WOMAN LIKE ME

Dilara let her eyes focus on the little ticket name. Alex Drakos. Wasn’t he the famous race car driver? She tilted her head as she looked at it, folding it up and placing it into her pocket as she raised her head to see Julian walking towards her. A smile appeared on her features as she put her hands in front of her. “Mr. Morrison. I didn’t think I’d see you at the festival today.” She mused. Truthfully, it was kind of cute to see him at the town events especially because a part of her wanted everyone to see him the way she did. “Don’t tell me you came over to me because we have to work? I have another engagement to get to.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that,” she smiled at the other woman. Pia nodded her head. Fine was better than the alternative, only because Pia knew that it could be much worse. She had grown up with JT. People often questioned her friendship with him, but they had been friends for as long as she could remember. The two had always told it to one another like it was and she was hardly afraid of him. “A woman tends to worry with the track record of assistants,” though she knew it was not fault of the assistants and only that of JT. “Are you looking forward to the festivities over Easter?” 

...

“Yeah,” truthfully, the Osman woman was more relieved this wasn’t a conversation about what happened between her and JT when she first started. She knew that he hadn’t been the type to sugarcoat but the last thing she needed was for her sisters to find out about what she had done with her boss especially Leyla. She plucked a french fry off the plate in front of them, popping it into her mouth as she let her eyes rest on her. “Ah,” she chuckled. “Well, I think I’m more stubborn than he is pushy.” She teased. She nodded her head. “Actually, I am. I even signed up to be apart of the blind date Easter egg thing... Kind of excited to see where that goes.”

“Lemon and herb chicken.” It was a Mediterranean dish he was a fan of because of the rich flavors, the energy it gave him, and the small effort it took to prepare along with a few sides. JT’s caloric intake, macros and everything, was that of an athlete and since he didn’t care to have more people around him than necessary, he’d learn to cook a decent variety of meals instead of hiring a chef. After all, Morrison’s were fast learners and they did everything well. He grabbed a plate for Dilara and set it on the counter so she could serve herself but the fact that the small act was the second in less than five minutes where he did something he usually wouldn’t didn’t escape his mind. JT grabbed two waters out of the double door fridge and went back to the kitchen table where the laptop was with his plate and water in hand. He sat down without waiting for her and started to eat. He replayed the part with his footwork and ate a little more aggressively. He couldn’t keep making the same mistake if he wanted to be indispensable. In all fairness, he already was. At least to his current team, but what if he wanted to trade up? His eyes moved to Dilara when she joined him once more. Would she moved to a new state if he left when his contract was up? “What’s your game plan?” He surprised himself by asking. “After this,” He motioned between them, “Is over.”

...

Dilara hummed in response. It didn’t really surprise her he cooked his own meals and wasn’t the rich guy who hired someone to cook for him. There was a specific amount of control that Julian had to have over his life so it wasn’t too far fetched that he was someone who would rather be the one behind the oven. Her eyes drifted to him when she noticed that he set down a plate on the counter for her. Sometimes his small gestures were more noticeable than others because if this had been months ago... Well, she wouldn’t even be standing in his house. She took a step closer, picking up the plate and began to serve herself. She noticed that he had grabbed two waters and turned her head to look over her shoulder as he walked out. She brushed her tongue along her lower lip and picked up her plate after dishing out the food. She walked back out towards the table, placing it on the table. She sat down and grabbed a napkin from the middle of the table and unfolded it, draping it across her lap. Turning to look over at him when he asked about her game plan, dropping her eyes to look at his gesture. “You mean tonight? Or...” She pressed her lips together. “Are you planning on not doing soccer again?” She asked, tilting her head to the side. “Or is this your way of firing me?”

Dilara walked down the street, opening her purse as she heard her work phone begin to buzz which only meant that Julian or someone in connection was calling. She turned around the corner, raising her head in time to avoid the collision with a certain dark-haired woman she went axe throwing with a few months ago. “Rori,” she let out a little nervous chuckle as she glanced down at her phone that was still buzzing and seeing it was only the hotel probably to double check the time they were checking in and inform her that there was in fact two rooms this time. A sly smile came along her features as she turned her her head back towards the woman in front of her. “I have been meaning to call but now soccer season is in full force... My weeks are blurring together.” She tilted her head cutely to the side. “Any way you are free now for a drink?”

JT sensed that there must’ve been some kind of dispute of pride in Dilara for the woman to continue to work as his assistant despite his blatant disregard for her comfort the first couple of months of their contract. And, even though he found that to be a petty reason to stick around… he did admire her tenacity. Her little sister even amused him with the death glares every once in a while and JT usually didn’t care about anyone to register those things. The fact that he didn’t only pay attention to Dilara but her family said a lot that he wasn’t going to think about now. He nodded at her question. JT already had a notepad on the table and he picked up the pen next to it as the playback started. twirling the pen, he pointed at a pass and reached forward to pause the video. “There. I could’ve been quicker with my footwork.” Even to a trained eye the move looked flawless but JT’s level of perfection didn’t compare to anyone else’s. “I’ll focus on that at the end of training days.” He noted before pressing play again. He heard her pen scratch dry and in an act that was all too giving for someone like him, JT handed her his pen. He turned, meeting her gaze. “The food’s ready.” He didn’t bring up what he’d done or how monumental such a tiny action was for him but JT wasn’t the kind to give anyone things. If anything, a couple of months ago he would’ve reprimanded her for not being prepared with a working pen. The man slid his chair out and stood up, posture always straight as an arrow. “Come if you want to serve yourself.” He said, heading into the kitchen without waiting for Dilara’s answer. 

...

Dark hues focused on the screen in front of them as she watched him shift through the yard flawlessly. When he paused it, the raven-haired woman narrowed her eyes at what he was pointing at. She nodded her head in silence, writing down what he had said and wrote the time on the video along side of it. She watched as the pen began to fade with every word and a part of her wanted to throw the pen at the wall because she had purchased it the night before because she didn’t want something like this to happen especially since she had been working her ass off to be the best assistant he could ask for. “I  — “ she began to explain herself but suddenly there was a pen being extended out towards her. She stared at it for a second then reached out, taking it from him as she raised her eyes up to look at him. Her gaze followed him as he stood up straight and walked out of the room, leaving her there dumbfounded. She looked at the pen in her hand, swallowing. She dropped the pen on top of her notebook, staring at it a little while longer before taking a deep breath and standing up. Turning to walk towards the kitchen, Dilara crossed the threshold only a few seconds later and the inciting aroma that filled the room. “What did you make?” She asked as she reached out, picking up a plate. 

“Ah well let’s see, men, natural disasters, and the matter of life and death. You know, the usual.” Rori spoke with a smile trying to keep things light and airy. But doing so lately seemed like more of chore than she cared to do. “Well then I’m sure she’d judge me as well, being a former stripper.” She released an axe as she was listening to Dilara only to whip around as she heard the Julian Morrison, “The cranky soccer player who thinks the world revolves around him? Interesting! He’s always kind of fascinated me, he’s so…wound up.”

...

“Ah,” the raven-haired woman chuckled at her words as she turned her head to look over at her. “The usual indeed.” She teased as she took a step back, watching Rori hold the axe in her hand, tilting her head to the side a little when she confessed about being a former stripper. “You worked at the club Aydin owns?” She asked. “What made you quit?” She asked, keeping the small talk light until the other whipped around to look at her. “Yeah. So people always tell me when I inform them what I do for a living.” She teased. “He’s not so bad.”

“That’s true.” The woman definitely had a point there and Nancy had the perk of not having to worry about who she talked to since she was the boss. “Yikes. That definitely sounds like it hurt.” She had done things like that in the past and she could imagine how it felt. “Oh, I probably would’ve if it wasn’t for my employees coming to get me.” She laughed. “It was definitely a crazy time, but definitely worth it.”

...

Dilara chuckled. “It hurt my pride more than my arm.” Although the panic attack she had afterwards at the doctor’s office and being abandoned hurt even more. Something that still stuck with her even though she felt differently towards Julian since that day. She adjusted herself on the stool, lifting her eyes up towards her. “Life is crazy sometimes.” 

Austin nodded her head, in agreement with the woman in front of her. “Yeah very hard to be upset with” she said smiling softly. “Which is hard to do with shows now a days” she said shrugging her shoulders. “It’s usually hit or miss” she said frowning. Austin smiled as the woman shook her hand “well Dilara it’s nice to meet you. Can I order you a drink?”

...

Dilara let her eyes rest on the woman in front of her, nodding her head a little. “Yeah, sometimes it’s hard to get into shows.” Especially when you had no free time. “What other television shows do you watch?” She asked as she slipped her hand around the strap of her bag as she turned her head to the menu then back to her. “Are you sure?”

Rori cocked her head, catching Dilara’s eye as she looked back her way with a slight smirk. There was an easy confidence about her that Rori was drawn to. “Well, that makes sense. I don’t have a stressful job but there’s a few other stresses in my life that I suppose I could channel into this axe.” Her eyebrows lifted a couple of times as they switched spots once more. “So what is that you do then?” She asked curiously, now taking a moment to look back at her.

...

Dilara turned her head to look over at her. “What kind of stressors are those?” She asked as she brushed her tongue along her lower lip as she glanced towards the target as she picked up the axe. She held it in her hand as she chuckled. “I’m not sure you’d be able to look at me the same. I think my sister judges me for my career choices.” She teased. “I work for Julian Morrison as his assistant.”

“Of course. Though, if someone really deserves it, I can’t say you’d lose your job over it.” She tried being helpful there, but also, she was never one to take shit from anyone, even for a job. It was probably why she had to open her own place and make the rules herself. “Really? Ouch. How’d you manage that?” Nancy asked curiously. “The first day I opened the bar, I sat in the back and cried for a bit because I thought no one was going to come in. And when they did, I was so nervous, I dropped a tray of shots all over the place.”

...

Dilara let her eyes rest on her, chuckling lowly. “Maybe or maybe not. I guess it depends on who I talk back too.” She teased as she brought her drink up to her lips, taking a sip of it as she let her eyes rest on her. “Tripped over a gym machine.” While checking out my hot shirtless boss. She could have said but there was no way she would say the words out loud. She brushed her tongue along her lower lip, wincing softly. “I would have died of a nervous break down.”

She grinned before nodding. “It’s good to know you’re not like that.” Though, she never expected the woman to be. She figured Dilara knew her stuff. “Oh, I bet. Part of me wishes I was like that. Would make things a whole lot easier.” She laughed and shook her head. “I’m glad you got a big pool, though.” She put some glasses away before looking back at the woman. “I’d be shocked if it did. I definitely shattered glass owning this bar and I’m gonna continue doing so.”

...

Dilara let her eyes rest on her. “I can be if it’s deserved but the last thing I want to do is lose my job.” She laughed as she reached for her glass, picking it up and taking a sip of it as she adjusted herself on the stool. “Don’t we all like to make mistakes at work? My first day I cut open my arm on an exercise machine.” 

Austin smiled at Dilara “yeah I’d take them out on a few dates too” she said smirking. “That’s what I’m hoping, they’ve not disappointed so far, so I’ve got high hopes” she said truthfully. Nodding her head at Dilara, she held out her hand “I’m Austin, I don’t think we’ve met officially.” 

...

Dilara let a little smirk come along her features as she took a step forward in line as her eyes drifted towards the menu once again to remind herself of what she was going to drink. “That show has been hard to be upset with so I can only imagine what this new season is going to be like.” She took the other woman’s hand, giving her a hand shake. “I’m Dilara. I don’t think we’ve met either.”