By morning, Defne felt almost healthy. The head did not hurt, and she had no fever. The throat slightly hurts, and her voice remained hoarse, but such trifles could be ignored. She hinted at going to work, but Omer didn't even want to hear about it.

- Have you lost your mind?! - He was indignant. - Do you want complications and go to the hospital? Stay home and gain strength. Please, - remembering the independent character of his wife, added and kissed her on the cheek.

Defne did not want complications. To the hospital too. So she prudently listened to her husband's request and stayed at home. Overjoyed by her consent, Omer kissed her, promised to return early, and left for Passionis.

In the office, before going to his room, he looked at the assistant and, without greeting, ordered:

- Laila, come to me. Immediately.

"All right, Mr. Omer," she replied meekly. - I'll just make your coffee.

When Layla entered the office with a cup in hand, the boss was sitting in his chair, and his expression did not bode well. She put the coffee on the table and walked back a couple of steps. Scanning her with an impenetrable gaze, Omer asked:

- Laila, did you come here yesterday in my absence?

The assistant smoothed her red hair and licked her full lips with a sharp tongue. Then she raised her innocent eyes to the boss and said:

- Yes, Mr. Omer. I brought in a folder with documents. I was only here for a couple of minutes.

- And in those two minutes, you managed to answer my wife's phone call? - Omer did not ask but stated a fact. Cold and ironic.

"The naive was not so proud," thought Laila angrily. She felt uneasy, but the cunning girl was not going to show it. Blinking wide eyes, she hurried to justify herself:

- Yes, it happened. You were not there, and Mrs. Defne called. I thought the call was important and answered.

- You thought that the call was important, but didn't tell me anything about it?

Black eyes scanned her and burned through her. Laila lowered her gaze and feigned remorse:

- Excuse me, Mr. Omer! But your wife didn't say a word. Immediately ended the call. I thought ... nothing urgent...

- Don't you think that you're thinking too much, but not what is needed? Let me decide for myself what is important and what is not," the boss chided her, minting words. "It was your duty to inform me of the call. No more, no less. Making decisions for me or my wife is definitely not your responsibility. Kindly never allow yourself to do that again.

"I beg your pardon," the assistant whispered in a dull voice and, sniffling, dabbed the knuckle of her index finger under her eye. But the iceberg did not pay any attention to her tears. He continued the questioning:

- This is, firstly. Secondly, how did it happen that Defne's call disappeared from my phone?

"I don't know, Mr. Omer," Leila stammered. - Maybe something with the phone? Ask Zubeyir.

"You can go," the boss pointed to the door with his chin. - Ask Zubeyir to come to me.

Leila jumped out of the office and leaned against the wall with her back. Here you are! Are these crazy people telling each other every little detail?

- Received a scolding from Mr. Omer? - Nazlican smiled sympathetically from behind her counter.

- Uh-huh, - Laila nodded.

- Do not worry. Mr. Omer is strict but fair. Try not to mess up anymore today, and by evening he will forget about everything.

"Thanks for the advice," Laila held out and hurried to Zubeyir.

She flew into the server room, fell into a chair, and burst into tears. The frightened programmer cackled around her like a hen:

- What happened to you? What happened? Who hurt you? Just tell me and I will...

- Zubeyir! I accidentally deleted the incoming call from Mr. Omer's phone, and he will kick me out of work!

- How did you remove it? Don't cry! Explain clearly. We'll come up with something.

- Mister Omer forgot his phone in his office and left. And I came in with a folder. His wife called. I picked up the phone. She hung up. I wanted to call her back and accidentally erased her call. And I was afraid to say. Mr. Omer found out that his wife called, and I answered and now asks where her call got from the phone. If he finds out that I erased it, he will kick me out! He is calling for you now!

- She found a problem because of what to cry, - Zubeyir reassured her. - I will say that this is a glitch in the phone software and suggest updating the programs.

- Will you really do it for me? - Laila grabbed his hand and smiled seductively through her tears. Zubeyir felt dizzy. He broke into a silly smile and nodded in the affirmative. - Adore you!

She kissed him on the cheek and pushed him toward the door. - Go! Don't keep the boss waiting.

Zubeyir stopped in front of the door and timidly asked:

- Laila, is your grandmother not feeling better? Let's go to the cinema?

- Ah, don't ask! Things are looking bad, " she grimaced. - All the evenings I am with her.

"Hold on," he said with genuine sympathy. - I'm with you.

The door closed, and Laila was left alone in the office. The unhappy expression on her face was replaced by a stinging mockery:

- Hold on! I'm with you! She mimicked the programmer. - What an idiot!

- Mister Omer, did you call me?

Omer looked at the smiling face of Zubeyir sticking out from behind the ajar door and nodded to him:

- Come in, - he briskly walked into the office and stopped near the table. Omer handed him the phone. - Look what happened to it. Yesterday I received a call, but for some reason, it was not saved in the inbox.

Zubeyir took the phone and, poking his finger across the screen, jabbed:

- It happens sometimes. The software is out of date. Need to update. Let's do it now. Soooo! Let's wait for the end of the installation. Let's reboot ... It's done! - He handed the phone to the boss.

He took it and thanked:

- Thanks! You can go back to work.

When Zubeyir left, Omer called Defne.

- Yes, darling - her voice sounded hoarse but cheerful.

- What is my soul doing? He asked and heard a satisfying laugh.

- I admire the sketch!

- Finished?

- Uh-huh! It turned out beautifully. I like it.

"If you like it, it turned out not just beautiful, but great," Omer said kindly, and Defne laughed in response. Her laughter enveloped his soul like a balm. Smiling, he asked: - How do you feel?

"Fine," she replied. - Zehra made me tea with ginger and honey. My throat said thank you to her - there was a click on the phone, and then Defne exclaimed: - Omer, I will disconnect. Laura is calling! Kisses!

- Kisses, - said Omer and put the phone on the table.

A smile unconsciously spread across his face. Dear Defne! The sound of her voice alone is enough to make him calm down and feel happy.

***

- Defne, don't kill me! Tell me you finished the last sketch! - Laura demanded in a plaintive voice, and Defne hastened to calm her pregnant friend:

- Finished! Do not worry. Now I will scan it and send it to you and Mirai by mail.

- Hooray! You are our honey bee! And I was already worried. Today, before two in the afternoon, I need to send an application for stones in Diamond. It is almost ready, but I only need to add a list of sapphires and diamonds for the last sketch.

- Don't hang up. I'm already scanning, - Defne put the sketch into the scanner and pressed the corresponding icon on the laptop. - So ... done! I am sending it! Open your mail.

- A-a-a-a!!! - She heard a desperate cry from the phone. - Mail doesn't work! I'll call Zubeyir now. Defne, I'll call you back in five minutes!

Laura did call back five minutes later and, almost crying said that there were problems with the mail in Sapphire. If you believe Zubeyir, it takes at least three or four hours to solve them.

- And Ahtem, as luck would have it, left in the morning for the old workshop. I could have asked him to bring it, but he has a meeting with new masters. And Mert won't show up until after lunch. Defne, what should we do?

- Honey, don't cry! You must not, "Defne began to persuade her friend. - Does the e-mail work in Passionis?

- Works.

- That is great! I will now send the sketch to Omer, and he will print it and give it to you. By the time our e-mail is working, you will have time to complete the application.

- You are a smart girl! - Laura exclaimed. - I'm waiting.

Defne sent the sketch to Omer and called him.

- Darling, the mail is not working in Sapphire, and Laura immediately needs the sketch. I sent it to you. Please print it out and have someone take it to her in Sapphire. Just do not be angry that I am impudent.

- Are you impudent? - Omer laughed, opening the letter on the laptop. - My love, be as cheeky as you like. I will only be happy.

- Thanks! I owe you!

- I count on your word! - Omer lowered his voice and purred into the receiver: - I missed you.

- Me too, - Defne whispered, and he got goosebumps. Allah! How can he wait for the evening?

Having printed the sketch, Omer called Laila to his office. Holding out the drawing, he ordered:

- Immediately take it to Sapphire and give it to Mrs. Laura. But fast. She is waiting.

Laila went out of the door and looked around the waiting room. Nazlican was not at the counter, and the employees in the office were doing their own work and paid no attention to her. Laila slipped into her office and closed the door behind her. She didn't know why yet, but, just in case, she decided to make a copy of the sketch. Having passed it through the copier, she hid it in the safe and carefully looked at the original. And the necklace is beautiful! As the name that has been assigned: Starry Night. Naive Defne is really talented. She needs to think about how to use Defne's talent for her own purposes.

Laila smiled slyly and carried the sketch to Sapphire.

Laura was waiting for her at the secretary's desk. Next to her stood a beautiful blue-eyed woman. Laila vaguely recalled that this was Sapphire's employee. After greeting her, she handed the drawing to Laura.

- Thank you so much! - She said and handed it to the blue eye woman. - Mirai, scan it, enter it into the database, and immediately bring it to me.

"All right, Mrs. Laura," the woman answered and went into her office.

- To the database? Laila asked. - Does Sapphire have a database of the sketches?

"Yes," Laura answered automatically, dialing Defne on her mobile. - Mrs. Defne is very punctual and loves order in everything. I'm not holding you back anymore. All the best - she, on the way talking on the phone, went to her office. - Defne! Everything is fine. The sketch is in Sapphire, and Mirai registers it in the database. By the way, Ahtem finished work on the pendant. It turned out just magical. Wait for us to visit you tonight. What's for dinner? Laura laughed merrily. - Yes, anything, except what you and I do not even mention the name.

Laila looked after her and listened carefully to every word.

"Dear," Alina turned to her sternly. - Do you have so much free time?

- Ay, - Leila smiled flatteringly. - I was thinking. I'm leaving. Have a nice day, dear!

***

After lunch, Ahtem dropped in to see the creative director of Passionis. Omer was just dictating a letter to Laila for the Ardini trading house. Seeing his friend, he blossomed with a joyful smile, got up from the table, and held out his hand to him. Ahtem answered with a handshake.

- Hello! Sorry to interrupt your work. I'll be there for a minute. I came to Sapphire to sign an application for Diamond and decided to drop by your place. We have to talk.

- Well done, brother. Sit down and tell me what brought you to Passionis - Omer nodded to the chair and sat down in his.

- I wanted to warn you. I don't want to disturb our pregnant girls. They will worry, but they don't need it...

- Wait, wait! - Omer exclaimed and again jumped to his feet. - Our pregnant girls? Is Laura pregnant?

- Didn't Defne tell you? - Ahtem was surprised and got up too.

- No. Probably wanted me to find out from you. Come hug - the men hugged. Omer patted his friend on the back and wished: - May everything go well! Congratulations, brother!

- Thanks! To tell the truth, I have not yet recovered from this news. I'm flying! - Ahtem admitted and returned to the chair.

- I believe! - Sitting down in his own, answered Omer. - I still fly. So what's the warning?

- There is such a company - Gold of Turkey. I had to deal with them several times ... slippery guys. They do not shun anything. Plagiarism, theft of ideas, intrigue, and setups of competitors. They have bribed journalists from the worst kind. Those publish laudatory odes about them and throw mud at honest companies. I have heard rumors that they are overly interested in Sapphire and Defne's sketches. We need to keep our finger on the matter.

"Thanks for the warning." Omer's gaze became sharp as a blade. "I'll notify security."

- The correct decision - Ahtem supported him. - Moreover, they also applied for participation in the exhibition in Ankara. With my skin, I feel that these intriguers are plotting some dirty tricks.

"Hands are short," Omer said in an icy tone and looked at his friend. - Thank you for the warning.

Laila sat in her chair as quietly as a mouse and listened intently to the conversation. The men paid no attention to her as if she was an empty place, but for the first time, this circumstance did not bother her. Her twisted brain was already working ... it was working well, as Laila thought smugly.

- Well, brother - Ahtem got up, and Omer got up after him. - I will not detain you. See you later tonight.

- Yes, Defne called and said that you will visit us today.

- We will bring the pendant. - Ahtem smiled. "The one Defne drew for your Polynesian rescuers. I finished working on it. It turned out very well.

"I don't even doubt that," Omer said, accompanying his friend to the door.

At the threshold, they shook hands, and Ahtem left. Omer returned to his desk and only then saw Laila sitting in the corner of his office.

Heck! He completely forgot about her. Frowning, he said abruptly:

- Where did we leave off?

The assistant answered, and the boss continued to dictate the letter. When the work was completed, Laila went to her room.

"Wait," Omer called out to her.

She stopped, slowly looked around, and stroked her hair with a casual gesture.

- Yes, Mr. Omer - her voice oozed honey.

"Forget what you heard in this office," the boss ordered sternly. - If I find out that you are chatting about confidential information, Passionis will say goodbye to you.

- Well, what are you saying, Mr. Omer - Laila smiled charmingly. - I am not chatty, and I do not like gossip.

"Excellent," he gestured toward the door. - Go to work.

Laila went into her room, closed the door tightly, sank into a chair, and whispered triumphantly:

- That's it! If it is not possible to round this block of ice, the money can be obtained in another way. Yes, and this neat, Defne Iplikci, to be disgraced for the whole of Turkey. But this is option B. First, I will try to bring to mind option A - to get into Omer Iplikci's bed and drive him crazy with my sexuality.

But ... how to get into his bed? And not be thrown out of it and from work in a couple of hours?

***

- Darling, I'm home! - Omer called loudly, barely crossing the threshold of the house. - Where are you?!

- Here!

Defne appeared at the top of the stairs. She was wearing a soft green loose dress that softly hugged the round tummy and beautifully set off the red hair gathered at the back of her head.

- Your voice has emerged? - Omer was delighted and held out his hands to her.

"Almost," she replied cheerfully and ran downstairs into his arms.

- I'm glad, - kissing her tender cheek, he purred. - How do you feel?

- You asked me about this fifty times today, and I answered you fifty times - fine! - Defne threw her hands around his neck and smiled mockingly.

- So answer the fifty-first, - he was not at all embarrassed and clasped his fingers at her waist. - I'm worried.

- I feel great - she assured him and winked: - The soul flies, and the body has forgotten about all diseases.

- Excellent - Omer smiled slyly and brought his lips to her ear. - So tonight ... - Ding-ding! - The doorbell sounded, and the man groaned: - Well, they couldn't come ten minutes later! I didn't even get enough of you.

- Stop grumbling! - Defne wriggled out of his embrace and went to open the front door. Casting a naughty glance over her shoulder at her husband, she blew a kiss and ordered: - Run, wash, and change. The sooner we feed them dinner and send the guests out, the sooner we will get to bed.

- Defne?! He breathed in amazement. - Are you serious? - She winked. - I'm running!!!!

Two heads, fiery red and pitch black, bent over the box with the pendant. Defne touched her finger to the mysteriously shimmering stones and smiled at Omer. He answered with a fiery look.

Ahtem interrupted the silent conversation of their eyes.

- Is that what you wanted? He asked Defne.

"Yes," she replied. - Very beautiful.

- Imagine, I finished working on it, and a minute later, Laura ran into the workshop and said that we would have a child - Ahtem looked at his wife with love. - Like some kind of magic.

"We create magic ourselves," Defne said in fascination and took out the pendant from the case. Clutching it in her hand, she closed her eyes and raised it to her lips. Whispering a few words, she handed the amulet to Laura. The friend exactly repeated her gestures.

- Hey, sorceresses! - Omer teased them. - What kind of rituals?

- We charge it with the energy of pregnancy, - Defne cheerfully enlightened her husband. - And tomorrow, we will go with you to the delivery service and send the amulet to Bora Bora. But first, let's go to the Grand Bazaar and buy gifts. Turkish, colorful.

- Whatever your soul desires, - promised Omer and kissed the warm palm of his wife.

Defne put the pendant in a case and carried it upstairs to their room with Omer. When she returned, her husband and guests together set the table for dinner. She joined and went to the kitchen for risotto and salad. Omer followed her. And even, catching her in a corner, he stole a kiss. Exciting and sweet. And he whispered a couple of words in her ear, from which Defne's cheeks lit up with a scarlet blush. She looked at him reproachfully, but he just winked slyly and smiled with one corner of his mouth. From that crooked smile, Defne's legs turned to jelly, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. The husband, grabbing a dish of risotto and a salad bowl, evaporated from the kitchen... but a couple of minutes, she came to her senses and fanned her flaming face with her palms.

During dinner, Defne asked if Laura had time to send the order to Diamond.

- Yes! She exclaimed triumphantly. - And even received confirmation that the shipment is being formed and the dispatch will be in three days. In a maximum of a week, the stones will be with us, and Ahtem and the guys will be able to start making the collection.