Feraye is walking out of the company factory when a light coming from Ateş' office catches her eyes. She hesitates, but decides to go up there anyway.
"You're working late again?"
Ateş looks up at her, smiles briefly. It's the same smile he has for strangers, for anyone he passes by in the corridors of the company.
Once upon a time, the smile Ateş had for her was different- special. The fact that he now thinks of her as a stranger makes her heart ache with all that she has lost.
"It looks like it," he answers, placating, attention already back on the papers on front of him. It irks her; she doesn't like that he dismisses her so easily.
She makes a rash decision.
She enters his office instead of leaving like he probably wants her to. "I'll make you a deal," she declares with a confidence she doesn't actually feel, "I'll help you out with whatever you need so you can get home a little earlier, and you drive me back to the house once we're done."
"There's really no need, Feraye, " he protests, pursing his lips.
She waves him off easily, pretends she doesn't see his displeasure as she situates herself on the chair opposite him. She needles him into giving her something to do, and they work together seamlessly. It's quiet as they both get lost in paperwork, and she realises that she missed this kind of silence; calm, peaceful and comfortable. It's the kind of silence she only ever got to experience with Ateş, when they had to spend hours together in their room.
She's been working in the company for about four months now. At first, it had been a way to keep busy, a desperate attempt at keeping herself from falling apart after the loss of Yağmur. Another reason had been Yaman's need to keep her close. She'd agreed, just to placate him, but ended up enjoying the work. She worked closely with the three brothers, and it had been an enlightening experience to say the least.
At first, she'd genuinely thought people liked Yaman more; they joked with him, told him little tidbits about their families and lives. He always listened with a smile on his face, asked all the right questions, but more often than not, he lost his smile as soon as people turned their backs, and complained about not needing to know any details.
Ateş, on the other hand, was almost the exact opposite. People didn't tell him about small day to day things, but they did come to him if they needed something, even if it's just a listening ear. Hell, sometimes, they didn't even have to say anything; he asks, or more often than not, he gives them what they need without even having to ask.
Okan is still not taken seriously enough, but Feraye has see him grow in people's eyes, and it's all thanks to Ateş' guidance.
Seeing him in this light, in his element, and having kept her distance from Yaman, especially after their breakup two months ago, has been eye-opening. It's like she's been blind this whole time, and has only just know gotten her sight back.
She's so lost in thought she doesn't notice Ateş calling her name. His hand on her shoulder startles her and she looks up. He's frowning in concern. "Everything okay?"
She nods with a small smile. "Yes." She notices his suitcase in his hand. "Are we leaving?"
"Yes. I don't want to keep you too long."
She smiles at him, gathers her things and walks beside him. He opens the door for her and she smiles to herself, secretly pleased. At least one thing hasn't changed.
In the car, they don't say much. He turns on the radio and they listen quietly, both lost in their own thoughts. Until his phone rings, breaking the silence.
