Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 107: The Trouble Maker

Chapter 107: The Trouble Maker

The assistant rushed in to announce the arrival, but the doors were already flung open before any formal notification could be made, indicating that the Sterling family patriarch was launching a surprise visit.

Damien Sterling saw the doors burst open and was about to inquire when the patriarch strode in, prompting Damien to immediately rise from his chair.

"Damien, how are the company’s stocks doing lately?" the patriarch inquired.

Damien lowered his gaze and responded, "There’s been a minor issue."

"A minor issue?" the patriarch questioned in a deep, serious tone.

Damien understood the underlying message in his grandfather’s words.

The stock market had just opened, and Damien had already seen Sterling Group’s shares dipping into the red.

The patriarch had grown impatient in less than half a day.

"Grandfather, I apologize. It’s my fault. I didn’t anticipate such a significant problem."

"And now you see?"

"Yes, I’ll handle it."

"Good."

Some people don’t need to express their anger to convey their feelings, like Damien Sterling’s grandfather.

As the imposing entourage departed, Damien started to take the matter seriously, having previously dismissed it as just another transient rumor.

Damien approached his computer, leaning against the desk with his long legs.

He carefully reviewed Alex’s exposé with his slender finger on the mouse.

The article extensively covered Emma Hart’s ordinary background and even fabricated news about her mother’s alleged disreputable profession, branding it all as "sensationalism."

Damien sneered coldly.

He wasn’t concerned about the Sterling family’s shares or the gossip about her background and whether she was a suitable match for the Sterling family.

His focus was entirely on the man standing close to Emma Hart in the photograph.

His gaze was predatory, filled with a bloodthirsty desire to tear that man apart immediately.

Soon, the assistant reappeared in Damien’s office, laying out neatly organized documents on the desk, "Mr. Sterling, we’ve thoroughly investigated. Here’s the address of Alex’s office where these gossips were published. However, I’ve already checked this address. The company has been disbanded, and the office space is now empty."

Empty? Did they think they could escape so easily? They underestimated Damien Sterling.

Damien’s finger rested on his chin as he leaned back, his eyes darkening with a sharp and predatory focus, like a leopard eyeing its prey.

"There’s no one in this world who can exist in isolation."

"Yes, CEO," the assistant responded swiftly, understanding the importance of comprehending Damien Sterling’s intentions to remain by his side.

Within an afternoon, the trending topic had vanished, and Alex’s blog was shut down, with all previously posted content deleted.

Yet, there was one matter Damien Sterling had not resolved.

At the Sterling Group villa, Emma Hart was browsing through the overwhelming discussions and news about her.

Surprisingly, these reports didn’t affect her negatively.

Instead, she thought they might make Damien reconsider the disparity between them.

Perhaps, under the pressure, he might decide not to be with her, and the ludicrous wedding could be called off.

Humming a tune, Emma was watering the plants in the garden, with Bailey faithfully trailing behind her.

"Bailey, don’t always follow me so closely; I might step on you," she said, reaching down to pet Bailey’s head, clearly in a good mood.

When Damien burst in, the pace and intensity of his entrance conveyed his fury to Emma.

Resignedly, she put down the watering can and picked up Bailey, heading towards the living room.

Before she could approach, Damien glared at Emma and Bailey in her arms, "Put that dog aside!"

Bailey barked twice as if scolding Damien for his loud voice.

"Alright, Bailey, keep it down, or he’ll throw you out," Emma whispered to Bailey, who seemed to understand and quietly made his way to the kitchen to find Mrs. Harris.

Sitting down in the living room, Emma inquired, "What’s wrong?"

Damien threw his iPad onto the table, displaying screenshots of the remaining news articles and comments, but most notably, he highlighted a photo of Emma intimately linked with another man.

"Explain this," Damien leaned back, legs apart, his gaze fixed on Emma.

Emma, genuinely puzzled, responded, "Explain what? I didn’t write that news."

Damien, sitting up to tap on the photo displayed on the table, was reluctant to discuss such trivial matters.

Yet, involving this woman, what else could he do?

Emma Hart scrutinized the photo closely, "Isn’t this Joseph Miller? My college classmate. It’s been a while since we last met, but we ran into each other at a recent class reunion."

She examined the picture further, "During the reunion, several of our male classmates had too much to drink. Those of us who were sober ended up helping them find their accommodations. Is there a problem with that?"

Emma’s nonchalant demeanor took Damien Sterling by surprise, as if her explanation made complete sense.

"But you haven’t clarified why this man needed your support. Could it be he’s an ex-boyfriend?" Damien speculated.

"I already told you he’s a classmate, and besides, he’s married with kids now. He’s one of the first in our class to settle down," Emma explained, feeling her clarification was entirely superfluous.

The innocent need not prove their innocence.

Emma flipped the photo over, showing it to Damien, "See, I told you I remembered others helping out in this photo, not just me."

The original photo stored on Emma’s phone clearly showed it had been tampered with.

Meanwhile, the assistant whispered something to Damien, who, after listening, awkwardly touched his nose and then sternly addressed Emma, "Regardless, Emma Hart, you’re a troublemaker! Do you realize the media has blown up over your family background again? It cost me a lot to smooth over this issue."

"I never asked you to handle it," Emma retorted, unwilling to let Damien place the blame on her.

Lately, Emma had become more outspoken, a development Damien knew all too well.

Faced with her assertive arguments, Damien could only shoot her an exasperated look, "Emma Hart, remember this! Once everything settles down, I’ll be coming to you to settle our scores!"

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