Chapter 26 Easily Manipulated
Sunday morning.
Caroline got ready early, selecting a suitable business outfit from her closet before heading out.
Meanwhile, Leopold was busy at the hotel. The executive team had checked in the day before, with Xavier and other senior executives staying in the presidential suites. The identical accommodations for all executives were deliberately arranged to silence Xavier's complaints.
As the time approached, Leopold instructed department managers to invite the executives downstairs. He personally went to invite the hotel CEO, Preston Wipere and Vice President Xavier.
When Leopold knocked on Xavier's door, his secretary, Max Bell greeted him with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Wipere. Mr. Anderson is experiencing some heart discomfort. He's taken medication and is resting in his room."
Max didn't mention whether Xavier would attend the opening ceremony or if Leopold should wait for him.
Lily, hearing this, glanced at her watch and whispered in Leopold's ear, "We have forty minutes left. Should we wait?"
Leopold remained composed, seemingly unaffected by Max's statement. He gestured with his hand, "Max, please have a seat."
Max's expression shifted subtly before he quickly put on a smile and joined Leopold on the sofa.
Leopold turned to Lily, "Lily, please have the dining department send up two breakfast sets."
Lily nodded, "Right away, Mr. Wipere."
She left the room, walking briskly toward Preston's suite while using her radio to instruct the kitchen to deliver two breakfast sets to Xavier's suite.
While waiting for breakfast, Leopold maintained casual conversation with Max, who kept glancing at the wall clock. Noticing Lily's extended absence, Max commented with a smile, "Lily is certainly dedicated, personally handling even small matters like breakfast."
Leopold smiled slightly, "Women tend to be more detail-oriented. It's natural."
Max felt awkward and laughed uncomfortably, "You're right, Mr. Wipere. If it were me, I wouldn't personally go to the kitchen either. The dining department can handle it."
He implied that Lily was wasting time.
Leopold glanced at the clock—only thirty minutes left. If Xavier didn't get up soon, they would be late.
Just as he was about to stand, Max interrupted him.
"Mr. Leopold Wipere, I believe this Solstice Mountain hotel is larger than the one in Strollway District, isn't it? The revenue will surely exceed the Strollway location too. Mr. Preston Wipere must be pleased."
The Celestial Waters Hotel in Strollway District was the third largest in the domestic chain and was under Xavier's management.
Leopold replied, "The scale is comparable, but without operational data, it's hard to say."
His brief response dismissed Max's attempt at conversation. When Max tried again to prevent him from checking on Xavier, Leopold firmly placed a hand on Max's shoulder.
"Max, Mr. Anderson has been in there for quite some time. Heart problems are serious—I'm concerned. I'll check on him."
"Mr. Wipere—" Before he could continue, Leopold pressed down firmly, causing Max to fall back into his seat.
Leopold strode quickly to the bedroom and opened the door without hesitation.
Xavier was lounging in bed, scrolling through his phone, clearly enjoying himself, when Leopold caught him by surprise.
Startled, Xavier instinctively ducked under the covers, crying out, "My chest hurts!"
Standing at the doorway, Leopold observed everything. Xavier was deliberately stalling to embarrass him in front of the other executives.
But Preston had once told him, "If you can endure what others cannot, you'll succeed."
Leopold rushed to the bedside, feigning concern, "Mr. Anderson, where does it hurt? Is it serious?"
Xavier closed his eyes tightly, his face contorted in apparent pain as he mumbled, "Serious... definitely serious. My heart... stabbing pain... can't... can't breathe properly."
Leopold massaged his chest area, "Mr. Anderson, feeling any better?"
"No, no, still hurts," Xavier said. "Leopold, I don't think I can make it. Just proceed with the ceremony without me."
Just as Leopold had expected.
Leopold said, "That's impossible. For a major project like Solstice Mountain, without a respected figure like Mr. Anderson present to lend credibility, I wouldn't have the confidence. Please, you must support your junior and help me maintain the proper atmosphere."
Xavier was tired of being outmaneuvered by Leopold's smooth talking, always ending up at a disadvantage. This time, he was determined to be difficult and refuse to attend.
After the Dash incident, he needed to save face in front of the other executives. He couldn't let a junior staff member humiliate him and get away with it.
Leopold turned to Max, "Max, where is Mr. Anderson's medication?"
"What?" Max froze.
"The medication, for his heart condition?"
Max's eyes darted around—the medication was just an excuse to deceive Leopold; there were no actual pills.
"Hurry and find it," Leopold urged. "How could you misplace such crucial medication? If something happens to Mr. Anderson, can you take responsibility?"
Max opened his mouth but couldn't respond. Seeing Xavier frantically winking at him, Max could only remain silent.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Wipere."
Leopold frowned, "Don't apologize to me. Go find the medication immediately."
Max had no choice but to pretend to search for medication in the other room, leaving only Leopold and Xavier in the suite.
The door was knocked again, and Leopold called out loudly. Lily entered, pushing a food cart, and seeing the situation, she anxiously approached, "Mr. Wipere, what's wrong with Mr. Anderson?"
Leopold explained, "Mr. Anderson is having heart problems, and we can't find his medication."
Lily caught Leopold's subtle eye signal and immediately understood. "I just remembered where to find some medication."
Xavier continued moaning while watching them through half-closed eyes. As Lily hurried out, he became even more dramatic.
"The pain..." Xavier said with trembling hands, "Leopold, I really can't attend. Don't worry about me."
Just as he finished speaking, a sharp rebuke came from the living room, "Xavier, stop this charade. Let's see if you dare not attend!"
Xavier froze, his expression instantly normalizing, his complaints of pain ceasing.
Leopold stepped back from the bed and stood straight as Preston entered.
Preston walked in with an imposing presence, fixing Xavier with a fierce glare. The latter shifted uncomfortably under the covers, "Mr. Preston Wipere, what brings you here?"
Preston ignored him and looked at Leopold, who bowed respectfully, "Mr. Preston Wipere."
"You can't even handle something this simple?" Preston gave him a cold look.
Leopold said, "It was my oversight."
Preston snorted coldly and turned his gaze to Xavier in bed, asking in a chilling voice, "Sick, are you? Heart condition?"
Xavier hesitated before nodding, "Yes."
"Are you certain you have a heart condition?" He pressed.
Xavier caught his underlying meaning and licked his lips nervously, "I'm feeling better now. It's nothing."
Preston said, "Since it's nothing, you have ten minutes to get downstairs. Immediately."
Xavier scrambled to get dressed, "Yes, right away."
Leopold followed Preston out of the suite. In the hallway, only their secretaries were present.
"You let him manipulate you so easily?" Preston asked.
Leopold's lips tightened—explanations would be foolish at this moment.
"It won't happen again."