- What is going on here? - repeated Omer and entered the room.

His eyes were throwing lightning. He looked from one to the other of the bedlam participants until he settled on Laila. She pulled her hair out of Koray's fist and whispered pitifully:

- Mister Omer, I spilled coffee on myself and wanted to change in the room, and then these came in, - she pointed to Koray with Laura, - and Mr.Koray pounced on me...

- What?!! - Koray roared and again reached for the hair of the impudent woman. But she leaped briskly out of bed and jumped to the side. - Oh, you are a snake under the skin! She was lying here, lounging, and now you are pretending a lamb? - He turned to Omer and jabbed his finger in the chest. - And I told you - this shameless decided to turn you around! You didn't believe it!

"Koray, calm down," Omer ordered. Pulling the covers off the bed, he threw it to Laila and ordered: - Cover yourself. - Then he turned to Laura and asked: - Explain calmly what happened.

Angry Koray threw up his hands and ran around the room. Laura followed him with her eyes and answered:

"We got to the room at two minutes to twelve. The door was unlocked. Koray entered first. I follow. Laila was lying on the bed in one shirt.

- And where is Baisal? - Suddenly a quiet voice sounded and every one as if on command, stared in amazement at its owner.

- S-s-skinny? Koray stammered.

Omer closed his eyes and mentally swore. Heck! He completely forgot that Defne is also here and sees this disgrace.

- Indeed, where is Baisal? - Laura supported her friend and looked inquiringly at Laila.

She didn't answer. She stood with a blanket in her hands and looked angrily at the floor.

"I'll call Mr. Ozcan's assistant," Laura said and took out her phone. - I have her number.

Laila turned pale and shot a hateful look at the girl. Defne saw it but said nothing. She waited for Laura to talk on the phone. Having listened to the interlocutor, she put down her hand with the phone and said in confusion:

"The appointment is at 2 pm in room 401.

- Here!!! Shouted Koray. - What did I say! This intriguer set everything up to seduce Omyush!

And then his gaze caught on a tiny flickering light, which was almost invisible in the folds of the heavy curtain. Stretching his head and peering, he stepped closer and pulled the curtain clip. Looking at it, he shouted:

- Yes, it's a video camera! Omyush, she was also going to blackmail you! And-and-and! Shameless! Intriguer!

- Is it true? - Omer asked Laila in a voice that made even Defne feel cold down her spine.

The girl grimaced and sobbed. Wiping away her tears, she began to make excuses:

- I fell in love with you, Mr. Omer! And you didn't pay attention to me. I thought that maybe so ... will interest you.

Omer was speechless with indignation. There was a snake next to him, and he, like a naive boy, did not even notice her intrigues. He even reassured Defne... Defne! He looked at his wife in dismay. How does she feel now?

Defne was seething! A wave of rage rose from within and threatened to destroy common sense. The impudent girl, whom she could not stand from the first minute of her acquaintance, wanted to seduce Omer. Her Omer! To destroy their family, steal their happiness.

She went up to her and looked into her eyes. Angry eyes blazing with hatred. And then she swung and slapped her in the face. Laila grabbed her cheek and the hatred in her eyes became almost tangible.

- In love? - Defne spoke in a voice ringing with anger. - You have no idea what love is! How low you appreciated Omer if you thought he might fall for your cheap tricks. Practice them further on the mongrels, and do not dare approach the lions.

- Darling, - Omer approached her and carefully took her by the shoulders. - Calm down. You shouldn't worry. This trash isn't worth making you nervous.

He led her to a sofa by the window and sat her down on a red velvet seat. Then he took his phone out of his pocket and called Passionis's security chief.

- Mr. Karan, go now to Nazlican, take Laila's personal belongings from her and go to the Hilton Hotel, room 603.

The next call was Nazlican. Omer ordered her to immediately collect her belongings in the assistant's office and hand them over to the security chief.

"Now," he turned to Leila, "listen to me carefully. You're fired without referrals or severance pay. You are forbidden to appear in Passionis. Your pass will be blocked today. I do not advise you to ignore my warning. Otherwise, Passionis will put you on the blacklists of workers, and nowhere, in all of Turkey, you will not even be taken to wash public toilets. Do you understand? Clear? - Laila burned him with an angry look and nodded. - Well. Now go to the bathroom and get dressed. I'm already sick of your half-naked appearance.

Leila flew into the bathroom and hysterically stamped her feet. How? How could it happen that a well-thought-out plan would be a disaster? The humiliation she experienced today cannot be forgiven. She will take revenge on everyone! Idiot Koray. This Italian countess. And, of course, Iplikci! Now they are her mortal enemies and she will arrange a fun life for them.

We'll see who the lions are and who the mongrels are, she hissed.

"Wow," Laura spoke first. "Trying to seduce a married man in such a cheap way? Your boss!

- Yeah, - Omer supported her. - A girl without moral principles.

- Omyush! Koray cut in. All theatricality flew off him, and he spoke like a normal person. - Remember the incident at the photo session. It was as if she ruined the dress and rubbed oil on the soles of the shoes.

"Koray, but the facts say the opposite," Omer objected. - She left your office with Zubeyir. Is that Zubeyir is her accomplice and the same prudent scoundrel as she is.

"It can't be," Defne said. - Nice guy Zubeyir. What kind of schemer and scoundrel he is? He's like a big, good-natured child.

"The skinny girl is right," agreed Koray. - Zubeyir, of course, is ugly, but not a scoundrel.

Fifteen minutes later, the head of the security service, Mr. Karan, appeared in the room. Omer briefly told him what had happened and knocked on the bathroom door and ordered Lаila to leave. She appeared dressed in a business suit and with her hair pulled back at the back of her head. She looked around those present with an angry look and lowered her eyes.

"Take your things and get out," Omer ordered. - Mister Karan, make sure that she never appears near Passionis and Sapphire again.

"Okay, Mr. Omer," the man replied and, taking Lаila above the elbow, led her out of the room.

Koray turned the miniature video camera in his hands and said:

- Let's see what is recorded here, - hiding it in his pocket, he quirked his lips capriciously. "I don't know about you, but I'm very hungry. These passions drained all the energy out of me. Let's go to lunch. We will order something expensive and luxurious. Let's celebrate the exposure of this witch.

"Good idea," Omer agreed. - The girls need to eat.

The girls looked at them as if they were insane.

- Eat? After that? - asked Defne, shocked by the masculine prosaic.

- Exactly, darling! - answered Omer. - We will not allow this dirt to affect our lives. Now let's go feed you with Laura and the kids.

- And me! Koray clapped his hands together.

"And you," Omer agreed with a sigh.

- Wait! Koray exclaimed and stared at Omer. - You said: babies? - he examined Defne's tummy. - Small. Doesn't look like twins, - then he looked at Laura. - Countess, are you pregnant? She shrugged embarrassed and nodded. - Ay-la-la! I will be the uncle of two kids at once!

Shaking his hips and waving his hands clenched into fists over his head, he began to dance a strange dance, more like Polynesian dances. The girls, fearing that Koray, who was in euphoria, to not accidentally knock them down, backed away to the wall.

- Honey, hold on! - Sympathized with her friend Defne. - Get ready to do gymnastics for pregnant women with Koray.

- Ugh, skinny! - Stopping and looking at her reproachfully, the concept director was indignant. - How ugly! Would you not be pregnant ...

- That's it! - stopped him the laughing Omer and, taking him by the shoulders, turned to the door. - Let's go to have lunch.

After lunch, the four, who recovered from the shock, went up to room 401. Father and daughter Baisal were waiting for them there and no unpleasant surprises. Koray chattered incessantly, admiring the taste and beauty of the bride, Omer carefully studied the dress, and Jansu meticulously - the jewelry.

- Yes! - With a gesture stopping the tirade of the strange man, she said, referring to Defne and Laura. - Exactly what I wanted. Your master is just an ace! Created a completely new technique for attaching diamonds. Let him patent it. And I will make sure that the whole world knows about it. Several major publications will cover the wedding. Later I will give an interview and advertise Sapphire. And Passionis too. "She looked at Omer. - Of course, if the result of your work is as impressive as that of your wife.

"I'll do my best," Omer promised with subtle irony.

The girl with the face of an angel and the character of a field marshal nodded and just as mockingly dropped:

- Do it! And don't forget the convenience. I'm not going to be the bride who sat in a chair for the entire wedding. This means that I should be comfortable and easy.

- Jansu, - Ozcan Baisal stopped her gently and reminded. - Don't you forget? You have a meeting with Niko. He is waiting for you outside the hotel.

The girl looked at her watch and nodded in agreement:

- Yes indeed. We should be at the florist at half-past three. I'm running, - she kissed her father on the cheek and ordered him: - Make sure that the dress is properly sheathed.

Then she waved to everyone present and disappeared behind the door.

Baisal turned to Omer. "And now another question that will come as a surprise to Jansu," he gestured to his assistant, and she took a flat box from her briefcase. The man took it and opened it. Crystal beads gleamed on the black velvet. Just like the ones that adorned Jansu's wedding dress. Baisal handed the box to Omer and voiced his request: - I want you to use them in the design of the shoes. When Jansu was little, my wife often read her the Cinderella story, and she always asked: "When I grow up and meet the prince, will I also have crystal shoes?" My wife laughed and promised that she would have the most beautiful crystal shoes in the world, - the man's eyes were clouded with sadness. - I want to fulfill her promise.

- A beautiful promise, - said Omer and, taking the box, slammed it shut. - The sketch will be ready in two or three days. I'll call you. If you like the result, it will take another week to make.

- Good. The timing suits me perfectly. I'm waiting for your call.

The men shook hands, Baisal said goodbye to the girls, and the four directors of Passionis and Sapphire left the hotel.

- Wow! - Grabbing his head, Sinan flickered around the office and said: - Half-naked in the hotel! And with a camera! That would have gotten you into trouble if it hadn't been for Koray and Laura!

- Why? - Omer was surprised. - Or do you think that I would fall for this girl?

- Of course not! I do know you. Married man. Honesty and principles are paramount.

- But what have the principles to do with it? - Omer was indignant. - I love Defne! Even if I wasn't married, I don't need anyone but her.

- Okay, okay, I believe! - Sinan in a conciliatory gesture raised his hands, palms forward. - You really are the perfect man.

- Would you be able to cheat on Seda? - Omer asked looking into his face.

Sinan considered. He scratched the back of his head and, with a vague shrug, replied:

- In principle, no. But I will not renounce. I'm an ordinary man. Not perfect. I can also be carried away by some beauty.

Omer opened his mouth to scold him properly, but he was prevented by the opening door and a clear voice:

- Hello to the most handsome men in Turkey!

The most handsome men in Turkey froze like seeing a ghost, staring at a slender blonde with a strong-willed chin and an overly radiant smile.

- S-s-ude? A-a- aren't you in New York? - stammering, said Sinan and then looked at Omer in confusion. - You did not say that she came.

"I didn't know," he replied.

"Of course you didn't," the girl rebuked her cousin. - You refuse to communicate with my parents. You forgave Defne but erased them from your life.

- Sude! - Omer snubbed her. - Don't interfere.

"I won't," she agreed easily and opened her arms. - Well, will someone hug me or not?

Omer got up, hugged her with restraint, and said goodbye: - Sorry. I have to go. Defne is waiting. See you sometime.

- Go, cousin, - mockingly said Sude. When the door closed behind him, she turned to Sinan and, invitingly looking into his eyes, asked: - And you? Would you like to hug an old friend?

***

The working day was over. Mirai turned off the computer, turned off the light, and went out into the corridor. Alina passed by with the lop-eared logistician. Smiling and waving goodbye, both disappeared around the corner. Mirai looked in the direction of Mr. Kartal's office. She wondered if he's already gone or not?

After the touching care and understanding, he showed her on Saturday after the ball, the former Mr. Kartal returned on Monday. The strict manager of Sapphire. He behaved as usual - reserved and businesslike. He gave orders, set tasks, summoned with a report, and did not show even the slightest sympathy with a single glance or gesture. Mirai kept repeating to herself that she was glad of this, but her heart ached with searing pain. Who needs a broken woman? Certainly not the man whose life had already inflicted cruel blows. From Seda, Mirai knew that Kartal had been abandoned by his wife, and he was raising his daughter alone. And then, when she fell ill, he took care of her and with all his might pulled the girl out of the embrace of death. Now everything is fine in their little family. Kumru is recovering. Why would a man, for the sake of a problem woman, break such a fragile, long-suffering, and tortured balance?

So she persuaded herself, but her soul ached and reached out to this serious man with deep gray eyes.

Shaking her head, Mirai turned away and hurried to the elevator. What is she thinking? Children are waiting at home, and their mother stands in the middle of the corridor and dreams of a man. It's a shame!

Mirai left the building, tightened the belt of her raincoat, adjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder, and resolutely headed for the bus stop.

"Mistress Mirai," a familiar voice sounded unexpectedly like a bolt from the blue. She stopped and turned slowly towards its sound. Mr. Kartal's car was parked by the side of the road. Ordinary gray Opel station wagon. Old and battered. His master stood at the open door. As always, serious and collected. So beautiful. "We're in one direction," he said. - Let me give you a ride.

Butterflies fluttered inside. They slept for so long that now the flutter of their wings seemed unreal. Like a miracle. Mirai smiled shyly and nodded. The man walked around the car and opened the front passenger seat door for her.

***

- Has Sude returned? - Defne was surprised when Omer told her about the stunning appearance of his cousin in Sinan's office.

"Uh-huh," Omer confirmed. - Like snow on the head.

They were returning home. The Mercedes rolled along the embankment. Outside the windows, the Golden Horn Bay glittered in the evening sun. Seagulls soared over the water, and boys darted like madmen along the bank, paved with gray slabs.

"Sukru, stop the car," Omer asked. - Defne and I will take a walk.

"Good idea, Mr. Omer," the driver supported him, stopping by the side of the road. - This weather is good. Spring.

The weather was really good. A warm breeze caught Defne's hair and it sparkled in the evening sun. She closed her eyes and presented her face to it.

- How good. After a day like this.

"Yes, unbelievable day," Omer agreed gruffly and slipped her hand under his elbow. - Let's walk and breathe deeply. Let's calm down.

Defne silently obeyed. They walked slowly along the embankment. Defne's hand rested on the crook of Omer's elbow and he gently squeezed her cool fingers with his hot palm. But his thoughts were far away. Defne felt the anger seething within him and had no way out.

- Are you still angry? She asked quietly and looked into his frowning face. - When we had lunch with Koray and Laura, it seemed to me that you calmed down and let go of the situation.

"It seemed so to me then," Omer replied. - And then I returned to my office, replayed everything in my head, and was horrified. What if we hadn't been late? If you had returned to Sapphire, and I was the first to enter this damn room, - his fingers tightly squeezed her palm. - Damn it! I would break her neck and the camera would record it.

"Well, don't exaggerate," Defne objected. "It wouldn't have come to that. But your photos in the company of a half-naked girl would appear.

- Would you believe them? - Omer stopped, took her by the shoulders, and looked expectantly into her eyes.

- I - no, - Defne answered calmly. - But the yellow press would mix you with the earth. If you had not been led to blackmail and refused to pay this scum, the headlines of all the primitive rags in Turkey would be full of your name ... and mine too. Praise the Almighty that Laura and Koray came first. And we were still nervous and angry that the doctor was late. Her lateness saved us from a huge problem, - Defne gently touched her husband's shoulder and, smiling, asked: - Don't upset yourself up. Look at the other side - a fluke saved us from a huge problem. Lаila showed her true face, and you were able to throw her out of Passionis. She is gone from our lives and will no longer disturb us.

Her words pacified the angry demons in his soul. They bowed their heads and lay down as hushed puppies. It became easy to breathe. Omer took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the salty sea air to overflowing. Exhaling, he smiled at Defne and asked:

- Let's go home. I know what will help me finally get rid of Laila and everything connected with her.

"I think I know too," smiled slyly Defne and pulled him by the hand toward the car.

But Omer stopped her and looked into her eyes with a burning, blazing hot fire. Licking his lower lip with lightning speed, he asked:

- And what is it?

Defne slyly looked with her caramel eyes and answered:

- Dinner.

Merry laughter floated over the strait.

"Defne," Omer said, looking into laughing amber eyes. - Let's go to my mother's house for the weekend?

The giggles in her eyes gave way to a joyful glow. She quickly nodded her head and, hugging his neck and kissed. In this kiss, everything was mixed - love, happiness, and great gratitude.

***

Laila rushed about her room furious and shouted curses:

- This fat freak pulled me by the hair! And this blessed one slapped me in the face and called me a mongrel. Me! Laila, she called me a mongrel! Can you imagine?