Chapter 153 Press Conference
Immediately Derek finished reading, silence settled over the room like a thick cloud. Derek didn’t move or speak. For a moment, he'd even forgotten how to breath.
He just sat there with the letter still in his hand while his mind was still trying to catch up with everything he'd read.
“This whole time....” he tried to speak but his chest was too heavy. He tried to breath but it tightened painfully, indicating the amount of pain he was in.
This whole time… everything he believed, everything he held onto was all wrong. It was all a lie.
Thinking if it weren't for his grandfather meddling that he might've been happily married to Celia. That he wouldn't have turned out to be a playboy that his reputation wouldn't have been that of a rake. That probably his grandfather wouldn't have had to try everything he could just to get him married.
How could this be true? How could his grandfather had done so much yet had pretended like he'd done nothing but make life unbearable for him?
How could his grandfather have silently done all of these, yet felt I bothered that he'd considered him a pain in the ass?
He opened his eyes slowly and then he looked at the letter again. As if it might change or just turn out to be all one bad dream.
He looked at the letter, wiling the words to become something else and not what he'd read. But no matter how much he look, they didn’t change.
The words remained the same, clear, sharp and awfully painful. What was he supposed to do now?
If only he hadn't rushed there to demand an explanation, perhaps if he'd been patient, maybe his grandfather would still be alive. This was all his fault.
He should've known his grandfather wouldn't have to chased Celia away if all she wanted was his wellbeing. He shook his head, refusing to believe he was the cause of his grandfather's death.
Derek looked up at Mr. Lawson. His voice came out quieter than usual.
“…Is this true?” he asked even as he prayed and hoped that Mr Lawson would say no. That he would say none of this was real.
Mr. Lawson held his gaze, in a calm and steady way.
Then he nodded. “It is.”
Hearing Mr Lawson say that, something inside Derek broke. He couldn't even bring himself to look at him. All he knew was that his indecisiveness had not only cost him his marriage but his grandfather's life as well.
This was not even Celia's fault for manipulating him. It was his fault for being available to be manipulated.
Taking a deep breath, he nodded slowly, like he understood. But inside of him, he didn’t know what to do with it.
All this time… he'd thought his grandfather had ruined everything. He'd thought his grandfather had taken something from him.
But now, he realized that he had been protected and he didn’t even see it. He'd been blind and clueless.
And worse, he had gone to that man, angry, demanding answers, pushing him too hard and eventually killing him.
Derek’s chest tightened sharply as he thought about all the what ifs. What if I hadn’t gone that day, would he still be alive?
Derek looked down and his grip on the letter tightened even as his throat burned.
“I…” he started but then stopped.
He didn’t even know what to say. Mr. Lawson watched him quietly, understanding that he needed all the quiet and peace.
After a moment, Derek stood up slowly.
“I need to go,” he said and already his voice was steady, his mind and eyes were not as tears were beginning to glister in his eyes.
Mr. Lawson nodded. “Take your time,” he said gently.
Derek gave a small nod. Then turned and walked out.
The walk out of the building felt longer than usual as he thought about everything and how stupid he'd been, ever thinking his grandfather would ruin a good thing for nothing.
When he got outside, he stopped, exhaling loudly.
Just when he was about to leave, his phone rang. He stopped and took out the phone, to see who the caller was.
He sighed when he saw that it was Ryan. Derek stared at the screen for a second before he finally answered.
“What’s up, man? You're everywhere!” he said, and Derek frowned.
“What?” he said, his voice sounding flat.
Ryan didn’t waste time. “Have you seen what’s going on online?”
Derek’s frown deepened. “No.”
“You’re everywhere right now,” Ryan continued. “That picture… you and Celia… people are talking.”
“What picture?” he asked even more confused now.
“I don't know. Seems you were both at an event and she was hugging you. People are talking, man. They’re calling you names, man,” Ryan said. “Playboy. Cheater. All sorts of things.”
Derek closed his eyes briefly and then opened them again. “Whatever man. I realy don’t care,” he said.
Ryan paused, noticing that something was off.
“You sure?” he asked.
“Yes,” Derek said, not seeing the need or having the energy to explain.
“Are you okay?” Ryan asked with a slight frown.
“I’ll call you later, Ryan,” he said and without waiting for Ryan to resoond, Derek ended the call.
A second later, his phone rang again and he almost didn't pick up until he saw that it was his assistant.
“Yes?” he said immediately after he received the call.
“Sir… we have a problem.”
Derek frowned slightly. “What kind of problem?”
“The company is being affected by the rumors,” the assistant said. “Investors are asking questions. The media is picking it up.”
Derek sighed. This was what he didn't like at all. He was still not in the right frame of mind to think but he knew he needed to do something before things spiraled out of control.
“What do you suggest?” he asked, running his fingers through his hair.
The assistant didn’t hesitate to say “A press conference,” as though he'd thought about it beforehand.
Derek thought for a second. Perhaps, a conference was what was best. To clear everything and control the story. But...
“And say what?” Derek asked.
“That you have no connection with Miss Celia,” the assistant replied. “Make it clear and publicly.”
Derek nodded slowly. That makes sense. He thought but just then, another thought came.
Rebecca. If this was all over the news, then Rebecca must have seen it too. What would she think? What would she say? Would she believe nothing was going on if he didn't fix this properly?
His chest tightened again.
I need to fix this. Not just for the company but for his marriage and everything his grandfather worked hard to stop.
“Arrange it,” Derek said, his voice firmer now. “I want it done as soon as possible.”
“Yes, sir,” his assistant said before ending the call.
Derek stood there for a moment. His mind moving again.
I’m going to fix this. I have to fix this.