In the end, Boş finally emerged from the advertisement he gave himself and began to speak as he opened his mouth.
“The first thing people ask when they hear my name for the first time is always this, and since I don’t like to talk about it, I politely decline their questions. But since we’re partners, I can tell you this much: My mother and father…” He had looked away from us at the end. “They didn’t give me a name when I was born, so they left the name section blank. And when I grew up, I decided to make that official.”
Boş seemed to have said his final words on the matter, but rather than clarifying the answer to the question, his words only muddled my mind further.
“Clearly, you have some wounds from your past, Mr. Boş. I greatly respect that and don’t wish to dig into your scars, but there’s something I don’t understand. If your parents left your name blank on your ID so that you could decide later, wasn’t that already official? How did you make something official even more official?”
Boş shook his head slightly with a soft smile and answered my question. “I meant that they didn’t issue my ID, Miss Glory. Otherwise, it’s not like they issued it and left the name part untouched.”
“I see,” I said in a tone that signaled approval of Boş. In our research about Turkey, I knew that if they weren’t sure a child would survive, they wouldn’t issue an ID. But to doubt whether a child would live long enough to name themselves was really something. When I recalled the file prepared on Boş, there was nothing indicating a serious illness. I guess there were other things in the story of his name. Something that not only he didn’t want to tell, but didn’t even want to think about…
Araf, thinking the dialogue between Boş and Variant had ended, was about to start talking about the real reason we were gathered at the table, but this time Boş spoke up again.
“If my English doesn’t deceive me, your name is at least as striking and rare as mine. Naturally, I’m curious about your story too—if you don’t mind sharing, of course.”
Variant must not have been expecting that because he looked a little flustered. Well, you’re not the only one who gets to ask people questions, Variii.
“You’re right, it’s a rare name… To be honest, there’s not much of a story behind it. My father named me, but I have no idea why he chose ‘Variant’ or, in your language, ‘changeable.’”
Araf looked as if he were giving thanks to God. Finally, after five minutes, he had the chance to continue the sentence that had been cut off and began talking business.
“Mr. and Miss Glory, first of all, we highly admire the courage it takes to make a change in your long-established business life, and we are deeply honored that you chose to experience this change first with us—both on behalf of our company and myself personally. Before we start discussing business details, I’d like to ask whether your uncle, Mr. Glory, will be part of this process.”
Araf had finished his sentence and was waiting for us to respond.
As both the main character of this game and the heir of the Glory family, I was the one who started speaking. Yes, I was the heir of the Glory family. I didn’t know why, but my uncle had said that he would leave all his wealth and assets to me. I had no idea why he wouldn’t leave a single penny to his own son.
“First of all, I must say that the honor is truly ours. Second, my uncle won’t be very involved in this process. He transferred all the authority for the necessary procedures to me. So if there’s a problem or a document to be signed, I will be your direct contact, Mr. Araf.”
Araf nodded to show he understood and continued speaking. “I understand, but we would’ve liked to see Mr. Henry among us as well. Anyway, if that’s his decision, it’s not our place to question… So, shall we now talk a bit about business?”
He looked at us as if asking for approval, and Variant and I nodded.
“Our company operates in both agriculture and the food industry and is among the leading ones in both sectors in Turkey and worldwide. So from our side, there’s no reason for concern; you’ve made the right choice.”
No reason for concern from our side? That sounded like a very open-ended statement. As if to say, if there’s a problem, it won’t be on our part. In other words, look for the problem in yourselves.
I scratched my chin with one hand while still looking at Araf so he wouldn’t notice I had stopped listening. My mind was stuck on that sentence… He had made a very valid point, but he hadn’t realized it. If there was a problem in the company’s operations, of course, you’d first look at us. Did we come all the way to Turkey for nothing?
A nudge from beside me made me realize Araf was expecting an answer or some approval from me. Just as I was about to open my mouth to say something, the meeting room door opened and our Eyşan stepped in.
As Eyşan walked into the room, Variant and I exchanged a glance. Actually, now that I think of it, we could’ve continued the act later too. For instance, after Eyşan handed in her resignation.
As we predicted, she started with workplace safety, then went on to talk about things we really didn’t care about, talked some more, and finally talked her way out the door. Seriously, woman—if not for us or for yourself, at least have mercy on your jaw.
When I looked at Variant, he was in the same state as me. On the verge of a seizure…
With Araf clearing his throat, we pulled ourselves together and refocused on him.
“So Miss Angel, what do you think?”
“Would you prefer a girl or a boy?”
Araf frowned. “I’m sorry?”
“I mean the new assistant—would you prefer a girl or a boy?”
“I didn’t say I wanted a new assistant.”
“Then it’s my mistake. After all that talking, I thought you were asking for my opinion to change your assistant.”
The face that sank into the chair beside me and the laugh that came from across me showed that they didn’t mind the topic being discussed either.
“No, I was asking what you thought about the last restaurant we’re planning to open.”
“Very good idea. If there’s a problem, let us know—Variant and I will handle it. In fact, we want all your upcoming operations to use our products. Even down to the forks and knives.”
Araf and Boş looked at each other. “Well, we currently have a deal with another company. To do that, we’d need to wait for the contract to end. Otherwise, we’d be honored to use your products.”
I looked at my vibrating smartwatch—my uncle was calling. I stood up from my chair and turned to Boş.
“I want you to prepare a list of all the companies you currently have agreements with, and send each of them a document stating that your collaboration with them has ended.”
Araf and Boş were no longer looking at each other but directly at me, their mouths almost hanging open.
Before heading to the door, I said my uncle’s famous words:
“My uncle has a very famous saying: ‘We are enough for ourselves.’ And since you’re now a part of us, you are enough for yourselves. Now if you’ll excuse me, my uncle is calling. I need to answer him.”
The last words I heard before leaving the meeting room were from Variant:
“Please rest assured that any losses incurred due to the termination of the agreement will be fully compensated by our company.”