Artemis (CanEm Fan-Fiction)

Chapter Three

Even though Can's acceptance of her resignation was what Sanem wanted, his words sent pain shooting down her bloodstream. His simple 'okay' accompanied with that nonchalant facial expression had Sanem thinking about him for hours. As she lay in bed and looked up at her ceiling, she cursed herself for getting things so mixed up.

If only things had been different ... if only she'd been smarter to see through Mr. Emre's lies ... if only she hadn't fallen in love with Can ... if only she'd told Can the truth sooner.

That was how Sanem fell asleep at three in the morning; her mind a frenzy of hypothetical situations involving herself, Can and Emre.

But as she awoke in the morning, Sanem knew she had to take responsibility for her actions. She needed to give herself some space from the dramatized world at the agency and go back to her roots. Things like lying gravely and deceiving one's family wasn't what Sanem was accustomed to. She was a normal girl; the type that helped her mother at neighbourhood events and drank cool lemonade outside her father's shop. Sanem enjoyed the simple things in life and as she went about her morning routine, Sanem felt a calmness she hadn't felt in a while.

"Are you sure quitting the agency was the right thing, child?" Nihat, Sanem's father, placed his hand over hers as they enjoyed Mevkebe's breakfast delicacies.

"Yes, Baba." Sanem didn't even have to think about it. "I felt like I was losing myself there."

"What do you mean?"

"I just ... wasn't me anymore whilst there." Sanem answered vaguely and her father just nodded before dropping the topic. He wasn't an invasive father and he knew he had raised his girls right. Sanem wouldn't have made any rational decision without thinking about it properly.

"But I still have to work." The work loving Aydin child, Leyla, grabbed a piece of toast off the table before heading towards the front door. "Sanem, can you help me find my blue shoes?"

"They're near the door-" Despite Sanem telling her where the shoes were, Leyla aggressively gestured towards the hallway and Sanem gathered that she needed to talk to her in private. "Oh, maybe I took them upstairs-"

"What have I told you about taking filthy shoes upstairs, Sanem?!" Mevkebe turned her head away from her cooking for a second and Sanem apologised with a sheepish smile before sprinting after her older sister.

"Abla, what's the matter-" Sanem asked once they were out of earshot of their lovely but inquisitive parents.

"Guliz texted me this morning. Apparently, things at the office are bad, really bad."

"What do you mean by bad?"

"There isn't enough money to keep the company going for long and even with Ms. Ceyda's help, it won't be enough to get it up to the level it was at before the 40th anniversary party. Staff is starting to worry about the safety of their jobs ... so am I. What am I going to do if the company goes out of business?"

"I'm sure it'll get better, you don't have to worry. Can ... Mr. Can knows what he's doing-"

Despite travelling the world as a photographer, Sanem knew Can had a good business head on his shoulders. He knew which projects to secure in order to make the most money and create the most company related buzz.

"Sanem, have you thought about speaking to Mr. Fabri, maybe he can help?"

Sanem subconsciously winced at the mention of Enzo Fabri. He had been nothing but nice to her; however, there was something about him that gave her the creeps. The way he looked at her, the way he'd find any need to touch her ... it made Sanem feel uncomfortable and she wasn't jumping for joy at the suggestion that she meet up with him.

"Why me?"

"Oh Sanem, don't be naïve, we all know he likes you." Leyla stated the obvious. "Maybe you can talk him into hiring the company for a campaign or something?"

"I don't know, sister ... he's a bit of a weird-"

"Please, Sanem, we're all starting to lose hope at the office-" Leyla's voice broke into a tearless sob and Sanem pat her back affectionately. Leyla was clueless without her job; her world revolved around it and Sanem didn't want to see her sister upset. In fact, she didn't want to see any of her ex co-workers lose their jobs. CeyCey sent money home to the village every month and without a job, his whole family would suffer. And Can, Sanem's beloved Albatross, would break if his father's business sunk to nothing. It was with that final image of an upset Can, that Sanem decided ... if it was in her power to help, she was going to try.

"Okay, okay."

"Thank you." Leyla kissed her sister's cheek and bid her farewell. "Oh, and Sanem, good luck at work today!"

Today was Sanem's first day at work with Osman and surprisingly, she was excited. This new employee and boss relationship was new to her and Osman. But once she turned up at the shop with a positive attitude, Sanem found herself engulfed with work that she seemed to enjoy. Osman had all these ideas about expanding the business and with the assistance of Sanem's photographic memory, they were able to get work done five times faster than if Osman was handling it by himself.

"Hiring you was the best decision I ever made." Osman congratulated over lunch, his mouth full of his newly developed vegan koftas.

"Osman, is it okay for me to go for a little walk? I feel a little stuffy in here after so long" Sanem had scoffed down her lunch and was just sat around Osman's house.

"Of course, silly! I've overworked you for your first day anyway. Go get some fresh air and I'll see you in a bit."

In all honesty, Osman and Ayhan's home was like Sanem's own. She was perfectly comfortable there at all times of the day. However, she needed to speak to Fabri and knew Osman would not approve. Sanem had already stressed to Osman how weird Fabri made her feel and he'd do everything in his power to stop them meeting. So – as much as it killed her inside – Sanem told Osman a little white lie in order for her to call Fabri.

She wasn't even sure he'd answer. But she tried anyway. At first, she got his voicemail but after trying again, his weak Turkish accent was audible over the phone.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Fabri, it's me ... Sanem."

"Ah! Ms. Sanem, what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Can we meet, Mr. Fabri? I have a business proposition for you."

"You do, do you? Well, I am interested in what a beautiful person like yourself has to offer me." Sanem cringed, disgusted, by Fabri's need to always comment on her appearance. "Where and when would you like to meet, sweetheart?"

Sanem explained to Fabri her conditions and then headed back to Osman's with a light sigh. She felt powerful – capable – and she knew what she needed to. Even though she knew Can wouldn't approve, to save him, she was willing to sacrifice the thing that the two of them treasured the most. Sanem had something that Fabri wanted and she was going to have to give it to him at the price of the Divit company.

Her perfume, her scent – the scent that Can adored so dearly.

Sanem's scent was seemingly the only thing that kept Can sane and insane at the same time. He could smell Sanem everywhere which was near enough impossible given that he was in own bed, alone. He hadn't been able to sleep all night and the reoccurring image of Sanem's face haunted his dreams. He dreamt of the time that they had spent together. All of those times where he had buried his head in her neck and sniffed deeply, all those times he'd held her hand and caressed her skin. Every moment flooded into his brain and that was all he could cherish now. Because he knew she wouldn't be there to greet him with her superb cup of tea or amuse him with her naivety and innocence.

She had left.

And Can was clueless, clueless as to what he was going to do without Sanem Aydin to brighten up his life every day.