Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 249: Rumors Abound

Chapter 249: Rumors Abound

"Tell me what’s going on?" Damian Sterling leaned back, his eyes remained closed. He no longer placed much emphasis on work matters, especially disliking this woman’s earnest ’work-centric heart’.

Damian Sterling paused momentarily and slightly opened his eyes, pre-empting his assistant’s explanation with a brief command, "Keep it short!" He had no time for lengthy stories.

"Miss Emma created a design that’s identical to someone else’s," the assistant hesitated, feeling the description somewhat inaccurate. Having already thoroughly investigated the matter, she knew the details, but whose design it actually was remained uncertain, "There’s a design, but it’s unclear who made it?"

Damian Sterling glanced at his assistant who was about to try another approach, but he cut him off, "Enough, I got it." It seemed this woman was about to suffer in silence again, probably hoping to check the surveillance footage. If things hadn’t been so complicated, she wouldn’t have come to him.

Seeing that Damian Sterling remained silent, the assistant ventured another question, "And Miss Emma’s issue..."

"No need to bother with her," Damian mused, then continued, "Don’t cancel tonight’s meeting, we fly now."

As they neared the villa, Damian unexpectedly decided not to cancel the meeting. Although unnecessary, his decision was final, prompting the assistant to nod carefully in acknowledgment, "Yes, President."

"Also, don’t mention to Emma Hart that I’m back. Take the calls, and just say I’m busy discussing partnerships."

Still puzzled, the assistant agreed anyway.

In the break room, Emma Hart clutched her coffee cup, still pondering the matter. When she called back, the assistant answered, "Hello, Miss Emma, Mr. Sterling is in a meeting and can’t speak now. Do you need something?"

Emma Hart almost spoke, but stopped herself. Although their relationship was no secret to Damian Sterling’s close assistants, she still hesitated to speak openly, adopting a pose of formality and reluctantly said, "Um, no, it’s nothing."

Emma Hart sighed, regretting her earlier hesitation. What solution could she possibly think of herself?

Zoe approached tentatively, seeming to have something to say upon seeing Emma Hart. Emma looked up and noticed Zoe, who always seemed overly cautious at the company, as if she feared everyone. It was understandable; Zoe was just a young girl fresh out of college, inexperienced in the world, perhaps even more so than herself.

Despite the chaos in her own mind, Emma managed a smile for Zoe, "How’s it going? Is today a bit better than yesterday?" Emma marveled at her own ability to counsel others, donning the persona of a wise older sister despite her own distress.

Zoe nodded slightly, "Yes, much better," she hesitated as if wanting to say more.

As Emma was about to walk away, Zoe suddenly called out to her, "Emma, wait!"

"What is it? Something wrong?" Emma asked.

Zoe walked up to Emma nervously, "Emma..."

"Just tell me, what is it?" Emma stepped closer, sensing Zoe’s apprehension.

Zoe set her water cup aside too hastily, spilling its contents. She looked up as if having made a significant decision, "Emma, I know who took your design drafts. I was leaving late that day and saw Hannah Davis copying all your files onto a USB drive!"

Emma had suspected as much but needed confirmation.

"Are you sure about this?" Emma asked, grasping Zoe’s shoulders.

Zoe nodded vigorously, "Emma, you’ve been the only one nice to me here."

"Would you testify for me then?" Emma inquired.

Zoe hesitated briefly but under Emma’s expectant gaze, she agreed, "Yes, I will."

"Thank you, Zoe." Emma now had a witness and planned to clear her name with Mr. Lee the following day.

The atmosphere felt off as Emma entered the office that afternoon; it seemed like all her colleagues were staring at her with a peculiar look.

Glancing at the aluminum window frame in the hallway, Emma wondered if something was amiss with her appearance, feeling as though she was wearing something only she could see.

Embarrassed, she moved toward the crowd, "What... what’s going on?"

A colleague turned around hurriedly, seemingly unsure how to respond, as if a caution tape surrounded Emma, making everyone keep their distance.

Emma Hart sat down, puzzled, just as the whispers started behind her. "Is she pregnant? Really can’t tell!" a colleague murmured to another, not quietly enough to keep it from Emma’s ears.

"Isn’t it, though? Who do you think the father is?" another chuckled, launching into gossip.

Emma heard every word, her peripheral vision shifting from her colleague’s face to her own stomach. The news of her pregnancy had spread—everyone knew?

Right then, Emma wished she could disappear; once such personal details were exposed, how could she face her colleagues? Though society no longer stigmatized unmarried pregnancies as much, Emma’s situation was different; the father of her child was a secret she couldn’t reveal.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she was at a loss for what to do, feeling utterly helpless.

Damian Sterling! Damian Sterling, where are you?

Why aren’t you here? You always appear when I’m helpless, when I’m desperate.

Why not now?

Her colleagues behind her didn’t stop their chatter at the sight of Emma’s distress.

"Did you hear? She was kept by someone during her university days," one colleague slandered without restraint.

"Really?" another exclaimed in shock, covering her mouth, looking at Emma with disdain. "She always seemed so harmless, who knew she was like this."

"I thought her clothes looked too good to be true before, now it seems she’s earned it all through illicit ways."

"Who knows what other disgusting things she’s been up to!"

University days? That incident?

Emma’s tears broke free once again. Her eyes, red with fury, she stood up and faced those gossiping colleagues, "You’re all talking nonsense!"

The colleagues, used to Emma’s normally gentle demeanor—never raising her voice, always willing to help—were taken aback by her fierce response. They had never seen her like this, which perhaps made them feel free to talk about her so openly, sometimes even ensuring she could hear.

No one expected such a usually quiet and kind woman to suddenly burst out in anger.

For a brief moment, the colleagues were startled, then smugly retorted, raising their eyebrows, "It’s true, your university peers confirmed it, it’s common knowledge. Are you going to deny it happened?"