Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

25. Everyone needs coaching

Emre led Sanem out to through the front door and then he finally speaks as they walk to his car. "So, are you getting used to the ring?"

"I keep forgetting to wear it. I have to take it off and remember to put it on again." Sanem looks down at said ring on her finger.

"Just don't lose it when you take it off."

"Mr Emre," Sanem frowns and stops. "This ring is too expensive for me to carry around like this. Please take it back." She takes it off and places it in his hand when he comes back to stand in front of her.

Emre smiles and shakes his head. "It's insured Sanem, don't worry." He replaces it in her hand and encloses it. "Keep wearing it for now. You can always say you broke off the engagement later."

"It feels like I'm lying to Mr Can all the time, even when he's being nice to me." Sanem looks at Emre directly.

"Don't let him get to you," he says warningly before looking towards the house. "My brother's busy with something behind our backs and we need to stop him."

Sanem nods and then looks down. When she looks up at him again she takes a breath. "I don't think I can though." She swallows. "I know that someone has to stop him, Mr Emre, but...I really can't go on like this." She was starting to feel guiltier by the second the more she was around Can.

"Sanem, do I have to remind you about our agreement every single time we talk about this?" Sanem looks away, her lip trembling. "I helped you. You promised to help me in return." She blinks in answer. Emre sighs and touches her arm. "The money I gave you helped didn't it?" Sanem looks at him, even more torn because he was right as she nods. "Your father's debt was paid right?"

"It was, yes...but I haven't told him it was me yet... He'll ask me where I got the money from and I can't lie to him too. I won't have an answer."

"I understand," Emre nods. Sanem looks at the house again. "Come on, we can talk about this on the way," Emre turns to walk to the car again,  "I'll take you home."

He unlocks the car and Sanem hesitates when she sees it. "Mr Emre?"

"Yes?"

"It won't look good if I pull up to my house in this car...can you just drop me off at a bus stop?"

Emre snorts. "Don't be ridiculous Sanem, get in the car."

Sighing and fisting her hands, Sanem finally gets in, nervous about starting rumors in her neighborhood and about not being able to get out of this situation with Can.

**

Mevkhibe is busy rinsing off dishes that evening, staring out the window with a smile when she gets the sudden urge to go for a stroll. "Nihat!" She finishes rinsing and turns her head to call over her shoulder. "Nihat! Let's go for a walk darling! It's so nice outside!"

Nihat comes into the kitchen looking stiff and pale.

"Nihat?" She spins, dropping the dishtowel. "Are you sick?" She walks over, panic rising. "Is it your blood pressure? Let me get your medicine - "

"I'm fine, my love, I'm fine, don't worry." Nihat puts his hands lightly on her arms to stop her and squeezes. "Nothing like that," he shakes his head. She looks at him, waiting. "Can we sit down? I need to talk to you."

Mevkhibe nods. "Yes of course."

He walks in front of her and she turns worry etched across her face because even though Nihat was a calm man, he was never this quiet. She follows him to the table outside in the garden and sits.

After a few minutes he takes her hands in his. "Mevkhibe," he starts slowly, "I've decided to sell the store."

Mevkhibe blinks, trying to figure out if she heard right. "Nihat..." She says solemnly. There was only one reason why he would come to this decision. "I thought you were going to take out a loan and pay the debt off?"