Chapter 223 Tonight I Treat for Late Night Snacks
The inspection work for electricity theft was wrapping up when VoltWave Cables sent their first shipment according to the contract.
Ever since Caroline sensed Nash had ulterior motives, she paid extra attention to the project he'd won. She instructed the company's chief engineer, Dax, that all cable purchases from VoltWave Cables must strictly follow acceptance standards and procedures. If any problems occurred with the cables in use, they must be reported to her immediately. Issues needed to be investigated thoroughly - product quality problems would go to the manufacturer's after-sales service, while human negligence would result in individual accountability.
Although Dax didn't understand why Caroline was suddenly being so cautious about VoltWave Cables, cables and equipment worth millions of dollars, once put into use, were a matter of people's lives and property safety. When lives were at stake, nothing was trivial. He trusted that Caroline had her reasons.
Nash came to the Seaside City office early in the morning to deliver the documents required for the first batch of cables to her office.
Knocking on the office door, he found Caroline packing up. Nash walked in and said familiarly, "Going out for another inspection?"
Caroline's expression was distant, her tone maintaining only polite courtesy. "Yeah. What do you need?"
Nash placed a file box on her desk. "The first shipment arrives the day after tomorrow. Here are the cable-related documents."
The preliminary inspection for acceptance was to check the procedures provided by the manufacturer. The reason why it was not assigned to Deputy Manager Jasper was that there was a kinship relationship between them, so it was better to avoid it.
Opening the file box, we found copies of VoltWave Cables' business license, product manufacturing permit, quality inspection report, CCC certification, and certificates of conformity, all documents stamped with the company seal. These documents were essential; missing any one would make it impossible to prove the cables were produced by a legitimate manufacturer, and therefore impossible to proceed with acceptance later. Caroline had the right to refuse delivery.
The office was quiet. Caroline looked down, reading carefully. Nash sat across from her, seemingly playing with his phone. When Caroline wasn't paying attention, he turned off the camera sound and secretly took a photo of her.
Photos taken from a boyfriend's perspective stored in the phone could hardly fail to arouse misunderstanding.
"No problem," Caroline said briefly, closing the file box and locking it in the filing cabinet.
Nash took the hint and said goodbye. "You're busy, I'll head back to the company."
After a few steps, he stopped and turned back. "It's going to rain today, don't forget your umbrella."
Caroline just smiled faintly without saying anything.
Passing by Dax Dixon's office, she went in and closed the door.
Caroline said, "VoltWave Cables' shipment arrives Friday. Can you handle receiving it? Have Nico Reed from the maintenance team take over the electricity theft inspection work."
Dax said, "Sure, I'll call Nico in a bit."
Caroline continued, "Warehouse No. 1 has been cleared out. You arrange the personnel, lead the team yourself, and oversee the entire process to check whether the outer packaging of the cables is intact. Verify that the product brand on the packaging, as well as the specifications and models of the cables, are consistent with what we ordered."
Dax said, "No problem. Which company for the follow-up inspection?"
Caroline said, "Orson Welles from Northern Power has already arranged it, they're hiring NovaCable Inspection, a company with authoritative certification qualifications."
Dax said, "NovaCable Inspection, Orson's impressive."
Caroline said, "This shipment is quite large, we'll probably need to work late."
Dax said casually, "No worries, I'd just be sitting at home alone anyway."
Caroline said, "I don't want to take up everyone's rest time, but you know we really need these supplies urgently."
Dax laughed. "It's fine."
Caroline said, "I'll be there Friday night too. If it gets too late, I'll treat everyone to a late-night snack."
Dax protested, "How can we let you pay for that?"
"It's settled then." Caroline pushed the door open and left.
Dax was an engineer with a technical background. Caroline had worked at Seaside City's power company for many years and trusted him completely. He was straightforward, meticulous in his work, maintained appropriate boundaries with people, had a simple and direct way of thinking, and didn't like complicated emotional entanglements.
On Friday, for the delivery, Dax didn't disappoint Caroline. After the cables were transported to the warehouse, worried about any slip-ups, he led his team to oversee the entire process and inspected everything very carefully.
Caroline finished her work and headed to Warehouse No. 1, calling Leopold as she walked.
When the call connected, Caroline asked, "Are you off work yet?"
Leopold, wearing Bluetooth earbuds, kept his eyes on the computer screen while his hands rapidly typed on the keyboard. "Not yet. Are you done?"
He glanced at the time. "I still need to work a bit longer. Take a cab home first."
Caroline said, "I'm working late tonight too, just letting you know."
"Found more electricity theft?"
"No, receiving a cable shipment."
"How long?"
"I haven't gotten to the warehouse yet, not sure."
"Alright, message me later."
"Will do."
After hanging up, Caroline arrived at the storage warehouse in the back courtyard.
From a distance, she could see Dax holding a walkie-talkie, calling someone. She walked toward him, and as she got closer, she heard him say into the radio, "Owen, you and Brian arrange the cables inside, stack them neatly, and check for any damage."
A response came through the radio, "Copy that, copy that."
Hearing footsteps, Dax turned and saw Caroline. "Ms. Tudor, you're here early."
Caroline asked, "How much has been delivered?"
Dax said, "They came late - the trucks didn't arrive until almost afternoon. Seven trucks have already been unloaded into the warehouse, one is currently being unloaded, and five more are almost here."
Caroline said, "Pretty good progress."
Dax checked his watch, estimating the time. "Takes nearly an hour to unload one truck. The rest should be finished around ten."
Caroline said, "Tell them I'm treating everyone to a late-night snack."
Dax raised the walkie-talkie and said, "Everyone keep up the good work. Ms. Tudor will treat everyone to a late-night snack tonight."
Cheerful acknowledgments came through the radio.
Caroline sent Leopold a WhatsApp message: [Should be done by ten at the earliest. Everyone's working late, so I'm treating them to a late-night snack.]
Leopold was focused on writing a proposal, his phone propped up on a stand beside him with Caroline's WhatsApp chat open. Seeing the message, he replied: [OK.]
The evening breeze was cool, the warehouse yard bustling with activity, and the storage building brightly lit.
Caroline, wearing a safety helmet, joined the coordination team, directing the forklifts transporting cables.
When Leopold arrived at the Seaside City office, he spotted her in the crowd right away.
Caroline had her pants rolled up, her white shirt wrinkled. She was giving instructions through her walkie-talkie, completely unaware of someone approaching from behind. From Leopold's angle, the yellow safety helmet was too big, making her whole face look especially small and somewhat cute.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm. She instinctively pulled away, then saw it was Leopold and pretended to be annoyed. "You scared me."
Leopold said, "If I hadn't stopped you, you would've tripped over that concrete block."
Caroline asked, "What are you doing here?"
Leopold smiled. "You're treating your colleagues to a late-night snack. In case you get happy and drink too much, I'm here to watch over you."