Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 115: Calling Him Husband

Chapter 115: Calling Him Husband

Emma thought calling Damian Sterling her husband would prompt him to release her, but it seemed to have the opposite effect.

Instead of loosening his grip, Damien’s hold only tightened, his voice taking on a teasing tone, "What, you want to shout it again?"

Damien’s voice, usually so commanding, now dripped with a sweet, gentle cadence.

If it weren’t for Emma Hart’s intimate knowledge of Damien’s usual demeanor, she might have been fooled by his act in that moment.

Two little girls, oblivious to the kind of man Damien truly was, stared at him, utterly captivated.

Emma was certain their ears might ’become pregnant’ if they listened to him any longer.

She understood Damien’s intent with resignation, murmuring a reluctant "Husband."

Just when Emma thought Damien was about to cease his teasing, she felt his arms tighten around her waist once more.

His grip brought her closer, his large hands encircling her slender waist again.

Emma glared at Damien, yet her gaze also held a trace of captivation.

In that moment, Damien’s eyes held nothing but her, his gaze clear and bright, reflecting Emma’s image as he looked down at her, demanding softly, "Say it again."

His voice was so tender it seemed incapable of disturbing even a feather.

Emma, faced with Damien’s uncharacteristic demeanor, could only think of how to avoid embarrassment in public.

Steeling herself, she looked into Damien’s eyes and affectionately called out, "Husband."

She swore she had put all her tenderness into that one word.

It seemed to satisfy Damien, as he finally let go of Emma.

They left the café under the envious gazes of the two girls, looking every bit the loving couple.

Damien’s car, a low-key yet luxurious limited edition black Maserati, was parked nearby.

It wasn’t his most flamboyant choice, but it was certainly no less extravagant.

The girls in the café, their admiration turning to envy and almost anger, couldn’t help but sigh after Emma and Damien left, "It’s enough that her husband is so handsome and treats her so well, but to be so wealthy too!"

It was almost too much for them to bear, a scenario they found both admirable and infuriating.

Outside, the streets buzzed with activity, especially along the bustling avenues flanked by luxury boutiques.

Groups of women clustered at the entrances, some admiring the untouchable treasures within the display windows, others treating the storefronts like landmarks for their photographs.

Some emerged laden with bags, arm-in-arm with unremarkable men, while others tossed their spoils into the sleek sports cars that awaited them.

Each person was enveloped in their own distinct life.

Yet, as Emma Hart turned to glance at the man beside her in the car, it seemed her life had been thoroughly disrupted by his presence, veering off course, aimless.

Fortunately, it appeared he had an epiphany, possibly ready to offer her a job.

With this thought, Emma felt as if a new Chapter of her life was on the horizon.

Standing at the base of the Sterling Group’s building, she couldn’t help but marvel again at its formidable presence and... extravagance.

Such a monumental structure could only stem from the surplus funds of a company with nowhere else to spend.

It stood as a landmark, a testament to the capitalists’ flair for wastefulness.

Emma sighed at this thought, following Damien Sterling as he made his way toward the building, heading straight to the executive elevator, bound for the top floor.

It wasn’t her first time here; the secretaries upstairs had changed numerous times.

To Damien Sterling, who occupied these roles mattered little; these women were merely faces to grace the company, their actual work deemed inconsequential.

Emma had endured their scrutinizing gazes before, each visit met with hostility rather than friendly smiles.

"Who’s that girl?" she overheard a voice behind her as she walked.

Another shook her head, likely as unfamiliar with Emma as she was with them, "I don’t know, could she be..."

"How could it be possible for Mr. Sterling to fancy someone like her? She may have the looks, but the aura she carries... To me, only Ms. Greenwood is worthy of Mr. Sterling."

Emma managed a wry smile, knowing about Sophia Greenwood; it seemed her time here wasn’t wasted after all.

Reflecting on previous encounters with such comments, they initially irked and offended her.

Now, they simply bored her; these were old tales, the same ones her predecessors had heard.

Emma Hart approached Damien, a playful glint in her eye.

"Mr. Sterling, being your secretary must be quite the leisurely job, huh? Spending days gossiping with hardly anything to do, and for a decent salary, too," she joked, her curiosity piqued.

Stopping at the door, Damien Sterling turned to her with a smirk.

"Oh? Is that so? You’re interested in being a secretary? Fine, start by bringing me a cup of coffee," he challenged.

Emma nodded, "Right away," and turned to head out, leaving Damien waiting in his office for her return with the coffee.

Exiting the door, Emma found herself in a minimalist, white-themed floor space that seemed vast yet empty at a glance.

She scanned the area, puzzled about where the pantry could be, as the entire floor seemed devoid of any sign, except for a small reception-like area near the elevators, manned by the two female secretaries she had seen earlier.

Approaching them with a smile, Emma inquired, "Excuse me, could you tell me where the pantry is?"

One of the secretaries glanced at Emma with disdain and continued to file her nails, blatantly ignoring her presence.

Feeling somewhat helpless, Emma guessed her earlier close proximity to Damien might have sparked some animosity.

Turning to the other secretary, she asked again with a tone of warmth and friendliness, "Hello, do you happen to know where the pantry is?"

This time, the woman looked up at Emma and dismissively said, "Can’t you find it yourself?"

Emma chuckled coldly and turned away, realizing neither woman intended to help her.

It seemed Damien had effectively planted two ticking time bombs right outside his office, ready to explode at any moment.