A little child was waiting by the table.
His cute fluffy hair and wide little brown eyes stared back at me, then blinked and vigorously drank water.
“Oh, hi there…”
Is he perhaps on the wrong table? I called for the waitress but they won’t even glance my way.
I sat in front of the kid, staring at him.
“Are You alright, dear? Are you looking for your parents?” I asked, wanting to talk with the adorable kid but the kid refused to talk.
“Stop scaring him.” I heard from behind and saw a tall and handsome man approaching our way and sitting beside the child. The child quivered and instantly embraced him.
I felt a bit offended by how the child looked scared of me. Did I look that horrible? I knew I had a horrible night but I made sure to have a presentable face. This will be just quick and I’ll finish this by rejecting this man.
Wait a minute, don’t tell me he’s my date!?
Plus, why dare bring a child on a date? Perhaps he’s a single father looking for a wife to take care of his child.
The man then looked at me, eyes sharp like a hawk, “I believe you are Saphira Bernadez Uy of Uy Tech Industries.”
I nodded, “So you’re Theon Venesian III, CEO of the Venetian pharmaceutical company?”
He nodded, offered his hand and I accepted it. I looked clearly at his face, feeling like I had seen him somewhere.
He’s strangely familiar.
But then I remembered. No way, those same sharp and piercing eyes and that damn hair…pulled back and styled neatly as he wore a suit.
He’s the same man I just hooked up with! I may be drunk but I know it’s him!
“You’re the man?!” I shrieked, causing the child to jump in shock.
He hugged the child tighter, “What?
“The man I hooked up with last night.”
He seems to stunned, “No. I was out on a business trip. How could I-”
“Why are you pretending not to know me? You even bought me drinks?”
He gave me a deadpan stare, “Please lower your voice and stop accusing me of things. Arson is sensitive to sounds.”
I gave him a look, why is he hiding it and using this child as an excuse?
“Arson? Is that his name?” I asked as the little child stared at me with his Bambi's eyes. Awe, I felt like wanting to ruffle his hair but he looked so scared of me that he might cry if I dared to step forward.
“Yes.” He answered.
“This is supposed to be a date right? Why are you bringing this child? Is he your son?”
He raised his eyebrows at me, “And? I couldn’t see why you need to know that?”
Wow, his son is adorable but this man is too stingy and has a bad attitude. Good, this will make things easier then.
Easier to reject.
“Tsk, if only I knew that the second daughter was going to be this ill-mannered, I should have rejected your father’s offer. Your sister is much better.”
“You met her?”
“Yes, but what’s the reason why she withdrew from our engagement? And why did you take her place?”
I was about to tell him how my sister cheated on me and how she’s currently stupid for being pregnant with my boyfriend’s child but I chose to stay quiet.No matter how angry I am with them, this is still my family’s reputation.
I can’t act rashly.
“Your family is hiding something, sooner or later I would know that.”
I breathed deeply, “Psh, it's not like I want this too! I hate this, and I won't marry you! I just came here to tell you that I Reject your offer.”
“Reject? You won’t have anything to reject as I won’t make an offer in the first place.”
“Fine! I’ll leave now!”
“Hold on.” He said, standing up, “I need to answer this phone call so look after him for a few seconds.”
He then stood up before I could answer. I scoffed, damn, this man is nuts!
He just insulted me and asked me to be this child's temporary nanny.
I looked at the child who was sitting in the chair. He was trembling as he stared at me.
I decided to break the tension and smiled at the child. I have to ease him no matter how evil his father is.
“Hello there, Arson.” I greeted him in a friendly manner. I managed to get his attention, but he was still scared of me.
I looked around to entertain him. I used the spoon and acted like it was talking, but he looked unimpressed. I looked at my bag, anything, and saw my keychain contains some cartoons. Hello Kitty.
I instantly showed it to him, “Oh, look, I have this Hello Kitty Toy. Do you want to play with me?”
His eyes suddenly shifted to the keychain and blinked at me. I could see he was slowly letting his guard down as I sat slowly beside him and presented the keychain to him. He held it and instantly hugged it.
Awe. Kids have a soft spot in my heart…I just adore them! When my father takes me to his orphanages and donation drives to children, I would volunteer just so I could meet the children and play with them.
I had met a lot of them with disabilities, and right now, as I could see Arson, I knew at first glance that he was not a normal child.
He’s autistic…I know it. He looks like he doesn't talk, and the way he sits there quietly…I knew it.
And kids like him need to have a distraction like this.
“I’ll give this to you then if you like it.”
His eyes sparkled and when I handed it to him, he smiled.
“Hello…”
I blinked, “Oh, you’re talking? Go on.”
“Hello…kitty.” His little voice was faint, but I knew I heard him talk.
I gasped in surprise, amazed at how I was able to let him talk.
“Wow, good job, Arson!”
I taught him how to high-five, and chuckled, feeling lighter and relaxed now.
Just then, I felt Arson coming to me and lightly hugging me as his cheeks blushed.
“Mommy.”
I gasped, pausing at Arson.
“What did you just say, dear Arson?”
“Mommy…” He repeated, calling me and I didn’t know how to react.
“You’re…surprisingly good at kids….” A voice said from behind and I saw Theon Venesian III, looking at me with surprise.
“Oh, where did you go? You’re already here?” I cleared my throat as Arson suddenly sat upright and behaved, back to his normal self.
“I heard it, Arson mumbled some words, didn’t he?” He said, “He mumbled that toy and called you mommy?”
Why am I feeling some weird energy from his questions?
Did I just dig myself in a grave again?