Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 123: Behind-the-Scenes Assistance

Chapter 123: Behind-the-Scenes Assistance

In the executive office atop the Sterling Group’s headquarters, Damien Sterling opened an email containing a resume forwarded by the HR department.

The HR team, following directives from the secretarial staff, merely transmitted the document to the CEO’s inbox.

They remained unaware of the reason, knowing only that Damien Sterling typically intervenes in hiring processes for positions at the vice president level or above.

It was unusual for him to take notice of departmental recruitments.

Damien quickly sifted through the resumes, acknowledging Sterling Group’s vast influence.

The opening for a designer’s assistant had attracted numerous applicants, including many who had already ascended to designer roles at other companies but were willing to accept a lesser position at Sterling Group for its unmatched salary and development opportunities.

Eventually, Damien’s gaze settled on the screen, on the name Emma Hart.

Upon opening her resume, he was puzzled; he had already seen her resume once before during her lunch break.

While her design work was distinctive, her eagerness to showcase it in her initial application could have been unfavorably viewed by HR, likely hindering her chances.

Additionally, Emma had carefully embellished her work experience at a supermarket and a tea shop in her previous resume, a tactic Damien knew but figured HR would not appreciate.

These factors alone would have been enough to disqualify Emma Hart.

However, the resume in front of him was markedly different from the one he’d seen before.

Gone were the previous design elements, replaced with a simple white background.

The focus was now on Emma’s understanding and passion for design, and she candidly listed all her experiences.

The resume, with its straightforward cover and language, conveyed a genuine longing for the job without any pretentious flourishes.

Pressing the phone, Damien instructed, "Bring in the HR responsible for this recruitment."

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Emma Hart was stationed in front of her computer, anxiously awaiting the outcome from the Sterling Group.

They had promised results by three, and while Emma felt certain of the verdict deep down, a small glimmer of hope flickered within her.

The sound of an incoming email chimed through the silence.

Emma hastily opened the email, closing her eyes, not daring to look.

She took a deep breath to brace herself for reality, steadied her nerves, and then, finally, Emma opened her eyes to the screen.

"Ahh!" she gasped in shock. "How is this possible?"

Emma could scarcely believe her eyes.

She rubbed them repeatedly, then focused intently on the screen’s words, which seemed to confirm she had been granted an interview opportunity.

An interview? This meant she was halfway there! She had passed the first round.

Just this morning, Emma had been fretting over what sort of resume to submit, scrutinizing her carefully crafted resume and seemingly substantial self-introduction.

Ultimately, Emma decided to present her genuine self, never anticipating that the Sterling Group would approve her resume, allowing her an interview.

This was undoubtedly the highlight of her day!

Emma pulled out her phone and instinctively dialed a number.

The name Damien Sterling was clearly displayed on the screen.

Damn it, her first impulse upon receiving the good news was to call that man.

At that thought, Emma withdrew her smile and hung up the phone.

She merely wanted to prove something to him, that was all, she reassured herself.

Looking out the window, Emma noticed that the birds, usually a source of noise, now seemed to sing melodiously.

The sunlight streaming through the window bathed her in a warm, comfortable glow.

Everything around her seemed more beautiful, and she hummed a tune cheerfully as she went downstairs, saying, "Mrs. Harris, I’ll be starting work in a few days."

Before Mrs. Harris could react, Emma had already rushed out to the garden and began dancing with Bailey, exclaiming, "Bailey, I’ll be working soon!"

Although Bailey couldn’t understand her words, the dog sensed Emma’s joy and barked happily in response.

The afternoon was already lengthy and tender, but the arrival of good news made everything seem even more beautiful, filling Emma’s time with joy.

The room was strewn with an assortment of clothing, featuring various colors and styles.

Among them were the soft, comfortable T-shirts Emma Hart once wore in school, and the luxurious designer fashion Damien Sterling had selected from the runways for the villa.

Emma had never asked Damien for any of these clothes, yet here they were, many unworn, all amassed from Damien’s insistence on buying more and more, some even sent directly at his request.

As Emma sifted through the piles, she queried Mrs. Harris, "Are there more in the walk-in closet?"

Mrs. Harris’s voice echoed from the closet abyss, "Plenty more."

Collapsing onto the bed, Emma was overwhelmed by the clutter around her. The prospect of more was unfathomable.

This scenario, akin to every woman’s dream of wading through an ocean of garments, was for Emma more of a quandary.

Each piece, extravagantly priced, was beyond the reach of an average office worker.

Apart from these high-end items, Emma’s wardrobe leaned towards the juvenile, still echoing her student days.

She hadn’t intended to dress maturely; however, she remembered a lesson from a social etiquette class where the instructor emphasized that one’s attire reflects respect towards an interviewer, symbolizing attitude.

Despite her efforts, Emma couldn’t find anything appropriate to wear. The afternoon dwindled away in her search.

In the evening, Damien Sterling returned punctually, his assistant in tow carrying a bag and leaving it beside the sofa before departing.

Emma caught a glimpse of the bag, recognizing it as a clothing brand.

Damien had bought more clothes? With an already overflowing wardrobe, the thought of adding more seemed absurd.

Damien Sterling, upon noticing Emma Hart’s presence, approached with a rare change in demeanor to offer congratulations.

"Congratulations on making it to the interview," he said with a smile.

"How did you know?" Emma blurted out, immediately regretting her question.

After all, she was applying to Sterling Group—how could he not know?

Yet, as Emma considered her advancement to the interview phase, she reassured herself that Damien hadn’t sabotaged her chances.

But this reflection led her to question the source of her confidence.

Could it be possible that her success in reaching the interview stage was due to Damien Sterling’s behind-the-scenes assistance?