Hearts System: 1000 Ways to Tell CEO I Love You-Chapter 17: Answer to My Questions

"Wait, that can’t be right!" Shirley gasped and glared at Luellen. She even poked Luellen’s shoulder. "I saw you buy two packs yesterday! For you and for Madam! Did you go out to buy a third one? You even fed it to Mr Wentworth!"

Luellen stepped back to avoid more poking. She wanted to scream back, but she knew her body too much. If she let out a sound, her eyes would tear up. Even her voice would break. That was the worst view she could show Shirley right now. The best course of action was to retreat and end the confrontation.

Madam Henny gasped at the harsh action. "Shirley Hower! You are out of line! Get out of the restroom right now!"

"That’s beggar’s food! You can’t give it to a man like Mr Wentworth!" Shirley screamed, but her voice ran out when she saw Galaxy rush-walking to the restroom.

"Madam." Galaxy flashed a feigned smile at the old woman. She even hugged Madam Henny’s arm. "Younger Mr Wentworth is leaving now. Houston might have to drive him home. Someone has to stay in the office. How about I sort this for you?"

Madam Henny glared at the younger regular. She huffed and moved her arm out of Galaxy’s hug. "Luellen, come out here. I doubt the plates have been cleaned."

Luellen slipped past the two venomous women and left with Madam Henny. She covered her mouth with her hand, hoping to wheeze out so she wouldn’t sob.

They entered the office and had a few seconds before the men emerged from the inner office. Leander walked with Beckett, Houston trailing behind them. The younger brother thanked Luellen with gestures. He even wrapped an arm around Leander’s neck and swayed as if he was back to normal.

It was no longer Luellen’s problem. She could only take notes and proceed with her other tasks. Someone still had to wash the dishes in the kitchen.

...

Luellen dried her hands on the towels hanging beside the sink. She got out of the kitchen, hoping to get some desk tasks next. Along the way, she slowly wore her blazer, which she didn’t want to get wet earlier. It was just that Leander spoke even before she could lift her face to find the man on his desk.

"That’s definitely not the blouse you were wearing yesterday." Leander stared at her with a blank expression. "Did you find that in Beckett’s closet?"

"Uhm... I have it with me... for emergencies..." Luellen couldn’t stick her lie’s landing. She saw him frown. "Do you need me to do something, Mr Leander?"

The CEO brought his papers down. He gestured to the seat in front of his desk. "Please sit, Ms Piper. I want to speak to you about something. Don’t worry. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s about my brother, Beckett."

Luellen took the seat and pressed her palms on her lap. "What can I help you with?"

"What do you think of him?"

"Uhm... Mr Beckett is wonderful. He’s fun, and he has a lot of stories." Luellen smiled at the memory of her short interaction with the CEO’s younger brother. However, within her smile was a freeze.

"Will you lie to me for him?" Leander leaned against his chair and laced his fingers. "I don’t believe he’s as fine as he wants me to think."

The maiden looked straight at Leander’s face. Her fists balled out of sight... but she only smiled. "I’m sorry, Mr Leander. I made promises with Mr Beckett. Please don’t ask me to break my word."

Leander smiled, which was both scary and mesmerizing. "Interesting. Have you forgotten that you work for me instead?"

Luellen clutched her tighter than earlier. "Mr Leander, I haven’t forgotten, but I promised him I wouldn’t tell you. Please speak with him instead. If he wants to keep secrets, you have to hear it from him. I only did what I could to make sure he stayed safe in the kitchen while we were cooking."

"Hm... you worry about his safety?" Leander chuckled, making Luellen’s scalp tingle. "Then, why don’t you help me do the same?"

"Mr Leander?"

"Beck’s in charge of cleaning the house. His bi-weekly deep cleaning ritual coincides with the weekend." Leander dropped his scary smile. "You don’t have to do things you don’t like... or touch sensitive matters. The most he insists on doing is the garden and the floors. He might die if I let him do what he likes. You’ve already seen the house. Will you help us?"

The maiden flinched. She stared at the man, who was only waiting for her answer. Her lips opened for an answer, but no words dared to leave. She didn’t even know if she should do something outside her duties as an executive secretary intern.

Luellen glanced at the floor. She waited for the Hearts Clash prompt. However, the system didn’t guide her this time. Her gaze then crept back to Leander’s face.

"...will I be paid as a helping hand, Mr Leander?" Luellen’s words dragged in uncertainty. Perhaps being a hired help would help with her excuses. She shouldn’t do so willingly, but remuneration could change everything. At the thought of earning and spending money, Luellen grew more courageous.

"Mr Leander, I still have no flattering dress for the celebration. My paycheck is not coming before that, either. Maybe... if I get paid, it will be less hard for me to accept it." Luellen tamed her smile. "I really want to help Mr Beckett, but I don’t want anyone saying bad things about you. You are still my boss."

"Money, huh?" Leander hummed as if Luellen had said something wrong. He gazed heavily at her. "Aren’t you going to ask for something else?"

Luellen didn’t visibly flinch this time. She only continued to smile. "Answers to my questions might not be that valuable."

Leander’s brows rose. "Questions about what?"

"...my annual compensation amounts to the price of my surgery ten years ago." Luellen smiled wider, as if she found a good excuse. "I want to know if you mean for me to pay it back. My position in the Sales department won’t be enough. Working in the CEO’s office is a different story."

"Hmm... I’ll tell Beck to pay you for whatever work he has for you over the weekend." Leander smiled back, however. "The answer to your question... is reserved for that day, too. If you want to hear the truth, you’d better do a satisfactory job in our house."

Luellen didn’t know if they were both finding excuses in a truth they remembered. Still, it was for the best. She bowed down and promised to drop by.

They were only on Day 3, and the weekend would fall on Day 6. A lot of other things could happen in three days.

Leander picked up his papers again. "Now that it’s settled, you should work on your other assignments. Do you see that table to my left? I think you already know what I mean for you to do."