Nate returned to his office, absent-minded and a little worried. He did manage not to argue with Lara, but she had straight out refused him.
She didn't want to marry in the first place, and even less when the proposal came together with duties and responsibilities.
Scarlet strolled behind him, silent and in a bad mood. After the holiday, it was no big surprise. There was a tough battle going on in her heart.
On one side, she felt threatened by Nate's presence. She didn't want to let him have her mommy. On the other hand, she was starting to like having a father.
Even if they didn't do much together, he would do most of what she asked him. Especially if she asked cutely... Her mommy wouldn't fall into her obvious traps.
Since they had returned home, Jaden had been silent. He didn't tell Scarlet even once not to trust Nate, so she was starting to wonder if her brother was forgetting their initial, primal purpose.
«Cookies!» she exclaimed when she saw the snacks on the lower table. Secretary Jack must have brought them there for her.
She ran to the sofa and sat up, nibbling on the biggest sweet while looking for the remote control to switch the television on.
«What would you like to do today?» Nate inquired, leaving the documents on the desk for later.
«Don't you work?»
«I do, but I'm planning to finish early.»
He wasn't going to say that it was Lara's efforts that would make his job easier that day. He couldn't be sure how Scarlet would feel about that. Even though the pups must have noticed his scent on her already. Such an event couldn't pass unnoticed to those territorial little things.
«We can go eat ice cream.»
«I don't want to,» Scarlet pouted.
«What about the cinema?»
«What is that?»
Nate grinned, realising that he still could have a chance to win the little girl over. Even if it looked like he was being won over.
«It's like a televisor, but way, way bigger.»
«Oh?» Scarlet hummed, turning to him. «And are there cartoons?»
«Yes, of course. And we can eat popcorn while watching the movie. Or candies... Even though maybe it's better popcorn...» Too much sugar wasn't good for her. «And we can talk about it later, commenting about what we liked and disliked.»
«Talk?» she repeated.
«Yes.»
«Why?»
«Discussing a movie is the best part of the cinema experience,» he explained. He sat next to her and reached out to one of the cookies. «It makes it sound more meaningful.»
«So, you will ask me questions?»
«Oh, no. It's not an interrogation. Rather, we'll say what we feel.»
«Uhm... Okay,» she said, confused. Her lips were curled in a frown, and her eyes were uncertain. She didn't have time to glare because she was too busy thinking.
A big, big televisor sounded fun, especially with cartoon animation. But also, what were popcorns? And how much did she need to talk with Nate after the movie?
«Let's go,» he said, getting up and offering his hand.
Scarlet tilted her head, forgetting all about his work. She didn't feel like walking, so she just raised her arms.
Nate picked her up and called for his secretary. He needed a car and the address of a cinema projecting a cartoon at that hour.
The two spent the afternoon watching a movie for kids. Then, they went to eat ice cream and talked about their impressions.
Much to Scarlet's surprise, it wasn't that hard. She had some things she wanted to say, and Nate listened to all. He even added his own interpretation, and the talk was just as fun as the cartoon.
«I like cinema,» Scarlet said when they walked back.
She was holding his hand, and they were strolling in the centre. Many pairs of eyes turned to watch the blue-eyed daughter and father. They were such a scene, beautiful and too focused on their talk to pay any attention to the outside world.
«I'm glad,» Nate said. «We can go next time as well.»
He could build a cinema room in his penthouse. Oh, his mother would do that before he had time to arrange things and have one in the family villa as well.
But it wouldn't have been the same. Just as he told Scarlet, the movie was just part of the charm.
«You can tell your mother about today, and maybe she will come with us next time. Wouldn't it be better with her and Jaden?»
Scarlet thought about it before nodding.
«Do you think mommy likes cartoons?» she inquired.
«I don't know. We can ask her.»
«And Jaden, too... Does he like cartoons?»
«I'm sure he does. Maybe not the same as you, but we'll find something he'll like to watch.»
«I haven't been to a cinema before,» Scarlet pointed out. It was rather obvious, but she was talking for once.
Nate liked listening to her. Sometimes, Scarlet would reply with a few words only. She wasn't too silent, just lazy to talk.
Each time she spent some time collecting words and saying her opinion, he felt the need, the duty to listen. Even without that cursed word - daddy - he was ready to give her all of his attention.
Nate would have never imagined he would become like that with age, but his daughter was becoming a liability even before they started getting along.
It was clear: Scarlet didn't like Nate. She wanted him far from her mommy. But that wasn't enough for him to become stern and strict. Unfortunately.
«Is there something else you'd like to do before going home?»
«Actually, I'd like to go back to my mommy,» she sighed. «I'm a little tired.»
«Do you want me to carry you if you're tired?»
«It's okay, daddy. I'm a big girl and can walk alone.»
«What can we bring to your mother today? Did she like the cake last time?»
«She did. My mommy does like sweets, daddy! How did you know? I've never seen her eat much before.»
«Let's see... What kind of sweet food can we try today?»
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