Sleeping With The CEO
Chapter 322: Stairs

Chapter 322: Stairs

There were things in life that just were never supposed to happen. Fish swimming on land. Snakes with fur. Babies born not only talking, but already asking for a cup of coffee instead of milk to help them deal with the stresses of life.

And among those things that were not supposed to happen, Emily was adding a new one.

Cassandra Haven walking up a flight of stairs.

Never in her life had Emily thought that such a thing would happen. Sure, with Derek she could see him doing that. The two of them had gone up and down the stairs at Haven Group headquarters together before. But his mother, from the little that Emily had seen of her, was not a person made for stairs, and it showed.

Walking a few steps ahead of them, Cassandra looked as though the stairs were offending her simply by being there.

Every few minutes she paused and looked over the railing. Staring down at the stairs that they had already climbed. A triumphant look on her face, as though reminding them that they had been conquered. It was kind of funny. It reminded Emily of Derek sometimes. He often had the same haughty look when defeating someone who had thought that they could best him at something. But as funny as it was, it also served to show Emily that Derek’s mother was serious.

Cassandra Haven was clearly not enjoying taking the stairs, but she was doing it anyways for the sake of her son.

She was making her way up the stairs to Emily’s apartment, all so that she could apologize to Emily’s mother. She did not like the physical activity one bit. But for the sake of her son, she was still doing it. That spoke of love, of care, and it cemented the fact that Cassandra Haven cared about Derek more than anything.

It was clear that she thought that taking the stairs was beneath her. But the fact that she was still doing it, that made her alright in Emily’s book.

But that did not make watching her climb the stairs like regular people any less funny. Externally, Emily was doing her best not to smile, but on the inside she was cackling.

It should not have been as funny as it was. But watching prim and proper Cassandra Haven taking the stairs in a building that housed mainly middle class, and upper middle class tenants made Emily want to laugh out loud.

Looking over at Derek, who had been walking silently next to her the entire time. Emily found him to be just as tickled as she was.

And that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Emily lost the fight againtst her giggles.

She tried to muffle the laughter with her hand, but it was already too late. Up ahead, Cassandra Haven paused and turned back.

"Is there anything funny Emily?" She asked. The crisp tone, and the raised eyebrow , making Emily think of Cassandra Haven as a displeased teacher, instead of as just Derek’s mom..

Not just any teacher either. Mrs Haven looked like a tough as nails old bird that even the school bullies knew not to mess with. She looked a split second away from yelling ’DETENTION! DETENTION!’ That mental image did not help matters at all. Emily looked over at Derek, hoping to find an ally. But the traitor had schooled his feautres into a very serious look. All of his humor carefully hidden.

Emily had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing even more.

"No ma’am. I was just clearing my throat," Emily said. Trying and failing to fake a cough, it ended up sounding more like a snort. And she had to suppress a wave of jealousy when Derek succeeded in hiding his laughter with his own more authentic sounding coughs. When his mother turned away and began walking again, the two of them did not immediately move to follow her. Instead, they shared a smile, Emily unable to stay mad at him.

It felt nice to just be able to share a smile like that.

"The longer the two of you just stand there. The more likely you are to grow roots," His mother’s voice startled both of them and they resumed walking again. This time their mood was lighter and it made walking up the stairs a bit easier.

And it was only once Emily was no longer so focused on Cassandra Haven that something occurred to her. The three of them knew that they were heading to the apartment that Emily shared with her mother. But the most important person. The one who they were going to see, did not know that she would be having guests.

In fact she did not even know that Emily was back.

Jane Molson was the type of person who loved surprises. But Emily was pretty certain that if she just showed up with two Havens especially after the way that they had ended things the last time, her mom would not take it well.

So she stopped her ascent, gesturing for Derek to go on without her as she pulled out her phone and sent out a quick text to her mother. Letting her know that not only was she back, but she was bringing visitors. As far as warnings went, it was very last minute.

But Emily hoped that it would be enough time for her mom to get ready. There was no taking back the disaster that had been Emily and Cassandra Haven’s first meeting. But she hoped to at least be able to make things go a bit better for her mother.

She was not about to have her mom meeting the elegant Cassandra Haven, wearing pajamas and bunny slippers. With her mother having received a heads up, Emily resumed walking again.

Smiling when she found that Derek had not gone that far ahead. That he’d waited for her.

"Aren’t you worried your mother might knock on the wrong door and start apologizing to an absolute stranger?" Emily asked.

Smiling at her, Derek took her hand in his.

"Let’s hurry and catch up with her then. A disaster like that is the last thing we need," He said, bringing her hand up to his mouth and kissing her knuckles.

They began walking again, and soon caught up with his mother. Finally reaching the right floor, the three of them heading to Emily’s apartment, where her mother was waiting.