Chapter 399: Getting the Certificate

Chapter 399: Getting the Certificate

Erik came to Leopold's office with some documents. "Leopold, these are two contracts from newly franchised hotels. They need your signature."

Leopold took the contracts and flipped through them, signed at the bottom, but didn't rush to hand them back to Erik.

Suddenly, he looked up and asked Erik, "Why are you wearing yesterday's shirt?"

Erik remained calm and composed. "It's not yesterday's shirt."

Leopold smiled slightly, leaned back in his chair with the documents, and looked him over leisurely, asking with amusement, "Did I remember wrong?"

Erik's eyelashes fluttered slightly as he gave the lamest excuse of his life. "It rained heavily last night, so I took shelter from the rain at Lily's place."

"Took shelter? For how long?"

Erik looked at Leopold. It seemed Leopold wasn't going to let him off easily. "All night."

"Why didn't you just say so earlier?" Leopold handed over the documents, but just as Erik was about to take them, he suddenly pulled them back. His expression turned serious, his tone solemn. "If you dare treat Lily badly, I'll be the first one who won't let you off."

Erik's attitude was sincere. "I won't. I've already told her to move in with me."

This wasn't the answer Leopold wanted.

Erik paused for a moment. "I plan to see this through with Lily. It's not just for fun. Once things settle down and the company isn't so busy, I'm planning to have both our parents meet."

Leopold handed him the documents. "If you two get married, I'll give you a cash gift."

Erik smiled warmly. "Okay."

Early Saturday morning, Erik went with the moving company to Lily's place to move her things.

Lily had also terminated her lease. The landlord refunded the remaining four months' rent from her original rental contract, but kept the deposit because she broke the lease.

Originally, she hadn't planned to move, but she couldn't resist Erik's repeated requests. Besides, Erik had to come pick her up early every day, which wasted time.

On June 1st, Lily and Erik got their marriage certificate.

Neither of their parents were nearby, but their careers were settled in Seaside City, and they planned to live there in the future.

As for their marital home, Erik had bought his apartment last year, and Lily liked the renovation, so they didn't plan to redecorate. However, Lily decided to get rid of some of his terrible taste in soft furnishings and decorations, replacing them with her preferred style.

At both sets of parents' request, wedding ceremonies would be held separately in their respective hometowns.

Good news kept coming for Golden Ember Group. Former team members Evan, Isaac, and Verity joined the company one after another.

As for Juliet and Yvonne, they were still out of town negotiating with two hotels, and would probably return to the company in a couple of days with good news.

The office island inside the company had been cold and deserted, but after just over a month, the company was bustling with people again.

Leopold was incredibly busy every day. As newly franchised hotels increased, so did the complaints. He decided to start inspecting the hotels immediately—he couldn't let a few people's negligence damage Golden Ember Hotel's reputation.

After work, Caroline began living alone.

She brought the dishes to the table, but after just a couple of bites, she put down her chopsticks. The room, which wasn't even that large, suddenly felt unusually empty.

She went to the kitchen, got a thermal lunch box, packed up the food she'd made, grabbed the box, and headed out.

When Caroline stepped out of the elevator, she could see from a distance that the lights were on at Golden Ember Group's entrance.

She walked in and saw an unfamiliar face. The person looked surprised too. "Who are you looking for?"

Caroline was about to answer when she heard Lily walking over. "Caroline, what brings you here?" She introduced her to Evan. "Evan, this is Leopold's wife, Caroline Tudor."

Evan responded, "Hello. Leopold is in his office."

Caroline smiled. "You guys haven't left work yet?"

Evan said, "Two franchised stores had some problems. We're dealing with them. I'll get back to work."

"Go ahead." Caroline said to Lily, "You go ahead too. Don't worry about me."

Lily said, "Alright, I'll get back to work then."

Leopold's office door was tightly closed. Caroline knocked before entering, and Leopold's voice came through the door. "Come in."

Caroline pushed open the door. Leopold was frowning, looking displeased as he talked on the phone.

"We signed a franchise contract. Since we signed the contract, you need to fully execute the service quality standards required by Golden Ember Hotel."

The person on the other end seemed to be making excuses, and Leopold responded righteously, "The company provides training. That's not an excuse. You hired new employees and didn't train them—that's not my problem, it's because you didn't report it. ...Alright, since it's already happened, I'll send someone over tomorrow to do the training. You must find a way to appease the customer."

He hung up the phone, and the moment he saw Caroline, his hostility vanished. "Honey, what brings you here?"

Caroline placed the thermal lunch box on the desk and helped tidy up his messy desk. "I brought you dinner."

Leopold said, "It's so far. Why did you bring food? I could have just eaten when I got home."

Caroline said, "By the time you get home, it'll probably be midnight again."

Leopold set the documents aside, clearing the desk space. "What about you? Have you eaten?"

Caroline said, "I haven't either."

Leopold paused while opening the lunch box. "Why didn't you eat?"

Caroline said, "Eating alone at home is no fun."

Leopold suddenly remembered—he'd been working overtime at the company for almost a month now. "Honey, that was thoughtless of me."

Caroline said, "I know you're busy, that's why I came."

As they were eating, Caroline's expression suddenly turned pained.

"What's wrong?" Leopold asked nervously.

Caroline clutched her lower abdomen. "My period is probably coming."

Leopold said, "Let's go home after we finish eating."

Caroline waved her hand. "It's fine. You do your work. I'll be okay in a bit."

But her pain didn't ease—it got worse instead.

Leopold handed off the work that needed follow-up to Erik and left the company with Caroline.

In the car, Caroline curled up against the passenger seat. Leopold said, "You weren't this bad last time, were you?"

"No." Caroline shook her head.

"Let's go straight to the hospital." Leopold headed toward the hospital.

Caroline said, "No need. I have painkillers at home. The hospital would just prescribe painkillers anyway."

Leopold was worried. "Tomorrow we're going to Silverpeak City."

"It's not that serious. I'll be fine in a couple of days," Caroline said.

Leopold frowned. "No, listen to me this time. I've been meaning to take you to get checked out. I was so busy back then that I forgot about it."

When they got home, Leopold settled Caroline in, then went to the kitchen to make ginger tea and prepared a hot compress for her.

"How is it?" Leopold asked.

Caroline was sweating from the pain, but to keep Leopold from worrying, she said, "I'm feeling better."

Leopold sat on the edge of the bed, both heartbroken and anxious. "Stop lying. You're covered in sweat and you say you're better?"

Early the next morning, Leopold called Erik and briefed him on the work that needed to be handled that day.

"I'm taking Caroline to Silverpeak City." He didn't say what for, and Erik wouldn't pry, but he knew Leopold's mother lived there.