Episode 1 of *Old Money* opens with Nihal making her way back home from France to her family's stately mansion. The once-grand house appears eerily deserted, its exterior blanketed in a layer of dry, withered leaves. Even the pool area seems neglected, devoid of its former vibrancy.
Upon entering, Nihal carelessly drops her suitcase in her bedroom before heading straight to retrieve the keys to the family's boat. As she inspects the vessel, her attention is drawn to a movement across the waters. Another man, Mr. Engin, has arrived at the mansion opposite Nihal's. Using his binoculars, he peers across the water, his eyes lighting up with delight upon spotting Nihal. He playfully refers to her as "the blonde witch."
Eager to get a closer look, Engin sets off in his own boat, heading straight for Nihal. When they finally meet, Nihal is overjoyed to see her old friend. Their reunion is warm and filled with laughter as they settle down to catch up over cold beers.
During their conversation, Engin begins to regale Nihal with tales about the Bulut family. He explains that they have recently amassed a great deal of wealth, painting a picture of a self-made dynasty. The family's matriarch, Songul, is the proud mother of three sons.
He describes Mahir, the eldest, as an "adrenaline junkie," someone whose actions border on the reckless. Arda, the youngest, is the life of the party and handles all communication matters with remarkable finesse.
Then there's Osman, the middle son who effectively runs the family empire. Engin paints him as a ruthless yet brilliant businessman, always several steps ahead of his competitors. He's so astute that he can seal deals and put them into action before his rivals even have time to conduct a feasibility study.
Curiosity piqued, Nihal wonders aloud why the Buluts seem to be aggressively expanding into their territory. Engin speculates that it stems from a deep-seated envy of the old-money businesspeople like Nihal's family.
As their conversation draws to a close, Engin tries his best to persuade Nihal not to go through with selling the house. However, Nihal remains resolute, explaining that she's here specifically to sign the sale agreement.
Right at that moment, their friend Berna calls Nihal, and soon, they're all heading out for a meal together. As they sit around the table catching up, one of their pals, Pinar, reveals with a dreamy smile that she's in love. Nihal, ever the inquisitive one, wants the lowdown on their sex life, but Pinar insists they're taking things slow, savoring every moment. Nihal, though, brushes off Pinar's declaration of love, opining that true love is all about the harmonious syncing of sexual energies.
Engin, sidling up beside Pinar, nods in agreement, trying to explain how one can fall head over heels from a distance, all while stealing furtive glances at Nihal. She, however, is too engrossed in devouring her meal and sipping her drinks to notice Engin's covert glances.
The next morning, Nihal's father hands her a contract he's signed with the Buluts. They've commissioned him to construct a mega yacht, paying a hefty 70% upfront. But there's a catch—a stipulation buried deep in the contract that if he fails to deliver, the Buluts will seize their house as payment for the debt. Nihal's mind races as she instantly realizes the contract is a Trojan horse. The Buluts, she deduces, knew her father was drowning in debt and incapable of fulfilling his end of the bargain. Yet, her father, desperate and indebted, couldn't turn down the offer.
Determined, Nihal negotiates with the Buluts, requesting a time extension. Osman, the patriarch, grants her request, instructing her to draft and send a new schedule to his office the following day. After the meeting, Nihal unwinds with Berna, the Chief Finance Officer for the Buluts, trying to pry any dirt on Osman. But Berna stands firm, insisting that he's an honest, intelligent, and diligent businessperson. There's nothing shady about him or the Buluts' family business, as Engin also chimes in to support.
Osman dispatches a driver to fetch Nihal for their subsequent meeting. Nihal hands him the revised schedule, and he eyes the timeline with a furrowed brow, deeming it stringent. Nihal, with a confident smile, assures him she can deliver; after all, she's an expert in her field. When he inquires about the finances, Nihal replies that she'll tap into her connections to sort it out, a statement that seems to stir something in Osman, though his reaction remains subtle and enigmatic.
Nihal had previously mentioned that she would need to pose some personal questions to Osman in order to refine the design. Yet, Osman proved uncooperative, brushing her off and suggesting she forward the questions to his assistant instead. When Nihal inquired about his contact details, he remained adamant that no personal interaction was necessary and that Nihal should direct all queries to the assistant. Irked by Osman’s dismissive demeanor, Nihal snatched his pen, scribbled her phone number onto a piece of paper on his desk, and then departed. Osman trailed after her, halting at the doorway. Their eyes locked in a silent standoff before he ultimately allowed her to exit.
On his journey home, Osman’s gaze was drawn to a Ferris wheel, triggering a flashback to 1999. He recalled residing in an apartment complex named Bulut, which housed 42 families. Following an earthquake, the sole survivors were him, at the tender age of 9, Arda, aged 6, Mahir, aged 12, and Songul, a math teacher. The court entrusted Songul with the guardianship of the four boys, and she took it upon herself to tutor them, emphasizing the necessity of studying finance to grasp the intricacies of money and the world’s workings.
Upon arriving home, Osman was confronted by Songul regarding the mansion. She was perplexed as to why he had granted Nihal another opportunity while simultaneously plotting to acquire the house. Osman’s thoughts drifted back to his younger self, recalling a boat ride with his mother. As they glided past the mansion, his mother remarked that the inhabitants there seemed the happiest.
Young Nihal was present at the docks, surrounded by a throng of people. She waved back at young Osman, her face radiating happiness. Osman chose not to divulge this memory to Songul, instead claiming he had forgotten his initial motive for desiring the house.
Nihal dedicated the night to refining the boat design and subsequently emailed it to Osman’s assistant. The following morning, Osman made an unexpected appearance at her office. His critique was scathing; he deemed the design ordinary and lacking in inspiration. A heated exchange ensued, with Nihal insisting that she understood his clientele and accusing Osman of being irate because her design resonated with him. Osman, in turn, bristled at her perception of individuals with newfound wealth, asserting that they were the most demanding clients who commissioned mega yachts as a display of their affluence. He felt that those from old money looked down upon them, and the argument culminated in Osman storming out of her office in a fit of rage.
At the episode’s conclusion, Nihal called in a favor and secured Osman’s personal contact information. She sent him a text, proposing that they resume their discussion, which only served to enrage Osman further. He promptly made a call, instructing someone to cancel the boat order and proceed to Nihal’s family residence.
