Sleeping With The CEO
Chapter 297: Light Killer

Chapter 297: Light Killer

As a mother, there were things that no one told you, things that you had to figure out for yourself as you went along. And one of those things, the one that Cassandra Haven had come to accept as just being part of her role as her son’s mother, was that she was, in a way, a fixer.

Not in the political sense, but she was pretty certain that if Derek had chosen to go into politics. Then she would have donned that hat as well. But luckily, she did not have to do that.

Her job as a fixer had been going on for many years. When he was younger it was simple things. Tying his shoelaces for him. Blowing on scrapes and bruises to make them better. Helping him clean up after he had decided that a muddy puddle was the best place to be.

Looking back, Cassandra now realized that those were the best messes to clean up. Because as Derek had gotten older, the situations had gotten more serious. She was the one who was there to deal with things in the background, helping him close deals, get new investors.

She was also the one who burned anyone who tried to betray her son, and made sure to keep anyone who had ill intentions towards him as far away from him as possible. Which currently brought Cassandra to the situation that she was in.

Derek staring at her, as though he were looking at a stranger. Hurt, betrayal, disbelief, rage, as well as a multitude of other emotions, all rolled into one, and directed at her. "It was you," Derek repeated again.

And Cassandra had no idea what to say to that.

Rather than trying to deny it, to say that she had no idea what he was on about, she nodded. Finally finding the courage to look him in the eye for the first time in weeks.

He took a startled breath at her confirmation.

Moving back a few paces before he seemed to realize what he was doing, and forcing himself to stand still. "Why would you do that?" He asked, sounding as though he could not bring himself to believe it.

He’d heard the truth straight from her own lips, but he still could not seem to make himself accept that it was true. And Cassandra knew why. She was a master manipulator, and had played a lot of people before. But for the most part, she had made sure to keep that side of herself away from her son.

Cassandra Haven, the woman going out and about in the world was different from Cassandra Haven, the mother. She might not have been made of all things nice and warm. But for him, she tried to make her sharp edges a bit blunt.

It was the first time that she had ever directly interfered in his life in such a way. No doubt he was struggling to come to terms with that. "Derek, I only did what I did to protect you," At that, her son turned to her so sharply, that Cassandra had to fight the urge to take a few steps back as well. Instead she squared her shoulders and continued to look at him.

He was a grown man who could handle his own business. But she would not be made to feel guilty or apologize for stepping in when she had realized that he was too compromised to do what was necessary. "I chased that girl away because she had no true feelings for you. She was just using you. Think about it..." Cassandra implored.

"She was your personal assistant for crying out loud. She had time to study you, to note down your likes and dislikes, and then she used that information to get into bed with you. It might hurt now, but it is better for you to be parted from her, sooner rather than later," Instead of seeing reason, Derek continued to look at her as though she had killed his favorite rabbit and made a stew out of it.

"You did not know her like I did, mother. You simply interfered where you were not needed,"

"I was doing it to shield you," Cassandra said through gritted teeth. But Derek shook his head.

"No, you were not. You ran Emily out of here because you were not in control,"

"She was not someone that you had picked for me, and that did not sit right with you. Do not go about trying to make this about you protecting me,"They argued back and forth for a while longer. But if they’d had neighbours, no one would have even realised that there was an intense argument going on.

Derek’s temper, much like her own, when it got to a certain point. It just cooled down, and became unbearably chilly. Their voices were so low now that they were almost whispers.

The longer their tense exchanged continued with Derek unwilling to listen to reason. The more frustrated Cassandra became, until she finally decided to just hit him with a cold hard fact.

"Derek, you might have caught feelings for that girl, but the reality is that she does not care for you,"

"You are way richer than her and have more power in the tip of your pinky finger than she can ever amass in her entire lifetime,"

"Name one thing that she could give you, because from where I am standing, all she stands to do is benefit without bringing a single thing to the table,"

Once again, her son gave her a look like he did not know who she was.

But Cassandra was done playing nice. Some things needed to be said. Otherwise, time was wasted going round and round on a topic that could have been resolved long ago. She expected Derek to at least fight back a bit more.

But instead, he let out a heaving sigh, and all of the fight in him seemed to go with that one outward breath.

"Everything," He said, sounding defeated.

"What?" Cassandra asked.

"Everything. You asked what she has given me. Emily Molson gave me everything..."

"Her time, her love, her attention,... and the ability to sleep after years of suffering from insomnia," The first ones were things that Cassandra was expecting. Those were things that lovesick idiots said when they were too far gone to realize that they were in a trap. But the last one...

"Derek, what do you mean, she has given you the ability to sleep? You are fine. I sent you to all the best medical specialists and they told me, no, they reassured me that you were cured of your insomnia," Cassandra said, feeling desperation bubbling deep within her gut.

Her son just gave her a sad, pitying look.

"I was never cured, mother. I just lied and said that I was because I did not like seeing you hurting over me,"

No, it could not be.

She would have known, if Derek had been hurting she would have known. There was no way. Derek could not have hidden something this big for so long.

"But then I met Emily and I could sleep through the night. Eight solid hours of sleep. Just for me," Cassandra was beginning to feel lightheaded. She sat on the couch, her head ringing, but Derek kept going, his voice trembling.

" You used to say being with father, was like having an inner light. Congratulations mother, I found my light and you snuffed it out...I hope that you are happy with yourself," Hand over her heart, Cassandra watched Derek making his way up the stairs.

Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, stunned by the revelation. But even with all of the thoughts running through her head, one stood out...

...What had she done?