Excerpt:

Today, when she saw Jihaan in the white palace of Buyukada, sitting in Abdul Rahman Pasha’s room on the computer chair, she felt like she didn’t know him at all.

Summary:

The office was dimly lit. Evening had fallen outside the windows. She was still sitting in the same position, staring blankly at the laptop screen. Her tears had long dried on her cheeks. Somewhere in the background, the phone was ringing, but she paid no attention to it. She was focused on the man speaking to her. Despite narrating his story in brief words, he had gotten up to make coffee in between. He could never sit idle; she knew him well. But today, when she saw Jahaan in the white palace of Buyukada, sitting in Abdul Rahman Pasha’s room on the computer chair, she felt like she didn’t know him at all. What was he doing in that video in ARP’s room? As she watched, she became more and more shocked. First, she felt a jolt, then anger, but the kind of anger that one feels when outsmarted by a clever move in chess, and then she was just numb.

The office phone continues to ring, and she reluctantly answers, learning that Waleed insists on meeting her. Despite her displeasure, she agrees to see him. Waleed arrives with a mocking smile and informs her that the board of directors plans to pass a no-confidence motion against her. He smugly suggests she start packing her things as she will be ousted the next day. However, she confronts him with evidence of his wrongdoing related to the trade center project, threatening to expose him to her father. Waleed, enraged, threatens her but leaves when she stands her ground.

As she prepares to leave, she contacts Bahare, who reveals that Abdul Rahman Pasha is leaving and has already scolded her, saying he won’t see her again. Haya is determined to find Jahaan, who had not told her his plans before leaving. Confused and disheartened, she plans to go to Turkey to search for him. While walking to her car, Waleed tries to run her over