Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 3)

86. Where two streams meet

Can and Deren return from the meeting just past twelve, to the entire office whispering and wondering if they were successful.

Sanem was sitting against Ahmet's desk next to Dilara playing with her rubberband ball.

"They're here!" Guliz whispers and everyone jumps onto their feet. Sanem drops the ball in Ahmet's lap and stands up straight.

"Good, you're all here already," Can nods when at them. "Come closer." They huddle in a loose circle around him and Deren. "We just finished our meeting with Mr McKinnon. We shared our idea, told him what we were planning. We gave him everything and he gave us the go ahead."

Sanem breathes out in some relief after he says this and the office breaks out in cheers. She was happy but also felt like she lost out on something.

"He also gave us a full budget."

They clap and cheer again, Sanem joining in on autopilot.

"Coffee and tea from me, Mr Can!" JJ calls from the back and they part to make way for him and his tray.

"Thank you JJ but I'll have some tea a bit later." Can pats his back and JJ shrugs, moving on to whoever was next. "Alright, we have our course. We know what we're going to do for the campaign. I'm going to keep it short. Deren will share the rest with you. Next month we have the launch. I believe Fabbri is going to try and get in the way. But we won't let him right?"

"Naturally!" JJ says and hugs the now empty tray to him, grinning as Can's question gets answered positively.

"Good. I trust all of you. Show me what you can do." Can nods at them and leaves, sighing as he goes back to his office.

"Whoo! Miss Deren's back!" Guliz cheers. "The legend has risen again!"

Sanem stood quietly as everyone around her cheered for Deren. It wasn't that she was jealous. She would have been just as happy as they were had it not been her idea used and her getting sidelined.

She slips away from the group and goes to the coffee bar. Hesitating, she makes Can his tea. She didn't miss him declining JJ's offer and part of her hoped it was because he still wanted only her tea.

She carefully goes to his closed door and knocks lightly after looking at his back a few seconds. He was sitting on the couch with files in front of him on it and on the coffee table, his laptop in his lap.

"Mr Can, your tea," she says and smiles, closing the door after he turns his head to the side to see who it was and back. "Freshly brewed."

"Thank you." Can looks at the tea as she puts it on the table and stands up again.

She shifts on her feet a moment and then quickly moves to sit right against his legs. "Can I sit here? Thanks," she says, already sitting.
He moves his legs to make room and she clears her throat, putting her clipped back hair behind her ears.
"I was thinking, maybe we can do something tonight? Like go to the movies?"

"I'm busy Sanem."

"No I know, I'm talking about later tonight."

"I'm busy tonight." He looks down at his laptop.

"Really?"

"I'm going to watch the game with some of the guys in the photography club. I've refused them too many times, I can't keep doing that."

"Hm," she hums, chewing the inside of her lip. "Right." She smiles and perks up again. "Some other time then." She stands up and swallows, her fist clenching at her side.

"Okay."

"Enjoy your tea." She pauses at the door but he doesn't look at her. Closing her eyes she opens it and walks out. "Oh my God," she groans and frowns.