Though Yasmin didn’t trust this woman, the invitation was tempting. She was dying to get out and see a city with so much historical significance. She was also hungry, and her stomach was urging her to take Zeynep up on her offer. Still… something told her Volkan wouldn’t approve. The way he’d ignored his sister-in-law so completely at their evening meals told Yasmin that he wouldn’t appreciate the two women becoming chummy. Not that she cared what he thought, but she was trying not to provoke him while she decided what her next move would be.

“I better ask Volkan first,” she said, cringing and almost taking the words back. She hated the idea of having to ask a man for permission to do something she would’ve been able to decide for herself only a few weeks ago.

Zeynep gave her a superior look and shrugged, examining her perfectly manicured nails. “You’ll have to wait for him to get back from his business lunch before you can ask.”

A shaft of hurt went through Yasmin at the thought that Volkan had left her alone at the office without checking in with her. She’d assumed they would have lunch together or that he would take her back to the house for the afternoon. Instead, it would seem he went about his day with little thought to what she was doing.

Yasmin grabbed her purse and stood. “Okay, let’s go. I’ll let Janie know on our way out.”

“Janie’s left for lunch too,” Zeynep said, a hint of pity in her voice. “I’m glad I checked in on you or you would’ve been left to find your own lunch.”

Yasmin gave a tight smile. “I’m pretty good at taking care of myself.”

Zeynep let out a tinkling laugh as she escorted Yasmin down the hall. “That’s not what it looks like from the outside. Volkan does everything for you short of cutting your meat into bite-sized pieces.”

Yasmin frowned at her impromptu lunch companion. What was the other woman up to? Everything about her seemed calculating. Yasmin didn’t believe for one moment the woman wanted to eat with her. She wanted something from Yasmin, or she wanted to stir up trouble.

What was that saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer. Yeah, it felt like Zeynep was applying that philosophy to Yasmin. She hadn’t had much to do with Yasmin until Yasmin had shown up at the office, now she was eager to get acquainted. The whole thing felt fishy.