Sleeping With The CEO
Chapter 259: Win Different

Chapter 259: Win Different

Derek had taken Emily to the crafts fair for their first date because he had thought that it would be fun, and that she would love it. He had turned out to be right on both fronts, and nothing had given him quite as much joy as watching her flit from stall to stall. He had not even minded, having to carry the basket that she kept throwing random knickknacks into.

Some things that Derek was pretty sure she had no idea what their use was, but just liked the way they looked. Derek himself had also purchased a few things.

And shockingly enough, he had even managed to purchase a set of exquisite-looking earrings. He had made his mother promise not to buy any unnecessary jewellery, but when he had seen the two leaf-like pieces he had been unable to help himself, they would suit her.

He could just imagine her out and about on the manor grounds, wearing the earrings just because she could. When Emily had asked him why he was buying them, he had explained his reasoning, and she had not said anything. Instead, she just smiled at him, all warm and soft, before the two of them had continued, with their walk through the fair.

But that tranquil time now seemed eons away. For as much as Derek was of the belief that he had made the right decision in bringing Emily to the fair. It had also been that decision that had led the two of them to the fiercest contender that they had ever come across, one Miss Edna.

Derek was man enough to admit that the first time he had been fooled, he had seen that badly knit sweater, had looked at her glasses. Had looked at her frail limbs and slightly hunched over figure

and he had thought, ’She is an old lady let me hold back,’. Edna had rewarded him for that by shooting him without batting an eyelid.

She had literally defeated them in every single game that they had been in with her. Some things were just not right.

They burned the soul. How could Derek ever look himself in the mirror and admit that he had been defeated by an old lady? She had been showing them flames and dust throughout every single event at the fair. They could not let that stand. And now, Emily was going to fight her for the final time.

To win back their honour and dignity. Derek was still a bit scarred from having had to hear all those nasty things that Miss Edna had said. A woman her age should not still be talking about certain topics with such detail, and the way in which she had smiled, and licked her gums. Had nearly had Derek screaming his lungs out. He had only manfully resisted because he had not wanted anyone to think that he was scared of an old lady.

But now as Derek looked on from the crowd, cheering Emily with everything he had.

His voice the loudest amongst the crowd. He could not help smirking at Edna’s shaking form. A game of threading where needles of various sizes were pinned on top of tiny blue balls, and the contestants had to get a piece of thread through the eye of the needle should not have been that exciting. But Derek had to admit, watching Edna, who had lied, cheated, bribed, and flirted her way to victory in every other event, eating dirt, was epic.

There had been many other contestants in the beginning. All of them standing, one hand behind their back and a thread in the other. Edna had made her way onto the stage with her usual slow gait. Those without experience, as he and Emily had been earlier, would have mistaken the walk for that of a frail old lady.

But as he and Emily had locked eyes at the beginning, Derek had realized that she too saw what Derek saw in Edna’s walk. It was not the trembling gait of a scared old woman. Instead, it was the cockiness of somebody who was certain that they would win.

And sure enough, the moment that the game had started, Miss Edna had been up to her old tricks.

She had started with jokes so bad that several of her competitors had literally just collapsed to the floor. Overcome by giggles, unable to believe how horrible her jokes were.

Then of course she had faked a few medical emergencies, from a dizzy spell, to a heart attack. Each time getting a few contestants to leave their threads. Disqualifying themselves in an effort to go and see if all was well with her. One sweet young man had even lost because Edna

had turned around and said in her sweetest old lady voice,

"Young man, can you bring me a bottle of water? I feel parched," The poor thing had let go of his thread without a second thought, his eyes widening the moment he’d realized that he’d been had. Derek might have also been sore from losing to her, so many times but he had to admit Lady Edna knew her stuff. But skilled or not Edna was about to lose and for one simple reason. After knocking everybody out she was left with just one person, Emily, and it was not just regular Emily out there on the stage. It was staff sergeant Emily. And the sergeant would not be swayed by anything.

She was already halfway through while Ms Edna, her hands shaking, was struggling with the third needle. By that point it was not even a competition. Emily’s victory was assured. And sure enough, in record time, she was threading through the last needle eye, and the crowd went wild. Derek rushing forward to scoop her into his arms, and swing her around. Were it not unsportsmanlike and petty, and also showing that the two of them had been more than a little hurt over all the wins that Lady Edna had over them.

Derek would have carried his lovely girlfriend over to Miss Edna just to show off the fact that his girlfriend was a winner.

But he controlled himself and when he put Emily down. The two of them merely gave Edna a single look before turning back, to the judges and walking towards them for Emily to receive her prize. To anyone else it would have just been some cat ears made of cheap materials. Not at all worth fighting over, but to the two of them the ears were pride and dignity restored.

Emily wore them like a crown, as they slowly made their way off the stage. It would have been best for them to leave then, going out on a high note. But Emily still had some weird thread that she wanted to buy. Mentioning something about doing an embroidery piece that required a lot of colour.

And so instead of leaving, they headed to a stall where Emily had seen just the item that she was looking for earlier. Thread purchased, they made their way back to Derek’s car.

From there all they had to do was get in and drive back to the city. But as fate would have it, the car right next to them belonged to somebody that the two of them were now very familiar with. Miss Edna, and she was there, putting away all of the things that she had won.

But she did not look as happy as she had during all the competitions. And looking over at her, Derek realised why. Sure, she’d worn teddy bears, baskets of yarn and other things. But judging by the giant cat on her sweater, the threading competition had not been something that she wanted to win just for kicks. Miss Edna had a love for cats. And most likely for her, what to them was just a cheap ornament. To her, it would have meant the world.

"I cannot believe I am about to do this," Emily said from beside him. And before Derek could say anything, she was moving forward, taking off the cat ears. "Miss Edna," She called softly and the old woman turned to her. "Yes, dearie," She answered, turning and smiling sadly when she saw the two of them. Emily held out the cat ears. "These do not really go well with my hair but I am sure they would look splendid on you," She said

At first Miss Edna frowned in confusion, and then when she realised what was happening her whole face just lit up. "Really?!" She asked, but she was already reaching for the offered gift. But she stopped herself midway.

"I cannot take this. You won this. You have earned it. She said, each word sounding as though it was killing her.

Emily turned back to Derek, a helpless look on her face and he moved forward. "You would not be taking them for free Miss Edna. But we will also not accept your money. How about this? This is our first date but we have not been able to take a picture, yet," He took out his phone and gave it to the old woman.

"Take our first picture as a couple, and it will be more than enough to pay for the cat ears," He said. She snatched his phone so fast, it was as though she was scared he would change his mind. And that was how they ended up heading to the city without a single prize.

But as far as Derek was concerned, he had the best gift ever. Not only had he spent the day with Emily, he also had proof of it. In the picture that had now made a home for itself in his phone, Emily was standing on her tiptoes, kissing Derek’s cheek while he smiled into the camera.

He had not expected the sudden kiss and it showed. For Derek Haven in that picture was blushing, his smile warm, and bright. There was no mistaking them for anything other than a couple in that picture.

As soon as things allowed, he would frame it. But for the time being, he was content to spend the ride back to the city just staring at it, with Emily at the wheel.