Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

14. Leyla the Grocer

Can decided that following morning that he would take his Harley to work for a change. He wasn't someone who stuck to one thing too much and for the amount of places he need to be that day, the bike would be quicker and more effective.

He was over his initial shock at Sanem being his mystery kiss, having spent all night carving out a piece of wood to calm his overactive mind. In some ways, he could believe it was her and in others he thought he must be wrong. He accepted it finally and went to sleep. He also dreamed up an amazing idea for the airline campaign that he was sure no one else would think of. So he was in a very good mood.

Deren meets him on his way in as he takes off his leather jacket.

"You must be tired," he says as he takes off his glasses. "Working all night. Thank you by the way." She just nods. "I want to hear your ideas, although at the moment, security is more important. We can't afford information being leaked again, so it'll be only me, you and your team working on this. How much do you trust your team Deren?"

Deren was a little shocked at how much he was talking. It took her a second to answer, once she recovers.
"Very much."

"This project is important. It has a big budget with possible subsequent advertisements in the future if we're lucky. It can only be good for us to nail this down."

"Of course, I understand. I'll handle everything, don't worry." He nods and turns to sit down. "Besides," he pauses and looks at her again, "now that you're here to handle these big projects, there's no way we won't succeed."

He gives her a small smile in thanks and then sits down, not seeing how she looks at him for a moment too long.

"Can?"

"Hm?" he hums, opening his laptop absently.

"We haven't really seen each other since you came back." He frowns and turns in his chair. "I was thinking we can have some coffee later? You did promise me after all."

He couldn't remember doing that but he figured that he did owe her a coffee or lunch for her hard work.
"We can do that," he nods, "sometime after this meeting."

"Good," she smiles happily. "I'll see you a bit later then?"

"Yes," he nods and she leaves. He sighs and turns back to his laptop to work on some mails from his personal company that came in. He has yet to see Sanem, but he was sure she would arrive soon enough.

*

Mevkhibe was knitting. In silence. The only thing that made her look up, was Leyla's pacing. Her heels clicking on the floor in the living room. Mevkhibe hadn't even complained when she came down slipperless - she did see the heels scraping her floors though and it irritated her to no end. Then the fingernails started on the back of the phone.

She takes a deep breath and lets it out loudly.

"They haven't called me yet. Why haven't they called me yet? I'm even ready to go, look," Leyla shows her outfit to her mother, "I can go as soon as they call." Mevkhibe eyes her over her knitting pen. "It's like they've forgotten about me, mom." Leyla frowns when her mother does nothing but knit. She lifts a brow. "I thought knit placemats went out of style in the 80's."

Mevkhibe pauses.

"For the sake of all that's holy mom, tell me why you're making them?"

No answer.

"Oh, still not speaking. Got it. You're taking up a vow of silence while I'm about to combust! I need advice mom I'm stressing!" Leyla puts her hands on her hips. "Fine," she huffs, "then I'll leave."