Chapter 52 Your Wish
Caroline nervously tucked her hair behind her ear, the tips visibly turning pink. She glanced at Leopold, who looked far more composed than she felt.
Erica's knowing smile said it all as she grabbed her jacket and purse from the chair. "Well, since our sweetheart has company, I'll get out of your hair."
She raised an eyebrow at Leopold. "The stage is all yours."
Leopold's lips curved into a gentle smile. "Thank you."
"Where are you going to spend New Year's?" Caroline worried about her friend. "There's nobody at your place either. You could go to my mom's—I'll be back first thing tomorrow."
"Don't worry about me," Erica waved off her concern. "My parents are out, but my grandparents are waiting for me. If I wasn't worried about you being alone on shift, I wouldn't have bothered coming out at all." She peeked back through the door crack. "Happy New Year to you both."
The door closed with considerate softness. Caroline couldn't help but smile. When she turned and met Leopold's gaze, her heart did that traitorous flutter. She tucked another strand of hair behind her ear.
"What brings you here?" She asked.
"I didn't like the idea of you working alone," Leopold said. "Thought I'd keep you company."
"It's really fine," Caroline replied, hugging the food container to her chest. "I've worked holidays before."
They stood awkwardly in the middle of the office. Without Erica as a buffer, the atmosphere suddenly felt stiff.
Leopold gestured toward the food on the desk. "Let's eat before everything gets cold."
His reminder made Caroline remember the meal she was holding. "You didn't need to bring food. Having you here is enough."
Leopold froze mid-reach for the utensils, turning to look at Caroline as if he'd misheard.
She quickly changed the subject. "The company cafeteria prepared dinner for us. Look," she opened her container and placed it on the desk. "They even made dessert for those of us working tonight."
Next to Leopold's gourmet spread, the company meal looked decidedly plain and practical.
Leopold spotted the chocolate cake and pulled another container from his insulated bag. "I brought dessert too," he said, opening it to reveal a chocolate cake.
Caroline's favorite.
She noticed the cake's slightly uneven shape and the generous helping of fruit on top.
"You made this yourself?" She couldn't hide her surprise.
"I started at the bottom in the hotel business, just like you did in the power company," Leopold explained. "I've worked every position in the hotel."
He handed her a fork and a knife. "Try it."
Caroline pulled a chair next to hers. "Let's eat together."
Seeing the chairs so close, Leopold couldn't help but feel a secret thrill. This was the first time she'd ever moved closer to him on her own.
Caroline propped her phone on the desk, playing a variety show that filled the quiet office with laughter and sound.
Their shoulders touched as they sat side by side, eyes fixed on the screen. Occasionally, the show would make them laugh, and when their eyes met, the laughter would spread between them. She'd look away, but his gaze would linger on her face.
She knew he was watching her, and her ears burned crimson, but she pretended not to notice.
They both carefully navigated around awkward silences, searching for topics, with Leopold doing his best to keep the mood light. Finally, midnight approached. The TV host began the countdown as their phones buzzed with New Year's wishes.
Outside, they could hear people shouting in unison, "Five, four, three, two..."
In the final second, Leopold turned to Caroline. "Happy New Year. Wishing you all the luck in the world, Caroline."
Caroline slowly looked at him, her smile peaceful. "Happy New Year. I hope everything goes well for you."
"Leopold," she added.
Leopold smiled warmly, his eyes filled with adoration. He didn't care about formalities—what truly made him happy was having Caroline beside him at this moment.
Outside the window, fireworks exploded, turning night into day as colorful lights bathed the city.
"Do you have a wish for the new year?" She asked.
Leopold thought for a moment. "I hope the sales at my hotel double. What about you?"
Caroline answered without hesitation. "Peace and prosperity for our country."
Suddenly, fireworks burst against the dark sky, reflecting in Caroline's clear, innocent eyes.
"I thought you might laugh at me," she said.
Leopold looked puzzled. "Laugh at what? Your wish?"
"Yes. I've said it before, and some people laughed," Caroline's face showed a hint of mockery, remembering how Atticus had teased her, saying she was overthinking things for a woman. "Did you think I was joking too?"
Leopold shook his head. When she'd spoken her wish, he'd seen a solemn respect in her eyes that demanded admiration.
"I should learn from you," Leopold said, looking at her hand resting on the windowsill. It was slender, delicate. His fingers twitched, but he resisted taking her hand. "Only if our country prospers and people live in peace can my hotel's revenue double. So yes, I wish for the nation's lasting peace."
Caroline smiled. Only someone on the same wavelength could truly understand and walk alongside her.
Another firework shot skyward and exploded.
Winter would pass, and the stars would continue to shine. She wished the person before her would always remain by her side.
Caroline suggested Leopold should head home, but he looked around the office. "Where will you sleep?"
She pointed to the two-seater sofa across from her desk. "Right there. I brought bedding, so I'll manage for one night."
"There's no restroom?" Leopold asked.
"There is, but it's upstairs, and I'm a bit scared to stay there alone," Caroline admitted.
Leopold knew he couldn't stay with her—this was her workplace, and he had to consider how it might affect her reputation.
"Can't you go home?"
Caroline shook her head. "I can't. A few years back, during New Year's Eve at another power station, the supervisor on duty went home for dinner instead of staying at his post. There was a massive power outage, and when citizens called the power company, no one answered. The mayor's hotline was flooded with calls. It became a huge issue, and that supervisor was transferred the next day."
Leopold raised an eyebrow. "Seems there's really no way for you to leave."
Caroline frowned. "It's late. Don't drive all the way back to Solstice Mountain now. It's not safe."
She expected Leopold would take her advice and go home, but after he went downstairs, he just sat in his car without leaving.
Caroline called him. "What are you doing? Why aren't you leaving?"
Leopold looked up toward her window, where her silhouette was visible. "I'm just sitting here either way. I'll keep you company during your shift."
"No way," Caroline protested. "What if something happens while you're sleeping in your car? Go home."
Leopold's breath came through the phone, low and deep.
"It won't be the first time I've stayed in my car. Don't worry about me. You just get some sleep."
Caroline heard him flick a lighter, followed by a red glow inside the car.
"How can I sleep knowing you're down there?"
"I wouldn't be able to sleep at home either," Leopold said. "I'll just stay a while."
"If you insist on this, I'll really be upset," Caroline wasn't joking. "If you'd done this when I was eighteen, I would have cried from being so touched. But I'm not eighteen anymore. If anything happens to you outside my workplace, not only would I be responsible, but my company would face consequences too."
"Leopold, you didn't think of that, did you?"
Hearing this, the fingers holding his cigarette paused. Leopold laughed softly. "I'll finish this cigarette and go."
"That's more like it," Caroline said with relief.