Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 274: Learning to Fight Back

Chapter 274: Learning to Fight Back

Early in the morning, Emma Hart received a call from Max, her younger brother, who jubilantly exclaimed over the phone, "Sis, I knew you loved me the most! Just stick with that rich businessman..."

Emma was bewildered by her brother’s sudden thank-you call and hadn’t yet grasped the full implication of his words. "What are you talking about? Didn’t I already give you that money? I warned you not to mess around anymore!"

"Sis, what are you saying? That amount of money is nothing to you. Besides, if that man is like this with me, he must be even more generous with you. Just save some more, in case the businessman finds someone new and leaves you! Women need to plan ahead for themselves!" Max rambled on, but his words lacked any semblance of concern, instead carrying a tone of scorn.

It seemed he was mocking her for trading her self-respect for money.

Still puzzled by the money talk, Emma pressed, "Besides the three hundred thousand, what else have you received?"

"Another two hundred thousand? Wasn’t that just to round up the sum for me?" Max said casually, as if the amount was trivial.

A college student speaking so lightly of two hundred thousand dollars?

Emma didn’t see this as a good thing.

She was about to ask more, but the call was abruptly ended.

She didn’t come from a wealthy background; she had always provided for Max, ensuring he never wanted for anything. Two hundred thousand dollars was not a small sum to Emma, and certainly not to Max; such money could only lead him astray and ruin his future prospects.

She had hoped that this hardship would make Max take things more seriously, but instead, he was becoming even more outrageous.

No, Emma decided, she had to get to the bottom of this.

Damien Sterling’s office.

As Emma stormed in from the elevator, heading straight for the office, the secretary hurried to intercept her. Damien had instructed that Emma should have free access, but he also had guests in the office discussing a partnership, and had ordered that no one else should enter. This put the secretaries in a difficult position.

Was Emma supposed to be counted as ’no one’?

The two secretaries exchanged glances, understanding each other’s hesitation. Neither dared make a decision lightly, knowing well that Damien Sterling was never short of secretaries.

"Just a moment," one secretary began to intervene, only to be pulled back by the other, "What, you don’t want your job anymore?"

Emma Hart brushed past the pair and headed straight for Damien Sterling’s office. The secretaries were at a loss, their faces filled with confusion as they watched Emma, her expression troubled and her pregnancy adding to their dilemma.

"Miss Emma... Mr. Sterling instructed that no one should enter," one secretary ventured.

Emma could hardly concern herself with these instructions, her mind consumed by the image of him throwing money around distastefully. He might treat money as nothing, but she hoped he wouldn’t use it to ruin her brother’s life. Wasn’t it enough to destroy her alone? Did he have to drag her family into this?

"I’m going in! Don’t worry about it! I’ll take responsibility for whatever happens!"

The secretaries exchanged a look of bewilderment as Emma ignored them and proceeded.

Suddenly, a sharp reprimand came from behind, "Emma Hart, what do you think this is? A place for you to run wild?"

The woman behind her snapped her red lips shut, rolled her eyes, and walked towards Emma. Dressed impeccably in a tailored Chanel suit that accentuated her figure, she walked steadily on high heels, each step swaying her slender waist. Her long, wavy hair flowed as she carried a stack of documents, her demeanor disdainful, "What are you doing here?"

This reproach cut through some of Emma’s anger—not out of fear of the imposing Sophia Greenwood, but realizing her own actions had perhaps been rash.

Emma remained silent, though she hadn’t forgotten past grievances. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with Sophia right now.

"I’m here to see Damien Sterling, and I don’t want to talk to you."

Sophia’s lips curled into a scornful smile. Just as she opened her mouth to respond, her gaze fell on Emma’s slightly bulging belly, "Damien, dear, is inside discussing a project. Whatever you need can wait."

But sometimes, it’s not possible to suppress the emotions bubbling up inside. Sophia failed to contain herself, deliberately walking past Emma with disdain, "Don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you’re pregnant!"

Emma Hart did not appreciate those words, already thinking whoever wanted the child in her belly could have it; she certainly didn’t feel entitled to any special treatment because of it. But Sophia Greenwood’s comments only made Emma more determined to assert herself because of the child.

Emma suddenly reached out and grabbed Sophia, who was just about to walk past, "You wouldn’t understand, having none of your own to lean on!"

"You..." The words hit Sophia hard, her face transforming instantly. Sophia might think herself no less than Emma in many ways, but this matter of the child left her speechless!

Emma looked at Sophia coldly, her grip loosening slowly, her gaze filled with disdain—a look she had learned from Sophia herself.

Emma moved to sit on a nearby sofa, ignoring Sophia’s presence and her visibly furious expression.

In his office, Damien Sterling watched everything on his screen, amused. Emma usually appeared so meek before him; he hadn’t realized she could be so formidable. He had expected Sophia to dominate as usual, but this time, Emma had the upper hand.

Occasionally, Damien acknowledged her typically gentle demeanor, agreeing with the adage that ’nice guys finish last,’ a lesson Emma kept proving.

He chuckled softly, rubbing his fingers against his nose while keeping his eyes fixed on the victorious look on Emma’s face on the screen.

Meanwhile, a man was nervously reporting at Damien’s desk, wiping sweat from his forehead as he closed his folder, waiting for a response. Damien seemed to not hear him at all.

"Mr. Sterling?" the man asked softly.

Getting no response, he tried again, "Mr. Sterling?"

Damien finally turned around, "That will be all for today."

Otherwise, who knew how long that woman outside would end up sitting on the sofa.

Everyone in the office kept quiet, following Damien’s instructions to leave.

Sophia walked in with the documents, "Darling Damien, here are the files you requested."

"Just put them there," he responded dismissively.