Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 276: Just Fond of Using Other People’s Money

Chapter 276: Just Fond of Using Other People’s Money

While Emma Hart was lost in thought, Damien Sterling tossed his golf club aside and walked toward her. After sizing her up, he swiftly snatched her phone.

Damien fiddled with Emma’s phone, quickly finding a contact and dialing the number.

Oliver Westmore?

What was he up to?

Emma hastily snatched the phone back from Damien’s grasp and hung up. "What are you doing?"

"Just clarifying things," Damien said nonchalantly, though his eyes betrayed his irritation.

His look made Emma nervous, and she felt somewhat guilty. The only person in her circle who could casually dispense such sums and know about the situation was Oliver Westmore, a realization she had just come to. Yet, she hadn’t expected Oliver to actually do something like this!

But this should have been within Emma’s expectations; nothing was impossible for that man!

"I don’t need you to ask! I will handle it myself!" Emma said guiltily, stuffing her phone into her pocket.

Her eyes darted around, indicating her intent to repay Oliver herself and keep Damien out of this matter.

Her phone started ringing in her pocket.

Emma instinctively reached to silence it, her panicked action caught by Damien, clearly indicating the caller must be Oliver. Damien’s gaze never left Emma, his intentions painfully clear.

"Why aren’t you answering it?"

"I..." Emma looked up, meeting his deep, dark eyes, and instinctively looked down again, "I... don’t want to answer it!"

She couldn’t find a better excuse.

"Answer it!" Damien’s voice was stern, his sharp eyes pinning Emma like prey, instilling fear in her with that intense stare.

He seemed ready to devour her.

But she really couldn’t take that call!

Just as Emma reached to end the call, Damien was quicker. He pulled the phone from her pocket and answered it, forcefully holding it to her ear, his hand firmly keeping it there, his eyes commanding her to listen. This was a call she had no choice but to take.

Emma Hart hesitated as the voice of Oliver Westmore came urgently through the phone, "Emma, what’s wrong? Why did it take you so long to answer?"

"Oh, it’s nothing," Emma replied, struggling internally as she reached out to touch the phone, her nerves on edge. Damien Sterling, however, shook the phone and placed it firmly back against her ear, his gaze piercing and intimidating. Emma knew she couldn’t avoid facing the situation any longer.

"Is there something you wanted to ask me? Is it about the money?"

Heavens!

Before Emma could respond, Oliver had already brought it up!

A sense of despair ignited within Emma. But what could she blame Oliver for? He was oblivious to everything!

She was digging her own grave!

"Um, yes, about the money..." Emma hesitated to speak directly, but the answer was painfully clear, and she felt her mind blanking in that moment. Discussing such a matter in front of Damien made it all the more distressing.

Oliver chuckled softly, "Consider that money a loan from me. Don’t feel burdened by it."

Just as Emma was about to say something, Damien snatched the phone away and hung up.

On the other end, Oliver listened to the dial tone, a slight smirk curling his lips. His secretary entered, bearing a stack of documents, "Mr. Westmore, here are the recent bidding projects."

The office air was thick with tension.

Damien’s gaze darkened, his anger more palpable than before, his voice icy, "Emma Hart, do you really enjoy using other men’s money that much?"

Emma found his words grating. How could he say she enjoyed using another man’s money? She would prefer to use her own money if she had any!

What could she do?

It wasn’t like she had asked Oliver for the money; he had given it to her brother without even telling her!

Seeing that Emma remained silent, Damien’s grip tightened on her jaw, "Speak!"

His cold voice filled the air!

Why was he grabbing her like this? It was painful! His grip was far too strong.

"Let go of me!"

Emma struggled, simply trying to sort through her thoughts.

Emma Hart responded coldly, "What can I say? If he wants to give it, I can’t stop him!" After she spoke, the fierceness in Damien Sterling’s eyes became even more evident.

"So, what did you give him in return?" Damien’s voice was laced with insinuation.

Benefits? Emma looked up, disregarding the pain in her jaw. What did he think of her? That she would provide favors in return for money?

Is that what he implied?

Was that how he saw her? It seemed he had always viewed her that way.

Emma let out a cold laugh. There was nothing shocking about it, was there? Their relationship had started as a transaction; that man used his money to deal with her time and again. It made sense to him.

Emma’s expression quickly turned desolate, then shifted to a resolve not to appear pitiful in front of Damien. Did she really expect any compassion from him?

Emma held back tears that threatened to spill. How could she still feel so demeaned? How many times had he spoken to her like this? Why did it still hurt?

No crying!

Emma brushed away the hair from her face, lifting her head proudly. She forcefully removed Damien’s hand from her jaw. Her gaze was defiant yet clear, inadvertently eliciting pity—a pity she tried to mask but couldn’t fully hide.

"Right, Mr. Sterling, if there are no benefits offered, what would you men be willing to give?" Her eyes feigned calmness as she looked disdainfully at the man before her. Damien’s eyes darkened with anger upon hearing her words.

Emma knew she had angered him, and that was precisely what she wanted. There was nothing wrong with it; she had achieved her aim.

The menace in Damien’s eyes nearly spilled over, but as he scrutinized Emma, he forcefully subdued the rage, adopting an indifferent demeanor instead.

Emma couldn’t tell if the man across from her was genuinely calm or harboring other intentions.

Yet this suppressed fury was what terrified her more.