"The Unseen Pursuit"

Barış went to his room, trying hard not to think about Joy. He had promised himself that he would stay away from her since it was evident he couldn't control himself around her.

Looking at his phone, it was only half-past seven in the evening. He immediately entered his closet, put on a black shirt and a pair of jeans, then left the room. At the main door, there was a cabinet. He opened it and took out a pair of black suede shoes and a trench coat. After putting them on, he left. He went to the club where he usually hunted for his ladies, and after a few minutes of looking like he was minding his drink, his charms blessed him with a catch. A beautiful woman approached and asked if he could buy her a drink.

"No, lady, I can't afford you," he said politely.

"Come on, Barış Coj, when did you become poor?" the woman asked, calling him by both of his official names, implying that she knew him.

Barış recognized the girl immediately. He had noticed her trying to get close to him in the past, but he had pretended not to care. "Excuse me, do we know each other?" he asked, feigning surprise.

"You don't remember me? I'm Leila; we were together at the University of Oxford."

Barış knew this girl very well. He knew that her family had sent her to Oxford after he joined the university. While most parents sent their children to prestigious universities to study hard, Leila's parents had sent her with a different agenda: to get close to Barış. Both their families were wealthy and well-connected. Leila's grandfather had even asked Master Coj to arrange a marriage between the two, but the master had replied, "Your grandchild is beautiful, and a marriage between them could produce a beautiful generation. But I will only allow my son to marry for love, not as part of a transaction. Besides, I want him to find his soulmate on his own, whether it's your grandchild or someone else."

When Gamal, Leila's grandfather, told her about Master Coj's response, she resolved to make Barış fall in love with her. She used her grandfather's influence to track his movements, find out where he studied, where he hung out, who his friends were. But despite all her efforts, she thought he never noticed her.

Leila had always been in the background, following Barış, but she had never made a bold move to speak to him. She enrolled at the same college, frequented the same clubs, and even started a business that complemented his, all in the hope that one day they'd cross paths at a business trip or conference. She just needed one chance to start a conversation. Barış, on the other hand, had pretended not to notice her, but he wasn't blind. Seeing the same woman more than twice in different settings wasn't a coincidence. He had done a background check and discovered she was the daughter of his family's friends. He knew everything about her and, more importantly, what she was up to. Unfortunately, he wasn't interested. He saw her as a strategist, much like his own mother—someone who enters your life under the guise of coincidence but with a hidden agenda. He didn't believe in coincidences.

"Yes, I went to Oxford, but I don't remember you," he said politely. "Please, sit."

Leila sat down and began reminiscing about the exciting college days, sharing stories of how other girls used to have a crush on Barış.

"Oh? Did you also have a crush on me?" he asked with a smile.

"Soooo no way! I was Turkish, crushing on English boys—or maybe just their accents," she replied, and they both laughed out loud.

Barış chuckled, taking a sip from his glass, still watching Leila intently. Her laughter was light, but he knew there was more to her than what met the eye. She had been chasing him for years without him acknowledging her presence, but here she was, sitting in front of him, pretending their history was nothing more than coincidence.

"English boys, huh?" he said, leaning back in his chair. "And yet you're here, sitting with me. Funny how life works."

Leila's smile didn't falter. She was quick-witted and knew how to play this game just as well. "Life is full of surprises. Who would've thought we'd meet like this?"

Barış raised an eyebrow. "I'm not one for surprises. I think people end up exactly where they intend to be."

Leila's eyes flickered with a hint of amusement. "Maybe. Or maybe we just follow our instincts, and fate does the rest."

Barış shook his head subtly. "Fate is just an excuse people use when they don't want to admit they're in control." His voice was calm but firm, his gaze unwavering.

Leila met his gaze, her confidence not shaken. She leaned forward, her voice dropping slightly, "And you, Barış, what are you in control of?

There was a challenge in her words, one Barış hadn't expected her to throw so early. He smiled faintly, appreciating her boldness even though he didn't care to admit it. She wasn't as naïve as he once thought. But then again, this was all part of her game.

"I'm in control of everything," he replied, his voice smooth.

She raised an eyebrow. "Everything?"

"Everything that matters," he clarified.

Leila didn't respond immediately, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass as she considered his words. "And what matters to you, Barış?"

For a moment, the question hung in the air. Barış glanced at her, then back at his drink, his mind drifting to places she couldn't reach. Joy's name flashed briefly in his thoughts before he pushed it away.

"Let's just say, it's not the things people think it is."

Leila tilted her head slightly, studying him as if trying to unlock whatever was behind those words. She was persistent, he had to give her that, but persistence wasn't enough to sway him.

"I guess that's why you were always so distant," she mused. "Even when everyone admired you at Oxford, you were...untouchable."

Barış smirked, taking another sip of his drink. "Being admired is overrated. It's usually a distraction."