Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 424: Gourmet Appreciation

Chapter 424: Gourmet Appreciation

It’s Friday, the weather is clear and the sunshine is lovely. Emma Hart is playing with Bailey in the yard, and she is thrilled about her meeting with Riley Turner tomorrow.

Emma has always been someone who didn’t make friends easily, preferring to stick with her childhood best friends. Unfortunately, those friendships have dwindled over time. Now, only Amelia Davidson remains as her close friend, but there’s a good chance that Riley Turner might become her second friend soon.

The living room and backyard are connected, and Emma hears a noise coming from the living room. She turns around curiously to see Mrs. Harris approaching with several dresses in hand.

"Mrs. Harris, what are you doing?" Emma asks, puzzled.

Mrs. Harris places the dresses on the sofa and picks out a little black dress, saying, "Mr. Sterling sent over these dresses for you to choose from. There’s a gourmet event tonight, and he needs you to attend."

"A gourmet event?" Emma thinks to herself, noting how frequently Sterling Group hosts events.

She takes the black dress from Mrs. Harris and holds it against herself. It seems like a good fit, so she decides on it.

"Thank you, Mrs. Harris. I’ll wear this one," she says, then heads upstairs to call Damien Sterling.

"Mr. Sterling, is there an event tonight? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?" Emma complains. She had planned her day to play with Bailey during the day and spend the evening with the kids.

"I was just about to call you. Now you know. I’ll pick you up at 8 PM sharp. Anything else?" Damien replies with a slight chuckle.

"Nothing, see you tonight." Emma hangs up and heads to the bathroom to wash off the dirt, then changes into the evening dress. She eats a light snack to tide her over and begins preparing for the event.

As Mrs. Damien Sterling, she must not embarrass herself in public and needs to be fully prepared. At 8 PM, Damien arrives punctually in his purple Bugatti Veyron to pick her up. Tonight is the Sterling Group’s gourmet appreciation event, featuring cuisines from around the world and attended by prominent figures.

The opulent banquet hall is filled with an array of gourmet dishes. Emma is dazzled and wonders where to start. Just as she decides to reach for a dish, a clear voice interrupts her.

"Damien, Emma." It’s Mr. Sterling Senior, holding a glass of red wine and accompanied by the Turner father and daughter.

Everyone greets each other and takes a bit of food from each table before sitting down nearby.

"Everyone, try these dishes and see what you think," Mr. Sterling Senior says cheerfully.

Mr. Turner picks up a piece of sausage with his fork, tastes it, chews thoughtfully, and nods in approval. "Looks like you’ve got some taste after all," he remarks.

"Hahaha, without some real skills, I wouldn’t dare invite such a picky eater," Mr. Sterling Senior laughs heartily.

Hearing Mr. Turner’s comment, Emma eagerly reaches for a slice of beef and takes a bite.

Suddenly, her eyes widen in surprise. The roasted beef has an unexpected twist.

"Hahaha, how is it? Amazing, right?" Mr. Sterling Senior laughs with satisfaction at Emma’s delighted expression.

"Well, Sterling, the food you prepared today is really delicious, but I still prefer the dishes made by my wife and daughter," Mr. Turner said, patting Mr. Sterling Senior on the shoulder.

Mr. Sterling Senior snorted, "How can you compare? What they make is home-cooked food, but I prepare top-notch cuisine from a high-end restaurant! However, your wife and daughter’s cooking is indeed excellent. I still remember the meal at your place—it was unforgettable!" He praised with a click of his tongue.

"Hey, don’t get any ideas about my wife!" Mr. Turner laughed. Mr. Sterling Senior waved his hand dismissively.

"I have to admit, I tried Riley’s cooking once, those cookies she made for me were just as good as your wife’s!" Mr. Sterling Senior continued excitedly.

Riley Turner shyly thanked the old man, her face turning a deep red.

Emma Hart felt a pang in her heart at this moment. She had tasted Riley Turner’s cookies too and they were better than many bakery offerings. She bowed her head in shame and quietly savored the delicious food in her bowl.

"By the way, Emma, I heard you’ve been learning Western cuisine. How’s it going? When will you cook something for me to try?" Mr. Sterling Senior suddenly turned his attention to Emma Hart.

Emma Hart’s heart skipped a beat. Why ask her? Why was she always the one put on the spot?

She quickly drafted a response in her mind, weighing her cooking skills and how to answer Mr. Sterling Senior. Feeling helpless, she looked to Damien Sterling for help.

"Grandpa, Emma’s cooking is still at the home-cooked level. She needs more practice," Damien Sterling replied calmly.

"Oh, no rush. Take your time. Patience pays off, right? I’m looking forward to it, Emma!" Mr. Sterling Senior encouraged.

"Thank you, Grandpa," Emma Hart replied, her voice lacking confidence.

After dinner, Damien Sterling and the two old men chatted with other business partners, while Emma Hart and Riley Turner, unable to join the conversation, sat at a small bar and chatted.

"Riley, I’m so envious of you. If it weren’t for Mr. Sterling stepping in today, I wouldn’t have known how to respond to the old man," Emma Hart said earnestly. She was the same age as Riley Turner, but Riley’s cooking skills far surpassed her own.

Riley Turner felt secretly pleased and said, "It’s nothing, really. I’ve just been interested in cooking since I was a child. I started making desserts with my mom when I was three."

Emma Hart was stunned. She called that nothing? But she knew she couldn’t compare to Riley Turner. Riley’s home was a warm garden, while hers was a barren land.

Her gaze shifted from deep envy of Riley Turner to sorrow over her own unfortunate childhood.

"Emma, if you’re interested in cooking, you can come to my house tomorrow. I can teach you," Riley noticed Emma’s mood and offered.

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