ROSE'S POV
"Baba, are you in there?" I asked from the outside as I stood in front of his door.
"Come in," I heard him.
"Hey," I called him as I went inside. He was sitting behind his Mahogani table. Must admit he looks better with his glasses.
"You need something?" He asked me.
"I...uh no, I just wanted to see you," I told him.
"Why not go back to your boyfriend?" He asked me. I control my chuckle and smiled.
Well, you said it to yourself, he's my boyfriend, not my baba," I told him smiling.
He sighed and got up. I looked at him with curious eyes. He opened his arms for me. I sprinted into his arms, and he tightened his arms around me.
"I hate that motherfucker!"He mumbled. I chuckled.
"You're the one who bought him here in the first place," I mumbled against his shoulder.
"And I fucking regret it. You're with him, and that's fucking disturbing," He told making me sigh. I looked at him.
"Baba, as much as this is going to hurt you, I must tell you that this was meant to happen. I mean not with just him but with anyone. I'm sorry if it hurts you but you have to make up your mind. Even you know, that Dimitri is not a bad guy!" I told him.
"I know. That's what hurt the most, knowing that this isn't a bad choice but it hurts because I just got you," He mumbled into my hair. I smiled.
"Baba, the way I love you is so different from the way I want Dimitri. Don't think I love you less," I told him pulling away from his embrace and looking into his eyes.
"I'm sorry my sweetheart," He told giving me a small kiss on my forehead.
After a moment of lovable silence, I decided to break it.
"Why don't you tell me about your love story with mom while we have lunch?" I asked him. He smiled.
"Okay, balcony?" He asked and I nodded. We both took our lunch and went to his room.
"So where did I stop?" He asked me.
"You told her that she has to stay with you until she heals," I told him. He smiled.
"Well lots of things happened after that, and I can't tell you them all," He told me.
I recognized the pain he had in his eyes.
"How did you fall for her,"
IBRAHIM'S POV (FLASHBACK 24 YEARS AGO)
"I'm sorry for what happened Ms Hathaway," I told her as we stood in front of the airport.
It has been 2 weeks and now that she's completely healed, it was time for her to go. So many things happened in those 2 weeks, but mafia means mafia. We can't tell everything.
"You know, I never thought I'd enjoy staying with the mafia," She told chuckling. I smirked.
"Shhh, hazine. If someone hears you, you might stay for another few weeks," I told her with a wink. (Treasure)
"God no!" She groaned making me smile. After a few seconds, she smiled softly.
"The flight from Istanbul to Newyork will depart within another hour."
"You should leave Janine," I told her softly. She nodded.
"I'll miss you too Mr Mazur. Tell others I said goodbye," She told.
"I never told you I'm going to miss you," I told her. She smiled.
"You don't have to," She told before turning around.
She left. She didn't look back.
I came back to the mansion after some while and went straight to my bathroom.
I washed my face and looked at myself in the mirror. There was a hint of emotion, I wasn't familiar with.
"She's right, I'm going to miss her," I told to myself.
A week, that's how much time she spent with us. And that little time we talked, we observed each other's behaviour and earned trust, meant something. Her youth brought back the lightness we needed.
END OF FLASHBACK
"So you fell for her when she was under your captivity?" Rose brought me back to the world.
"No, I don't think so. I don't know when I fell for her, but we met again after that I was sure I had feelings for her," I told her.
"How did the age gap feel?" She asked me. I sighed.
"It felt amazing. From her, I felt youth, and sometimes immatureness but she was fierce. To her, protectiveness mostly. It was a fair fight though," I told her. She nodded.
"You told me you met after she left, how?" I expected that question.
BEGINNING OF THE FLASHBACK (TWO MONTHS AFTER JANINE LEFT)
"Tell me once again, why are we attending this event?" Pavel asked me as I did his tie.
Yes, his tie! This asshole doesn't know how to do his tie!
"Because we have to. It is a small event for the students who're going to receive scholarships. We should be there!" I told him.
"And why is Victor staying here?" He whined again as I did my tie.
"Because motherfucker, someone has to watch over you, and I want you to be with me there. End of topic," I told him looking at the mirror.
"Fine!" He mumbled.
"Let's go Plane's already here,"
...
NEW YORK
I want to see her reaction when she sees me there. I already know she's going to be there. She is an excellent student therefore she received this scholarship from NYC University. She can complete a year without student fees there.
This ceremony is special. It is a black-tie event and after giving the scholarships there will be a small function.
"Mr Mazur we're here," Dave told me. I could hear the paparazzi.
"Let's go, Abe," Pavel told.
We walked on the red carpet into the hall ignoring media questions. We stopped for some photos but that was all.
It was an outdoor event. The decoration was exquisite, and everything looked elegant.
Now, where is she?
"Welcome everyone, I am Martha Barton, and let's begin this event without any delaying..." A middle-aged woman started talking.
"So let's give a round of applause for our students who're receiving their scholarships.
"Mr Lucas Smith"
"Ms Janine Hathaway
"Ms Choi Seung-hi"
"Mr Abhiman Singh"
"Mr Ivan Vladmir"
There she is. God, she's beautiful! In that charming light blue dress, she looks so beautiful. Her long hair was done simply with four flowers.
'She's 17,' I tried to remind myself.
"Now I kindly ask Mr King, the president of the University of New York to be here and present the scholarships," We all stood up applauding them.
As she took her certificate, I noticed how happy she was. How much her success meant to her.
After they all received their scholarship, one of them was asked to give a speech. Smith boy spoke for like 3 minutes and we had to applaud again. Once they were coming back, that's when we made eye contact.
She saw me.
Her eyes widened slightly as she walked past me. I turned around and looked back at her circling the champagne glass as the party started.
"She's smart," Pavel told. I nodded.
"Why are you still here?" I asked him. She's congratulating other students.
"I'm sorry what?" He asked surprised. I turned to him and raised an eyebrow.
"Usually, you're flirting with a girl, so why are you still here?" I asked him. He frowned and placed a hand on his chest.
I sighed. Drama queen mode!
"Is that what you think of me? I wanted to be here just so you wouldn't feel lonely, but you don't care!" He whined.
I sighed again. 'Why can't he leave me the fuck alone? So that I can approach her!'
"Just go," I told him. He huffed and left.
Fucking finally!
I turned to see her and... she was gone! Fucking Pavel!
I looked around, trying not to be oblivious to anyone searching for her.
"Mr Ibrahim! How nice to see you here!" I sighed softly and turned around.
"Mr Black," I nodded to the business tycoon. He and I have a positive relationship in business but a larger one when it comes to the underworld.
"It's fancy seeing you here. You aren't the type to be here," I told him.
"Well, I must make an appearance after all," He told. I smiled.
After a small conversation about business, he went away respectfully.
Now, where is she? I sipped my drink as I searched for her.
"Mr Ibrahim?" I smiled softly and stopped searching. I turned around and raised my eyebrow.
"Ms Hathaway," I replied with a nod. She smiled.
"I thought that you might approach me, but guess I forgot we aren't that close," I smirked and took a step towards her.
"So you wanted me to approach you? And here I was thinking you are ignoring me, 'cause after all you wanted to leave for good," I told her smirking.
"Well, I did. But you know... anyway, forget that. I heard that you're one of the main sponsors for this event, is that true?" She asked me.
"It's true. LunaBell is one of the main sponsors for this event and scholarship programme," I told her.
"LunaBell? I've heard of it. Pavel mentioned it back then" She told me.
"Yes, LunaBell. I founded that company recently, in honour of my mother. I am planning to spread the company in America too," I told her.
"Why didn't you do it earlier? I mean you founded LunaBell quite a time ago," She told.
"Well, I wanted it to be famous in Turkey at first and then here. So you can say that this is a way of marketing," I told her taking a sip from my drink.
"So it's all just good business after all?" She asked making me smirk.
"Listen hazine. Remember this very well. Everything in this world at some point becomes good business," I told her. She smiled softly.
"What about things that can't be brought with money, or fame?" She asked. My eyes met her.
"Within another 10 or 20 years, they will not survive without money too hazine," I told her.
"Ladies and gentlemen let's all enjoy this wonderful evening with a dance,"
The lights started dimming slowly as a piece of slow music were begun.
"What about this moment?" She asked. Her voice was almost a whisper.
I placed my drink on the table, before turning back to her.
Taking her hand to mine, we moved to the dance floor. As we danced together, I realized she was different. I've known her only for a few weeks, and that isn't enough time for me to feel like this. But she's different.
She's confusing me, in a way I never thought anyone will.
I couldn't take my eyes off her.
"What?" She asked and I shook my head.
"Nothing, it's just you," I told her.
"What about me?" She asked chuckling.
"Nothing," I replied tightening my hold and twirling her.
She laughed softly. Her eyes twinkled like stars and she glowed like a fire torch.
But there was this gaze-burning fire between us. It made me feel alarmed. I bent down to her level. My forehead touching hers, our lips only inches away.
"Mr Ibrahim..." Her breath quickened. Her gaze moved to our footwear.
"Someone's watching. Don't know who, but someone is. So do exactly as I tell you to do," I told her, my lips touching hers. One hand of mine cupped her cheek caressing her softly.
"Once the song is over you're going to the restroom, and close the door don't open it to anyone except me. I mean anyone, there will be a glass vase, break it and keep it as a weapon. Do you understand?" I asked whispering.
"Yes, but what about you?" She asked me. I smiled.
"I'll be watching you, so hazine do as I tell you," I told her. She nodded.
I moved my face, my chin resting on her forehead. When the song ended, I kissed her on the forehead and let her go.
She looked at me with a question and I gave her a nod. With that, she left.
I moved to the bar and ordered a glass of wine before calling my guard.
"Don?"
"Ms Hathaway's going to the restroom, make sure she reachers carefully," I told.
"Evet don," I hang up.
"Ibrahim, Robert is here," Pavel told coming to me from nowhere. I raised an eyebrow.
So it was him.
"Where?" I asked.
"He disappeared. But he saw you dancing with Janine," Marco told making me clench my fingers around the glass
"Don?" I heard my guard's voice from the earpiece.
"Where is she?" I asked him.
"She locked the room," My lips curled.
Good girl
"Guard there. Don't let anyone get her unless it's me," I told him.
"Yes do," He told.
"She's safe," I told to Pavel.
"That's a relief. Anyway, where is this bastard?" He told me.
"Was he invited? I mean what is he doing here?" I asked him.
"He is invited. You know Sage. That man is a money-hungry fucker. He invited almost all the billionaires in the world,"
"Us including," We turned hearing two voices we haven't heard for a while.
"You too?" I asked the couple.
"Hmm, we almost thought of denying it but then changed at the last moment. It's about time Dimitri starts to explore the world," I raised my eyebrow as Randall told.
"Isn't he like only 2 years old?" I asked Olena. She scowled.
"4," She told.
"Ah! 4, where is he?" I asked them.
"didn't bring him here, too chaotic for him," Randall told me.
"Sir Robert is spotted near the water fountain with his men," I heard from the earpiece.
"You might wanna go back to him, Robert is here," Just as I mentioned his name Randall's eyes left me for a moment while Olena looked scared. But he nodded leaving with Nicola.
"Keep an eye on Randall, don't trust that bastard," I told to Pavel once they left. He gave me a solid nod before changing the subject.
"Are we going to catch him today?" Pavel asked me.
"No, we aren't. We can't risk tonight. But we will scare him," I told him gulping down the rest of my drink, before walking out of the hall.
It took me only about 10 seconds to find him and his fuckers.
"Well, well, well, who do we have here?" I said out loud making him turn around. When he saw me, a knowing smirk came to his face.
"Ibrahim Mazur," He told smirking, but I could see the hatred in his eyes.
"I thought I made sure for you to never be where I am. So why are you still here?" I asked him.
He scoffed laughing.
"Do you expect me to follow that? Are you mad? We are businessmen, and I was invited too. Why should I not come here just because you're here?" He asked me, screaming at the end.
"Tsk," I smirked, clicking my tongue.
"Ah! You motherfucking bastard! You should've listened when I told you to. You have no fucking idea what I can do huh? Just wait and see," I told him glaring.
Just as I turned what he said in reply made my blood boil.
"She was a beautiful girl, wasn't she? The one you were dancing with?"
I took a deep breath and turned and scoffed.
"Are you planning to kill her just because I danced with her? You must be the most immature businessman I've ever met," I told him leaving them.
"Don," I held my hand to stop Pavel.
"Stan?" I called out to the guard who was guarding Janine.
I heard some noises such as grunts, and punches being thrown. Did that bastard get to Janine?
"Stan answer me dammit!" I called him again running towards the ladies' restroom.
"Boss!" He called me with a pained voice. I stopped.
"What happened?" I asked him.
"His men. They tried to get to her by passing me. I beat them down but got stabbed in the leg before they left, they didn't get Ms Hathaway," He told.
I let out the breath I held inside.
"Thank you! Thank you, Stan, I'll be there," I told him.
"Pavel, go check on others. I'm going to watch Janine," I told Pavel, to which he nodded.
"Also take Stan with you," I told him.
"Yes Don," He told me as we neared the ladies' room.
We saw Stan sitting down on the floor his back leaning to the door, holding his leg. We both ran towards him.
"Don," He rasped out trying to get up.
"What happened to you? Pavel, take him to the hospital and inform Blake that we'll be back late," I told him to which he nodded.
"Stan, thank you. I mean it more than anything. Also, don't worry about anything and take a good rest," I told patting his shoulder.
"Evet don," He told as Pavel took him away.
I took a deep breath to calm myself. She must be scared and shocked.
"Janine," I wrapped my fingers around the doorknob and placed my other hand on the door.
"Janine it's just me, open the door," I told hoping she could hear me. I heard some ruffling from inside.
"Janine I'm coming inside," I told her as I opened the door with the key I got from the manager.
I slowly stepped inside managing not to make any noise. And what I saw, made my heart sink in guilt.
She was there leaning against the wall, her eyes tight shut and hands pressed to her ears.
I knelt in front of her and gently placed my hands on hers. She cried out panicked too much.
"Hazine" I called her wanting her to calm down.
"It's over, you're safe," I told her, gently removing her hands from her ears.
"Hazine, look at me please," I asked her holding her hands tightly.
"Let me go! Please! let me go," She whispered crying thrashing around slightly.
I pulled her to me, hugging her tightly. I placed my hand on her hair pressing her tightly to my chest.
"It's okay, I'm here," I told her.
She was not calming down so I did something I haven't done, ever since I became Don.
I hummed to her. A Turkish folk song, my mother used to sing to me before she passed away. I pressed my lips to her ears and hummed them to her, gently caressing her hair.
Soon enough she calmed down. She took deep breaths and her hold on me loosened. I looked down at her and held her cheek.
"Hazine?" I called her as gently as possible.
"I... Ibra... Ibrahim, there... there was," She tried to tell but I shushed her.
"Shhh... It's over. It's okay! I'm here, let's take you away from here," I told her. She nodded and held onto my shoulders.
"I'm sorry hazine, I'm sorry for all this," I whispered to her.
End of Flashback
"That's it? What happened after that?" Rose asked me again, getting me out of my thoughts.
"I talked to her family and asked them to move to New York. They didn't at first. But I explained them in detail and yeah, it worked they moved out from Washington to New York," I told her.
"How did you two fall in love? Papa, why do I have to ask everything one by one? Just tell me," She asked me making me chuckle.
"Well it took 5 months, but we were already in love when we part ways. But after 5 months we got together. I'll leave it to your imagination," I told her making her whine.
After a comfortable silence, she turned to me.
"What about me?" She asked. I sighed.
"You were unexpected. We both were not ready at all, but none of us wanted you gone. So abortion was not an option. We decided that we will raise you together and get through it. But she was only 19 when you were born. Some may say that teen pregnancy works, with the technology there is no risk at all but trust me 19 is not a good age to bear that pain. We were on our way home that day in Turkey, we stopped at one of my mansions in Ankara. There was heavy rain and flooding. She lost too much blood, and her blood pressure was high that she couldn't survive it," I stopped remembering that horrible day.
"I have never begged for anything before I met her. But I begged everyone who was there in that room to save both of your lives.
But I have ruined so many people's lives, killed so many and karma hit me back and took her away," I closed my eyes as a tear escaped.
"Papa," She whispered placing her head on my shoulder.
I got up and walked to my shelf. I took the small wooden box and opened it. There lay the last gift I got for Janine. I took it and walked back to Rose.
"This is the last gift I got to your mother. Her last wish was for you to have this. She told me that she will be with you always, but if you ever feel lonely without her just wear it. I should've given this to you a long time ago, but I was a selfish bastard.
She took it with a gasp and tears in her eyes.
"Thank you," She whispered and hugged me tightly.
"I love you, my sweet daughter. You are the only trace I have left of her, when you left my life became numb. I started missing you like nothing," I whispered to her hair.
"I love you too papa," She told me.
Sorry for taking so long. But please leave a review.
And I know I make mistakes but please be kind when you're showing them, don't be rude. It's not nice to be rude to someone like that.
Love you sooo much