What Hurts the Most

Chapter 12

"Still?" Nigar asks, unable to keep the knowing grin off her face when Melike comes into the kitchen with the tray piled with empty dishes. "They're still getting meals sent to the room?"

"Hush, Nigar," Melike scolds her, but unable to contain her own smile. "They're making up for lost time."

"It's been four days and we've barely seen either of them," Nigar giggles. "If you ask me, I think Emir Bey is quite happy about this memory loss and he probably hopes she never remembers the divorce. I don't think he's even left the house to go to work! Mark my words ... nine months from now, there's going to be a baby in this mansion. You just wait and see."

"Nigar," Melike says with a chuckle, shaking her head. But she hopes and prays Nigar is right. A baby would be such a blessing to come out of the hard times they've had to endure recently.

"It looks like Emir isn't the only one not working around here."

Nigar drops the plate she was washing and spins around to face an irritated Cemre looming menacingly in the entry to the kitchen.

"Cemre hanım?" she says in a terrified voice. "What do you mean? We are working."

"Sounds to me like you're gossiping," Cemre snaps. "You know as well as I do that Emir is only pretending to still be married to Reyhan because she can't remember. There's no way they're in there doing what you are insinuating. It's slander and I should have you fired!"

"I'm sorry," Nigar apologizes, dropping her gaze to the floor.

"Nigar, relax," Melike orders. "Cemre, you too. You're right. It's nobody's business what's happening in that bedroom."

"Because nothing is happening in there," Cemre insists. Nothing better be happening in there, she thinks to herself. Cemre went through a lot of trouble to split those two up. She refuses to see her work undone by a fluke bout of amnesia.

"We've already put breakfast away, but we can make you something if you'd like," Melike offers, changing the subject.

Breakfast can wait. Cemre has only one thought in mind ... separate Emir and Reyhan so she can figure out what's happening with them. Amnesia or not, a reconciliation cannot happen.

"No need. I'm just here to see Emir," Cemre tells her. "I'll just have coffee."

"Coffee is coming right up. But Emir really is unavailable," Melike tells her. "He left strict instructions that he and Reyhan are not to be disturbed for any reason."

An intense look of anger flashes on Cemre's face before she's able to cover it. She forces a tight smile to hide the annoyance. She's out of patience.

"Melike," Cemre says through gritted teeth. "Either you go get Emir, or I will. One way or another, I will be seeing him today."

"Cemre, I'm sorry but he ..."

"Now, Melike!"

"Why are you screaming, Cemre?"

Cemre spins around to find Emir standing behind her. The impatient look on his face is bordering on anger at her disturbing the household like this.

"Emir ..." she starts. But he just holds up his hand to stop her.

"My office," is all he says as he turns and walks away. She's stunned for a moment, but quickly gathers her senses and follows.

Once they're inside, he tells her to take a seat and closes the door. Moving behind the desk, he takes his own seat and just stares at her.

"You have my undivided attention, Cemre. What is this about?"

"Why do you seem so annoyed?" she asks, giving him a flirty smile. "I was just coming to check on you and see how you were doing with this amnesia thing. It must be hard to pretend to still be married to your ex-wife. I don't know why you just don't tell her the truth."