KEREM

"How did you forget?! You can't forget about this, Kerem!"

Having arrived in New York, Elijah is waiting for me at home, a wild beast ready to pounce on me like it has been caged for a long time. I am a bit worried when I realize the reality of what is happening, but I am already more than destroyed after my exchange of words with Juliet.

I only hope that she accepts the apartment that I offered her, that she helps her friend with addiction problems to get ahead and that she takes care of her work without despising the offer that Massera made her at the time.

It's the best for both of us.

However, Elijah's presence leaves me completely concerned. Thammy holds Ali, who starts crying as soon as I get there, or I think he was already crying.

"Wonderful way to welcome me," I say, as soon as I put down my handbag with the essential things I had to buy for the last few hours' trip there and back.

"I'm not kidding, Kerem." Elijah is boiling.

Ali cries.

Thammy tries to move away, but I point out "Why don't you take the baby into the room?"

"Yes sir. Immediately."

Elijah's eyes are on me. I take a step forward and insist:

"Why don't you update me?"

"Why don't you look at your agenda and realize how important it is that you should take care of your part of investing in the Stock Market."

Suddenly my head seems to emit a spark that manages to make me realize that a large part of my daily responsibilities consist of being alert to the stock markets to keep our investments up and in good port.

However, this does make things difficult for me, because we have divided responsibilities and this is of my exclusive relevance.

"It's not right for you to come to my house to talk to me in that tone," I warn him.

"I can't find another tone. You haven't done it for TWO days! The losses are immense and your people had to mount it accordingly!"

"Holy God. I'll take care of it."

"Did you see the rise in lithium and the fall in oil?"

"W-how that...if it was the same during the last...I don't know, days."

"Don't you know that there is a war that is splitting the world in the middle?"

"You don't have to teach me geopolitics."

"Then get to work and get that money back! Because our accounts right now are a raft that lets in water and is on the verge of sinking!"

It can't be that serious.

He pulls out his phone, looks for something, and shows me the screen.

I know how important it can be to be alert to this type of movement, which is why I have someone to take care of it.

But I avoid it.

I do not see.

"Do it! Check with your own eyes!"

He lowers his phone with one hand above the screen.

"Why didn't you take care of it? I remind you that the one who closed the business with Massera when the other was hooking and drinking was me and you the one with the crazy life."

"It doesn't compare to this at all, Kerem!! Stop for a minute to look at the numbers, they are alarming!!"

"I'll take care of it, trust me. Now." I turn to the door and open it. "It would be better for you to leave by your own means and think about it the next time you want to come to me and ask me something like this."

He is on the verge of punching me, but I trust he wouldn't dare. I'm not afraid of him, I just don't want things to get even more complicated."

This whole situation distresses Ali.

But before leaving, he stops at the door and says to my face:

"Thammy told me that, in addition, you threw Juliet out. I guess it has to do with doubts about Zara. Are you seriously going to keep making bad decisions?"

He looks me up and down in disgust and finally leaves.

I spend a few seconds processing what he just told me, and Elijah is definitely one of the people who knows me best in the entire world.

It's logical to tell me.

But my situation is something that he would never understand, that even I have a hard time adjusting.

But I fear that it all signifies the seriousness with which he has come to my house in New York. Elijah has never shown himself like this and, in fact, he must have flown from Silicon Valley, because he was very good there with the sporadic women he met.

How dare he tell me the things he said to me?

Immediately after, I look for my cell phone and dial Neville.

I plan to sing the forty.

But he doesn't pick up.

How dare he?

Then I dial his personal phone, one that I deduce that he hasn't used for years, so I'm afraid he probably won't answer.

To my surprise, after the second ring, he answers on the other end.

"Mr. Deniz."

"Neville! Why the hell aren't you answering your work phone?! What are you supposed to be doing?!"

"Mmmm."

"Do not answer! I don't want to know! Just tell me how the hell did you let yourself lose sight of the rises and falls in the stock market today."

"Are you seriously asking, sir?"

"Do I look like I'm playing?!"

"You told me to take an immediate vacation with an indeterminate date."

Wow.

My heart is going to a thousand.

Of course I did that.

Although I don't remember.

It was just... it was just at a time when I was very obsessed with everything about Zara and he just wanted to be the voice of my morals trying to tell me what I have to do, something that lately seems to be the attraction of the moment.

"Of...of course I wasn't serious!" I try to excuse myself.

"I'm sorry sir. But the tone you used at the time and the one you're using now with me makes me want to use my accumulated vacation. If you'll allow me, I'll continue with my quiet dinner."

"You dare to hang up on me?!"

"Good night."

And he does.

Neville, my employee, the idiot...has cut me off!