Sleeping With The CEO
Chapter 130: Phrasing Is Key

Chapter 130: Phrasing Is Key

When Derek had come into Bee’s diner, he had expected Emily to not be busy, for him to be able to just say what it was that he wanted to get off his chest and then see how Emily would take it.

But instead, things had not gone as he had planned. For starters, there had been the nosy group that had been there when he had come in. And then after he had grabbed Emily’s wrist and asked her for some of her time so that they could talk. In had come the large group of police officers.

Derek had not liked them at all.

In fact, he had found himself preferring the first group that he had found in the first place. The group of police officers were not polite. In fact, they were downright rude to Emily at times. They were calling on her as though she was somehow beneath them. Some of them even calling her names like sugar or sweetheart. As though they had any right. Derek had wanted to interfere many times, but he had held himself back, not wanting to step in at Emily’s place of work, and make it seem as though she could not handle herself. So despite all of the anger that he was feeling, he had sat down and forced himself to eat the meal that she had brought.

He had forced it all down, making sure to stay in his seat even when he so badly wanted to just walk across the room and punch someone. Most likely all of his money and power would have been able to let him get away with punching a police officer. But he knew that Emily would not like it at all if he did something like that.

So Derek had minded his own business. Focusing on his breathing exercises, whenever the officers got too familiar with her.

He had wanted to leave several times during the presence of the officers. But then he had admonished himself. That would have been just him chickening out again. And this time he had made the decision that he was going to stay until the bitter end. So that was what he did. He stayed. And even when the first group left, all of them chatting and laughing, waving goodbye to Emily, actually calling her by her real name instead of Roberta as her name tag read. Derek stayed where he was, not going anywhere.

To take his mind off the entitled rudeness of some of the officers, Derek turned his focus to Emily. The job was way beneath her. In fact, it did not suit her at all. She deserved better. But to look at her, one would never go out and say that Emily ever did anything half-heartedly. She was doing the job to the best of her abilities. That much Derek could see.

She moved with ease amongst the tables and chairs, bringing in meals balanced on her hands. Never dropping a single thing. Never getting any of the complicated orders wrong. Orders that even Derek himself had trouble remembering and when she did miss out on something she instantly corrected it, before it could become an issue. All the while she was on her feet. Even when she stepped back, it was not to sit down. Instead, she leaned against the counter, waiting to be called again. By the time that the police officers left, Derek was exhausted just looking at her, and he knew that she had to be tired.

So rather than sit back and just let her handle everything like he normally would have, Derek found himself compelled to help. He stood, gathered up his own plates and carried them over to her, putting them on a nearby table when she dropped a spoon so that he could lean down and pick it up before she did so. She looked about ready to keel over.

After handing her the spoon, Derek made sure to lead her away from all of the plates and got her seated and then he did something he never did. He literally cleaned up after somebody else. It was a strange thing to do but he made sure to do it properly. Emily would not have taken the job lightly so neither did he.

He did not stop until everything was cleaned up and only then did he allow her to take it back to the kitchen and wash it.

And once she was done and came back out, Derek was still there...waiting.

He had promised after all.

And this time he was going to keep his promise. His decision to wait was proven to be the correct one when, at the sight of him, she seemed slightly surprised, almost as though she had been expecting him to be gone, by the time that she came out. And now they were seated across from each other and rather than waste a moment Derek decided to just come out with it.

"I am sorry," He said and she actually startled. "What?" She whispered, clearly thinking she’d not heard right.

"I am sorry," He said it again. His voice stronger this time.

He expected her to just either say, "I do not forgive you, or to accept the apology," right then and there. But something sparked in her eyes and she looked at him, really looked at him. Then she folded her arms over her chest.

"And what exactly are you sorry for, Derek Haven?" She asked, her tone of voice that of a person not playing games.

And it was his turn to fold his arms before he forced himself to unfold them. He had no right being defensive. And she had every right to ask him. Many people often apologized for things that they did not mean, leaving it up to the person being apologized to, to assume what the apology could have been about.

He had to be upfront about this.

"Emily Molson, I am sorry that I lied and said that you still worked for Haven Group even after you quit, and I am sorry for blocking your chances of getting hired in other industries or companies. I am truly sorry. It was selfish of me to do," He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing.

"I had no right to do it, and even though I know I do not deserve to be forgiven for this, could you please try to find it in your heart to at least think about forgiving me?" He asked.

He did not want her to feel pressured just because he had asked for an apology, so he made sure to add the try part, so that she knew that he was not forcing her. She did not reply, choosing instead to stay quiet, studying him. And as the seconds ticked by, Derek began to feel uncharacteristically nervous. Looking over at her, he fiddled with the napkin on the table and then he decided to keep talking.

"I am very sorry but if you are willing, the post for my personal assistant available for you. You can come back Monday even if you want,"

"It would be really great if you showed up on Monday," He was rambling and he had to stop, but his mouth seemed to have developed a life of its own. "It would be really, really, really great if you showed up. In fact, while you’re at it, would you mind sleeping with me?"

The last part left his mouth before his brain could filter it out. And Emily, who had been looking at him with something almost fond, instantly changed. Her gaze sharpened, her eyes fiery. Her mouth opened and closed. Clearly she was at a loss for words. And then she gritted her teeth and stood. "Emily I..."

He never even got to finish the sentence before her hand was up and there was a firm slap across his cheek.

"Get out! Get out and do not come back,"

With that she headed for the kitchen, leaving Derek to sit where he was. Dumbfounded.