Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

78. Perhaps she is right...

Can sits at the table with the group around him, various files and laptops open and strewn about. It's been thirty minutes of them doing nothing but setting up. He has actually calmed down some by now and was ready to focus. "Okay, so our strategy is this," he starts once they stop fidgeting, "we have to look at everything. We need to know how far along our competitor is, and how much we still have to do to catch up." 

"Well, the perfume is still in it's production stage, that'll all we know about his progress so far," Deren says across from him.

Can nods. "Meaning, we'll have to guess Fabbri's next move. He's been quiet about it, not telling anyone... We have to figure out what and how much he's prepared in this short time." Can sits back and sighs. "Any ideas? Let's unpack this."

Sanem blinks to his right, staring down at her notepad as she tapped her pen in one spot on a page.

"Mr Can," Can looks at Guliz a chair down from Sanem, "it looks like their last perfume was a replica of it's previous one."

Noted, Can nods.

"That's true," Deren points her pen at Guliz, "he hasn't actually released anything new in a long time. He's always using the same formula and repeating the same thing." She looks back at Can. "That's why this new perfume has me a little worried."

Sanem frowns, listening, drawing deep circles into the page now, her hand pressing down into it. If she pressed any harder it would break.

"Sanem?" Can puts his hand on her arm and she looks up like a deer caught in headlights. "You're being very quiet," he whispers. "You have any ideas?"

Everyone around them stops muttering and looks at her, always ready to hear her thoughts.

Sanem swallows. "I - I think it's..." She stutters. "It could be to throw us off for the fun of it. He might be bringing out the same thing again... You know, a sense of nostalgia?"
At least that's what I really really hope he's doing...

Can looks at her oddly, his eyes squinting a little. Hm...

"Sanem, Fabbri's not a playful man, why would he want to throw us off for no reason? And he's not nostalgic either, that's complete nonsense," Deren rolls her eyes. Sanem looks away from Can to Deren speaking.

"I think Sanem might be right." Everyone's eyes turn to Huma when her voice comes along with her waltzing in from the hallway.

Huh?! Sanem's eyes widen slightly.

"It's only logical to go looking for something new in the old."

What the fuck are you on about? Can turns his gaze to Huma now hitching her hip against the shelf.

"I, for example, have used the same perfume for years," Huma smiles at the others, nodding at them all. "Good evening by the way."

"Thank you," Deren beams up at her anxiously then clears her throat at the returned silence. "Anyway, let's move on..." She looks down at her notes. "Okay, so the most popular scents this year are floral undertones. Do you think it could be that?"

No! Definitely not! Sanem looks down at her hands clutching her pen.

JJ gasps out a little laugh. "Ha!"

"Maybe," Can sighs, chewing on his lower inner lip with two fingers pressed against his temple. "Who knows..."

"I think it's definitely a perfume aimed towards women," Guliz notes.

"Sanem dear?"

"Yes mom?" Sanem answers absently, looking up at Huma. Shoot! She hisses and closes her eyes, turning her face into her hands in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Mrs Huma," she breathes and looks back at Huma with her ears burning. "Yes, please, I'm listening?" She gets up quickly and moves closer.