Zara heard a loud noise from Deon's room in that late night. So, she came running even without a delay. Even though room door was closed she could clearly hear Alina's voice in the middle of loud noise.
"Alina. Alina." Zara tried to call her knocking the door. But she tried to lower her voice as much as possible not to disturb their parents and others. So, without making a fuss, she kept knocking. After sometime, their argument became a whispering and Alina opened the door inviting Zara to the room.
Zara was amazed to see their room like that. Few perfume bottles and shirts were lying on the floor making the surrounding full of fragrance. And the sofa had been capsized. Alina was wet with sweat and looked tired. Zara made her sit on the bed and gave her water then sat beside.
"What happened?" She asked from her sweet sister in law.
"I don't know Zara. He's insane. Soon after he returned, he got a call from Lisa then he started throwing these things from the cupboard. I tried to tranquilize him, but no use. He's not sober yet. I think, they have lost another deal."
"Where's he now?"
"In bathroom. I sent him for a shower. It's the only way to gain his consciousness."
"It's because of the fire, right?"
"May be. Don't think about it. I wish, no one heard us except you." Alina said sadly. Zara put her left hand around Alina's waist and gave her a warm hug.
"Don't worry Alina. You're not responsible. I feel guilty. I arranged the party and it became a havoc."
"It's not because of you Zara. Don't feel bad." Deon's voice came behind the sisters. Both sisters turned their heads to see his face. He directly came to Alina and kissed her lips.
"I'm sorry my baby if I frighten you. Today is just a bad day. For the first time in the history we lost our annual budget. I don't know how to inform dad and grand pa." Deon spoke apologizingly. He looked devastated.
"Is that confirmed?" Zara asked interrupting to his talk.
"Ya. Lisa just informed me. Budget meeting is a day after tomorrow. Many of the directors are not favourable. They will vote against us. I feel like killing her." Deon's words were sharp.
"Who? What are you telling Deon?" Alina questioned surprisingly.
"That mad girl, Esmee, who else."
"I don't understand anything Deon. First you destroyed all of her gifts to you, then you are speaking bad about her." Alina was helpless with his words.
"Esmee set the fire. I just found it few hours ago."
"What?" Both Zara and Alina yelled together. Then all of them became silent for a minute.
"It wasn't coincident. It was a well-planned act, done by Esmee. Whatever the reason behind that, we all are suffering now."
Neither Zara nor Alina spoke a word. They were totally mute and silent and were just heeding to Deon without a movement of lips.
"But, no need to feel guilty or sad, we'll find a way to solve these issues. So, you both stay calm and happy." He said consoling his wife.
"I don't know how Deniz will react on this. He adores her yet." Zara raised her voice late.
"Deniz knows that. Don't worry he will manage himself."
After having a casual talk, Zara left them alone and went to her room.
Deniz was knocking the door continuously for the twentieth time. He screamed loudly and kicked few times hard too. But there was no response from the inside. So, he sat on the floor and started drinking like a sot, until the door opens. But it took time, more than he anticipated. So, he had to wait few hours in that cold misty night.
When he opened his eyes, he was comforting in a bed with full of lily fragrance. Even though that unique smell was his favourite, he felt that comfort was weird.
"Good morning baby!" Esmee's voice came from his left side with a warm kiss. Deniz was extremely surprised to hear her voice close, so, got up swiftly.
"What are you doing in my bed?" He asked harshly.
"You're in my bed Deniz. Actually, not mine, this is ours, right? We bought this house together." Esmee said while shrinking into her bed sheet. Her nude fine body was covered with Deniz's brown leather jacket.
Deniz was fumed in anger, not being able to remind one thing in that late night. He looked around and saw, his dresses, wallet, belt, phone and watch, all were lying on the floor. So, he immediately put his cloths on and started collecting his items.
"What happened Deniz? You're behaving like we did a mistake." Esmee got up asking. She wore his jacket and came to his arms.
"Leave my hands." Deniz pushed her away hardly.
"Why Deniz? Don't you love me now?" She grabbed him tightly kissed his bare chest.
"Leave me Esmee. I don't love you. We're not meant to be together." He removed her hands and pushed her to the bed. "I think, you never loved me. You just used me to be an artist." Deniz further added to his talk.
"Then why did you come for me? Didn't you use me last night?" Her words were equally cruel and stern.
"Stop making faces Esmee. I know you and your emotional dramas. But don't say I used you. I never used anyone in my whole life."
"Problem is, you never understood me. I loved you dearly. And you went to that cunning bitch. I wish, I could kill her."
Deniz collared her and pressed her neck. "Don't even think of harming Zara. You don't know me properly."
"Then kill me. Why are waiting? Kill me and go to hell." Esmee screamed while holding his sturdy hands. Her eyes were red and she was about to cry. So, he released the neck and sat next to her. Few tear drops were flowing down on her lurid cheeks, but she didn't utter a word and remained quiet. But, between whiles, Deniz could clearly heard her sad whimperings.
"I truly loved you Esmee. But, it's over. Please let me live peacefully. I'm tired now. I know you banned some of companies that buy my songs. I know you sabotaged my birthday party. But still, I'm not taking any action against you because I loved you. But stop now. Stop here." Deniz raised his voice after being mute for a while.
"What if I love you still?" It was Esmees's response. Deniz didn't reply and she started crying loudly like a child.
"I wish I could help you to move on. I'm sorry." Deniz got up to leave. He wasn't brave enough to stay any longer seeing her sad face.
"Please Esmee, don't involve Zara into this. I don't want to hate you. Take care. Good bye!" He disappeared in no time. Esmee watched him leaving with teary eyes.
Deon was waiting for Deniz in the office. He had asked him to meet him by ten. But still Deniz was late. Lisa came to Deon with few project files.
"Didn't he come yet?" He asked from Lisa.
"No Mr. Deon. What shall we do now? We can't hold them for the whole day. I requested one hour. At least we should inform them before twelve."
"It's ten forty now. Esmee and Deniz, they both are....." Deon shut his mouth before telling something bad. "Lisa call him, he's not picking up my calls. Even he hasn't gone home yesterday."
"He was in Esmee's apartment. I just blocked some news from social media. Seems to be he had a night stay there."
"What?" Deon screamed after being shocked. "Are you sure about the news? Isn't it an old one?"
"I wish it would be. But no Mr. Deon. Alice found out it clearly."
"I'm totally tired of his dramas. I haven't informed grand pa and dad about our budget issue yet. Then this, how can I control his actions?" Deon said.
Even before Lisa said a word Deniz entered to the room knocking twice. So, Lisa devoured her words and left the room leaving brothers alone.
"Lisa, arrange something hot." Deniz commanded her.
"How about arranging a hot bath with Esmee?" Deon replied to him in anger.
"Don't utter nonsense. Speak directly. Why did you call me?"
"Don't argue Deniz. I'm fed up now. I can't cover your mistakes every day. Why did you meet Esmee?"
"I just wanted to end it clearly. She should move on."
"Then what the hell you did there whole night? Did you know, how much we are doing to cover your stupidity?"
"I was drunk. I know I made a mistake by going there. But believe me Deon, I just woke up in her bed and don't know anything." Deniz responded while relieving a breath.
"Alice blocked the news. I don't know what will happen if dad sees that. And Zara? Deniz, that is enough. Now we must concentrate on our annual budget meeting. We'll surely fail this time."
"What will we do then?"
"We have to leak something to media. If not, our rival company will win." Deon's words were heavy.
"You mean, Esmee's uncle's company?"
"Ya. They're planning big with Noah. We have a press meeting now. Get ready for that."
"So, what're we going to do? You want to reveal Esmee's name for the fire incident? Sorry Deon I can't do that." Deniz got angry.
"Don't be so. Don't kill our company's future with your personal feelings. And we don't reveal anything. We just leak a small thing and media will find it themselves."
"Working with dad for years, you have become like him Deon. No emotions, only business. You're not my elder brother." Deniz spoke in pain. He didn't have a courage to harm Esmee in any way. So, he was afraid of Deon's plan.
"Whether it's good or bad, I'm a businessman and I have to act as one. Now get ready, media is waiting for us." Deon left his office room closing the door loudly.
Deniz could flee from his brother but he stayed thinking about Zara and his family. And he knew that Noah was ready for the battle ever since he returned back to Paris.
Deniz was called by Alice to the conference hall.
"Thank you, Alice." Deniz said. "You always cover news for me."
"That's not only for you. That's for the company and specially for my boss, David. I know his anger better than you." She said smilingly. "And that was the biggest truth for the company too. So, all the staff were so attentive in their respective jobs."
When Deniz entered through the hall door, there was a big fuss. Deon came behind him with Lisa. But both brothers didn't give any interest towards the media and walked ahead to the stage.
"Good Afternoon to you all! Thank you for coming today for our short notice. We had plans to do this earlier after the Deniz's birthday. But he had a scheduled tour, so we couldn't do that. As you all know, Deniz was specially waiting to address you on his birthday as usual but the situation was such that we couldn't…" Alice was addressing the gathering but Deniz interrupted making her speechless.
"Thank you, Alice, but I'll do from here." Deon was also surprised with his act. He tried to reach to the podium as he didn't have any faith on Deniz. But Lisa stopped him saying him to wait.
"I don't trust this boy." Deon whispered to Lisa.
"Let's wait. Unless we'll create a new drama." Lisa replied back. Alice also nodded her head agreeing to Lisa.
"Hello! I know, I'm a bit late but I take this opportunity to thank my worldwide fans for the lovely birthday wishes and gifts. I got many letters too. I'm not sure that I can reply personally to them but I'll definitely send them a reply letter. And this year is very special as my loving wife, Zara is with me. She always supports me and guids me. And she makes me surprised with lots of ways, specially, on my birthday she gave me shocking wonders." Deniz stopped speaking and blinked an eye towards the cameras. All roared with laughter to that except Deon, Lisa and Alice. They were pretending to be happy but were afraid of the latter part of Deniz's statement.
"My wife is so endearing. She's naïve and innocent. But, when it's a surprise no one can beat her talent. She's really good at that, but on my birthday, it was someone else who did that better. I didn't know that person was very talented in surprising me. Not only me actually, my family, relatives and all the others were extremely surprised because of her. So, Esmee thank you very much for making my birthday, a flashing one. Thank you, guys. Good day!" Deniz concluded his speech and went back to his seat. Soon after he seated, media started with their typical questions and the hot topic was Esmee.
"No questions are answered today, sorry for the inconvenience." Alice replied loudly.
Deon was next to speak. But he was looking at his younger brother proudly without concerning about the media.
"Mr. Deon." Alice had to call him few times to the podium.
Deniz was watching a cartoon series while waiting for his brother in his cabin. Sometimes he turned towards the windows to see the down stair. Through those windows it was interesting to see people below. And on that day, it was fully crowded and it was not easy to walk passing them.
Lisa came to him with a lily bouquet.
"We have launched a flower shop on 5th floor. It was personally requested by Zara last month."
"Wow. She loves flowers a lot."
"But you love lilies only, right?" Lisa mocked smiling.
"No, I love Zara only." Deniz replied with the same attitude. Lisa laughed and gave the bouquet.
"This is for you."
"OH! Thank you, Lisa." Deniz hugged her. "Did you see David 2.0?" He asked.
"What?" Lisa was unable to get his words.
"I mean David version 2, Mr. Deon. Did you see him?"
"Oh no! Where do you find these cute words? But I don't like to hear anything against my boss. Mr. Deon is a great person that I've ever met. He's very talented and kind too. You don't know how much he works hard to grow this business."
"I know, I know. So, where's your great boss?" Deniz asked interrupting to her talk.
"He'll be here soon. He's very happy as you did something for the company today."
"I did that for him. I know how hard his life is.." Deniz expressed being emotional.
"Really?" Deon asked from the door side.
Deniz didn't expect him to be there at that odd time so, he didn't have a reply to give. He turned his head away from Deon quickly.
"I never thought you would feel that way Deniz, my stubborn brother." Deon proceeded his talk.
"Now, it happened right? So, leave me now." Deniz said turning into his usual aggressive mood.
Both Deon and Lisa smiled looking at him. But Deniz remained silent watching the cartoon show.
"He's still a baby." Deon said to Lisa looking at him. Lisa smiled.
"Thank you, my baby brother. I know it was hard for you but you did it, in an amazing way."
"I'll leave now. You take care of the rest."
"Stay here for couples of minutes. We have to check the back gate." Deon said asking Lisa to check the CCTV footages.