Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 124: The Welcome Gift

Chapter 124: The Welcome Gift

Emma Hart scrutinized Damien Sterling’s arrogantly cold face, devoid of any warmth.

How could a man who had always opposed her working possibly have let her pass the initial screening out of mercy? It seemed unfathomable that he would assist her.

He pointed to a bag beside the sofa, "For you."

For her? "Is this to celebrate my starting the job? But the interview is tomorrow. Isn’t your blessing a bit premature?"

Emma had assumed it was another impractical purchase, but upon opening it, she found a very professional suit.

It wasn’t from a high-end brand, yet perfectly suited for an office worker—far surpassing the outfits she had managed to cobble together that afternoon.

This suit seemed ideal for the interview!

Turning to Damien with a smile tinged with a bashful gratitude, Emma saw something in his gaze she hadn’t expected—was that appreciation in her eyes?

Damien, surprised by her thankful demeanor, thought he had misseen until he heard her say, "Thank you."

When had she become so polite? His mood darkened as he asked, "Does leaving me make you this happy?"

It was a rhetorical question; the answer was obvious.

Emma genuinely appreciated this gift, unlike the clothes, jewelry, and bags meant to keep her tethered as a docile, pleasing woman—items that demanded her only concern be making her man happy.

This gift, however, was precisely what Emma needed, a step towards her own happiness.

True happiness for Emma Hart meant one thing: independence and the freedom to leave this man behind.

Seeing Emma Hart fall silent, a shadow of gloom momentarily crossed the man’s face, his deep-set eyes becoming inscrutable beneath his handsome features.

Emma, noticing this change, feared further upsetting him with her words.

She gestured towards her clothing and then upstairs, "I’ll go try on the clothes."

Emma had risen early that day, yet not earlier than Damian Sterling.

She prepared herself with careful, measured movements, wary of doing anything that might cause Sterling to change his mind.

After all, the job she was vying for was at his company, and his word was final in any decision.

Emma had planned to leave as soon as he was gone.

However, as Sterling was about to leave, he casually offered, "I’ll drive you."

Emma was taken aback by his offer and hastily declined, "No need, I can go by myself. Besides... being seen with you might compromise fairness at the company."

Sterling glanced at Emma, surprised.

While others might jump at the chance to leverage such privileges, she was distinctly averse to it, unaware that without his "privilege," she wouldn’t even have the opportunity to interview at Sterling Group.

"Let’s go!" he said tersely, heading towards the car.

The black Bugatti underscored his extraordinary aura, perfectly complementing him.

Emma, feeling resigned, followed him into the car.

Throughout the drive, she was preoccupied with thoughts.

Whenever Sterling looked at her, her brows were furrowed in worry.

At one slight turn from him, Emma panicked, "What are you doing?"

Sterling’s hand, raised mid-air, unceremoniously landed on Emma’s forehead.

With his index and middle fingers, he gently smoothed out her furrowed brows, asking, "What else could I possibly do in such a small car?"

The gentleness of the gesture was somehow marred by his flippant remark.

Approaching the company, Sterling instructed the driver to stop two blocks away and, without warning, told Emma, "Get out."

She found herself inexplicably out of the car, her entry and exit dictated by this imperious man.

Watching the Bugatti speed away in the early morning, with the newly risen sun casting a radiant warmth on her, Emma felt an unexpected surge of energy.

It was just two blocks; she could walk the rest.

To Emma Hart, Sterling Group was far from unfamiliar.

In fact, she was probably more acquainted with the place than many other applicants, especially the CEO’s office—a location rarely visited even by the company’s mid to high-level executives.

The thought brought a smidge of pride to Emma.

Outside the interview room, candidates in formal attire sat stiffly, each cherishing the opportunity.

Emma stood at the door, no longer interested in reviewing the research she had found the day before.

As the moment approached, she preferred to face it with equanimity.

Watching interviewees exit with solemn faces, Emma felt a twinge of fear.

It seemed that even the most experienced among them left looking disheartened, adding to the pressure she felt.

"Emma Hart!"

Her name called, Emma’s heart leapt to her throat.

"Here!" she responded, her voice betraying a collegiate innocence, much to the secretary’s bemused glance.

"Come in with me."

As Emma entered the interview room, her gaze fixed on the floor, recalling an online post she had read the previous day about the hiring practices of Fortune 500 companies.

Polite and cautious, she scanned the room upon entering, her eyes eventually meeting those of a woman on the panel who asked, "Looking for paper on the floor?"

Another panelist commented, "You should spend less time on those inspirational blogs."

The atmosphere was less than welcoming, making Emma uneasy.

One of the men, upon reviewing Emma’s resume, visibly expressed surprise before whispering to another woman, "No work experience?"

Emma, momentarily taken aback by her own perceived shortcoming, was about to explain when she was interrupted by a whisper between the panelists.

After a few simple questions, she was told she could leave.

The experience was nothing like what Emma had anticipated; she had imagined being thoroughly challenged and ingeniously overcoming each obstacle to secure a triumphant outcome...

Yet, not long after, Emma found her name on the hired list.

She had succeeded? Just like that?

While elated, she couldn’t shake off a sense of oddity, especially regarding the comment about her lack of work experience.

Emma couldn’t help but ponder over the smooth progress of events. Could it truly have been without Damien Sterling’s covert assistance?

Before Emma could delve deeper into her thoughts, a woman said, "Emma Hart, come with me, please."

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