Ayla is riding her car on the wide wet roads of London crowded with vehicles. Her heart is thumping out of anticipation of what is going to happen once she reaches her office. As she drove into a peaceful street, she saw a teen covering her head with a yellow colored raincoat on the side pathway. The girl shoved her hands into pockets of her skirt and walking slowly when someone from behind came running and removed her coat off her head. She didn’t say anything and walked like that. The girl reminds Ayla of herself.
She has been through many harsh things when she was a teen. She grew up with her mom in Istanbul. When she is old enough, she started questioning her mom about her father. He was somewhere in Europe. Every time she asked about him, her mom used to smile. Just a smile, a smile of assurance saying that she was there and Ayla doesn't need anyone. And that made her feel secured enough.
She was sixteen when her mom took her to Ankara for a tour. She started to prepare Ayla mentally to live without her. Ayla ignored everything her mom said making herself busy in chatting with Blake, an English flirting boy, she met on face book. The day after the trip, she finally released the bomb that Ayla should stay with her father during her high school.
She has to live with the person she has never met before, the country she had never been to. Her mom informed that he was coming to take her in two days. The decisions regarding her life were already made and she had to obey them.
Her mom gave her own reasons saying that her studies won't be disturbed, she will have a great time there etc, etc. For two days, Ayla was on hunger strike. At last, she knocked the door and said, "Gitmezsen ilaç almayacağım" (I won't take medication,if you don't go) That was the last memory she has of her mother.
Her aunt Zeynap was to take care of her mom and Ayla was taken to Nottingham. All her life, she had been dreaming about meeting her father but not without her mom. As much as she is grieving to go away from her country, Ayla was equally excited to meet his father. She tried to talk to him at the airport, in the plane and in the car. He didn’t show much of interest to make that father-daughter conversation to happen. He had a villa there while her mom, whom he abandoned, worked her finger to bone to pay the bills and raise her. Her father, Noah Dawson, his wife Evelyn Dawson, her son Jack, they are all strangers and she realized that from the first week itself.
Evelyn was good to her. She decorated all her room with pink color. It could never be her room. Everything in the room is pink. The walls, the queen sized bed, the carpet, the curtains and everything. She could no longer see a future there. She hates pink. She hated it because most of the girls like it. From trying to be unique, not seeking interest in things that interest others and slowly no interest turning to disliking and the dislike has turned to awful thing, pink has become something her eyes couldn't abide.
"It really gave me much joy to decorate this room. I personally planned this. I hope you liked it, Ayla." She said with much delight bringing her hands together to her chest. She was definitely proud of her work. Ayla doesn’t understand why would everyone think that a teen girl likes pink? She had no idea if I had a say in this or not. That was not her house, they were not her people. She had to adjust. Even the thought of objecting somehow terrified her.
Blake was like a light ray in the darkness. He is the only person she knew there. She remembered half of her sophomore year. It was a hell. For some reasons, Blake was not there, she was always bullied, and she had no friends. And one day, when she woke up, her high school was over, her mom was dead, Blake was her boyfriend and her room had no pink at all.
She didn't remember any of these things. Memories of one and half year of her life were so simply erased like they are a speck of dust. Some accident, it seems. She was hit by a truck. She doesn't even remembered how she cried for her mom, how she craved for a home. Her final year of high school was completely gone. She didn't remember her first kiss, her first time, nothing. They were all gone. She doesn't know what kind of memories are they. She doesn't want to know.
One year went with therapy and Blake never left her side. They dated for six months. When they tried to have sex, she felt odd like she was betraying herself or someone, she doesn't know. She can't explain that. She missed the warmth of her mom. Even when Blake and Ayla cuddled in bed for hours, she never felt that warmth and that secured feeling. And that damn dream always reminds her that she has something to search. She was so confused about everything. She doesn't know what to do with her life.
On an occasion, a young entrepreneur was invited as a chief guest for some program she vaguely remembers. He was Jayden Knight. He shows no emotion but his eyes are ablaze, she feels like those ocean blue pair are talking to her, like she know him for ages. “You are not rich until you have something you can call yours. That something is not your father’s property, not your girlfriend, your love or the thing you buy. That something is something you create with your hands. Don’t ask me if the babies you create after so much tedious work falls under that account, I can’t say. But, guys, trust me. You are capable of more than increasing the population. You can built.” The auditorium filled with cheers when he said that. He continued his speech by telling some other interesting stuff. And that’s how everything started.
He knew what he wants. He was so clear about what he wants. He had purpose. His speeches, his interviews, they are like some kind of inspiring podcasts. And then she found her purpose. He became her role model. She just wanted to talk to him once. His eyes say something his words can't say. He was like a puzzle. She admires his work, not his body, his money, his fame or success or something. Anyone who saw him could say he has well built body. She never cared about that. She doesn't even have any idea how many packs he had. She doesn't have any crush on him. After him, she knows what she wants.
Ayla is already late when she entered the lobby. Her parka jacket and her hair are slightly touched by rain. With a bag and car keys in her hand, she rushed to the elevator which she found occupied. She moved to drive another one. But when she saw the person inside the elevator, her legs paralyzed. Ayla stared at the tall man in the black suit. He was keeping his middle button of his suit. He looked simple, sophisticated and subtle. He would have already recognized her. A wave of embarrassment hit her when she remembered what she did yesterday. He neither said anything nor his face showed anything. He looked at her as if she is nothing and pressed a button. The doors of elevator are closed on her face. "I'm dating an artist. He is cute." If it isn't for this message, Ayla could've met Jayden formally. She could've said 'good evening' and he could've wished her as wel
It is a foreign feeling for her. She is never used to that or never felt that before. Why is his gaze, so intense piercing her from head to toe, she wouldn’t understand. Being a second alone with this man, took her breath away, at the same time filled her with new life. He didn’t say anything rude, he didn’t even give a glare, he didn’t wear any kind of knives on his chest, yet he scares her. It is not the fear that he could do some potential harm to her; it is an unknown intimidation to which her body reacted without her knowledge. The rain drops are harsh on her sensitive skin. She raised her head to feel the more of piercing cold drops on her face. Slowly closing her eyes, she remembered the River Trent, the rain there. Her heart is filled with unknown agony. She started to miss something. She has no idea what. “Is that, that bad?” the voice came from the
NOTTINGHAM SEVEN YEARS BACK Ayla felt like she is sitting at the edge of a cliff, it is both excitement of meeting Blake for the first time and fear meeting many new people at the new school. She wished her father drop her off at least say how to behave or few father – daughter talks before she goes to school. But he left the home before she even woke up. She said to herself that he is a busy man that he will talk to her later. Her step brother Jack dropped her with much disgust as if she took away a very important aspect of his valuable time. Biting her lips, and fixing her sling bag, she walked briskly with a masked confidence, deep inside, she is trembling with dread. “Waoh, looker.” She heard who passed by her on skating wheels say. She didn’t understand the reason behind his jaw dropping, whether it is good or bad. She sets her red hair straight, and hurried to the office room and right before she e
NOTTINGHAMSEVEN YEARS AGO Ayla doesn’t know the meanings of the words such as bint or naff. Even if she knows good English, sometimes the slang is beyond her. When she checked them on the internet, she felt horrible, not to mention the words students used to call her, things they did to her always kept her in tears. Not even a single night after coming to Nottingham, she slept peacefully or went to bed without lying to her mother. Being in everyone’s mouths, becoming target to every harsh act is hardly endurable. Slowly, she lost confidence in herself. No matter what happens, she could never go to her dad. She highly doubts if she could even say hi to him and ask how his day was. She really hoped that Blake comes to her aid. He never did. And on one particular day, she finally saw his true colors. The same girl in the red skirt before now came in pink. Being the
LONDON PRESENT DAY Ayla looked at her reflection in the mirror and for the first time in her life, as far as she remembers, she admired her work on herself. Her short red hair has smoothened more with the striaghtener, she didn’t put much effort on doing her face as she put on her hair, a blush nude matte lipstick and a moisturizer did enough magic. She selected a blue colored 3/4 sleeve elegant pencil peplum dress. After all, she is now working at a mega corporation; she has to look elegant, class, and simple as per her comfort. The dress is in suitable hourglass shape with ruffles on the right side which hugged her body tightly showing all her curves perfectly. She always preferred simple pumps, but this time, she wore black pointed high heels. Her confidence rose to a new next level with the new perfect look. All thanks to her old boss. If he hadn’t called yesterday and informed that
PRESENT DAY LONDON “No. I don’t know if it is fated or just coincidence or whatever. You mother cheated on your dad. You were easily tricked by a school girl. This is the biggest joke that has been played in front of my eyes.” An evil laugh played on Jack’s long face underneath a very less hair. His eyes are so small that the triumphant laugh made him look like he bore some holes instead of eyes. He thought he got under his opponent’s skins who are there for a meeting – Jayden and Mason. His words only worked on Mason who has lost his calm and raised from his chair with so much force and rage that he kicked that chair behind. “You son of a bitch.” He cursed. “As far as I remember,” Said Jack with a smirk, “It is Jayden who is the son of a bitch.” Apparently, the words Jack delivered at Jayden hits Mason first. Jayden doesn’t seem to be intruded or slightly moved b
“I don’t understand, Mr. Cliff. What do you mean by I didn’t do well?” Ayla questioned impatiently. She has checked her list for hundred times since it is the first ever significant work she got to do at Knight & Gray. The old man in his mid forties- Mr. Cliff, shook his head removing his glasses with a stern look, “Rupert's report and the list he has made is quite outstanding. I suppose, it is the best when compared to you.” “But, I –” He waves his hand dismissively, “No. Miss. Sargin. This is no use arguing over this. Get this file another photocopy. I reckon you can do the job well.” Ayla sighed getting back to her regular photocopy machine with a look of contempt. She is so sure she did well. Rupert, on the other side, is having a friendly chat with some other boys. Ayla made her way to him. He looked at her incredulously. Most of the staff doesn’t really know her and even if they did, Ayla has no reputation in friendly talks. “I am Ayla. I was wondering if I c
Nottingham Few Years Back That evening Ayla was more cheerful at the dinner table than she was in the entire five months of her stay at Nottingham. Her step brother, with whom she never shared at least a two minutes of conversation was burning like a volcano which is going to be burst at some point. Apparently, he was beaten by someone and her father was as furious he was. Ayla wondered if her father would react the same way if he know that Ayla has been always bullied. Deep inside, she knew that the answer is no. He never noticed her agony and fears. So, he probably wouldn’t give a damn about her happiness. Evelyn is almost in tears for her bruised son. There was certain tension in the family that Ayla has felt like an odd man out. She had no one to share her happiness, no one to listen about Jayden Knight and Mason Gray. For a second, she envied Jack. He has perfect mother and father in full health. She dragged her feet to upstairs trying not to interfere in their family affairs. K