Sleeping With The CEO
Chapter 312: Confessions in the Dark

Chapter 312: Confessions in the Dark

Ever since Emily had left him, Derek had been so focused on his heartache, that he had ignored other emotions that he had been feeling over the whole thing. And one of those emotions was disappointment. Not in himself but in Emily for leaving him without a word.

Then when his mother had accidentally revealed her role in their breakup. Derek had felt that disappointment grow because as far as he was concerned. It should have been obvious to Emily that he would not do such a thing. He was a man who prided himself on his word, and his loyalty.

She should have known that he would not hurt her in such a way. But now that Derek had heard the full story, he understood.

His mother had been playing three-dimensional chess while Derek and Emily had not even been able to find the board.

The trap that she had set had been so well executed that if Emily had believed anything other than the facts that his mother had presented. Then she would not have been human. His mother had done her job so well, manipulating both of them so effortlessly.

That she had even recruited Derek into her scheme, without him even realising that he was killing his own relationship just by answering a few simple questions, and saying a few statements without really thinking them through.

Derek loved his mother.

That was something that would never change.

But he had to admit she was one terrifying woman. How on earth had she even come up with the plan that she had used to get in between him and Emily? That took some serious malicious intent to come up with, let alone implement.

It was horrifying to think about but Derek pushed it to the back of his mind. His mother was a topic for another time. In that moment he needed to focus on Emily and Emily alone.

She was currently looking at him as though she were beginning to hope. But had been hurt too deeply to allow herself to just give in to the emotion without being sure of everything.

"But I heard you that night at the manor. Your mother called you, and asked about the engagement. And you agreed with her, saying that things needed to be handled soon. What engagement were you talking about, if not yours and Penelope’s?" Emily asked.

It actually took Derek a moment to reply. He had to sift through his memories of that night. Searching for the exact words that he’d said to his mother. Emily had mentioned listening in on the call, and the contents of the conversation being proof of Derek’s infidelity. But back then, when Derek had been talking to his mother, it had been just a regular thing.

As far as he’d been concerned. The most important thing that had happened that evening was that Emily had not shown up at the penthouse. But it seemed that the thing that he had dismissed. The phone call with his mother, had been the most important.

"We were talking about Rachel and Paul’s engagement. You remember them, right? The potential business associates for Haven Group?"

Derek asked, and Emily’s eyes widened in understanding.

"I remember helping pick a gift for them when they first got together," Emily said

The two of them were silent for some time. Just looking at each other as they let all of the information wash over them. Looking at the situation from a new angle, a lot of things made terrifying sense.

In the end, it was Emily who broke the silence.

"So you were never engaged?"

"Never," Derek said.

"So I have never been your mistress?"

"Emily, any man who tried to make you a mistress would be the biggest fool on earth. And I may be many things, but I am not an idiot. You are a prime catch, and I would never do that to you," Reaching out, he wiped at Emily’s tears, and she let him.

Once he was done, he did not let her go. His hands gently cradling her face, tilting her head up to his as he planted a kiss on her lips.

"Your mother is a very dangerous woman... but she must love you a lot," Emily said.

Derek had to laugh at that. Emily had just described his mother completely.

Dangerous and capable of so much love.

Speaking of love, Derek decided to just confess his feelings to her. None of the fancy stuff that he’d planned initially. Just saying the words.

But before he could just give up on all the planning that he’d done. Emily stepped away from his gentle embrace, took his hand in hers, and began leading him towards the tree in front of the motel.

"Where are we going?" He asked.

Turning back she gave him a smile.

"I was actually out here to bury my heart. Remember the puzzle picture that you gave me?" Derek nodded and Emily looked at him sadly.

"I was actually out here to bury it. So that I could leave it behind, and hopefully never think of you again,"

"Oh, Emily," He breathed, feeling his heart ache for her. Unable to imagine how painful coming to that decision must have been.

They came to the side of the tree, that was bathed in light. Emily let go of his hand, and moved to the dark area.

She came back with a sling hanging off her shoulder, and a shovel in one hand. "Here it is," She said, as she walked up to him.

Reaching into the sling with her free hand, and coming back with the framed photo. Despite Emily’s intention to bury it in the ground. It was as pristine as the day that Derek had given it to her. Evidence that despite her heart breaking, Emily had not taken out her frustrations on the gift.

It was rather touching. Even with all of the anger and the heartache, deep down she had still cared. Taking the familiar picture from her. Derek stared at it, and then he remembered what he had in his pocket. Taking the puzzle picture, he opened up the frame. Took out the piece in his pocket, and completed it.

Taking the shovel from Emily. He placed it on the ground, and then he turned back to her, and held out his hand, her smaller one slipping into his larger one.

"There was one more surprise to the puzzle picture that I was going to show you that night," He said.

Hand in hand, the two of them moved to the dark side of the tree.

"Wouldn’t it be better for you to show me what you meant with both of us in an area where we can actually see?" Emily asked, and Derek laughed softly.

"This is something that I want you to remember, even when the night is at its darkest," He said. And with that, he flipped the photo over and the inscription behind the picture instantly lit up.

I love you, Emily Molson.

It still read, and Derek teared up seeing the words again. Next to him, he heard a gasp, Emily letting go of his hand, to trace the words.

Just in case it had not sunk in for her yet. He threw an arm over her shoulder and pulled her close, dropping a kiss on the side of her head, and whispering the words into her ear. Soft and slow, so that there was no misunderstanding.

"I love you, Emily Molson,"