Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

16. A head on collision...

Emre paced his office as he spoke to Aylin on the phone. "They're rechecking it all. Everything. One by one... I don't know what to do anymore. He's driving me mad."

"Calm down my love, you've left no trace of anything right? He won't be able to pin this on you." Emre sighs and nods silently. "When will you send me the campaign pages?"

"I'm working on it. But I don't know how I'm going to send it to you when it's like this around here if I do get it."

"What about this girl you paid? Can't she help you?"

"She's trying to," he says just as Sanem knocks on his door. "I'll call you back. She's here." He waves her in and hangs up as she enters. He meets her in the door. "Sanem, Can's having a meeting soon, and Deren's going to put forth what they've come up with so far. Go to the meeting and look carefully at what they have. Tell me everything after."

Sanem nods. "Okay." He turns to his desk. "Can I ask you something? I know it might be none of my business but - " He turns back to her. "I overheard you ask Mr Can about him trying to sabotage the company? Is this true?"

Emre looks rightly upset by this and gestures to one of the chairs. "Come and sit." She sits down and he follows, looking at the floor. "My brother plans to sell the company and leave."

Sanem stares at Emre as she remembers overhearing Can the night of the party on the phone. He was talking to someone about selling an office and placing the employees out. It was true! How could he be so nice and yet so...not nice?!

"You can help us all Sanem," Emre continues. "My father, he chose  wrong by leaving Can in charge instead of me. I've worked here for years...but he trusted him over me and now look at what he's doing behind our father's back." Emre shakes his head. "We need to prevent Can from getting any more new clients, Sanem."

Sanem takes a moment. "So...wait, what does new clients have to do with him trying to sell the company? Why even get them in the first place then?"

Emre sighs at her naivity, and gets to his feet. She was playing right into his hands. It was too easy to spin a story she would believe, especially since she clearly knew nothing about business.

"He wants to increase the shares on the stock market, Sanem. If they're more profitable they sell for more." Sanem nods, taking in what he says.
"In the next few months, Jan's going to run clients strongly. He's going to be ruthless in getting them to work with us."

"You're talking markets and shares, I don't know what any of that means."

"Let me explain it this way then," Emre leans on his desk. "We have to stay the way we are. We have to prevent any major contracts from boosting our image."

Sanem looks him over and he nods. She blinks, then nods as well. She finally understood somewhat. "Alright. I'll try." He smiles. "What else can I do? I owe you, right?" He doesn't comment. His answer was a given. "Can I ask you something else?"

"Sure."

"When will my sister be able to come back to work? She's very upset and lonely at home."

"I'm also upset about it...but Sanem, I promise, I will get your sister back."

Sanem smiles gratefully, happy that she might be able to share this news with Leyla. "Thank you." She gets up and walks to the door.

"Oh, and Sanem, when you get to the meeting, write it all down. Okay?"

"I will. Don't worry," she gives him a small salute and then leaves.

**

There were two butchers in their neighborhood, one on the other side of the harbor and one just down the street from the Aydin family store.