Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 221: The Overtime Ordeal

Chapter 221: The Overtime Ordeal

Oliver Westmore swung the car door open, suggesting, "It’s about time for dinner. Let’s find a place to eat and talk, shall we?"

Emma Hart pondered for a moment. Since she was already out and those who needed to see them together had done so, resisting Oliver Westmore’s advances seemed futile—after all, one can’t control where others choose to walk or what they decide to say.

To Emma, there seemed no harm in it. If one is upright, there’s no need to fear a crooked shadow. She might as well treat it as a meeting between friends, which, in essence, was the true nature of her relationship with Oliver Westmore.

Inside the car, Oliver hesitantly broke the silence, "Emma, did you meet up with him today?"

"Who?" Emma responded, immediately realizing whom Oliver was referring to, then shook her head, "No, we didn’t meet."

What Emma didn’t mention was their daily encounters. She wondered if her actions the previous night had angered him, as he hadn’t returned all evening, leaving her clueless about his whereabouts. But then again, what he did was none of her concern.

At the restaurant, Oliver took care of Emma with attentive gestures, pulling out her chair, taking her coat, and pouring water.

Handling the water jug with slight awkwardness, Oliver poured Emma a glass of lemon water and set the jug aside, struggling to find the right words to start a conversation.

Oliver occasionally lifted his gaze to Emma, sensing no change in her attitude towards him.

"Emma..." Oliver ventured cautiously, "Has Damien Sterling said anything to you?"

"About what?" Emma looked at Oliver, puzzled by his unusual demeanor, "He hasn’t said anything."

Emma was unaware of what Oliver was alluding to.

"Did he trouble you again?" Emma asked anxiously. She wasn’t worried for herself—what more could that man do to her? However, Emma didn’t wish to cause more problems for Oliver.

Seeing Emma’s concern, Oliver felt relieved, realizing Damien Sterling probably hadn’t mentioned yesterday’s incident to her.

"It’s... it’s nothing," Oliver reassured her.

As their meal was served, Oliver stood up to attend to the dishes, "Let’s eat."

After finishing their meal and preparing to leave the restaurant, they noticed two people emerging from the other side.

Filled with curiosity, Emma approached them, warmly greeting, "Amelia? What are you doing here?"

Standing beside Amelia Davidson was Logan Harrington.

Emma Hart gave Amelia Davidson a knowing glance, to which Amelia responded with a helpless shake of her head. At this moment, Logan Harrington’s gaze had already shifted past Emma to land on Oliver Westmore standing behind her.

Emma, noticing Logan’s hostile look, understood his intention to report back to Damien Sterling. She quickly intervened, placing her hand in front of Logan’s eyes, "Alright, alright, stop staring!"

Amelia also filled with confusion, asked Emma, "What’s going on with you?"

Emma laughed off the misunderstanding, even Amelia seemed confused. She awkwardly clarified, "We’re just friends out for a meal. But what about you?" She glanced at Logan Harrington, implying that they had started making dinner plans behind her back.

Raising an eyebrow at Logan Harrington, Emma leaned closer to Amelia Davidson and teased, "Did you let this guy win you over so quickly?"

Logan cleared his throat, pulling Emma aside and whispering, "Don’t cause trouble here. You know Amelia; getting this dinner was like moving mountains for me!"

Emma, now accustomed to negotiating with Logan Harrington to lessen her own troubles, responded, "I can certainly put in a good word for you rather than causing trouble. But you better not talk nonsense in front of Damien Sterling, or I’ll hold it against you."

Logan, still puzzled, glanced over Emma’s shoulder at Oliver Westmore, weighing his options between brotherhood and attraction. Sometimes, Logan did prioritize personal gains over friendships.

Disdainfully, Logan remarked, "What’s so great about this guy? He couldn’t possibly compare to Damien Sterling. You must be blind!"

Emma couldn’t let that comment slide, "Logan Harrington, I must’ve been blind to have been with Damien Sterling. Don’t feed me that nonsense. Oliver Westmore and I are just having a meal together. Who said I can’t have a male friend?"

"Having a male friend is fine, but I doubt this ’friend’s’ intentions are so pure," Logan paused before adding, "And Emma Hart, don’t think for a second Oliver Westmore is any saint!"

Indeed, this was brotherly concern. Damien Sterling often echoed similar sentiments, seemingly casting everyone in the world as the villain, with only himself as the righteous one.

Approaching the restaurant entrance, Amelia Davidson inquired, "Emma, I’m heading to the office, care to join?"

Beside her, Logan Harrington was playfully winking at Emma. Emma instantly deciphered his intention; he was wary of her becoming their third wheel, shifting from being Damien Sterling’s ally to not wanting her to join another man’s car or disrupt their moment. Yet, Emma wasn’t one to yield to his desires so easily.

"Sure, Amelia, I’ll ride with you," she declared.

Logan’s demeanor deflated like a punctured balloon, shooting a fierce glare at Emma, who proudly lifted her chin, teasing him with a playful grimace.

Upon arriving at the office, a courier delivered a bouquet of flowers to Emma. As she accepted the bouquet under the envious gazes of her colleagues, they quickly gathered around.

"Emma, see what the note says?"

Another colleague, tinged with envy yet speculative, added, "It must be from Mr. Westmore. Who else could it be?"

The women probably wondered why the CEO of Westmore Group would take an interest in Emma, a seemingly ordinary girl, over them.

"It’s from me to myself."

Why should Emma easily feed their gossip? Moreover, if they found out the flowers were indeed from Oliver Westmore, who knows how much more they would bother her?

"I have to visit a patient after work," Emma lied, dismissing her colleagues’ curiosity, who, after a few unfruitful attempts at prying, recognized Emma’s privacy and dispersed.

Emma’s phone buzzed with a message from Oliver Westmore: "Forgot to bring flowers today. Bought this bouquet to make it up to you."

Ah, typical Oliver Westmore. Emma typed a resigned "Thank you" and sent it back.

Sophia Greenwood, emerging from her office, noticed the flowers on Emma’s desk and immediately thought of Damien Sterling.

"Could these be from Damien Sterling?" she mused. He had never sent her flowers.

The vibrant beauty of the bouquet irked Sophia, leading her to clear her throat and address the entire office sternly, "We need to keep the office tidy. Don’t bring unrelated items to work! It’s disruptive! Seems like you all need more work—everyone, to the conference room. We’re working late tonight!"

Her words, clearly aimed at Emma, inadvertently led to an office-wide overtime, drawing resentful glances towards Emma.

Because of her, they faced another long night ahead.

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