Sleeping With The CE Chapter 38: Up With Haven

Chapter 38: Up With Haven

Now, Emily liked to think of herself as a sensible person. She wore flat shoes to work in a company where stilletos were the norm because she did not like her chances of staying on her feet in anything that took her heels off the ground. She took public transport to work, because even though she had enough money saved to buy a car of her own. She knew that she would not be able to afford the maintenance costs.

Those were not the actions of a person who often took a leave of their senses. But sohow, all of the sensible logic. That common sense, had taken a nose dive right out of the window when Emily had seen Derek facing down the angry crowd with only a flare gun on him. She had sohow found herself standing next to him, her voice coming out calm and strong. The exact opposite of how she was feeling.

But sohow, what they had said had worked. The crowd had cald enough to allow for there to be more talking, and less chances of them being beaten to death. A turn of events that had been great news for Emily and Derek, but so of the reporters had looked as though they had been robbed of the chance to watch a great show. Which was why Emily had not bothered to hide her cheery smile when the vultures'd had to stop right outside the factory gates. Unable to go forward since they would be trespassing.

But now they were finally within the solar panel plant and it was ti to get down to business. When Derek had been planning his speech, he had made it thinking that he would be talking to just a few of the bosses and doing so in a small office. But now things had changed, rather than going sowhere private, they were led to the plant's cafeteria, and given seats up front.

The lady who had introduced herself as Brenda, turned out to be Brenda Jones, the worker chosen to represent all the others. As far as people went, Emily like Brenda Jones within just a few minutes of knowing her.

Steady. As solid as a rock, that was the best way that Emily could describe her.

There were no sugar-coated words with her. There was no unnecessary pomp and drama. She did not string them along, and she also did not try to rile up the people. She had things that she wanted to say, and she got straight to the point and said them. Years in corporate, at the heart of it all at Haven Group headquarters, had almost made Emily forget that such no nonsense people still existed.

It was refreshing to see, and looking over at Derek, despite his cold mask, she could tell the he too appreciated the older woman's frank nature. They did not co across people who spoke their minds often enough.

When Derek stood to address the workers, he left his phone with her. To the plant workers, it might not have seed like anything significant, but for Emily it ant a whole lot. Leaving his phone behind was a big risk. It ant that Derek would not be saying sothing that he had rehearsed. It ant that he would be speaking from the heart.

When he reached the temporary stage, which was really just a stack of crates, his eyes sought hers.

' Are you sure?' She silently asked.

'Trust ,' His eyes said, and Emily gave him a thumbs up, he could do this. A smile, so brief only she caught it, flashed across his face. In the next mont he was as serious as always, his eyes on the crowd.

"Good evening," He called, and got only a few mumbled replies in return.

"I take it all of you are here tonight because you fear for your futures as employees of Haven Group," This ti, the replies were more enthusiastic.

"I am the CEO of Haven Group, and under my leadership, a serious error was made. The ssage that all of you received should have never been created, let alone sent. I am deeply sorry, that it caused you distress..." He began, and Emily was reminded of why she had so much faith in the man.

It was such a small thing, starting with an apology. But not many leaders would do that, let alone an every word they said.

"...Haven Group will ensure that nothing written in that communication will ever co to pass," Soone from the crowd, a tall young man, who introduced himself as Scott raised his hand. At Derek's acknowledgent he spoke his piece.

"Does that an you won't be making us turn snitch on each other?" That got a few laughs and even a small smile from Derek.

"Yes, Mr Scott, there will be no need for 'snitching'" He said, and moved on to the next person. This ti it was a middle aged woman nad Rebecca.

"What about the issue of our productivity? How can we be sure that at so point in the future, say next year, you won't decide to fire all of us and bring in machines. We have seen it happen in other companies, why should we trust that the sa will not happen here?" And Rebecca was absolutely right to ask. The board had been pushing for that for a while, but what the other woman did not know was that Derek was vehently against such a move, and that each ti it was brought up, he fought tooth and nail until the issue was dropped.

"Haven Group appreciates the work that machines do, and their productivity. But we also know of the irreplaceable value of the human touch. Which is why, so long as I am the Chief Executive Officer, you need not worry about being replaced. In fact, to thank you all for your hard work, you will be getting a little extra sothing along with your regular salaries,"

With that announcent, there was no longer talking that could be done. The crowd went wild.

"Haven! Haven! Haven!" They cheered, and once again Emily and Derek's eyes t. This ti they smiled freely at each other.

Victory, at last.