Defne climbed a couple of floors, and then still took the elevator. But she still was late. Behind the reception desk was empty. Ruya must have brought morning coffee to the boss. Rejoicing that she had not run into a disapproving look, Defne slipped like a mouse into the corridor and moaned with frustration. The door to Talat's office was wide open and there was no way to slip in unnoticed. Having exhaled and straightened her shoulders, Defne confidently went along the corridor. If she must listen to notations, then with dignity. But she did not have to fight back from a tedious reprimand. A dark-skinned hand grabbed her wrist, pulled her into the office and closed the door behind her.

"This moron has been on guard for you for about five minutes," Seda enlightened, winking with a perfectly made-up eye. "He wants to make a scandal." Just entered, loudly announced that it was time to deal with lateness to work. This disrespect for the company and squandering the money of the owner. And then left the door open in his office. I understood that you are being watched.

"Wait," Defne stopped the flow of words. - Why are you at work? You have a legal day off today. You would lie at home and gain strength.

"I feel good," Seda assured in response and smiled dreamily. - Let the day off remain for the future. When Nisa is released home, and I can take her for a few days to a beautiful and peaceful place.

"How wonderful you are," Defne's eyes sparkled with tears suspiciously, Seda knit her eyebrows over her nose and said:

"Don't distract me." Тell me why you are late.

Defne hesitated. She was ashamed to talk about sexual harassment. Shameful and disgusting. But keeping it to yourself is worse. And she took a chance, told everything. About the harassment of Kivanc Talat. About the incident in the elevator. The fact that she hates him and does not imagine how she will continue to work in Tranba's company.

- Here is a goat! - Seda was indignant and angrily asked: - Why didn't you tell Omer?

"He will go crazy!" Defne answered and shook her head. - He will beat to death this moron. But Talat is a rare bastard, will report to the police. No! I can handle it myself. I am not a pampered young lady, after all, a girl from the neighborhood! Defne resolutely rolled up her jacket sleeves and clasped her hands into fists. "Let him just try to touch me again."

Seda hit her fist on Defne's fist.

"If anything, tell me." Together we will set him in the heat!

As if having heard what they were talking about, the object of conversation entered the office without knocking. Suspiciously looking both girls, he stared evilly at Defne.

- Why are you late?

Seda squeezed her hand in warning and stepped forward.

"Why did you, Mr. Talat, think that Defne was late?" She arrived on time and immediately entered my office. We looked at booklet sketches.

Kivanc's eyes were bloodshot and a nerve trembled on the cheekbone. Ignoring Seda's words, he ordered Defne, which looked coldly at him:

- Immediately go to my office.

Not a single muscle fluttered on Defne's face. Only disgust reflected in her eyes. She looked into his unpleasant face and did not move. Seda came to the rescue.

"Mr. Talat, you are exceeding your authority," she spoke again boldly and confidently. "Defne is not your subordinate, and you have no right to order her." As well to report for being late. I will be forced to tell Mr. Denise about this incident.

Talat's eyes twitched and his puffy face turned purple. But Seda didn't give a damn about the offended feelings of the creative director. She is the director herself. With the same rights and powers. Pointing her finger at the door, she ordered:

- Please, leave my office. Defne and I need to work.

- What?! - Kivanch cried and his crimson complexion became beetroot.

- What you heard! - cut off, Seda.

Having incinerated the girls with his eyes and panting, Talat left the office. The door behind him slammed shut with a bang. The girls looked at each other.

"You also made an enemy," Defne warned. "Maybe it wasn't worth it?"

- I don't care! - Seda answered confidently. - It was worth it! You are worth it. "She looked defiantly into Defne's eyes. "I know about your conditions for the contract, and why they gave me a loan so quickly." And I will never forget that. Like yesterday, she smiled with touching gratitude. "You're a great person, Defne, and a true friend." And for friends, I always stand up for.

- It's you - gorgeous! Defne swallowed a lump in her throat. - Strong ... Ready to keep the whole world on your shoulders ... - Seda grimaced imploringly, and she smiled with understanding and changed the subject: - How is Nisa?

- I called half an hour ago. The doctor said - everything is as it should be with a successful result - in the girl's voice sounded joy and relief. - The worst is over. Now the way to recovery. It will be а long one.

"Nothing," Defne put a hand on her shoulder. - We will go through it all together.

***

Omer set the pencil aside and looked at the drawing. Warm gold, ruby, diamonds. He repeated the key moments of Defne's sketch, only breathed his feelings into them. The ruby became larger and changed its shape to an oval. Like the diamonds. Slightly oblong, they framed the scarlet flame, like crystal-clear drops of water. Omer smiled faintly. He succeeded. Despite fear and uncertainty. (Here is a miracle! And who would have believed that Omer Iplikci might be unsure of something?). He took a chance and did it. He drew a ring in which was the whole essence of his Defne and his own, infinite love for her.

When he was waiting for her in the gazebo on the island, two rings were lying on the tray. He looked at the second, old and elegant, and suddenly he clearly understood. This ring is not Defne. It's his mom's. With a difficult, tragic story, it holds his mother's aura and will never change it. Defne should have something else. Her own.

He took mom's ring from the tray and put it in his pocket. On his return from the island, he began a search. But it was not what he was looking for ... And today Defne's drawing prompted him to think. Having never painted a piece of jewelry before, he picked up pencils and depicted exactly what he imagined and wanted for his beloved wife.

Looking away from the contemplation of the drawing, Omer picked up the phone and found the desired number in the contact list. When they answered him at the other end of the connection, he spoke:

- Ahtem? Hello, my friend! ... Yes, long time no see. I have a serious and urgent business for you. Are you in the workshop? ... Well, I'll be there in forty minutes.

Grabbing the drawings and warning Derya that he would be away for a couple of hours, Omer left the office. Faithful Sukru by the car open door was already waiting for him.

Exactly forty minutes later, Omer entered the jewelry workshop, which was hiding in the basement of the house in the Sariyer district. It was small in size, but well equipped and fortified like a small fortress. The owner, a young, black-haired man of about thirty, rose to meet the guest and opened his arms for a hug.

- Wai! Wai! Wai! Brother Omer! Long time we have not seen?

- Yes, only six months. I ordered you to make the wedding rings. Did you forget? - Omer answered brotherly hugging the man.

- What are you saying? How could I forget that? Well, how's family life? - he winked and pointed to a chair near the massive table. - Have a seat. I'll order tea now. Or do you need coffee?

"Tea will be fine," Omer assured and sat down on a chair. Crossing his legs, he smiled restrainedly and answered the first question: - Family life is wonderful. The best thing that can happen to a man is to marry his beloved girl.

Ahtem pressed a button on the intercom and asked for tea. And then he sat down in his chair, smiled broadly and said:

- Oh, yes! I envy my brother. But I can't make up my mind.

Omer patted his shoulder and winked:

- You will decide, brother. You will decide when you meet your destiny.

"May Allah," the man in a familiar gesture raised his palms in prayer and asked the guest: "So what is your important business?"

Omer pulled out sketches from a tablet folder and laid them on the table.

- What do you say about this?

He stared at the master closely. Ahtem laid out the drawings in front of him, looked at them for a long time, and then spoke:

- Both are very good ... The soul is visible. And what will we embody in gold and stones?

"This one," Omer pointed to his sketch. "And as quickly as possible." How much time do you need?

Ahtem, examining the drawing, thoughtfully stroking his beard. Omer waited patiently. But the man went to the safe, opened it and took out a flat, rather large box. He put it on the table and opened it. There, on black velvet, stones lay. Mysterious emeralds, proud sapphires, honey opals, and hot rubies. Separately placed diamonds of different sizes. Of impeccable purity, the stones caught the light, refracted it in their faces, and returned it with blinding rays.

"You choose," Ahtem pointed to the stones. "If there is what you need here, I'll manage in five to six days."

Omer leaned over the box. He looked at rubies for a long time and chose an oval stone of incredibly beautiful, clear and deep color. And to him fourteen slightly oblong tiny droplets of diamonds.

- Well! - agreed on the jeweler. "Your taste, as always, is impeccable." Today I'll start working.

He hid the box in a safe and turned to Omer:

- And the second drawing? Or did you got it for the company?

Ahtem winked at his friend cheerfully. He took a deep breath. He touched the matte paper and stroked the sketch.

"It's not just a drawing, Ahtem." This is a new life of the most important person for me. Look with your professional look and say: is there light?

The jeweler laid down the drawing in front of him and began to study it carefully and for a long time. Scrupulously evaluating every detail, he bit his lips and stroked his beard. And finally, he spoke:

- There is light. Very powerful. The designer has an impeccable taste and an exquisite soul.

"Would you agree to bring her work to life?"

And again a pause and thoughtful stroking of a beard.

A boy of about fifteen brought tea. He set it on the table, bowed to the men, and quietly went out. Ahtem took a sip from his cup, and Omer followed suit. He did not rush the old friend with whom he had once studied together in Italy at the Academy of Arts. He knew that he should think it over. Frivolous joker outwardly, in fact, he was a sensible and thoughtful person.

The theatricality with which Ahtem spoke a few minutes ago gave way to seriousness. He looked at Omer.

- It's hard to answer. First - this is only one drawing. I would like to see other works. Secondly, you know that I am an independent master and have never worked for anyone other than myself. I like to create an exclusive.

Omer leaned on the table and, bowing to Ahtem, spoke convincingly: - Other drawings will be. And you think carefully. Your work will continue to be exclusive. But you will not depend on the whims of the customer. Other people will be engaged in sales, and you and Defne will be able to completely surrender to creativity.

- Defne? - asked Ahtem vividly. - So the designer of this drawing is called Defne?

"Yes," Omer's face lit up with an inner light. - Defne. Defne Iplikci. My wife.

"With what pride you are talking about her," Ahtem smiled at one corner of his mouth. In this grin, Omer caught the sadness and guessed about its cause. But, knowing that the pride of his friend is not inferior to his own, he said nothing.

Ahtem shook his head and smiled again cheerfully and easily. He winked and promised: "Good." I'll think about it.

***

In the evening, after finishing work, Omer waited for Defne near the car. A handsome, confident man, he stood with his arms crossed on his chest and leaned his hip against the car and did not take his eyes off the automatic doors of the office center. The girls working in the building ran past and shot him a look, but he did not notice anyone. Tired, detached man. But when a slim girl with fiery hair fluttering behind her and shining amber eyes fluttered out onto the street the man transformed. He straightened up, smiled widely and a light flashed in his black eyes. In response, she smiled at him warmly and joyfully. And she allowed being embraced. And kissed with a short kiss right on the lips.

- I missed you so ... it was a long day did not see you!

- Me, too...

For a moment, just for a moment, they froze, enjoying each other's warmth, then Omer pushed his wife to the car. He opened the front door and, while she was sitting down, managed to stroke her back and arm, and even imperceptibly touch her chest with his little finger. Defne threw a laughing, embarrassed look at him and shook her finger. Omer caught her hand, kissed her finger and winked, smiling at the same time that Defne had a sweet tremble in her belly. Then, pulling his jacket, he went around the car and got into the driver's seat. Slamming the door, he reached for Defne again and kissed her gently and hotly.

"I dreamed all day ..." he breathed out in her ear and reached for the ignition key.

"Did you release Sukru again today?" - calming the butterflies excited by his kisses, and at the same time fastening her seat belt, Defne asked.

- Yes. I did not want to detain him overtime. Looking for a home is not a quick thing. Let's go together.

"Let's go," Defne agreed joyfully. "I love the two of us in the car ... to go and not to think about anything, just to enjoy."

- To what? - Omer asked on the road cheerfully.

"The fact that you are near," Defne answered without hesitation, and a hot geyser exploded in his chest. Crazy, crazy joy was in full swing. She enjoys ... she loves him! Open and free. How long had he dreamed about it! Driving the car with one hand and not taking his eyes off of the road with radiant happiness, Omer found Defne's hand and interlaced her fingers with his own.

And at the other end of the parking lot in black Mazda, a man sat, his eyes glowing with hatred, watching the Mercedes retreat. When the car was out of sight, Kivanc Talat took out his phone and made a call.

"Hello," came a slow voice.

- Did they take you?

"They did.

"That's great.

Talat deliberately with a slow, theatrical gesture dropped the phone into the inside pocket of his jacket and laughed a croaking, victorious laugh.

The Mercedes slowly rolled along the promenade. On the left poured the blue waters of the Golden Horn Bay, on the right, the city idly prepared to meet the evening. Cars burst from traffic jams and hurried to deliver their passengers to their homes. The lights of cafes and restaurants were lit up.

"Let's stop by for dinner first," Omer suggested.

- Come on! - Defne agreed and asked: - Just not in the chic restaurants where you need to wait an hour for an order. I know that you are an opponent of fast food, but let's drop into the usual snack bar, buy doner-kebab with ayran and have dinner on a bench by the bay.

"If you want it," Omer brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. - For a hundred years I haven't eaten doners, but why not.

- Hurrah! She jumped in the seat, and Omer laughed. He was ready to eat even earthworms if it will please his Defne.

They stopped the car in the parking lot near the street kiosk, bought a big doner and a bottle of ayran, and sat with all this on a bench by the bay.

The autumn evening was warm and quiet. The sun, approaching the horizon, gently shone in the face. Doners were delicious and juicy, and ayran refreshing. Omer and Defne enjoyed the evening, sunshine, food and just the fact that they were together. When empty bottles and napkins get to the trash bin, hand in hand went to the car. And they didn't even pay attention to the surprised passersby who, when they saw the cool Mercedes in the parking lot at the kiosk and the expensively dressed couple, who had dinner on the bench with doners and ayran, froze with open mouths and continued to stand even when the car pulled out onto the road and disappeared.

And Omer, well-fed and content, driving the car, realized with a smile that a dinner of simple doners turned out to be just as sophisticated and romantic as lobsters by candlelight in an expensive restaurant. The main thing is a woman who is nearby. It is she who makes everything brighter, more fragrant, tastier ... more magical.

- Do we have a long ride? - Defne cut off the chain of his philosophical thoughts.

"We almost arrived," Omer answered and turned right.

The car climbed up the hill and drove up to a large house surrounded by slender cypresses and a high fence. Massive oak gates parted and Mercedes drove into the courtyard. Its front part was lined with granite tiles with round gaps of blooming asters and marigold flower beds. The tiles went into the wide porch. The house itself was brick, orange, with huge windows and a red-tiled roof. Defne got out of the car and, throwing her head back, began to examine the forged railing of the balconies of the second floor and curved drainpipes.

- Do you like it? Asked Omer.

- A lot! She replied.

"Let's go see the yard first," Omer suggested.

He took her hand and led her to the granite tile paved path around the house. The yard turned out to be huge. In the middle of a lawn with short-cut grass, the pool beckoned with bright blue water. On the left was a small garden. Sweet cherries, peaches, and red-sided apple trees. In the corner of the courtyard grew an old branched oak. Defne immediately imagined a dollhouse on its branches and two mischievous faces looking out of the windows. Smiling at her thoughts, she looked at Omer. He answered her with a look of love and hope, and then he pulled her hand to the back yard. It was a mini-stadium. With a Swedish wall, horizontal bars of various levels and an excellent basketball court.

- Isn't it amazing? - rejoicing, like a boy, asked Omer.

"True," Defne agreed. "I have already fallen in love with the courtyard." And who will show us the house?

"The agent is waiting for us inside." Let's go in!

Omer led her to the front door. They were painted dark brown. Defne grimaced and firmly ordered:

- Let's repainted it in red, okay?

Omer laughed, hugged her shoulders and kissed her temple.

- Good!

The door was opened to them by a young, strictly dressed woman of about thirty. She smiled professionally and called into the house. Inside, it turned out to be empty and exactly as Defne dreamed. With parquet floors and white ceilings. Bright walls and a huge fireplace in the living room. Curved, wooden stairs. Large, comfortable kitchen, two modern bathrooms and four rooms on the second floor. And one tremendous dressing room. As Defne wanted. The five-sided, glazed annex housed a roomy office and a small gym. Everything was spacious, compact and very comfortable. Defne imagined the curtains on the windows, beautiful, comfortable furniture, fluffy carpets on the floor and smiled.

- Is this house what did you dream about? Omer asked when the agent stepped aside to call.

She nodded.