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2. THE NEW BOSS
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“Anne
I felt weird. Everything I saw is so real. It made me think that it is my accident itself. Kemal would say that I am imagining things. But I think they are my memories. Even if you think it is crazy, they all triggered after the word, ‘Jayden.’ When I stepped out of the building, a drizzle hit me. I looked up into the sky and suddenly felt naked as if someone is watching me standing somewhere in the balcony of sky scrapers. I feel like this universe is sending me some message and I can’t understand it. It is 1:00 AM. I couldn’t sleep. It is raining heavily and I still have my windows open. I miss you and I don’t know why I miss Nottingham, especially the river Trent. Maybe, it has to do something with my regular dream in which I stand in a harsh rain waiting for someone. Funny, right? Bilmezdim.”
She felt dizzy like she woke up from a long sleep when the fact is Ayla only slept for four hours. Her dairy is under her chin. She started to rewind what happened last night. She doze off after a long time of writing dairy which is more like writing letters to her dead mother. They always start with ‘Anne’(mom). Since it is monsoon, London is decorated with monochromic color. It is dark even in 6 in the morning. Cold breeze hit her as soon as she opened her window. Her lips quivered as droplets of now silently pouring rain fell on her cheeks. She wished she is on some 35th floor in the middle of earth and sky. Somehow, she is confined to 3rd floor.
While her body protests against her mind to go back to sleep, Ayla got ready to her work. It is the only thing that gave her life a purpose. Being a data analyst is not a tough job or an easy one either. It is the only thing she has clarity in her life. If there is anyone called Jayden Knight doesn’t exist, she won’t be doing that work either. He inspired her.
She looks at her little firm which is now empty because of the losses. Five employees remained at the end. The name of the firm on the wall in the lobby is now being taken down. The cabin of the managing partner is already vacated, the name on glass door are scraped.
“I’ll miss this place. I’ll miss you too. You are going to have a new boss from today.” Her boss spoke looking at the city, his back turned to Ayla. “I assure. You will be delighted to work with him.”
“You said a megacorp bought this company and they are moving in. Do you think a junior data analyst like me could be able to work with that CEO?”
“I left a good word for you, Ayla Sargin. And the CEO isn’t that old like me. He is young. He does business with data. He will be happy to have a girl with an insight like you.”
Ayla simple nodded agreeing with him. But she knows, whatever the new company is, she will never get to meet that boss. The day went slowly. She has no work to do and the she knows from tomorrow, she wouldn’t have any time to rest. This is going to be a new office with new boss and employees. She played her favorite song keeping her headsets on. The song “Bilmezdim” is playing. She has listened to that for a thousand times till date. Every time she listens, it feels like the first time. May be it’s the word bilmezdim that gave her such a feeling. It meant ‘I wouldn’t know’ in her language, Turkish. If Ayla has to describe herself in word, she would say bilmezdim.
Since there is no one at the lobby, she got her headphones on before she even got out. She stops as the dainty glass doors opened and she stood a few feet away behind a wall to see the person who enters during this hour.
The sight before paralyzed her. A young man in his mid twenties entered keeping the middle button of his black suit. His walk shows the confidence and arrogance of his personality, he walks like he owns this damn building, it might be even true. Ayla’s now former boss, shook his hands with the man. He is tall with broad shoulders, the body is simply covered by the suit, but the fact that it is well built and chiseled like it held a six or eight pack is not hidden. He has a thick brown hair which is comb over. That gave him a simple and subtle look.
Ayla bent a little to see his face assuming that he is going to be her new boss. As if he sensed her, he suddenly looks at her side. She gasped watching his face and quickly hid herself behind the wall. He might have not seen her. Leaning her back on the wall, she took some quick breaths. She can’t believe her own eyes. It is Jayden, Jayden Knight. Jayden Knight is her new boss. The hair on her skin prickled, maybe this is how an aspirant aerospace engineer felt when he met Carl Sagan for the first time or a physicist get a glimpse of Albert Einstein or any fan girl who watched her favorite hero for the very first time. She slowly watched him pressing the elevator while he smiled a little when her boss said something. His gentle smile doesn’t hid his intimidating demeanor. And the song played as if it is meant to be.
Bilmezdim bu derdin, seni yolundan,Beni solumdan, edecegini.
I wouldn't know this troubleKeep me away from my left part (heart) keep away you from your way.
Bilmezdim en sessiz yanimdan,Yagmuruna kan terleyecegimi.
I wouldn't know from my most quiet side The rain would sweat blood And I'll sweat in the stormy mornings.
She quickly ran to the elevator after they are gone. The lift stops at 22nd floor. Watching the number 22, she smiled widely. He is his boss indeed. Her office is now a part of Knight & Grey Corporation. She finally got to work with Jayden Knight. She is now thankful for she didn’t get to meet him in the yesterday’s party in that very short dress. Now she understood why her former boss told her that she would be delighted to work with the CEO. At this instant, she really hopes the old man place a good name for her before Jayden Knight.
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Ayden 10. BEGONE
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Ayden 66. SAY YES
AYLA | NOW My hands are clammy. I stared at the road ahead, sitting in Jayden’s fancy car. The speed hit over 70, and when the hood of the car opened without me asking for it, I released a breath of relief. I closed my eyes, my face towards the sky, and the wind swayed my hair. It’s going to be a mess, I’m sure. But I enjoyed this moment. The wind, the freedom, the thud in my chest, the moment of no thoughts, the clarity in my bones, I love everything about this moment. Did I ever think that I would have someone to depend on completely? That’s exactly what I am doing. I am trusting him with my heart, and my body. I am going to take the leap of faith in him, in us, and I hope fate plays in our favour. We entered into a sumptuous upscale street with many apartments and villas here and there. Either side of the road is lined up with maple trees. I bet it looks more beautiful in the daytime. Jayden stopped the car in front of a tower. Of course, it’s a skyscraper, or how else w
Ayden 65. TAKE ME HOME
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Ayden 64. HIS LOVE
AYLA | THEN He is crazy. She is going to kill him for sure. He even locked her in the car, went to the department store and bought condoms. Not just one but ten. She will kick him on the bed and lock him in the washroom. Then she will sleep while he begs her to open the door. "I swear, Jayden. If you don't take me home today, I might kill you accidentally." "I am taking you, home." He said so casually without giving a second thought about what his words were doing to her, they were giving her hope which she didn't want. "I am not ready for this." She yelled. "You're more than ready." She was. She is. She knows it. She also knows how addictive his touch can be, how blissful his kisses can be and how peaceful she'll be with him. She will be addicted to happiness. That's what her relationship is with him, pure happiness. That's what makes it more precious and fragile. It can be broken. A month away from turning eighteen Ayla already knows that she wants forever w
Ayden 63. MAKE YOU MINE
AYLA It became hard to breathe. It has been two weeks. Two weeks since the break up. Two weeks since she talked to him, since she received a text from and heard about him. She is the one who left. She is the one who ended. He made that so clear. But it hurts. A part of her wondered if he missed her. A part of her wondered why he didn't call her. Did he move on? Of course, he would. He is Jayden Knight. He can have anyone. He said they were a mistake. Of course, he wouldn't regret this. Ayla on the other hand, felt suffocated. She stared at her phone, waiting for his call, even though she knew she wouldn't change her mind if he did and read their old conversations. When will this year be over? When will she find a new city? There are too many memories everywhere. She didn't realise it till now. But Jayden showed her every place in the city, and kissed her in every corner. Her heart swelled at the thought. How long will it take for the pain to go away? She forgot how she used t
Ayden 62. SHATTERED
JAYDEN | THEN Something changed between them. Ayla became distant again. Ever since she cried in his arms, she started to avoid him. She cried in front of him before without feeling insecure or inferior. It took a lot of time for her to open up. Now, she went back to being reserved again. Jayden was left with a nibbling feeling inside. Something was off. Something was off between them. She kissed him back when he kissed her. It wasn't just the same passion. She said I love you too, when he said, I love you. It wasn't just the same intensity. She didn't pick up the phone after the third ring or the fourth like she usually does. She barely replied to his messages. Her windows weren't opened anymore. Jayden stood, outside her house, staring at her dark room, not knowing where it all went wrong. He called her. It was 11 PM. She has been staying late for a year now. Sometimes they talked until 3 AM. She was online. But his messages were left unread. He lost it then. Gritting h
Ayden 61. DATE
AYLA Blake joined me for the morning run today. "So?" He asked, panting. "You are going on a date with your boss. You are one lucky girl." I laughed at his words. "I feel like I am a character in a novel." "I hope it's a novel full of smut." I punched him in the stomach. He acted like he couldn't breathe and did a fake cry, holding his stomach. If I didn't know him better, I would have trusted he was really in pain. "I haven't forgiven you yet," I yelled at him and ran faster. He joined me soon. "I am really happy for you." He says. "Need help with what are you going to wear?" I shook my head, "It's weird to take your help for a date with Jayden. Given, you are enemies and all." "When can we move past that?" He asked me with a hope. "When I know the full story." "He became yours. Do you still need to know the full story?" I nod my head. "It is my story. I had to know." "Good to know that you are accepting your past while moving forward in presen
Ayden 60. A HOPE OF FUTURE
AYLA PRESENT | By this time in my life, I knew so many things about Jayden. They are more than I thought I would. Right now, he is angry. It is pure rage mixed with something else that became hard to comprehend for me. Is it hurt, pain or just love? "No, I left you at your father's mercy." His words came out as a whisper with a heavy tone as though it was hurting him to talk with me. "I don't understand," I told him, confused. I came to Steph's cabin hoping to see him. A million thoughts ran in my head about how I would greet him after the kiss. I tried hard not to blush because he would grin like a devil. But never did I imagine, it would be like this. "Of course, because you don't remember." That's all it took for him to break me, a simple and stupid accusation. He was walking out without even looking back after throwing those few sharp words at me, and I started to realise the effect he had on me. I thought he was
Ayden 59. HOW CAN I GO BACK?
AYLA A FEW YEARS AGO Her bedside clock read 11:45 PM. Her mom would never let her use her phone at that time. After sitting in the same position for an hour and a half, she got up slowly. A few times, Evelyn knocked at her door. But she ignored it. The knock came again, making her sigh. After all, it's not Evelyn's fault. She held an ice pack in her hand when Ayla opened the door. "I am sorry for what happened." She told her, handing over the ice pack. "You did nothing," Ayla said, taking the ice pack. "Thank you." She said in her hoarse tone. Then, Evelyn did the most unexpected thing. She took a strand of hair to the back of her ear in a motherly way. "You're a good girl, Ayla. I know that. Eda has raised you well. It's just your dad hated her. And he hates the knights. We had a long rivalry with them, and it made him furious. Otherwise, your dad wouldn't have. .." "He has never been my dad, Evelyn. Do not try to justify what he did. He slapped me because
Ayden 58. NOTHING IS GOOD
Her house was situated at the end of the street. She could see the beautiful gardens perched on the lawn of each mansion she has passed by. 'I could do it,' she thought. Just another minute and she will be inside her room, and he can't hurt her, or at least she thought he couldn't. His truck is still after her, following her into the house. Jack just came out of the house looking at her suspiciously. His gaze shifted to Nathaniel who shortly followed her. Nathaniel is taller than Jack but not as tall as Jayden. He has a muscled body and if something happens, Ayla was sure that would happen, she can't outdo him. He looked dangerous, and he got big hands. Something about that terrified her evenmore. She saw him leaning towards Jack and whispering something, and Jack looked at her with spite in his eyes a second later. * An eerie silence settled over the dinner table. Something is off or it's her fear of Na
