Chapter 60 What Shows Can't I Watch
Leopold: [Dear Ms. Tudor, your guide Leopold is officially on duty. I'd be honored if you'd entrust your precious time to me tomorrow.]
Caroline smiled at her phone.
Caroline: [Looking forward to your excellent services, Leopold. See you tomorrow.]
Leopold: [Until tomorrow.]
Erica caught up with Caroline as they left the bar, immediately diving into their plans for the next day. According to their itinerary, they were supposed to visit a nearby cultural village to experience local traditions, but with Leopold now available, Erica was eyeing a paragliding adventure instead. She asked if Caroline would mind splitting up for the day.
Caroline, secretly thrilled at the prospect of spending more time alone with Leopold, agreed without hesitation.
The sky had barely lightened to a soft gray when Caroline heard movement from Erica's room. She pulled back her curtains and stepped out to find Erica tiptoeing toward the door with a backpack slung over her shoulder.
"Did I wake you?" Erica whispered apologetically.
"No, just heading to the bathroom," Caroline fibbed.
"Cool. I'm heading out—get some more sleep," Erica said, switching off the living room lamp before jogging out the door.
Caroline wandered onto the balcony and gazed at the distant shoreline. The morning sea was serene, waves gentle as if still half-asleep. The horizon blurred where ocean met sky, making it impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.
It was early, but the perfect time to catch the sunrise over the water.
Fully dressed with her camera in hand, she headed out.
The beach wasn't as empty as she'd expected. Several early risers had already claimed the prime photography spots. Caroline found a smooth boulder to perch on and let herself be hypnotized by the rhythm of the waves while waiting for the sun to make its appearance.
By the time Leopold woke up, Caroline had already posted a sunrise photo to her social media.
Her caption read: [Watch the ocean long enough and you'll crave people. Be with people long enough and you'll crave the ocean.]
Leopold rubbed his eyes, sat up in bed, and yawned before typing his response: [On my way.]
Caroline was enjoying breakfast in the hotel restaurant when his message came through. She opened their Messenger chat: [You're up? I'm in the restaurant.]
When Leopold walked into the dining area, the staff exchanged nervous glances. Someone hurried to alert the kitchen that the general manager was doing a surprise breakfast inspection.
Leopold sat down across from Caroline with a cup of coffee. She looked up from her plate. "That was fast."
Instead of his usual business attire, he wore casual clothes today—a refreshing change.
Caroline's lips curved into a smile. "So who am I sitting with right now—Mr. Wipere the hotel boss, or Leopold the tour guide?"
Leopold leaned back in his chair with lazy confidence and set down his coffee cup. "Right now, I'm your boyfriend enjoying breakfast. Once we leave this hotel, I transform into Leopold the tour guide." His voice carried a playful undertone.
Caroline's eyes drifted to his cup. "Is coffee all you're having for breakfast?"
He took a small sip. "Just need the caffeine boost."
"Rough night?" She asked.
Leopold explained that around 2 AM, he'd received an emergency call from a guest whose daughter had lost her cochlear implant somewhere in the hotel. They'd searched floor by floor until finally locating it near the fountain in the courtyard. By the time he got back to bed, it was almost 4 AM.
"That sounds exhausting," Caroline said sympathetically. "Though I imagine it was worth it. Those implants cost a fortune—like $150,000 or something?"
"Yeah, the mother mentioned the whole setup was nearly $300,000. Not exactly pocket change for any family. Finding it was non-negotiable." Leopold pinched the bridge of his nose, and Caroline noticed his bloodshot eyes. "You know what, you should explore on your own today. I should probably catch up on sleep."
"We're used to it," he shrugged. "This happens all the time in the hospitality business."
"I'm perfectly capable of finding my way around," Caroline insisted. "You really should get some rest."
Leopold raised an eyebrow, his voice teasing. "Trying to ditch me again? Got some secret adventure planned that I'm not allowed to see?"
He didn't actually mean it—he just didn't want her to worry about him.
"As if! There's nothing I'm hiding," Caroline laughed, dabbing her napkin to her lips. "Fine, if you're determined to exhaust yourself, let's go."
The moment they left the restaurant, the staff erupted into speculation about their relationship.
Everyone knew Leopold was a workaholic who never brought women along during his inspections.
Some bet she was his girlfriend, others guessed she was a client, and a few suggested she was just a beautiful guest who'd managed to catch his eye.
"How far is the cultural village?" Caroline asked as they walked to the car.
"About forty minutes by car," Leopold said, starting the engine.
Caroline nodded. "Anything fun to do or eat there? I also want to get some souvenirs for my coworkers. Any recommendations?"
Leopold chuckled. "Ever heard the travel advice to never buy souvenirs, especially from cultural villages? Most of that overpriced stuff ends up being available at any cheap tourist shop."
"I'm not looking for anything expensive," Caroline said. "Just some small mementos for my colleagues."
"Fair enough. Just remember this rule: under $100, you're buying happiness; over $100, you're buying a lesson." Leopold advised. "There are plenty of artisans who claim to sell genuine silver pieces, but it's a mixed bag of real and fake. Tourists who don't know better often get ripped off. For your female colleagues, you could get rings or bracelets, and for the guys, maybe pendants or charms—most around $20. Don't spend more than that."
He continued, "When I first scouted Pinecrest years ago, the cultural village was still authentic—locals actually lived there, and the community was genuinely welcoming. As tourism boomed, many residents moved away and rented their homes to merchants from outside. The place has become commercialized, hardly resembling what it once was."
"You know which silver shops are legitimate, though, right?" Caroline asked.
"I used to," Leopold said, "but it's been almost six months since my last visit. I'm not sure if the same shops are still there."
"Let's check it out anyway," Caroline said.
As they drove along the coastal road lined with coconut trees, Caroline asked, "Can people just pick these coconuts whenever they want?"
"No, these are all under contract," Leopold explained. "And even if they weren't, we couldn't climb up there without professional equipment. The locals use special tools for harvesting."
"Could you climb up with the right tools?" She asked.
"You're giving me way too much credit," Leopold laughed awkwardly.
Despite his reluctance to admit it, coconut tree climbing was definitely not in his skill set.
Caroline couldn't resist teasing him. "So there are things the great Leopold can't do after all."
Hearing her playful tone, Leopold glanced at her and smiled. "Sounds like you've been pretty impressed with me until now."
"I was—until about sixty seconds ago," Caroline shot back. "I used to climb trees as a kid, you know."
Leopold laughed, shaking his head. "Climbing regular trees and coconut palms are completely different things! Regular trees have branches to grab onto. These palms are just straight trunks with nothing to hold. Even with equipment, they're challenging."
Caroline smirked. "Whatever you say, Mr. Can't-Climb-A-Palm."
"Who says I can't?" In one smooth motion, Leopold reached over and hooked his arm around the back of Caroline's neck, pulling her toward him. She dissolved into giggles, ticklish at the nape of her neck.
Then, softly, Leopold pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Caroline felt it immediately and her laughter faded. The tips of her ears turned bright red as warmth spread through her chest.