Eriza's P.O.V

"Kiraz!" I exclaim as she runs around the room with her hair half-done. "Kiraz Adam Aslan!" I snap, "Get your ass over here now." Emara laughed from the corner as I struggled to catch my breath.

Kiraz ran and hid behind her to which I rolled my eyes and dropped the comb. "Fine, Emmy Ablanwill get you ready because I am getting late for work." I was so done with this behavior of hers. I threw on my jacket and was about to leave the room when she grabbed the back of my jacket. This was an everyday morning routine, but right now I was so running late for work, the work that is currently keeping a roof over our head. 

"Abla," Kiraz came to cling to my legs, "Sorry,"

Breathing out heavily I say, "I have no time now Kizzie, get Emmy to do it okay?" I honestly didn't, kissing the top of her head, I hand the comb to Emara who takes it hesitantly, "Just a simple braid on both sides." She nodded as I quickly left the room and rushed downstairs to see Anne waiting for me with breakfast on the table, alongside Baba who had a soft smile on his face. 

"She giving you a hard time?" Anne asked me. I nodd, gently kissing Baba's cheek I grab an apple trying to avoid the lecture about not eating a meal. "An apple?" She raised an eyebrow at me, "Izzie, you need-"

"Anne, I need to go." I cut her off with a soft kiss on the cheek and bid Baba a quick goodbye before rushing out the door, to my small car, which looked like it went through hell and back at times. Throwing my things in the back, start the car, and begin driving to that dreaded hotel that I have been working at for the past six years, but at least now, I have a higher pay since I am the general manager there. 

Ferit Amca was super generous with my promotions, which I was grateful for, which actually helped me, quickly make progress with the debt, not completely gone, but I am making a dent in it.  I have a salary of 55,000 liras a month, and 10 percent of that goes to his bank account each month, this has been going on for about three years now, so four years ago I had 1,933,000 liras still to pay off,  and now three years later, I have 1,735,000 liras to pay off still. It felt so good seeing that number go down each month, it was like a breath of relief, and even though he is the loaner, Ferit Amca has been nothing but flexible, and that is what has kept me going, my family going. . .Emaras' education is going well, now that I can pay for it, I have no objection to her splurging alittle. Baba's medical checkups have been covered since public health care is free here in Turkey. Everything has fallen into place, but my two jobs haven't left anywhere. 

I work part-time at this small interior designing agency, which is owned by my best friend, Derya, she has been asking me to completely transfer under her company, but the pay is not the best at the moment there, I mean compared to Amca's hotel she is paying me half of that. I am not complaining, I just, cannot give my 100% to her company just yet, but I do help, as much as I can.  Pulling into the hotel parking lot, I park my car in the employee lot and run in. Shyrgging off my coat, I shove it inside of my work locker, and quickly set up my headset, before walking inside the grand hotel. Breathing out heavily I force a smile on my face, and greet my employee, 

"Eriza!" My assistant, Sanem calls my name. I smile at her, "Finally you are here." She grabbed my arm before. I could ask why she looked so panicked, she dragged me to the TV screen and turned the volume up. My smile dropped as soon as I recognized the person who was hiding from the camera and paparazzi. "Mazhar Aslan," She started, "Listen."

"Günaydın Türkiye vatandaşları." (Good Morning, citizens of Turkey) The popular new anchor, Eda said, "Bu sabah Azra Demir hayranlarına harika bir haberimiz var. O ve Türkiye'nin en seçkin bekarı olan erkek arkadaşı Mazhar Aslan nişanlandıklarını duyurdular." (This morning, we have some amazing news for Azra Demir fans. She and her boyfriend, the most eligible bachelor in Turkey, Mazhar Aslan have announced their engagement.) 

I felt my chest tightened at the mention of his name, "So?" I tried to act unbothered because truly I had no right to be bothered. Mazhar and I have been divorced for the past four years and there is nothing there, there never was anything there. "This is none-"

"Oh come on." Sanem said rolling her eyes, "The Azra Demir," Azra had followed Mazhar to NYU, but instead of studying she chose to pursue her original plan for modeling and acting, and in just four years her face is the most prominent one in brands, you name it, she. is signed with them and Mazhar. . well, he is also in the business realm obviously not venturing too far from the empire that Ferit Amca had set up for him. I have heard that he has opened up a small firm, for Events Planning in New York, and Asiye Yenge was saying something about. him returning back to Turkey and starting one up here, but seeing this I doubt it. "They make such a power couple." 

"Sanem," I say tired, "Let's get to work."

"There is word of our return." She said not moving an inch, "Do you think the wedding with be here?"

"Where did you hear that?" I asked knowing that I would not be able to get her to work unless I entertain this. Sanem smirked, turning up the volume even more. 

The Turkish new anchor stood infront of Mazhar golding a mike, it was really surprising how far. and wide these journalists traveled just to get a headline at times. 

"Sayın Aslan, Türkiye'de şirket açma planlarınız olduğu doğru mu?" (Mr. Aslan, is it true that you have plans to open a company in Turkey?) Eda asked, 

Mazhar took his sunglasses off before answering,  "Babamın zaten orada beni bekleyen bir şirketi var. Bir tanesini onun rakibi olarak açmam aptallık olur." (My father already has a company waiting for me there. It would be foolish of me to open one as his competition.)

Smart answer, why would he leak what he is about to do to the press? "Yani New York'taki etkinlik planlama ajansınızla ilgili söylentiler doğru, değil mi?"  (So the rumors about your event planning agency in New York are true, right?) She is really pushing her limits with her questions. One thing that everyone knew about Mazhar is, is that he cannot control his anger, and when he does get angry, his actions are not under his control. 

I saw his jaw tick clearly, "Bakmak-" (Look-) He began slightly irritated when Azra came in from nowhere and moved the microphone so it was towards her. 

Her eyes held anger, "Yorum yok" (No comment) Azra pushed the mike away and pulled Mazhar from the crowd, into a large building. 

Sanem's jaw dropped, "Did you see how beautiful they look together?" 

"Yeah," I answer her enthusiastically, "Now get to work Sanem," I handed her a list of rooms. I needed her to check before the guests arrived for those rooms later today. I walked off before she could say anything else, and greeted the receptionist, Doruk. 

"Günaydın,  Eriza." He said smiling at me, 

"Günaydın Doruk." I say tiredly stealing his coffee off of the desk, "Anything that I need to know about?" This hotel was a really peaceful place to work most of the time, but sometimes the foreigners that come here, do tend to create a scene, and that chaos is my responsibility to take care of. 

"Nope," He answered, "It's been pretty quiet the last hour or so." 

"Good."

I look down at my phone to see three missed calls from Derya, "Excuse me," I say to him before calling her back, and within two rings she answers, "Hello?"

"Hello?" She said annoyed, "Izzie, I have called you like three fucking times." She is having a crisis right now. 

"Sorry, I got busy here at the hotel." I breathe in sharply,  "What's up?"

"I need you to help me for an event." She answered quickly, "You got time after work today?" I actually had to prepare for this new agency that I had in sight, they paid really well, and if I got that job, I wouldnt have to work here. The agency is for interior designing, and I heard they are desperate for employees, they keep you as an intern for alittle bit, but as soon as you are trained there is immediate employment. 

"Yeah," I said, "I get off around 4:00 pm, does that work?" I needed to practice for the interview, this is where my passion really lay, not here as a general manager, getting yelled at every other day about bed sheets, or the lighting being right. 

"Yeah," She answered, "See you then." I hung up the phone and tucked it in my pocket. I looked. out at the beautiful view of Istanbul from the large window I was standing infront of. I liked being creative, I liked seeing individuals' eyes light up when their vision came to life,  and as an interior designer, that is the biggest part of the job. I know that Derya has the same company, but if I can get some experience there, I can apply it to that company, and make it a success. It is a success now, but. .. it would take it to another level. 

"Boss?" Sanem yelled from across the hall, "We have a situation." I turn around shaking my head. 

"Coming," I respond. 

This? 

This is not something I want to do for the rest of my life. 

. . .

Mazhar's P.O.V.

"Istanbul?" Azra asked pissed off, "You cannot be serious right now!" I rolled my eyes as I relaxed on the couch, "I thought we had decided we would never return there because of all the shit show your parents cause each time."

"Azra." I snap at her, "Watch your fucking tone." I know my parents had done a lot to me, and to her, but she had no right to speak about them like that. "They still are my parents." It had been a while since I last visited them, about two years to be exact,  I had managed to avoid the Akbas family not really wanting to interact with them, but since then I really haven't been in contact with them as much. I have been speaking to Ozan off and on, he keeps giving me reports about what is going on back home, but there was just something about Istanbul, I craved to be there. 

"Fine," She blew out air heavily sitting down beside me, "What about your company/," She asked, obviously she was trying to find ways to stop me from going back.  "Aslan Event Planning, it is a hit here-"

"I am going back." I interrupt her, "To visit Azra, and possibly maybe even get married there, our families are there it will be convenient for everyone." Plus I was planning on starting up a company there too, I had reached out to a couple of real estate companies there, and they had perfect locations picked out for me, I just had to go look at them. Baba really liked the idea when I pitched it to him, as Ozan is not really interested in the hotel business, he is hoping he can run the event planning company, on my behalf as I return back here. 

She rested her head on my shoulder playing with her engagement ring,  "Just a visit right?" Possibly more than just a visit but she did not need to know. about that yet. I had Ozan already spreading the news about a new company, and maybe even looking into eligible employees. I gently wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her against me more, "Have you spoken to Eriza?" There is the problem. Even after six years she still has gotten over her insecurity about her, "Please dont get mad, I just. . .I don't feel comfortable with her being there."

I knew how her mind worked, going back to Istanbul meant, possibly bumping into Eriza, my ex-wife, who was barely my fucking wife. "No, I haven't spoken to her since I sent out the divorce papers," I tell her calmly. "I do not even know if my parents are still in touch with them or not because they barely speak about her to me. They know they messed up badly so they dont mention her." Anne sometimes will occasionally drop her name, but I do not ask anything about her. I dont see the reason too, she is something of my past, I really screwed up past,  I am sure she barely asks about me as well.  "I love you." I gently rub her arm looking down at her, "I have always loved you Azra, not her." Azra's eyes held sadness to them, "She can come to stand right infront of me and beg for me, but I would even flinch because I know what I have here, in my arms, and that is all I have ever wanted."  I still remember the first time I saw Azra, she took my breath away with her beauty, and then when I got to know her, her intelligence blew my mind. Right then and there, I knew that she was the one, I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, no matter what.  

"I love  you too." She whispered back before resting her head on my chest. 

Breathing out heavily, we fell quiet, just enjoying one another's company. . .

I love Azra, and that I am clear in my mind. . .

No matter what happens on my return back in Turkey, nothing will make me change my mind. . .

Nothing. 

. . . 

"Hey Aydin," I say cheerfully as he answers the phone, "How is location hunting going?" 

He chuckled, "Good, good." I heard some shuffling around his room, "I actually was in contact with the realtor and he showed me this lot that was on for sale, it has a building there already, but it needs major remodeling."

"Oh," I say alittle discouraged, "But Aydin, I already have Ozan scouting for interns." I know it was alittle fast to do so, but I wanted to have everything, ready for me once I got to Turkey. "Is there no other location that fits wells?" My assistant, Sinan came in rolling my suitcases inside my room at my apartment. I nodded curtly at him, as a thank you as he disappeared back outside in the kitchen beginning to prepare dinner for Azra and I since she was staying the night here once she was done with her shoot later on. 

"There are," He sighed, "It's hard to describe, which is why. I had asked you to come with me." I began throwing clothes on the bed, with one hand as I held the phone with the other. "You are coming now right?"

"Yeah,"  I say to him, "I finally convinced Azra, so she will be joining us later. in the week, but I will be coming tommorow."

"Okay, that's great." Aydin replied, "Has Ozan finalized anyone?"

"No, but. he does have a short list of everyone." I tell him, "He is beginning interviews tommorow, so it would be great if you could sit in." I wouldn't be home until late at night, "Just to help him."

"Yeah, of course." There was something off about him, 

"What's going on?" I asked abruptly, "Why do you sound so off?"  His voice sounded as if he was hiding something. 

"Ferit Amca," He answered, "He has given us a budget with the locations and most of the locations that fit into our criteria, those are like double the amount he has given us."  Ah, money issue. 

"Dont worry about that." I tell him, "I got that covered." I could talk sense into him in five minutes golding his disgusting plan over his head. "Just keep looking."

"Got it." Our conversation fell silent for alittle bit,  "Hey, did you know Eriza is working as the general manager at your hotel?" My movements halt for a split second as he mentions her, "I walked in yesterday to speak to Ferit Amca and there she was, dealing with a way to hyper visitor."

Does she still work there? "No," I keep my answer short, "I haven't really been keeping tabs on her you know." My movements got more frantic, "Why are you telling me this?"

"No reason," Aydin said, "It just came to mind so I told you," 

"Aydin!" I heard his Anne call him,

"Look, I gotta go. I'll talk to you later."  He is still so scared of her, it was hilarious. 

"Bye," I say smiling alittle. I look down at my suitcase, and back to my phone. . .hesitantly I sit down on my bed and open up my contacts, I scrolled down to the bottom where I had Meryem Yenge contact saved. My thumb hovered over her name, I might have stopped speaking to Eriza, but I couldnt seem to let her go. She felt more like a Anne to me,  than my own Anne has ever felt. I asked her not to tell anyone else, and thankfully she had kept it a secret. 

I should let her know I am coming back, so there are no surprises. . .

Right?