The Business Trip (HayMur FF)

Find another model

What. The. Actual. Fuck. Hayat snapped, trying to process that piece of information.

Was her husband cheating on her? Woah. Had she been so caught up in marital bliss that she missed all the signs? And why did that voice sound so familiar?! She put her hand to her head, unable to stand any longer.

Suddenly, she hears her husbands voice and looks up to find him standing there. "Hayat, were you talking to Cagla? I've been waiting for her to call all day.", Murat said completely failing to read his wife's shocked expression. "You're..you're going with Cagla to New York?", Hayat asks seeking confirmation. "Yeah. Did I not mention? The investors think she's the best face to launch the new collection with.", he stated matter of factly. Hayat shook her head in disbelief "Is this a prank Murat? 'Cos if it is, ha ha, you got me good. But can we please stop?". "What's wrong with you Hayat? Why are you making such a big deal about this?", he asked confused. Oh wow. He wasn't kidding, she thought. Her head was banging at this point and her legs began to give way as she sat down.

"Murat. You're going to New York with Cagla. Your ex-PA turned model. The same Cagla who has always had a very public and well known crush on you. She's booked a hotel room next door to you for the entire duration of the 6 months and now you're asking ME why I'm making such a big deal about this?!", she spat. The absolute cheek of her husband to try and throw this back in her face. She was fuming and demanded answers.

Still unable to fathom his wife's reaction, he tried reasoning "Ok, firstly calm down." Hayat closed her eyes for a few seconds to take a deep breath. No-one in the history of being told to calm down had calmed down. Murat took a step forward to his wife "Hayat. Hear me out. Loud and clear. I am not the least bit interested in Cagla. You are the only one I care for. You have absolutely nothing to be jealous or insecure over.", he concluded. Hayat shook her head, "You clearly underestimate her. I also find it strange that you didn't even question the fact that she's requested a room next to you." Murat threw his hands up in the air in annoyance "For God's sake, Hayat. It's really not that deep. She's our lead model for the summer collection and has a lot of input on the new designs. She really gets the ins and outs of the industry and like I said already, the investors are really keen to have her on board. Having her next to me on the flight and hotel just makes it a lot easier to plan our approach and strategy in these meetings." Meetings, she scoffed. Surely he wasn't that gullible to fall for her trap, she thought.

She'd decided she had had enough at that point. "Tamam. You go to New York Murat. Go play happy families with Cagla. Just remember that I warned you. If you think her only intentions are to better her career, when she's getting better offers here in Turkey left right and centre, with some of the biggest fashion names in the industry, then frankly, you're deluded." She stood up firmly, turning her back on him to walk off before he grabbed her arm and swung her around. "I have 2 nights left Hayat. Are we really going to spend it fighting over a non-issue?" Hayat struggled to get out of his hold before looking him in the eye "Find another model Murat. Or you might as well find yourself another wife."

Hayat went to the bathroom before slamming the door shut as she fell down crying. How dare he? How dare he make her out to be an insecure, jealous wife who couldn't separate personal relationships from professional relationships? Two can play at that game, Murat. She knew she hadn't just made this up in her head. Cagla's reputation was well known throughout the fashion industry, but apparently that didn't seem to bother her husband. Why would it? He gets to spend 6 months with another woman, a model, one that's willing to throw herself at her husband, she cried. Hayat wiped her tears and got up. She had given him an ultimatum. It was now his duty to speak to the investors and arrange a replacement. There was no shortage of models in Turkey. She was sure they'd manage.

Hayat comes out of the bathroom with puffy eyes, half expecting Murat to have seen some sense and to reason with her. Instead, she's greeted by a sight she doesn't expect. He was already in bed, with his back facing her and his lamp light switched off. So that's how we spend your penultimate night then, Hayat whispered heartbroken as she took a blanket with her and slept in the guest room that night.