Chapter 162 Dressing
When Leopold received the notice from headquarters, he stared at the screen in silence for quite a while.
He had been working overseas for nearly three months, and just as he was about to finish up, the company sent someone else to take over. It was clear they were treating him as disposable.
The notice didn't mention him at all. Leopold didn't need to think hard to understand why.
When Lily called, Leopold leaned back in his chair and answered in a low voice, "What's up?"
"Mr. Wipere, I saw the notice. Now they're sending Indigo over, what about you? What was all your hard work for? What is headquarters thinking?"
Lily was upset on his behalf, but Leopold had already let it go the moment he saw the notice.
"Book me a flight back for the day after tomorrow. Indigo will probably arrive tomorrow. I'll hand over the work to him, and I should be free by the day after."
Lily wanted to say more, but then thought he really should get some rest. She swallowed her words. "Alright, I'll send you the flight information later."
"Okay."
Leopold hung up and went to the hotel management meeting as usual.
The hotel management team didn't expect Leopold to still attend the meeting. Before announcing the end of the meeting, Leopold stood up and said, "Before we wrap up, I need a moment of your time. I have an announcement to make—some of you may already know about this."
Leopold smiled calmly. "Headquarters will be appointing Mr. Indigo Talbot to take over the hotel's management. Thank you all for your support and help with my work over the past two weeks. Working with you has been a pleasant and meaningful experience. I've learned a lot and felt everyone's kindness and optimism. This work experience will be a very valuable asset to me."
"Before I leave, I will continue to complete my work seriously and ensure a smooth handover with the incoming manager to avoid causing any unnecessary trouble for everyone."
"I wish you all success in your future work, happiness and health. Meeting adjourned."
Leopold smiled and nodded, leaving amid everyone's expressions of regret.
Indigo arrived quickly. After Leopold handed over all the materials and work to him, he boarded the flight home.
He didn't tell Caroline, it would be a surprise for her.
Last time too, he'd left in a hurry and appeared suddenly.
After getting off the plane, he went straight home.
Walking in and seeing everything familiar, Leopold's mood lifted.
He took a shower, then went to the walk-in closet to change. It was August and hot out. To surprise Caroline, he decided to avoid his usual style and chose a more youthful outfit.
A white T-shirt, light gray jeans—his exposed forearms showing firm, attractive muscle definition. To keep Caroline from recognizing him, Leopold deliberately chose a black bucket hat, then added black-framed glasses and a face mask.
Standing in front of the mirror again, sure enough, from a distance, no one would recognize him.
Leopold timed it right to buy cold drinks, and placed a bouquet of flowers on the back seat.
Caroline, returning from the Thornfield Town wind power project site, got out of the car covered in dust and sweat. Driver Yves handed her a bottle of water from the back seat. "Ms. Tudor, your water."
Caroline took it. "There's a meeting in the city at nine tomorrow. We'll leave at 7,30. Pick me up at my place in the morning."
Yves replied, "Got it. I'll call you when I arrive."
Caroline walked toward the office building. Not far behind her followed a man wrapped up tight, holding flowers and cold drinks. Caroline smiled to herself, probably some girl from one of the departments with a boyfriend.
How nice, having someone bring flowers and drinks to work on such a hot day.
Caroline returned to her office. Before she could settle in, someone knocked on the door.
Caroline called through the door, "Come in."
The person outside knocked again.
Caroline said, "Come in."
The person outside kept knocking.
Caroline got up, saying as she walked, "The door's unlocked."
As soon as she opened the door, a bouquet of flowers was shoved in her face. She instinctively stepped back.
"Who are you?" Caroline stared at the person behind the flowers.
The flowers blocked the person's face. Then he held out a cold drink to her. Caroline had just asked when she spotted the wedding ring on his finger.
"You're back!"
Caroline threw her arms around him in delight. Leopold stumbled from her impact.
Her face buried in Leopold's chest—the familiar scent, the familiar embrace, the familiar feeling.
Leopold asked with a laugh, "Didn't recognize me?"
Caroline felt a bit guilty. "Honestly, I really didn't recognize you outside. I guess I didn't dare to assume. You're dressed like a college guy, how was I supposed to know it was you?"
Feeling the vibration in his chest, she knew he was very satisfied with her answer.
"Why are you dressed like this?" Caroline released him and looked him over again.
"Just tell me if I look good or not." Leopold had her drink first, inserting the straw for her. "Normal ice."
"You look great!" Caroline took it and sat down to drink. Leopold placed the flowers on the desk, took off his hat—just the glasses and mask were handsome enough.
She stared at him with a silly grin. Leopold removed the mask and glasses. "It's so hot. What's so good about wearing all this?"
Caroline said, "You're hot, but I think you look good."
"Really?" Leopold leaned against the sofa back, his hand naturally resting on the armrest, tilting his head with a not-quite-proper look in his eyes as he asked, "Does that treadmill hottie dress like this too?"
Caroline spat out her drink and started coughing.
Leopold quickly grabbed tissues to help her wipe up. "Come on, look how guilty you are."
"I'm not guilty." Caroline snatched the tissues from him, wiping her mouth as she said, "Why are you suddenly bringing him up?"
Leopold crouched in front of her, meeting Caroline's gaze, his eyes flowing with longing and desire.
The distance, the atmosphere—just right. His hand had just hooked behind her neck when Caroline suddenly sat up straight, saying nervously,
"No, we're at work."
Leopold pulled her back. "Come here." He used a tissue to wipe the drink off her collar. "What are you thinking?"
He crumpled the tissue into a ball and tossed it in a perfect arc, landing precisely in the trash can.
Leopold sat back on the sofa, his posture relaxed. "Working late today?"
Caroline took a big sip of her drink. "Not today."
Leopold checked the time. "What do you want for dinner?"
Caroline asked, "What do you want?"
Leopold thought for a moment. "You."
Caroline glanced at the door and quickly closed it. "We're at work, keep your voice down. How embarrassing if colleagues heard."
Leopold smoothly pulled her hand, biting her wrist, then releasing it, the teeth marks forming a watch on her wrist.
"Why'd you bite me?" Caroline covered her wrist. "Look, you left teeth marks."
Leopold thought he'd actually hurt her and rubbed the spot tenderly with his fingertips. But Caroline laughed, and as the teeth marks gradually faded, she said, "If I don't show you now, you won't be able to see them anymore."
Leopold caressed the ring of teeth marks. "Won't let me kiss you, won't let me talk—what do you want?"