Hearts of the Bosphorus

Chapter 26

Breaking the Silence

The last full day at the resort dawned with the promise of warmth, the sun casting a golden glow across the endless stretch of beach. The teams from Adorno and Balik had settled into an easy rhythm over the past few days, their laughter and conversations blending with the rhythmic crash of the waves. The air was filled with the relaxed camaraderie that came only when strangers became something more than just colleagues—if only for a fleeting moment.

Isabella and Omer had found a kind of truce in this new environment. They had spent the morning exploring the nearby hiking trails with Marco, chatting about everything from childhood memories to plans for the future—conversations that tiptoed around the past but left them feeling lighter, closer somehow. The ache of old wounds seemed to fade beneath the gentle warmth of the sun, and Isabella had even caught herself laughing at Omer's teasing remarks.

As the afternoon stretched on, they returned to the main building, where a few remaining work tasks awaited them. Isabella had just settled into a corner of the sun-dappled lounge with a stack of sketches when the door swung open and Elif stepped inside, her heels clicking against the polished floors.

The sight of her sent an uneasy jolt through Isabella's chest. Elif, with her sleek hair and perfectly tailored suit, seemed out of place among the casual resort attire. She held a folder of documents in her hands, her expression businesslike as she approached Omer, who stood by the window, reviewing the day's agenda.

"Mr. Balik," Elif greeted, offering a polite smile. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but there are some urgent contracts that require your signature before tomorrow. I thought it would be best to bring them directly to you."

Omer glanced up, his brow furrowing as he took in the folder. He cast a quick look toward Isabella, who had gone very still, her focus trained on the papers in front of her, though he could tell she was listening. He cleared his throat, taking the documents from Elif's outstretched hand. "Thank you, Elif. I appreciate you bringing these out here."

Elif's smile widened slightly, though her tone remained strictly professional. "I'll stay the night and head back with the rest of the team tomorrow. It'll give me time to finish up some additional work."

Isabella's hands tightened around her sketches, the cheerful mood of the morning evaporating in an instant. She could feel Omer's eyes on her, but she refused to meet his gaze. Her thoughts swirled with the familiar sting of jealousy, the doubts that had haunted her since she first saw Omer and Elif together. Of course she's here. Why wouldn't she be? she thought bitterly. She probably knows him better than anyone.

As Elif moved back toward the reception area, Omer turned to Isabella, an unspoken question in his eyes. "Isabella, I—"

But Isabella cut him off, forcing a brittle smile as she rose from her chair. "You should go take care of that paperwork, Mr. Balik. It sounds important."

He took a step closer, his frustration barely concealed beneath the surface. "Isabella, I think we need to—"

"There's nothing to discuss," she interrupted, her voice sharp enough to slice through the space between them. "We both have work to finish before we head back to the city. Let's focus on that, shall we?"

She didn't give him a chance to reply, gathering her things and walking briskly out of the lounge, leaving Omer standing there with the words he had meant to say hanging in the air. He watched her retreating figure, his jaw clenched, irritation and a stubborn sense of longing warring inside him. Why does she keep shutting me out? he thought, a knot of frustration tightening in his chest. What does she think she knows that makes her so determined to keep me at arm's length?