Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 73: Join Me at the Office

Chapter 73: Join Me at the Office

Emma, embarrassed, turned her head away, but Damian found the whole situation amusing.

Soon, the porridge was finished, and Emma’s stomach was distended. If possible, she would have asked Mrs. Harris to cook another pot of soup, potentially recouping this week’s interest.

But realistically, her stomach would burst, just like now.

Emma already regretted her soft-heartedness and inexperience in setting the initial price.

Despite drinking so much, the final tally by the man fell short of fifty thousand dollars, far from the goal Damian had set for Emma.

"Next time, you can be tougher with your price."

"I’m afraid Mr. Sterling wouldn’t be so willing," Emma teased Damian.

Aren’t wealthy people all about saving face? Emma wanted to see if her provocation would work.

"As long as you dare to ask, I dare to give."

Clearly, Damian Sterling didn’t consider the money important; his desire to save face was evident.

"Mr. Sterling, are you agreeing to all my prices? Aren’t you afraid I’ll set them so high that I pay back everything at once?"

"I have ways to make you owe me again," Damian said calmly, a task not difficult for him.

Emma believed him; it was entirely within his capabilities to do something like that, especially considering her grandmother’s welcoming nature towards all comers, meaning any debts would eventually fall on Emma.

Her little tricks were nothing in the face of Damian Sterling.

Aside from negotiating the price, Emma Hart remembered something else Damian Sterling had agreed to.

"You... the thing you promised?" she inquired.

"Come to the office with me tomorrow."

What? Emma’s eyes widened in disbelief, nearly dropping her jaw. Was he serious, or was this some kind of joke delivered with too straight a face? Going to his office, of all places?

"Not interested? Then stay at home," Damian frowned, purposely provoking her.

"No way!" Emma hastily responded.

She couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. She had endured the soup for this chance, preferring the office to staying at home. She had to go, no matter what.

The next morning, Emma got out of bed feeling drained, as if the prospect of going to the office wasn’t as appealing as she thought. She felt tricked by Damian, silently nursing her frustration.

After breakfast, the driver, donning white gloves, respectfully waited outside. Working for Damian meant everything was systematic, organized to a tee.

Opening the car door, the driver was surprised to find Emma following behind.

Both got into the car, and Emma checked the time. It was not even seven o’clock.

Normally, for a company like Damian’s, work hours would start between eight and nine. Did a CEO really need to be in so early?

Contrary to Emma’s expectations, the car ride with Damian turned out to be anything but awkward, despite his ability to freeze the air around him.

Since getting into the car, Damian’s eyes hadn’t left his notebook, constantly replying to emails.

Had his workday already begun?

When Damian immersed himself in work, even his long eyelashes seemed to focus intently, oblivious to his surroundings.

The car directly entered the underground garage, where various luxury cars were parked in Damian’s designated spot.

Taking the CEO’s private elevator straight to Damian’s office, they encountered no one else along the way, hinting at how early Damian arrived.

His office shared the same extravagant and spacious quality as his villa, in Emma’s view, synonymous with wastefulness and emptiness.

Surrounded by such an environment every day, didn’t he feel suffocated?

Damian Sterling turned to find Emma Hart following him with her head down.

"What’s on the ground?"

"What?" Emma suddenly looked up.

"Why are you always looking down?"

Of course, she was looking down because she didn’t want to see him. What other reason did Damian Sterling think there was?

"Does Mr. Sterling have to control even this?" Emma asked disdainfully.

Damian stood there, watching Emma who seemed intent on picking a fight. This woman always pushed the limits.

Emma didn’t back down, locking eyes with Damian. "Mr. Sterling, I might as well go somewhere else. I won’t bother you at the office."

As Emma turned to leave, Damian’s hand landed on her shoulder before she could step away. "Did I give you permission?"

Of course, without his permission, Emma couldn’t do anything.

Emma turned around, frowning. "Mr. Sterling, why must you always be at odds with me?"

"Because..." Damian paused, "I want to."

Annoyed, Emma walked over to the sofa. This was no different from being at the villa, except she had to deal with Damian Sterling here, which made staying at the villa seem preferable.

Damian had already taken a seat at his desk, beginning to sift through a stack of neatly arranged files, probably prepared the night before.

His day, from the moment he opened his eyes, was scheduled down to the last minute.

Bored, Emma looked around the dreary room. The dark decor’s soporific effect was at its peak, making her yawn uncontrollably.

"Tired?" Damian suddenly asked.

Emma was shocked. Unless she was mistaken, he hadn’t looked up at her at all just now, and her yawn wasn’t loud, was it?

How did he catch every little thing she did?

"No." Emma straightened up to reply, realizing over time she had developed a habit of denying anything Damian asked.

Damian glanced at his watch, then pressed a button on his phone, commanding, "Come in."

Soon, there was a knock at the door.

A vibrant, meticulously made-up woman in a suit walked in, her youth and beauty apparent, matched by an impressive demeanor.

Standing at the door, she respectfully asked, "Mr. Sterling, what do you need?"

She seemed to be Damian Sterling’s secretary, likely just starting her day.

"Get a blanket."

"Yes." It was only then that the woman noticed Emma Hart on the sofa, her gaze flickering between Emma and Damian Sterling, seemingly struggling to connect the two.

A mix of envy and surprise colored the woman’s puzzled expression.

Shortly, the secretary returned with a blanket, heading straight for Emma. "I’ve placed it here for you."

Before the secretary could leave, Damian issued an order, "Lie down and take a nap."

"I won’t sleep."