Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 2)

29. Stick it to him

Leyla hovers at Aylin's door for a moment then knocks. "Miss Aylin, you called for me?"

Aylin, busy unpacking boxes, looks up and nods. "Yes, dear. I wanted to ask if you could deconstruct these reports according to year and - " She pauses, pursing her lips at Leyla's indifferent expression. "You look a bit preoccupied."

Leyla glances around the office. "You know, I was just thinking that this has to be the smallest office in this entire building...and it's so lifeless." She gives a lamentful shrug. "You said reports? Sorry, I can't help you because I'm Mr Emre's secretary - "

"Oh, excuse me," Aylin mocks and puts a hand on her chest. "You're Emre's secretery? Of course, how silly of me. Then again, I tend to block out unnecessary information."

Leyla keeps the tight smile on her face. Wonder if she's unpacked the letter opener yet...

"Anyway," Aylin says over her shoulder, going back to the box she was digging through. "I actually do need help but don't worry, I'll just ask Sanem. Thank you, you can go."

Leyla rolls her eyes as Aylin waves her away and then leaves, the smile dropping as soon as her back is to Aylin. Witch.

*

Sanem digs her phone out as she walks out into the courtyard outside the lobby and dials, rushing up the steps to the sidewalk and frowning. Why isn't she -  "Ayhan!" Sanem lowers her phone when she sees Ayhan walk up from the across the street. "I've been looking for you everywhere, where were you?"

"I went to get JJ some more wonder serum."

"Wonder serum? What's that?"

"It's a long story," Ayhan wrinkles her nose and waves a dismissive hand. "I'll tell you later. Why are you looking for me?"

"Ayhan, you're not going to believe this. Come on," Sanem grabs her hand and pulls her along back down the steps. "Bad things are happening, Ayhan," she whispers and stands next the wall. "This is actual real war now, and he's already scoring! He's playing with me...He comes this close to me," Sanem puts her hands up against each other, "then he moves away again and all I want to do is follow him! I don't know what to do Ayhan," Sanem whines.

"Are we talking about Mr Can now?"

Sanem gives her a dry look and then points at the first person passing them to go into the lobby. "No, that guy in the blue T-shirt." She rolls her eyes. "Yes about Mr Can, who else?"

"Right," Ayhan frowns and nods. "Wait, let me think." She taps her chin, staring at the floor while Sanem looks at her anxiously. She snaps her fingers seconds later. "I know what you should do."

"What?"

"Go straight up to him, use everything you know about war tactics. Attack, defense, all of ot. If he comes at you again, prove to him that he didn't get to you."

Sanem nods and smiles, thinking about how good that sounded but also how wrong, because it wasn't true. "Even though it's not true, that might actually work. Thanks Ayhan."

"Cool." Ayhan smiles back and then touches Sanem's arm. "And listen, if you get through this part alive, you can come over to my house tonight and cry on my shoulder, okay? We can talk about work, or about Can if you want, it doesn't matter." Sanem nods, even though she wonders if it's good or bad that she knew what she usually came to her crying about. "And then tomorrow, life goes on."

"Exactly, life will go on." Sanem gives Ayhan a hug and then takes the IV bag from Ayhan. "Give me this, I'll give it to JJ."

"Hold on."