Sleeping With The CEO
Chapter 195: Back At The Manor

Chapter 195: Back At The Manor

Staying within the city limits after work and then just heading to the penthouse had made things easier for Derek. Especially when his insomnia had gotten to the point where he was seriously worried about his safety. Particularly during what had back then been his daily commute to, and from the manor.

But now he had his insomnia under control.

Thanks to Emily, he had just spent days getting nothing but good rest. So even though Derek had not slept on Monday night. He was not feeling the effects as badly as he would have, had it been like all the other times where he had gone night, after night with no sleep. Having no idea if the situation would ever change.

Now he had Emily, and he knew that even if he was tired after not being able to sleep. His chance to slumber was only a few hours away. He just had to hang on for a little while longer, and Thursday night would arrive.

And so, not weighed down by worrying about if he would ever be able to sleep. Since Derek now knew that not only would he be able to sleep, he knew the exact days when that would happen. He decided to visit the manor. It had been a spur of the moment thing.

Him just deciding that rather than spending Tuesday night alone at the penthouse. He would go to the manor, and spend the night there. Given that it had not been something that he had planned. He had not really thought things through. And one of the things that he had not considered when making the decision to go to the manor, had been the drive there.

It was different, but it was a good different.

Derek remembered some nights when he was in the car on his way there. He’d had to roll down the windows, and keep them down, the coldness of the night air being the only thing keeping him awake, his cheeks stinging. But he had always gladly welcomed the discomfort because without it, he had been worried that he would lose concentration.

Allowing the car to get out of control, and crash somewhere. But now, Derek was driving down the familiar road to the manor, and he was doing so not only with a clear mind. But with a well-rested body as well, the windows were not down, so that he could stay awake. They were down so that he could feel the breeze.

It was amazing.

Plus, the view was spectacular too.

In fact, it was so beautiful that Derek actually stopped the car halfway there.

This time when he got out, and he stared up at the night sky. He could actually enjoy it without having to also deal with the aches and pains that had always used to follow him around. This time the stars were just the stars, twinkling and bright in the distance. There for him to just enjoy without trying to take his mind off of anything. Derek was present in that moment, and it was a good feeling.

After he’d had his fill of the stars. He got back into his car and made his way to the manor.

When he had made the decision to go to the Haven ancestral home. Derek had thought that he would be spending at least part of the evening with his mother. But that was proven to be something that would not be possible the moment he walked into the manor.

His mother was there.

But it was clear that she would not be present for too long. She was dressed to the nines, her dark green dress matching the emerald green earrings that hung from her ears perfectly. Her hair done in a complicated updo. Derek had no idea how it had been accomplished, and not only that, he was struggling to figure out how it was still standing instead of collapsing in on itself. But even if he could not explain its continued existence, one thing was clear. His mother’s hairstylist had once again outdone himself. If Pablo were not so fond of flamboyant hairstyles.

Derek would have considered allowing the man near his beard. But he did not trust Pablo to not come up with something outlandish, and bring it to life using Derek’s hair. So he settled instead for admiring the man’s work on his mother. She at least enjoyed all of the flair that came with the stylist’s work.

"Derek, what horrible timing! Had I known that you were coming, I would not have planned anything for the evening. You know, in fact, I can still cancel," His mother said.

But before she could reach into her purse, and pull out her phone, Derek was stopping her. Taking a single hand in his, he kissed her knuckles, before gently lowering the hand.

" Come now, Mother. There’s no need for you to do that. You look positively radiant tonight. It would be a waste for you to cancel whatever plans it is that you have. You have to show up so that the ladies and the men know what true class looks like.Go out there and knock him dead. Show them why you are not to be messed with," Derek said, and his mother positively trilled. And that, more than anything, told Derek that whoever it was that she was meeting, most likely some of them, if not all, were old classmates.

Apart from his uncle, they were the only other group of people that his mother enjoyed showing up. Given that she was dressed to kill, and she’d had Pablo do her hair in a dramatic fashion. Then she was definitely going out to show off.

It was kind of cute to witness his mother, who was normally so composed and unbothered by everything. Taking time out of her day for petty childhood squabbles. As he walked her to the door, Derek could not find it in himself to be upset that they would not be dining together.

The woman was always worried about a multitude of things. Even if she denied it, Derek knew that he featured heavily on those worrisome things for her. He could at least have her take just an evening to herself.

With his chances of spending time with his mother dashed. Derek ended up doing what he normally did at the manor when he could not sleep. He swam lap after lap without pause. But he did not do so at a punishing pace. Instead, it was more like a leisurely stroll.

Most of his strokes done with him face up, looking at the painting that he’d had placed on the roof. It was different from the inky night sky that Derek had gotten used to at the penthouse. But he still enjoyed the view.

Knowing that this time it was only a temporary thing. That he would not be forced to stare at the painting night after night, made it easier for Derek to just laze about and enjoy it. All he had to do was hang on for a little while longer and come Thursday the wonderful cycle of sleep would resume again.