Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

39. Refuting the truth

"Come on answer," Emre hisses as he drives down the highway, redialling Aylin's number on speaker.

Two tries later she answers with a clear smile in her voice. "Emre my love, good morning. Have you called to congratulate me?"

"So it was you," Emre shakes his head, scoffing. "You give the papers this information?" 

"Of course it was me," she chuckles, "who else would be able to come up with such a smart plan?"

"Aylin are you out of your damn mind?! What are you playing at?! What can you possibly get out of it!?"

"So far, nothing but the satisfaction of winning. This little girl from the suburbs won't be able to explain herself to her mother, and her mother will make her quit."

"It's that simple huh?" Emre laughs darkly. "Did you think about how this looks for the agency? How is that winning? You're being reckless and stupid!" 

"Emre," Aylin sighs, "just watch what happens and then tell me if I was wrong in my prediction."

"What do you mean?"

"Just so you know, Leyla's next, my darling."

The call is disconnected before Emre can say anything and he hits the wheel in anger. Shit!

*

"They actually did it really well. The pictures tell a very romantic story," JJ notes, his feet on Dilara's desk as he reads the article again. Guliz nods and enlarges the photo on her tablet.

"This place is turning into our neighborhood," Sanem stares at the gathering group of people as she and Leyla walk in from the bridge. "Look at them all." They are noticed and stared and whispered at and about. Leyla frowns seeing this while Sanem is still wondering aloud. "Or is it just me thinking that?"

"No, they're acting very strange, Sanem," Leyla says and glances around.

"What?" Sanem blurts suddenly. "What are you all talking about?"

"Yeah what?" Leyla mocks their staring. JJ spins to them in the chair. "JJ, what's going on?"

"Sanem," JJ gasps and jumps up, the paper in his hands.

"JJ?"

"You're never going to guess what happened. Not in a million years," he whispers.

"Just tell us."

JJ looks around at the watching employees. "Everyone knows."

"What does everyone know? What's going on?" Leyla repeats frustratedly. "What are they looking at us for?"

"Not you," JJ shakes his head, and Guliz does the same behind him.

Huh? Leyla frowns in confusion.

Sanem narrows her eyes. There's only one thing that no one knew about that they could have found out. "Did you tell anyone that Can and I are dating?" Sanem grips JJ's arm hard, hissing lowly through her teeth.

"Stop it, you're hurting me," he jumps and tries to get out of her hold. "I didn't say anything. I didn't. I don't have to. Look." He holds up the paper and points at the picture on the front.

"Wha - Ah!" Sanem gasps, her mouth dropping open. She takes the paper and stares in horror at it, shaking her head, her hand coming up to her mouth. Oh no...oh no...

"It's online too," Guliz says and shows them the tablet screen.

"Ah!" Sanem gasps again. Oh my God no! No! "Take it away!" She slaps at the paper and puts her hands over her eyes. "I'm finished," she breathes, her eyes wide and terrified. "I'm dead." Mom's going to kill me!