Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Henry
“Who are you texting?” Kirsten asked as we sat across from each other at the restaurant.
“A client.” I looked up at her. “You know my workday doesn’t end at five o’clock.”
“Even my father doesn’t text clients at dinner,” she spoke in an irritated tone.
“Well, I’m not your father. Am I?” My brow raised.
She rolled her eyes and looked away from me.
“I’m just saying it’s rude, Henry. We’re supposed to be having dinner.”
“And we are. I’m sorry. But I can’t ignore my clients no matter what time it is.”
She sighed as she picked up her glass of water and took a sip.
The moment my phone dinged, and I saw the unfamiliar number on my screen, I knew it was Ellie. She’d made this unbearable dinner a little easier. Kirsten had done nothing but have an attitude with me since she got into the car. I didn’t know what her problem was, and I didn’t care. I just wanted to get through this dinner and get the hell home.
“You haven’t even touched your glass of wine,” I spoke.
“I shouldn’t have ordered it. My stomach has been bothering me all day, and alcohol is the last thing I need to put into it. Am I staying the night, or are you coming back to my place?” she asked.
“Neither.”
“Why?”
“I’ve had a long day, and I have to be up early for a meeting.”
“Jesus Christ. We aren’t even married yet, and you’re already acting this way.”
“Acting what way, Kirsten?” I spoke through gritted teeth as I slightly leaned across the table. I stopped myself and took in a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I just have a lot going on at work. I don’t mean to take it out on you.”
“I know you don’t, baby. I’m sorry for pushing you.” She reached over and placed her hand on top of mine. “I love you, Henry.”
Hearing her say those words sent ice through my veins. I picked up my scotch and threw it down the back of my throat.
After we finished eating, Christian dropped Kirsten off at her apartment.
“I wish you’d come up,” she whined as she ran her hand across my chest. “You don’t have to spend the night.”
“You know I can’t.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to take care of myself.”
Normally, if a woman said that to me, I’d be incredibly turned on, but in this case, I wasn’t.
“Did you forget I’m going away with my mom this weekend?”
“No. I haven’t forgotten. We have a couple more days until you leave. Now I have to go.” I kissed her forehead.
I climbed into the back of the limo and let out a sigh. The only woman I could think about tonight was Ellie. In my mind, I kept replaying our encounter at the grocery store—how her smile could light up a thousand rooms, her eyes that told stories, and how beautiful she was when she signed.
As soon as Christian dropped me off at home, I changed out of my clothes and into a pair of pajama bottoms. After pouring myself a scotch, I climbed into bed and picked up my phone from the nightstand. Bringing up Ellie’s number, I sent her a message.
“Are you up?”
“Yes.” She sent the smiling emoji.
“What are you doing?”
“Reading a book.”
“Sounds relaxing. Which book are you reading?”
“The Alchemist. Have you heard of it?”
“I have, and I’ve read it. It’s good.”
“I’m halfway through, and I really like it.”
“I’m happy to hear that. I’ll let you get back to reading. I’m looking forward to having lunch with you tomorrow.”
“Me too.” She sent the smiling emoji.
“Goodnight, Ellie.”
“Goodnight, Henry.”
I set my phone down on the charger, finished off my scotch, and turned off the light.
The next morning, I was sitting in my office when my father walked in.
“Hey, Dad.” I looked up from my computer.
“Hello, son. I want you to take a look at this company and report back to me.” He handed me a file folder.
“Sure thing.”
“How are the wedding plans coming along?” he asked as he took a seat across from me.
“Good. I guess.”
“You guess?” His brow raised.
“Kirsten is mostly handling everything.”
“How are things between the two of you?”
“Fine. Why?”
“It just seemed like the last couple of times the two of you were over, you seemed distant. You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”
All I wanted to do was tell him that I didn’t love her and that marrying her would be the biggest mistake of my life, but I couldn’t.
“No. Why would you ask that?”
He shrugged. “I’m just making sure. She’s a good woman, and she comes from a good family. A well-respected family.
“I know, Dad.”
He got up from his chair and headed towards the door.
“Your sister is coming home Friday from college for the summer, and your mother is having a barbeque on Saturday with a few friends. I expect you and Kirsten will be there.”
“I will be. Kirsten is going out of town with her mom for the weekend.”
“I see. I’ll talk to you later, son.”
I sighed as I leaned back in my chair and placed my hands behind my head. As I was pondering my thoughts, my phone chimed with a text message from Christian, letting me know he was downstairs. A smile crossed my lips as I got up from my seat, grabbed my suitcoat, and headed down to the lobby. When I climbed into the back of the car, Ellie smiled at me.
“Hi,” I signed as the corners of my mouth curved upward.
“Hi.” Her grin widened, making her even more beautiful than she already was.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
She reached into her purse and pulled out some cash.
“Thank you again,” she signed with one hand.
I took the cash from her, folded it up, and placed it back in her hand, closing her fingers around it.
“I don’t want you to pay me back. It was my gift to you. Having lunch with me is repayment enough,” I spoke.
She shook her head as she tried to give me the money back.
“Keep it, Ellie. I don’t want your money.”
She cocked her head and then placed the money back in her purse.
“At least let me buy lunch for you,” she signed.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” I signed back.
“You’re a very stubborn man, Henry.”
I let out a chuckle. “I know I am.”
The moment we were seated at the table, our waiter walked over and poured each of us a glass of water.
“May I start you off with something to drink?” He looked at Ellie first, and she signed to me.
“She’ll have a margarita, salted rim, and I’ll have a mojito.”
“Coming right up.”
After looking over the menu, I set it down and stared at her from across the table as she studied her menu. The waitress was back within moments, set our drinks down, and proceeded to take our order.
“I didn’t get your last name,” I signed.
“Scott.” She spelled.
“Ellie Scott?” I finger-spelled back to her.
She nodded her head.
“Yours?”
“Walker. Henry Walker.”
The corners of her mouth curved upwards as I spelled out my name.
“You work where?” she asked.
“Walker Capital. We’re a venture capitalist company. I run the company with my father.”
“You must be a very busy man,” she signed.
“I am. But I’m never too busy to have lunch with a beautiful woman.” I smiled. “Do you work?”
“I’m a freelance website designer and an artist.”
“An artist?” I signed. “What kind of artist?”
“I paint pictures and sell them online.”
“What kind of pictures?”
She pulled out her phone, typed something, and handed it to me.
“This is your website?”
She nodded.
“These are beautiful paintings. You’re very talented.”
“Thank you,” she signed as a bright smile crossed her lips.