Hearts System: 1000 Ways to Tell CEO I Love You-Chapter 10: Interns

Houston, who should be catching up on work, couldn’t help but stay frozen. He only cleared his throat and stared at Luellen as if transmitting a message. The maiden only met his gaze and nodded slowly. Yes, she would get him a delivery flyer.

"Didn’t you say you don’t like cheese?" Madam Henny chuckled and fished for a Mozzarella stick from her paper bag. "Here, here, have this."

"You should have told me you’re also getting food." Leander walked to Madam Henny’s desk and received the stick. He peeled the wrapper and ate it then and there. "Next time, let me know. I can take everyone out."

Madam Henny only chuckled. "Not on a day like this. We’re too swamped, dear. Maybe at the end of the month. Houston, do we have a meeting to worry about?"

Houston opened the CEO’s calendar and shook his head. "Nothing is scheduled on that day. A dinner should be a good way to welcome our new officemates."

"Block the whole day. I don’t want to deal with anyone else before then." Leander finished the small stick. He folded the wrapper for Madam Henny to dispose of, along with her trash. He received a piece of tissue from the old woman to clean his lips with. "Also block yours. I’m not accepting any excuses."

"Yes, sir," Madam Henny, Houston, and Galaxy answered with different levels of enthusiasm. They didn’t forget to mark it on their own calendars.

Luellen echoed their words softly. However, she was more focused on the prompt that showed up. Her eyes would even blink repeatedly if she were alone.

[You have gained more of (Leander Wentworth)’s interest! EXP +10!]

[Congratulations on reaching Level 3! You have earned 500 Yellow Heart/s, 5 Proficiency point/s, and 1 Red Heart/s!]

[You have unlocked a Super Task! Score A+ or higher for a (Fine Dining Date) outfit on Day 9!]

...

Sharp gazes can be seen from the two women on the left side of the outer office. Galaxy listened to Shirley’s grievances over lunch. After all, Madam Henny called her out for arriving too late from a lunch out. The two ’pretty women’ glared at Luellen at intervals. They shouldn’t be caught staring too much.

As for Luellen, she only catered to the sleeping Sydney on her lap. Even if she was supposed to stay inside Leander’s inner office, the boss was in a video conference. She could only sit on Houston’s chair again.

"Ms Hower, have you finished collating the reports from last week?" Madam Henny got out of her seat and walked toward Shirley’s desk. She placed another thick file on the tower next to the poor star intern. "I need a spreadsheet to compress this."

"Uhm, I’m still working on it, Madam." Shirley glanced at the seventh thick folder that arrived on her desk today.

Galaxy also caught the distress on Shirley’s face. She then looked at the other intern, who was like a decoration. A soft scoff came from her. Then, she smiled at the frowning older woman. "Madam, we have two interns. Maybe we can leave the encoding to her? She looks... free."

Madam Henny didn’t even look in Luellen’s direction. She kept her eyes on Shirley. "Well, if your Sales department didn’t ask to shoehorn someone else in that desk, she would be the one doing all of this. But here we are."

"That’s quite unfair to Shirley, Madam." Galaxy’s gaze sharpened. "Of course, everyone wants to work in Leander’s office. Shirley has the qualifications—"

"Then, she must show it." Madam Henny left the folder on top of the file. "I need the collated reports at the end of the day, Ms Hower."

Instead of answering, Shirley only looked up at the older woman’s back view. She then glared at Luellen, who watched the exchange.

A strange tingle came to Luellen, but it wasn’t fear. The maiden straightened her back and looked at the computer in front of her. Houston left the screen black, so anything confidential wouldn’t appear. However, the maiden’s dark reflection on it seemed to deride Luellen.

Luellen turned to Madam Henny, whose desk was on the right side, beside Houston’s. "Madam, do you think Houston will mind if I touch his computer to make the spreadsheet?"

"Don’t bother helping her, Luellen. She’s the intern Wentworth Homes wanted to send instead." Madam Henny huffed.

"Yes, but... we’ll be paid the same. I have to do more work than watching Sydney and picking up lunches." Luellen tried to smile, hoping that Madam Henny wouldn’t get angry. "We have the same position as an intern. I think I should be working like one."

Madam Henny stared at the other young one. She glanced at Shirley and sighed. "I’d rather not ask you to do anything. Leander wants you to be on your toes at all times. You can’t be too busy."

A loud gasp from Galaxy caught everyone’s attention. She only salvaged herself with a chuckle. Galaxy followed up. "Why? I mean... all Leander needs her to do is menial things. She doesn’t have to be vacant as if her job is the most important.

"She doesn’t even have a job to do right now." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Mr Houston transferred her even without a screen. He might be the one who has work for her." Shirley sighed in agreement.

Luellen stared at the evil pair of women. However, she had to close her eyes and expel her anger swiftly. She didn’t want the system to award her with another black heart. Those things could be used to curse someone. Luellen didn’t want to be tempted.

As for Madam Henny, she stayed quiet. She walked back to Shirley’s desk and took the thick folder. It soon found its way to Luellen’s hands.

The madam woke up the computer herself. She shook the mouse and keyed in a passcode Houston used. "All right, since you don’t want to stay idle. However... if Leander tells me not to do this again, I can only watch you beg."

"I won’t be that useless, Madam." Luellen might even reason with Leander if that happened.

If Luellen glanced at Shirley and Galaxy again, she would find their victorious gazes. It was as if they won the argument. Then again, Luellen hated not doing what she was hired to do.

Leave them to think what they wanted. Luellen had a spreadsheet to accomplish.

...

The clock made a loud click, as if the alarm had been triggered. Shirley and Luellen glanced at the big face on the wall. It was already five in the afternoon. The office should be erupting in chatter as the work day ended. However, everyone stayed quiet.

Madam Henny was deep in typing, just as Galaxy was. Houston, who was working from his tablet, didn’t even make a sound.

His eyes only moved to find the awkward looks on the interns’ faces. He said, "We don’t leave the office unless Leander comes out to dismiss us. Sometimes, we can leave as early as three. Most times, we’re here until eight at night. Do you girls want me to ask if he will let you go home first? After all, you’re still interns."