Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

12. Caught in the act

"Our expectations have increased of your company this year, Emre. We need advertisements that will attract even more attention."

Emre nods as the other members of the group agree with the speaker.
"I will do my best to get that done." They were only half way through the meeting and he was feeling anxious. Not because of the meeting but because of Sanem.

His phone rings in his pocket and he excuses himself when he sees Sanem's name. He hoped she had the file because at least then he could relax some. He gets up and puts the phone to his ear. "Sanem?"

"Mr Emre, I think I made another mistake...I did as you asked...I left a fake file but the right one was taken anyway."

He stops at a chair, gripping the back. No. She didn't just say that. "How did that happen? Start at the beginning."

"I was trying so hard to swop the files all day...and I got confused because Mr Can came back and almost caught me... He took your file instead of mine... I told you Mr Emre, I can't do this. I'm not good at this kind of thing... I can't lie and hide and - "

"Sanem, calm down." Sanem takes a deep breath as he interrupts. "Listen to me carefully, go to our house."

"Your house? How? Where is it?"

"I'll send you the address."

"What am I going to do there? Oh dear God, I'm going crazy..." she mumbles the last bit to herself.

"Sanem, listen. My brother goes home every night and then goes for a run. It's ritualistic by this point. He won't be home. Take a taxi and go to the house."

"Are you insane? I'm sorry Mr Emre but - "

"Emre?"

"Be right there," Emre smiles and waves at the table behind him. "Sanem," he grinds through his teeth, "you're interrupting a very important meeting with this nonsense. Now, I can't go myself so you have to. I send employees to the house all the time anyway so there won't be problems if anyone sees you. Use the back door."

"I'm sorry Mr Emre, but I can't do this. This is going to far. Your home is private."

"Sanem, do I have to remind you that our jobs are on the line? You agreed to do what I want. You owe me this."

Sanem doesn't answer and Emre hangs up. He takes it as consent and sends her the address before returning to the table.

*

Sanem paces in front of the gate outside of the house later, her mind all over the place as she wonders if she should go in or not. As she stares at the wall next to it, Ayhan phones her.

"Ayhan?" she whispers.

"Where are you?"

"Halfway to jail."

"Jail? What's going on?"

"I'm doing stupid stuff Ayhan, and it's getting bad now...I'm about to go into my boss's house without him or his brother here."

"Your boss? His brother? Huh?"

"Yes my boss. He's a very nice man. He's the younger son of Mr Aziz, the actual boss...he gave me the job remember? Leyla's boss...his father left and his older brother took over but he's not a very nice man, he wants to change everything...he's so mean! Anyway, I have no choice but to do this because I owe Mr Emre for helping me pay daddy's debt and now I'm going crazy Ayhan." Sanem rambles her problem out and even though it made no sense, there it was. "I don't know what I'm doing and I can't tell you more than this because I promised I wouldn't say anything."