Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 442: First Encounter

Chapter 442: First Encounter

Damien Sterling pulled Matthew Taylor towards the dining table, while Riley Turner stood by, silently smiling yet clearly uncomfortable.

"Riley, come over here!" Emma Hart stepped forward and pulled Riley Turner to sit beside her.

"Did you get everything sorted out?" Emma Hart asked with concern.

"Yeah," Riley Turner replied softly, her eyes fixed on Matthew Taylor and Damien Sterling.

With everyone present, they sat down to eat.

At the table, the men and women chatted in their own groups, and the food was quickly devoured. After dinner, around seven or eight o’clock, Damien Sterling settled Matthew Taylor into a cabin next to his own house. They agreed to go hiking together the next morning.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and a gentle breeze gave the small town a quaint, old-fashioned feel. Everyone retired to their rooms to rest, except for Damien Sterling and Assistant Lee, who wandered around the town.

"We need to be cautious tomorrow, especially with Matthew Taylor here," Assistant Lee reminded.

"Yes, this is a crucial project. We can’t let other companies get wind of it before it’s officially unveiled," Damien Sterling said, tense because he knew Matthew Taylor was not an easy opponent.

"Mr. Sterling, are you sure conducting the inspection at night won’t affect its quality?" Assistant Lee expressed some concern about Damien Sterling’s decision.

"It’ll be fine. We’ll do a preliminary check tonight, and then have Lucy Allen come tomorrow for the final review," Damien Sterling said, taking a deep breath. The air quality here was so much better than in City A. If he could, he would love to settle down here.

Meanwhile, in the villa complex, Emma Hart was sitting on her bed watching TV. Suddenly, she heard a series of urgent knocks at her door.

"Who is it?" Emma Hart asked, putting on her shoes as she got out of bed.

"It’s me, Matthew Taylor," he replied, lowering his voice deliberately.

"Mr. Taylor, what can I do for you?" Emma Hart put on a coat and opened the door.

Matthew Taylor had changed into casual clothes and smelled strongly of cologne, likely applied after a shower.

Matthew Taylor stared intently at Emma Hart, who was wearing slippers and a white blazer over a semi-transparent silk nightgown. Noticing his gaze, Emma Hart pulled her coat tighter around herself and asked again, "Mr. Taylor, what brings you here so late?"

"Mr. Sterling isn’t here, right?" Matthew Taylor glanced inside and asked, knowing full well that Damien Sterling was out since he had timed his visit accordingly.

"He’s out," Emma Hart replied with a frown.

Hearing this, Matthew Taylor felt relieved. "Aren’t you going to invite me in?"

Emma Hart lowered her gaze and bit her lip. "Sorry, Mr. Taylor, but it’s not convenient."

What on earth does Matthew Taylor want? Emma Hart wondered, puzzled.

"Alright then, let’s talk outside," Matthew Taylor said, sounding disappointed.

"Please," Emma Hart said coolly.

"Why so distant? I helped your good friend today!" Matthew Taylor pretended to be hurt and pitiful.

"Thank you, Mr. Taylor. I’m sorry I couldn’t thank you personally earlier, there were too many people around," Emma Hart remembered that she hadn’t properly thanked Matthew Taylor for helping Riley Turner today.

Mr. Taylor smirked, "Silly girl."

The playful nickname made Emma Hart feel uncomfortable, a strange tingling sensation she couldn’t quite identify.

"A thank-you gift isn’t too much to ask, is it?" Matthew Taylor’s eyes gleamed with mischief.

"What kind of gift?" Emma Hart sensed something was off.

Instinctively, she stepped back, but Matthew Taylor grabbed her waist and kissed her deeply. She struggled to push him away, but it was futile.

Emma Hart changed tactics, stomping hard on Matthew Taylor’s foot and biting his lower lip. Matthew Taylor yelped in pain and released her.

"Mr. Taylor, please show some respect," Emma Hart said angrily, both furious and embarrassed by his sudden advance.

Matthew Taylor wiped the blood from his lip, the pain evident.

Emma Hart stood trembling, "I’m sorry, Mr. Taylor, I didn’t mean to."

Matthew Taylor looked at the blood on his hand and licked his lip.

"If there’s nothing else, could you please leave? Mr. Sterling will be back soon," Emma Hart whispered, glancing at Matthew Taylor.

"I’m sorry," Matthew Taylor nodded, then slowly walked downstairs.

Once downstairs, Matthew Taylor slapped himself hard. Why did he lose control every time he saw her? He glanced back at Emma Hart’s door, now closed.

Matthew Taylor shook his head and walked towards his room.

Suddenly, he felt someone watching him. He looked towards the source of the intense gaze and shouted, "Who’s there?"

There was a streetlamp nearby, but aside from the usual trees and flowers, there was nothing.

Maybe it’s just my imagination, Matthew Taylor thought, turning back towards his room.

Under the streetlamp, a girl with a ponytail holding a small paper bag peeked out. She checked her phone’s photos and giggled quietly.

Meanwhile, in her room, Emma Hart was still unsettled. She paced to the bathroom and splashed her face with cold water, her soft, flushed skin glowing under the droplets.

Back in her comfortable white bed, she could still catch her own scent. Oddly, she thought about Matthew Taylor’s cologne, pungent and overpowering. She sniffed her arm to see if any of it lingered.

The stars dimmed and the night grew colder. Damien Sterling and Assistant Lee finished their inspection and headed back to the cabin, yawning repeatedly along the way.

"Alright, since we don’t have anything planned for tomorrow, let’s just sleep in. Goodnight," Damien Sterling said, bidding farewell to Assistant Lee as they stood under the cabin’s eaves.

"Goodnight, Mr. Sterling," Assistant Lee replied, watching Damien Sterling until he entered his room and closed the door. Only then did Assistant Lee retire for the night.

After a long day of travel, everyone was exhausted. They all slept until noon the next day.

Since everyone woke up at different times, lunch was handled individually. After lunch, Damien Sterling took Matthew Taylor around some of the nearly completed projects in the area, finishing the tour in the afternoon. With a tight schedule for the next day, they hurried back to City A overnight, while Matthew Taylor returned to City B for work.

The car pulled up in front of Sterling Group’s building. Damien Sterling quickly walked into the lobby, where a meeting awaited him.

Emma Hart leisurely got out of the car, still groggy from a nap.

"Mrs. Sterling, shall we take you home first?" Assistant Lee asked.

"No need, I’ll wait for him in the office," Emma Hart replied, heading towards the elevator alone, with Assistant Lee following closely behind as instructed by Damien Sterling to ensure she was well taken care of.

Only after Emma Hart was settled in the president’s office under the care of the tall-legged secretary did Assistant Lee feel at ease.

"Mrs. Sterling, let me know if you need anything. I’ll be right outside," the secretary said, offering Emma Hart a cup of honey water.

"Thank you, you can go back to your work," Emma Hart said with a nod and a smile.

Pacing around the office, she couldn’t help but recall Matthew Taylor’s surprising actions the previous night. Since then, they hadn’t spoken and were like strangers. She opened her phone and looked at Matthew Taylor’s profile; he still hadn’t deleted her.

Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Max.

"Hello, Max?" Emma Hart answered quickly.

"Hey, Sis. Where are you right now? Do you have a moment? I need to talk to you about something," Max’s voice sounded as gloomy as the last time.

"Uh..." Emma Hart said, looking out the floor-to-ceiling window at the World Trade Center. "I’m free. I’m in Mr. Sterling’s office. You can come over."

She sighed as she hung up. Whenever Max reached out, it was never good news.

Less than twenty minutes later, Max appeared at Mr. Sterling’s office door. After a brief exchange with the secretary, he entered the office.

"Sis," Max called softly to Emma Hart, who had her back to him.

Emma Hart turned to face Max, her expression somber. "What’s up?" she asked in a low voice, frustrated by his constant trouble.

Seeing her mood, Max avoided her gaze. "It’s nothing serious. I’ve just been a bit short on cash lately, and we’re out of living expenses at home. Can I borrow some money from you?"

"You’re asking for money again? Didn’t Mr. Lee just give you a sum of money recently?" Emma Hart was clearly annoyed. It was only a few days ago that she had given them several thousand dollars.

"I’m really out of options, please!" Max pleaded, gripping Emma Hart’s hand tightly, almost ready to kneel before her.

"Alright, alright, I can give you some more money, but you need to tell me exactly what it’s for," Emma Hart said. After all, it was her money, and she had the right to know what it would be used for.

"It’s just that the family has been short on money lately. And you know Grandma, she can’t control her gambling habit. I just hope you can keep some money on hand so it won’t be so awkward when she gets into trouble again," Max explained. But his eyes lacked sincerity, and Emma Hart could tell that his reasons weren’t entirely truthful.

"This is all I have right now. Take it," Emma Hart said, transferring $3,000 to Max via her phone.

"Thank you, sis!" Max’s heart soared as he received the transfer from Emma Hart.

"Alright, if there’s nothing else, go back to work," Emma Hart said, dismissing Max. Although he had no specific reason to be there, his presence was simply annoying her.

"I’m leaving now!" Max left Damien Sterling’s office with a cheeky grin.

Emma Hart sighed deeply, rubbing her forehead in exasperation.

As Max excitedly walked out with his phone, he saw Riley Turner approaching in her white, tight-fitting professional outfit and eight-centimeter heels, her figure accentuated with every step. Max’s eyes couldn’t help but follow her.

"Hello, ma’am. I’m here to deliver some documents for Director Allen," Riley Turner said softly as she reached the tall-legged secretary’s desk.

"Alright, go ahead. Mrs. Sterling is inside too," the secretary replied.

"Thank you," Riley Turner smiled politely before turning to enter the office.

"Let me get the door for you, beautiful!" Max suddenly turned around and opened the office door for Riley Turner.

Riley Turner, eyes wide, had never seen this man in Mr. Sterling’s office before.

"Please, go ahead," Max said, gesturing for Riley Turner to enter while giving her a flirtatious look.

"Thank you," Riley Turner responded, realizing his gesture.

"Emma, I’m here to deliver documents for Mr. Sterling," Riley Turner said to Emma Hart inside the office.

"Thank you for your hard work," Emma Hart smiled. This young woman was a model of diligence and spirit, even after a long trip.

"It’s my duty. I’ll take my leave now," Riley Turner said, placing the documents on the desk before politely nodding to Max on her way out.

Once Riley Turner left and took the elevator, Max quickly rushed back into the office.

"Dear sister, do you know that beautiful lady?" Max asked excitedly.

"Yes, so what?" Emma Hart glanced at Max with disdain. She knew all too well what was on his mind, but with Max’s half-baked intentions, he was far from being a suitable match.

"Can you introduce her to me?" Max’s eyes sparkled with hope. Riley Turner was far more impressive than any of the flashy women he’d seen at school or work.