Chapter 20 Discovering a New Continent
Wednesday
Caroline got a call from Elijah, asking her to come to Savory Seasons.
Remembering how tense things had been between them last time, Caroline felt like she had no choice but to go.
She parked in front of Savory Seasons and took a deep breath before stepping out of her car.
After college, she and Griffin had fallen out of touch. They'd only seen each other twice at reunions, and both times they barely exchanged a few words.
Now, being suddenly thrust into a situation to rekindle things felt incredibly awkward.
Caroline stood at the door of the private dining room, giving herself a quick pep talk before pushing it open. She forced a smile and said, "Hey, looks like everyone's here. Sorry I'm late."
"You're not late. Mr. Tudor and I just got here too," Griffin said, standing up to greet her. "Long time no see, Vice President."
Hearing the familiar title made Caroline feel like she was back in high school, and she relaxed a bit.
"Long time no see, President," she replied with a smile.
Elijah noticed how Griffin's words immediately eased Caroline's tension, and he felt a bit more fond of him.
"Caroline, come sit down," Elijah called, raising his hand. "Griffin picked out all the dishes tonight, and they're all your favorites."
Caroline glanced around the table and sure enough, they were all dishes she liked.
Back in high school, they'd organized group dinners where Caroline would pick the dishes and Griffin would write the menu. It seemed he remembered her preferences well.
Some might find this thoughtful, but Caroline couldn't help but find it a bit unsettling.
"Griffin, you didn't have to just order my favorites. You should've picked some things you like too," Caroline said.
Griffin replied, "What you like, I like too. We have similar tastes."
Elijah smiled, "Alright, all the dishes are here. Let's eat."
Only after Elijah took the first bite did Griffin pick up his fork and knife. The first toast was also offered by Griffin.
It was clear he knew how to navigate interactions with higher-ups, striking the right balance. Such a person, capable and socially adept, was bound to have a bright future. He brought up topics that interested Elijah, and as they got more engrossed in conversation, they even toasted a few times. The atmosphere at the table gradually became lively.
Compared to Griffin's easy banter, Caroline focused on eating.
Elijah thought the timing was right and excused himself to the restroom, giving them some time alone.
But as soon as he left, the room fell silent, and Caroline felt her awkwardness creeping back.
Griffin put down his chopsticks. "Vice President, this dinner wasn't your idea, was it?"
Caroline swallowed her food and didn't deny it. "You figured it out."
Griffin sighed in relief, "Good thing I didn't thank you earlier."
Caroline chuckled, "If you had, my dad would've lost face."
Griffin's relaxed demeanor and friendly voice made Caroline more open to chatting with him.
"It's been a while since we last saw each other. Suddenly sitting down for a meal together can be a bit much. I was just trying to avoid awkwardness by keeping the conversation going, even if I rambled a bit."
"You, rambling? You seemed pretty smooth to me. You've got a knack for it, just like our old homeroom teacher. You've got that way of talking that makes people feel like they're being brainwashed."
Griffin laughed heartily. "Speaking of our homeroom teacher, do you remember the nickname we gave him?"
Caroline's eyes lit up at the memory, and they both said at the same time, "Captain."
"Yeah, you remember too!"
Just outside the door, Elijah heard the laughter and let go of the doorknob.
Seeing his daughter happy was Elijah's greatest wish, as it is for all parents.
Before leaving the restaurant, the two exchanged WhatsApp numbers.
To boost her campaign, Caroline proposed a green initiative for Seaside City's farmers, streamlining the approval process for agricultural electricity projects.
Her initiative was well-received by the farmers, and some even wrote thank-you letters to the mayor's office.
Griffin saw the commendation letter from the city and immediately sent his congratulations.
Griffin, Congrats, Ms. Tudor. You've won everyone's hearts. You're a role model for us all.
Caroline smiled at the message and replied, Thanks, Mr. Wallace, for your recognition and encouragement. I'll keep pushing forward.
Griffin sent her a thumbs-up emoji.
Caroline replied with a thank-you gif.
The next day, Griffin called Caroline. The education department was organizing a fire safety campaign focusing on electricity and fire use and wanted Caroline to participate in the school events. Caroline thought it was a good idea to educate kids on electrical safety.
They planned to visit three universities, three high schools, and twelve middle and elementary schools over the course of a week.
Caroline didn't immediately agree. She reported to Xander, who also supported the idea, saying it would be good for her public image, with photos and news coverage boosting her visibility.
As the campaign progressed, Caroline got better at her presentations, even creating boards and experimental tools to engage the kids.
Seaside City News began covering the fire safety campaign, featuring interviews with Caroline and Griffin. Elijah quickly called home, urging Elysia to watch the news.
Seeing Caroline and Griffin looking good together on TV made Elysia hopeful they'd become a couple. Now, it was up to Caroline.
After wrapping up the last university event, Griffin invited Caroline to dinner to thank her.
Over the week, they'd become comfortable with each other, making dinner more relaxed. Caroline even posted a picture of the meal on social media, showcasing a table full of meat, seafood, and vegetables.
Leopold, having just met with a client, casually scrolled through his feed and saw Caroline's food post. He was about to like it when he noticed something. Zooming in, he saw the table was set for two, and the other side looked like a man was sitting there.
Leopold opened a chat with Caroline but realized he had no right to question her. He put his phone away and hurried downstairs.
Griffin's car was parked at the entrance of Caroline's apartment complex. Caroline got out of the passenger seat and saw Griffin getting out too. She quickly said, "No need to get out. I'll see you later."