Chapter 37 Blind Date
All Caroline could think about was the wind energy project. She couldn't care less whether Leopold had explained himself or not—it didn't affect her life either way.
She spent her days busy at work, and her evenings were split between watering Leopold's plants and organizing materials for the wind energy project.
She'd just brewed herself a coffee when Elysia's video call came through. Caroline accepted it, propping her phone next to the coffee maker. Elysia immediately noticed the mug in her hand and frowned.
"You shouldn't drink coffee this late," she scolded.
"I've got some reports to go through. Need the caffeine boost." Caroline took a deliberate sip.
"You won't be able to sleep."
"I'll manage just fine." Caroline raised an eyebrow. "Did you need something?"
Elysia's face lit up with that telltale smile that meant she was up to something. "I ran into Xanthe at the spa today."
Xanthe Stewart was the deputy mayor's wife, and Caroline knew exactly where this conversation was heading.
"Good to know," Caroline replied flatly, not bothering to ask for details.
Undeterred, Elysia continued, "We got to chatting, and guess who her nephew is?"
The tone screamed it was someone Caroline knew.
"How would I possibly know that?" Caroline took another swig of coffee, waiting for the inevitable reveal.
"You'll definitely recognize the name," Elysia practically sang. "It's Paxton from your company's wind energy division! Isn't that a coincidence?"
Since Caroline's work involved the wind energy sector, she certainly knew Paxton Bennett. She also knew enough about his character to be thoroughly unimpressed. Her interest deflated like a day-old balloon.
"Oh. Him."
"You know him?" Elysia perked up.
"Not really. Saw him at the company gala. Barely exchanged two words."
The truth was, she'd gone out of her way to avoid exchanging even those two words.
Initially, Caroline had only known Paxton from company newsletters. When they first met at work events, he seemed decent enough—chatty without being overbearing, not exactly handsome but presentable, tall with good taste in clothes. The kind of guy who stood out in a crowd of average. She'd heard plenty of female colleagues swooning over him.
During their limited interactions, he'd been perfectly polite. But last year's holiday party had completely tanked her opinion of him. After the official event, she'd caught him using a drunk female colleague's condition as an excuse to get handsy.
Lost in this unpleasant memory, Caroline barely registered Elysia's next question.
"Paxton's single, isn't he?"
Great. Here came the matchmaking express, right on schedule.
"No idea. Don't know, don't care to know," Caroline shut it down.
"How can you not know anything?" Elysia waved her hand dismissively. "Well, I asked. He's definitely single. Xanthe gave me his whole background check—family details, career trajectory, she even confirmed there's no history of genetic diseases. She knows you're single too and wanted to see if you'd be interested. Since you work at the same company, it would be so convenient! What do you think of him?"
Caroline couldn't hold back. "Honestly? Not much."
Elysia stared through the screen, assuming her daughter was just being difficult.
"Mom," Caroline sighed, "don't you and Dad ever get tired of this tag-team matchmaking operation you've got going?"
"Tired? What else am I supposed to focus on besides your happiness?" Elysia countered. "It's clear you and Griffin aren't clicking, even after all this time. No sense wasting his time anymore. Seaside City isn't exactly short on eligible bachelors—we should keep our options open."
"I'm genuinely curious about something," Caroline said, her patience wearing thin. "Am I some kind of financial burden on this family? Is that why you're so desperate to marry me off?"
"Don't be ridiculous! How could you say such a thing?"
"Then why the urgent need to find me a boyfriend? It honestly feels like you can't afford to keep me around much longer. Is the pantry running low or something?"
"How did we even get on this topic?" Elysia's eyes flashed with annoyance. "Don't push my buttons."
"I'm not trying to. I'm just telling you how I feel."
Elysia's voice took on that familiar pleading tone. "All my friends' kids are either married or engaged. You're the only one still single. How can I not worry? You have a great career, you're attractive—why should everyone else find a good partner while you're left behind?"
"Mom," Caroline pinched the bridge of her nose, "you're an educated woman. Can't you be a little less traditional? What century are we living in? Do women absolutely have to get married and have kids?"
Elysia's frown deepened instantly. "What else would you do? And don't give me any of that 'child-free' nonsense. I absolutely won't accept that."
Caroline felt her frustration building. "Is marriage and reproduction seriously my only purpose in life? Can't I focus on my career? Live freely?"
"Aren't you free enough? I bought you an apartment, a car—have I ever interfered with your freedom? Haven't I been respectful?" Elysia challenged.
Caroline knew this was a dead-end conversation, but she tried once more. "Constantly arranging blind dates and pressuring me to get married IS interfering. Stop pushing me. Give me some space. You can't rush these things—I could meet someone I actually like any day."
"Who? Where? How? You're always working. When do you even socialize? Apart from having dinner with Erica occasionally, you don't see anyone. I'm dying of worry here."
As Elysia paused to get a drink of water, Caroline was about to take another sip of coffee when the doorbell rang.
She checked the peephole and was surprised to see Leopold standing outside.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, opening the door.
Ever since that misunderstanding with Milo, Leopold hadn't found an opportunity to see Caroline alone. This document delivery gave him the perfect legitimate excuse.
Leopold held up two bags and walked past her. "I brought the approval receipts with the hotel stamp for you."
"Why'd you bring so much fruit just to deliver documents?" Caroline had completely forgotten about the ongoing video call as she took the folder from him.
Leopold moved to the kitchen with practiced familiarity, emptying crisp apples into the colander. "The fruit stand just got these in. The owner promised they're super sweet." He washed one and handed it to Caroline. "Try it."
Caroline was reviewing the receipt but automatically accepted the apple, taking a bite. The crisp sweetness burst in her mouth. "Delicious." The paperwork looked fine.
"Two copies—you need to sign mine as well," Leopold reminded her.
Caroline went to find a pen while Leopold dumped the rest of the fruit into the colander. As the water started running, Caroline returned, pen in hand. Just as she was about to sign, she heard "Caroline" from her phone.
Leopold turned around. Caroline froze mid-motion.
Their eyes met, and Caroline suddenly remembered she was still on a video call with her mother.
"Mom—"
Elysia's voice came through clearly, "Xanthe and I have it all arranged. If you're interested, we'll set up a dinner so you two can meet properly."
"No way. I'm not going," Caroline replied firmly.
"Why not?" Elysia demanded.
With Leopold right there, Caroline didn't want to elaborate.
"I just don't want to."
"Caroline, your father is right—I've spoiled you too much." Elysia's tone left no room for argument. "This time, you're definitely going."
While Elysia was usually gentle, once she dug her heels in, she was even more stubborn than Caroline's father.
"Do you have a fruit bowl?" Leopold turned to ask.
Caroline stared at him in shock as her mother's voice came through the speaker, "Who was that? Caroline, who's talking?"