If You Tell Me To Stay

Chapter 19

Previously:

Sanem stood in the doorway and waved goodbye to Can with a huge grin on her face. After his car was out of sight, she let out a sigh and shook her head in disbelief. I can't believe that I, ME, Sanem. Just had her boyfriend over for the night. Sanem let out a giggle and headed back inside to get ready for work. Unbeknownst to her, Melihat had gotten up early that day and had been sitting on her perch in the window once she spotted Can's truck parked outside.

------------

What started out as great day, slowly became... Odd. At best. Sanem noticed her team was really quiet all day. She attributed it to the fact that Mrs. Remide wasn't there. After an entire morning of Sanem doing most of the talking and catching her writers whispering amongst themselves, she let everyone go for an extra long lunch. As she herself needed the break and she had brought her laundry with her in hopes of going to the laundromat in town.

Sanem walked out to the lobby to confirm that the Gazette had the conference room scheduled for the rest of the week. Ceycey seemed to be even more skittish, if that was possible.

"Uh, Ceycey. I wanted to make sure the Gazette was down for the conference room for the rest of the week. We have a lot to get through for the next release this Sunday." Sanem looked at the strange man in front of her, "Ceycey? Everything alright?"

"Ms. Deren...." He barely choked out.

"What about her?"

"She said I am not allowed to gossip at work." He looked like he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

"Okay, okay. Calm down. I'm not asking you to gossip. I just want to make sure you are alright." Ceycey held his breath as he stepped and squirmed around, not knowing what to do. "Ceycey, just tell me."

Just then Ms. Deren walked into the lobby. Ceycey screamed when he saw her and ran out of the room. Sanem stood there stunned as she watched him run away.

"Sanem." Ms. Deren said sternly. Sanem was instantly on guard. She already knew Ms. Deren didn't like her, didn't like anyone. But seeing her look at her like this made Sanem back up a step.

"Uh.. is Ceycey alright?"

"Sanem, what you do in your own time is your business. But don't bring your dirty laundry  to work and effect my employees."

What is she going on about? Don't bring what to work? My laundry? "Ms. Deren, I'm not really following here. Did I do something wrong?"

"That's between you, them, and God."

Sanem's head moved back a little as she was completely baffled by what her words meant. Me, them, and God? What is she talking about? "Ms. Deren, I really don't know what you are referring to..."

"I don't want to discuss the details of your personal life. Just don't bring that trash in here and disrupt my employees and my work."

Sanem stumbled over her words but couldn't get anything out before Deren walked back into her office and closed the door.

Sanem let out a huge breath, "What was that?" she looked around the now empty lobby of City Hall. She picked up her bag of laundry and headed out the door. As she walked to the laundromat she was met with more stares by passersby's. She would say good morning to them. Some would grumble it back, others just ignored her. What is happening? Why is everyone being so weird around me?

She made her way into the laundromat and tried to ignore the stares at her back she received there as well. She dug out some coins from her purse and she looked around the room. Everyone avoided her gaze, except for the man at the front counter. He gave her a stare that sent a cold shiver down her spine. She turned away and focused on the task at hand.