Hearts System: 1000 Ways to Tell CEO I Love You

Chapter 68: Falling into a Trap

Luellen didn’t want to look around anymore. She only needed to act cheesy and cringe with Leander if she wanted to farm points. Then again, she didn’t want Leander to get annoyed with her. In the end, she could only resort to rubbing herself against his side.

The maiden glanced to the side of her vision, where the active task appeared. She still needed 25 more points to reach the end. With fifteen minutes on the clock, it felt a little too stringent.

"Leander, look over there!" Luellen hurriedly dragged the poor fiancé to a small booth.

It was a small boutique selling cufflinks, neckties, and other accessories. She quickly perused the ties, trying to pick out something to Leander’s taste. However, the ties didn’t seem to be classy enough for a man who ran a business empire. Luellen’s gaze darkened at her mistake.

Then again, her hand rested on a strange piece. It didn’t scream formal at all... with all those deer prints on it. Luellen stared at the cartoon buck with elaborate antlers and at the big-eyed doe.

A cackle escaped her lips. She could only glance at Leander. "Maybe I should pick one with a more dangerous animal... but..."

’These antlers reminded me of those dead trees he had to carry out of the yard before. Also, he’s too handsome to be bearing teeth all the time. Won’t he feel bad if I said a prey animal reminded me of him?’

"Do you like that one?" Leander’s voice came from her side, breaking Luellen of her trance.

"It’s cute..." Luellen pulled it out of the batch, feeling the flimsy plastic covering. She then layered it on Leander’s current suit. "Wow, the color doesn’t even clash with your shirt!"

Leander smirked a little. He then pulled off his current tie, startling Luellen. "If you think so, I’ll wear it right now."

Luellen blushed a little, scrambling to open the plastic. Then again, she paused and glanced at the shop owner. When the owner only grinned at her, Luellen opened the packaging and draped the cartoon tie around Leander’s neck. Since she had helped her father before, she managed to tie it properly.

"Isn’t it too tight?" Luellen pulled the tail to fasten the tie. She looked up at Leander, who had to lean closer for her reach. "Let me know if I pull it too tight..."

"I’m surprised you can tie it properly the first time..." Leander chuckled, making Luellen pout.

As if it were a calculated reaction to be elicited, the fiancé smiled more deeply. Then, he leaned closer, pecking at Luellen’s pouting lips before the maiden could even see his attack coming. He then pulled back and checked the mid-quality necktie he got.

His eyes then slid to the side, spotting a familiar face in the crowd. However, he only smiled more viciously.

As for Luellen, she only froze for a second. After the kiss, she covered her face with both hands. Heat climbed to her face, unfazed by the success of the Super Task.

A trap! She fell right into a trap!

"Ahem, let me pay for it. How much is the tie?" Houston sighed and asked the giggling shop owner. Unlike what Leander hoped, the group only tailed after them. Then again, they remained far enough for Luellen not to notice them... until now.

His voice must have attracted Luellen’s attention. Her shoulders flinched, and she looked at him through the crack of her fingers.

Houston said, "Reimburse me later."

"I’m so sorry..." Luellen chuckled, soon realizing that even Summer and Beckett looked through the collection of ties in the shop. She looked down at what she could peruse. She asked, "Can I bother you to pay for one more?"

"...fine, you’ll just pay me back later after—"

"Mr Houston, look!" Summer took out one and layered the tie on Houston’s chest. "It’s a perfect styling fit! Breaks the monotone while still looking classy!"

Houston raised a brow. He didn’t like anything popping out of his clothes, making it easier for people to notice him. However, Summer started layering two ties as if matching each with what he was wearing. A small yet satisfied smile also curled her lips. Even if she put one down as if not finding it good, she didn’t distort her face.

Luellen watched Summer and listened to her reasoning. She tried to find another one to match Leander’s suit. She didn’t want to leave him with that cartoon tie, which other people might laugh at.

Then again, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to find Leander, only to watch him pin a steel brooch on the left side of her blouse’s chest. The movements were even steady and careful, making sure Luellen wouldn’t get pricked. Neither did he pull on the blouse too much, enough to lift it too far from Luellen’s body.

"You like blue, don’t you?" Leander hummed, proud of his little find. He then glanced at Houston. "I’ll reimburse the expenses later, Houston."

"Yes, sir," came Houston’s distant answer.

Luellen stared at the upright blue violet steel brooch on her chest. It looked so deliberately placed and chosen. On her cream blouse, it stood out too much. Then again, it matched well with her blue accessories.

A blush stayed permanent on her face. She could only hide it well when Summer giggled at a distance. Luellen turned to them, and Beckett seemed to be pestering Summer to find a tie for him after she settled one more for Houston. Of course, the brother also tried to find a good decorative button for Sydney’s clothes.

...

The bidding was less intense than what Luellen thought it would be. Houston and Leander did most of the work, while Summer and Luellen only had the relevant files on hand if needed. Beckett only held onto Sydney, who had to stay inside her pet backpack.

Every bidder’s offer was hard not to consider. Ultimately, someone offered lower than what Wentworth Industries preferred. However, it seemed the lowest bidder intended to have advertisements painted on the project. With the advertisements carrying most of the expenses, it’s no wonder the bidder could go that low.

Leander only sighed at another failed attempt. Then again, he had already acquired so many others from the beginning of the year. Missing out on a few didn’t matter.

Moreover, he could already see some other companies eyeing him from the spectator’s lounge. If that project didn’t like his offer, someone else would be more willing to negotiate a different joint project with him. That was another goal in this open bidding set-up.

"Why does it sound like I brought misfortune to Leander...?" Luellen whimpered as she walked beside him. She even sighed more heavily.

"It’s not important for me to win everything." Leander chuckled, caressing Luellen’s head. "Some companies need to learn first before choosing the right one next time. It happened to me; it happened to everyone who went to me next. You did not jinx my chances, Luellen. You just haven’t stayed with us long enough."