Chapter 186 Seraphic Heights Hotel
Leopold was just about to reply to the message when Erik's call came through.
Erik wouldn't call unless it was something important. He pressed answer and held the phone to his ear, "What's up?"
Erik briefly explained what had happened at the meeting. Leopold kept his eyes fixed on the ground, his expression cold and stern, showing neither joy nor anger. After a moment, he replied, "Got it."
After hanging up, Leopold's expression was complicated. Some things were starting to confuse him.
While he was puzzled, another WhatsApp message from Caroline came through. He opened it and replied: [Flight's grounded due to bad weather. Still at the airport waiting for clearance.]
Caroline glanced at the time. It should be around 8 AM in Eldoria now.
Caroline: [Have you eaten breakfast?]
Leopold: [Yes.]
Caroline: [With bad weather, there's no telling when flights will resume. You should find a hotel and get some rest.]
Leopold: [No rush, I'll wait a bit longer.]
Caroline: [With so many stranded passengers, what if you can't book a hotel?]
Seeing her doubt his ability to book a hotel, Leopold smiled and replied: [I'm in the hotel business, and you think I can't book a hotel? Think again before you reply.]
Caroline froze.
She was so worried she'd forgotten about that.
Then she saw Leopold send another message: [If you can't come up with a good answer, I'll deal with you when I get back.]
Caroline was checking the real-time weather conditions at Eldoria airport on her computer and didn't notice Leopold's message right away.
When she finally saw it, she quickly replied.
Caroline: [If you want to deal with me, do it now. Offer expires soon.]
Leopold: [You think I can't do anything about you?]
Caroline: [Yep.]
Seeing how pleased and happy she looked, Leopold thought again about something he'd been planning.
He suddenly asked: [Honey, which foreign city do you like?]
Caroline replied: [Nowhere's better than home. I have no interest in going abroad.]
Leopold paused for two seconds, then typed: [Still prefer Seaside City?]
Caroline: [Yes. What about you? Which city do you like?]
Leopold replied without hesitation: [Wherever you are, that's where I like.]
Caroline: [Such smooth talk, Mr. Wipere has a bright future ahead.]
Leopold: [It's all from being around you, thanks to Ms. Tudor.]
Caroline asked again: [Sure, you don't want to find a hotel to rest?]
Leopold: [Let me check again. If there's really no chance, I'll go to a hotel.]
He was eager to get home, so he held onto hope, wishing for that one-in-ten-thousand chance the flight would take off.
After Leopold asked the ground staff and was told no flights would depart today, he walked out of the airport terminal.
He found the hotel closest to the airport. After getting out of the car, a pair of eyes followed him all the way into the hotel.
Leopold checked in at the front desk, got his room key, and headed for the elevator. Just as he stepped in and pressed the close button, a woman's hand suddenly blocked the elevator door.
Leopold was startled but had already pressed the open button.
It was a sexy-looking foreign woman. After she entered the elevator, Leopold automatically moved to the opposite end to keep his distance.
The foreign woman glanced at the floor buttons but didn't press any. She must be going to the same floor as him.
Inside the elevator, the four metal panels reflected like mirrors, clearly showing both of them. Leopold clearly noticed her glancing at him. He looked away, pretending not to notice.
The elevator door opened.
Based on where they were standing, the woman walked out of the car first. Leopold waited two seconds before exiting.
But after a few steps, Leopold sensed something was wrong. Her attention wasn't on finding her room number—she was watching him.
Leopold glanced at his room key and deliberately walked past room 909. She kept walking forward too. He suddenly stepped back a few paces and swiped open his door. When she heard the electronic lock click open, she turned around only to see him already disappearing into his room.
She hurried back and stopped in front of Leopold's door, knocking.
Leopold had just set his suitcase at the foot of the bed when he heard the knocking. His experience abroad had taught him never to open the door for strangers, even during the day, even if a beautiful woman was standing outside.
Three more knocks came.
Leopold looked at the closed door but didn't answer.
"Hello, Mr. Wipere, I'm Pippa Romanov from Seraphic Heights Hotel. Please open the door. I'd like to talk to you about something, if that's okay?"
This time, she spoke. Leopold was staying at Seraphic Heights Hotel, so if she really was Pippa, she was the daughter of this hotel's owner.
He walked to the door and looked through the peephole. She smiled broadly at him and waved her business card in front of the peephole. "Mr. Wipere, can you believe me now?"
Leopold only opened the door a crack, took the business card she handed him and looked at it, then opened the door fully to let her in.
"Please, have a seat," Leopold took a bottle of water from the fridge and placed it on the table, asking, "Ms. Romanov, what can I do for you?"
Pippa said with a smile, "I know about you and your achievements in the hotel industry. I'm here to ask if you'd be interested in joining Seraphic Heights Hotel. We really need talented people like you."
Leopold didn't get cocky from her few compliments. He sat steadily in the sofa chair opposite her. "Ms. Romanov, first of all, thank you very much for your appreciation. I'm only in Eldoria on a business trip, and I have no plans to leave my current company. So, I'm sorry, but you've made this trip for nothing."
Pippa didn't give up. "Don't refuse so quickly. You haven't heard my offer yet."
Leopold smiled calmly. "No matter what the offer is, I won't leave."
Pippa stubbornly stated her price. She didn't believe anyone could resist the temptation of money.
The salary and benefits she offered were indeed very attractive, definitely better than Celestial Waters Hotel. Anyone else would probably have agreed already.
Seraphic Heights Hotel only had international chains and hadn't opened any branches in Leopold's country, Aquilonia.
Leopold said, "Salary and benefits aren't my main consideration for changing jobs. My wife is in Aquilonia, so I won't accept any work abroad."
Hearing this, Pippa shook her head regretfully. "She should support you, support your work and career. You're being limited by her like this. Don't you think it's a shame?"
Leopold said without hesitation, "No, I don't. I can build my career just fine at Celestial Waters Hotel, and if I wanted to change jobs, she would fully support me. So there's no question of her limiting me."
"But Seraphic Heights Hotel can give you more space and better development," Pippa said.
Leopold shook his head with a gentle look. "Thank you, Ms. Romanov. My country is developing very well right now. Domestically, Celestial Waters Hotel has a huge market and customer base, with plenty of room for entrepreneurship and development. I don't think it's any worse than abroad."
Pippa could see from his eyes that he was full of hope for Aquilonia's future, and his refusal was firm and sincere.
She said regretfully, "You really won't consider joining Seraphic Heights Hotel?"
Leopold said with a smile, "Really, I won't."
"Alright then," Pippa shrugged helplessly. "I saw videos about you online. You handled that public opinion crisis brilliantly. I also looked into your other work experience. Seraphic Heights Hotel really needs talented people like you."
Leopold thanked her again and saw Pippa out, but she insisted on leaving her business card, telling him that if he ever wanted to change jobs in the future, Seraphic Heights Hotel would welcome him anytime.