Losing Control

Chapter 20

Serenay waited in Kemal's darkened office for him to arrive home. She had the photos from today's outing printed for him so that he could see how easily his career could be destroyed. She would pretend as though someone shared the photos with her, not that she had been following him. She was smarter than him any day of the week. Once she managed Kemal then she would manage the blackmailer.

Kemal rode home with his driver in silence, he had seen Aydan today. She looked as beautiful as ever, more so, he thought, because she was happy. Kemal smiled to himself, Serkan had gotten married to a stunning young woman, adopted her child, Aptekin's children, and was starting a family of his own. The young man didn't do anything lightly, he was charging back into life and Kemal was happy for him. He didn't have to know the young man to be happy for him, he would always be happy for someone who survived a tragedy and came back stronger. The Bolat children were all well-behaved, charming, and good-looking. Seyfi was still around to keep Aydan company and it seemed as though he was a favorite with the children. Kemal would be lying if he didn't admit to watching them from a distance before approaching them. They were a close bunch, he envied them, it was the life he had longed for, and he was happy that one of them finally got it. Kemal was so lost in his thoughts that he wasn't aware that he was home until the driver announced it. "Thank you, Hakim."

He entered the house, it was quiet, Kemal was thankful that Serenay was out. He hated spending time with her. Even being in the same house with her was more than he could take, the more time passed the more he weighed his current path. Stay in politics and live a life of misery with a truly awful person or divorce her, abandon his ambition, and suffer the consequences.

It wasn't even that he had a tremendous drive to rise high within the political system. His goals were altruistic, Kemal wanted to improve the condition of his people and his country. Surely he could do that behind the scenes. Did he need to have political power to achieve the goals? His internal battles were constant. The men he met with today were all investors with a new holding company that had a charitable arm to it, they were seeking his advice. Instead of only advice, he pledged his financial support. It was a move that he felt particularly good about.

Kemal had known about Serenay shadowing his investments for years. This one would send her into a spiral. Serenay detested anytime he did anything related to charitable acts with his money. He knew all about her accounts, all about her affairs, and all about her spies. Was it any wonder that he detested her. Kemal flipped the light switch on in his office and was hit with the hiss of her voice, "Where have you been Kemal?"

"A business meeting with investors. Why are you interested Serenay. We live separate lives."

He watched as she pushed herself from the chair, handing him a small stack of photos, "These were delivered to me. This doesn't look like a business meeting to me."

He thumbed through the photos and laughed, "Because I said hello to an old friend you want to paint me with the same brush that is used for you? I'm not the one who crawls from bed to bed Serenay, that's your game. Not that I owe you any explanation, but after lunch, on the way back to the boat with my colleagues, I saw Aydan and Seyfi. Yes, I went to greet them, so what?"

She moved to slap him, but he caught her wrist, "Do not try that again Serenay. I have told you before, I will not put up with your abuse. I will never hit you, but I will never allow you to strike me again. Do you understand?"

Two years into their marriage Serenay had flown into a rage and attacked Kemal, he had not responded in kind, only tried to keep her from hurting herself. He had no idea of the vindictiveness of the woman but after that night he did. Serenay had gone to her father and had a police report manufactured, all unknown to him, the report was complete with pictures. She had been holding this over his head for years. The first time he filed for divorce, Serenay brought out the report and asked him if he didn't think that he should reconsider.