Sold?

"How did she end up in front of my room? Your room is on the third floor." I asked Ben as he placed the baby chair beside the table which he brought from his car. I was going to have my breakfast in the dining room and this baby here decided she wanted to be a part of it.

"I'm just as surprised as you are." He answered, "I have no idea when she got out of the room or how she got to the fourth floor. She's too young to climb stairs right?" He picked Athena up from the table.

"Is she? How old is she?" I asked.

"Eight months." He began to adjust her on the baby chair.

If I remember right, I think some special babies can climb stairs at this age.

"How much of her stuff do you have in your car?" He stepped aside after he made sure Athena was properly seated.

"Not much, a few of her clothes, a pack of formula and," He pointed at the baby chair, "This chair. That's all."

Eight months…

Why is that number bothering me?

"You really should have talked to me, I wouldn't have forwarded the representative list." I sighed.

"I'm sorry," He looked down again, "I was worrying about many things."

"..." Athena played with her toy spoon while I stared at her, "She doesn't look like you, except for her eyes maybe." Even her eyes have a different blue color. But I decided not to say that, it sounded a bit offensive.

"Ah well, she looks like her mother." Ben gave me a quick answer.

"Hmmm. Is that so?" I didn't think much about it yet it bothered me for some reason.

"I'll go make her milk." He dashed out of the dining room and I looked at Athena.

"You babies are a handful you know that?" I asked her.

"Nuuu." She denied the accusation.

"How dare you deny it?" I snickered while I rested my chin in my palm, "No?"

"Nuu!" She denied it again with full force.

I poked her cheek. It was really soft, as if I was poking a soft toy, "Ahhh!" She was offended at my action and hit me with her toy spoon.

I chuckled, "Okay! I'm sorry."

"Sir," I looked back at the maid, she was here with my food so I nodded at her and she placed the dishes in front of me.

I began to eat when Ben came in with a baby bottle filled with milk, he tried feeding her but she moved her face away.

"Is she not hungry?" I asked in between the bites.

"She should be, but like I said, she's picky about many things and that also includes who feeds her. Maybe she'll drink on her own." He placed it on the baby table in front of her but Athena only stared at it and then at Ben.

"Ah!" With one clean sweep she knocked the bottle off the table but I managed to catch it in time before it hit the floor.

"Athena!" Ben scolded her, "You shouldn't do that." She stared at Ben without speaking, then looked down in shame.

Is she reflecting on her behavior?

I couldn't help but smile.

"Did you ever feed her before?" I asked as I finished my food, I didn't feel like eating much anyway.

"No, very honestly her mother always did it, or her aunt." He picked her up from the chair and sat down on the dining chair with her in his arms, "It might be because she's not familiar with me or maybe because she's always had her meal while she sat on laps."

Not familiar with you? Did he never feed her before? Well, he lives here mostly rather than going to his home but still it's a little odd.

"Here." I handed him the bottle but Athena presented both her hands to me instead, "You want it?"

"Un!" She opened and closed her tiny fists as if asking me to give her the bottle already.

"Fine, here." I gave her the bottle and she gripped it with both her hands then started staring at me, "What? Why are you looking at me?"

Ben gave Athena a glance and then looked at me, "Maybe she wants to have her meal with you?"

"What?" I stood up from my chair, "Why would she want that? She met me this morning. Besides, I'm not a baby person." I began to walk out when something hit my back.

"Athena!" I looked back while Ben scolded her. She had thrown her toy spoon at me.

I folded my arms and looked at her while she looked back at me with the same intensity.

There was something about her eyes.

That deep blue color was giving me a sense of familiarity.

"Oooo." She showed me her milk bottle.

"Why do you think I'll let you sit on my lap while you drink?" I asked her as if I was having a proper conversation with her.

I'm enjoying this too much.

She pouted, her pink lips protruding while her eyes began to water.

Oh no…

Ben looked at me in disappointment, "Arius…" He shook his head, "How cruel can you be?" Athena's cheek started to get wet.

What?

How is this cruel?

I didn't do anything!

"Okay! Okay!" I walked up to them and opened up my arms, "Come here."

She sniffled but still raised her arms so I could pick her up.

I wiped her cheeks with one hand after shifting her weight on the other arm., "Do you like me that much? Hmm?"

She rested her head on my chest while holding onto the bottle firmly.

Wow. First time any baby has cried because they wanted to come to me.

I'm sort of happy.

"I'll take her to the study with me." I told Ben, "You can come and pick her up a little while later."

"Yes sir!" I don't know why but it seemed like Ben was actually really happy that I was taking her with me.