Raul was upto date with every little detail going on in the Erdogan mansion.Like the redhead Lamar showed up with.She was the daughter of an Italian billionaire and one of the Erdogan's newest partners and soon to be Lamar's wife.Another curious woman, he could bet his life was having an affair with Basak,kept winking at him from across the room.And lastly Yasmine.
She was breathtaking even from the CCTV monitors in a floral dress.Her curls were held up in a bun with a few strands falling over her face and long neck.But she didn't look happy though.She did put up a facade for her guests and engaged herself in small talks.Was she aware Basak's lover was in her anniversary party?Her home?Surely,Basak couldn't be that stupid to blow his cover.
Raul had kept a relatively long distance between himself and Yasmine to avoid Junior's talk.She still thought the boy was Basak's illegitimate son and held it against Raul for holding the information.But she looked like she could use some company tonight.He ached for her,so close yet miles away from him.
Why couldn't she just divorce her unfaithful husband try happiness with someone else,like with him?Her kids were grown men,fully responsible ...well,atleast Lamuel was responsible enough.
He craved for a family of his own since Basak mentioned it but couldn't picture that family without Yasmine.He was drafted into the army soon after Yasmine married Basak and spent a few years in deployment trying to bury his feelings for Yasmine.Only that when he came back home,he could have signed with another security firm but he went for Basak's offer.Because he was stupid enough to still want a future with her.
Raul noticed Lamar taking his current model girlfriend out the back door before burying himself on her...the kid had his father's charms on women and it was a surprise he'd stuck with the ambassador's daughter this long.'Kids these days...'He thought before he got distracted by the beep in his ear.
"Raul,where are you?The boss is looking for you."Raul pressed his earcom.
"I'm in the security room.Where is he?"
"His office."Came the short reply then silence.The last he saw from the monitors was Yasmine staring directly at Basak's lover, then he went looking for Basak.
He left the security room and went to find Basak hoping he wasn't inquiring about Junior.The only nail missing on the casket to prove the young man was indeed Emir's kid was a DNA test.Raul could easily persuade the kid to provide some samples of his hair but how the hell was he supposed to get Emir's DNA samples?He was all the way in Dubai and even if he wasn't,Raul doubted he would agree to anything that absurd.
In between the minutes he took to go from the security room to Basak's study,a scandal,more dangerous than a landmine,had already gone down.Raul heard raised voices from around the corner to Basak's study and one of the voices he would recognize anywhere.Yasmine's.And it sounded agitated, choked like she was trying to swallow down a sob or had a problem breathing.
He jogged the rest of the way and went in without knocking,not that he'd be heard over the shouting going on.
"You shameless bastard!You couldn't wait for our anniversary party to end to get between her legs!You...!"Yasmine broke down, probably too hurt or humiliated to say anything.Infront of him was Basak's lover half dressed,all blushing and Basak in front of her trying to cover her exposed self.
"What did you expect?That I'll go celibate because you denied me what's rightfully mine?This is all your fault!Raul,get her out of here!"Raul stood rooted to the ground unsure of which 'her' he was talking about.
"Don't bother Raul."Yasmine barely managed to say amid sobs before leaving the too awkward study room.She couldn't even look Basak in the eye.Part of him was up in jubilation because of the scene he just witnessed but the other good part felt for Yasmine.If only he had courted her sooner...But back then he had nothing to offer her.And he didn't have the courage to confess his feelings to the Erdogan estates Manager's daughter.
"Majid,secure the study.No one is allowed within the study area.I repeat NO ONE is allowed into study area."Raul spoke into his intercom following Yasmine out.
There was no telling how damaging the scandal would be if it were to leak to the paparazzi,and Raul wasn't protecting Basak,it was Yasmine he was concerned about.
He saw Yasmine leave the oblivious party guests and go out the exit.He smoothed his way through the dancing couples.
"Hey Raul, where are you going?"Lamuel stopped him before he got to the exit.
"Basak wants me to check something out."Raul pointed the exit with his thumb hoping the kid hadn't seen his mother go out upset.
"And where's he?"
"In his study working on something...very important."Raul hadn't lied so much in a second for decades.Lamuel frowned looking pissed.
"He's working on his anniversary?"He started for the study but Raul stopped him.
"He said not to be disturbed.I got to go."Raul left the kid there and proceeded out.He hadn't totally lied,Basak was working on his lover and he had to get his shoulder to Yasmine to cry on.
Lamuel had a good head,not a womanizer or notorious playboy,he always listened to his parents unlike Lamar who was a replica of his father,apart from his curls.They were exact opposites.
Raul got out just in time to see Yasmine disappear around their units and he guessed where she was going.To sulk in her pain on her swing in her flower garden.
He found her doing exactly what he predicted she was doing, sobbing.His heart wept for her.She was too good to endure this kind of drama and he would make sure she knew that.Raul pocketed his earcom and went to sit next to her.
"You don't have to be here.Just go on with what you were doing."She said between whimpers.It still humbled him that she always knew it was him following her.
"I'm not here because he ordered me to."Raul said unsure of the right words to say.He didn't want to upset her more and didn't know the first thing about consoling a woman.They sat in silence a full minute and Raul was beginning to think he had upset her more when she spoke.More calmly.
"So that's her...the woman he's been seeing."She said the last part as a statement so Raul didn't try to cover up for Basak like he'd normally do."How long have they been together?"She asked.Raul inwardly cursed.Even if he knew how long Basak had been screwing the other woman,he wouldn't tell her.He couldn't take another break down from her,so he said the only thing that was running in his mind then.
"It's not your fault."Yasmine's breathing slowed down as if she couldn't hear him over her loud heartbeat.Raul fully turned to face her.Without realizing it,he lifted his hand and caught a tear halfway her cheek.The action made Yasmine also turn to look at him and his heart leapt with joy."Basak's just trying to make you feel bad and share in his shame.He chose to be how he is.I'm sorry you had to see that."Raul had a whole paragraph figured out in his head on what to tell her after she left Basak's study but he felt the three sentences were enough.
And he certainly didn't expect her to lean in and join her glossed lips to his.The slight contact awoke a thirst in him he didn't know lay dormant.And he went in for the dive headfirst.