Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 121: The Mind of a Petty Person

Chapter 121: The Mind of a Petty Person

Gazing out at the dimming light outside the window, Emma Hart spent the entire afternoon engrossed in her computer, tirelessly working on her resume.

Time seemed to fly by, much faster than if she had spent the afternoon wandering through a mall.

The sound of footsteps from downstairs signaled the return of Damien Sterling.

Emma quickly closed her laptop and made her way downstairs.

As she descended, she ran into Damien, who was coming up.

His piercing gaze landed on her. "What are you up to?" he asked sharply.

"Oh, nothing much, just heading down for dinner," Emma replied, brushing past him with a feigned casualness and hurried towards the dining room.

Damien watched her with a puzzled expression, wondering where she found such energy.

Shortly after, Damien, now in his casual home attire, descended the stairs to find Emma had already been eating for some time.

As he approached, she was about to get up, her mouth still full.

"I’m done eating," she announced prematurely.

Damien swiftly pulled her back, "In such a rush?"

Emma nodded, then realizing something was amiss, quickly shook her head. "No, no, not rushing."

"Then sit down and have some more," Damien suggested coolly, taking a seat and signaling her with a stern look.

Emma glanced towards the upstairs study, wishing she could be in two places at once: one part of her sitting here with Damien, the other rushing back to work on her resume.

"Mrs. Harris, serve her some soup," Damien commanded.

Mrs. Harris nodded, "Yes, Emma, you should eat more. Now’s not the time for dieting. Besides, you’ve been upstairs all afternoon; you need to eat well."

Mrs. Harris’s casual remark caught Damien’s attention.

He seized on it, "Oh? Spent the afternoon inside? Just as you mentioned this morning."

This morning? Damien was cunning indeed, using that morning’s comment as a test. Where she went was always at his behest; what difference did it make?

"I was... working on my resume!" Emma blurted out, no longer hiding the truth.

Defiant, she reasoned it was Damien who had encouraged her to do so. After all, if Damien didn’t want her to join Sterling Group, it would only take a word from him to say so.

"Resume?" Damien Sterling scoffed. "Do you actually believe in that sort of thing?"

It was clear that at Sterling Group, real talent mattered far more than any flashy credentials.

Emma Hart could detect the scorn in Damien Sterling’s tone, a disdain so supreme it left her feeling quite uncomfortable.

What initially seemed trivial to Emma suddenly made her sit up straight, her demeanor shifting to one of seriousness.

"Mr. Sterling, perhaps you think a resume is inconsequential, that no matter how well-crafted, it cannot truly showcase my abilities."

"Especially since I’m just entering the workforce, virtually devoid of any work experience. I’m aware of these shortcomings."

"Yet, that thin stack of paper represents a new hope for me, proof of my quest to become an independent person."

"So naively, I strive to perfect it, hoping for a bit of kindness from you, sparing me your cold sarcasm. Even if it’s just a dream, let me dream a bit longer," Emma Hart said, each word weighed with sincerity.

Damien Sterling nodded. "Impressive, you’ve got spirit."

To call this woman foolish would be an understatement in Damien’s eyes, yet it was precisely this stubborn foolishness that revealed an indomitable spirit within her, an obstinacy that attracted him.

It was obvious to anyone watching that his agreement was merely a stalling tactic.

A single word from him could determine Emma’s future at Sterling Group.

Yet, Emma chose not to curry favor with such a decisive figure, instead opting to exert her own effort in vain.

Damien Sterling was at a loss for words.

"I hope Mr. Sterling isn’t too petty," she added.

Petty? Damien Sterling snorted.

She probably thought he would abuse his position to prevent her from joining Sterling Group, a thought that initially crossed his mind.

However, Damien now found himself more curious about the extent of this girl’s capabilities.

"Perhaps you’re mistaking my intentions for those of a lesser man," he countered.

"Of course, I hope Mr. Sterling proves to be a gentleman," Emma retorted.

Damien Sterling looked ahead, sensing Emma’s determination. Well, he thought, let’s see how this plays out.

"Rest assured, you won’t be disappointed," Damien Sterling responded briskly.

Emma Hart pushed back her chair and headed upstairs.

Damien Sterling sighed, resigned, and scooped a spoonful of porridge into his mouth, "My words seem to carry less weight these days."

Mrs. Harris, standing by, couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Damien Sterling’s fond frustration.

These two were indeed a pair of quarrelsome lovers.

After dinner, Damien Sterling found himself scrolling through his tablet on the lower floor, glancing up to notice the clock hands nearing the number "9" with a frown of impatience.

He had looked upstairs countless times, a fact Mrs. Harris observed silently from the side.

She approached him, "Mr. Sterling, would you like me to check upstairs?"

Damien paused for a moment, "Yes, tell her to come to my room," he decided.

Mrs. Harris nodded in acknowledgment.

In her room, the only sounds were Emma Hart’s incessant typing and occasional sighs of frustration.

She felt her resume wasn’t good enough, struggling to express her qualifications adequately.

Despite repeatedly rewriting her introduction, she couldn’t satisfy herself with the portrayal of her persona.

Emma leaned back, pondering with her finger on her chin.

Mrs. Harris knocked gently, "Emma, stop fussing over it; you’ve been at it all day. Mr. Sterling is calling you to his room."

Could his summoning mean anything good? Emma worried she might have appeared too assertive earlier, perhaps intimidating Damien into changing his mind.

Yet, catching sight of her sparse work history, she doubted her overthinking.

Sterling Group’s high regard for work experience, virtually excluding fresh graduates and idlers, mirrored its founder’s uncompromising nature, focusing solely on productivity and benefits.

Knocking casually, Emma entered the room, which also served as her sleeping quarters, feeling no need for formality.

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