Page 68 of His Playground

“I could,” my daughter agrees.

“Did Evie decide not to come?” Antonia asks Charlotte.

“She should be here soon. She was finishing up a call with the girl looking after her store when we left.” As Charlotte says this, the elevator opens.

“I’ll go get her,” I tell Antonia. “Sit down.”

“Thank you.” Antonia sits next to Jazzy while I head out to the foyer.

“Hey. You’re alone?” I ask when I find Evie walking towards me.

“Ah, yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” she replies.

“No reason.” I smirk. I give it five minutes.

Pulling out my phone, I text Sammie and Louie.

Me:

Ten grand says E turns up within the next five minutes.

Sammie:

My bet is three.

Louie:

Ten.

I laugh as I pocket my phone and show Charlotte’s friend to the table. A staff member is arranging an extra place setting next to Evie’s seat.

“Are you expecting someone else?” Georgia asks Antonia.

“Without a doubt,” I answer for her. “Who’s hungry? I’m starving, and how fucking amazing is this table my wife and daughter put together?”

“It does look great,” Charlotte agrees.

“Thank you. I had a lot of help,” Antonia says as blush colors her cheeks.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The waitstaff starts handing out the first course. I went with the safe option of vegetable soup. When they place Carlo’s plate down in front of him, I look into the bowl. It’s not vegetable soup. It’s some kind of soup, but it’s a different color.

“What is that?” I ask the waiter.

“Chef said to make sure Mr. Bianchi got the carrot and coconut option,” the guy tells me.

“I didn’t order that.” I turn to Carlo. “We can swap.” I switch the bowls. “I know you don’t like coconut.”

Before he can reply, heavy footsteps sound through the foyer. I look to Carlo, who just looks at his watch. “Fuck,” he says under his breath.

“Pay up, fuckers. Ten G, each of you.” Louie points from Sammie to Carlo.

“What’d you bet on now?” Charlotte asks her husband.

“How long it’d take for Emmanuel to show up,” he says. And sure enough, that’s exactly who just walked through the door.

“Thanks for the invite,” Emmanuel directs to Carlo.