NOVEL NEXT Chapter 554: Boys' parties (2)
The gentlemen's club was so rich with activities that Nate and Scarlet didn't know where to start. They sat at a table in the lounge bar and ordered two glasses of their special cocktail made with fruit juices only, along with some tarts and a slice of cake each. Since they were in public, they agreed on avoiding eating too much.
Somehow, Scarlet understood what Nate meant and followed his lead, moving her head exactly as he did while ordering, sitting composed like a lady, and even using the fork to eat her portion.
She sipped the juice from the straw and avoided commenting on the taste - which was delicious. She noticed no one was doing so, in that place. Apparently, at boys' parties, one doesn't comment on the taste of things. They talk about business and policies.
Nate read the brochure they were given with a focused face, not missing a single piece of information and taking mental notes about the report he would pronounce later. Scarlet was waiting patiently, glancing at the surroundings with her eyes shining from the happiness caused by the food. She wasn't commenting, but her opinion was more than visible from her expression.
The blue-eyed pair stood in silence for a while, until Nate had his report ready.
«We can go horse riding, and play golf. I guess you wouldn't like the shooting perimeter. We can play chess, but that's a whole lot to explain. Or we can stay here and eat for the whole afternoon.»
Scarlet curled her lips downwards, confused and disappointed.
«I don't know, daddy,» she said. «What should we do?»
She was in front of a giant challenge. She didn't even know what all of those words meant, let alone how to choose the best activity.
«Chess is boring,» Nate said, considering things for her. He chuckled when Scarlet's expression gave away how relieved she was that her daddy would think in her stead. «Jaden would like it, maybe. But I doubt you'll find it interesting, not for the next few years.»
«Grandpa Luther said he will teach us,» Scarlet remembered. Was it chess? Or something else, like chest? «He said he'll bring a board and teach us because we didn't get the patience from our real grandpa.»
«Your real grandpa?» Nate said. Did Luther say something about the Claytons? Nate and Lara were trying to shield the pups from all the toxicity caused by their biological grandparents, so why would Luther mention them?
«Your daddy,» Scarlet said. «Grandpa Luther said I look like him, just that I'm cute and polite.»
She blinked, her dark eyelashes casting a shadow on her round cheeks. It was funny how proud she was of a person she hadn't ever met.
«Why are you so happy?» Nate inquired, suspicious.
«Because I'm like my daddy's daddy.»
«And is that a happy occurrence?»
«Grandpa Luther is always happy when he says we look like grandpa Robert. He also said not to talk about him with grandma because she misses him.»
«I see... I'm sorry for not telling you more about my father. If I knew you were interested, I would have done so much earlier.»
«It's okay, daddy. Grandpa Luther likes talking about our other grandpa.»
«So, it means no chess.»
«No,» she confirmed. «What can we do now?»
«Eating for the whole afternoon is also a no?»
«No, daddy. I can eat with my mommy at girls' parties or at home.»
«That's right.»
«It's either horse-riding or gold, then. Golf is also boring, by the way. Your aunt would always complain when she came back from here. She never understood the rules.»
«I want to play shooting, daddy,» Scarlet said, remembering that other option Nate had conveniently missed.
«It's not playing. We'll be given a real gun.»
«Oh, cool!» she said, her face blushing with excitement. However, she didn't beg him louder, nor did she start jumping.
She was truly doing her best to resemble all those cal gentlemen and blend in the environment.
«Are you sure, Scarlet? Oh, whatever. We'll change the game if we don't like it, right?»
«Right, daddy.»
«Golf is a little difficult, too. You need to become a little taller, don't you?»
«Sure,» she said, even though she wasn't sure what golf meant. But it resembled the word gold, so there was no way it was something bad. Continue your adventure with empire
Nate got up and offered his hand to Scarlet. The little girl accepted, strolling with her dad with her chin lifted up high. She seemed to be showing off Nate, like that. It was fun, especially since Nate couldn't be sure what she was happy for or proud of.
Likely, he wouldn't guess if he tried to. Scarlet had her special moments, too. He had to be patient, and she would eventually tell him what was on her mind. Maybe later, when he had forgotten about it and was thinking of something else.
«I just hope they have guns for children,» he hummed, not saying the word fake not to kill Scarlet's enthusiasm. It was so rare to see her interested in something that he had no heart to ruin the experience.
If they had to pretend the guns were real, they would have done it. He doubted they would allow them to use real ones, though, with a child. He had to come up with a plan B, just in case they couldn't do what they hoped to.
«Aren't you attracted by horse riding?» Nate inquired. That was one of the activities he was planning since the start: kids liked horses, didn't they? Especially girls would find them adorable or interesting.
However, Scarlet shook her head. She didn't seem too excited by the perspective.
«How so?» Nate asked. His girl was special, true. But not being impressed by horses was a little too much even for her.
Scarlet glanced at him as if he knew nothing. Was that daddy of hers really so clueless?
«Because my mommy always tells me not to play with food,» she explained, with the most patient tone she had in store.