NOVEL NEXT Chapter 553: Boys' parties (1)
Nate had contacted a gentlemen's club and hurriedly subscribed before bringing Scarlet there. She would see how boring it was and never ask to come again.
It was not actually a place forbidden to women - would that make any sense in this day and age? Just, the activities were carefully chosen to appease gentlemen. Most women would find it boring or unattractive.
Sam had gone there for a month or two. She had been attracted by horse riding, but it turned out that horses didn't like her much. All the other activities were so boring that she had interrupted her subscription - to everyone's relief since most guests would be distracted by a blonde woman walking around and complaining about golf most of the time.
Nate was expecting Scarlet to get bored as well. Hopefully, once would be enough.
However, his little girl was more than just excited to follow him. It did break his heart... He had searched for a place she wouldn't like, especially to get it over with. He was a bad person, wasn't he?
But going to the ladies' party was dangerous. Scarlet still needed to learn how to control her nature - and not just her wolf nature. In a gentlemen's club, they wouldn't interact with anyone else. They would spend some time together, complaining about gold and trying all the best dishes from the club's restaurant before deciding they had enough of it.
Just like that, father and daughter crossed the door hand in hand. For once, Scarlet wanted to walk. She had considered being carried, but she didn't want all those boys to think she was as little as not to walk.
Lara had frowned when she had heard of their plans, but she hadn't said anything. In the end, she trusted Nate. Rather, she couldn't understand whose idea it was. And she didn't care all that much, in the end.
She had made her daughter wear a dress with a big blue ribbon on the black. She even combed her hair into two tails, making Scarlet look even cuter and more innocent than usual. Part of her felt guilty for the little trap: all those gentlemen would think her daughter was an adorable little thing, wouldn't they? As long as they didn't chat, it would have stayed that way.
Nate had then decided to wear a blue suit to match his daughter. Since Lara had sighed in awe when she had seen them together, he had taken notes in his mind to do that kind of thing more often. Lara had been so affected that she had taken a dozen pictures of him and Scarlet.
The little girl had appreciated all that attention, even asking Nate to get more dresses with ribbons on the way back.
«This place looks eerie, daddy,» she said. «Are you sure the party is here?»
«Eerie?» he repeated, chuckling. It didn't look eerie at all. A little unadorned, perhaps. But not even dark.
There weren't many guests in yet, so the car parking was half-empty. He was expecting more to come later, but he hoped they would be at home by then. The entrance was solemn, but the interior had been decorated to make it cosy and appealing to the eye.
«Oh, wait, Scarlet... When did you hear that word?» he asked.
«Jaden taught me.»
«And where did he hear it?» Explore more at empire
«Nowhere!»
«Nowhere?»
«Jaden is reading your cyclope.»
«My?»
«Your... hmm, he said it's your... An cyclope dials.»
«Encyclopedia?»
«Maybe,» she hummed, unsure. «Is it in your office at home?»
«There is one, but I haven't read it actually. Oh, don't tell Jaden though.»
«You don't like reading books, daddy.»
«Not much,» he confessed. Charts and budgets were easier on his eyes.
«Then why do you read so much with Jaden?»
«Because he's my son, and I want to spend time with him. Just like with you, so don't start complaining just yet!»
«I wasn't going to, daddy. Maybe I would also read books if my mommy asked.»
«Just like the homework, right? You actually hate it.»
She curled her lips, not sure how to explain.
«I don't hate it. But I like playing with Jimmy and Anne more. And Emmy.»
«Of course,» Nate chuckled. «I'll keep your secret about homework and you'll keep my secret about reading. Do we have a deal?»
«Okay...»
They walked to the reception where a middle-aged man was welcoming the club members. He politely greeted Nate, knowing well enough that he was a new member. However, when his eyes moved to Scarlet, he had to use his years of experience not to show the surprise on his face. He had seen lots of weird things during his career, but bringing a child to a club?
She would be bored! Oh, but the women from the Woods family were quite unique. He still remembered that time a young Samantha Murphy had walked through there. She had spent little time with them, but those days were difficult to forget. She had tried every single activity before retreating for good.
«Welcome to the club, Mr Woods. Who is this young lady here?» he asked.
Nate smiled at the chance to brag a little.
«She's my daughter, Scarlet.»
«Oh, and does Miss Scarlet wish to take a look at our club?»
The little girl's cheek turned red like pepper. She pulled Nate's sleeve and whispered, «Miss?»
«Yes, Scarlet. This is what you will be called at the club. Do you hate it?»
She shook her head. It sounded nice. Even her mommy would be called Miss sometimes.
«Does this happen to boys' parties?» she continued, discovering a whole new world in a moment. How lovely would it be to come there and be called Miss? It was a pity she could do so only while she was little.
«It does,» Nate said. «Shall we get in?»
Since the butler hadn't said anything about it, he brought Scarlet in. The butler gave him a brochure with a presentation of the club, so Nate could read it with Scarlet and decide what to do first.