Rearl

Aslan Yilmaz is a powerful man with many connections. He owns a graphic design company that currently stands at the top of all others. It’s also the richest and most successful company. Aslan built his father’s company from scratch. Despite having a complicated relationship with his father, he accepted the inheritance. But along with the company, he inherited his father’s second business — a black market enterprise.

Ela Aydin recently graduated from a prestigious college and is looking for a job. She studied in Istanbul but now lives with her aunt in Ankara. She’s not afraid of difficulties and is ready for anything. She has many friends but only a few close ones. She went to school with Aslan and Salze, though she doesn’t remember them well. Soon, she will recall their “love triangle” and feel it again. Her mother and father are dead — or at least that’s what she thought. We’ll find out more about this later. For now, let’s move on to their first meeting.

Play while reading: Simge - Prenc & Prenses

Turkey, Ankara📍

Ela

It was a summer evening. I was sitting on the couch, thinking about my future. Suddenly, Nani (that’s what I call my aunt) walked into the room.

“Ela, go take out the trash, it’s your turn,” she said.

I sighed heavily, stood up, and went downstairs. Same old routine. Why is my life so boring? All my peers already have husbands and children, and me? Tomorrow I have an interview at a great company called “Pearl.” I need to prepare.

I put on my jacket and boots, grabbed two full trash bags, and went out. How much I hate doing this, especially when it’s dark outside. Why not take out the trash in the morning? Well, what can you say about my aunt?

Aslan

I was calmly sitting at my desk, working. Suddenly, Salze burst into the room. She’s my fiancée, though I don’t want to marry her. My mother decided everything for me, as usual.

“Aslan! Your housekeeper threw away my makeup bag!!” she squealed in her high-pitched voice.

“What do you want me to do? Buy a new one, what’s the problem?” I said coldly, not looking away from my screen.

“No! You hired her, so you go find it now! Don’t you understand how expensive those products are?! Hurry up and look!” she shouted.

“Don’t I have better things to do?”

“Otherwise, I’ll tell everyone about your second business, Palije!” she suddenly blurted out.

I frowned but decided to get it over with just to make her leave me alone. I silently left the office and went downstairs.

I dressed so no one would recognize me. God forbid I get photographed. I had a feeling trouble was coming.

I quickly left the yard, looked around, and headed fast to the nearest dumpsters. I looked inside and saw a pink makeup bag. I glanced around and quickly jumped in. I was reaching for the makeup bag when suddenly...

Ela

I approached the dumpster and threw in the bag. Suddenly, I heard a man’s growl. Then a man’s head appeared from the dumpster. I was shocked and stood frozen for about 30 seconds, staring at each other in disbelief. Then I hit him with the second bag and ran.

I hoped he wouldn’t chase me. I ran as fast as I could. The warm wind blew on my face, my curls flying in the breeze. I ran into the yard and locked the gate. Phew, seems like he’s not chasing me.

I haven’t run this fast in a long time — I was out of breath. Leaning against the cold gate, I suddenly heard pitiful meowing. I immediately straightened up and looked around the yard. The sound was coming from the bushes. I took my phone out of my pocket and turned on the flashlight.

My hands were shaking from the recent escape. Approaching the rose bushes, I shined the light and saw a tiny kitten curled up, meowing loudly. I put away my phone and picked him up. He was about the size of my palm. So small... where was his mother?

I held the kitten close and started shining the light around the yard.

I couldn’t find his mother and decided to take him home. I couldn’t leave him there — he was so weak and tiny. Entering the house, holding the kitten close, I smelled the delicious aroma of my aunt’s stew. But first, I needed to feed the little one and tell my aunt.

“Ela, you’re taking a long time... What’s that?” my aunt asked, coming out of the kitchen.

“Is this our new friend? Auntie, I couldn’t just leave him there; he’s so weak,” I started to explain.

She sighed, looked at the kitten, and finally nodded.

Aslan

Well, she really hit me with that bag. I would have done the same. I shouldn’t listen to that idiot Salze again.

I went inside the house, and Salze was already waiting. As soon as she saw the makeup bag in my hands, she rolled her eyes, grabbed it, and went to her room without even saying thanks. What else could I expect from her?

I quickly changed into clean clothes and threw the dirty ones into the laundry. Then I went back to the office. Enough adventures for today — it’s time to work.

Salze

Clutching the makeup bag in my hands, I went into my room. I felt like I was about to burst from anger! I’m so fed up with everything.

I sat at my vanity and stared at my reflection. Aslan had become very cold and rude; it seemed he stopped loving me. What was wrong with me? I think I let myself go.

I have to change something. I need to keep him. He has to be mine, or else I’ll just fall apart. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the spa and get a new hairstyle. I need Aslan — I’ve been chasing him for too long.