Hearts System: 1000 Ways to Tell CEO I Love You-Chapter 6: The CEO’s Office

"I’m sorry, sir. I’m an intern for the CEO’s office." Luellen still wore a smile. She was sure that crying must have ruined her makeup. However, she shouldn’t be too cold.

The old man only nodded off slightly. He glanced at his secretary before the man fished a folder from the pile in his arm. The secretary said, "This is meant for Mr Wentworth only. If you can deliver this to him, Director Lawford will appreciate it."

Luellen didn’t hesitate to take the folder. She kept her smile. "I will see to it, then. I should be going, Director."

"You have my thanks, young lady." Director Lawford smiled back, but it didn’t feel gleeful or grateful.

The maiden stepped into the exclusive elevator and rode it to the eighteenth floor. She didn’t peek inside the folder, but she didn’t plan on giving it straight to Mr Wentworth. Luellen would just look to Houston for it. She only looked stupid; she believed she only looked stupid.

Her first step onto the CEO’s floor made Luellen’s heart pound even harder than before. The confidence and derision in her chest melted as soon as the sunlight cast on her body. Wide window walls spanned one side, showing off the city’s skyline. It was as if she were now walking among the clouds. However, the supposed light feeling was the complete opposite. The pressure pushed on her every nerve.

Luellen was lucky if she didn’t trip while walking.

She hugged the folder and her bag strap. She figured Shirley shouldn’t have reached that place that fast. Luellen looked around for anyone who could help her. However, she was only surrounded by the cold, white walls.

"Uh, you’re not supposed to be here." Luellen heard a voice coming from her blind spot. She turned to find a lady in a white dress standing in a hallway that Luellen missed. The lady’s hair was permed in a curly cloud, and her neck barely peeked out from the bejeweled choker. Her face looked well-maintained, despite her advanced age.

"Hi, I’m Luellen. I just got transferred to the CEO’s office as an intern." Luellen smiled. She did her best to fix her makeup in the elevator, so her face shouldn’t look so shabby for an office lady. "Where can I find Sir Houston?"

The woman in white stared at her, stalking closer. "That’s not the name relayed to me. Are you sure? What are you holding? Is that a resume?"

Luellen didn’t budge or even look down at the folder she held. "No, this is for the CEO’s office. I’m supposed to give this to Sir Houston. He’s expecting it."

The woman reached out. Her long, manicured nails looked brand-new and sharp. "I work in the CEO’s office, too. Hand it over to me. Houston isn’t the person handling documents for Mr Wentworth."

"I’m sorry. I have orders." Luellen stayed her ground, despite the fear budding within her. "I can’t hand this to someone else."

"Oh, wow, Summer forgot to mention that you were a pest."

A voice punched through the silent staredown between Luellen and the woman in white. The maiden moved her gaze to find Shirley walking with another lady. They matched each other’s expensive looks. One just seemed older, like an older cousin.

Shirley turned her nose up at Luellen, despite keeping her smile. "Madam, I’m sorry. Is she disturbing you? My coworker heard about my transfer and really wanted to steal my spot. Don’t worry, I’ll clear things up with everyone later. She’s new here. Please be more patient with her."

Her hand stretched toward the old madam. "Shirley Hower. It’s nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you in Mr Wentworth’s office."

"Hower? Hm... maybe I did mishear him." The madam shook Shirley’s hand for a second. She recalled her hand and turned to the other lady. "Gala, why don’t you walk Ms Hower to the office? I’ll handle this miss."

"Yes, but..." The lady called Gala gestured at Luellen’s chest. "I think that folder is supposed to be given to Leander. Do you want me to set it on his desk, too?"

The old madam looked at the folder. "I don’t know. She wants to give it to Houston, instead. Leave it. Take care of our new intern."

Shirley, however, stood in front of Luellen. She covered the madam’s view of her face and the maiden. Her hand grabbed the top edge of the folder. Shirley hissed with a smile. "Hand it over, loser. You’re not fit to be here. Stay down there where you belong."

Luellen held the folder tighter. She even grabbed Shirley’s hand to pry it off the folder. However, Shirley didn’t fight Luellen’s hand. She even used the movement to tear the folder, perhaps even the paper inside it. That very sound ripped through the silent hallway, shocking the old madam behind them.

"Oh, my God! Why are you so aggressive?" Shirley gasped and feigned her horror. She quickly stepped away and held her hands against her chest. "You ruined it!"

"You..." Luellen wanted to reason out, but Shirley’s retreat unveiled the madam’s scowl. The maiden pressed her lips shut.

The old madam glared at Luellen and stalked closer. She snatched the folder from Luellen’s weakened grip. Her eyes then skimmed the torn document, horror overtaking all the expression on her face.

She looked up at Luellen. "This is from Director Lawford. Do you know how important this document is?"

Luellen glanced at the victorious look in Shirley’s eyes. She could only lower her face. "I’ll take responsibility and apologize to Director Lawford. I’m sorry."

"She must have lied to him, too." Gala walked past Luellen, giving her a onceover. "There’s no way they will give such an important document to her. Sigh. Madam Henny, you can’t let that woman off easily. Should I call Security? She has impersonated an employee from our office to get close to Leander. How disgusting."

"Don’t make me call for Security. Leave on your own. Don’t ever come back." Madam Henny stepped back and perused the document. Her frustration was so loud that Luellen felt as if she were still being berated.

"I’m really sorry..." Luellen retreated slowly. She didn’t run; her legs didn’t allow her to run like a loser. She only walked back to the elevator.

The women’s voices faded into silence. Luellen looked back and watched all of them leave for the office steps away. Tears fell from her eyes again, but Luellen didn’t wipe them off readily.

[Loathing detected! You have earned 2 black heart/s!]

Luellen looked down at her chest and rubbed it from the phantom pain. Her weak heart shouldn’t have to deal with all of this all at once. Recovering from grief should have healed some of the damage. Right now, her transcending anger felt like ripping at those closed holes in her tissues.

Ding! The elevator in front of her opened. Luellen would have looked up to retreat to the side, but a booming voice echoed from the splitting steel doors. He exclaimed with a dark expression, "I already told you. Stop contacting me directly."

The maiden made a soft gasp. "Mr Wentworth?"