Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 421: Best Frenemies

Chapter 421: Best Frenemies

The day of the meal arrived quickly. Lunch was scheduled for noon at a vegetarian restaurant near the Sterling family estate. Given the informal nature of the gathering and at Mr. Turner’s request, everyone dressed casually.

The restaurant, adorned with traditional decor, was quiet and serene. Damien Sterling and Emma Hart had reserved a beautiful courtyard for their meal. Following the waiter, they carried their gifts to the courtyard, where Mr. Sterling Senior and Mr. Turner were already engaged in conversation.

"Grandpa, and this gentleman is?" Emma asked, carrying the gifts and looking at Mr. Turner, who had his back to her.

When Mr. Turner turned around, Emma was both surprised and delighted.

"Grandpa, is it really you?" Emma exclaimed, struggling to believe her eyes.

"Haha, didn’t Damien tell you?" Mr. Turner responded playfully.

"Alright, don’t tease Emma. Emma, this is Mr. Turner. Just call him old man." Mr. Sterling Senior said with a laugh.

"How can you say such things in front of a beautiful young lady? Emma, don’t listen to him. Just call me Mr. Turner" Mr. Turner said, half-jokingly complaining to Mr. Sterling Senior.

"Mr. Turner, I apologize for my earlier rudeness. By the way, Damien and I brought gifts for both of you," Emma said, lifting the gift bags.

"Thank you, kids, that’s very thoughtful of you!" Mr. Turner said, clearly pleased.

Emma and Damien smiled. They had personally selected the gifts, and handing them over brought a sense of accomplishment. They presented the gifts, which were expensive imported nutritional supplements, to the two elders.

"Mr. Sterling, you’re really lucky. I wish my Riley could be like them," Mr. Turner praised.

"That’s because I raised him well. It’s a miracle Riley hasn’t picked up any bad habits from you," Mr. Sterling Senior retorted, intentionally teasing Mr. Turner.

Witnessing this exchange, Emma and Damien felt a twinge of anxiety, hoping nothing would go wrong.

"Hmph, Damien didn’t turn out like you either. If he did, he’d still be single at his age!" Mr. Turner shot back.

The two old friends continued their banter, trading barbs until the food was nearly cold.

"Come on everyone, let’s eat! Don’t mind this stubborn old man. Let’s have a drink!" Mr. Turner said as he stood up, pouring three full glasses of wine.

Damien Sterling felt a sense of déjà vu. To avoid repeating past mistakes, he quickly intervened, "Grandpa Turner, Emma can’t drink these days. I’ll drink on her behalf."

Emma Hart opened her mouth to protest, but Damien discreetly tapped her leg under the table, signaling her to stay silent. Reluctantly, Emma complied.

"What a pity! Alright then, you’ll have to drink two for her!" Mr. Turner said, raising his glass towards Damien.

Damien politely reciprocated the toast.

"You always talk about healthy living, yet you drink all the time!" Mr. Sterling Senior chided as he laughed.

"You’re the one who’s always nagging. Now get up and drink with me!" Mr. Turner replied, playfully nudging Mr. Sterling Senior’s shoulder with his wine glass.

Seeing the elder Mr. Sterling not reciprocate, Mr. Turner started acting coquettish to coax him into drinking, which was a bizarre sight to behold.

Emma and Damien, finding the scene rather awkward, pretended not to notice and focused on their food. After lunch, Mr. Turner suggested they all go fishing at the pond behind the restaurant.

For Emma Hart, who had never fished before, this was both a novel and slightly daunting idea. Fishing seemed like a fun yet boring activity.

Taking the fishing rod Damien handed her, Emma mimicked his actions—baiting the hook, casting the line, and sitting still by the pond.

"This is so boring! Why don’t we chat for a bit?" Emma asked Damien.

However, Damien simply made a shushing gesture. He knew that too much noise could scare the fish away.

Mr. Sterling Senior and Mr. Turner were seated across from them, and it didn’t take long before they started bickering again. Their voices grew louder, and Emma Hart began to feel uneasy.

"It looks like they’re really arguing. Should we intervene?" Emma asked.

Damien turned to look at the two elderly men and then chuckled. "Don’t worry about it. Grandpa has told me before that Mr. Turner and he are like this. They’re old friends who enjoy bickering. Just let them be," he reassured her with a wave of his hand.

Relieved, Emma returned to her seat and focused on the water’s surface. Occasionally, she felt a gentle tug on her fishing rod, indicating that a fish was nibbling at the bait.

The argument across the pond eventually subsided, and the two old men directed their attention to the lake, silently staring at the water. A warm breeze brushed against Emma’s face, and the shade from the trees provided a perfect spot for her to relax.

She closed her eyes, immersing herself in the sounds of nature and the gentle caress of the wind. Slowly, she felt the brightness before her fade, her body relaxing into a near-sleep state.

"Be careful," Damien whispered softly beside her, causing her to snap back to full alertness. She had almost dozed off.

Emma glanced at her phone, realizing 15 minutes had passed. She wondered how Damien could sit so still and calm for so long.

"Don’t you get bored just sitting here?" she asked, despite his earlier reminder to keep quiet.

"It’s a great way to practice patience and focus," Damien replied slowly.

"Alright," Emma muttered, feeling a bit restless. Seeing that Damien wasn’t in the mood for conversation, she obediently held her fishing rod and daydreamed.

She closed her eyes again, imagining herself in an ancient time, free from the noises of modern life. She could almost hear the chirping of insects and birds and smell the fresh scent of wildflowers.

After a while, Damien noticed Emma had gone silent and instinctively turned to check on her. He found her gently asleep, her face serene and peaceful. His gaze softened, and he quietly took off his jacket, draping it over her shoulders.

The afternoon wore on, and by 4 PM, the sun’s rays had begun to wane. Suddenly, the two old men across the pond started arguing again, shattering Emma’s tranquil nap.