When Derek had been a child. Back when his father had still been alive. Derek remembered one summer where it had been so hot he had been convinced that he was going to melt. His father had arranged a mini vacation for them. He had flown a young Derek, his wife and himself out of the country for a few days. The three of them spending blissful days skiing and building snowman while the rest of the country had sweltered away.
That was one of the best times that Derek remembered spending with his father. As the CEO back then, the man had always been busy. And now that he too was the CEO, Derek now understood just how much his father had sacrificed to spend time with them that way. But that was not the reason why je was remembering that particular point in his life.
No, what he remembered was something that they had done then. Back then it had been pure, harmless fun. But now Derek thought back on his younger self, kneeling in the snow and making a snow ball. Then once it was big enough he had rolled it down the hill. By some miracle, it had not broken apart. And as it had rolled, it had grown in size, taking in more snow as it moved. Growing far bigger than the little ball that he had started off with.
The way the ball had grown and grown, reminded Derek of the current situation at Haven Group. When he had gotten word of his uncle's bomb, people had been shocked. By the time he had sped out of the manor, the cries of outrage had been building. When he had been on his way to get his PA there had been talks of a strike. By the time they got to headquarters, the strike had already begun. Within minutes reporters were there. Most of them backed by their rivals and making sure to paint Haven in as horrible a light as possible.
"Do something!"
"Fix it!"
"And just how do you intend to get us out of this mess?!"
"How could this happen under your watch?"
"Our shares are plummeting, if something is not done soon…"
Those were the words of the board. The very same board who knew that his uncle was in charge of the solar panel plant. The very board who followed in the majority of his hair brained schemes. Now things were bad, and they were looking to Derek for answers. All of them talking over each other.
"Enough!" Derek finally roared, unable to take it anymore.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a situation. Sitting her bickering will not solve anything," He turned to the heads of department.
"PR, release a statement, try an minimize the damage that this is causing to our reputation," The head of PR nodded and left, her two phones out and already being used. Her assistant following close behind and doing the same.
"HR, go over the contracts, find out if there is a way we can wiggle out of this," Padma, the head of HR, was out the door before Derek was done, already instructing his underlings.
"Accounts…" One by one the department heads dispersed as Derek gave instructions. When it was just him and some of the senior members of the board, Derek gave them an angry glare.
"If any of you feel like opening your mouths just to complain, get out and do not come back. We are in crisis here, no one is going to pamper your egos," He walked out after that, not caring that the old coots would try to punish him somehow once things settled down.
Emily fell into a step beside him as he walked, and Derek did not look at her as he gave his order.
"You try to get in touch with my uncle and I will try to talk to the union representatives over at the solar panel plant," She broke away when they reached their destination. Going to sit at her desk while Derek headed deeper and got into his office.
Once there, he let his cool mask drop, his thunderous expression taking over. Looking over at his office couch, he noticed Emily's coat. He had fully intended to give it back after using it, but somehow he had carried it back to his office.
Picking it up, Derek held it for a moment. Then using the trick that she had taught him, he balled it up and screamed, long and loud. He screamed and screamed, and would have continued to scream some more had there not been a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" He asked.
"Derek, it is me," Not really sure why he did it, Derek rushed across the room, pulled open a desk drawer and threw the coat into it.
"Come in," He called, taking a seat as he readied himself for whatever it was that she had to say.