Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 92: Compromise

Chapter 92: Compromise

Damien Sterling had barely stepped through the door when a sneeze escaped him.

"Achoo..."

Emma Hart, clutching Bailey, wore a look of deep concern. "Bailey, did you hear that? He keeps sneezing. If this continues, he might not let me keep you."

"Woo..."

Bailey seemed to understand Emma’s words, gazing up at her with big, sad eyes and nuzzling her for comfort.

Emma stroked Bailey’s forehead, "I know you don’t want to leave me, and of course, I don’t want to part with you either."

Looking at Bailey, Emma sighed, resigned to the fact that she knew who had the final say in their home.

The door swung open, and Damien Sterling filled the frame, his tall and lean figure nearly blocking the entire doorway, his presence unmistakable.

His displeasure became evident upon seeing Bailey in Emma’s arms, his eyebrows furrowing in annoyance. "This dog... Achoo..."

Damien’s reaction was exceptionally sensitive.

"Woof woof..."

Bailey, never quite fond of Damien, barked several times in protest.

"Bailey," Emma said, soothing the dog with gentle strokes.

Damien sneezed again at the doorway before peering back in, "This dog can’t stay."

"What?" Emma responded anxiously, almost sitting up straight on the bed.

She had anticipated this decision from Damien but hadn’t expected it to come so swiftly, at least hoping for some time to think of a solution.

"I don’t want to repeat myself!" Damien glared, his mood as unpredictable as ever – sunny one moment and stormy the next.

"But..."

She had only just started caring for Bailey; what was she supposed to do now?

Before Emma could finish, Damien, already growing tired of the conversation, demanded, "Didn’t you hear what I said?"

Bailey, sensing its precarious situation, whimpered and cuddled closer to Emma.

Emma looked down at Bailey, this small, vulnerable life. Was she really about to fail in protecting even Bailey?

"No!" Without much thought, Emma boldly faced Damien, determined to protect Bailey.

Damien observed Emma’s righteous stance, almost as if she was ready to revolt. "Do you think your words will have any effect?"

The man’s deep eyes narrowed, his authority unspeakable, tinged with a hint of frivolity.

"But..." Emma’s voice faltered as soon as she began, "But Bailey was a promise you made to me, are you going back on your word now?"

"I did promise you, yes, but did I ever specify how long you could keep the dog?" Damien Sterling leaned in closer to Emma Hart, his gaze deep and piercing like still waters.

Emma Hart, recognizing the calculated look in Damien Sterling’s eyes, realized the truth of the matter.

Indeed, no trickery is too low in business, and Damien had always had the upper hand over her. What is the business world, after all?

But Emma wasn’t one to back down easily.

She retorted disdainfully, "So the CEO of Sterling Group is just a man who plays word games, huh? Reneging on his word, unreliable. I suppose that’s how Sterling Group has developed, impressive!"

No unusual response came from behind her. Pretending to be nonchalant, Emma squatted down to play with Bailey, "Ah, Bailey, people truly reveal their nature only upon closer interaction."

As Emma lifted Bailey to face Damien Sterling, he instinctively dodged to the side.

He didn’t dislike dogs, and Bailey did seem quite adorable; it was just a natural allergy to dog fur and an intolerance to their scent.

Emma chuckled inwardly, thinking that with Bailey around, Damien would probably keep his distance from her in the future. This thought made her even more determined not to give up Bailey.

"Mr. Sterling? You’re not keeping your word now, does that mean you’ll also go back on the other promises you made to me?"

"Everything I promised you has been or will be fulfilled," Damien responded coolly.

What about her grandmother, her mother, her brother? Had he not kept every promise regarding them?

"That remains to be seen. You’re reneging on a promise about a dog, what about promises involving people?" Emma expressed her complete distrust in Damien Sterling.

"Emma Hart! Are you trying to provoke me?" Damien’s gaze darkened, seeing through Emma’s ploy.

Emma’s hand trembled slightly, realizing that Damien was not so easily dealt with, and mere words wouldn’t suffice.

"I’m... merely stating the facts," Emma said, trying to muster confidence, though clearly less assured.

Damien casually adjusted his cufflinks, "Emma Hart, just remember what I told you earlier."

"What did you say? I’ve already forgotten," Emma turned away, pouting and speaking with annoyance.

Emma Hart’s indignantly pouted lips, a sight she thought displayed her anger, instead caught Damien Sterling’s eye, causing a slight smile to curve on his lips, charmed by her adorable expression.

If possible, he found himself wishing to provoke her anger more often, if only to soften the sharp edges between them.

"Then give it some thought," Damien’s voice feigned seriousness as he turned away, his face betraying a smile.

With a slam of the door, Emma was left alone, her frustration seeking an outlet. Turning to the obedient Bailey, she crouched down, feeling defeated, "What do we do, Bailey?"

Bailey nuzzled into Emma’s embrace, and she sighed, reluctantly beginning to consider who among her acquaintances might be suitable to take care of a dog.

Mrs. Harris approached Damien Sterling, handing him a package that had just been delivered from his company.

Noticing Mrs. Harris’s hesitation, Damien asked, "Mrs. Harris? Is there something else?"

After a moment, Mrs. Harris spoke up, "Sir, I’ve noticed Miss Emma is quite fond of the dog. She’s been rather down lately, but ever since Bailey arrived, there’s been more joy in her. Are you sure about sending the dog away?"

Damien paused, reflecting on the fact that a mere dog could bring such a smile to Emma’s face, something that no amount of bags, cosmetics, or clothes had achieved. She truly was different from others.

Jealousy over a dog’s impact on her showed in his cold demeanor as he said, "Go on."

Turning away, Damien opened the package to find a fast-tracked allergy spray from abroad.

Never before had Damien Sterling compromised on anything, yet Emma Hart was becoming the first exception.