Hearts System: 1000 Ways to Tell CEO I Love You-Chapter 12: Dedicated Spaces (1)

"How could she turn in something like this?" Luellen cried to herself. She broke down within her, but her words escaped her lips.

"I can see the documents you two are working on right now." Leander picked up the tablet again. He still spoke in his signature monotone. "Can you fix that? I’m not making Henny spend hours tomorrow just to redo it."

The CEO had a point... and a strong reason to make the other woman leave. Luellen just had to accept it. She nodded and quietly worked from the beginning. The only upside was that she didn’t have to pull up more documents to copy from.

Not. Luellen had to double-check everything since she already found one mistake.

...

The sky outside was already pitch-black. Luellen just finished triple-checking the reports, and Madam Henny nodded off her receipt. It was time to go home. Luellen even felt bad about the three calls she had to decline. August wanted to pick her up, but she had to work until past nine. Perhaps, the only solace was that she wasn’t alone in the office.

"I should have a word with that team leader." Madam Henny shook her head. "We wasted a lot of time by letting that woman do this first."

"Tell Gala what happened. Let her know that I’m expecting her to teach her intern to do our reports properly." Leander finally got up from the couch. "Let’s head home now. Do you want to ride with us, Henny?"

Madam Henny smiled. "Yes, please. The bus routes are still open, but it’s a ghost town out there. I’d rather inconvenience you than get mugged."

Leander nodded and handed the tablet to his secretary. "Houston, lock up for tonight. Don’t forget to pick up Beckett tomorrow."

"Yes, sir." Houston nodded.

The secretary cleaned around the outer office before picking up his stuff. Even if Luellen didn’t have to help him, he didn’t decline her offer. Madam Henny attended to Sydney and her full diaper. Only Leander left first to prepare his car.

Luellen walked with Houston and Madam Henny to the fifteenth floor. Even if she wanted to gaze into the dubbed garden, the lights were already turned off. She could only watch their reflections on the black mirror that the glass walls created. The sight made her sigh discreetly. The bus might not even make rounds back to her apartment.

The three people reached Leander’s mid-size luxury SUV. He was waiting outside, gazing at the empty parking floor. On their block, only Houston’s and his cars remained parked. The secretary got in his car after nodding off his goodbye.

"Uhm, I’ll see you tomorrow..." Luellen spoke softly, unsure of how to see them off. She even handed Sydney’s tote bag toward Madam Henny.

"It’s too early to say goodbye, dear." Madam Henny chuckled and opened the side door. "Go in first. My house isn’t that far off the bridge. I’d have to get off before you."

Luellen flinched. "Bridge? Uhm... my apartment’s..."

Leander got in the driver’s seat. "You’re coming with me. I won’t be able to look after Sydney as much as Beckett does."

The maiden stared at the man, her eyes widening. Shouldn’t she have a vote on staying in a random man’s house for the night? Then again, it was her boss. Also, she had to take care of a prissy dog. Luellen only hoped she could evade the worst things that could happen.

"Okay..." Luellen entered the SUV and scooted further. Madam Henny sat beside her, propping Sydney on her lap.

"Don’t be too scared." Madam Henny chuckled and patted Luellen’s head. "Sydney likes sleeping beside Beckett, but Leander doesn’t like dog hair on his bed. Leaving her alone in a room made her whine all night."

"Does the sitter stay overnight?" Luellen hummed, but Madam Henny shook her head. The older woman gossiped in a whisper, "No. Leander had just been sleeping on the couch to keep Sydney company."

Luellen made a soundless ’oh’. She then caught Leander glancing at her with a frown through the rearview mirror. The maiden quickly lowered her head and attended to her phone. She received a message from Summer. After all, her best friend heard she hadn’t gone home yet. August even waited until past seven.

...

As much as Luellen should have told her, the maiden didn’t tell Summer about tonight’s arrangements. She only left a few messages on her phone. Luellen didn’t know how Summer would take the news. It wasn’t a big deal; it shouldn’t be treated as one.

It was just... Luellen felt her fingers tingling when they arrived at Leander’s house. It was on a hill, overlooking the west side of the city. However, trees obscured it from most people living underneath. The modern house was tall and wide, but one wouldn’t mistake it for a mansion. Luellen would still call it a castle.

Leander pulled up into the garage. Cameras looking their way must have identified the car’s plate, activating the shutters to open. Luellen’s eyes never stopped twinkling in wonder.

"Houston worked five years in my office to afford a place like this. You can do the same." Leander didn’t miss those bright eyes. He almost chuckled at it.

"That’s amazing!" Luellen hugged Sydney and scooted to get to the door. She would open it herself, but Leander got out to help her alight from the car.

Thankfully, she could just give Sydney to him when he offered his hand.

Leander didn’t mind receiving the grouchy yet sleepy teacup. He just stepped back to give space for Luellen. "I figured you’d be more excited than fearful. Gala couldn’t stop grinning when she first delivered files to my place."

"Uhm, Ms Gala is a pretty girl. She can be seen with you." Luellen froze after realizing what she said. She then waved her hands despite the bags. "I didn’t mean anything!"

"Hm, then don’t voice out ideas you’re not willing to discuss." Leander didn’t sound angry. He only turned away to walk off to the door leading inside the house. He didn’t forget to lock the car when Luellen stepped away from it.

The maiden only nodded and kept her head low. She wasn’t here to serve anyone, aside from keeping Sydney company. Her mouth should be kept shut.

As expected, Luellen had to stay in the guest room downstairs. Leander’s room was on the second floor. She also had an ensuite, so she didn’t have to loiter around at night. Moreover, Sydney had her own business corner in the room. Luellen even called it an oversized litter box.

"I’m going to remove my makeup..." Luellen whispered to herself. She went to the ensuite, leaving the door open for Sydney. "I can’t keep it on my face for so long.

"Wait, I don’t have all the kits with me!" Luellen gasped, but the sink’s water was already running over her hands. She could only sigh and wash her makeup off. It was a choice between bad acne from irritation or looking like a beggar.

Luellen stared at her plain-looking face in the mirror. The difference the stencil made was so huge that it hurt Luellen’s eyes. She could only use the soap to clean her skin further.

That was when it hit her.

Luellen flinched after lathering the soap on her face. She looked down and saw the same soap she bought from the Hearts shop!