It’s one thing having people talk to me as if I’m nothing, but it breaks my heart that Nisa had to experience it.
She sucks in deep breaths of air, and when I pull back, she shakes her head. “Gabriel Bey will hear of this,” she says, her voice quivering.
Oh, dear.
“They’re only here for a couple of days,” I try to defuse the situation.
Nisa shakes her head again, then mutters, “Let’s prepare lunch for the ungrateful snakes before one of them slithers into my kitchen again.”
“I’ll serve them,” I say, not wanting them to upset Nisa again. I’m used to dealing with cruel people. When Nisa wants to argue, I shake my head. “No, Nisa Hanim. I’ll serve them.” There’s a finality in my voice I’ve never heard before.
“Thank you.” She gives me another hug before we start making food.
An hour later, when I carry the dishes to the dining room, I steel myself for whatever might come. Entering the room, only Ayesenur Hanim and Eslem are seated at the table.
I set the tray down and carefully unload the dishes.
Eslem looks at the food, then picks up the bowl of Saksuka. It’s an eggplant, zucchini, garlic, tomato, and chili recipe.
“This is the best you can do?” she asks, her tone filled with hatred.
I’ve learned people don’t need a reason to hate, they just do.
Before I can ask whether I should take it back to the kitchen, Eslem slowly tips the bowl, pouring the dish over my shoes.
Instinctively, I lower my head as she stands up.
She pinches the fabric of my blouse between her fingers. “This is not what a maid wears. You’re disrespecting my mother.”
“I’m sorry,” I murmur respectfully, so glad Nisa’s not here.
Eslem picks up the bowl of Kisir, a Turkish salad, and pours the contents over my blouse.
That’s going to leave a stain.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Gabriel’s voice cracks through the air like a whip.
I instantly drop to the carpet and start to gather the food into a bowl. Pins and needles spread over my body, my heart beating a mile a minute.
Suddenly my wrist is grabbed in a tight hold, and I’m pulled to my feet. Gabriel yanks my body behind his as he steps into his cousin’s personal space. “I asked you a fucking question.”
A man I’ve never seen before steps closer as well. “Eslem? What’s the meaning of this?”
Ayesenur Hanim, who’s been quiet up until now, stands up. “Sakin olun, Gabriel Bay.”
His eyes snap to his aunt, his features tight with rage. I cower behind his back, not wanting any of his anger directed at me. His voice sounds deadly as he growls, “Don’t tell me to calm down.”
Suddenly I’m tugged to his side. “Lara is not a servant you can abuse and boss around to your liking.”
“Then what is she?” Eslem asks with a raised eyebrow.
It looks like Gabriel is a second away from strangling her.
Eslem is either very brave or stupid.
“What’s going on?” Alya Hanim asks as she enters the dining room.
Ayesenur Hanim lets out a string of Turkish words, and for a couple of minutes, I don’t have a clue what they’re saying, but it looks intense.
Everyone is upset, then Gabriel shouts, “Silence!”
Instantly the room grows quiet.
He pins Eslem with a dangerously dark look. “You will apologize to Lara.”
“Gabriel Bey,” Ayesenur Hanim gasps.
“I said to keep quiet. I’ve had enough of you,” he warns his aunt. Turning his attention back to Eslem, he orders, “Apologize to the woman I’m dating, or so help me God, I will disown you.”
What?
Gasping, my eyes dart to his face. He looks like he could murder someone with his bare hands.
Because of me.
Gabriel’s defending me against his own family.
Eslem sucks in a deep breath, then locks eyes with me. “I apologize. I wasn’t aware you were dating my cousin.”
Gabriel lifts a hand, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Eslem.”
“I’m sorry. Okay? Geez.” She lets out a huff then injects sincerity into her voice. “I apologize for disrespecting you, Lara Hanim.”
Leveling his aunt and cousin with a final look of warning, he says, “You will treat Nisa and Lara with the same respect you give me. They are not maids in this house. They’re more my family than you’ll ever be.”
My heart fills with so much warmth it threatens to burst.
How can I not fall in love with this man when he’s so amazing?
Still gripping my hand tightly, Gabriel pulls me out of the dining room as he orders, “Clean up the mess you made, Eslem!”
Chapter 34
Gabriel
The woman I’m dating?
I drag Lara to her bedroom and demand, “Change your clothes.”
With uncontrollable rage simmering in my chest, I watch as she gets clean clothes and rushes to the bathroom. The moment the door shuts behind her, I suck in a deep breath of air in an attempt to calm down.