Chapter 16Hazar ErdoğanI can't believe what is happening, my daughter, my child, has been kidnapped by that man who has hurt us so much in the last few days. I never wanted Melek to be involved in all this, less when it was my responsibility to take care of her. I look at my wife who is still lying on the floor, crying non-stop. It hurts my soul to see her like that, to know that I have caused her so much damage, because all this is my fault, it is my fault to have loved before a woman who did not belong to me, or who was taken away from me.It was so long ago when I fell in love with Ceren, Habbab's mother. It was love at first sight, she was walking down the street and we bumped into each other among so many people, after seeing her blue eyes, I could never forget them. That same week I found out where she lived and what she did. She was a maid at the Arslan's house, her mother had worked for them all her life and after graduating from high school Ceren followed her mother's foots
Ten years ago The social worker grinned at me from ear to ear as I shrank into the back seat of the car. I was holding one of my favorite stuffed animals so tightly I was sure I was going to break it. -We're here," she said in a soothing little voice. This will be your new home, your parents' friends will take care of you. We got out and walked towards the white painted wooden double doors, where Rodolfo Montiel smiled at me, as did the woman holding my hand. -Hello, Vicky," he greeted me cheerfully, "Welcome home. We entered the huge mansion, where everything was so colorful and white at the same time, but, on the other hand, my room, although spacious, was a bit dark and gloomy. I was installed there and soon I understood that my parents were never coming back. At night I couldn't sleep, so I decided to go out and explore, that would make me tired and sleepy. Mom used to tell me that a good walk would clear my mind. I found myself in a huge room, but I didn't go in, because fro
I go over the financials again and there is something that just doesn't fit in all the number crunching. My responsibilities as administrative assistant have certain limits, however, just before retiring, Mr. Montiel asked me to review the company's finances, as he had noticed certain mismatches regarding payments and collections from some distributors. At first I imagined that Rodolfo's concern was unfounded and he was nervous about leaving the business in the hands of his inexperienced son. However, now that I have checked the numbers, I think he was right to be concerned and that we should audit the work of Gutierrez, the VP Finance. I make a couple of calls, confirming costs with the companies we are associated with. Valderrama y Montiel Foods is a food export company, with more than five hundred farms around the country, and in addition to that, we maintain a frozen food line. Our major partnerships are with transportation companies and exporters of fertilizers, pesticides and o
I feel my cheeks burning as my eyes widen like saucers. Available and by your side? Wake me up, I'm dreaming. A man like Arturo Montiel would never say that to a girl like me... Except he just said it, even if he means work, I feel... important in his life. -And I've been thinking, I know it's not much, but there's a room here that you can use as an office. He leaves his desk and walks past me, past me to the filing cabinet door. -Arthur, that's a storage room," I point out worriedly. -I know, but it will be temporary, until we can reorganize the structure of the building and place you closer to me. He returns to my place and takes me by the hands... Then I forget the reason why I came here or why I would refuse to move my office. Being closer to him... it doesn't sound bad at all. Maybe it's not so bad to have a small office, after all I don't need too much space, plus it has a window so I won't be completely enclosed. -Do you accept my proposal? -Okay," I answer without thinki
MelekOne week later Habbab has put a whole armed team around the house, for the sole purpose of preventing me from escaping, I tried once four days ago, and since then this house has become my own prison. At least I have been able to get some fresh air, I can walk around the gardens, as long as one of the bodyguards follows me."I can bring some cacti next week." Dilay says to me, as she plants a couple of new plants."Dilay, whose house is this?"In the last few days, my husband has taken it upon himself to furnish it, to bring me clothes and get me settled, though I've barely seen him, much less talked to him. Most of the time I'm with his sister or reading a book. I am not allowed to use a phone or an internet device. Occasionally I watch TV, but I soon get bored by the hundreds of commercials.For a moment I imagined that this might be the house Habbab bought for us. Of course I've been telling myself that it's ridiculous, his plan was to disgrace me and then run away, but a par
I follow him with a firm step, he enters the house, which has two floors, the bottom floor is merely a storage room with some gardening stuff. And upstairs is where the kitchen and bedrooms are. He slams the door in my face, but I take a deep breath and open it again."I want to leave this house," I demand as he calmly sits down at the kitchen table."And where do you suggest I take you Melek? To your grandfather? Who is looking for you to kill you. Or perhaps with your father? A lying man who's done a shitty job protecting you from his own father.""I don't want you to take me to either of them. I need Esat, my cousin, he's the only one capable of helping me.""The only one capable? And what do you think I'm doing right now?""You've got me locked in a tower, that's what you're doing. You're not protecting me, you never could, because it was you who put me in this situation in the first place. Now, I'm asking you to let me go.""Melek, this discussion is starting to become repetitive
Chapter 17HabbabI enter the old mansion that was my home until I was nine years old. In every corner, there are so many good and bad memories. My mother was always criticized by my grandmother and other ladies, for devoting herself to her children, in this social circle it is common for children to have a babysitter while mothers go play bridge. But not my mom, she spent every second she could by my side, creating worlds for me. I don't understand why she did it, but she would always create stories to tell me, she would tell me that my grandmother's favorite plant was an evil alien from the planet Pluto, or that upstairs was a ship and I was its captain. She did the same for my sister, until she died. We were a happy family.I was never bored at my mother's side, and I always felt protected, it wasn't until she died that I realized she was the only one who paid attention to me. I climb the stairs a little dejected. I'm exhausted, tired of Derya Arslan's revenge plan, which never see
Hazar ErdoğanI look at my daughter's wedding photos, of my little girl, as her mother destroys them behind me. Since Esat took Melek away, my poor wife hasn't been able to rest. Her maternal instinct tells her to keep fighting for her daughter, but we don't even know where to look. It's been a week and we have no idea where Melek is.I've been trying to keep track of Habbab, but it's been complicated. The first time, he realized he was being followed and managed to lose track of the men I sent after him. The second time I had to hide myself, from my father's men, because for nothing in the world can he know where his granddaughter is, I know what he would do. He would kill her, so I have to find a way to save her from the clutches of her husband and also from those of her grandfather, my own progenitor."Senay, calm down, I promise I will rescue our daughter.""It's been a week, Hazar. A week since your father took my daughter and hit her in an horrible way, and then sent her to die.