Sleeping With The CEO-Chapter 290: Liquid Pain

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Chapter 290: Liquid Pain

Derek had not been back to the penthouse in a long time. In fact, ever since the break-up, where Emily had just unceremoniously disappeared from his life. Derek had not set foot in the place. But after the encounter that he’d had with Emily earlier that day, Derek had been rattled.

He had tried his best to push it to the back of his mind. Going about his regular duties, and pretending to the rest of the world that he was fine. That seeing Emily, a version of her that was cold towards him. Staring at him as though she had no idea who he was. Had not bothered him, but it had really affected him.

Even so, he’d still attended more meetings, both virtually and in person. He had signed off on contracts, and had gone to oversee projects that needed his attention. But the moment all of the work was done, and he no longer had anything to keep him occupied.

It had really hit Derek.

Emily really did not want anything to do with him anymore, and that hurt a lot. It hurt so bad that Derek did not trust himself to be able to drive all the way to the manor safely. His mind was in and out, so he decided that his best bet was going to the penthouse where he currently was. But his decision to not go to the manor was not all about his driving capability. There was also the issue of his mother to consider.

He did not want her to see him, without his mask perfectly in place. After the first few days where he had spent most of his time moping, Derek had been working hard to keep up the facade of being perfectly fine.

It would be a pain for his mother, to see it all crumble, and realize that he had been lying to her. She had been acting strangely enough as it was. He did not want to give her more reason to become even weirder around him.

So now that Derek was back at the penthouse, and he was walking around like a stranger in his own home. Staring at everything as though he had never seen it before.

That was the couch where he and Emily used to cuddle, make out, and sometimes eat together. That was the carpet where he had gotten a taste of her for the very first time. Where the two of them had seen each other naked and vulnerable. He looked over at the kitchen and he remembered the meals they used to prepare there.

Talking about random things, and laughing with one another. Then afterwards washing the dishes or taking turns.

Even the stairs held memories of him and Emily.All the times that they had walked up, and down them together. Practically joined at the hip.

The penthouse was more than just a place where he went to rest now.

It felt like something sacred, something that held all of the promises, all of the hopes that Derek’d had for the future. He found his bedroom cleared up, the rose petals from before gone, the candles put away. There was no evidence that the night that his world had fallen apart. He had been trying to do something monumental. The penthouse remained as it had always been, except for the fact that it was now very different...devoid of life. And somehow, by stepping foot in it, Derek felt as though he had shed himself of the false skin that he had been wearing out in the world. Within the walls of the penthouse he could no longer keep up the mask that he had been using to fool the world into thinking that he was fine.

But whether it was just being in the penthouse where he and Emily had spent so much time together, or if remembering the cold way she had looked at him also had an effect, Derek had no idea. But what he did know was once he completed the tour, of his penthouse. Derek was no longer able to hold it together, and as he stood there alone he had no idea why he was even trying.

When he had moved into the penthouse, he’d had a drinks cabinet( instead of a full on bar) installed, mostly for decorative purposes. He was not one for alcohol, but in that moment, it made perfect sense to go for the cabinet, and pull out a bottle of whiskey.

Not even bothering with a glass, Derek pulled out the bottle, opened it, and took the first swig. That decision going about as badly as was expected. He coughed and coughed, eyes squeezed shut as he forced himself to swallow.

And once he got that first gulp to settle without throwing it up. It was downhill from there. At some point Derek’s shoes had gotten kicked off. His shirt was unbuttoned, and instead of sitting on a chair, he was on the carpet, asking some very serious questions.

"When you made this embroy..., imbroyday..., imbi..." The word was too difficult for him to pronounce at the moment. So he just held up the piece that he was talking about. "When you made this, you promised me. You said that we were in the same boat. See, the boat..."

He pointed to the embroidery piece with the now nearly half empty bottle of whiskey. Hiccuping as he turned to face the empty space in front of him.The empty space that he was currently questioning. He had wanted to call Emily to ask her these things. But he had been unable to work his phone properly. Itt had kept falling, so he had decided that if he concentrated enough and asked the questions. Emily would be able to hear him from across the city.

To strengthen the effect, he had gone out and gotten her coat, the embroidery piece, and also the one puzzle piece that he had been left with when she had gone. All things that he closely associated with Emily. So they had to get her attention no matter where she was, especially now that he had grouped them together. There was something flawed in that logic. But Derek was too drunk to pinpoint it.

Tears began leaking from Derek’s eyes without his consent, and he brought up a heavy hand to wipe them away.

When he looked up, he was no longer alone.

Emily, even if she was a bit blurry at the edges, was seated right across from him, knelt on the carpet.

"You know I love you, right?" Derek asked, and Emily just continued to look at him.

"I love you," He said again. And when he blinked, she was gone. Leaving Derek alone with inanimate objects that would not talk back. Just as she had left him, all of those weeks ago. All alone. With the words that he had wanted to say to her, stuck in his throat.

Derek had kept strong for a long time, always keeping up the facade of being alright in front of everyone. But now in the walls of his penthouse, he was on his own. There was no need for pretense, no one to lie to, and the truth was finally coming out.

And that truth was simple. Derek Haven was nothing more than a man, a broken-hearted man.

And so he let the alcohol flow through him.

Crying and crying until he finally decided to do something about it.

A phone call.

He had to call her to know what was going on, or maybe to apologize. Even if he had no idea what he would be apologizing for. This time he did not try to pick up his phone, instead tapping at it, from where it lay on the carpet. His head next to it.

He was going to call Emily, just to hear her voice.

Maybe she would not even notice it was him at first, and her ’hello’ would be warm and welcoming. He really hoped that would be the case.

His leaded fingers finally managed to work the phone, and Derek smiled dopily. Eyes half closed as he dialled and the call connected. "Hello," It was a woman’s voice, just not the one he had been trying to reach.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢