Chapter 224 Drunk
Caroline looked at him with a smile, "Then you better keep an eye on me. I hit people when I'm drunk."
"Hit people?" Leopold chuckled, "You'd have the heart to hit me?"
Caroline raised her walkie-talkie, "Forklift number three, move forward a bit more, yes, right there."
She turned off the radio and watched as the forklift slowly lowered the cable reel before saying, "Of course I wouldn't have the heart to. I searched so long for a husband—if I really drove you away, what would I do?"
Leopold's eyes crinkled with a smile.
Caroline glanced at him, "Aren't you pleased with yourself?"
When Dax turned around, he saw Leopold standing next to Caroline. They'd met once at their wedding, so he walked over to greet Leopold. Leopold pulled out his cigarette pack and lit one for him.
The two men chatted while smoking.
Leopold asked, "Have you picked a place for the late-night meal?"
Dax said, "The seafood restaurant opposite us is where everyone usually eats. The food tastes good, and the boss is nice too."
By the time they finished, it was almost ten-thirty.
The workers locked the warehouse doors and headed out in small groups.
Caroline took off her hard hat, her hair was flattened from wearing it. Leopold was about to help fix it when she stopped his raised hand.
"It's fine, don't worry about it."
Everyone was pretty easygoing and greeted Leopold when they saw him. Dax pulled people toward the seafood restaurant, "We'll go ahead and order. You guys come quick too."
Caroline and Leopold walked a few steps slower. She said quietly, "It wouldn't look good if everyone saw."
"Such a scaredy-cat." Leopold took the hard hat from her hand—the forehead strap was already soaked with sweat. He sighed silently, feeling sorry for her, though he knew this was just her job.
Leopold said, "Tomorrow's Saturday. Rest well at home."
Caroline said, "Waiting for Orson's call. Someone might come for inspection this weekend."
Leopold frowned, "Does Orson treat employees like machines? Doesn't he know how exhausting it is for you, frontline workers? You just spent half a month in the countryside checking for electricity theft, your feet were swollen, and finally it's the weekend—can't he let you rest properly at home? The inspection can't wait until Monday? He has to take up your rest time?"
Caroline heard the irritation in his voice, "Why are you getting upset? It's not just me, everyone's the same. When there's an emergency, we have to report immediately. You're the same—if a client complains, can you tell them, I'm resting now, I'm not going?"
Leopold turned around and, taking advantage of walking into the shadows under the trees, gave Caroline's bottom a light pat, "I feel bad for you, and you drag me into it."
Caroline giggled, then patiently explained to him, "The severe weather season is coming up. It's to prevent emergencies—if there's a large-scale power outage, we have to go do repairs. And repairs require having cables and matching equipment ready."
Leopold said, "I just see you're too tired. I feel bad for you."
"I know."
As they neared the seafood restaurant entrance, Caroline's phone rang. Leopold saw the screen display "Emergency Command Center."
"Hello... yes, it's me... hello... next week? Are you sure? ... Okay, I got it, we're all prepared. ... Yes, please assure the city government that we'll guarantee the power supply. Okay, goodbye."
After hanging up, Leopold asked, "What's wrong?"
"The Emergency Command Center said the meteorological bureau issued a rainstorm warning. Within the next week, Seaside City and several cities upstream will experience heavy rainfall. They want us to prepare for emergencies."
Leopold's first thought was that she'd be busy again.
Didn't let Caroline's refusal to drink with Nash fool you—when it came to colleagues, especially those frontline workers, she never refused. These people could feel respected and understood through her openness, and this late-night meal was really enjoyable.
Dax tried to secretly pay the bill, but the owner told him someone had already paid part of it and insisted absolutely no one else could pay.
Caroline walked over, her cheeks flushed, "What are you doing? We agreed—today I'm treating. Go back."
She pushed him away and said to the owner, "I'm the only one who can pay for this meal. If you let anyone else pay, I'll tell them they're not allowed to eat at your place anymore."
The owner quickly said, "Can't do that. Since you've said so, I definitely can't let anyone else pay."
Caroline nodded with a smile.
As soon as she turned around, she breathed out a whiff of alcohol, touched her face, and muttered to herself, "I drank too much, really drank too much."
Back at her seat, Leopold stared at her, holding her arm and asking quietly, "You okay?"
Dax turned his face. "Drunk?"
Caroline smiled, trying her best to keep her balance, "I'm fine. Thank you all for your hard work today. I'm sorry for taking up your rest time. I'll try to avoid overtime in the future."
Dax scanned the table, "It's about time. Let's have one more drink, then call it a night."
Everyone responded, raising their glasses and drinking them down.
Watching Caroline go to pay the bill, this was the first time everyone had been treated to a meal by their boss.
Before, some people thought that a woman snatching the manager position at such a large Seaside City office must have something to do with her father. But since she took office, she wasn't afraid of hardship or exhaustion, always rushing to do the work. When eating with them, she had no airs either.
Especially tonight's conversation revealed how down-to-earth she was, and how she considered problems from the workers' perspective. Compared to those who looked down on these frontline maintenance workers, Caroline was completely worthy of the position of Seaside City office general manager.
Everyone had been drinking, and Caroline was worried, so she insisted on watching them get into cabs. Only after everyone had left did she let Leopold help her into the car.
Caroline leaned against the seat back, the smell of alcohol instantly filling the car.
"Does your head hurt?" Leopold helped her fasten her seatbelt.
"A little." Caroline opened her eyes, "I won't throw up in the car."
Leopold laughed, "If you throw up, you throw up. I'll wash the car tomorrow."
Caroline said, "I don't feel like throwing up yet. Let's go."
Leopold started the car and drove extremely smoothly.
As the car entered the residential complex, before they could even get out, Caroline covered her mouth.
Leopold heard the sound and turned his face, "Need to throw up?"
Caroline quickly waved her hand, signaling him to stop. As soon as the car stopped, she unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door, and rushed to the trash can to vomit.
Leopold grabbed some tissues and took a bottle of water from the trunk, walked to her side and patted her back. When she stopped vomiting, he handed her the tissues.
Caroline took the water, rinsed her mouth, spat it out, wiped the corner of her mouth, and muttered to herself, "This shouldn't be happening. This shouldn't be. Both my dad and mom can drink—how is my alcohol tolerance so bad?"
She turned her face, and her eyes suddenly turned fierce looking at Leopold, "Tell me, is my alcohol tolerance bad or not?"
"I'm giving you one chance. Think carefully about what to say. If you don't say it right, I'll hit you." Caroline raised her fist.
This was the first time seeing her drunk, and Leopold found it quite interesting. He watched with interest and even pulled out his phone to record, planning to help her remember this tomorrow when she woke up.
"Say something." Caroline leaned against him, putting her arms around Leopold's neck, "Honey."
Leopold switched the camera to front-facing, pointing it at both of them.
Caroline cupped his face, "I want to kiss you."
Leopold's eyebrow twitched.
Caroline acted coquettishly, "Just one kiss."