For a few seconds, their eyes locked. Time seemed to freeze. Deniz's heart pounded, her pupils dilated, her breath caught in her throat.
Then suddenly, she flinched, shook herself, and muttered through clenched teeth, "Ugh, Derya… Look at the mess you've gotten me into."
Quickly, she slid on her sunglasses, pulled her cap down low, and shrank behind Mr. Kubilay as if to hide.
But Fatih hadn't taken his eyes off her.
He had seen her panic, the guilty twitch in her movements as she tried to disappear.
His brows knitted. His gaze sharpened. The corner of his mouth curved into a mocking snarl.
"You little liar," he whispered under his breath.
This woman… he would corner her eventually.
And when that moment came, he would demand his answer. But not now.
For now, he simply watched. Every sense honed in on her, the way a predator shadows its prey.
Fatih cleared his throat with a short cough.
"Understood, Sir. Our duty is to escort you to the site. Let's move," he said.
Mr. Kubilay dipped his head. "Of course, of course, as you wish."
At that moment, Elif rolled her shoulders loose, clutching her bag tighter, and sighed:
"Um… maybe we could grab a coffee first? It was a long trip. Would that be okay, sir?"
Mr. Kubilay hesitated, glancing at the weary team. Then his eyes slid toward Fatih. Permission would come from him.
Fatih, who until then had spoken not a word, had been watching only Deniz.
His eyes pierced through the shade of her cap, as if drilling holes straight into her thoughts.
After a tense pause, he broke the silence, turning toward Kubilay Bey.
"Sergeant, escort them. And please… only one person should go."
Elif nodded. "Alright, I'll go. What's everyone having?"
Taylan and Berat replied at the same time, "Latte," and burst into laughter at their perfect synchronization.
Elif's gaze landed on Tolga, the retired major standing stiff and scanning the area like a sentry. "And for you, chief of security?"
Tolga's voice was steel, though his lips curved faintly. "Just water, Elif."
Then… the disaster zone. Elif turned to Deniz, who still had her cap tugged down to hide her face.
"And you, chief engineer?"
Deniz swallowed hard, her voice hoarse and cautious. "Espresso… that's enough."
Fatih's brows lifted slightly. He could no longer resist. With his tall, unbending posture, hands sliding into his pockets, he spoke with a trace of mockery:
"Interesting. I thought you preferred sweeter coffee."
(Ah, our poor girl 🤭 Remember—on their date she had ordered syrupy-sweet coffee while pretending to be someone else.)
Deniz's throat went dry, her shoulders hunched instinctively. She stayed silent. But by now, everyone around them sensed something was off.
Sergeant Cihan jumped in to break the tension. "I'll go with you," he said to Elif.
"Of course," Elif replied, and they walked off.
Deniz still hadn't dared look at Fatih, but she could feel his gaze on her—unyielding, predatory. It was too much. The only thought screaming in her mind was:
"How am I ever going to escape this man?"
When they reached the main base, it was just past noon. The sun hovered above, casting warm shadows over the two-story housing block surrounded by trees.
Ever since stepping off the plane, a pleasant fatigue had settled over the group. Taylan and Berat had bolted upstairs at once.
"We're checking out the beds!" they shouted.
Kubilay Bey, the embodiment of state discipline, stood tall and addressed the team:
"We'll be lodging here tonight. Tomorrow morning we head to the field, set up the containers, and stay there. For now, settle in, then meet in the dining hall. Afterwards, we'll take a short site tour. Agreed?"
The group dispersed. Inside Deniz, alarm bells blared. Her inner voice shouted through a megaphone:
"Avoid Fatih at all costs. Do not run into him!"
But escaping him was near impossible. It was as if Fatih lurked behind every corner, lying in wait.
With his sharp features, slightly unkempt beard, deep eyes, and that gaze—cold as winter, burning as summer—he was pure disaster.
After their date, Deniz had found herself unable to stop thinking of him. And now, seeing him in uniform made her heart quiver.
But his eyes said, "I want to kill you."
"No, no! He'll devour me alive. No room for romance, Deniz!" she scolded herself.
She needed a plan.
Escape Plan – Version 1.0, initiated.
First target: drop her bag in her room.
She crept quietly down the corridor, found her door, slipped inside, set her bag down. Just as she was about to leave—footsteps.
Her breath froze.
"Hey Deniz, how do you like the rooms?" It was Berat. Relief flooded her.
"Uh… yes, very nice," she said, quickly moving away.
Second target: dinner.
As they made their way to the mess hall, a familiar scent lingered in the air—mandarin with sharp woody notes.
He was there. Fatih. Standing at the entrance, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on her. He said nothing, but the slight raise of his brows was enough to corner her.
She pretended not to see him, eyes darting elsewhere.
Escape Plan – Version 1.1: Retreat.
"Oh, I left my phone inside, I'll grab it," she said, turning on her heel.
Taylan called after her, "Ah, there you are! I was just wondering where you'd gone!"
"I'm wondering where I've gone too, Taylan," she muttered, slipping away.
Third target: site tour.
As the team explored the grounds, Tolga led, Elif scribbled notes, the others snapped photos. Deniz kept a step apart, wary, flinching at every shadow as though Fatih would appear.
When she ducked behind a container to hide, she prayed: "Please… don't let him be here."
The door creaked open. Inside stood Fatih. Alone.
His eyes locked onto hers, hard as steel.
Deniz nearly screamed, but forced a smile—tight with fear.
"Sorry, wrong container," she stammered, retreating.
He just stood there, watching.
Fourth and final target: hide.
From the mess hall, the rooms, the containers, even people themselves—she slipped away into a narrow path toward the back garden.
The rustle of leaves, distant chatter… all faded. Finally, she was alone.
And there it was. Her savior tree. Low branches, thick foliage.
Without hesitation, she climbed.
Perched at the top, arms wrapped around herself, she exhaled, "Finally. I'm safe."
Her eyes closed, breath steadying—until a voice below jolted her.
Her heart leapt into her throat. She opened her eyes—Fatih stood beneath her.
"Well, you've climbed a tree like a cat. Perfect. Shall we pack you a ration kit too? Maybe send you to the mountains?" he teased, leaning against the trunk, arms crossed, staring up.
"What are you, Deniz? Derya? A liar? Or… a cat?"
Deniz slumped, defeated. Shoulders drooped.
Escape Plan – Version 1.999: Target captured.
Looking down, eyes narrowed—not in anger, but in shame. She gathered herself, tying her red hair back, forcing composure.
From her perch she snapped, "Are you going to make this hell for me? Can't you see I'm avoiding you? Why chase me? I played a role once in my life—and I got caught. Just let me go… won't you?"
Now she had his full attention.
Fatih's lips curled with amusement. His rolled-up sleeves revealed veined forearms, the fading sun carving his face into something fierce.
He looked like a warrior, but his voice was all playful rogue:
"Tsk… not happening. I'm not leaving until you climb down and explain, street cat."
Deniz clenched her teeth, shut her eyes, counted to three… it didn't work.
She had no choice. Slowly, she dropped down—landing dangerously close to him, barely an arm's length apart.
So close… it was perilous.
"Step back," she whispered. Her voice was soft as cotton. Maybe she was the one who needed to step back, but Fatih didn't move.
He studied her face, as if savoring her embarrassment.
"Well then… talk, Deniz?" His voice softened now.
Her eyes widened. Words failed her. Her brilliant mind, her academic poise—all crumbled beneath that tree. She was utterly disarmed.
For Fatih, nothing else existed. Only her.
The woman who tried to hide her beauty but couldn't. The woman who blushed with shame, yet couldn't conceal it.
He was about to speak when Berat's voice echoed: "Miss Deniz! The director is calling you!"
Fatih rolled his eyes. "Don't you dare leave without explaining!"
Deniz seized her chance, turning on her heel. "Saved!" she cheered inwardly.
But after only two steps, his whisper froze her again:
"Tomorrow morning we'll be at the site. Remember… we'll be in the same container. And I swear, I'll bring this up in front of everyone if I must."
She stopped cold, looking back over her shoulder.
"You shouldn't have said that," she thought.
Because if you dared her, or told her she couldn't do something—that's when the fire inside Deniz awoke.
Her eyes flashed. Tossing her hair, she shot back:
"If I strangle you in that container tomorrow, don't blame me. And don't go crying in your diary about being kicked by a woman."
Fatih arched his brows, grinning.
"Just being in the same space as you already counts as survival training. Don't worry—I'm well prepared."
Deniz shook her head, walking away, her stubbornness blazing openly now.
Fatih watched her go, his lips curling into a final murmur:
"This war is just beginning, Red."