Defne entered the atelier and stopped at the reception. The girl standing behind it smiled affably and asked how she could help the lady.

- I am Defne Iplikci - the guest introduced herself. - I have an appointment here with Mr. Baisal and his daughter.

- Welcome, Mrs. Defne! Mr. Baisal warned me. He and his daughter are waiting for you in the fitting room. The second door to the left - the girl came out from behind the counter and held out her hand. - Let me take your coat?

- Yes, of course - Defne took off her coat and handed it to her.

Smoothing her gray knitted dress with her palms and straightening her hair, she walked in the indicated direction.

The hall around her was every girl's dream. Beautiful wedding dresses hung from the hangers and resembled airy snow-white clouds. On stands were put graceful shoes and all kinds of cute accessories. Jewelry glittered in a separate display case. Defne only looked at them in passing. The door the girl pointed to opened. A stylishly dressed, beautiful woman looked out from behind her.

- Mistress Defne! She exclaimed and flung the door wider. - Come on in. Mr. Ozcan and Mrs. Jansu are waiting for you.

When Defne went inside, the woman held out her hand and introduced herself:

- Irem. The mistress of this wedding kingdom.

- Very well - Defne shook the outstretched hand.

- Mistress Defne - beaming with a white-toothed smile, Ozcan Baisal approached them. - Finally, I have the joy of seeing your beautiful face.

Defne smiled discreetly and put her hand on her rounded stomach. The man followed her gaze, and the smile slowly faded from his lips. He looked up at Defne's serenely calm face and swallowed. She looked into his eyes, and her gaze was more eloquent than words.

- Can I congratulate you and Mr. Omer? - Under the mask of ease, hiding confusion, asked Baisal.

"Yes," Defne answered simply. - My husband and I are expecting a girl.

"Girl," he repeated, and in his eyes, just for a moment, sadness was clearly reflected. - Perfectly. May your girl be born healthy and grow up happy - he wished and walked a couple of steps away. - Jansu puts on the dress. She will be out now.

- Madam Defne, sit down, - Irem suggested. - Would you like some tea? Or juice.

"Juice, if possible," Defne smiled at her as she sat down on the sofa. - Orange.

- Now they bring it.

The fashion designer left, and the guests were left alone. Ozcan Baisal sat down in a chair and asked:

- How long does it take you to draw the sketch?

"A few days," Defne replied. "I have some ideas that I would like to discuss with you and your daughter now. If they strike you as successful, it won't take long to put them on paper.

- How quickly will Mr. Ahtem be able to make a piece of jewelry?

- If you have all the necessary materials, it will cope in five to six days. Ahtem and other masters are now closely engaged in the manufacture of a collection for the exhibition in Ankara. When the sketches of the jewelry are ready, he will leave another job and start your order.

Baisal rubbed his chin thoughtfully and said:

- Good. I will provide materials and stones. Sapphire will not need to purchase them and wait for delivery.

- Perfectly! - Defne was delighted.

An employee of the atelier brought Defne orange juice, she thanked her and took a sip. And then she put the glass aside.

A beautiful princess came out from behind the screen into the hall. She was wearing a snow-white dress of incredible beauty. Her bodice remained simple and even modest, but the flying, the layered skirt was embroidered with crystal beads that sparkled and shimmered in the rays of the sun peeping through the window. Defne looked at Baisal. He starred at his daughter, and his eyes shone with love and pride.

- My soul, you are beautiful! He said.

- Really, daddy?!

The princess blossomed into a smile and spun in place.

Defne looked at her and was a little jealous. How good it is to grow up an adored daddy's daughter and to know about it. To marry a loved one without lying and secrets in your baggage. Enjoy the preparation for the wedding and the boundless care of men dear to your heart. She once was deprived of such joy.

"But all this will definitely be for Emine!" - whispered an inner voice, and Defne weightlessly touched her stomach.

Ozcan Baisal brought his daughter to her and introduced them to each other:

The girls exchanged polite phrases, and Defne carefully examined the dress.

"You were right, Mr. Baisal," she said, turning to the man, "when you said that this dress is beautiful, and the decorations for it should also be perfect. Flawlessly graceful and delicate. Those that do not weigh down the image, but only emphasize the refinement of the dress and the beauty of the bride. Mrs. Jansu, - Defne looked at the girl, - and what would you like? How do you see jewelry in your dreams?

"It should be a necklace, earrings, and a bracelet," the bride answered confidently. - Stones be diamonds and nothing else. No pearls, no rubies or sapphires, nothing. The frame from white gold, but it shouldn't be visible. I want you to give the impression that the jewelry consists of only diamonds.

- An interesting idea, - Defne said, but in her mind, she was surprised. It looks like the young princess has a queen character. She took a tablet out of her purse and, opening the sketches on it, handed it to the girl. - Look, do you like any of this?

Jansu sat down on the sofa and patted the seat next to her with her palm.

- Have a seat. You are pregnant. You don't have to stand in one place for a long time.

Intrigued by this unusual girl, Defne sat down on the sofa next to her. She was already looking closely at the sketches.

- Here! - pointed to one of them. "That's exactly what I was talking about. Just make the frame even more invisible. Diamonds should shine on the skin, not metal.

"Okay," Defne agreed. - I will take this drawing as a basis and talk to the jeweler about how to more accurately translate your idea into reality.

"Tell him that this work is a challenge to all jewelers in the world," the girl smiled boldly. - If he copes, he is guaranteed world fame. I'll take care of that.

- I will, - promised the amazed and fascinated by the young queen Defne.

She smiled at her and she responded with a sincere smile.

- Thank you, Mrs. Defne, - said Ozcan Baisal. - I will be waiting for your call.

- I will try to finish the work as quickly as possible, - hiding the tablet in her purse, Defne promised and stood up.

- Sir! Sir! - She heard the frightened voice of the girl from the reception behind the door. Resounding and decisive steps echoed. - You can't go there! These are fitting rooms! I will now tell your wife that you expect her in the hall, but to enter...

The door flew open, and Omer appeared on the threshold. His darkened face did not promise anything good. Defne mentally rolled her eyes and asked Allah to send her husband at least a little prudence and tranquility.

- ... The fitting room is not allowed, - the girl who appeared after mechanically finished the phrase, and turned to the hostess who appeared from the next room: - Mrs. Irem, I tried to stop, but mister...

- Okay, Zeyneb, - reassured her mistress. - Go back to your place.

The girl disappeared.

- Omer, - Defne went up to her husband. - What are you doing here?

"I was nearby at a meeting and decided to give you a ride to Sapphire," he lied brazenly and took her arm imperiously. - Have you finished the meeting yet?

Omer deliberately ignored Baisal and the others. He understood that it was rude and unprofessional, but he could not help it.

"Yes," Defne replied.

- No! - Suddenly objected the pretty young bride in a beautiful wedding dress. Without a shadow of confusion and fear, looking straight into the eyes of the uninvited guest, she said: - Mrs. Defne and I have not yet discussed the size of diamonds and their cut. Please wait!

Those present involuntarily opened their mouths in amazement. But the girl didn't even turn her ear. She took Defne's other hand and pulled her along. The men remained standing.

"You have a very ... determined daughter," Omer muttered, looking after the girls.

- Yes, - Baisal agreed. - From birth she commands everyone. And I can't deny her anything, "he looked Omer in the eye. "Children... they are above all. All other desires and feelings fade into the background if the interests of the child are affected.

Omer did not look away. He burned Ozcan with a heavy look and tried to read in his eyes what he had seen before - a flame of passion. Passion for Defne. But, either he managed to hide it well, or something changed, or his sixth sense disappeared, but Omer no longer saw either passion or interest. A loving father looked at him, not a pursuing man.

Defne and Jansu Baisal returned to the fitting room. The bride looked boldly at Omer and said:

- We have solved all the issues. You can take your wife. Just take her not to work, but to a good restaurant. She is tired and hungry.

"I'll do so, young lady," Omer replied and interlaced his fingers with those of his wife. - All the best! - he said goodbye to everyone.

- See you, - Defne smiled at Baisal and hurried after her husband.

- What are you doing? She said indignantly as the atelier door closed behind them.

"You broke your word," he replied, and gently pushed her toward the car.

- Unwillingly! - reminded Defne. - That is how the circumstances developed.

- You broke your word! Omer repeated stubbornly.

- What are you saying: violated! - She reacted. - Did I want it?! This is a job! Work! Do you understand, your stubborn head?! And you flew in like a hawk and let's demonstrate your male chauvinism! - Defne saw that nodules were playing on his cheekbones, but she could not stop. - How did it look from the outside, you guess?

He put his hand around the back of her head and closed her mouth with a kiss. Domineering, angry ... and so sweet. The anger in Defne's chest flared up with renewed vigor, and passion blazed with it. She hugged Omer and kissed him hotly.

In the very heart of Istanbul, in the middle of noisy Nisantasi, they have forgotten about everything except each other.

Tearing himself away from her lips, Omer looked around and, hugging her waist, led to a nearby hotel. After paying for a room, he ordered to bring lunch in forty minutes and pulled Defne to the elevator.

They began kissing in the mirror-paneled booth. When it stopped at the right floor, they jumped out of it and ran to the room. The door did not have time to close, and Omer was already pressing Defne to the wall with his whole body and tore off his clothes and hers. They fell to the floor and left the path from the door to the high bed. Clasping her around the waist, Omer led Defne to it, but after taking another step, he stopped again and kissed her passionately and greedily. And she answered the same - boldly, ardently, unrestrained. She stroked his body, clung to it, and demanded ... demanded ... demanded.

Falling back on the bed, she threw her hands over her head and clung to the head of the bed. Omer abruptly parted her legs and knelt between them. In one movement he plunged into her and, gritting his teeth, began to move violently and quickly. The pleasure came instantly. Covered by a wave and sucked into a fiery whirlpool, which had no end and edge. The seconds have become an eternity, and eternity has become seconds. And for that second, Omer was ready to give his life.

"We're crazy," Defne said.

Her head lay on Omer's chest and he, slowly fingering her hair, smiled lazily with one corner of his mouth. He felt good. Too good. The adrenaline that was raging in the blood a few minutes ago was replaced by pacification and slight euphoria.

"Let it," he replied. - It suits me.

- In the middle of the working day, - continued Defne, - at a hotel ... the employees definitely took me for your mistress.

- Why? - Omer was surprised.

"Because husbands don't take their wives to a hotel for a couple of hours," she said ironically.

- Then they are just fools, - Omer ran his fingers over her back and gently squeezed the rounded buttock. - They don't know what they are giving up.

Defne laughed and replied:

"I don't know about men, but if you hadn't dragged me here today, I would definitely have lost a lot.

- Yes? - Omer with a lightning movement rolled onto his stomach and loomed over her. A teasing smile touched his lips. - We can repeat such forays at least every day.

- Every day? Defne arched an eyebrow slyly.

"Uh-huh," he replied and grabbed the top of her breast with his lips.

Defne threw back her head and, laughing, declared:

- We're definitely crazy!

***

Mirai did not expect the manager to appear in her office. He had never visited her before. If it was necessary to discuss the work, Mr. Kartal called her to him. Therefore, when he entered and stopped at her desk, she was a little confused.

This man gave her strange feelings. She liked his conciseness, his stingy, dignified gestures, and the respect with which he treated everyone, without exception, employees. Mirai knew that life had been difficult for him, but he did not become embittered and did not turn into a cynic. And this spoke of the strength of character and solid moral principles. Of course, all these qualities could not but arouse admiration. But there was something that scared Mirai. When he looked at her with his gray eyes, her heart began to beat as a caught bird, and she forgot to breathe. Mirai was not a naive girl and understood what that meant. She fell in love. After so many years the ice armor, she had built in her chest, she opened her heart to feel again. It was scary. Very scary. And she hid these feelings behind external indifference, not allowing herself even to look towards the handsome man with sad gray eyes. She persuaded herself that someone like her was not a match for him, and he would never pay attention to a single mother of three children. A broken woman who can never be complete again.

And he did not give a reason to indulge in illusions. He treated her evenly and slightly detached, like all other employees. Only occasionally did Mirai catch his gaze. From it sweetly squeezed in her chest and she wanted to dream.

And so he himself came to her office. And he looks with the same look from which the soul freezes.

- Mister Kartal, - she got up from the table. - Do you have an urgent assignment for me?

"Yes," he replied, and immediately corrected himself: "No. I came to ask if there is any news from Diamond.

News from Diamond? Mirai was surprised. The letter with the date of shipment arrived two hours ago and the manager of Sapphire is also included in the mailing list. She saw it with her own eyes. But the woman did not dwell on this. She handed him the printout and replied:

- Yes, a letter came from Diamond. The dispatch will take place tomorrow. The stones will arrive at us in three days. I have already settled the issues with the customs service.

"Okay," the man said. "Have a nice day". He walked away from the table but stopped halfway to the door. Slowly he turned and spoke: - Mrs. Mirai, the leadership of Sapphire has been invited to the annual ball of the jewelry association. Invitations were sent for directors, co-owners, and their companions. I want to ask if you would do me the honor of being my companion for this evening.

The heart sank in her chest. There was a noise in her ears, and a pink mist floated before the eyes. What is it? Joke? But the man looks serious. Waiting for an answer so tensely, as if his whole life depended on it.

- Me? Are you inviting me? She asked in a whisper.

"Yes," he replied. - You. If you are worried about the dress, then...

"I have a dress," Mirai hastened to assure him.

- So ... you agree?

Her soul was torn to pieces. One, sober, demanded to show prudence and refuse, but the second ... the second wanted to go to the ball with this man more than life! By the right of a companion to stand side by side, smile, dance ... For one evening, forget about her inferiority and become just a woman.

The second won. Mirai sighed and said:

- Yes.

The man smiled. Sparingly, but so beautiful.

"I'll pick you up on Saturday at seven. See you.

"See you," she answered quietly and watched in fascination as he left the office.

When the door closed, she covered her mouth with her hand and sighed convulsively.

"Allah," she whispered through clenched fingers. - What have you prepared for me? Happiness or new heartache?

***

On the street from the hotel came out quite a respectable couple. The expensive and tasteful clothes fit them perfectly. And the fact that the girl's blouse was missing two buttons was not visible under the coat and tightly buttoned jacket.

That's how Defne calmed herself, but it didn't work out very well. It seemed to her that everyone around her guessed what she had just been doing with her husband in a hotel room. Defne was ashamed. She walked without raising her eyes and felt that her face was on fire. Omer glanced sideways at her flaming cheeks and stopped. Carefully he straightened the collar of her coat and asked in a casual tone:

- Maybe you will release Mehmet and come with me? I'm driving myself. Sukru in Sinan's car went to meet him at the airport. And we will go to the Grand Bazaar, and then to the delivery service.

- I would be happy, - Defne answered and smiled regretfully, - but after, I will need to see Ahtem. He works in the old workshop today.

- I will gladly take you there, and I will wait until you settle everything, - promised Omer.

- Really? - Defne was delighted but immediately frowned. - Don't you have urgent work in Passionis?

"No," Omer lied for the second time that day. There was work, but today he did not want to let Defne go.

- Then that's great! She smiled. - I will gladly come with you.

She took out her phone and called Mehmet.

"Go to Sapphire," she said. - I will go with Mr. Omer.

- Good girl! - Omer blossomed with a smile and took his wife to the Mercedes in the parking lot. - Maybe after meeting with Ahtem we will not return to the office, but go straight home? Or to a movie? Or for a dress? The ball is on Saturday and you need a new dress.

- Ay, exactly! - Sitting in the car, Defne exclaimed. - How could I not think? I really need a dress. My old ones will all be tight at the waist. "She folded her hands on her stomach and smiled softly."

- Then it's settled! - Omer winked at her. - After meeting with Ahtem we are going to empty the boutiques!

The Iplikci walked through the colorful and picturesque Grand Bazaar. They got presents for Maya and Theo. And even for the handsome horses, they bought a box of brown lump sugar. Then they drank coffee in an old coffee shop and went to the delivery service. There they accepted the package and promised that in a few days it would be delivered to Bora Bora.

They walked out of the post office holding hands and beaming with happy smiles.