

"That I am getting married is none of your business Huma, you lost all right to be in my life all those years ago, exactly when you walked through the door of that house you are now occupying as if you had every right to, to leave for Switzerland taking my brother away. I haven't needed you since then let alone have any now, I got used to doing without a mother a long time ago. Go back to where you came from Huma, I don't want you in my father's house and I certainly don't want you at my wedding."

"But Can..." I stop her with a firm gesture of my hand "No buts, I know what you are trying to do by using Polen and taking her to my father's house. I have been living at the cabin all along, but so many may not know and get the wrong ideas." I cast a quick glance towards Sanem who is listening carefully to every word and now knows how things really are with Polen.

"Now excuse me, but I have to finish editing the photos together with Sanem so that Polen can return to London with the photo shoot she paids a fortune for."

I sit next to Sanem bringing my face close to his so that we look at the PC screen together. I place my hand on her holding the computer mouse. I feel that instead of looking at the screen she has her eyes fixed on me, but I don't say anything to her for now, there will be time to talk when we are alone.

Deren and Cey Cey say goodbye to us to go back upstairs to the agency followed shortly after by Huma and Polen who, muttering to each other in annoyance, without even saying goodbye go up the stairs to leave the agency and I hope also permanently my life.

It is Emre who speaks, "Abi, brother, don't you think you've gone too far with them?"

"No, I haven't gone too far. It is time for them both to leave, the house we live in belongs to our father and Huma has already taken ample advantage of your hospitality. I have come to realise that they only want to create problems in my relationship with Sanem, but now bastam, I am not going to allow it any longer."

Emre shakes his head, but adds nothing more and leaves us alone.

An unreal silence descends between us. "Can?"

I turn to look into her eyes. "I owe you an apology Sanem, until now I have not taken a firm stance against Polen and I have allowed Huma to manoeuvre her at will to create trouble between us. I did what you advised me to do last night, I thought long and hard, all night actually, and came to realise that I had to take a firm stand with Polen."

Our eyes remain locked for endless moments, a silent dialogue that asks and gives explanations that our stubbornness prevents us from putting into words.

"We need to talk, learn to talk. Tonight I would have liked to spend time alone, certainly not have dinner with Fabri, I have no desire to spend time with that man, but unfortunately we have to. After the damage the 'spy' managed to do to the agency we badly need this contract otherwise I would have blown it all up'.

She withdraws her hand, which until then she had held under mine, on the mouse and settles better in her chair, averting her gaze from mine.

"We'd better get moving then, we have a lot of work to do and if we don't start now we risk being late."

"Sure boss, you got it!" I try to lighten the mood, we have already experienced too much tension for today and since we left that party hand in hand, it seems like a century ago.