Personal Touch

Ever since he had come to the office. Derek had been feeling like he was playing an endless game of whack-a-mole. Problem after problem, in every direction that he looked and no matter what he tried to do, they just kept multiplying. He solved one and ten more came up.

In addition to trying to get in touch with the union representatives, who were actively ignoring him. No doubt piling on the pressure, intending for the strike to go on just a little bit longer so that Haven Group would feel how much they stood to lose if the workers decided to walk. Derek was also overseeing what everyone else was doing, reports coming in at every hour various departments seeking his approval on certain issues. Not only that, there was also the staff who had come in at their usual time. The people responsible for keeping the ship on course while everyone else tried to plug in the holes.

Unsurprisingly, his uncle was a no show that morning, and surprising absolutely no one, his PA had called in sick. Which meant the one person who could have helped them track down his uncle was also nowhere to be found. It was all too much for Derek, and as much as he wanted to scream into Emily's coat, he was so tense he was scared that he might tear it apart.

Which was why he had started pacing. He most likely would have worn a hole into the carpet had Emily not come in. But now that she was there, Derek was intent on using her as both a sounding board, and someone who just sat patiently and listened to him complain.

All the while she stared at him like he was a tennis ball moving from one side of the net to the as walked over the same spot again and again.

"….surely he has seen the news!" Derek said, his hands going behind his back as he completed a circuit. Turning back he folded his hands over his chest.

"Despite what every action he has taken so far is saying, the man is not an idiot. He has to know that things have gotten out of hand. All he has to do is pick up the phone, acknowledge that he went too far, take back his words, and this will all be yesterday's news…" His phone began ringing again and Derek ignored it. When it went silent, his office phone began to ring.

"You know what, I bet he is enjoying this wherever he is. Emily? Have you ever seen someone make such a stupid decision all in the name of fighting for a position that was not even his to start with?" Emily merely shrugged, she had somehow gotten a hold of a packet of crisps and was munching away at them

 She held out the bag, and this time when Derek passed by he took a few, chewing on them before he began his rant again.

"Does he not realize how big this has the potential of becoming. Right now it's the solar panel plant, tomorrow it's the car factories, next thing, the suppliers will demanding a greater share for their materials, then the guys up here in corporate will be demanding pay increases!"

"This could set us back by billions. At this rate, even fixing the mess at the plant will cost millions. What is he thinking! Where is he!" Derek finished the last bit with a growl, barely fighting the urge to pull at his own hair. Had she not been there, he would have been screaming into her coat.

"You are right," She said as she stood.

"He should be here, fixing what he broke. Problems of this nature need a personal touch. But he is too much of a coward to show his face. Which is why we are going to fix this, and once you come up with something, all this will fade like it was never even an issue to start with," Derek turned to her, giving her a look.

Did she not just hear him tell her just how much it was going to take to fix this? And here she was going on about fixing things and ' a personal touch'. What good would a personal touch be when… He froze, an idea zinging through him.

A personal touch…

He looked over at Emily again, and she was staring back impassively, clearly not understanding what she had just done.

A personal touch…

Of course! A laugh bubbled up, and Derek let it free.

Of course! Of course! A personal touch ! Reaching out, he grabbed her and twirled her around.

"Emily, you are absolutely right. This does need a personal touch. Now let us get ready," He told her when he put her down, laughing again when he noticed how dishevelled she now looked, her whole face a rosy pink.

A personal touch indeed.