Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 192: The Exclusive Restaurant

Chapter 192: The Exclusive Restaurant

On one hand, Emma Hart had to endure various forms of torment from Sophia Greenwood, and on the other, she was tasked with projects by Amelia Davidson.

Just getting the hang of it, she found many aspects baffling, necessitating the allocation of what little personal time she had entirely to work.

The frequent need to urinate, a common pregnancy symptom, saw Emma even cutting down on her bathroom breaks.

Behind her, colleagues emerged from the break room, debating over what to eat for lunch. Suddenly, everyone’s screens lit up with a message from the company: "The company restaurant has been renovated and is now reopened. Enjoy free meals upon presenting your employee badge." Cheers erupted from the crowd, with the prospect of a complimentary lunch sparking considerable interest.

After wrapping up her tasks, Emma stretched languidly, her hunger finally catching up with her. It seemed her stomach was in sync with her work ethic, causing no distractions and staying calm until she had finished her tasks. Standing up, she contemplated what to snack on, taking a sip of water. Surprisingly, the water level had barely decreased all morning, reminding her of her thirst.

Gently touching her stomach, Emma reminded herself to take better care of her body for her baby’s sake.

The renovated restaurant within the company received rave reviews, offering convenience despite its previous operation phase that led to people growing tired of its menu.

The luxury characteristic of Damien Sterling was evident in the restaurant’s makeover, with European-style lighting that could make one mistake it for a banquet hall if not for the knowledge that it was a company facility.

Emma wandered past each food station, dazzled by the offerings that seemed tailored to her taste.

From crossing bridge rice noodles, pan-fried buns, duck blood vermicelli soup, stir-fried river noodles, cheese cake, to egg fried rice, it felt as though her favorite street foods had been transported inside. It was as if the restaurant had become exclusively hers, making it hard for her to choose among her favorites. This place could indeed become her daily haunt.

Satisfied after a hearty meal, Emma left, already looking forward to her next visit.

In the penthouse office of Damien Sterling, workers were bustling around his desk, finalizing the installation of a live feed from the cafeteria’s surveillance. Despite their confusion about why a CEO would need to monitor the cafeteria, they dared not question it aloud.

Once the workers had left, Damien leaned over his desk to watch Emma Hart clearing a table full of dishes, leaving a chaotic spread in her wake. With a cold huff, he muttered, "This woman sure can eat!"

Caught up in monitoring the installation, Damien had forgotten to eat himself. His secretary walked in, her voice sultry yet unusually soft, asking, "Mr. Sterling, what would you like for lunch?"

Damien glanced at the secretary nearby and then averted his eyes. The secretary, thrilled by the fleeting attention from Damien, had her heart racing. Dressing for the chance to catch his eye had become a daily challenge, despite knowing Damien seldom looked their way. For them, any acknowledgment from Damien was a significant favor.

With a pursed lip, she adopted a demure demeanor.

Moments later, Damien waved dismissively, "Speak properly," his voice tinged with impatience.

The secretary looked aggrieved but understood Damien’s temper, having been forewarned by her predecessors and the tales of those who had been dismissed for slight missteps.

Still, secretaries kept coming, drawn by the high salary and the allure of being associated with a man like Damien.

Another secretary came in, silently awaiting Damien’s orders, jotting down his lunch requests as he listed them while staring at the screen, "Shengjian bao, duck blood vermicelli soup..."

The secretary, surprised by his choice of such casual fare, was curious about what had caught Damien’s gaze.

After taking down the order, she respectfully announced, "I’ll go purchase it now."

"Buy it from the cafeteria," Damien stated coldly.

The secretary paused for a moment, incredulously eyeing Damien Sterling. The idea of dining at a place typically frequented by their staff, which she herself deemed beneath her, seemed absurd. Was the CEO really planning to eat in the employee cafeteria? Could this be an incognito mission to gauge the mood of the populace?

With a nod, the secretary left the office.

Damien scrutinized the assortment of foods packed in takeaway containers that the secretary had brought back. He frowned in disappointment—how were these items, lacking in both presentation and anticipated flavor, even palatable for women?

Picking up the chopsticks, Damien tentatively tasted a bite. As expected, the flavor was underwhelming.

Setting the chopsticks down, he wondered how anyone could find these dishes appetizing. They lacked refinement, and the authenticity of the flavors was questionable.

His fingers clicked on the mouse, replaying the video of Emma Hart eating. On the screen, she voraciously devoured her meal, moving swiftly from one dish to the next, barely pausing to swallow before spooning soup into her mouth. The food, which seemed tasteless to Damien, appeared to be a feast of delicacies to Emma.

Watching her, a smile unconsciously crept across Damien’s lips, and his hand naturally returned to the chopsticks. Picking up a pan-fried bun, he found the food in his mouth suddenly tasted much better as he watched the screen, captivated by the woman who seemed to relish every bite.

From that day forward, Damien made it a point to have his secretary purchase meals following Emma’s preferences from the cafeteria.

Carrying bags of food back, the secretary, with a look of disdain, commented, "Has the CEO developed such a strong taste lately?"

The two of them nodded, pondering, "Maybe it’s just a break from all the gourmet meals."

After finishing his work, Damien prepared to see what Emma had eaten today. Searching through the video playback, he couldn’t find Emma’s figure.

At that moment, Emma was intercepted by Amelia Davidson, planning to enhance their day a bit.

As they reached the lobby, they were stopped by Logan Harrington, who was evidently dressed to impress, his perfume strong and somewhat overpowering, fitting his playboy persona.

Logan had been waiting there for some time, the bouquet he held showing signs of wear from the wind. Early in the morning, Logan had called to inquire if Emma and Amelia would be around, rushing over upon receiving confirmation.

Amelia glanced at Logan, having never taken this playboy seriously.

"Hey, belle," Logan greeted, extending the bouquet towards Amelia.

Amelia sniffed the flowers, then sneezed, looking up to say, "Sorry, I’m allergic to fresh flowers. Also, show some respect and call me ’sister’." With that, Amelia walked past Logan, leaving him bewildered and utterly rebuffed once again.

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