Chapter 261 A Wife in Charge
The security guard was clearly nervous, his hand hanging at his side unconsciously clenching and releasing as he struggled internally about whether to tell the truth or keep hiding it.
All his unease and panic were visible to Leopold, and even his thoughts were almost guessed by Leopold. Instead of urging him, Leopold casually lit a cigarette.
Mr. King frowned, his face showing impatience. "Aaron Lowell, you'd better know how to take an opportunity when it's given. Since we were able to find you, we obviously have evidence."
The mention of evidence shook him.
Aaron pressed his lips together tightly. Meeting Leopold's gaze again, his lips moved, "I..."
With people who couldn't handle pressure well, you just needed to give them one more push at the crucial moment to make things happen.
Leopold stood up and walked over expressionlessly.
He took out his cigarette pack and offered it to Aaron. "Have one."
Aaron waved his hand. "Thanks, I don't smoke."
When Leopold entered the security room, he had noticed a pack of cigarettes by Aaron's side that didn't match his salary at all. Only two people around him smoked this brand - one was Xavier, and the other was Nash. The day he picked up Caroline from the dinner party, he saw Nash holding this brand of cigarette pack.
Xavier would never give Aaron cigarettes, so Nash was the most likely suspect.
Knowing Nash as he did, he probably bribed Aaron with expensive cigarettes to get him to tip him off.
Leopold asked pointedly, "Is it that you don't smoke, or that you don't smoke my cigarettes?"
Aaron opened his mouth, realizing no answer would be appropriate. He could only awkwardly accept the cigarette Leopold offered and thank him. But what surprised him was that Leopold actually took out a lighter to light it for him.
He'd been working as a security guard here for seven years. Those rich people came and went, never treating security guards as people. Sometimes, when encountering wealthy and arrogant people, he even had to put up with their attitude.
Leopold's tone was serious but without a trace of arrogance. "If the person asking for your help didn't consider your interests and the consequences you'd face, you should cut your losses in time."
Aaron looked at Leopold, his expression clearly softening.
He continued, "The reason I came to you first isn't because I can't deal with the person behind you. I'm considering that you came from out of town to work in Seaside City - it's not easy. Losing your job and your livelihood because of him isn't worth it, and there's no need for it."
"But if you insist on hiding things, you won't be able to escape involvement in this matter. When I investigate you, I'll dig up everything - what deals exist between you two, what role you played in the whole thing. When you go from being a bystander to an accomplice, don't blame me for not showing mercy."
"Accomplice?" Aaron's hand shook, and he nearly dropped his cigarette. "I just made a phone call, I didn't do anything."
Leopold countered, "You say you didn't do anything, will he testify for you? Will he stand up and say he was the one who told you to do it? He won't, right? So in the end, you're the only one who can't get out of this."
Aaron panicked even more, looking to Mr. King for help. "Mr. King, please help me. This really has nothing to do with me."
Mr. King said angrily, "Then why don't you just tell the truth?"
Aaron asked Leopold, "If I tell you everything, you really won't hold me responsible?"
Leopold nodded. "I keep my word."
"Alright, I'll talk."
With Aaron's consent, Leopold recorded a video. Hearing how Nash found the security guard and what reasons he used to get him to make the tip-off call, it was truly eye-opening to see Nash's unscrupulous and despicable methods.
Aaron pleaded, "I've told you everything. I just ask that you don't fire me. This job is very important to me. My house back home collapsed in a flood. My mom is counting on my monthly salary to rebuild a new house and for my brother's wedding."
Leopold looked at the manager, who understood what he meant.
Mr. King said, "Mr. Wipere personally put in a word, so I have to give him this favor. But you violated the company's confidentiality agreement by unauthorized disclosure of resident information to a third party, so you must face consequences. You can't keep your current position. I'll apply to the headquarters to transfer you somewhere else. Same salary, just a different work location."
Hearing this, Aaron thanked them repeatedly.
If it had been anyone else today, he would definitely have been fired. Transferring him away was also a way of protecting him.
Aaron said, "It's all my fault for being confused back then. I didn't think it would cause you so much trouble. I'm really sorry, I didn't think it through. The cigarettes he gave me - I opened one carton. I'll return them all to him right away."
Leopold said, "Whether you return them or not is your own business. Just avoid dealing with people like that in the future, and learn your lesson."
Aaron nodded emphatically. "Yes, it won't happen again."
Coming out of the property manager's office, Leopold called Beau.
"Mr. Collins, it's me, Leopold. Do you have time for tea?"
An hour later, at Zhuyu Pavilion Tea House.
Leopold personally brewed tea for Beau and poured him a cup according to proper etiquette, turning his palm. "Uncle Collins, please have some tea."
"You used to call me by my name directly. Now you're following Caroline in calling me uncle. The title has changed, but your place in my heart hasn't changed a bit."
Leopold understood immediately and humbly replied, "Uncle Collins, Caroline and I are both juniors. It's proper to call an elder uncle. In my heart, my respect for you has never changed, it can only grow deeper."
Beau smiled. "Leopold, you have changed."
"Have I?"
Beau raised an eyebrow, his gaze unfathomable.
Leopold joked to lighten the mood. "Maybe it's because I'm married now, with a wife keeping me in line. I've settled down."
"In your household, does Caroline call the shots?" Beau asked.
Leopold replied, "In our home, I decide the big things, and she decides the small things. But there are no big things in our home, so we follow her on everything."
Beau laughed heartily, lifting his teacup to smell it first, then said unhurriedly, "Not bad, this is top-quality tea. However, even the best tea leaves need someone who understands tea to appreciate them. So, Mr. Wipere, what flavor do you want me to taste in this cup of tea?"
Leopold smiled slightly. "Uncle Collins is an expert at tea appreciation. My amateur skills would just be showing off in front of an expert."
Beau took a light sip of tea and set it down. "Since you're calling me uncle like Caroline does, speak plainly."
Leopold said, "I'd like to ask you to help organize a dinner."
Beau was puzzled. "What's the purpose of this dinner?"
Leopold's eyes darkened, his whole presence changing as he said, "I want to deal with Nash."
"Deal with Nash?" Beau was even more confused. "You and Nash aren't in the same line of work and don't interfere with each other. Why do you suddenly want to do this?"
Leopold suppressed his anger, though his face remained refined and composed. "It's not about business. It's related to Caroline."
"Caroline?" Beau's expression turned serious.