Chapter 4: Power Struggle
Having brought his work home (as usual), Derek finished most of it off at around midnight. With his night now open, and sleep yet again nowhere in sight, he'd gone for an old standby, exercise. Swimming to be exact.
Haven manor, was quite large, and as a result, the mansion was big too. Something that had allowed for the installation of an indoor pool.
A facility that Derek made use of almost every single night, swimming lap after lap, until he was bone tired. Usually after that, he passed out, literally, either for a few minutes, or on a good day, for a whole hour.
It was not enough sleep for anyone, but it had kept Derek going for years, so he was eternally grateful for it. The swimming had the added benefit of keeping him toned, but it also had the disadvantage of making his muscles ache like nothing else. Which was the case that day. He had gone from the pool, straight into a tub of ice cold water(if he troubled the staff for ice, word would reach his mother), so he worked with what he had.
He had just gotten out of the freezing water, his head barely hitting the pillow when his phone rang. He'd glared at his assistant's name. Wishing Emily nothing but pain and more pain, but he had still answered, and by the time the call ended, Derek was wishing her only good things.
Emily was worth her weight in gold. Derek's uncle was plotting again. The man was of the mind that he should have been named CEO when Derek's father had died. Instead, the role had gone to Derek's mother and she had kept the company going until Derek could take over.
His uncle, despite his absolute lack of skill in anything other than wasting money, still believed that he was the right man for the job. Which was why every once in a while, Derek had to fend off an attack from him.
He should have seen the latest one coming, but his insomnia had been worse lately. He owed Emily big time for catching the deception. A point he made no secret of when he finally made it into work. For the occasion he had gone for shades of dark. A charcoal black suit, his shirt lighter but not by much. Everything all sharp lines and unforgiving edges.
As expected, Emily was waiting for him by the elevators when he arrived. And upon seeing him, everyone else found somewhere to be, leaving the elevator clear for the two of them.
"Update," He said once the doors closed, all of his rage disguised by his deceptively soft voice. Emily did not miss a beat, readjusting her blouse, she filled him in on all the information that she had gathered.
"The meeting began, five minutes ago. I do not know the main topic, but it is being attended by the majority of the big guns so it has to be something important..." Derek nodded along as she continued, filing information away. No doubt, all that she said would come in handy as he navigated the tricky waters of the corporate world.
She led him to the meeting, and once there, she stepped aside, walking slightly behind him as Derek made his entrance.