Chapter 57: Public Reprimand
The secret to a good trap, was in the presentation. That was what Derek believed, and time and time again, that belief had been proven to be true. Even in everyday life that was true. The most dangerous plants looked good enough to touch. The scales of the most venomous snakes glinted in the sun, drawing victims closer.
And so it was that Derek started slow. He stood up, and just that simple act got him a round of applause, some of it more half-hearted than the rest. It was not difficult to locate the source of the lacklustre claps, but he chose to ignore it.
"Good afternoon, everyone, thank you for coming," Another round of applause and Derek had to swallow down his irritation. If they were half as loyal as their insistent clapping said they were, he would have been spared a lot of headaches.
Gritting his teeth, Derek swallowed down his irritation and smiled, glancing briefly at Emily for strength, he turned back to the room at large.
"As you all know, less than forty-eight hours ago, Haven Group had a situation that was threatening to spiral out of control," The statement was met with hushed murmurs, and Derek suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Clearly the people before him were wasting their talent, their main skills were not in leading a company but in gossip mongering.
Why on earth were they all whispering about something that everyone in the room knew to be true, it was not like it was some big reveal.
Even so, Derek let them have their moment. He had not called the meeting for them afterall, he had called it for one person in particular.
When he had finally had enough, Derek raised his hand and hush fell over the room.
Walking around the podium, Derek went to stand in front of it. His posture relaxed, his hands in his pockets.