Hearts System: 1000 Ways to Tell CEO I Love You

Chapter 69: Fugue Girl

"Oh... I wonder what would happen to that project..." Luellen hummed before smiling at him. "It’s almost dinner time. I didn’t think bidding like this could take so long. I thought I could cook for you. The hotel suite has a kitchen, so I want to use it."

Leander chuckled. "You can reserve your plans for breakfast, before we leave. For now, the hotel is hosting a dinner buffet. Beck wants to see it."

Luellen flinched and hummed. She tapped her chin. "It’s strange for Beck not to cook anytime he can. Hmmm... are there any celebrity chefs cooking for the buffet later?"

"...you hang out with him too much. I’m getting jealous." Leander laughed, getting Luellen to shriek softly. He shook his head with a smile. "Yes. Five one-star chefs were invited to cook for the buffet. Beck knows one of them from school and hopes to get another recipe to learn."

"Why does it feel like Beckett knows so many people from school?" Luellen almost giggled, even cupping her cheek. "I only have Summer... She was even from our town’s upper school."

"Sweetie, I was already Wentworth Industries’s CEO when he was in college. Everyone wanted to connect with him." Leander hummed, watching Luellen enough to see how her face went from surprise to pouting realization. "Beck isn’t a snob, even if he can be. He likes making friends and gathering favors I can easily pay back."

Luellen tilted her head. "Isn’t that... too much? I figure you wouldn’t like owing someone else too much..."

The man chuckled. "I can’t keep an eye on Beck like I did these days. Whenever he tumbled down the stairs at school, I couldn’t be the one rushing to his side to dust him off. The exchange was pretty worth it for me."

"...I forgot Beckett needed adult supervision..." Luellen giggled a bit too loudly.

"Hey, I can hear you!" Beckett laughed, nonetheless. He went to hug Luellen from behind, letting her carry his weight. Since Sydney was with Summer, he could lunge at people freely.

Beckett then turned to Leander, who only watched them. "Piers and our pilot are already at the buffet. Let’s meet them first before looking for Robbie."

"Okay." Leander nodded off, fairly satisfied.

...

Utensils sang in the dining area of the hotel’s restaurant. Luellen entered with Leander, their arms linked. Unlike earlier that morning, the maiden wore the clothes she had newly bought from Yellow Hearts Shop. Combined with an expensive makeup stencil, Luellen’s outfit rating was at A+.

Summer told her to pack clothes for this kind of occasion. The men were in stylish suits and pieces, while Summer and Luellen almost had matching dresses. However, it only matched because Summer donned the clear day while Luellen wore the night sky.

Standing too close together, they directed gazes toward them.

"...even without a System, Sue can look as good as I do..." Luellen whispered as she watched Summer stand around Piers, the owner of the charter plane. The maiden didn’t choose to pout because of her look.

"Luellen!" Beckett walked to her side and grinned. "I’m going to look for my friend first. Reserve me a seat beside you."

The maiden flinched, but the little brother walked away in a direction. She could follow his image to this one spot where the people crowded as if watching a show. Then again, she decided to sit down at their designated table. She looked at the people chatting at other tables, wondering if they all came for the convention earlier.

Leander sat beside her, serving her with a plate of appetizers. She turned to him, and he smiled a bit too proudly. "The chef would be coming to us later, after his little stunt exhibition in his station. I’ll ask Houston and Ms Bloomfield to get food for us before then."

Seeing some finger food, Luellen took one and offered to hand-feed Leander. "That sounds nice... but can’t we get desserts together by ourselves? I like looking around in a buffet."

"...you don’t have to bribe me." Leander laughed after biting the chicken tender in Luellen’s hand. "You can simply ask."

[You have gained more of (Leander Wentworth)’s interest! EXP +15!]

[Special Love Interest Hearts clash! Pick a task route to take!]

[Red Heart task: Orchestrate an effective rescue for (Ira Houston) through any influenced associate!]

[Blue Heart task: Leave the table and stand up for (Ira Houston) by yourself!]

Luellen frowned. When did helping Houston become a source of dilemma? Then again, she turned to Leander, who enjoyed quietly eating beside her. His arm even circled her waist. Would it piss Leander off? Leaving his side?

Then again, Houston seemed to be in trouble.

’System, where is Mr Houston?’

Almost out of sight, the first secretary stood close to one row of food. A couple looked as if they had confronted him, judging by the big, evil smiles on their faces. A pop-up box appeared on top of Houston in Luellen’s eyes. It recorded Houston’s mood and distress levels. The critical levels confused Luellen.

Her silence must have attracted Leander’s attention. He asked her out of sight, "Is something wrong?"

"Who is that?" Luellen leaned against Leander, allowing him to see what she could be looking at. "Mr Houston doesn’t seem to like talking to them. I know his back is facing us, but his body language is..."

"...that’s Natalia Jones, his ex." Leander scoffed. "I heard she broke off their engagement by lying about losing her memories of him. That man must be her new boyfriend. I remember him bidding against us earlier."

Luellen’s jaw dropped. She didn’t even hold back in reaching out to the table’s other end despite remaining seated. She even looked like she suddenly dove into the couch. Her palm made a soft smack against the table, grabbing Summer’s waning attention from Piers’s awful attempt to flirt.

The best friend gasped at what happened. "Lue? Is something wrong?"

"Fugue girl! Three o’clock!"

Summer and Piers whipped their heads in that direction. They both saw Houston struggling to leave a conversation the woman kept pulling him into. Summer could only turn to Piers and apologize. Then she stalked toward Houston and the unfortunate person who made him uncomfortable.

Her shapely body swayed as she took a small tray and a glass cup. She filled it up with a yellow-colored juice, soon reaching Houston’s side.

A cheerful laugh came from Summer. She even mercilessly shoved herself between Houston and the girl. "Hey! There you are! Are you done with picking? I’m starving."

"Uh..." Houston flinched at the big smile. He glanced at Natalia before clearing his throat. "Not really... Natalia, this is... Summer... Summer, this is..."

"Really?" Summer gasped in glee. She spun to face Natalia, the other woman stepping back as if afraid of the juice. The best friend feigned the sparkle in her eyes. "Oh, my God! I heard so much about you! Is this your husband, Mr Fenneck? He looks... younger than expected. Isn’t he, like, older than you by more than three years?

"Is that even him?" Her smile grew devious. "I didn’t know you were divorced!"