Overbearing CEO's Contract Love
Chapter 117: Making a Decision

Chapter 117: Making a Decision

"This young woman is incredibly promising, having produced such a design right after graduation. Yet, what good does it do? Her name won’t be on the final design document; instead, Mia Miller, who contributed nothing, will receive all the credit. Do you really think just keeping your head down and working hard is enough?"

Damien Sterling spoke with a depth of meaning.

Emma Hart looked at the girl on the screen with a pained expression.

Damien closed the laptop, remarking, "There are countless people like her in the company."

"And you’re just going to stand by and do nothing?" Emma asked, clearly upset.

"Can I really manage everything?" Damien responded coldly, as if such situations were no longer surprising to him but merely the norm of the workplace, a norm that Emma found intolerable, even though it was a part of everyday life around the world.

"All I wish for is to have a job that is truly my own, just like that girl," Emma said with a sense of grievance.

Currently without any responsibilities, she wasn’t thinking about achieving greatness in her work, but merely using a job to fill a void, to prove she was still alive.

Was her request too much to ask?

Damien gave Emma a look that seemed to say all the experiences and tasks he had her go through that afternoon had been of no consequence to her.

"It’s like playing the lute to a cow."

"You’re the cow."

An assistant knocked and entered, glancing at Emma but receiving no objection from Damien, indicating her presence was acceptable.

The assistant laid several documents on the table for Damien’s review, then mentioned, "Mr. President, we’ve almost identified the mastermind behind that gossip article, and we’ve completely blocked Alex’s accounts abroad, restricting his travel as well."

"Hmm," Damien hummed, his eyes thoughtful.

He casually flipped through a document, then closed it and leaned back with his eyes closed, murmuring, "Just as I thought."

The man seemed to have insight into everything, yet he sought evidence to confirm his suspicions.

After the assistant left, Emma looked at Damien. "Are you going to talk about how that news about me affected your Sterling Group? If you insist on blaming me, I don’t mind taking on another accusation."

"Do you think you’re so valuable?" Damien countered with cold sarcasm.

"I know if I do nothing, I won’t amount to much. But who can guarantee I won’t one day be your equal?" Emma responded defiantly.

Without giving her a chance, she indeed would never have one.

Emma Hart had one central goal from the beginning: to secure a job with Damien Sterling.

"Do you really enjoy the cutthroat nature of the workplace so much?" Damien Sterling leaned in to ask.

His intimate knowledge of the workplace’s intricacies, with its unpredictable human nature, made him fear for Emma Hart’s wellbeing.

Wasn’t maintaining her purity preferable to delving into such a complicated mess? Why was she so determined to enter this labyrinth?

"I..." Emma Hart, meeting Damien Sterling’s concerned and tense gaze, suddenly felt as though she was being naive, guilt washing over her for no apparent reason.

Just as she was about to speak, Damien Sterling decisively slammed the table. "We shall not discuss this further! It’s not allowed!"

"But..."

As Damien Sterling turned, a chilling glare shot towards Emma Hart, his expression terrifying.

Emma chose to remain silent, fearing another outburst from him.

The next day, Emma Hart, feeling downcast, visited the café again, still at an impasse with Damien Sterling over the job situation.

At the counter, Oliver Westmore approached with a coffee in hand, stopping in front of Emma.

"What a coincidence?" he remarked.

Emma looked up, her gloom momentarily dispersing. "Yes, quite."

Oliver Westmore set down the coffee and sat beside her.

"You seem upset. Do you want to talk about it today?" He always made Emma feel at ease because of his considerate nature.

Smiling, Emma nodded; she indeed needed someone to talk to. "I really want to go out and work."

"Then go," Oliver Westmore said casually.

Emma was taken aback by his nonchalance but understood he might not fully grasp her situation.

Nevertheless, she decided to open up to him. "But I’m being restricted. I can’t do what I want to do."

"Why is that?" he inquired softly.

"Because..." Emma struggled to express herself.

"someone doesn’t want you to go, right?" Oliver’s voice lowered, offering Emma warmth.

She nodded in agreement, "He exposed me to the darker sides of the workplace, convincing me that a job wouldn’t bring happiness. But I don’t see it that way, and I feel powerless."

"Perhaps everything requires a personal attempt, and maybe you’ll find the joy in work that he’s missed. Work might bring fatigue and weariness, but it also offers more pleasure. Even if you’re not someone who strives for remarkable achievements or cares much for fame and fortune, work can still reflect your value and give you a sense of fulfillment," Oliver Westmore said slowly, with Emma Hart nodding continuously.

By evening, Oliver Westmore’s words still echoed in her ears, providing Emma with more determination for an unexpected encounter.

Emma had never wavered in her views about work.

Mrs. Harris had laid out a dinner spread in various forms on the table.

Emma turned and asked, "Mrs. Harris, is he coming home for dinner tonight?"

Mrs. Harris replied with a smile, "Yes, he is coming, Emma. This must be the fifth time you’ve asked that tonight."

"Really? Have I asked that many times?" Emma mused, planning a significant move for the evening.

Since her usual persuasive methods hadn’t worked on Damien Sterling, she figured a different approach might.

"Mrs. Harris, you’re saying he actually does care about me, right?" Emma stopped to ask.

Mrs. Harris held up five fingers. "You’ve asked that at least five times too."

"So..."

Before Emma could say more, Mrs. Harris assured her, "Mr. Sterling definitely cares about you, don’t worry."

Hearing noises outside, Emma sat back at the dining table instead of going to greet Damien Sterling.

Now pregnant, Emma no longer had to serve Damien as she used to.

Damien changed his clothes methodically before coming downstairs to eat.

Emma, feeling down, absentmindedly picked at her food with her chopsticks.

Damien occasionally glanced at Emma while picking up food, but pretended not to watch her every time she looked up.

Midway through the meal, Emma suddenly clutched her stomach and cried out in pain, "It hurts so much!"

Damien immediately rose to be by her side, his brows furrowed with concern.

Seeing Damien so worried, Emma almost felt guilty for deceiving him, but she knew this was her only option.