Sleeping With The CEO
Chapter 221: Night Ruined

Chapter 221: Night Ruined

Emily had once faced an angry mob of protesters. An entire group of people, so fed up, and so enraged. That given half the chance, they could have attacked her. Using her to release all of their pent up aggression.

Back then, Emily had been scared. But that had nothing on the pure, all consuming terror that had come over her the moment that Sebastian Haven’s hand had settled over her shoulder.

"Excuse me," He had begun. His voice oozing all of that smarmy charm of his, that Emily hated.

She had waited for the "You are Derek’s PA, aren’t you. What are you doing here? Are you here to see him after hours?" Emily had waited for those words. For the slow realization of why she was there to sink in. Sebastian’s confusion giving way to triumphant malice.

But his hand had remained on her shoulder, hesitating. Not behaving at all like someone who had just discovered a huge secret.

Oh, Emily had thought, rocked by a wave of relief.

He does not realize that it is me. But then the situation had filtered in and she had begun to panic again.

He is going to turn me around and up close, there is a chance that he will recognize me. A very big chance.

He was an idiotic, giant mega jerk. But not even he would fail to realize who Emily was from so close.

She had to do something.

But if she just walked away, she would be acting suspicious. And if she turned around, as close as they were, there was no way that Sebastian would not recognize her.

But then out of nowhere, just as Emily had been about to give in, to just turn and face Sebastian. Hoping that she could come up with some story about why she was in the area. Maybe she would tell him that she was property hunting, that she had somehow won the lottery.

Even as she had thought of that one. Emily had known that it would not fly. Sebastian would have instantly caught on to the fact that she was lying.

But desperation had rendered Emily unable to come up with any good ideas. So she had just stood there, frozen on the spot, waiting for everything to fall apart.

But then, like a ray of sunlight peeking out from beneath dark storm clouds, Derek had swooped in. It had been all that Emily could do to not let out an audible sigh of relief at the sight of him. Instead, she had focused on remaining still for a few seconds longer.

Trying to communicate with her eyes, to convey to him that he needed to act, and he needed to act quickly. Emily had no idea if her silent begging had gotten to Derek. Or if he had somehow developed telepathy and was able to read her mind.

But whatever it was that it had been, it had worked. Because within seconds of laying eyes on Emily, Derek had been moving forward. His posture relaxed, his gait that of a person who was not in any hurry whatsoever. "Uncle," He had called out, and Emily had wanted nothing more, than to run towards him when she had felt Sebastian Haven’s hand leave her shoulder. But she had stayed where she was a few seconds longer. Clutching the cart that she had been pushing with all of her might. Her knuckles bone white from the strength of her grip.

Emily had not moved until she had felt Derek brush past her. Just that brief moment of being in his presence, enough to settle her racing heart to the point that she was able to move. Putting as much distance between herself, and Sebastian as she could without looking as though she were running away.

It had not been an easy feat, but Emily had managed it. Once she had gotten to the end of the aisle. She had turned quickly, pushing the cart into another aisle and then leaving it there.

As she had briskly made her way out of the store, she had seen the curious faces of the staff. No doubt they had been aware of the cat and mouse game that Emily had been playing with Sebastian. Even if the man himself had not noticed. As she walked away, Emily met a few inquiring gazes.

But she quickly looked to the side, focused on just getting out as quickly as possible. She felt like a mistress who had been caught out by the sudden arrival of the wife. That statement did not accurately depict the situation that Emily had been in at all.

Never mind the fact

that she had never been involved in an affair with anyone. But somehow she still felt that it was an apt description of what she was going through. The moment that the store doors had closed behind her. Emily had abandoned all pretence of calmness.

She had started running, going as fast as her feet would carry her. By the time that she had gotten to the corner of the block. She had been heaving like she was about to throw up, her lungs on fire. Her entire body in pain.

Being in so much agony, Emily had briefly considered that Derek might have been right in trying to teach her how to swim. She could really do with some regular exercise. But then she had gotten to the bus and she had forgotten all about that.

Instead, as she had gotten further and further away from Derek’s section of the city. Emily’s focus had been on her rapidly plummeting mood.

It was a Thursday.

Thursdays were the days when Emily was supposed to be able to sleep.

To go to Derek’s place, and just switch off for a few hours. But now that would not be happening. It was way too risky. Staring at her phone, Emily wanted to call Derek to hear his voice again and make sure that he was all right. To ask if his uncle had truly bought the ruse.

But even as she had stared at the little device, Emily had known that she could not.

The texts and the call that they had already shared that night were risky enough. She could not add more fuel to the fire.

Just as she stayed awake many nights, knowing that she could not contact Derek outside office hours via the phone. The same rule still applied, even if it was a day when they were supposed to be sleeping together.

In fact, even more so.

Just the anomaly of Derek texting her to bring milk had been enough to remind them that they had gotten too comfortable.

They needed to be more vigilant. If she dared to contact him in that moment. She might be putting both of them in even more danger. Afterall, Derek could have still been with his uncle. So, Emily had forced herself to put the phone away and she had gone home in silence. Once there,

Things had not been as easy as Emily had hoped they would be. For one, she had come in to find her mother still awake, dressed in her favorite sleepwear and curled up on the couch in the living room, watching some TV.

"What is wrong, Ems?" She had asked.

And even after the evening that she had just had, Emily had still been able to pull a lie from the top of her head.

"Oh, nothing, mom. I had a bit of a headache, so I asked if I could leave early, and the boss said yes,"

Her mom had simply nodded, taking Emily’s words at face value.

Then she had gotten up and headed to her room. When she had come back, she’d had two painkiller tablets in her hand, and she had filled a glass of water

Silently handing them over to Emily. Without a word, Emily had swallowed the pills and taken a gulp of water. "If you do not mind.

I am going to go to bed early," She had said, and she had brushed past her mother and headed for her bedroom. Getting ready for bed had been a slow and painful process, but in the end, Emily had managed it. And now she was in bed alone in her apartment.

Instead of at Derek’s penthouse. Thursdays were for sleep. That was why Emily loved them. But now this particular Thursday was not for sleep.

It was for curling up in bed, wide awake...crying.