Hearts System: 1000 Ways to Tell CEO I Love You-Chapter 36: If She’s Good, She’s the Wife Now

"Ms Piper, why are you staying in the lobby? Did Leander ask you to buy food?" Director Lawford glanced at her tote bag. "That bag doesn’t seem to be for him alone. Did you bring lunch for everyone?"

Luellen didn’t even realize her eyes had watered. When she blinked, the tears rolled down her cheeks. She quickly used her cardigan’s sleeve to dry her face. "Uh, not really. I’ll just cook for them later. Mr Leander’s order, however..."

She glanced at the food box Mr Kenwood held. "I don’t think I can deliver that to him anymore. I should just apologize."

Director Lawford glanced at the receptionist whose face paled. He only smiled in her direction. "Don’t worry. I’m sure Leander won’t fault you for this. Ken, why don’t you call on someone to fix the mess? I’ll be here with Ms Piper for a minute."

"Yes, sir." Mr Kenwood didn’t bring the food box down. He walked to a spot and took out his phone. "Director Lawford wants to meet you in the main lobby. This is urgent."

"Uhm, Director Lawford..." The receptionist turned to the smiling old man. "Is she...? Who is she? Why is she bringing food to Mr Wentworth?"

"You will find out very soon." Director Lawford didn’t let up his secretly sinister smile. "Why don’t you attend to your work until your boss comes to find you. I’m sure you have matters to do aside from stopping people from delivering food."

The receptionist could only fall to the floor in confusion. Director Lawford cared too little about her and faced Luellen. His smile reverted to the one with innate kindness. "Ms Piper, we have invited you and Leander to the farewell party. The RSVP returned with four extra people. Do you know why?"

Luellen blinked once. She smiled back after a second. "It coincided with our own party, Director. Mr Leander wanted to welcome us to the office with a fancy dinner. However, the farewell party took precedence. He just opted to invite everyone instead."

The old man nodded. "I see. I’m just as curious as to who the other intern was. Perhaps that is for the best."

...

Luellen arrived at the CEO’s office later than Leander expected, hours off Shirley’s. The other intern huffed at Luellen’s entry. "You surely know how to make everyone think you’re special. Skipping an entire morning of work?"

The maiden glanced at the blonde woman in a tight-fitting sweater top. She only smiled. "I don’t have time to talk, Shirley. You already know I’m late."

"You’re not supposed to leave before accomplishing the report. Did you magically walk through walls just to get home?" Shirley followed Luellen to the inner office’s door. She even held the panel to keep the maiden from opening it. "Answer me. Did you call your boyfriend to break in and get you out?"

"Shirley, is this a confession?" Luellen turned to the pretty woman. "Did you deliberately lock me inside the office last night?"

"...no, I just heard about it." Shirley huffed and crossed her arms under her full bust. "Still, how did you leave?"

Luellen didn’t answer. Since the door could be opened, she just opted for it. However, the knob turned under her loose grip. Before she knew it, Leander opened the door, shocking the two interns.

The CEO glared down at the two women. "Where did you hear it from?"

Shirley jumped inwardly and stepped back. "Mr Wentworth! Uhm, I...! It was a rumor going around. I don’t know who started it. I just heard someone say that someone else caught movements in the CEO’s office late at night. They even said it could be the CEO asking someone to stay over so late...!"

Leander glared heavily at Shirley’s trembling body. "Did they say a name? Who did they say I was with last night?"

No words came out of Shirley’s mouth. How could she speak when it was her name? Even Luellen figured the Sales office gossiped because they thought it was Shirley.

The maiden could only swing the heavy tote bag forward, hitting Leander’s knee lightly. "Mr Leander, can I go inside? I forgot to pack your lunch before leaving. Can I cook in your kitchen instead? It’s noon. You must be hungry."

"You forgot about it? I thought some receptionist threw it out." Leander hummed and stepped back to let Luellen through. He then glanced at Shirley. "Help her prepare."

"But I can’t..." Shirley didn’t know why she had to help Luellen. Then again, she noticed the three secretaries looking in their direction. Gala, in particular, glared at her niece. It made Shirley run to the kitchen, even entering before Luellen could.

Madam Henny watched Leander walk back to his seat. "Leander, that girl only caused trouble for you. Should we keep her here longer? No offense to you, Gala, but your niece isn’t exactly useful..."

Gala tilted her head, her curtain fringe covering her face. "And that Luellen Piper is?"

Leander leaned on his seat. "We’re not firing anyone. Henny, attend to the particulars later in the afternoon. Gala, I need you to expedite all the other reports. Houston, inspect more offices. We have to maximize output before that guy poaches Sander Industries. We have invested a lot. I will not allow someone to make off with our profits."

"Yes, sir."

Inside the kitchen, Shirley was only washing the dishes. Her hands even twitched as if she could feel how her acrylic nails peeled off under the running water. She kept glancing at Luellen, who prepared three dishes for everyone. The serious look on Luellen’s face pissed her off.

"Hey, Luellen Piper, how dare you show up after what happened last Sunday?" Shirley huffed and attended to her task. "You’re just a bug. Why are you still here?"

"Because I want a new house, Shirley." Luellen fibbed. She turned off the fire under one pot and stirred it. "You can torture me all you like. I’m not resigning."

Shirley huffed again and snatched the drying cloth from the hook. "New house? Do you mean the Wentworth Villa? Everyone saw that video. You could have seduced Mr Wentworth, but that’s only because no one else did. Humph, don’t you see how much better a woman my aunt is? If she makes a move, you’re nothing but a rag to Mr Wentworth."

Luellen smiled lightly, but her smile couldn’t help but ridicule the other woman. The maiden whispered, "If she’s that good, she’s Mrs Wentworth already. If she makes a move now, Mr Leander will only evade her."

A huff came from Shirley. She glanced at the door separating them from Leander. Shirley moved closer to put the drying cloth back. "Have you gone to his house?"

"Hm? Why do you ask?" Luellen’s brows lifted. Shirley’s tone shifted so much that it confused her. It didn’t help that Shirley only stepped closer and spoke more softly. She even repeated her question. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Have you gone to Mr Wentworth’s house?" Shirley echoed. "Is it true that he has a big home gym where you can watch him work out?"