“You can afford it, big guy.” She reached over and patted my arm.
“Don’t you want us to win, Dad?” Eloise pouted.
“Of course, I do. But?—”
“No buts, Dad. You have to pay to play. You know that,” she said.
I inhaled a sharp breath and looked out the window.
I hadn’t seen my mother in person in over a year, and it would be good to see her. We stepped inside the restaurant and were led immediately to the table where my mother and Raphael were already sitting.
“There’s my baby!” She smiled, stood up, and held out her arms to Eloise.
“Gigi!”
“It’s so good to see you, my precious angel. Look at how much you’ve grown. Hello, sweetheart.” My mother hugged me after I shook Raphael’s hand.
“Hi, Mom. I’d like you to meet Charlotte, Eloise’s nanny. Charlotte, my mother, Sydney, and her husband Raphael.”
“You are so beautiful.” My mother hugged her.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Charlotte said.
We were sitting around the table, talking, and sipping our drinks after a fantastic meal when Robert, the manager, and a friend of mine walked over.
“I thought that was you, Ashton.” He smiled.
“Robert, it’s good to see you.” I shook his hand.
“Eloise, sweetheart. How are you?”
“Good.” She smiled.
“How would you like to take a tour of the kitchen and see the chefs in action?” he asked her.
“I’d love to! Can I, Dad?”
“Sure. Go ahead. Thanks, Robert.”
“I’ll return her soon.” He grinned.
I felt Charlotte kick me from under the table. Furrowing my brows, I looked at her, and she nodded to the right of me. Looking over, I saw my father and Margo being led to a table. Suddenly, my stomach twisted, and I felt a wave of nausea.
“Oh my God! Ashton?” I heard a squeaky voice cut through the air like a blade.
“Shit,” I mumbled.
“Well, well. Look who decided to crawl out of the shadows. An actual demon,” my father said as he and Margo walked over. “Sydney.” He nodded.
“Look at that, Raphael. The devil himself graced us with his presence. Couldn’t resist making a scene, Cameron. Could you?”
“Mom,” I said, my body stiffening.
My father smirked. “Funny, coming from the woman who made a career out of playing the victim. Still spitting your venom, I see.”
“Victim?” My mother’s voice rose. “You cheated on me for half our marriage. And now I see you’re parading around with a girl young enough to be your daughter. Disgusting, old man.”
“Excuse me?” Margo tilted her head.
