Sudden decisions

37 -Unexpected proposals

Sanem

Mr Aziz approaches me, holding me in a warm embrace. "Daughter, it is a pleasure to meet you, Can has told me a lot about you, I am happy to welcome you to the family. I was sorry not to be present at your kiz isteme, but now here I am, I would not have missed your wedding for anything in the world."
From over his father's shoulder I cast a desperate glance towards Can, what has he decided to do? Does he want to deceive his father and mine to the last and then call it off? I smile at Mr Aziz who pulls away from me, continuing to squeeze my hand between his warmly just as Emre is entering Can's office through the connecting door between the offices. 'Dad, what are you doing here? Why didn't you let us know you were coming, I would have picked you up at the airport." Aziz makes a vague gesture with his hand in the air before wrapping his arms around him as well. "Why bother you, I preferred to make a grand entrance." He releases himself from the embrace to rest an arm on each of his sons' shoulders while continuing to smile. "So good to see you my boys, I've missed you and I've missed the agency, to death." I shift my gaze from Can to Emre, the tense expression on both of their faces letting me know that both of them, for different reasons, aren't exactly feeling at ease right now.
I apologise, saying I have to get back to work to leave them alone, it's been a long time since they've seen each other and they'll need some time together. I return to my desk and take my mobile from my bag, discovering that I have received a message from Mrs Pinar. She confirms our appointment for tea in the afternoon and I suddenly realise that it is almost time to move. The working day is over and I still haven't managed to talk to Can, but then again, I think it would be impossible to do so for today as she is definitely spending the evening with her father. Sighing I finish sorting out the last few things and walk out past his office, all three of them are sitting around the desk and seem to be enjoying this time together. I shake my head, I don't know what to think of the Divit family, there are certainly some very peculiar dynamics between them.

I take the first passing taxi to be driven to the waterfront café chosen by Mrs Pinar for our meeting. It is a pleasure to spend time with her, she is a successful, ironic and intelligent woman who has lived a life full of professional satisfaction that has led her to travel the world. She asks me about my creams and I am delighted to tell her about the family recipes, the methods used to make them, which have been the same for centuries and passed down from generation to generation.
"I am the only one in the family who makes them now and it will be my job to teach my daughters tomorrow'. Mrs Pinar listens to me, smiling. "Haven't you thought of working in the field of Sanem cosmetics? You seem to know a lot more than many graduates who work for us and your perfume is sensational. I know you are getting married and you already work at Fikri Harika, but my partner has asked me to propose you to collaborate with us in marketing your perfume on a large scale and I agree with him, I think it could be a huge success. Thanks to our distribution chain we could sell in Turkey, but also reach the major international markets, the only thing is that you would have to move for some time to follow the production in our laboratories in Gölcük, but in the end you would only be two hours away from Istanbul, you could go back to your husband every weekend.
I can hardly believe what he is proposing to me, I would never have imagined such an offer, I remain silent, considering every aspect of the matter. I have to admit I'm not exactly sure I want to sell something as personal as my perfume, but perhaps, for the situation I'm in, it would be worth considering.

"Mrs Pinar, I am flattered by your proposal. I must confess that I am taken completely aback actually, I never imagined such a thing. May I have some time to think about it? I have to weigh up a number of factors before I can make such an important decision. She smiles at me, resting a hand on mine across the table. "Of course my dear, I understand that with the engagement and wedding preparations you are very busy at this time, take all the time you need."

We part shortly afterwards with the understanding that we will talk again as soon as I have made a decision, I say goodbye to her and decide not to take a taxi, but to walk along the promenade to my neighbourhood which is not far from where we met. I need to think, in the last few weeks my existence has been completely disrupted by unpredictable events. and now the situation seems more confusing than but. I don't know what Can intends to do, he is clearly angry with me, he won't listen to my reasons, but he presents me to his father as the most wonderful of creatures.

In a week's time my notice period will expire and I will be able to leave Fikri Harika, but I still have a substantial debt to pay off to Emre and at this point Fabri and Mrs Pinar's offer seems to have come at just the right time. By selling the family recipe I could get rid of Emre and free Can from any obligation towards me. I could then move away from Istabul and quickly get over the scandal that a separation between us would cause in my neighbourhood.

Lost in my thoughts I walk for a long time, trying to consider every aspect to decide what is best to do even though my stupid heart seemed to have somehow got used to the idea of being tied to Can. I knew from the start that it couldn't work between us, because of what I've done and the different backgrounds we come from, yet my daydreams about the albatross had made me forget all caution as I began to get used to the idea that it could work between us.

I open the door of the house when it is now dinner time, but I have no desire to eat, my stomach is tight from the tension of the last few days. I look out the kitchen door and find my mother at the cooker. "Mom, I have a terrible but in my head, I don't feel like eating, I'm going to take a shower and go to sleep".

She turns to look at me surprised "What's going on Sanem? How come this headache?" I shrug my shoulders "Maybe a bit of flu, I'd better stay away from everyone" He comes closer feeling my forehead as he has always done since I was a child to see if I have a fever. "You can't get sick right now, there's the engagement party and the whole wedding to organise, we have very little time. By the way, it's been a few days since we've seen Can, is he OK?" I look away trying not to let her know that I couldn't tell at the moment since she's not talking to me. "Yes, yes mum. He's very busy with work, that's all." She gives me an inquiring look, the kind that comes when she senses something is wrong so I decide to beat a retreat.

"I'd better go and rest, Iyi geceler, good night mum".

I don't have the strength to face her and her questions right now, I just want to hide under the covers and think, waiting to see what tomorrow will bring.

The next morning I arrive at the agency a little later than usual, after an almost sleepless night due to nightmares in which Can turns her back on me and leaves saying she wants nothing to do with me. My mood is not the best when I arrive at my desk and Cey Cey warns me that Can has been looking for me. I leave my things and head towards his office not knowing what to expect from him and certainly not expecting the beaming smile with which he comes towards me when I knock on the door. I watch in amazement as he comes towards me, takes my hands in his and rests an affectionate kiss on my cheek.

"Darling, come, we were waiting for you to have breakfast. My father wanted to get to know you better." A small table with a hearty breakfast has been set up in a corner of the office, Aziz is already seated and invites me, smiling. "Come dear, sit here next to me. We almost didn't talk yesterday, tell me about yourself" I don't know what to say, I am taken completely aback by this situation. "I've just recently worked in the agency Mr Aziz, we saw each other in passing before you left, I'm Layla's sister, you know that right?" He smiles. "Yes, of course our Layla, I love that girl. I want to come and meet your parents, I wasn't there the night for the kiz isteme but now I definitely want to meet yours. Can told me that the wedding will be in a few days and it is only fair that I meet them as soon as possible'. I turn to Can questioning him with my gaze and I don't know what to think when he nods convinced. "Yes, the wedding will be held soon dad, in a week the official engagement party and in two the wedding will be celebrated. Is it alright with you Sanem if my father and I visit your parents tonight?".