Make Love Not War

Chapter 4

I interrupted Mrs. Lucia and said I had no clothes to change into. Mrs. Lucia said: Don't worry, we have everything you need here, just let Aylin know what your measurements are. I said okay and left with Aylin. Before I could walk away, Iah said: "I'll be here when you return" and left with his phone in hand. I nodded and started to walk towards a big set of stairs that lead to the second floor. I entered a room with a bathtub that looked like a swimming pool. Aylin said: Go into that room and take off all your clothes, there will be a robe for you to wear, then come out to take a bath. I nodded again and said as she said. I got undressed and walked out with the robe on. The bath smelled of chamomile and roses. I got in, and it felt like I had died and gone to heaven. My body was so relaxed and all I did was close my eyes and breathe. After a minute, I felt a hand on my hair. It was Aylin washing my hair. She said relax and let me do my job. I didn't complain. I have never been spoiled before. I don't even remember the last time my mother washed my hair. After thirty minutes, which felt like eternity, I was done and dressed. It was a beautiful full-length dress in a peachy color, short sleeves and a pair of white flats with white pantyhose. I took a deep breath and started walking downstairs. It smelled delicious, whatever we were eating for dinner. I got close to the kitchen door and paused. I opened them and Iah got up from his chair. He had a grin on his face and rushed to my side. He whispered in my ear: You look beautiful. I blushed and smiled and kept walking towards the table. I reached my chair and noticed a man talking to Mrs. Lucia. He turned his head and saw me and stood up. At that moment, I froze as soon as I heard him say: Hello, you must be Noel? I nodded and then responded: Yes sir I am. He then said: it is nice to meet you. I am Mr. Levent Koray, Iah’s father. I said: It is nice to meet you sir. He then said: Let's eat, and please sit with us. So, me and Iah had to move further down the table to be closer to them. A lot of food was starting to be placed on the table like a buffet. Not that I have been to one, but I heard of them. There were all kinds of food you can think of.

I was brought back from my thoughts when I heard Mr. Koray talks again. He said: Son, I'm glad you are here. We have a lot to discuss. I heard from your mother. Iah responded: Yes father I have to talk to you about Noel and how we can help her, if she permits it. They both stare at me and I move my head side to side. They are all staring at me and with a sigh I nod my head yes to Iah. He is happy that I agree to get help from him and his family, which by the way I don't even know how they could help me. It seemed like Iah could read my mind and started saying my mother is a lawyer and my father works for a big company that deals with the secret service. My eyes got so wide they started laughing. Well, let's eat dinner, have a good night sleep and we will have a meeting with some colleagues in the morning after breakfast. Mr. Koray said. I can't think on an empty stomach. We had a silent dinner and afterward Mrs.Lucia asked Iah to take me to one of the rooms to sleep in. He nodded and we said our good night. I stopped and turned around and said thank you. Mr and Mrs Koray said in unison, your welcome. The next morning I was woken up by a knock on my door. It was Aylin with some clothes in hand for me to wear today. She entered the room and said: You need to hurry, young lady breakfast is ready and there are some people waiting for you downstairs. So, I jumped out of bed, grabbed the clothes from her hand and rushed into the bathroom. I took a quick shower and got dressed. Today I made my hair up in a bun like I was going to work at the bank. I rushed down the stairs and Iah was waiting for me there passing back and forth. He said: there you are and good morning. How did you sleep? I said good morning back and said I slept okay, I had a lot on my mind and kept tossing and turning. He put his arm under mine and took me to the kitchen where there were seven men dressed in suits like the ones that come in the bank and work for the mayor Rupert Beansy. He was a scary man, the mayor, a lot of people would run away every time they saw him. I walked toward Mr. and Mrs. Koray said good morning. They replied back and Mr Koray told me to sit in between him and Iah. We ate breakfast and afterward one of the men in a suit got up and started to talk. He said: You are Nora Cringe correct? I answered yes with eyes wide open. I asked: How do you know me? He answered: We know everything about you and your family. while giving me an envelope that had my last name on it. I looked at Iah and he said: It's okay. they are here to help.

I opened the envelope very slowly and there were pictures of me, my family, my school, dad’s bakery, my mother walking home, my university and me leaving the bank. Where did you get these? Were you the guys following me the other night? Are you here to take me to whomever killed my parents? I was angry and crying at this point. Ms. Cringe no one is here to hurt you or take you anywhere, the man said. We are here to make sure we are dealing with the correct family. Now, did you recognize any of the men that were chasing you the other night? I answered: no sir. He then asked: Did you see your parents get killed by these men? I answered: No sir, they were already dead when I got home. After that I walked outside and these men got out of a green truck and started chasing me. After that I walked outside and these men got out of a green truck and started chasing me. Okay, one last question ms. Cringe. Did your father ever mention having trouble at the bakery to anyone or your mother? I answered: No sir, he always kept the bakery business out of the house. He always said when he was home it was family business only. He would always answer my mother that business was good as always when she asked how his day was if she wasn't at the bakery that day and that was that. Thank you Ms.Cringe that is enough for now.The men started talking amongst each other and I was hiding my face in Iah's chest. He was rubbing my back trying to comfort me with pain in his eyes, but didn't say a word.

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