Sleeping With The CEO
Chapter 47: The Man Slept

Chapter 47: The Man Slept

Derek’s mind was a very strange place. That much he knew. Unlike most people who could easily lose several hours focusing on one thing at a time, he often had several thoughts going on at once. He could be writing a report on expected profit margins while at the same time, looking at the expected profits and losses for the year, and then comparing them with those from the past years, looking for ways to improve without ever missing a beat. His brain was constantly processing, taking in new information and either storing it away for later use, or instantly coming up with ways in which it would be useful.

His mind was constantly in a take, take, mode, never fully resting, never stopping. And even the little naps he sometimes managed were not really restful.

For when Derek slept during those times, it did not feel as though he was sleeping, it felt as though he was shutting down...going away. Like the moment his eyes closed, he stopped existing, and that was a terrifying feeling, which was why his brain always came back online so quickly. He had to make sure that he was still there, still alive, still a human being, and it was so very tiring.

But this time, there was a new addition to Derek’s sleep. Something warm and soft in all the ways that he was not. And when Derek’s still asleep pulled it closer to investigate, he found that it smelled like bright sunshine over a field of flowers. Like the care free laughter of children simply out and about enjoying their youth. Playing, running, and just enjoying all that the world had to give. New life, that was what the soft thing smelled like. Sunshine, all the good things, and new life.

Spring, the new addition smelled like spring, and Derek’s unconscious mind instantly loved it.

For the warm spring was a beautiful thing. It calmed Derek’s mind, letting his brain know that it was alright to sleep, to rest, to not be so on edge all the time. Rest, said the sunshine against his skin. Sleep, the fresh spring air told him. And that was what he did.

But as soon as he began to sink deeper into the land of dreams, Derek began to fade, going away piece by piece. Toes, legs, hands, all of the parts that built up his body began to fade. The nothingness slowly eating at him, taking him away to a place Derek did not want any part of. His mind, upon realizing this panicked, instantly trying to bring him up, to drag him to the waking world, but before his mind could begin to actually do that, the new soft thing, the thing that smelled like spring and reminded him of fields of flowers intervened.

There was a scent like flower petals in the wind and just like that, Derek was no longer alone. Someone was with him in the vast landscape of his mind.

It was a woman, holding out a hand for him to take. Her face hidden in shadows, but something about her was so familiar that he instantly knew that he could trust her. He took the outstretched hand and he was instantly more solid, no longer fading away.

Beneath him the emptiness gave way to white beach sand, the waters a warm brown, golden like honey instead of blue.

He had seen that shade of brown before. Was it someone’s eyes? Or was it their hair? He could not be too sure, but just seeing the colour made him feel safe. So when his mystery companion tugged lightly at his hand, Derek did not resist. He simply went with her, letting her lead him into the still waters.

They walked hand in hand, the ebb and flow of the water welcoming them like they were long lost friends. For once, Derek did not try to swim when he was in the water. He simply held his friend’s hand and let himself sink.

Sinking deeper into sleep’s warm embrace for the first time in years. He would not know that he was doing it, but as his dream self sank deeper into the water, in reality, Derek was pulling Emily closer, a big smile on his face as he did so. Her own smile matching his as she snuggled closer too. Two very hardworking people finally getting the rest that they deserved.

But as they moved closer together, unconsciously offering each other comfort through the long night, something happened. Something that could be considered good, but could also be considered to be very bad.

Emily, as she moved around, fighting so hard in her sleep it translated to the real world, knocked off the top cover from both of them, the material pooling on the ground. And then Derek, searching for his dream companion, reached over a bit too far, his hand knocking her phone off the bedside table.

Luckily the phone was not damaged as it fell on the blanket that had recently become acquainted with the ground. But it did fall speaker down , which meant that all of the sounds coming from the phone would not be heard at all, sounds like a phone call coming in. Or in that particular case, an alarm clock going off.

When eight o’clock came, the alarm rang as instructed, but none of the people on the bed heard it. The sound was much too low to be heard, especially when taking into account just how tired both Derek, and Emily were.

That was not good, by oversleeping, they were eating into the time that they could have been using to get ready for their flight. Not only that, the longer the two of them stayed asleep, the higher the chances that they would miss their flight. But it was also very good, after years of not getting a good night’s rest, they were finally able to get some much needed sleep without being interrupted.