I walk through the hallway, my steps slow, my face carrying something I can't quite hide. Sadness. Confusion. That hollow feeling when you expect to see someone and they're just... not there.
Deniz's desk is empty.
"Has Mr. Deniz arrived?"
I ask one of the assistants passing by.
She shakes her head.
"Not yet, President."
Did he not come to the office today?
The thought settles in my chest, quiet but unsettling.
If he wasn't coming, he would have called. He always calls. A message, at least. Something.
I pull out my phone and dial his number again. It rings. Once. Twice. Three times.
No answer.
Maybe he went to the hospital. To see Uncle David.
That makes sense. That's a good reason. That's—
I push my office door open and step inside. The door closes behind me with a soft click, sealing me in silence.
I take out my phone again, my thumb hovering over the screen. I should text him.
Just in case. Just to—
Two arms wrap around my waist from behind.
I freeze.
