Raul was nervous as he slammed the door of his Jeep shut and started for the Erdogan's mansion.
He'd avoided this place like the plague over weekend.Not entirely because he had a handful of Junior related work he was tending to.Basak is still obsessed with Emir's bastard and he already has a plot to pull him down.Raul was yet to know the details.
That phenomenal moment at Yasmine's flower garden had replayed in his head over and over again.You would think the details will wear off the more he thought about Sunday evening but no.
He vividly remembered fully leaning in for what had started as an innocent kiss,and kissing the hell out of the only woman he fancied.Also his boss' wife.He had gotten handy and explored all of Yasmine's vulumptious curves before the latter bursted their little bubble and fled.He had planned on confessing his feelings for her hadn't she fled.
But today,there was no turning back.Basak and his little 'ruin Emir project' be damned.They could wait.The pathetic idiot who was his boss had his chance with Yasmine and blew it.It would only be fair if he let her go.Basak had also caused the woman of his dreams too much anguish while he watched from the sidelines.
Raul felt a bit disappointed at missing Yasmine tending her flower gardens that morning.She was probably inside making lunch or helping Zehra with something.The woman was just never idle.
His heart made it's signature jump against his chest when he spotted her carrying a tray.He slowly rubbed over his heart willing it to calm down.'You'll get what you want soon buddy.Very soon.'He thought as he approached Yasmine.She still hadn't spotted him and was too occupied on not spilling whatever was on the tray.
"Yasmine... morning."His heart jumped to overdrive again when Yasmine turned with a smile brighter that the sun outside.She seemed to be in a good mood.
"Hello Raul.I wasn't sure you'd come in today.I haven't seen you since..."She left the last part unsaid.Since the night he regretted never having kissed her sooner if he thought she'd allow him.
Her smile disappeared and she halted her movement.He noticed she was avoiding eye contact.She was instead staring on a spot behind him
"About what happened on Sunday,forget it.I wasn't thinking straight.Forgive me."Her full lips spread in a small smile that didn't quite rich her eyes.
Her words sliced through his heart breaking it into small tiny pieces.His face fell.But Raul composed himself pretty fast and swallowed his words.Words he'd formed,arranged and rearranged in his head for when he met her again.So she forgave Basak just like that?Like she hadn't caught him cheating in his study,in their matrimonial home??
"Don't worry about it.I barely recall Sunday,I was a little tipsy."Lie.Raul constructed the most genuine smile he could manage.He had thought about that kiss every millisecond since he last saw her.
She resumed walking again and Raul noticed then that she was walking toward the study.Her tray carried a white Persian tea pot and a cup.
"Sorry I judged you when I knew you're loyal to Basak.He explained that Junior is Emir's possible illegitimate son."A breathless chuckle left her sinfully delicious lips."But what I don't get is why he is so against Emir's presidential bid,he'll do anything to ruin it for him."
Raul's focus was on her angelic face.Unlike Sunday night,she only had mascara and lip gloss on.He closely watched her lips move as she said something he couldn't hear.Their strawberry taste was forever etched in his brain.But why tolerate Basak's infidelity when she could have so much more?If she would ever choose him,he would bring heaven on earth just for her.
"He's a bit upset because Lamar flew to Paris yesterday and hasn't come back.He was supposed to attend a meeting in Italy today."
Raul caught on their conversation as they got to the study.He was trying tooth and nail to keep a cool head but deep down his emotions were on a rollercoaster.But one stood out,mad.Mad at Yasmine, even more mad at himself for even thinking Sunday's kiss had ignited something in her too.
"Look who I found."Yasmine said to the man pinned on a toneload of files on his desk.He had been working from home more the past few weeks.Yasmine poured his tea and looked up to Raul.
"I'll send a cup for you."She said sweetly.It was impossible to stay mad at her and the death of him.
"No,but thank you.I won't be long."
"Alright, excuse me."This time,the smile reached her thickly lashed eyes.Raul just nodded and waited till she had left to talk.He still wasn't sure how much Basak had let her on.
"I spoke to Junior's grandmother.She accounted her daughter's childbirth and said she named the boy Emir Jamal before she passed on.According to Junior,he went by that name till he was old enough and realized his peers made fun of him because Emir Jamal was actually an ambassador.So he stuck to Junior."
He finally looked up."That is all?"Wait,was he joking?Raul spent all Monday afternoon gathering that piece of information only for him to ask that?Raul didn't respond,just waited for his next appointment.If he knew the man well,he was just trying to put him off in a bad mood.But his wife had already done that.
"Escort Lamuel to Italy today,he must be having your tickets already."
Raul almost growled at him.He was supposed to babysit Lamuel now?