Mind Games - Win or Lose

Chapter - 13

Serkan called Eda as soon as he got his new phone to deliver the bad news. He wouldn't make it home today. Eda could hear the fatigue and disappointment in his voice and she tried not to let him hear it in hers. She tried to be understanding but she had things that she needed to talk to him about and he wasn't here.

Eda went into the office with Kiraz for a second day, now that Kiraz's things were in the conference room she felt much better. It was slightly noisier but Kiraz, like Eda, was a sound sleeper so a nap for her would be no problem. Eda and Pyril met with Leyla to talk through what they were looking at for the daycare and then the three of them plus Kiraz walked thought the first floor looking at and measuring the possible sites. With a tentative plan in place Pyril got to work on her design roping Murat into doing the interior walls. The room that they selected had access to a back courtyard that was infrequently used, Eda thought that they could make it a much more useable space for the daycare.

Leyla bustled back into the office an hour later, "Eda hanim? I pulled all the information on permits and licensing, should we go ahead and file the licenses before the construction is complete?"

"I think so, yes. The construction shouldn't take that long. Check with Murat on the permits though, I think he said he would go down and get them today. Did you check to see if anyone else's children would be joining Can and Kiraz?"

"I did but the others are watched either by their wives or their parents so they seemed to not be interested. It's something that's nice to have for the future though. And when the new baby comes along it will be helpful to have it close to you."

Eda smiled at Leyla, "Him Leyla, we're having a boy."

"Oh, how exciting, do you have a name yet?"

"I have one in mind but I haven't talked to Serkan. Do you think that I can ask you a few questions Leyla?"

She looked at Eda questioningly, "Sure? What about?"

How to ask this Eda thought, "Did I ever have any problems with people at the office? Anyone I didn't get along with?"

Leyla pulled out a chair and sat close to Eda, "Other than Selin, Balca and your grandmother? No, everyone here has loved working with you. Balca was only here for a couple of weeks."

"Who was she?"

"After Selin hanim quit, before she was fired, you hired Balca for PR. That woman had her eyes on Serkan bey from the first minute. It took you a half a day to figure it out and Serkan bey was oblivious, he only had eyes for you."

"Were we together at the time?"

"No, you took his ring back and took yours off. It was after you found out about your parents and Aptekin Bolat's involvement. Do you know about the fake engagement?" at Eda's nod Leyla continued, "You made a contract of what he could and couldn't do. You were a little bit mean, he couldn't touch you or talk to you about anything non-business."

Leyla watched as Eda's eyes got big, "How long did Serkan follow it?"

She shrugged, "I think he broke it about thirty minutes in but on accident, you two were a mess. He had me drop your ring in the pocket of your jacket and you would put it in his and he would give it back. Like I said a mess. Then Balca tried to poison Serkan bey with the strawberry and you got back together after that. She pretended that she wanted to be your friend so you invited her to your henna night. News flash, she wasn't your friend. Serkan bey fired her the next day. It didn't help that she was in league with your grandmother to keep the two of you apart."

Eda rolled her eyes, "I've heard plenty about that woman, no need to go into that. And Selin, you say that she didn't like me?"

Leyla frowned at Eda, she didn't want to wade too far into these water without Eda's memory, "When you kissed Serkan bey at that press conference if looks could kill Eda." Leyla motioned with her finger across her neck.