Chapter 33 What Did She Say
When we faced setbacks outside, we thought of going home - not for any other reason, but because home offered us the greatest acceptance and provided the most comfort and emotional support.
At such times, home became our best recharger.
Coming out of the house, Caroline had just started her car when she saw Elijah returning.
She got out to greet him, "Dad, you're off work."
Elijah said, "Yes, are you heading back?"
Caroline said, "I waited for you but you didn't come back. I thought you were working late again, so I'm leaving. Go on up, Mom made soup."
Elijah looked up at the kitchen - the light was still on. He handed her the insulated bag he was carrying, "Take this home to eat."
"What's in it?" The silver insulated bag had no label, so she couldn't tell what it was.
"Salmon."
"I'm full, can't eat anymore. You and Mom have it." Caroline shivered, "Dad, go upstairs quickly, it's freezing."
Elijah reminded her, "The roads are slippery, drive slowly."
"Got it." Caroline jogged back to her car.
Elijah didn't enter the building until the car was out of sight.
Caroline despised scheming and hated using connections to get things done, but she still used Elijah's influence to cut off someone else's path.
In this matter, she considered herself despicable.
But life doesn't offer that many perfect solutions - there's always a bit of regret mixed in. Whether you can accept it or not, you have to accept it. You have to keep moving forward and look ahead.
The next day.
The research report on the wind power project still needed professional technicians to go to Thornfield Town for local measurements. Caroline personally went to the power grid company to find technicians. When the leadership learned of Caroline's request, they immediately assigned three technicians to work with her.
They stayed in Thornfield Town for five days, measuring on-site with the technicians during the day and collecting and compiling the measured data into the report at night.
Without data support, her report would just be empty talk, but once backed by solid data, Thornfield Town could very likely become the largest wind power generation base in the future.
To thank the three technicians for their full cooperation, Caroline specially chose Gastronomy Royale, a famous upscale restaurant in Seaside City, to host them. She also invited company manager Xander and administrator Ollie Morgan, plus two colleagues who were good at conversation. Everyone enjoyed the meal very much.
Just as the conversation was getting lively, Leopold called.
With the power company's annual meeting just two days away, he was still concerned about how Caroline's speech was coming along.
Hearing the noisy background on the other end, Leopold asked: "Having dinner out?"
Caroline: "Yeah, with leaders and colleagues from work, and technicians from the branch office."
Xander noticed something off about Caroline's tone and expression. Remembering hearing a few days ago that Griffin, the deputy director of the education department, was pursuing Caroline, it seemed things were progressing well.
"Your boyfriend checking up on you?"
Caroline quickly denied it, "No, just a friend."
"What kind of friend requires you to report in?" Xander smiled meaningfully.
Whether it was the alcohol or Xander's words, Caroline felt her ears getting redder and redder.
Leopold's voice came through, "Don't drink too much out there. I don't have anything else, just asking how your speech is coming along."
Caroline: "All prepared."
Leopold: "Nothing else then, get home early."
As Caroline was about to hang up, Leopold asked again: "Where are you eating?"
"Why?"
Last time he asked where she and Erica were eating, he just showed up. Who knows if he'd do the same this time.
Leopold gave the dumbest excuse of his life.
"From the atmosphere, the food at this place sounds pretty good. I'll go try it out, thinking of hiring another chef."
"Oh, I see." Caroline felt she was overthinking it. "Gastronomy Royale."
The conversation ended, and he added a thank you.
Leaving Gastronomy Royale, it was almost eleven o'clock. Since it was so late, Caroline didn't make the three drunk technicians drive back to the city at night. She booked a nearby hotel, got them settled, and then had a designated driver take her home.
Turning the corner to the garage entrance, Caroline hazily thought she saw Leopold's car following behind. Before she could get a clear look, her car had already entered the underground parking lot.
At that moment, Leopold's car was parked right at the community entrance. Just as he was about to call Caroline, her number appeared on his phone.
His low voice came through the receiver, "Home?"
Caroline walked while unbuttoning her coat, tossed it on the sofa, and collapsed on the sofa herself, breathing heavily. She replied with a nasal sound:
"Yeah. Were you just following me?"
From her voice, she was clearly drunk. Instead of answering, he asked: "How much did you drink?"
When drunk, the mind isn't clear. She didn't even notice he hadn't answered her question. Caroline frowned uncomfortably, everything spinning before her eyes, then closed them again. "Two glasses, I guess."
"You got drunk on two glasses."
"Two glasses of vodka."
She was something else!
"And six bottles of beer."
Leopold fell silent.
"We also drank two bottles of red wine."
Okay, she really could drink.
Leopold didn't know if he was angry or genuinely impressed by a woman who could drink so much. "You're really something."
"What, you want to drink with me?" Caroline's brain was completely uncontrolled by reason now, saying things she normally wouldn't say without inhibition.
"I can't outdrink you, you can drink way too much."
Caroline laughed, "So even you get scared sometimes."
"Scared, okay? Is that what you want to hear?"
Knowing she was drunk and probably wouldn't remember anything she said tonight, Leopold still didn't hang up.
"Drink less at social events from now on, get home early. If it's late, find someone to pick you up," Leopold advised.
"Don't need anyone to pick me up, I can do it myself. I can live just fine without a man."
Leopold rubbed his forehead, "Right, you're really something."
"Mr. Wipere, do you believe in miracles?"
What was that supposed to mean? Was she starting to ramble drunkenly?
Leopold: "What do you mean?"
"Having ideals in your heart, strength in your actions, hope for the future - the light of miracles, you get it?" Caroline thumped her chest hard. "Do you know what amazing thing I accomplished today?"
Leopold asked: "Tell me, let's see how amazing."
Caroline raised her hand to her lips in a shushing gesture, "Can't, it's still confidential, can't say. My lips are sealed, can't say. I'm zipping them up."
Leopold laughed, "Don't - if you zip them up, how can we talk? Unzip them first."
Caroline actually made the motion of unzipping, "Okay, go ahead."
Leopold sat downstairs from Caroline's place, chatting with her for over an hour until he heard soft breathing sounds from the other end. Only then did Leopold hang up.
Opening her eyes the next day, Caroline just felt her head was heavy, walking felt light and floaty, her mouth was dry. She went to the kitchen for a glass of water before finally feeling somewhat better.
Seeing that the last call on her phone had lasted one hour and forty-six minutes, and it was to Leopold, Caroline was instantly stunned.
What happened?
What did she say?