His, Timelessly
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M.S. Maondo
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37
Where I Belong
CEYLAN
Spin-off: His, Timelessly
Home.
Who knew such a simple word could conjure waves of anxiety inside me? I hadn’t been ready to come back. To be honest, I was never going to be, even though my mind had been preparing me for this day from the moment I set foot on that plane to Turkey a year ago.
The CEO of Aslan Consolidated was bound to retire and, inevitably, I would have to take my rightful place as the COO of my family’s company. But I didn’t think it would be this soon.
I wished Dacey Aslan would sit in that office longer and add a few more months to my much-needed break from this city. If only it were easy to talk my father out of something he set his mind on.
I dreaded having to once again live in the same city with the two people who killed my interest in ever wanting to open my heart to another man: Liam Chase, my brother’s best friend since high school, my first crush, and the man I hated the most in the entire world.
Derek Blake, my two-year boyfriend, the man who only saw our relationship as a business deal, the man who cheated on me, and the person who’d made me run away.
Well, I couldn’t give Derek all the credit. New York’s sudden obsession with Liam had something to do with my need to escape.
I’d had enough of those articles painting him as this amazing guy when I knew he was the devil in the flesh. I’d hoped his friendship with my brother would have ended by now.
I’d hoped Baris was smart enough to realize what kind of person Liam Chase really was and cut ties with him. Instead, they were joined at the hip now more than ever.
There was a time when I followed Liam and Baris everywhere. But not anymore. Not after I’d made the mistake of following them to college and walked out of that place with nothing but regrets.
Maybe if I had told Baris what happened, I would have saved my brother from him. But how could I when I couldn’t even bring myself to summon the memories of what happened on that fateful day?
I quickly cleared my mind when the memories threatened to escape the mental box. As if sensing I needed to be rescued, my phone vibrated with an incoming call.
I dug inside my purse and brought the device to sight. On seeing the ID of the caller, my mouth curved. Savannah Ross, heiress of Ross Group and the world’s most amazing best friend.
“Have you arrived yet?”
“Stuck in traffic like I texted five minutes ago.”
In the backseat of Savvy’s black SUV, I glanced through the tinted glass at the packed lanes. “I miss Istanbul already.”
“There is no traffic in Istanbul?!”
“Manhattan is worse.”
“Can’t wait to see you.”
I could sense her face brightening up. “This has been the longest year of my life.”
I sighed. “I miss you too.”
I missed my parents and brother as well, even though we’d come together a few months ago, but not under the best circumstances.
I still couldn’t believe that my grandpa was gone. His death had been so sudden; Grandma just woke to his cold body.
Her cries still wake me to this day. She’d been in so much pain, and as much as I loved him, I could never understand what she was going through.
I felt guilty leaving her all alone in that huge mansion. I wouldn’t be so worried about her if she’d just agreed to come live with my parents.
I couldn’t even convince her to attend the important company and family event. I guess stubbornness ran in the family.
“I’ve already left the office.” Savvy’s voice brought me back to the car. “I might make it home before you arrive.”
The car started to move. “Looks like I won’t be stuck here all evening.”
My relief was short-lived because the vehicle stopped a moment later. “On second thought, I think I’ll be stuck here forever.”
Savvy’s chauffeur flashed me an apologetic look.
“There is still plenty of time left to get ready.”
I took the phone away from my ear and glanced at the clock. Sixteen past four; I still had four and a half hours.
Four and a half hours until my father made his surprise announcement to the world, four and a half hours until I was forced back to being a full-time New Yorker, four and a half hours until I took my brother’s current position in the company and Baris ascended to the CEO position, finally be where my father wanted me to be.
With the traffic, it took twice the calculated time to move from JFK to Ross Tower. The sight of the familiar twenty-five-floor building with jutting glass columns was what I needed to remind me that not every experience I’d had in this city was bad.
“I apologize for the long ride,” the driver said as he opened the door for me.
“You don’t have to.” I smiled in assurance. “We all know it isn’t your fault.”
He nodded, walking to the back to remove my suitcase from the trunk. “I’ll help you carry this inside.”
I shook my head. “I’ll manage.”
I took the bag from him and made a futile attempt to lift it. “See, it’s not that heavy. Besides, I believe they make them with four wheels so even damsels in distress won’t need help.”
His chuckle was followed by a nod.
“I’ll get going then.”
“Wait!”
His hand resting on the knob, he turned to face me. “Is there anything I can do for you, Ms. Aslan?”
“I didn’t catch your name.”
I was certain he hadn’t mentioned it.
“Cole.”
I nodded. “Thanks for the ride, Cole.”
“Just doing my job, ma’am.”
Finally, here.
I shot Savvy a quick text before making it to the entrance. A middle-aged brown-haired doorman in a black coat held the chrome-trimmed glass door open for me.
“Welcome back, Ms. Aslan.”
The big guy greeted me with a smile that reached his brown eyes.
“Thank you, Kane.”
His brows rose, like he couldn’t believe I knew his name. To his defense, I had only become certain of it when Savvy called to inform me where I would get the key if I arrived before she was home.
Before today, I had met him two or three times when I came to visit Savvy.
I proceeded into the black, brown, and gold-themed ultramodern lobby and came to a pause in front of the two elevators beside the rectangular-shaped black granite receptionist’s desk.
One of the cars was already parked at the ground level. Once sealed inside, I pressed the fifteenth floor.
My phone buzzed in my hand. I was certain it was Savvy replying to my text earlier. But it wasn’t.
Hope you came. You can’t condemn me to a night of making small talk with Baba’s business friends all alone.
My fingers ran frantically across the keyboard before sending a reply to my brother.
I’m already here.
And I hope you remembered. I don’t want Liam Chase anywhere near the event.
The elevator dinged. I took my eyes off the three dancing dots and glanced at my suitcase.
My hand secured around the handle.
A squeal came before the doors revealed Savvy’s figure. She was still dressed in her work clothes, a cream-white pantsuit that loosely hugged her slim form.
Matching heels adorned her feet. Her blonde wavy hair was tied back in a neat ponytail.
“I see you couldn’t wait any longer,” I beamed, stepping out of the elevator.
I found myself crushed against Savvy’s body.
“I missed you so much.”
“Same here.”
I tried hard to hold back the tears threatening to fall.
She pulled away. Her blue eyes were covered with a glassy layer.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your grandpa’s funeral.”
“I understand. Everything happened so fast—his death, the funeral. One day wasn’t enough time for you to get away from Ross Group.”
“Still doesn’t help me feel less guilty.”
She took the suitcase and led me down the hallway.
“Thanks for letting me stay with you. I’m hoping to find my own place next week.”
I felt like I was too old to stay with my parents, and Baris was the last option.
“I told you—you can stay here as long as you want. It will be like we are back in college.”
“Yeah.”
“When is your other stuff coming?”
“A few bags will arrive tomorrow. The rest will come after I rent my place.”
“Let’s get to the apartment so you can show me the dress you will wear tonight.”
I suddenly halted. “Oh, no.”
She paused in front of the rough and polished-textured wooden door.
“Don’t tell me you have nothing to wear to your company’s twentieth-anniversary party.”
“I—I don’t.”
“I’ll call my stylist and tell her to bring a few dresses over.”
I sighed in relief. “Thank you. You are a lifesaver.”
She smirked. “You’re welcome.”
Reaching for the knob, she ushered us inside.
The living room of her two-bedroom condo was painted lilac and floored with mirror tiles.
This was going to be my home for the next few weeks.
