Sleeping With The CEO-Chapter 302: Away We Go

After a week away from work. Derek should have walked into the office, whistling a happy tune, a bounce in his step.

And a big smile on his face, as he wished everyone that he came across a good morning. But that was not what happened at all. Instead Derek walked into Haven Group headquarters on Monday morning feeling as though he were waiting for something, and whatever that something was. He was certain that it would not be good.

After all, what hope did he have that something not awful was likely to happen to him after everything?

His Emily had left him without a word. Breaking Derek’s heart, and leaving him wondering what exactly had gone wrong.

Then he had found out what it was, that had chased her away.

His own mother of all people.

After finding out that his mother had been involved in Emily deciding to end things. Derek’s hopes had been raised. He had rushed to Emily’s apartment.

Thinking that things could still be righted. That the two of them could get back together again, now that he knew what was going on. But that had been proven to be a premature hope.

One that had died the moment that Emily’s mother had told him that Emily was already gone, not just gone. But that she’d left without saying exactly where it was that she was going.

Or how long she would be gone.

Now it was Monday morning and as Derek stepped into his office. He could not shake off the feeling that something was about to go horribly wrong. But even as he was feeling that sense of foreboding deep within his gut.

Derek pushed it away, and tried to get back to work. In truth he would rather have been anywhere else but at Haven Group. But what could he do? What was there waiting for him anymore? Emily was gone.

What could he possibly do with his time now that he no longer had her by his side? But even as he was thinking that, Derek could not find it in himself to focus, and so he just ended up sitting at his desk.

Idly typing random words into his laptop.

Then just pausing for minutes at a time staring at the screen blankly.

Madeline, seeming to sense that something was wrong. Kept coming into the office every once in a while, asking if he needed something, like maybe some snacks, or a drink.Or maybe if he wanted to reschedule some of the things on his agenda. But Derek barely paid her any attention. He just continued to stare at things in the office not really seeing them.

At around eleven, Madeline knocked on his door again, and let herself in.

"Sir, we have a problem," Madeline said.

She was not Emily, who had gone through many storms with him. She was still new to this, and it showed in the way that her normally impassive face was just wrecked with emotion.

"What kind of problem?" Derek asked. Taking a seat across from him, Madeline filled him in. And when she was done, she stared at Derek as though hoping that he would somehow come up with a solution on the spot.

But all Derek could do was blink.

His mind trying to process what he’d just heard.

Apparently one of Haven Group’s contractors was corrupt, and they had been using materials that were below the recommended standard to build a youth centre.

A youth centre that Haven Group had been intending to donate to the youth of the city. Specifically those who were from underprivileged neighbourhoods.

A safe space for kids to go after school, so that they were not lured by the dangers that lurked in almost every street corner. The contractor situation would have been bad enough. But before Haven Group could find out about it, and try to rectify the situation.

Someone had found out first, and had run to the press with it. The news was alive, literally a buzz with what was happening at Haven Group at that very moment.

Haven on Shaky Ground, Haven Group’s Corrupt Contractor, Haven Youth Centre Dreams Crumble.

Those were the headlines that jumped up at Derek when he finally went online. But there were more, and most certainly there would be plenty coming as the story continued to unfold.

"What are we going to do, Sir?" Madeline asked. And Derek looked from the newspaper article that he was reading, to her. That was a very good question. Normally, Derek’s mind would have already been coming up with countless plans.

But instead he just shut down and when he came back online. Something in him just clicked into place and settled. He was no longer feeling so detached from everything. In fact, he finally felt as though everything had come to its natural conclusion.

"Call an emergency meeting," Derek told Madeline, and she nodded enthusiastically. Seeming to breathe a sigh of relief at the thought that he maybe had a plan. Derek pitied her. The moment she walked out, he typed out a quick message and timed it to send in a few minutes. Then he waited for her return.

In what seemed like no time at all, everyone was gathered as he had requested.

And when Derek walked into the boardroom, there were no hellos, no how are you doings. Instead he was instantly bombarded with questions.

"What are you going to do about this?"

"This is clearly the work of a mole."

" Have you found who is responsible?"

"We could lose investors over this,"

"This is bad publicity."

Everybody seemed to have something to say, and they were not shy in voicing it. Derek took his usual seat at the head of the table and watched all of them talk. Not really paying that much attention to it all. He just felt so far removed from everything. His focus more on the minutes left until his email was sent.

Why were these people stressing over something like this?

When Derek stood, the entire room fell silent. But of course there was one last person who just had to make sure that their voice was heard over everybody else’s. "Yes nephew. What are you going to do about all of this? You are the CEO after all?"

His uncle’s voice was full of mirth. At least the man was not pretending like he wasn’t enjoying himself. Most likely he had been the one behind the leak. If Derek had cared, he would have focused all of his effort on proving his uncle’s involvement in all of this. But he did not care anymore, so he simply let his uncle’s comments slide over him.

Instead giving the man a smile that instantly had his uncle on guard. They were not the type of family that smiled at each other. Smirks were more the order of business.Glancing at his watch, Derek realized that his email had just reached its destination, and his smile widened. The simple act making the room occupants fidget in their seats for some reason.

"I am sure all of you have seen the disheartening news this morning," Derek said. There were multiple affirmations across the table.

"As much as I wish I could come up with a plan to solve this. I cannot as it is no longer my problem. So I wish all of you the best," Derek said.

There was a startled pause. His uncle’s mouth actually falling wide open before he gathered himself. "What?! What on earth are you talking about? You are the CEO. Figure it out," He said, no doubt voicing what everybody else in the room was thinking. Derek merely shrugged.

"That’s just it, uncle. I am no longer the CEO. My resignation has just been sent to HR... I quit," He said, and without allowing the room to process, he walked out.

Derek was already halfway to his former office to gather his things when the room exploded in an uproar.

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