Red Room;

Red Room;
Işıl Gemici clenched her teeth so tightly when she saw Ateş embracing Arzu from the edge of the stage that a sharp pain stabbed her jaw.

The silver clutch in her hands was crushed between her fingers. The fury in her eyes was palpable, even from beneath her mask.

“How dare she… How does she always believe she deserves everything?” she muttered to herself.

But then, as if being pulled back through time, her gaze drifted into the distance, anchoring her in a memory...

Little Işıl was just eight years old. She and Arzu were sitting side by side under the grand sycamore tree in the garden, basking in the golden shimmer of sunlight.

Arzu was reading aloud from a storybook, her voice melodic and soothing. Işıl listened as if spellbound.

“And the princess finally found her happy ending…” Arzu concluded the story with a smile.

Işıl clapped. “That was beautiful! Will you read it again?”

“Of course,” Arzu replied, gently stroking her hair. “You’re my best friend, Işıl.”

At that moment, a woman burst through the back door of the mansion, running breathlessly.

It was Gülseren, Işıl’s mother, her eyes wide with panic. She worked as a housemaid in the estate.

When she saw Işıl, she began trembling with rage.

“Işıl!” she screamed. “How many times have I told you? You are not allowed upstairs!”

The little girl looked at her mother, bewildered. “But Mama, we were just reading a book…”

Without a second thought, Gülseren slapped her daughter hard. Işıl’s cheek flushed red as tears welled up in her eyes. Arzu leapt to her feet in shock.

“How could you do that!” Arzu exclaimed. “Why would you hit her?”

Gülseren turned to Arzu and bowed deeply. Her voice quivered.

“My apologies, little lady… My daughter doesn’t know she’s not supposed to come upstairs. We didn’t mean to cause trouble…”

Arzu tried to respond, “No, it’s not a problem, I a..”

But Gülseren had already gripped Işıl’s arm tightly and began dragging her away. Işıl looked back, reaching toward Arzu through her tears.

As they descended to the lower floor of the mansion, Mr. Bayrak stood waiting, his gaze dark and malevolent. His eyes were icy, his expression devoid of mercy.

“Arzu is an heir. A noble,” he said in a low, threatening voice. “If I ever see that vermin child of yours near her again, you won’t be allowed to stay in this house.”

Gülseren dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, sir! She’ll never go upstairs again! Please, forgive us!”

Mr. Bayrak looked down on her with contempt. “Remember your place, Gülseren. You’re only here because of our charity. Disrespect me again, and I’ll throw you and that filthy girl out.”

Something inside little Işıl shattered as she watched her mother being humiliated. That day, a seed of resentment was sown...

The fire in Işıl’s eyes reignited. She snapped out of her trance as if waking from hypnosis. Watching Ateş protect Arzu had turned her once again into that humiliated little girl.

“You still think you can have everything, Arzu…” she murmured, clenching her teeth as her nails dug into her palms.

“But now… you’re just a pest. And you won’t leave here without learning that.”

Narrowing her eyes, she began to plot. Tonight, she would take everything Arzu had claimed—just as everything had once been taken from her. Just like her husband. Just like her home was burned.

She smiled from behind her mask. But it was a cold, revenge-laced smile.

Holding Arzu tightly, Ateş moved through the crowd with determined, brisk steps. Her feet barely touched the ground as they advanced through the grand hall. Curious eyes followed them, yet no one dared step in the way of Ateş Yamanoğlu.

They climbed the magnificent marble staircase at the far end of the ballroom. As they proceeded down a long corridor, Arzu’s heart pounded like a drum. At the end of the hall, Ateş opened a heavy door and pushed her inside.

The door shut firmly behind them. Ateş released her arm. Arzu stumbled and fell to the ground. She clung to the jacket still draped around her shoulders.

She looked around in fear, eyes widening.

The room was a nightmare come to life. Everything was red the walls, the ceiling, the carpets. The crimson lights bathed the space in an eerie, hellish glow.

The items hanging on the walls stole the breath from Arzu’s lungs. Whips, cuffs, chains… Strange machines stood in the corners, reminiscent of medieval torture devices.

In the center of the room was a circular pool. Even the water shimmered blood-red under the lighting. Behind it stood a massive bed, covered in silk sheets and plush pillows.

Arzu’s stomach churned. What kind of place was this? And worse… how familiar was Ateş with this room?

Ateş settled into a leather armchair in the corner, his broad frame relaxed as he crossed one leg over the other. Silence enveloped the room.

Arzu shivered under his jacket, staring at him in dread.

“Why are you here?” Ateş asked, his voice low but laced with threat.

Arzu took a deep breath. Fear trembled in her voice, but she held her posture.

“For the same reason you are…” she replied.

A pang tightened in her chest. Does he recognize me? she wondered. That sweet, innocent boy… she couldn’t find a trace of him in the man now before her.

Ateş pulled an expensive cigar from his pocket. When the flame of the lighter briefly lit his face, his eyes became visible through the mask.

Arzu’s heart almost stopped. Those eyes... They were unfamiliar. The old Ateş had eyes full of love and warmth. These held only coldness and shadows.

"Those eyes… they're nothing like the Ateş I once knew," she whispered to herself.

Ateş inhaled deeply, letting the smoke rise heavily through the room. As his gaze moved across Arzu’s body, his voice turned to ice.

“You don’t belong here,” he said coldly.

“You shouldn’t even dare to look at someone of the upper class…” His voice rose with fury.

“You don’t know your place, yet you speak so boldly. Look around this room… do you have any idea what could be done to you here?

Do you even realize what would happen if one of those bastards outside got their hands on you?”

Arzu straightened her spine. Despite her fear, her voice held defiance.

“I decide who I give myself to!” she shouted, her voice trembling but stubborn.

“A maniac like you has no right to command me! And who even are you to question me? Do you know who I am?”

Ateş’s lips curled into a dangerous smile.

“Oh, I know exactly who you are, Arzu Bayrak.” His voice was like ice.

He rose slowly to his feet. Each step toward her made Arzu’s heart pound harder.

“But you… You don’t know me, Arzu Bayrak…” he whispered as he leaned close to her face. “But you will. Very soon.”

He moved in close, towering over her.

Suddenly, he yanked the jacket off her shoulders and tossed it aside. As the fabric hit the floor, Arzu’s body trembled. She was left in delicate lingerie, her skin tingling from the chill. She tried to stand, but Ateş’s hand pressed on her shoulder, pushing her back down.

“You’ve entered the game now you’ll play by its rules,” he growled.

Arzu remained on the ground in her undergarments, her frightened eyes flashing with anger.

“I don’t want this!” she yelled, trying to rise again.

Ateş spoke through clenched teeth. “Each event has only one match, Arzu. And from this moment until the night ends, you belong to me. Even if you run, they’ll bring you back and throw you at my feet.”

Arzu’s eyes widened in terror. She knew he was right. She had jumped into this twisted game without knowing the rules, and now she would pay the price.

Ateş took one final drag of his cigar and blew the smoke into Arzu’s face. His gaze traveled slowly down her body, accompanied by a growl thick with desire.

“Now… take off those hideous scraps. They offend my eyes.”

Arzu’s breath caught in her throat. Ateş’s eyes burned into her skin.

Did she really have no other choice but to obey?

How far would Ateş go?

A spark within whispered that this night… would never be forgotten.