Jan, frustrated that I wouldn't confide who the Albatross is, finally reveals the reason for the trip: "We're going to visit a model in another city. She turned down the role, and I suspect Karli's rival company—which has been receiving info from the spy—is behind it."
"And why did you bring me?"
"Company," he smiles, looking at me. I don't smile back because I'm confused, which makes him turn serious. "I just need you to make sure nothing goes wrong during the contract meeting. She's important for a real estate commercial we're acquiring, and the builders were specific: they want her."
He watches me for a moment. "Have you eaten anything, Aylla? I realized we left and I took away your lunch hour."
"Oh, I'm glad you mentioned it, Jan bey. I'm famished!" He smiles warmly.
"I hope you like fish. I know a restaurant nearby, and the owner makes delicious fish."
Jan takes me to a port where there's a boat with several tables. There are various lights scattered around the boat and the port; I bet during the night this place is very romantic. "What a beautiful place, Jan bey. I didn't expect Bursa to be so lovely."
"Nothing beats fish straight from a boat, don't you think? And the hotel we're going to is beautiful too."
We talk about his travels and experiences. Jan is so expansive I could spend hours listening to him; it would be like he was telling me stories from the adventure and danger books I usually read, but now it's someone who lived it telling me. I can imagine the places Jan describes in my mind. "And you, Aylla, what's your dream?" He brushes a curl of my bangs that fell over my eye, tucking it delicately behind my ear.
"I..." I get a little nervous, "I want to be a writer, travel the world, and finally spend some time in the Galápagos."
"Galápagos? Why?" He looks at me curiously, placing his hand on his beard and leaning on the table.
"For the nature, the animals, the landscape... and I want to see the albatross in its habitat."
I'm so excited telling him about the Galápagos that I forget who I'm talking to. "Albatross, is it?" "They fly all around the world and only stop on land in the Galápagos when they decide to find their mate. They are monogamous, so they spend the rest of their lives with just one."
"And why did your friend ask if you found the albatross?"
"At the company celebration ball, I met someone." I finally opened the door I tried so hard to hide.
"And you don't know who he is?" I look at the boat's horizon and remember the kiss again. The feeling... I can't help it and give a shy smile.
"It was dark. I only remember him having a beard and a fancy shoe. Layla is helping me with a list of possible people."
Remembering the kiss made the hope of finding the Albatross increase. "And am I on it?" Jan looks smug and leans back, savoring my possible interest in him. "After all, I have a beard and I have great style." He broke my trance of remembering the kiss and made me focus on our conversation, remembering who I was talking to.
"Of course not! You were wearing combat boots at the party. I looked for the shoes after the closing, so you aren't on the list. Besides, you were with your girlfriend."
"So you noticed me." He returns to the position of resting his face on his hand and his elbows on the table, smiling to show a typical egocentric man's victory. I'm frustrated at having even a minimum of attraction to him.
"Jan bey, shouldn't we go? I don't know the reason for talking about these things with me. You are my boss and I am your subordinate. Don't play with me."
"Is that what you want?" He opens his arms and stands up.
"Yes, that's what I want, Jan bey." I cross my arms to look determined, but I end up looking like a child. Jan finally makes a gesture, shaking his hands in disbelief, pays the bill putting the money in his wallet, and heads to the car without saying a word. Jan spends the drive in silence. I turn on the radio because this silence consumes me. I keep watching the landscapes outside—mountains so beautiful and exuberant. When an hour of this cold war in the car has passed, I spot the flowers.
"STOP THE CAR, Jan bey, STOP!" He pulls over quickly and looks at me in desperation, but I don't give him time to see his face. I run out of the car into the mountains, and he runs trying to catch up with me.
"Aylla! Aylla!" "You made me stop because of flowers?"
"They aren't just any flowers! They're the ones I use in my perfume, extremely hard to find." He approaches, kneels near where I am gathering the flowers, and smells them.
"This scent..."
"Wonderful, isn't it? Look, there's more over there."
Jan is standing, wearing a green V-neck t-shirt. His muscles are well-displayed; I knew he had an athletic build, I bet he does all kinds of sports. This isn't the kind of guessing a female employee should be doing about her boss. "You know, Aylla, you are quite peculiar." I smile at Jan's comment; it's really hard not to like having him around.
"I hope in a good way, Jan bey. Can we go now? Sorry for delaying your meeting with the model."
My conscience wouldn't stop annoying me: Bravo, Aylla! You told the spy about the albatross and even made him stop the car to pick flowers! "Shut up!" I say out loud.
"What?" Jan looks at me confused.
"I was talking to my inner voice, Jan bey."
"Do you and your inner voice have diverging opinions?" He looks at me curiously, entertained by my madness.
"You have no idea. Many times I do something and she disagrees or gives me a scolding."
"And what were you disagreeing about now, Aylla?"
"My lack of professionalism in making you stop the car to pick flowers." He puts a hand on my shoulder while continuing to drive.
"You made the trip more fun. Besides, your scent is good, so we can't ruin your source."
I stay silent. Was that a flirtation? Besides being a conqueror, he is an egocentric egoist who wants to destroy his father's company, an evil king. I stay silent the rest of the way; I need to focus on my Albatross. I lose myself in thoughts, thinking about what I will do when I find him, but when I fall asleep, it's not the Albatross I dream of, but Jan.