[•Ferit's POV•]
I woke up as the warm rays of the sun fell on my face. I looked around and the first thing which caught my attention was Nuri. She was leaning towards my shoulder, hugging my arm and was sleeping soundly. I knew I couldn't escape without waking her up, but I decided to try.
I stirred a bit but then she woke up slowly and looked at me still half asleep. "Good morning Ferit bey" she said and smiled "Uh... Morning..." I replied a bit unsure of what she was doing, and she hugged my hand tighter and closed her eyes as if to sleep more.
But then she opened her eyes fully and looked at me, and then at my hand and noticed my coat on her. "I am awake right?" She asked, I nodded. She suddenly sat up and took my coat and handed it back. "Thank you" She said, but then I heard something. I am sure she heard it too.
We both got out suddenly and my guess was right, it was a helicopter. Nuri waved her hand at the helicopter. It hovered above us for some time and then came down. Everything was finally alright and we were safe.
It was a rescue helicopter so it was way bigger than mine and we were on our way back to Istanbul. There were three others with us- Bashir, the pilot, Mr. Osman and the co-pilot, Alex. Bashir handed us a blanket each. Nuri seemed to be freezing for she gripped her blanket tightly. "Are you okay?" I asked her, kinda worried.
"Yeah... I am fi-, fi-... Achooo!..." she sneezed and sniffed in, her running nose. "Can I stay home today, Ferit bey? I will come tomorrow" she said, still shivering. "Come after you are better, even Idris might catch a cold" I said, "You can have my blanket too" I said and put it over her, and wore my coat. "Th- Thank you" she said and sniffed again.
We reached Istanbul quicker than I expected. Bashir was gonna drop Nuri at her house but then he turned towards me, "Ferit bey, will you be coming to the company today?" "Yes, I will go home and freshen up first, then arrive after lunch" I said. He nodded and walked towards the car. I reached home and took a bath, I felt a lot better.
I then went to Özgür's place and met Idris. He was literally in tears when he saw me, he came running and hugged me, "I thought you'd leave me like mom and dad... I was so scared" he said and started crying. I hugged him and lifted him up, Özgür watched us in silence.
"Idris, my dear, don't say such things okay?" I said and kissed his cheeks wiping his tears. "But you went missing with the helicopter like them" he said still weeping. "But I am here now, and I promise I will never leave you alone, please don't cry" I said and hugged him tighter, and placed him back on the floor, "Go on, go wash your face" I said and he went to the restroom.
"How did he know about it?" I asked Özgür furiously, "TV" said Ozgür and sighed, "TV?" I didn't get it. "Demir made it a 'missing case' as soon as he knew and called a press conference" "Bastard..." at that time Idris came back in the room, just when I wanted to curse Demir.
"Abi, I drew a picture yesterday, do you wanna see it? " I nodded and smiled, trying to calm down and he went back inside. Demir would use any trick up his sleeve to defame us. "But I called Miss Nazmiya as soon as I heard the news, she said you weren't missing and I tried telling that to Idris, but he trusts the TV more, I guess" said Özgür, at that time, Idris came with his picture.
"It looks so delicious!" I said looking at his drawing of a burger. "Did you eat this yesterday?" I asked, "Yup, also it has a deeper meaning" he said in a sly manner, I smiled, "What's that?" "Uncle said that the tomatoes, the sauce and the lettuce are really good friends... like us" he said.
"Us?" I asked confused, "Yup, You, me and Nuri" said Idris and smiled biting his lip. I and Özgür laughed, "Abi, won't she come today? Let's go home?" He asked, "Nuri is feeling a bit sick today, she will come to work after she is better" I said, "I have to go to the company now... Let me kiss you" I said and kissed his head, "Bye-bye abi" he said and waved, I smiled at him, "See you Ferit" said Özgür, "Bye" I said and left.
I got in my car and drove towards the company, then Çıhan called me, "Çıhan?" "Ferit? Thank God you are safe! Why didn't you call me?" He asked straight ahead. "I went to see Idris, why? Is there any problem?" I asked.
"Yeah, a few alliances contacted me seeing the news, they want to withdraw" "Is it so? What did you do about it?" I asked, cursing Demir in my mind. "I called a press conference for tomorrow, and after that, there's a meeting. I wasn't sure when you wanted them"
"Don't worry, Can you reschedule the press conference for today? I will be there at the company in half an hour" I said, "Why, aren't you tired after the expedition?" He asked jokingly, I sighed, "Well, you are the iron man. Great then, I will reschedule them" I grinned over the phone. "Okay" I said, "I am waiting, bye" he replied and hung up.
I reached the company and met Çıhan's friendly face first, but he looked nervous. "Ferit, Demir is here, he arrived fifteen minutes before" he said, "Where is he?" I asked coldly, "In the boardroom, he is talking with the alliances and is here to offer a deal, he is so persistent" I went there and pushed open the door, and I locked eyes with the madman sitting and laughing at the head of the table.
He stopped laughing and gave me the most annoying grin. "Ah! Ferit, welcome!" he said, "Demir, Çıhan will show you the door" I said, he got up at that time, "Ferit, what sort of a welcome is this? You didn't even listen to my proposal" He said. "Friends, I will join you in a meeting right after the press conference" I said turning to the others in the room. They all nodded, shook my hand and left the room.
Miss Nazmiya, Çıhan, me and Demir were left in the room. "Demir, I thought I made it clear, I am not interested in doing business with you" I said as cold as ever, "Ferit, will you listen to me first? If it was your father, he surely would" he said, I grit my teeth.
"I am his son, not his twin. The company belongs to me and Çihan and our decision is final" I said coldly. "Ferit Aras, I asked you to listen" he said and handed me a set of papers. It seemed like a business offer of some kind.
"What's this?" "My proposal, you see... I have some goods... Like always, and I need your ships to take them somewhere close" he said and grinned. "Why do you want our ships?" "It's not just your ships, that I want" he said. I handed the papers to Miss Nazmiya, she scanned it.
"There are various companies in this list Ferit bey, our subordinates too" "Why are there these many companies?" I asked "You aren't the only one I target, moreover, We need to see which one gives more profit" he said, obviously this was one of his tricks to get into the company.
"We don't agree" said Çıhan straight ahead, my friend read my mind. "Çıhan dear... You just keep your mouth shut, okay? I am talking to the boss here... And Nazmiya hanım, I would love a coffee please" said Demir turning to miss Nazmiya.
"Demir, We have a lot more important things to do. Moreover, nobody here works for you... And Umm... If you didn't notice, Çıhan owns as much as this company as I do, don't talk to him like that" I said, and took the file back from her and kept on the table, feeling a lot calmer and I turned to leave. "See you"
"Ferit Aras!" He called me again, I didn't turn, "Don't behave with me as you did with my sister" he said again, I paused and clenched my fist, and turned. "Don't drag Burçu into this conversation. She is a cheater and you are nothing less" I said with red eyes. As I went out, I heard Çıhan pass him a comment.
"Say Congratulations to Leyla for me" "Huh?" Asked Demir, "For living with you" "You can go Çıhan" replied Demir irritated. We had the press meet and thankfully it went well, so did the meeting with the alliances, and after all that mess was sorted out, I sat down at my table, to finish my pending work.
At that time, Miss Nazmiya came in, "Ferit bey, we couldn't talk before" she said, "Did something happen?" "Well after you were rescued from the island, I couldn't talk to you, are you feeling fine now?" She asked, I smiled. She was always there to fill in as my mother, so caring as always, her motherly ways were always dear to me.
"I am fine, Thanks" I said, "I just wanted to make sure" she said and smiled "Okay then, I will leave now Ferit bey" She said and turned to leave. "Uh... Miss Nazmiya?" She turned back to face me, "I need you to find a new Gardner... Also, Nuri isn't feeling that well, can you call her at night and ask if she will come back to work again tomorrow? If not I need to adjust my schedule" I said, she nodded, "Alright Ferit bey" She said and left. I turned to face my laptop.