The next day Defne showed up at the hotel in an exuberant mood. She couldn't believe what had happened the previous evening. It was like a beautiful dream for her, so when she woke up, she pinched her hand herself. Feeling an unpleasant sting, she realized that indeed Selim had confessed that he loved her.

The girl greeted her colleagues sitting at the reception desk, heading toward Onur's office. On the way, she stopped by the secretariat to pick up today's mail.

When she got to her room, which she shared with her boss, she found a mug of coffee on her desk with a pink card attached to it. She set the letters aside, taking the still hot beverage in her hand. With the fingers of her free hand, she peeled off the message.

"I wish you a day as beautiful as your smile.

PS: Sorry I didn't drive you to work, but I have an online meeting with an important client for my office."

The brunette involuntarily smiled broadly. She tasted the coffee her boyfriend had provided. It tasted great.

The girl sat down at her desk, pulling a notebook from her backpack, which she never parted with. She paged through the pages until she found the right one. There was a note attached with a paperclip, attached to a bouquet of flowers she had received a few days after arriving in Bodrum. Now it was joined by a note found next to a disposable coffee mug.

She closed the notebook, setting it aside. She reached with her hand for a stack of letters. She looked through them, sorting them into important and less important. This was the situation Onur found her in, entering the study. The girl raised her gaze to him, greeting him.

- Much work ahead? - Asked the boss, taking the letters Defne handed him.

- At eleven o'clock there is a meeting in connection with the arrival of a film crew next week," replied the girl, glancing at the appointment schedule displayed to her on the tablet screen. - And at fifteen o'clock we have an online meeting with a newlywed couple about to get married next weekend.

- You will lead this meeting," Onur announced, looking at her.

- Me? - A surprised Defne furrowed her brow, pressing the tablet to her chest. - I don't know if I can do it.

- You will manage," he replied with a smile. - You have prepared a folder with our offer. Therefore, you are the best person to present our proposals to them.

- Since you think so, I will try to take up the challenge," Defne commented. - I remember our last conversation.

- I am very happy about that," said Onur, approaching his desk. - Referring to me as "master" is strange after what we went through together. However, if you feel better about it, let it stay that way.

- Why don't you have a cup of coffee? - Defne asked, looking down at her mug.

- Gladly! - replied Onur, sitting down at his desk.

- In that case, I'll be right back," Defne got to her feet.

With a smile on her lips, she left the boss's office. In the social corner she prepared coffee for him, using the coffee machine.

*

Defne saw Selim only at the organizational meeting. She didn't expect him to attend at all, but the man quickly explained to her that he was replacing Özge, whom he had given a day off in compensation for yesterday's replacement.

The meeting went off without a hitch. All the scheduled issues were thoroughly discussed. Defne sat to the right of her boss, taking diligent notes of the meeting. Opposite her sat Selim, so the girl often glanced at him, which was so natural that the other participants could not understand that the relationship between them had changed in any way. She listened intently to his speech about the organization of the restaurant's work during the time they would be hosting a film crew. He spoke so fluently, while making a number of different gestures. It seemed that speaking in front of a group of people was no problem for him.

After the meeting, he stopped her on the pretext of reviewing her notes. So they were left alone in the conference room.

- Thank you for the morning coffee," Defne said, handing him a folder of documents. Inside were the notes he wanted to see. For that he sat on the corner of the table, staring at her.

- Did you enjoy it? - He asked, putting the folder aside. He was not at all interested in her. Defne noticed it with what indifference he put down the documents, not even looking at them. It reached her that he was bluffing.

- So it will always be like this now? - She answered him with a question. - You don't care about my notes. This was just an excuse to spend a moment alone with me?

- You keep saying that you want to be treated equally with the other employees, so you forcefully put it into my head," he laughed, grabbing her hand. - In that case, I have no choice but to initiate our meetings under the pretext of work. If this is a problem for you, we will find another solution.

- I'm glad you thought of me," Defne replied, rising from her chair. In doing so, she did not let go of the brunet's hand. She felt much better in a standing position, talking to Korkmaz. - It would be better if we keep our relationship a secret for now. I still can't believe it myself," she said smiling. At the same time she felt a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

- Tamam. - Selim brought the girl's held hand closer to his lips and kissed her. - Let's enjoy ourselves before we tell anyone about us. First we will get used to the new situation and only then will we share our happiness with our friends.

- That's a very good idea," Defne said, taking her hand away. She was afraid that someone would unexpectedly enter the room and see them together.

- Will we see each other in the afternoon? - He asked, changing the topic of conversation.

- And can you manage to leave early, since you gave the restaurant manager the day off?

- I enjoy your company, so I'll do what I can to spend the evening with you," Selim announced, coming down from the table. He didn't want to keep her any longer. - What time do you finish?

- It all depends on how long the meeting with the client lasts," sighed Defne. She had managed to forget what was ahead of her, and now it all came back to her. She was slowly starting to get nervous. - I think I should be free after sixteen o'clock.

- Are you all right? - Selim asked, noticing the girl's sigh.

- Onur Bey decided that I should lead the meeting and I got a little nervous. I've never done this before.

- It will be fine. - Selim pulled her close to him, hugging her tightly. He plunged his nose into her hair, taking in its scent. - I'm keeping my fingers crossed for your debut!

Defne was grateful to Selim for the support he was giving her. The feeling that someone close to her believed in her gave her courage and confidence.

They stayed in close proximity for a short while. Then they each took their belongings: Defne's briefcase with documents, and Selim's sunglasses left on the table top. They left the conference room together, parting each in their own direction.

*

Selim invited Defne to his home. By the time she showed up at his place, he had managed to prepare pilav with meat. In the meantime, he also took a quick shower and changed into more comfortable clothes.

They ate their meal together in the garden. Korkmaz was curious to know how her meeting went, so the girl summarized its progress to him. She admitted that she was unnecessarily stressed.

After dinner, they remained in the garden. Selim guided her around the house, showing her the plants that grew outside. Defne had a few comments about caring for some of them. She advised him on what he should do to improve their growth. He listened to her remarks with full concentration, trying to remember what preparations he should buy. He watched in awe as the girl handled the flowers. He realized that she enjoyed taking care of them and knew much better than he did.

Although they didn't do anything special, the time they spent together passed very quickly for both of them. Their first serious date looked boring, but it suited them. They just enjoyed each other's presence.

Eventually they lay down on a blanket spread out on the grass. They had a plate of fruit at hand to nibble on.

Selim had his head on the pillow, but still put his hand under it. Defne, on the other hand, kept her head on his torso. The man was stroking her hair, playing with it. For her, it was a very pleasant feeling. She liked it when someone took care of her unruly curls. It relaxed her a lot.

- Coming here I didn't plan to experience holiday love," muttered Defne, with her eyes closed. - I wanted to find my path to follow so that I would be content when I returned to the hustle and bustle of Istanbul.

- Did you find it? - Selim asked, still playing with her hair.

- Not yet," laughed Defne. - I still have time. I'm hoping to find an idea for myself before the day of departure arrives.

- Can I ask you something?

- Sure, ask whatever you want," Defne replied, smiling, but he couldn't see it. - Since we are a couple, we need to get to know each other better.

- Why didn't you consider that you could meet someone and fall in love just in Bodrum? - He asked, stopping the activity. - You never know what lies ahead.

- I didn't want to get involved in something knowing that it would probably be a fleeting acquaintance," Defne sighed. - You can laugh at me, but at twenty-five years old I already dream of a long-term and happy relationship. Previous relationships with boys were a total misfire.

- Forgive me for asking, but Ceren mentioned it. Someone broke your heart?

- And not just once," sighed Defne, laying her head on the blanket. She looked straight at the sky, where there was not a single cloud. - However, I think this heartbreak was so over the top. I guess every first love breaks our hearts. I laugh about it now, but I remember those days when I just cried into my pillow.

- I'm sorry," Selim turned his head, looking at her.

- That's why, after successive failed relationships, I decided that I didn't want to look for love during the vacations. I wanted to focus on work, but I met you.

- And you changed your mind, falling in love with me," Selim said, grabbing her hand.

- I just realized that it can't be planned. True love will find us on its own," she replied, looking at him. - I don't know what fate has in store for us, but no matter what happens, I won't regret trying.

- I'm glad you trusted me. - He smiled at her.

- I realized one more thing. You are not like most wealthy people," Defne announced, sitting down on the blanket. Her face was turned to the boy. - Before I met you and Onur, I was prejudiced against rich men. I believed that such people are not constant in their feelings. They have every now and then, new wives, create patchwork families... And you are the complete opposite of that.

- This difference is due to the fact that we ourselves have come to the point in life where we are. - Selim also sat down. Both of them were practically touching each other's shoulders. - We worked our way to success from scratch. And most people just take over companies from their parents or grandparents.

- You fulfilled your childhood dream, and that's beautiful," Defne replied looking into his eyes.

- I wanted to be an architect, but by the way I have my own hotel and restaurant," he laughed. - You could say I'm a lucky man, but that's not the case. To be fully happy I need to have someone to love.

- And you have met me," Defne added, bringing her face closer to his.

They looked into each other's eyes, and a moment later, joined their lips in a kiss.

They kissed until they felt the sprinklers on the lawn start up. They broke the kiss, laughing. However, a short time later, they clung to each other again, bringing their lips together again.

They pulled away from each other as they ran out of air. Their clothes and hair had managed to get wet, so they got up from the blanket. Selim rolled it up, and Defne bent down to pick up a plate of wet fruit.

At home, they changed into dry clothes. Korkmaz found in his closet the smallest T-shirt he owned and the running shorts he no longer fit into. Even so, they were still too big for Defne.

The wet things landed in the automatic dryer, just waiting a few moments until they were dry. In the meantime, Selim brewed them some tea.

Soon after, Defne decided to return to the Janset habitat. The hour was late, she sat at her boyfriend's place, although she did not feel the passing of time in his presence at all.

Selim drove her away, wanting to take advantage of the last moments they spent together. For the sake of inconspicuousness, he stopped the car a street earlier.

- It was a successful afternoon," Defne concluded, unbuckling her seat belt.

- Can I count on a farewell kiss? - He asked, while pointing a finger at his cheek. - The night is long.

- Did you enjoy kissing me? - laughed Defne, looking at him. He, in response, grabbed her hand, bringing it to his lips, and kissed her.

- I guess that was answer enough," he muttered.

- Peki. (Good.) One kiss and I'm going. - The brunette moved towards him, kissing him on the cheek.

Afterwards, she hurriedly exited the car, inadvertently closing the door with a slam. Selim only laughed. He remained on the street until Defne disappeared from his sight.

*

Defne and Selim had been forming a clandestine relationship for three days. Everything was going almost perfectly. Nothing promised that something would disturb their peace. However, that Saturday morning brought an unexpected turn of events by no one.

Selim was sitting in his small office in the restaurant, reviewing the current month's invoices. That's when he heard a quiet knock on the door.

- Come in! - he shouted, raising his eyes to the door. Standing in it was Çinar.

- I don't want to disturb the boss, but some woman came to see you," said the barista, holding his hands clasped together in front of him.

- To me? - He replied surprised, leaving the papers. He wasn't expecting anyone's visit. He had no idea who might want to see him. - Tell him I'll come right away.

- Okey," smiled Çinar, turning away the tension. - I'll tell the boss to come right away.

Selim didn't know what this could be about. His first thought was that it was probably a new client who wanted to organize some kind of event and demanded to deal directly with the owner about the details. With this thought in mind, he headed for the meeting.

He approached the bar, asking Çinar at which table the woman he was talking about just five minutes ago was sitting. The boy pointed him to a seat. Korkmaz immediately traveled with his eyes in the indicated direction, but the figure was sitting with his back to them, so he could not recognize her.

He approached the table, greeting her. Then the girl raised her eyes, looking at him.

- Hello, Selim! - She greeted him, grinning. - It's good to see you again.

The man looked at her carefully. He immediately remembered the day he had the opportunity to see her for the first time.

~~~

An hour and a half later, Selim went out in front of the premises to smoke a cigar and breathe in the fresh air. The night was warm.

He returned inside after ten minutes, where he collided by chance with a dancing girl. It turned out that she had come here alone. And as an apology, she wanted Selim to dance with her. He agreed, because he felt like having a blast after a hard day's work.

And so half an hour later, accompanied by a girl he didn't know, he ended up in a club with her, where they had a few drinks. He learned that her name was Nesrin. Her friend had recommended his restaurant to her, so she came to see if it was actually as nice there as she said. The girl enjoyed the karaoke. Selim was pleased with the flattering opinion of his establishment.

Nesrin had dark, mid-back-length hair. She was slim, wearing a red, short dress with thin straps that clung to her body. Her shoes were classic - black stiletto heels.

They returned to the dance floor, where they danced to a slow song. The proximity of their bodies awakened their passion. Nesrin could not stand the tension for long and started kissing Selim. He, unable to resist the newly met beauty, reciprocated the kiss, holding her face with his hands.

The kiss didn't end there. Moments later, they left the premises, holding hands, and headed to the hotel where Nesrin was staying. It was not far away, so after a few minutes they found themselves in an elevator that took them to the right floor. In the elevator they started kissing again. This time also on the girl's initiative.

~~~

- Nesrin? - he mouthed, pushing back his chair to sit across from her.

- You remember my name, that's something," she laughed, showing the top row of her snow-white teeth. - It's nice to see you again, too.

- Don't exaggerate, it wasn't that terribly long ago," Selim remarked.

- Exactly, quite not so long ago," she replied, looking at him. She had a glass of lemonade in front of her.

Not so long ago," he repeated in his mind.

- Relax, that's not the point," she said, smiling. - I didn't come to tell you that I'm pregnant. Although, if that were the case, it would be more interesting.

- In that case, what do you mean?

- Since you remember my name, you probably also remember the circumstances under which I ended up in your restaurant.

- Let's say I remember something there," he said while maintaining eye contact with her.

- I looked into your restaurant because someone close to me asked me to. I was there to see if the place was as cool as people say it is.

- Forgive me, but I don't understand what you're getting at," he sighed, reducing the distance between them, resting his elbows on the table top.

- The next day I conveyed my opinion to my friend. She only confirmed that she had done the right thing by making the reservation. The next day she held a class meeting here," she announced, and Selim leaned back on the back of the chair. - I know that it was at this event that you met Ceren. You were also there.

- Ceren is your friend! - he growled in annoyance.

He couldn't believe what he had just learned. He tried to quickly put together the recent events in his mind, burying his face in his hands. He realized that Ceren knew everything. It was a matter of time that the truth about the game he had been playing with Defne would see the light of day.

- Yes, Ceren is my friend," Nesrin confirmed, reaching for a glass of lemonade. She tasted it. - There are a few things that need clarification, which is why we both flew to Bodrum.

- Where is she? - He asked, rising abruptly from his seat.

- Take your time. It won't help," Nesrin announced calmly, grabbing his hand. - It is certainly over now.

At the same time, Ceren crossed the threshold of the hotel, taking off her sunglasses from her nose. With a satisfied smile, she approached the reception desk asking for Defne. The girl sitting behind the console showed her the way.

Kaya stepped proudly into the office. The clatter of heels could be heard. After a while she found herself in front of the indicated door. She knocked and, without waiting for permission, went inside. In the room she found her colleague from years ago, who raised her eyes from over her laptop. Beside her at the other desk on the right sat Onur. He, too, turned his attention to the girl. He immediately remembered that the face seemed familiar to him.

- Hi, dear! - Ceren waved to her, smiling widely. - Can you find a moment for me? We need to talk.

___________________