Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

29. Questions and Don Muzaffer

Sanem is bent over the counter at the coffeebar minutes later, waiting for the coffeepot to fill as she wonders where Can could have gone and what he could be doing outside the office.

'Where do you think he went?'

Sanem lifts her head to the corner of the ceiling and purses her lips. "I don't know," she whispers. "He said he had work."

'What work?'

"He didn't say, didn't you hear? So I don't know."

'So naive...' her inner voice sighs, 'Why did he go without you?'

"Hm, I was wondering the same thing." She frowns. "Why did he go without me?"

'I thought you were a couple now.'

"We are a couple."

'Shouldn't you know what he's doing then? Since you're a couple?'

Sanem's head whips towards the ceiling worriedly and then her voice is gone. She's right...I am supposed to know where he's going and what he's doing...and I don't! I don't like it... what if he's meeting up with Ceyda?!

Her cellphone interrupts her panicking and she startles, her breathing uneven.

'I'm waiting in the parking lot. Come up with an excuse to leave' - Mr Can

Sanem's worries are pushed aside immediately. She points the screen at the ceiling and grins. Ha! See? He wouldn't leave me here! "Psst!" she aims at the ceiling and points again, nodding. "What?" she snorts. "Why so quiet now huh? Coward...You like to taunt and then disappear but you see?" She puts her phone away and grabs the coffee pot, rushing across the bridge.

Two minutes later, she walks up to Deren's door and knocks. Deren looks up and she enters.

"Miss Deren, I wondered if I can ask you - ?"

"Sanem, I'm busy. You're a copywriter now yes? I suggest you correspond the way all the others do. By email. How's that?"

"That sounds like a very professional alternative."

"Exactly."

"Alright." Sanem nods and turns to the door.

"Thank you for the coffee."

Sanem hurries down the hallway and walks straight into JJ coming around the corner. "JJ," she breathes in relief.

"Yes?"

"What's going on with her?"

"Who?" He looks at the door Sanem just came out of. "Ah, well, she's a bit angry. Completely lost her mind, she's all over the place poor woman."

"Oh, okay." So nothing new. Sanem shrugs it off and then fixes JJ's shirt. "I have to go out for a bit."

"Hm hm?"

"Cover for me okay?"

"Where are you going Sanem? Tell me," he looks up at her from his shirt. "Wait, is it a secret? Then I'd much rather you keep it to yourself. Give me just enough so I know what to lie, don't tell me everything."

"It's urgent."

"Urgent? How do I cover that? What do I tell Miss Deren if she asks what was so urgent? She's already lost it."

Sanem takes his tablet from him and wipes the screen with her sleeve. "You're my best friend here, you can handle it." She hands it back with a smile.

"Sure."

"My sweetest, bestest friend," she gushes and taps his lips twice before she runs through to her desk to get her jacket.