Is this destiny?

Hande moved Ade's hand which obstructed her view and glared at Corey. "We called. Why are you not answering your phones?"

Corey wanted to say that their phones were left in the living room. However, that would reveal that he and Merve were in the bedroom, and he does not want to risk Hande asking about what they did in there. Well, not like others didn't figure it out, but he didn't want to talk about it bluntly.

"Why are you here?" Corey repeated his question.

Hande pushed Corey to the side and walked inside.

Ade was two steps behind Hande and responded: "You need to get ready for a lunch event and we are acting as your bodyguards."

Julius and Allen entered Corey's apartment silently with bags and boxes in their hands.

Corey was confused. They are here as his bodyguards? "What happened with my bodyguards?"

Ade's eyes left Hande who was visually inspecting Corey's apartment, and he faced Corey. "It seems that your usual bodyguards messed up something last night, and Charlie asked if someone from the Cliffside Villa can accompany you so… here we are."

Corey understood that they are being punished because of the incident at the parking lot. Corey needed clarification on one more detail: "What lunch event?"

"Where is my sister?" Hande asked.

"Uhm…" Corey fidgeted before gesturing toward the door of his bedroom.

Corey saw that Ade wants to follow Hande and Corey extended his hand to block his way. "Guys can't go there."

Ade nodded in understanding. The four of them would not come to Corey's apartment if Merve didn't spend the night here but… it's after 10 AM, they should be up and dressed up. Merve is always on the training ground at 7 AM. Ade wondered, what did Merve and Corey do (and for how long) if Merve overslept by 3 hours? Ade silently developed a respect for Corey.

Corey gestured to Allen, Julius, and Ade to sit. "What can you tell me about the lunch event?"

In the bedroom…

Hande closed the door behind her and smirked at the sight of a big bulge in the bed, which is obviously Merve.

Merve peeked out from under the blanket, thinking that it's Corey and she gasped when she saw Hande. "Why are you here?"

Hande snorted. "You and your loverboy are asking the same questions."

"Well, will you answer me?" Merve did her best to sound unruffled by the fact that she is in Corey's bed, naked, after a night of lovemaking… and that Hande addressed Corey as 'loverboy', which means that Hande knows. Merve saw that Hande is not paying attention to her and she had to ask… "What are you doing? Why are you looking around?"

"I want to memorize this. Every time you mention that I am too close to Ade and that I am not acting like a proper lady… I will remind you of this." Hande said smugly while gesturing at the scattered clothes on the floor.

"I'm not a kid. And we are dating." Merve said in her defense.

Hande snickered. "Sure, tell that to yourself. Does that change the fact that my always morally supreme sister spent the night at her boyfriend's place? You are acting uncorrupted, like pleasures of the flesh are below you and now…" Hande exhaled and waved her hand. She does not want to make Merve feel bad. Hande's only desire is that Merve stops interrupting the precious Ade-Hande time with her talks about what decent behavior is.

"I'm not here to lecture you. You need to get ready."

Merve blinked. "For what?"

"You have an event at noon. We got you clothes."

"Event?"

Hande confirmed. "It is related to the incident with Samantha Long. Charlie called this morning and they agreed to have a show of strength at the Long family villa. You and Corey need to be present. We will brief you on the way there."

Merve's head was buzzing. There was so much information that needed clarifying, but one point made Merve's throat tighten from anxiety. "Charlie called?"

Hande laughed. Out of all that, Merve is worried who knows that she is here? Well, Hande will give her more than a hint. "Yeah… you see… Charlie called Sarah and Aiden to discuss the plan, and when they found out that you didn't return to the Cliffside Villa, and that neither you nor Corey are answering your phones while both of your GPS trackers are pointing here, they sent us to fetch you. Sarah said not to come before 10 in the morning, and to ask if you used protection…" Hande gestured toward the pack of condoms on the bedside table. "You don't need to answer that question, I can see for myself… Stop with that outraged face! I would not be here, lecturing you if you are more responsible. Anyway, I have clothes for you. Underwear included."

"Sarah and Aiden spoke to Charlie and they sent you here?" Merve was sure that the room is spinning. Charlie, Sarah, Aiden, Hande… who else knows that she spent the night with Corey? And did Hande say that she is not here by herself? Ah, it's probably Ade.

Hande walked out of the bedroom with 'get ready' reminder, and voices drifted in.

Merve froze. Was that Allen? This is getting worse by the minute.

Merve plopped back in the bed and put a pillow over her face. She wanted everything to disappear, she included.

"Hey…" Corey called softly when he scooted next to Merve.

He touched her arm and she jolted. She didn't hear him enter the room.

"Did Hande leave?" Merve asked when she peeked and saw that it's Corey.

"No. They are waiting for us to get ready." Corey responded and gestured to bags and boxes on the floor. "I got clothes here."

Merve inhaled a shaky breath. "Who all is there?"

"Hande, Ade, Al, and Juju."

"Oh, God!"

"What is it?"

"Everyone knows what we did…"

"Are you ashamed?"

"Of course, not…" Merve responded quickly and then added: "…and yes. I would prefer if people don't know about it."

"There is no shame. You know that Ron and Zula are sleeping together, right?"

"Yes."

"Do you think lesser of them because of that?"

Merve exhaled. "No."

Corey smiled. "There you go. No one will say anything because it's normal. Don't make it awkward by building scenarios and looking down on us."

Merve gazed into Corey's eyes and realized that his words have the power to disperse her doubts and tension.

Corey leaned toward her and kissed her on the lips. "I was thinking of cuddling with you in the morning, but we have an event waiting for us so… I promise to cuddle with you later. OK?"

"Hande mentioned the Long family villa…"

Corey lifted his hand, interrupting Merve. "Let's get ready and then we will talk. To save time, we will shower together."

Merve's face flushed. "Together?"

Corey caressed Merve's cheek with the back of his fingers. "I always wanted to do that… shower with you. Will you make my wish come true?"

Merve could not break the eye contact and she was sure that whatever Corey asked at that moment, she would say 'yes'.

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