Chapter 181 Married Woman
Leopold watched Caroline finish her meal, handed her a napkin, then started clearing the lunch boxes.
"Let me do it."
"No need." Leopold said while tidying up, "I need to tell you something. I have a 10 PM flight to Eldoria tonight. There's a PR crisis at the hotel there. A guest found stains on the bed sheets at the Eldoria Hotel, shot a video, and posted it online. In just two days, the video has gotten nearly a million views. Eldoria Hotel was just starting to pick up, and because of this incident, the occupancy rate has dropped sharply. Many booked rooms have been cancelled. I'm going there to calm the guests down and figure out how to handle the situation."
Caroline was confused, "Isn't there a manager taking over your work?"
Leopold said, "According to Mr. Talbot, he contacted that guest right away, but they refused to accept an apology or any form of compensation."
"That person has quite a personality."
Leopold said, "She's a travel experience blogger with over two million followers. I looked her up after getting the call."
"So she's famous too." Caroline asked again, "Who called you?"
Her direct gaze fixed on Leopold, who smiled and replied, "Mr. Preston Wipere."
He didn't use the word father, so the call was just a company superior assigning tasks to a subordinate.
If she remembered correctly, Preston was planning to push Leopold out. From the initial promotion that was actually a demotion, to sending him to an overseas hotel to isolate him, to parachuting in a manager to steal his achievements just before he could turn the hotel around, then calling him back without giving him any position or work - it was obvious they were waiting for Leopold to get fed up and resign on his own.
Caroline felt bad for him and said angrily, "Don't go. I won't let you go."
Leopold's gaze softened even more. In this world, only his wife truly cared about him.
"If I don't step in, the PR crisis won't be easy to resolve." Leopold smoothed the stray hair by her ear, then pinched her earlobe.
Caroline knew he was trying to distract her and didn't fall for it. "When there's trouble, he thinks of you. If there wasn't a PR crisis at the overseas hotel, he probably wouldn't even call."
Leopold smiled, "Your husband is so capable, of course, I need to be saved for the most critical moments."
Caroline looked at him with concern, "Our family doesn't need to depend on your job. You don't have to achieve your life goals at Celestial Waters Hotel. I'll say it again - people only live once, don't make yourself miserable."
"I'm not miserable." Leopold hugged her, his large hand stroking her back, soothing her with a gentle voice, "Right now, the video views are growing exponentially, and the impact goes beyond just financial losses. The most damaging effect on Celestial Waters Hotel is on the brand image. The reputation I worked so hard to build can't be destroyed by one unverified video. Now the hotel's occupancy rate is plummeting, and it's affecting domestic customers too. Many guests who had booked rooms are applying for refunds. This PR crisis came too fast and hit too hard. That's why I'm leaving in such a rush."
Caroline hugged him. She couldn't stand seeing Leopold wronged for no reason. She was very protective of her own people and said, "I don't want you to be wronged. Even if you don't work, I can support you."
Leopold laughed, "You'll support me?"
Caroline nodded.
"Honey," Leopold's eyes and brows were full of smiles, "Haven't you heard the saying? Spending money on a man brings bad luck for life."
Caroline knew she couldn't talk him out of it. "Do you have to go?"
Leopold agreed, then added, "They paid big money to hire me. When the money comes through, I'll give it all to you."
Caroline pouted, "I don't want money, I just want you."
Leopold let her go, stepped back half a step, and looked at her sideways, pinched her cheek, and said, "I signed a contract. If I don't go, I'll have to pay a penalty."
"How much? I'll pay it."
Leopold held up one hand.
Caroline said confidently, "I can afford five hundred thousand dollars. Everyone has a temper."
Leopold smiled and shook his head, "Add two more zeros."
"You should go then."
Leopold frowned, gripping her shoulders with both hands, "Who just said everyone has a temper?"
Caroline held back a laugh, "In the face of fifty million dollars, temper really isn't that important anymore."
Leopold cupped her face and kissed her hard on the lips, "If you weren't right, I'd definitely argue with you."
They both laughed. Caroline had vented her emotions and was much calmer now. She started giving Leopold instructions.
"Since that blogger doesn't want anything, no matter who approaches her, the result will probably be the same. If you can't solve the problem, will the company make you take responsibility?"
It wasn't that she thought badly of people, but previous incidents had all used other pretexts while actually pushing Leopold out. She needed to remind him.
Leopold said, "I've thought about it. I've considered all the possibilities."
Caroline was incredulous, but then thought with Leopold's intelligence, how could he not have considered these things?
He said, "If the video she posted is real, she posted it because she has some demand. The bigger the fuss, the bigger the demand. What I need to do now is meet her in person and understand what she really wants."
Caroline raised her suspicion, "Is it possible she's like those review bloggers - not after profit, just genuinely sharing her experience? She wants nothing, so that's why she refused the apology and any form of compensation?"
Leopold said, "I went through her videos. Many of her experience videos aren't objective. That's why I need to meet her in person - only then will I know if she really wants nothing."
Caroline nodded in understanding, "I'll leave work on time tonight and help you pack."
Leopold pinched her ear again, "I've already packed."
During the hour-and-a-half lunch break, Leopold ran into an acquaintance downstairs. They passed each other, then both stopped at the same time.
The other person spoke first, greeting him with a smile, "You're Ms. Tudor's husband, right?"
At that moment, Leopold was standing at the bottom of the steps, looking back at the person on the steps, "You're Mr. Hearst?"
"You have a great memory." Nash smiled and extended his hand, "We meet again. We're quite fated."
Leopold shook his hand, "Here on business?"
Nash smiled in response, "Yeah, here to see Ms. Tudor. Is she in her office?"
"Yes, she is."
Nash's gaze fell on the lunch box in his hand, "You came to bring Ms. Tudor lunch? That's so sweet."
Leopold said, "I don't do it often. I just happened to have time today, so I came to see her workplace."
Nash raised the document folder in his hand, "I'm here to talk to her about cables."
Leopold wasn't that familiar with him and didn't want to know too much. "I'm heading back. I won't disturb you two."
Nash curved his lips in a meaningful smile, "Goodbye."
He watched Leopold's figure disappear around the corner before walking toward Caroline's office.
Arriving at the general manager's office door, Nash straightened his clothes and ran his hand through his hair. Compared to ordinary people, Nash's features were very distinctive - handsome with a hint of wickedness. When he smiled, his two dimples were very attractive to women. He had a wild, carefree air about him. Many married women liked his type, and Nash had naturally benefited from this. So when facing the married Caroline, his heart started itching again.