Minutes later, the food delivery arrived for Sumr to collect. Houston went to help her with the heavy pieces. Madam Henny went to prep the pantry for their lunch. Luellen would love to help, but she was stuck in a call with one of the directors. Her eyes even swam around, noticing how easily Sumr fit in their office.
The call finally ended, but Luellen didn’t leave her seat imdiately. She organized the files and tidied up a bit. Everyone else had gone to the pantry to eat.
"Luellen...?" Leander’s voice sounded so close. Luellen jerked her gaze up and found Leander standing in front of her desk.
He frowned at her. "Why aren’t you eating with everyone?"
Luellen smiled. "I... I just have to finish sothing. Uhm, you seem to like Sue, I an, Sumr a lot. She fits in well with everyone, too. I feel like I’m still the intern between the two of us."
Her voice imdiately ran out. Luellen felt like she had said sothing without thinking. She looked up at Leander, who continued to stand across from her desk.
"Hm, she has been here for years. She handles the people in the company better than you can. Half the office doesn’t wish to speak to you before." Leander didn’t snort or laugh. He just extended a hand toward her. "Our lunch will get cold. Let’s eat now. I have a scheduled eting at three. Check the specifics and prepare for it."
"Y-Yes!" Luellen got up and walked with Leander to their pantry. "Uhm, can I ask why you asked Sumr to co here? Are you interested in her?"
"I’m interested in people you stick close to." Leander chuckled, a corner of his lips pulling up.
Luellen could almost see a mocking joke coming.
True to Luellen’s gut feeling, Leander cracked it. In his haughty voice, he said, "Also, didn’t you promise Shirley’s position to her, Mrs Wentworth?"
Luellen dropped her head. "I forgot I said that..."
They arrived together in the pantry. Sumr had her phone out, sa with Madam Henny and Houston. The bestie flashed a smile at Luellen, but she didn’t speak loudly because Leander was also there. She only nudged Luellen when the maiden sat beside her.
"Lue! They shared photos of you during the farewell party! God, you were so beautiful!" Sumr showed her phone screen as if reviewing the photos with Luellen. "Especially this one! You looked so ethereal! Mr Houston said they had a professional photographer on the scene. He must have followed you around and taken lots of shots!"
"? That doesn’t sound right." Luellen only chuckled, reviewing the professional photos. She even quivered in shyness, hoping to stare at those longer.
However, the thought of that night reminded her of Beckett’s and Sydney’s accident. Those two were still not out of the woods yet. Her smile could only fall... until she extended a hand and swiped back. Sumr didn’t fight it and looked at what Luellen caught in the photo.
Luellen’s hand even trembled. She stared in the background, even zooming in on a person on the balcony. The face wasn’t clear, but she could sowhat recognize him.
’It’s him... Nathan Chro...! No wonder he knew I needed a change of clothes.’
"Erm, is sothing wrong, Lue?" Sumr felt the strange air around her best friend. She could also see Luellen frowning so deeply. Her eyes lifted to the person on Luellen’s other side. She nervously smiled, still speaking to Luellen. "Did you see soone you know?"
"No, I don’t know him..." Luellen sighed and pulled back. She even knocked her back against the chair in frustration.
’I’m only scared of him now. The Hearts System has categorized him as a Love Interest the first ti we t. He also keeps showing up everywhere...’ Luellen massaged her head. ’I can’t tell Sue about the System, much less tell Leander. I have to steer clear of that guy. He scares ...’
[You have attracted (Leander Wentworth)’s ire! EXP - 5!]
Luellen flinched at the sudden loss of favor. She looked around, soon eting Leander’s pissed expression. The maiden froze before looking down at her food and Sumr’s phone. She collected it from Sue and stabilized the zoom on Nathan’s face.
After heaving a deep breath inwardly, she asked, "Leander, do you know him? He’s been eyeing differently the whole party. He even sent a dress, which I mistook for your doing. I just couldn’t wear the soaked dress anymore, so I... I’m sorry. I have to return it to him. I don’t want to keep sothing a strange man gave ."
"...the blue dress?" Leander’s brows lifted, and Luellen nodded. He then scoffed. "Why do you want to return it? Let’s burn it."
"That’s too much."
[You have attracted (Leander Wentworth)’s ire! EXP - 5!]
Luellen cried inwardly. She then leaned toward Leander to hide her frustration. "Okay... maybe we can. I just... I don’t know what to do. Stalkers scare ."
Out of her sight, Leander’s expression brightened into an amused smile. He stroked Luellen’s head. "Don’t worry, Luellen. I won’t allow him to exist around you and any space that belongs to you."
[You have gained more of (Leander Wentworth)’s interest! EXP 15!]
’Scary...’
Luellen twisted her lips. The higher her level, the easier it was for Leander to promote or demote her. Her smallest gestures equated to EXP, regardless of whether it was a gain or a loss. Would this translate to their work? Wouldn’t that an Luellen would have to stay as perfect as she could be?
...
The private booth was big enough for ten people. However, only six people peppered the seats. Leander and Luellen sat with another CEO and their company owner. Both n also brought their secretaries. Despite the good numbers, the atmosphere was too heavy. It was as if it could fall apart at any mont.
One wrong move was all it took.
Then, one of the secretaries excused herself from the table. Strangely, she invited the other secretary and Luellen to co with her. The other female secretary smiled and got up as if it were a rehearsed matter.
"You should go. Let them talk to alone if they’re scared," Leander whispered.
Luellen could only take the invitation and leave.
"Sorry, I just feel like it’s too stuffy in there..." The first one to get up chuckled nervously. The other person agreed, but Luellen kept quiet.
The maiden watched them enter neighboring stalls, but she only remained in front of the mirror. She fished for her lipstick and reapplied her makeup. Before she could finish, the two secretaries ran out of the restroom. Her gaze flew to the exit they forgot to close.
However, a big hand held it, and a man walked inside. He even smiled and closed the door behind him.
Luellen would have feared the situation if it were a stranger. She just didn’t know if it was better if she knew who locked her inside that place. She took a deep breath.
"I can still scream. You can’t lock inside this place, Mr Chro."
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