"Good morning…"
"Morning."
The room Gilbert stayed in was a suite, and Ivanka didn't move to another room to avoid any awkwardness. After all, rumors were already circulating that she had climbed onto her boss's bed, so Ivanka didn't care about such trivial gossip.
"Where's Miss Hazel?" Gilbert asked after finishing his morning routine, taking the newspaper Ivanka handed him.
"Miss Hazel is preparing breakfast. I've heard that Turkish cuisine is very rich—one of the top three in the world," Ivanka replied.
"That's true. Definitely much better than British food," Gilbert agreed.
As they spoke, Jilly Hazel had already arranged for the hotel breakfast to be delivered to the suite, and the variety was astonishing. Dozens of different dishes were presented, surprising Gilbert.
"So many?" Gilbert asked. "What kinds are these?"
Jilly Hazel introduced them: "These are local specialty breakfasts. This is sausage with fried eggs, made with local Turkish sausage. It's somewhat similar to Italian spicy sausage. It's a dried sausage made with garlic and various spices like red pepper, cumin, and sumac."
Gilbert picked up a piece of sausage with his fork and tasted it. The flavor was savory with a slight spiciness, but not overwhelming.
"How is it?" Jilly Hazel asked.
"Not bad. Sally would probably enjoy this," Gilbert commented. "As for me, I prefer Sichuan-style sausage."
"Sichuan-style sausage?" Jilly Hazel repeated, chewing on the unfamiliar words, momentarily confused.
Fortunately, Ivanka explained: "It's sausage from China. Gilbert's Chinese friend sends him some Chinese cured meats and sausages every year. There's so much, you can't finish it all, so they share it with others."
"Oh, I see," Jilly Hazel said, finally understanding.
She felt a bit envious of Ivanka. Although she didn't know Ivanka's exact identity, being trusted by Gilbert was no small matter.
After trying one dish, Gilbert gestured to continue.
The hotel staff cleared the sausage and eggs and brought another dish. When the lid was lifted, it was another fried egg dish.
Within the golden egg surface were visible shrimp, diced meat, and bits of vegetables.
Jilly Hazel explained: "In Turkish breakfast culture, sausage, fried eggs, and bread are eternal themes. Of course, Turkish coffee is always on the table."
Although Gilbert wasn't fond of coffee, he still tasted it. Rich and aromatic, it was invigorating.
The remaining breakfast dishes were mostly various carbohydrate-based foods, such as thin pancakes, baked crescent rolls spread with local beef paste, eaten with butter and cucumber slices—utterly satisfying in a single bite.
Although there were dozens of dishes, the portions were customized based on the number of guests.
The dozens of dishes were just enough for three to four people, with any leftovers minimal and not a waste.
Ivanka, being on a diet, only ate a small amount and stopped. Jilly Hazel, however, ate heartily, mainly to please Gilbert.
After breakfast, once they had digested a little, Jilly Hazel took on the role of tour guide, leading Gilbert and Ivanka to explore Istanbul's famous sights.
The first stop, of course, was the world-famous Hagia Sophia.
This cathedral has a long history, tracing back to Emperor Justinian I of the Eastern Roman Empire, who ordered the construction of this third cathedral.
Supported by Byzantium's strong power, it was designed by the physicist Isidore of Miletus and the mathematician Anthemius of Tralles, completed in 537 AD.
At that time, North America was still a wild continent, and China was in the Southern and Northern Dynasties period.
After being captured by the Turks in 1453, it was converted into a mosque. Today, Hagia Sophia's religious function is minimal, serving more as a museum with many precious murals and artifacts.
This was Gilbert's first time in Istanbul, and naturally, he had never visited Hagia Sophia before.
Seeing the magnificent dome and exquisite murals, Gilbert couldn't help but be inspired to exclaim in Chinese, "This is f***ing beautiful."
Jilly Hazel didn't understand what Gilbert said. With many people around, she instinctively held Gilbert's arm to prevent him from getting separated.
"Why are there so many people today?" Ivanka complained after being bumped by a tourist behind her.
"Ivanka, it's almost the Champions League final. Fans are probably arriving already. Besides, it's normal for a tourist city to be crowded," Gilbert explained.
Ivanka noticed that fans of AC Milan and Arsenal seemed to be arguing ahead, and she frowned: "So rude… people can even fight at a cathedral."
"Shh," Gilbert whispered, "keep your voice down. We don't want the fans to hear. If they know I'm the club owner, you'll be in trouble."
Ivanka rolled her eyes. She had originally thought their trip to Istanbul was purely for sightseeing. It was, but now with another person who seemed even more attractive than her, the crowd made it overwhelming.
Ivanka disliked crowded places, believing that popular attractions lost their original charm when too many people were present. This sacred cathedral, a symbol shared by Islam and Eastern Orthodoxy, felt almost vulgar to her.
She expressed her thoughts to Gilbert, who shrugged: "There's nothing we can do, Ivanka. Even gods have to eat!"
"Uh," Ivanka was momentarily speechless, having to admit that although Gilbert's comment was simple, it did carry some truth.
Because of the large crowds of tourists, the three of them only visited a few main sites before heading to the nearby Blue Mosque and the underground Basilica Cistern beneath Hagia Sophia.
Jilly Hazel explained, "It's daytime now. If you come at night, there's a performance in the cistern. It's quite spectacular."
"Really?" Gilbert considered this for a moment. "Then maybe we should come see it at night?"
"Boss, you still have work to handle," Ivanka reminded him.
Gilbert gave up the idea. Even though he was in Istanbul, he still needed to stay in contact with Warner Bros. to manage some work matters.
In the afternoon, the three visited Topkapi Palace and the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art to experience the blend of ancient history and contemporary art.
In the evening, they had Turkish-style Alexandrian kebabs, also commonly called Turkish kebabs elsewhere.
After a full meal, they sat on the suite's balcony, sipping some red wine with small desserts and enjoying the stunning view of the bay.
However, the peaceful moment didn't last long. John Richard, the current general manager of Arsenal, came to the hotel to visit Gilbert, and they had a conversation.
"How's the team's preparation going?" Gilbert asked.
"Don't worry," John Richard assured him. "The team is training well, morale is high, and winning the Champions League is very likely."
"I often hear people say that football is round, and anything can happen on the field," Gilbert remarked. "I hope the team stays humble and calm, treating the final as just another match."
"I will certainly pass your words to the coaching staff and players, but…"
"But what?"
John Richard smiled. "I think the players would prefer to see you in the locker room. Would you have time to speak with them before the final?"
"Pressure them from the owner's seat?" Gilbert shook his head. "No need for that. When they win the Champions League, the bonuses will be enough. Let them focus on preparation; I won't disturb them."
"Alright then. I'll convey your wishes to the players."
The day before the final, Gilbert didn't continue sightseeing. Instead, he stayed in his hotel room to handle work, keeping in touch with the team in Los Angeles.
By this time, the premiere of Kingdom of Heaven had already begun, and Batman: Begins was reaching its release moment.
...
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