Chapter 132 He Only Cares About Her Emotions
Allegra didn't move. The conversation between her and Caroline, though calm on the surface, was a silent war of clashing emotions and psychological skirmishes.
They had drastically different assessments of the same man, a chasm of disagreement between them. There was no right or wrong, only two people viewing Leopold through the lenses of their own experiences.
Allegra only saw Leopold's departure, but she failed to see that she was the one who had let go first. The person who gave him that final push was Allegra herself.
In just a few short sentences, Caroline had clearly gained the upper hand in this discussion about the man between them.
Just then, Allegra saw Leopold walk in from the entrance. She turned to Caroline. "I hope you won't mind our past connection. It's strictly professional now."
Caroline offered a faint smile. "It's all in the past. I don't dwell on a relationship that's over. Ms. Watson, perhaps you shouldn't dwell on the past either."
Her gaze held a serene confidence, a tranquility that seemed unshakable, as if nothing in the world could rattle her. It was the kind of profound composure forged through weathering life's storms, and it filled Allegra not only with admiration but also an inexplicable sense of security.
She finally understood why Leopold had chosen Caroline.
Leopold approached their table, his first instinct to check Caroline's expression. Seeing the brightness in her eyes and the sweet curve of her smile, he figured nothing unpleasant had transpired.
"All done with work?" Caroline invited, gesturing to the empty chair. "I just ran into Ms. Watson. Why don't you join us?"
Leopold gave Allegra a brief nod. "I wouldn't want to intrude on your private time," she said, declining. "My colleagues are waiting for me."
She gestured to a nearby table where her team was seated.
"It was lovely chatting with you," Allegra added, her focus back on Caroline. "If I were staying in the country longer, I think we could have become friends."
"If you ever find yourself in Seaside City, you have to call me," Caroline replied warmly.
Allegra's gaze shifted to Leopold. "You have good taste."
An irrepressible smile tugged at the corner of Leopold's mouth. "Of course, I do."
After Allegra departed, Leopold slid into the seat next to Caroline. "What did you order?"
Caroline listed the dishes, and soon enough, the food began to arrive.
He was the picture of attentiveness, constantly serving her, making sure her plate was full. But a question was nagging at him. He was sure they had been talking about him. How could he ask without sounding too obvious, yet still get to the bottom of it?
He forked another piece of steak onto her plate. "You like this. Eat up."
Caroline chewed slowly, a knowing glint in her eyes. She already knew exactly what was on his mind.
Leopold refilled her juice glass. As she took a sip, dabbed her lips with a napkin, and turned to face him, she beat him to the punch.
"You want to know what we talked about, don't you?"
Leopold put on an air of nonchalant confidence. "What's there to talk about? Me, obviously."
"And?" Caroline watched him, her expression hovering somewhere between amusement and a challenge.
He took a sip of water, feeling a little less composed under her direct gaze, strategically pausing to figure out his next move.
Seeing through his flimsy act, Caroline decided to put him out of his misery and just tell him.
"From an objective standpoint," she began, "I don't think she's ever really processed something from your past. It seems like she's been hung up on it for years."
Leopold didn't seem to care what Allegra had said or whether she was still wrestling with her demons. His only concern was Caroline's emotional state—whether this surface-level calm hid a turbulent undercurrent.
"What do you think?" He asked, his voice low.
"I don't really think anything of it," Caroline said. "You already told me what happened between you two, so there were no surprises, nothing to get angry about. But I could feel that she still has some complicated feelings for you."
Before she could finish, Leopold cut her off, his hand closing firmly over hers. "I don't care what her feelings are. I only care if you're angry. Does it bother you?"
Being seen, having her feelings prioritized—it settled something deep inside Caroline, making her feel even more secure with him.
She shook her head gently. "No."
"Really?" Leopold pressed, his eyes searching hers.
A soft, resigned smile touched her lips. "Why would I lie to you? Honestly, she was worried that I'd be bothered by your history. She made it a point to say it's all just work between you now and that I shouldn't overthink it. I told her the same thing I told you—it's in the past. I don't waste energy on finished stories, and she shouldn't either."
Leopold said only one thing, his voice firm and final.
"As long as you're not overthinking it."
Nothing else mattered.
From her table across the restaurant, Allegra watched them. She saw the way Leopold's gaze softened when he looked at Caroline. His eyes, which once held entire galaxies, now held only one person.
She remembered a time when that look was hers. It was a gift she hadn't cherished, one she had willingly given up.
And so, she realized, holding onto things you can't change only brings you pain. Once you let go, everything becomes clear.
Seeing Leopold now, happy and content, her heart filled not with regret, but with a genuine wish for his happiness.
"Do you have another meeting this afternoon?" Caroline asked as they left the restaurant, Leopold holding the door for her.
"At two."
"I'll pack up my things and head back soon, then."
Leopold knew how slammed she would be on a Monday. "Okay. Drive safe, and call me when you get home."
Caroline pressed the elevator button. "Your meeting probably won't be over by the time I get back. I'll shoot you a message on WhatsApp."
"Sounds good," Leopold said, then added, "I'll see if I can get back for a visit next week."
It would be nice if he could, but she wouldn't push it if he couldn't. They were both young, in the prime of their careers. This was a critical time for him, and his focus needed to be on his work. She had to be considerate of that.
After seeing Caroline off, Leopold headed straight for the conference room.
He ran into Lily in the hallway, who was carrying a stack of files. "Caroline's heading home?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't she stay a few more days?"
"Mondays are insane at the power company," Leopold explained. "If she's not there, the complaint calls would probably blow up the switchboard."
Thinking about Caroline's job and workplace, he was struck by how different it was from the hotel industry.
"I'll take those." Leopold took the stack of documents from Lily. After a week of preparation, the file was already as thick as his palm.
Just as Lily pushed open the conference room door, the elevator down the hall dinged open. Allegra and her team emerged, walking in a single file line.
The two groups met, exchanging professional nods of greeting.
Leopold, dressed in a dark suit, exuded the calm confidence of a mature professional. His extensive experience in hotel management and his wide network of contacts were assets he had painstakingly built over the years. Pitting that against Allegra, with her innovative ideas and exceptional execution, was a true test of his own abilities. Though they shared a past, at the negotiating table, they were simply two professionals fighting for their respective commercial interests. It was a challenge that would push them both to find common ground and forge a win-win partnership.
Drawing on his deep industry knowledge, Leopold proposed a series of practical, actionable suggestions. In turn, Allegra, with her keen market insight, injected new vitality into the collaboration.
They frequently nodded in agreement with each other's points. As the hours passed, the framework of their partnership began to take shape. They decided to co-create a high-end hotel brand, leveraging their respective strengths to enhance their market competitiveness. They also planned to collaborate deeply on talent development and service quality improvement.
Meanwhile, on Preston's desk, two reports on the overseas hotel partnership lay waiting. One was from Leopold. The other was anonymous.