Chapter 219 Cotton Candy
The construction project from the production team gave Maddox's company some financial breathing room. When Erica found out, she specifically called Caroline to chat about it.
"Your Mr. Wipere is really something."
Caroline was on her way to an inspection. The road wasn't smooth, with occasional bumps, and she held onto the overhead handle while taking the call.
"Although they are good friends, the reason why Maddox should win the opportunity is that his professional skills are more preferred compared with others."
Erica was very confident in Maddox's abilities. "He's got the business side covered. Before, I got relatives and friends around me to introduce projects to him, and everyone was pretty satisfied. By the way, Maddox being able to put aside his status and take on these small jobs also has to be thanked to your Mr. Wipere."
"Thank him?" Caroline didn't understand.
Erica explained, "At first, Maddox didn't want to take the work I introduced to him. He thought the projects were too small and didn't pay enough. After Mr. Wipere talked to him, he now takes any job. That's how people should be flexible. When you're on top, you need to look down at the road beneath your feet. When you're down, you need to look up at the bigger sky. Without that awareness, how can you succeed?"
Caroline said, "Just having the guts to quit a high-paying stable job to start a business is impressive. Most people don't have that kind of courage."
"His family all thought he was crazy, especially his uncle. His uncle was the one who helped him get into the design institute in the first place. The day he said he was quitting, his uncle was the first to object." Erica paused mid-sentence and sighed.
Caroline could imagine the scene. "How's his relationship with his family now?"
"Don't even ask. He hasn't been home since he quit. I've tried to talk to him about it, after all, they're his parents. Just say a few nice words, apologize, and it'll blow over. But Maddox just won't listen." Erica was quite frustrated too. "His mindset now is to make something of himself to prove them wrong. Can't talk him out of it, just can't."
Caroline said, "He's already quit and started the company. What's in front of him now is just doing the work well."
Erica said, "That's what I think too. That's why I've been using my connections to get him work. My parents know I have a boyfriend and want me to bring him home. Maddox says he'll wait until he's doing better before meeting them. Isn't that ridiculous? My parents are asking him to come meet them, and he won't. I really don't know what to say. I'm afraid later, when he wants to meet my parents, they won't want to meet him."
Caroline felt this was important. "You should have a serious talk with Maddox about meeting them, so your parents don't get the wrong idea about him."
"They already have the wrong idea. They asked him to come, but he won't. My mom's already started telling me to break up with him, saying he's not serious about dating me, and if he's not serious, we shouldn't waste each other's time." Erica was getting more frustrated. "I've talked to him about it, but he's completely not listening. It's like I'm desperate to drag him to meet my parents, like I can't marry anyone but him."
Caroline asked, "Did you two fight?"
Erica replied, "Where's the time to fight? He's either at the company working on designs or out chasing business. When he comes home at night, he just crashes and sleeps. He doesn't even have time to talk to me."
Caroline said, "The company's in its startup phase, he's under a lot of pressure. Try to be understanding."
Erica said, "I really am understanding. If I weren't, I would've broken up with him already. He's got this drive - I believe he'll succeed. Enough about him, what about you? How much longer do you have to inspect?"
Caroline said, "About a week."
"Got time this weekend? Let's have dinner together."
"Sure."
After finishing the day's inspection work, Caroline contacted Leopold. He had an emergency and couldn't pick her up from work, so she had Oliver drop her off at an intersection ahead. It wasn't far from home, and the fridge was running low on food anyway, so she could stop by the nearby supermarket to buy groceries.
Oliver drove the work truck into the facility and parked. Ulysses got out of the back seat, turned around, and saw Nash walking over, smiling and greeting them both.
"You guys are back early today." Nash pulled out cigarettes and offered them around. One for each person. Ulysses politely declined, "Thanks, I don't smoke."
Oliver said, "I just quit, not smoking anymore."
Nash looked slightly embarrassed and put the cigarettes away. "You guys are out all day long. Must be tough."
Oliver picked up his tool bag and put it on his back. "Used to it."
Nash asked them both, "Where's Ms. Tudor?"
Ulysses picked up the testing box, closed the car door, and brushed the dust off himself with his gloves, making Nash step back a couple of paces from the cloud.
Oliver said, "Ms. Tudor got off halfway. Didn't say where she was going."
Ulysses showed no expression. "I don't know either."
Just as the two were about to leave, Nash asked again, "Where are you guys inspecting tomorrow?"
Ulysses had a fierce look and stared at Nash with a straight face. "Why are you asking?"
Nash smiled. "Don't read too much into it. It's hot out, I was thinking of bringing you guys some heat relief supplies."
Ulysses said, "No need, our company will provide them."
He had transferred from the military to the local power company. He'd worked in electrical technology in the army before. He was straightforward by nature with strong professional skills. He could see that Nash was sucking up to Caroline, and he looked down on people like that the most.
Before Nash could respond, Ulysses walked past him carrying the testing box, leaving Oliver to nod at Nash. "I'm off work too, Mr. Hearst."
Nash, hitting a wall, got in his car and called Jasper.
"Which area did Ms. Tudor inspect today?"
Jasper had just gotten home from work and hadn't even sat down yet. "She should have gone to Fairywood Town today."
Nash had gone to Fairywood Town today but hadn't run into Caroline.
"What's up?" Jasper asked back.
"Nothing, just asking."
After hanging up, Nash fell into thought. Looked like she's avoiding him.
If this approach didn't work, he would have to try something else.
Nash's car drove out of the power company. In the hallway, Ulysses frowned in disgust as he watched him leave.
Coming out of the tool room, Oliver said, "Mr. Hearst is really something."
Ulysses said, "Don't mention to anyone that he brought water."
Oliver said, "I'm not stupid, of course I won't say anything."
Ulysses thought about reminding Caroline tomorrow to watch out for Nash.
At that moment, Caroline had finished grocery shopping and was coming out of the supermarket. At the entrance, she ran into someone selling cotton candy and bought a rabbit-shaped one and a rainbow-shaped one, planning to share them with Leopold when she got home.
Entering the residential complex, she was thoroughly envied by a few kids playing around. Caroline was feeling pretty pleased when she heard someone call out behind her, "Caroline!"
Caroline froze, thinking oh no. "Mom, what are you doing here?"
"The beef I bought this morning was fresh, so I made steak and also made a beef pizza for Leopold. I brought them over for you two." Elysia walked closer, carrying an insulated bag, saw the cotton candy in her hand, and frowned. "Why are you buying this street food again? Look, there are even black spots on it. It's not clean. These are all artificial colors and sweeteners. Eating too much is bad for your health."
Elysia was about to throw it away when Leopold hurried over. "Mom, when did you get here?"
Elysia said, "Just now. I made your favorite pizza."
"Mom, how did you know I was craving that?" Leopold smoothly took the insulated bag from her hand, gently guided her back toward the building, and secretly waved at Caroline, signaling her to hurry up and eat.
Caroline looked around and seeing that there was no one on the road, she quickly unwrapped the package and ate.
By the time they got in the elevator, only one of the two cotton candies was left.
Elysia asked, "Where's the other one?"
Caroline licked the corner of her mouth. "I ate it."
"Didn't I say it's not sanitary?" Elysia told her to throw away the cotton candy. Leopold quickly smoothed things over. "Mom, leave this small matter to me. I'll supervise her throwing it away."