Chapter 222 Really Saw a Ghost
Caroline's face looked especially radiant against her white shirt. With light, simple makeup and clear eyes, she gave off the calm and elegant vibe of an educated woman who was refined both inside and out.
She just said, "I don't think so."
Nash smiled and slowly unscrewed the cap to finish the rest of his water. "When will you get to my factory for the inspection?"
Caroline said, "If nothing comes up, around 2 PM."
Nash nodded. "I'll wait for you guys at the factory."
As soon as he left, Oliver came back carrying a bag of popsicles. He opened the bag in front of Caroline and asked, "Ms. Tudor, what flavor do you like?"
Caroline took out a strawberry popsicle, tore open the wrapper, and put it in a plastic bag. Oliver tore open a pineapple popsicle and looked toward the street, muttering, "Why isn't Ulysses back yet?"
Just as he said that, Ulysses came out of the restroom.
When he got closer, Oliver handed both popsicles to Ulysses. "If you hadn't come back soon, I was going to look for you."
Ulysses explained, "Don't even ask. I had to search all over before I found a portable toilet."
Oliver said, "I told you to hold it. There's a factory up ahead with a bathroom."
Ulysses replied with the popsicle in his mouth, the coolness taking away the dryness in his throat, "I couldn't wait anymore."
"I think I saw Nash just now," Oliver said.
Caroline said, "It was him. His factory is on today's inspection list."
Ulysses turned around. "Which one?"
Caroline said, "Second to last on the list."
Ulysses mumbled something while chewing his popsicle. Oliver didn't catch it, but Caroline, who was closer to him, heard it.
What the hell!
After finishing the popsicles and cooling down, the three got in the car and headed to the next factory.
They arrived at Nash's factory right at 3 PM. The work truck stopped at the entrance. After Caroline and her team showed their IDs, the security guard let the truck in.
Nash's car was parked in front of the building, right next to the power company's work truck.
Before Caroline and the others could get out, the factory manager, Quincy came out of the second-floor office building.
He was wearing a classic gold-label BOY outfit with white McQueen shoes. With his buzz cut and round face, he looked somewhat like Nash. This kind of look was pretty popular in the village.
Caroline handed the inspection notice to him, had him sign it after reading, and with Quincy's permission, turned on the recorder to film the entire inspection.
The inspection went smoothly. They didn't find any electricity theft. As they were about to leave, Nash came out from the second floor and walked up to Caroline, saying, "Ms. Tudor, my nephew may seem careless, but he's actually pretty reliable when it comes to work, right?"
Caroline said, "The factory's electrical equipment and wiring are regularly maintained. We didn't find any problems."
She wouldn't give too many personal opinions about people she didn't know well.
Quincy said, "That's how it should be. I don't dare slack off on electricity matters. If something goes wrong, people could die."
Caroline appreciated Quincy's cautious attitude toward electricity use.
Caroline said, "Safe production requires this kind of vigilance. We'll be going now."
Nash opened the car door for Caroline. She glanced at him, and Nash said with a smile, "Even if I invited you to dinner, you wouldn't have time. Go on to the next place."
Every sentence was perfectly normal, but coming from his mouth, they carried an ambiguous feeling.
Quincy's eyes moved between the two of them, as if he figured something out, and smiled.
Caroline maintained a serious attitude throughout without any extra expressions, and firmly closed the car door.
"Let's go."
The work truck turned around and headed toward the factory gate. Nash was still standing there watching them leave. Quincy came over, looking at Nash with a grin, then at the departing work truck.
"Are you two together?"
Nash knew exactly what he meant by together.
Nash glanced at him with a smile. "You figured that out too?"
Quincy said, "The thing is, you've been with so many women, I don't dare call them out randomly. I'm afraid of causing trouble for you."
Nash looked again at the work truck that was about to disappear and said, "You can call this one out freely."
"Really?" Quincy raised his eyebrows. "Does Ms. Astor know about her too?"
Nash walked back with his hands behind his back. "She knows."
"You're really something, you've got these women all figured out." In his heart, Quincy really admired this about Nash. Not one woman ever threw a fit with Nash.
Quincy asked curiously, "How long have you two been together?"
Nash said, "Just a few days."
Quincy said, "This woman is great. Works at the power company, has money, controls our electricity, and she's beautiful too. She's not that old, is she?"
Nash stepped up the stairs. "Twenty-seven."
"Nice going, you're really something." Quincy gave him a thumbs-up.
In Quincy's mind, Nash and Caroline being together meant they already had a sexual relationship.
So today's conversation planted a bomb for later.
Quincy had lots of shady friends, and soon they all knew about Nash and Caroline. Quincy even bragged that if anyone had electricity-related issues in Seaside City's jurisdiction, they should come to him, saying the Seaside City Power Company manager was his aunt.
When Caroline got back to the office, she felt something was off about today.
She contacted Leopold to ask what time he was getting off work. As soon as she sent the WhatsApp message, he called.
"You're back?" Leopold asked.
"Just got to the office. What about you? Working late today?"
Leopold said, "Just finished a meeting. Nothing else to do. I'll come pick you up."
After hanging up, Caroline quickly tidied her office, locked the door, and went downstairs to wait for him at the entrance.
After about ten minutes, Leopold's Cayenne stopped in front of her. Caroline opened the passenger door and got in.
Remembering the previous smelly incident, Caroline took the initiative to say, "Today we only inspected factories, no farms."
Leopold started the car and said with a smile, "So you're trying to tell me you smell nice?"
Caroline said, "I wouldn't say nice. I've been in the sun all day and I'm covered in sweat, but I definitely don't smell as bad as that day."
She only heard him laugh without saying anything.
Caroline knew he was reminiscing about that day's funny moment again.
"Don't think about it," Caroline still remembered the kid in the elevator saying she stank. "Stop laughing."
Leopold nodded. "Okay, I won't laugh."
Caroline said, "Let me tell you something serious."
"Go ahead."
"I went to inspect a factory today, and it turned out to be Nash's." As soon as Caroline finished speaking, Leopold laughed. "He really won't go away."
"I find it a bit annoying too." This was Caroline's honest feeling.
Leopold said, "How many more days until you're done?"
"Two days."
Leopold scoffed. "He's got quite a lot of businesses. Are any of the remaining ones his factories?"
"Hard to say. I'll check tomorrow."
Leopold felt that Nash was getting more and more annoying. "No need to check. Just treat him like he's invisible."