Lamuel Arslan Erdogan walked through the threshold of the Erdogan mansion pocketing his phone.He was Lamar's younger brother with similar features but few inches shorter and had his hair fully cropped, military style.His eyes were brown another distinctive feature since people normally mistook one for the other.
"Lamuel,did you finally reach your brother?My assistant scheduled a meeting for him and Kempinski's board and if he doesn't show up,the the deal is as good as Kucuk's and that is bad for our business!"
Lamuel waited till his father,Basak Erdogan had finished his string of lament.He took a seat next to his mother who seemed to be in her own world peacefully having breakfast without a care of what her husband was saying.They were out having breakfast near the pool.Their surrounding was a synonym of paradise as birds chirped on the ornamental trees and flower beds with every type of flowers bloomed sandwiching the footwalks,all courtesy of Yasmine.
"I can't reach him on his phone or at his penthouse.They told me he left early."Lamuel's voice was softer,less commanding than his brother's.
"Early you say?"Basak scoffed."Lamar never goes anywhere early unless it's to meet Jamal's daughter.He should get married and settle for once,but not to that tramp!"
"Watch your tongue Basak.We are in the middle of breakfast!"Yasmine Erdogan looked up from her fruit plate.Her eyes were amber like Lamar's and her curly tresses fell down her back coming close to her waist.She was a simple woman who didn't fancy make up except for a little mascara and lip gloss,neither did she admire latest designer clothes or money at all.That was the point she made everytime her husband tried to complain about her plain self but then again,simple isn't necessarily cheap.
"I can't believe you are okay with them dating.What does Jamal's brat have that other girls don't?"
"He loves her...she is basically the only thing he loves and if you knew what love is,you wouldn't be talking like that."Basak let his knife and fork down on his breakfast plate and looked up to his wife.
"You have turned him into who he is by always defending him.Who needs love?I only married you because you got pregnant with that rascal,who I sometimes doubt is my blood,and look at us...we're just fine.Still together and with two kids."A lump rose to Yasmine's throat and she had to blink severally to keep from crying.She loved her husband...but it was one sided.They would celebrate twenty six years marriage anniversary soon but her husband's opinion of her had never changed.He still saw her as an object of pleasure.And his constant reminder that he only married her because he got her pregnant?It was a sharp steel blade through her heart.
"Is that why you treat him indifferently, because you think he is not your son?"Lamuel wasn't sure he wanted to listen to his father's cocky answer but kept his tongue still.Basak was never nice to anyone let alone his wife and everybody knew he had other women.They didn't even look like a married couple,more like co-parents or housemates."You sent him away to the army at sixteen for two years because he graduated from highschool too young!What did you expect him to become with the influence of ruthless much older mad men out there?"Yasmine coaxed when her husband didn't speak.
"Oh,I remember why I sent him to the army.Because he was always a pain in the ass.He never listened to anyone,always in trouble at school.Remember when he punched their school soccer coach because he replaced him as captain?And should I also remind you where he was when he was being replaced as as school soccer captain?Suspension!Your son was in suspension!"
"This argument is not necessary.I'll go to the meeting."Lamuel spoke to stop the cutting sword from landing on him.And he couldn't watch his own mother cornered like that by the man she claimed to love so much.They would probably be happier if they separated but Lamuel wasn't the one to make them see that.
"Now Lamuel is a good son..."Basak lifted his wine glass to his present son with a proud grin."Do what you have to do to secure that deal.I want some good news when you come back."Lamuel stood up and left after kissing his mother on the cheek.
"See you later."He left a ton load of suspense behind.He didn't mind going to the meeting,he always cleaned up after Lamar's messes and he didn't blame his brother.The tabloids nicknamed him playboy,spoilt brat,arrogant and being Lamar,he didn't disappoint.He lived upto the names people referred him as including their father's full package.Basak had created a copy of himself in Lamar and it was bad enough that he didn't know that.The only difference is,Lamar loved his woman.Elba was his firm pillar.
"You do know I was a virgin before you impregnated me,right!"Yasmine started as soon as her younger son left.
"I'm not in the mood for a pep talk.You can help us all by getting your son a wife to settle him down.He is not a teenager anymore!"Basak dropped his napkin on the table and stood up.
Yasmine sat still when she saw her husband move toward her.He easily moved her curls aside exposing her long neck then leaned into her.Yasmine held her breath as her husband left a wet trail with his tongue up her neck then stopped and grazed her earlobe."I'll be in the study if you need anything..."
Yasmine let out a long shaky breath after her husband left.She forms small fists with her shaky hands.It had been long since she had sex.She had drastically cut her husband off as soon as she found out he was cheating.The plan had been to make him realize she was the only one for him but it had proven futile when he started going out with different women.But one of these days he would learn how important she was...the hard way.
"Zehra!"Yasmine called."Zehra!"She called louder the second time.A short woman came in a half run from inside the mansion in maids classic blue uniform."Get me my tools and gloves.And let the maids know we are done with breakfast!"She ordered before the middle aged woman could catch her breath.
"Right away Mrs. Erdogan."
...
On Basak Erdogan's study table lay some pinned files and the topmost had a passport photo attached to it of a young man with emerald green eyes and shoulder length shiny black hair and tanned skin.Basak knew those eyes.He had been digging up some dirt on his old pal Emir Jamal to drag him down when he vied for presidency which he was due to do.Emir hadn't declared his interest for presidency...yet but Basak knew it was due to happen.He had enough power and influence in the government already.
"Raul,are you sure this young man on this photo exists?"He looked to his right hand man, friend, however odd that was and chief of his security personnel.They were both in their mid-forties and Raul had worked for his family since they were young adults.
"Yap,I had the pleasure to meet him in person.But I still don't get why he is so important."Raul replied keen on his boss's expression.The only thing running through his mind at the moment was if the young man he had his men look for was in any way related to Basak.Maybe an illegitimate son and Yasmine would finally see Basak isn't worthy of her and divorce him.
"Don't worry about that.Just get me more information on him.His current address,his job,his parents maybe, especially his father."
Basak took the file and perused through the two pages.
"Anything else?"Basak remained quiet for a full minute."I'm not sure if you are the right person to ask this but I trust you.Do you think Yasmine gets jealous when she sees me with other women?"
Raul swallowed a scoff because as stupid as that question was,Basak was still his boss.He would have liked so much to tell him what a jerk he was for treating Yasmine like trash,maybe punch some sense into his skull for not seeing how Yasmine suffered for his promiscuity but he wouldn't.
"Well...?"
"I umh!"Raul swallowed again and cleared his voice."I don't know,why don't you ask her instead?"Talking about the woman who gave him wet dreams every night with his boss,the woman's husband was harder than he thought.Basak nodded contemplatively.
"Speaking of women,I've never seen you with anyone...do you plan on dying single?You should knock up some girl and start a family of your own."
"I'll do that boss.If that is all,then I better get to work."Raul left his boss's office and cruised through the living room in hope that he might get a glimpse of Yasmine humming while tending to her indoor plants,she had plenty of those.He was walking to his car when he saw her bent,focused on removing weed on a flower bed infront of the mansion.One of the maids Zehra,was standing beside her just nodding and smiling to whatever Yasmine was saying.
Yasmine on the other hand was beautiful,a flower of it's own kind and she was giggling when I approached and stood close to them.
"Mrs Erdogan!"Raul's breathe was almost knocked out when she turned a smile still on.
"Hello Raul.I insist you call me Yasmine please.Going somewhere?"Yasmine looked up.She was short so she had to look up.
"Yeah,I'm going out."
"Okay.Better hurry up or you'll be late for your date."What date?Raul almost bit his tongue off after realizing out to her meant on a date.
"Yeah.Have a good morning,Zehra!"He acknowledged the maid as he left for his car.He took one last glance back at Yasmine before getting into his jaguar.One of these days...