Early Bird (Erkençi Kus)(Part 1)

47. An encounter of the Italian kind

Sanem felt very self conscious in her dress. She didn't belong at these kinds of events.

She'd have liked more choices upon seeing the dress in the van, but the more she looked at it the more she liked it. She was surprised that it was her exact size, even the shoes, but didn't think about it too much. She also opted for no makeup, so all she did was have her hair straightened, and some light pink lip gloss with a pair of pearl earrings tk round it off.

Even though no one really looked at her as she entered, those who did were openly staring. She did her best not to turn and look back into one pair of eyes in particular.

She kept her eyes ahead as she walked through to get to Leyla, Guliz and JJ on the other side of the pool.

"I'm so damn itchy," she hears JJ complain when she gets close. "It's not even interesting anymore it's lousy."

"It's just the heat JJ, we're in the sun," Leyla sighs. "You're sweating."

Guliz's mouth pops open when she spots Sanem coming up behind Leyla. "No way," she breathes. Leyla and JJ also turn with JJ's eyes bugging out.

"Sanem?" Leyla blinks in disbelief.

"You look so beautiful," JJ gawks.
"It's like a beautiful pink wedding dress. It's so bright, my eyes are hurting just looking at it. Wow!" Sanem nods, trying to smile, but she felt too out of place. "Just uh, one little problem. You're attracting attention to yourself, and as a lower level employee you shouldn't do this."

Sanem stares at JJ just glaring at him. Like I want to do that! Gah!

"And where is your ring?" Guliz asks.

Sanem looks down. "At home." Leyla scoffs.

"Oh okay," Guliz eyes Leyla, who keeps her face as neutral as she can. "This really is a beautiful dress Sanem, did your fiance buy it?"

"Yes," Sanem nods, pushing her hair back out of her eyes.

"Did he come too?" Guliz looks around hopefully. She's been wanting to see the rich man who asked Sanem of all people to marry him.

"No, he's at home."

"Where does he live?"

"In Nisantasi Guliz," Sanem snaps, "would you like his birthday and social security number?"

"Why didn't he come?"

"Because he ate a whole cow and fled into the mountains to live off his body fat for the winter." Guliz snorts and starts laughing, joined by JJ. Sanem chuckles as well, huffing and shaking her head, looking away. Leyla gives her a mocking grin.

Sanem's eyes are drawn to Can behind her. She looks away when she sees him looking at her. Holy moly he looks hot!

"Let's dance, shall we?" JJ offers and Sanem shakes her head.

"I'm fine for now, JJ, I don't feel like dancing." Sanem takes a deep breath.

"Okay."

-

For the next fifteen minutes, Can watches the guests. Then Sanem. Then the guests. Then Sanem.

And throughout all of this, Fabri was just a table away from her. He kept his eye on him. As soon as that shark decided to move, he would be ready.

Deciding himself to move closer, her ends up at one of the tables in the middle with Deren, two away from Fabri, one from Aylin - watching the dancing people as he drank the water Fabri called scotch.

Sanem was swaying lazily by herself to the music, playing with the dress tule. Can frowns when he sees that she is alone, wondering where Leyla and the others were.