Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

31. How to be interrupted...

"Ooff, no, no," Deren frowns, "not responding. No answer. Maybe I should call again later." She ends the call to Can and turns to Ceyda, who is pacing a few feet away, looking more and more impatient. "So sorry Miss Ceyda," she smiles at her. "I can't get through to Mr Can at the moment. I tried. Three times."

"This is my point, that's why I'm here. I couldn't get through to him this morning either. I even left voice notes."

Deren blinks. "We'll get a hold of him somehow. Don't worry." She glances around. "Hm, let's see, who can we ask...?" Ceyda purses her lips in irritation and glares around the room as well. "You look a little upset. Are you in a hurry?"

Guliz and JJ watch this encounter from his desk, honed in finely. Guliz lowers her voice to whisper into his ear. "Why is she here so much? Is it really necessary to come? She can send a rep or something."

"It is necessary Guliz, I'm afraid not every company has a JJ."

Guliz snorts. "Of course, office boy."

"The best one there is mind you."

Guliz sighs, rolling her eyes and then nods at Deren. "Miss Deren's eyes are like a chameleon's trying to find someone. You're going to be pulled in if you're not careful."

JJ looks over quickly and then slides off the desk. "Then I have to make sure I'm not seen." He rushes to the divide, his back turned to Deren and Ceyda. Guliz joins him there, grabbing for a pair of earphones only to be beaten to them by JJ who immediately starts humming.

"JJ." JJ ignores Deren. "JJ!" She looks at Guliz who shrugs then taps his shoulder. He keeps humming, forcing her to turn him to her roughly. "JJ, I'm talking to you! Where is Sanem?" He sways his body to the 'beat' for a second before she yanks the earphones off. "Don't piss me off! Where is Sanem?"

"Uh, Sanem is...in the toilet."

"Well when she comes out one day tell her to come to me. Immediately. You hear me?"

"I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"She probaby won't be coming out any time soon. She has a stomach bug. Really bad diarrhea." He makes farting noises and Deren winces, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "She might have to go to the hospital. I'm not sure. The last time someone spent so much time in the toilet we had to be quarantined. Besides, she's not in the toilet here."

"Ugh, JJ, this is all useless information to me that I don't care for. And it's disgusting too. You tell Sanem to come here."

"Excuse me," Ceyda interrupts from behind and Deren turns. "But I'm not looking for Sanem."

"But she's the project coordinator, that's why you're here right? She can help - "

"No, that won't be necessary. I need to talk to Can." They all glance at each other. "Until he arrives, I think I'll wait in his office. If you get in touch in the meantime, you can come and tell me. Okay?"

"Oh, uhm, of course," Deren smiles and gestures to Can's office. "Please go ahead. I'll walk with you."

"See you both," Ceyda lifts a hand in greeting to JJ and Guliz and turns, walking down through the hub, Deren close behind.

"In the toilet?" Guliz whispers. "She's not in the toilet. She's not even in the building."

"How do you know? She can be on the 6th floor. And act a little more concerned, your friend has diarrhea."

"JJ, you have to stop skirting around me. I know what I know. There is no Sanem and there is no Mr Can either. This is very coincidental isn't it?"