Unspoken: A Billionaire Romance Read online

  “Thank you,” she signed as a bright smile crossed her lips.

  Chapter 5

  Ellie

  The people at the table next to us kept staring. They tried to be discreet, but they weren’t. I was used to it because people stared at me all the time when I signed. We as humans are curious creatures and when something out of a hearing person’s normal realm catches their attention, they’re fascinated. At least that’s what they told me in school. Henry was such a gentleman. I knew he noticed them staring, but it didn’t seem to bother him which I found odd. Usually it bothered the guys I went out with.

  “Those people keep staring,” I signed. “Does it bother you?”

  “I know they are,” he signed back with a smile. “No. It doesn’t bother me at all. Does it bother you? Because if it does, I’ll say something to them.”

  The corners of my mouth curved upward. “No. I’m not bothered. Why haven’t you asked me the most important question yet?” I picked up my fork and took a bite of my food.

  “Which question is that?”

  Setting down my fork, I signed, “If I was born deaf.”

  “I haven’t gotten around to that question yet.” He winked.

  “I wasn’t. I started to lose my hearing in one ear when I was three. By the time I was five, I was completely deaf in both ears.”

  “What caused it?”

  “Genetics. My father’s great grandmother went deaf around the same age, but we didn’t know that until after it happened to me. The doctors really had no medical explanation. Now, I have a question for you that I’ve been dying to ask.”

  “Let me guess.” He smiled. “How do I know how to sign so well?”

  I nodded my head.

  He picked up his mojito and took a sip before telling me his story.

  “My twin sister, Abigail, was born deaf. She passed away when she was nine from congenital heart disease. Another thing she was born with.”

  “I’m sorry,” I signed.

  “Thank you. My parents found out she was completely deaf when we turned one years old. When the doctors told them Abigail was deaf, they suggested we learned sign language with her so there wouldn’t be any communication problems. So, my parents hired a private ASL instructor, moved her into our home, and she worked with us for years.”

  “Do you have any other siblings?”

  “I have a sister, Addison, who is twenty-one. After Abigail died, my mother desperately wanted another child. She thought it would help with the loss and ease the pain of losing Abigail. But instead, they see Addison as a reminder of why she was born. Don’t get me wrong, they love her, but they treat her differently. I do what I can to protect her.”

  “You’re a wonderful big brother.” I smiled.

  “I try to be,” he signed as the corners of his mouth curve upward. “She’s coming home from college in a few days for the summer. I haven’t seen her in a while, so it’ll be nice having her back home. How about you? Do you have any siblings?”

  I shook my head.

  “After my mom gave birth to me, there were complications and the doctor needed to do a hysterectomy or else she would have died.”

  “I’m sorry,” he signed.

  “Thank you. But she was always okay with it. She tells me every day that one miracle in her life was enough.” I smiled.

  After we finished eating, the waiter walked over and asked us if we wanted dessert.

  “Do you like Mexican fried ice cream?” Henry asked me.

  “I love it.” I signed with a grin.

  “Chocolate, caramel or honey?”

  “Definitely chocolate.”

  “My favorite as well.”

  “One Mexican fried ice cream with chocolate topping coming right up,” the waiter spoke.

  When the waiter walked over and set the large dish of ice cream in the middle of the table, Henry picked up a spoon and handed it to me.

  “Dig in.” He grinned.

  While we were sharing the ice cream, I thought about how this had been the best day I’d had in a long time. He was such a kind man, and I found myself enjoying his company. When we finished our ice cream, he looked at his watch.

  “We really need to get going. I have to get back to the office.”

  “I have some work to do myself,” I signed.

  He paid the bill and when we exited out of the booth, my body began to tremble as I felt his hand on the small of my back as we headed out the door. After climbing into the back of the limo, he shut the door and turned to me.

  “I had a really nice time with you,” he signed.

  “I had a really nice time with you too.” I smiled.

  He turned his head and stared out the passenger window. Suddenly, he seemed off. So, I placed my hand on his arm to get his attention.

  “Is something wrong?” I signed.

  His lips formed a small smile as his eyes stared into mine and he softly brought the back of his hand up to my cheek while I read his lips.

  “No. Nothing is wrong.” He removed his hand from my cheek and started signing. “I really want to see you again.”

  “I want to see you too.”

  The limo pulled up to his office building and before Henry climbed out, he took hold of my hand and held it for a moment.

  “I’ll be in touch,” he signed as the corners of his mouth curved upward.

  “I’m looking forward to it.” I smiled.

  Chapter 6

  Henry

  As soon as I entered my office building, I let out a deep breath. I didn’t want to leave her. I’d enjoyed our lunch and our conversation and there was so much more I wanted to know about her. I took the elevator up to my office, and as I passed by June’s desk, she stopped me.

  “Henry, Kirsten is here. She just ran to the restroom and said she’d be right back.”

  I let out a sigh. “Thank you, June.”

  “Also, here are your messages while you were at lunch.” She handed them to me.

  “Thanks. You didn’t tell Kirsten how long I was gone, did you?”

  “No. She didn’t ask.”

  “Okay.”

  I walked into my office and took the seat behind my desk. Pulling out my phone, I noticed I had a text message from Ben.

  “Dude, I got three free tickets for the Yankees game tonight. Premium seats. Frankie’s in. You? Don’t let a friend down. It starts at 7:00.”

  I laughed when I read his message.

  “Count me in. Have Frankie meet you at your place and then I’ll pick you both up at six o’clock since your place is on the way to the stadium.”

  “Awesome. I knew you wouldn’t let your bros down. See you later.”

  “Hey, baby,” Kirsten walked into my office and took a seat on my lap. Wrapping her arms around me, she pressed her lips against mine. “Where and with whom did you go to lunch with?”

  Shit.

  “I went to the Mexican place a few blocks over with Ben.” I lied.

  “I hope you didn’t eat too much because I made us dinner reservations tonight at Tavern on the Green.”

  “I really wish you would have asked me first before doing that.”

  “Why?” She climbed off my lap and stood over me with her arms folded.

  “Because I’m going to the game tonight with Ben. He just asked me at lunch.”

  “Too bad. Tell him you can’t go.”

  “I already told him I would.”

  “Is Frankie going too?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “Because you see your friends more than you do me, Henry,” she shouted as she walked away from my desk. “I’m leaving in a couple days, and I won’t see you this weekend.”

  “And we’ll spend the evening together tomorrow. I promise. You’ll have me all to yourself.”

  “You know what, Henry? Just forget it. I’ll see you when I get back from my trip.” She grabbed her purse and stormed out of my office.

  “Fuck!” I shouted as I leaned back in my
chair.

  I left the office early and went home to change before picking up Frankie and Ben for the game. I hadn’t stopped thinking about Ellie once since lunch. Picking up my phone from the bed, I sent her a text message.

  “Hi, Ellie. How are you?”

  “Hi, Henry. I’m good. You?”

  “I’m good. I’m getting ready to head out to the Yankees game with a couple of friends of mine.”

  “Sounds like fun. I hope you have a good time.”

  “I’d like to take you out Friday night. My friend, Frankie, owns a small art gallery in Greenwich Village, and I’d love for you to see it.”

  “I’d love to.”

  “Great. Is six-thirty a good time?”

  “It’s a perfect time. You know where I live.” She sent the smiling emoji.

  “I’m afraid I don’t know your apartment number.”

  “14B.”

  “I’ll text you when I’m standing outside your door.” I included the wink emoji. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

  “Have fun with your friends.”

  When the three of us arrived at the stadium, we grabbed a beer, a couple orders of nachos and headed to our seats.

  “Kirsten wasn’t pissed about you coming tonight?” Frankie asked.

  “Of course, she was. She’s leaving Friday to go on a trip with her mom for the weekend. She said I see you two more than I do her, and we got into a big fight.”

  “Gee man, I’m sorry.” Ben said.

  “Don’t be. I offered to see her tomorrow and she got really pissed off. She told me she’d see me when she got back from her trip. Which is fine with me. Listen, I need to tell you guys something before the game starts.”

  “What’s up?” Frankie asked. “It sounds serious.”

  “I met someone.”

  “Okay?” Ben’s eye narrowed at me. “As in another woman?”

  “Yeah.” I sighed.

  “Oh shit, bro,” Frankie said. “Who is this chick?”

  “Her name is Ellie Scott, and she is incredibly beautiful. We met yesterday at the grocery store after an apple debacle.”

  I explained what had happened and they both laughed.

  “Anyway, I took her to lunch today and now I can’t stop thinking about her. I know you’re going to think I’m crazy, but I feel alive when I’m with her. Even though we just met, I feel like I’ve known her my entire life. I forget about everyone and everything else when I’m with her.”

  “Damn, Henry.” Frankie placed his hand on my shoulder and gave it a grip.

  “There’s something else about her,” I said.

  “What?” Ben asked. “Is she married or something?”

  “Is she pregnant?” Frankie smirked.

  “No. She’s deaf.”

  Both their jaws dropped.

  “Wow. Okay,” Frankie spoke. “Guess it’s a good thing you know sign language.”

  “Yeah, bro. Are you going to keep seeing her or what?” Ben asked.

  “I’m seeing her Friday night. In fact, I’m bringing her to your gallery, Frankie. She’s an artist, like you.”

  “Really? Have you seen her work?”

  “Yeah. Let me show you.” I pulled my phone from my pocket and pulled up her website. “She sells her paintings online.”

  “Wow. She’s really talented,” Frankie said as he scrolled through her website.

  “Let me see,” Ben spoke as he grabbed my phone from Frankie’s hand. “Damn. Those are nice paintings. “I want to meet her too, so I’ll be at the gallery Friday night as well.”

  “She’s also a freelance website designer.”

  “Really? I’ve been looking for someone to design a new site for the gallery,” Frankie said.

  “Great. You can talk to her on Friday.”

  “Not really, bro. I don’t know sign language.”

  “She can read lips, and I can interpret.”

  “I don’t mean to burst your happy bubble, but you’re playing with fire, man,” Ben said as he shoved a nacho in his mouth. “You need to make a decision and fast about Kirsten.”

  “I know I do. But my entire future is at stake.”

  Chapter 7

  Ellie

  It was five fifteen when I grabbed my purse and headed down to my mom’s apartment to fill her in about Henry.

  “Hi, honey.” She smiled when I walked through the door.

  “Hi, Mom, I can’t stay long. I’m going over to Joni and Pete’s for dinner. What are you making?”

  “I’m making that cabbage casserole for James, and I was going to ask you if you wanted to stay for dinner.”

  “I love that cabbage casserole. But I promised Joni I’d come over. Next time you make it I’ll stay.”

  “Deal. How was your lunch date?” she signed.

  “It was wonderful,” I spoke and signed at the same time. “I really like him, Mom. He runs his family’s business with his dad.”

  “Which business is that?”

  “Walker Capital,” I spoke.

  “Walker Capital? They’re one of the biggest venture capitalist companies in the country. Did you find out how he knows how to sign?”

  “He had a twin sister who was born deaf.”

  “Had?”

  “She died when she was nine from a heart condition she was born with,” I signed.

  “How awful. Poor guy. That must have been hard on him. Did you pay him back for the groceries?”

  “I tried, but he wouldn’t let me.” I rolled my eyes. “He’s so sweet, Mom. He’s taking me out Friday night.”

  “I would love to meet him.”

  “I’m sure you will soon,” I signed as I smiled. “I have to go.” I kissed her cheek.

  “You be careful.”

  “You need to stop worrying about me.”

  “I will never stop worrying about you no matter how old you are.”

  I kissed her cheek one last time and headed to Joni and Pete’s.

  I was in the middle of dinner with Joni and Pete when my phone lit up and I received a text message from Henry. Instantly, a smile splayed across my face as I read it.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi.” I replied.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Having dinner with two of my best friends. How is the game?”

  “It could be better. We’re losing.”

  “Oh no. I have faith they’ll make a comeback and win.”

  “I hope so. I’ll let you get back to dinner with your friends. I just wanted to say hi.”

  “I’m happy you did.”

  “Me too, Ellie.”

  “Judging by that huge grin on your face, I’m assuming the messages are from him?” Joni signed.

  “Yeah.” I chewed my bottom lip. “He just wanted to say hi.”

  “Have you used your voice in front of him yet?” Pete signed.

  “No. I just met him yesterday. You know I have to be comfortable with a guy before I speak in front of him.”

  “I know. But it sounds like you already are. Has he even asked you if you can speak?”

  “No,” I said as I shook my head.

  As I was leaving, I hugged Pete goodbye, and then I turned to Joni.

  “If something or someone is too good to be true, then it probably is,” Joni signed.

  “How can you say that to me?”

  “I love you, Ellie, and I don’t want to see you get hurt. It seems like this guy is coming on strong and moving a little too fast. I worry about you.”

  “Well don’t. Henry is a great guy, and we have a connection. There’s something different about him from all the other guys.”

  “You’ve been out with him one time. One time, Ellie,” she signed.

  “Doesn’t matter. When you know, you know.” I gave her a hug and walked out the door.

  Henry

  It was Friday, and Kirsten had left for her trip. I only knew that because I knew what time her flight was scheduled to take off. I hadn’t heard a wor
d from her since the other day in my office before she stormed out. I didn’t bother calling her because frankly, I didn’t care if she was mad at me. It would be a cold day in Hell before I allowed her to control my life.

  I started the day off by sending Ellie a good morning text. We were both up late last night texting back and forth, and then I was up all-night thinking about her. I thought about her lips and how beautiful it would feel to kiss them. I thought about her body and how hard I’d get exploring it. I thought about her hair and how soft it would feel between my fingers. But most of all, I thought about what it would feel like to be buried deep inside her. To feel the warmth and wetness of her. By the time all those thoughts rolled through my mind, my cock was rock hard, and I had no choice but to take care of myself. I had no desire to sleep with Kirsten anymore, and I’d been making up excuses. But I knew that couldn’t go on much longer because she wouldn’t stand for it, and she’d say something to my parents about it. She was like that. It was one of the things I disliked about her. She would tattle on me for something in a discreet way to my mother. My mother wasn’t stupid and knew exactly what she was talking about. Then, she would confront me about the issue.

  I was sitting in my office when there was knock at the door.

  “Come in,” I spoke.

  “Hello, darling.”

  “Mother, what a surprise. What are you doing here?” I got up from my seat and gave her a kiss.

  “I was just down the hall visiting your father, and I couldn’t leave without seeing you.”

  “What time will Addison be home tonight?” I asked.

  “She said around eight o’clock. Don’t forget the barbeque tomorrow at the house. It starts at three but you’re more than welcome to come at any time.”

  “I know, Mom. I haven’t forgotten.”

  “So, Kirsten left this morning for her trip with her mother?”

  “Yeah. She did.”

  “I spoke with her last night.”

  And there it was.

  “You did?”

  “Yes. She told me the two of you got into an argument the other day and she hasn’t heard from you since. Care to explain what’s going on?” Her brow arched.