Angry People

Derek Haven was a hardworking man. Emily had seen him push through when a lot of other people would have long given up. A prime example was what they had gone through the night before. The man had fought tooth and nail to make sure that Haven Group was not tanked by his uncle's idiocy. In fact he was still fighting, despite the fact that his exhaustion was clear to see, at least for her, Derek was still pushing forward.

So all in all, Derek Haven was a hard worker…but he was also an uppity prince who had probably never done a single day of physical labour at it was showing. Back in the city, when his butler had been dragging around all of the man's unnecessary luggage, Emily, her simple duffel bag slung over her shoulder, had amused herself with thoughts of Derek struggling with his stuff once they arrived.

As it turned out she should not have been finding it funny, Derek'd never had any intention of carrying his stuff.

Upon their arrival, after a three hour flight that Emily had spent wedged into her seat, a crying baby on one side and an old woman who smelled like a liquor store on the other. Derek, completely at ease was all but floating through the airport, leaving Emily to hobble along behind him as she dragged their luggage behind him. She glared at his back, secretly hoping he would trip and fall, no such thing happened.

For this, his tea would be lukewarm for the entire week. And she would make sure to spill it on him at least once. She knew how much it bothered him whenever he had to change unexpectedly.

"Emily, hurry! We are going to be late. The masses must see me as a benevolent leader in the morning. And for that, I need to get to a hotel and rest," The cold night air hit her face and Emily glared some more. Not only his tea, she would change his autocorrect to write 'Jerk' every time he tried to write his name. 

Cheered by his future torture, Emily picked up her pace, following him outside to where the driver was waiting, skilfully dodging people as she dragged the luggage behind her. 

Finally reaching the car, she put the bags in the trunk, huffing and puffing, she joined him in the backseat and the car smoothly took off. For a few minutes, there was silence, and Emily took the time to look out the window. The small town that the plant was located in was really quite beautiful. Giant weeping willows, surrounding the road on both sides, the branches swaying gently, the leaves dragging. The light from the street lamps looking like fireflies amongst the leaf shadows.

It really was something, when she turned back to Derek, to see if he was seeing what she was seeing, she found him looking straight at the partition between them and the driver, his eyes far away. His fingers gripping his knee through the leg of his pants so hard, the material was creasing.

It did not suit him…looking so uncertain. And despite the fact that she should keep quiet, Emily decided to speak up. 

"This is not just some wild gamble you are taking. You weighed up all the negatives and positives, and this was the best way forward. Remember that," Sure there were likely others who took it that way after the stunt his uncle had tried to pull, but Emily needed to remind him he was not being reckless.

He turned to her, his green eyes looking into her brown ones, searching for deception. Emily knew he would find none, and when he did not, he closed his eyes again.

"Thank you, Emily," His hold on his knee loosened, and cloying feeling in the back of the car that Emily had not noticed before was suddenly all gone.

Settling back and closing her own eyes, Emily tried to relax too. She could feel her exhaustion weighing her down, her adrenalin beginning to fade, so rested her eyes for a bit, enjoying the quiet. But their peace did not last. Emily lurched forward, only her seatbelt saving her from injury as the car suddenly braked.

"What is the meaning of this!" Derek yelled, clearly as thrown as she was. The driver lowered the partition, and without the shaking man even having to speak, Emily understood. All of her exhaustion instantly pushed to the back, adrenalin fuelling her.

Up ahead, the road was blocked by burning tyres. Hundreds of people, men and women, all of them dressed in Haven factory uniform blocked the road. She could make out a few reporters, their cameras flashing. But most of her attention stayed on the angry mob.

Oh…oh…

And that was all Emily could think as she locked eyes with her boss…They were in so much trouble. But on the bright side, when the workers got their hands on them, she would no longer have to worry about sleeping problems, she would be sleeping permanently, six feet under, she consoled herself miserably.

Things were not looking good at all.