Zeynep led Yasmin out to her car, a cherry red Audi parked in the staff parking lot. Yasmin looked around for Volkan’s car. Sure enough it was gone. She hadn’t totally believed Zeynep when she’d said he left for a business lunch, but the missing car seemed to suggest Zeynep hadn’t lied. Why hadn’t he popped his head in to tell her? She wouldn’t have minded his leaving, but it bothered her that he maneuvered every step of her existence with him then abandoned her in his place of work.

“Something on your mind?” Zeynep drawled as they slid into the leather seats and she fired the engine.

Yasmin forced a smile and shook her head. “Just looking around. I know nothing about shipping and find all this very fascinating.”

Zeynep rolled her eyes and said, “I hate everything about this place. It’s so gross and noisy. I don’t know why Volkan didn’t move the offices downtown or somewhere less in the way. He can conduct his business without having to be on site. The business itself is actually quite boring.”

Yasmin was surprised at the other woman’s scathing assessment of Volkan’s office and family business. She’d thought since Zeynep had gone to all the effort of purchasing shares and ensuring her place on the board that she would love what she did for a living. Apparently not. Which made Yasmin wonder why she was there at all. Judging from what she’d seen so far of the family operations, Yasmin had to assume that Zeynep could stay home if she didn’t like going to the office. The family certainly seemed to have enough money to support everyone not working. Except Volkan, of course. Someone had to run the place.

“What do you do at Kartel Transport?” Yasmin asked curiously.

Zeynep gave her a frowning look. “I support my husband, of course.”

“What does he do?” Yasmin pressed.

Zeynep made an annoyed sound and then threw around some corporate phrases that sounded like complete bullshit. By the time they reached the restaurant, Yasmin figured that Zeynep and Demir spent most of their time at Kartel Transport watching the company ledger with vested interest, taking bonuses and raises whenever they saw the opportunity. Yasmin suspected she knew why Volkan had very little patience for the pair.

“What do you think?” Zeynep asked proudly as she and Yasmin walked down a boardwalk toward an outdoor restaurant. It was stunning, and for the first time, Yasmin felt drawn to the country she’d had been brought to against her will.