Luellen flinched. It was the first time she got a heart from the system. Then again, her entire countenance plunged. She was given a black heart for envy.
"Can't you give me a red heart? I don't want to start my day with this…" Luellen sighed and walked toward the receptionist's desk. However, she noticed the receptionists smoothing their clothes and straightening their crooked accessories. She looked around to find more employees doing the same. "What's happening?"
Before Luellen could say more, the glass doors at the side opened. A group of men walked into the lobby, but only one of them was the most notable. All of them looked so respectful in their tailored suits and briefcases. Some talked around the man in the middle, but he barely acknowledged their noises.
His dark hair was slicked back, only leaving a few strands on his forehead. Hardness and coldness embraced his expression. His gait was sturdy and domineering, as it could bring a tide to wash away everyone on his path.
Luellen barely breathed as his gaze scanned the lobby for a moment. His deep, dark eyes met hers only for a split-second, but her heart pounded wildly within that time.
"…it's Mr Wentworth…" Luellen whispered within her daze. She would follow him, but her knees locked. It was not as if she were free to do so, either. The maiden could only watch his greatness come and go.
[Hearts a-pounding! You have located a Love Interest! You can now earn red hearts!]
Luellen's eyes flickered. She lost sight of the crowd before her, but she still reviewed what the system just said. She covered her mouth with a hand. "What do you mean, a Love Interest? I don't have a chance with him! What are you saying?"
[Pro tip! Improve Proficiencies to accomplish tasks! Tasks lead to Hearts! Hearts will help you in your life goals!]
"What do you mean, pro tip?" Luellen cried within her.
It didn't matter. She had no time to waste. Luellen dropped her strange expressions and came to the receptionist's desk to confirm her attendance. She was just an intern, and her designated supervisor should fetch her from the lobby. Training would begin from the moment the intern stepped into the building.
Like what Luellen figured, her supervisor looked nothing less than Summer. However, since Luellen wore proper work attire, she said nothing. She only sounded so irritated as if Luellen was nothing more than a nuisance.
"Do you have any more questions?" the supervisor asked, but her voice was so flat. Before Luellen could say anything, she spoke again, "I'll be at my office. Attend to the printer. Someone will need that document on their desk once it finishes. Also, do a coffee run for everyone at 10. Don't break or destroy anything."
"Okay, got it." Luellen glanced around to find the loud printer. She turned to the supervisor again. "Where do I sit, ma'am?"
The supervisor stopped walking, and Luellen barely avoided bumping into her back. She turned to face Luellen… and smiled viciously. "You don't have a desk here. You're just an intern. Next time, don't bring too much. That bag is not going anywhere but your shoulder. Get to work."
Luellen froze at the sudden coldness. However, she could only retreat when the supervisor returned to her office. The intern looked around to find Summer's desk. She would leave her bag there, but she saw Summer laughing and chortling with some other girls. It made Luellen less interested in coming over.
She just tightened her strap and went to the printer. The papers stopped churning out, and Luellen worked on collating the pages. When someone came to collect it, Luellen just had to walk with them.
…
Sit. Luellen could only sit on a wooden bench after her long day. Her bag never left her shoulder the entire time. She barely had the time to eat lunch, even. Everyone started dumping their menial tasks on her. Summer joined in, but she smiled at Luellen and offered a cupcake. It was as if this was what an intern meant to their office.
The maiden stared at her shaking hands. Smidges of ink were on it, left from when she had to fix a paper jam. It was good that she worked in her father's office. However, she had never touched anything that would make it more of a job.
Luellen would be lying if she said she didn't think she was tricked.
"I should go… I still have to buy cheap makeup." Luellen sighed and prepared to leave the bench. She looked at the glass walls that showed off the city's skyline.
On the fifteenth and sixteenth floors was a man-made forest. It served as a respite for the employees, but they barely had the guts to be seen in there. Luellen had seen this place in the flyers. It was as breathtaking as she thought. However, she couldn't breathe in its beauty to relieve her aching soul.
She whispered, "When will it be worth it for me to stay here?"
"Are you new here? Employees are not allowed to be here after working hours."
A man's voice came from behind Luellen. She turned to find a handsome man towering over her. Even with her two-inch heels, she still felt so small. It didn't help that her heart pounded so loud that he might even hear it.
She sure couldn't hear the words coming out of his mouth. All she knew was that his lips were moving, but no sound came to her.
"Miss!" The man's brows furrowed. "I said… Do you work here?"
"I do!" Luellen flinched and came out of her daze. She looked down and fiddled with the buckle of her bag strap. "I'm so sorry… I just… I just started working here. Mr Wentworth, please forgive me. I won't show up here anymore!"
"You just have to avoid coming here after working hours." The man huffed and walked toward the other seat on the bench. "But you're already here. You can stay longer. If you're not staying, you should leave."
Luellen flinched and followed him with her gaze. The maiden sat down where she previously did. Keeping her hands to her chest, she whispered, "Thanks."
The man, the same Mr Wentworth from earlier, glanced at her. "I never had anyone stay after seeing me here. You surely are new. First day?"
"Yes, sir. Intern for the Wentworth Homes' Sales department." Luellen kept her eyes on the floor. She then turned to him with a smile. "Mr Wentworth, can I speak to you for a few more minutes? I just want to thank you."
"I did not create your job. I didn't get you in it, either. What are you thanking me for?" The man took out a small metal box from his suit jacket's inner pocket.
Luellen didn't mind him suddenly smoking. She didn't lose her smile, either. "Ten years ago, you made a big donation to Halter Point's hospital. You also chose to pay for all the pending surgeries. One of them is for an open-heart surgery for a fifteen-year-old girl. My parents didn't know where to get that much money for me. I could have died if you didn't pay for it.
"I want to thank you for it, Mr Wentworth." Luellen scooted to face him and bowed. "Working for Wentworth Industries has always been my dream. Even for a little bit, I want to give back to you."