Emir POV
Elysium Art Residence Bomonti
After finishing lunch at the buffet lounge, I decided to head back to my room. As I passed by the reception area on my way to the elevator, I noticed a woman looking up, admiring the chandelier on the ceiling as she walked.
I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the 11th floor. Just then, I heard footsteps—someone was running. A hand quickly reached in just as the doors were about to close. I pressed the "open" button to let them in.
It was the same girl I had seen earlier, the one gazing at the chandelier. Judging by her appearance, I could tell she wasn’t Turkish.
“Are you okay?” I asked. She didn’t respond immediately—she was still catching her breath. I waited a moment before asking again, “Which floor?” Once she had calmed down, she replied, “11th floor, thank you.”
“I’m staying on the same floor,” I said with a smile. She just nodded, and a quiet silence filled the space. It was the first time I’d been in such close quarters with someone so beautiful, and it left me momentarily speechless.
Wanting to break the silence before we reached our floor, I asked, “What’s your name? I don’t think you’re from around here.” I realized I might’ve come off too direct, but she answered politely, “I’m Nurin Imad. You’re right, I'm not from Turkey— Malaysian, actually. And you?”
There was something about her—reserved but not unfriendly. I decided to keep the conversation going. “Emir Dogan. Looks like I’m your new neighbor,” I said lightly.
I wanted to keep the mood friendly, so I continued, “How long are you staying? Is it a short trip or a long one?” She smiled and answered, “I just arrived today. Took a quick walk through the streets nearby. Planning to enjoy a month-long vacation. How about you?”
My heart was racing as I replied, “I just arrived today too. I’ll be here for five to seven days before heading back to the States. I like it there, but I love Turkey—this is my home.”
“If you love it here, then why are you staying for just a week? And why are you in a hotel instead of with your family?” she asked.
I paused, smirking a little. “Past tense. I loved Turkey. Let’s just say... I don’t have any reasons to stay here anymore. Until I find one, I’ll just enjoy what’s left of it. Besides, you’re only here for a vacation. I can’t use that as an excuse.”
She looked surprised. “Excuse me? Me?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“What I mean is... I don’t have anyone to spend time with. But if you don’t mind, I could extend my stay—if you'd be willing to keep me company. You might need a tour guide, after all,” I offered, half-joking.
Still, she looked taken aback. “Wait—so you’re offering to tour me around just so you’re not alone? I think I’ll pass. Thanks for the offer, though.”
She seemed slightly annoyed, but even then, she looked adorable. I tried to recover, “Okay, fair enough. But I think you owe me dinner.”
She blinked. “Excuse me again? Why would I owe you dinner?”
“Well,” I said with a grin, “I did hold the elevator door open for you. If I hadn’t—”
She cut me off, “If I hadn’t stuck my hand between the doors, I wouldn’t have made it in. So, no—I don’t owe you anything.”
The air turned quiet and a little tense. I wasn’t sure if I had offended her, but I hoped she was just caught off guard.
A minute later, the elevator reached the 11th floor. The doors opened, and I let her step out first. Coincidentally, she headed in the same direction I was going. I trailed behind, heading to my room—113—when she turned around.
“Stop following me,” she said abruptly.
“I’m not,” I replied calmly. “I told you—we’re on the same floor. That’s my room.” I held up my keycard and pointed toward my door.
She looked a bit embarrassed. “Sorry if I came off too direct,” I added.
She softened a bit. “It’s okay. I’m also sorry for thinking that you were—”
 I cut her off, “It’s alright. Let’s start over. How about dinner tonight?”
She shook her head politely. “Sorry, I can’t. You’re still a stranger to me. Maybe some other time.”
“Fair enough,” I said. “But if you change your mind, I’ll be at the hotel restaurant at 7 p.m. It’s a little boring eating alone, that’s all.”
She simply nodded, opened her door, and walked in without looking back.
I understood her. She had every reason to be cautious, especially after my overly confident approach. But at least I apologized, and maybe that counted for something.
Back in my room, I flopped onto the bed, arms spread wide, trying to process what had just happened.
I found myself muttering, “She really ignored me. I can’t believe a woman actually said no to me... She’s definitely something else.”