"Demir, look," Selim said, not looking up. "The shipment is late. I need you to stay through Sunday. No overtime pay this time—we’re 'family,' remember? We all sacrifice for the company."
"I can't, Selim Bey," Demir said, his voice a low vibration. "My daughter has her recital. I promised."
Suddenly, Demir stood up so fast his chair clattered to the floor. The sound cracked like a gunshot. Demir roared.
Selim stopped tapping. He leaned forward, his smile thin and cold. "Promises don’t pay the bills, Demir. If you aren't here Sunday, don’t bother coming Monday. There are a hundred men outside that gate who would beg for your chair."
"Enough with the 'family' talk!" Demir’s voice wasn't just loud; it was heavy with the weight of three years of silence. "Enough with the threats! I am a man, not a machine you can just oil with lies. You want the shipment? You move the crates. You want the Sunday shift? You sit in the dust."