Chapter 175 No Conscience
Seeing that Caroline wouldn't budge, Jasper didn't want to spell things out, some things couldn't be said at the office. He planned to find another chance to meet Caroline outside and talk.
He stood up to leave. Caroline walked him to the door. "Mr. Russell, as long as the procurement is compliant and legal, I'll fully support it."
"Okay."
Jasper felt Caroline was deliberately reminding him with that last comment.
After Caroline returned to her desk, she put away all the product materials and locked them in her drawer.
Elijah once said that anything involving people's livelihood was no small matter, and anything involving human lives couldn't have even a trace of selfish motives. Cable procurement concerned both livelihood and lives—it wasn't something Jasper could get away with just by pulling strings.
That evening, Caroline was leaning on the sofa watching TV while Leopold sat next to her with his laptop on his legs, working.
The TV show happened to have a scene involving a procurement project. Without taking her eyes off the screen, Caroline asked Leopold, "Do you guys have bidding projects at your hotel?"
Leopold kept typing. "Yes, but none that go through me. Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
Caroline said, "Our company needs to purchase cables, quite a lot of them. Whoever lands this order will make good money. One of the executives wants me to directly award the project to a cable company he knows."
Leopold asked, "Did you agree?"
Caroline said, "Of course not. I haven't even checked this company's credentials or seen their products. How could I agree?"
Leopold said meaningfully, "If he really lands this project, he'll get quite a bit out of it."
Caroline leaned against his shoulder. "That's for sure, but his career has pretty much peaked."
Leopold raised an eyebrow, teasing her, "You're that heartless?"
Caroline just smiled without answering, looking cunning and playful.
Rarely seeing her like this, Leopold closed his laptop and set it aside, pulled her closer, looked down at her, and said, "Within three days, he'll come to you again."
Caroline said, "That's what I think too. When meat's on the table, everyone wants to grab it for their own bowl."
Leopold ran his fingers through her hair—it had grown since they first met, long enough now to wrap around his fingers.
He asked, "What are you thinking?"
"I plan to go through proper channels. From project approval and bidding to qualification review, audit pricing, and all subsequent processes—everything must follow regulations. Not one step less, not one item missing," Caroline lost interest in the TV and looked up into Leopold's deep eyes. "Turns out when looking for a husband, you should still pick a handsome one. Just looking at you makes me happy."
Leopold smiled warmly, his eyes filled with gentle affection, and Caroline, under his gaze, seemed instantly drawn into a tender trap.
He said, "Do you know what happens when you suddenly confess like that?"
His husky voice and sexually charged gaze were teasing her.
Caroline's eyes sparkled as she naturally hooked her hand around his neck, lifting her chin to meet his lowering shoulder. Her voice came out hoarse from her throat, "I don't know, tell me."
Leopold curved his lips in a not-quite-proper smile and whispered in her ear, "I want to make love to you."
Caroline's ears turned red, and then he pressed her down on the sofa.
His long fingers threaded through hers, her slender wrists pinned above her head as he kissed her forcefully.
The process was intense, leaving them both drenched in sweat and tightly embracing afterward.
Caroline panted slightly. She could hear his strong heartbeat. Weak and powerless, she said, "I have no strength left. Carry me to the shower."
Leopold carried her into the bathroom. Standing under the showerhead, she could barely stand without Leopold supporting her. His large palm wiped the water from her face, and the next second, he gripped the back of her neck and gave her a passionate kiss.
The glass door was soon covered with a hazy frost from the rising steam. Blurred silhouettes appeared in the mist, and scattered handprints on the shower screen depicted the recent struggle.
Water flowed down the curves of their bodies until it mysteriously disappeared.
With her, Leopold seemed tireless. Even though they were already tightly embracing, his heart craved her even more.
When he put her back on the bed, Caroline's eyebrows furrowed tightly in pain.
He held her body from behind as Caroline curled up like a baby.
Leopold rubbed her lower abdomen with his warm palm. "I'll be more careful next time."
Caroline said with a sob in her voice, "I don't believe you."
Leopold laughed softly, the vibration from his chest transmitting through her thin back. "Ungrateful. You're done with me after getting your pleasure."
Caroline said righteously, "I'm in pain, can't I cry?"
Leopold bit her shoulder lightly with his teeth. "You have the nerve to cry? Who was it that wrapped her legs around me and wouldn't let go just now?"
Caroline's face turned red. She pulled the blanket over her head and protested in a muffled voice through the covers, "I didn't wrap around you."
"Stop it, let me hold you." Leopold pulled her out from under the blanket and only felt sleepy once she was in his arms.
Just as Caroline expected, Jasper asked her to dinner within a couple of days. She politely declined the first two times, but the third time, Caroline couldn't refuse anymore.
Jasper made a reservation at Gastronomy Royale, a restaurant she frequented and where she was a regular.
After work, Caroline drove straight to Gastronomy Royale, calling Leopold on the way.
When he answered, Caroline said, "I'm not coming home for dinner tonight. Jasper invited me to eat at Gastronomy Royale—it's probably about the cable project. If you have time after dinner, come over early. I'll leave my car keys at the front desk, and you can pick them up when you get there."
Leopold said, "Okay, I'll come over in a bit. Are you going to drink?"
He didn't even allow his female employees to discuss business at drinking parties, so how could he let his own wife go to one?
Caroline said, "I won't drink. I'll say I'm trying to get pregnant."
Leopold laughed. "Pretty smart. Just the three of you eating?"
Caroline said, "There's also a female employee from their company. They probably thought it wouldn't be appropriate with just me as the only woman, so they found another woman to join."
"I see, at least they have some sense." Leopold said.
Caroline parked her car in front of Gastronomy Royale, went to the cashier counter, and handed her car keys to the floor manager. "I'm leaving my car keys with you. My husband will come pick them up later."
The floor manager already knew them well and readily agreed, "Sure, leave them here."