Chapter 2 - THE MAN BEHIND THE NAME
The millionaire’s name was Alexander Kingston.
Everyone in the city knew him.
Some admired him.
Some feared him.
Some hated him.
At thirty-eight years old, Alexander Kingston owned companies across three countries.
His name appeared on buildings.
Magazines.
News reports.
People called him brilliant.
Ruthless.
Impossible to impress.
But Emily didn’t know any of that.
She only knew one thing.
He was a son who looked worried about his mother.
“Are you okay?” Alexander asked her.
His mother rolled her eyes.
She signed quickly.
Emily watched their exchange.
“You’re scolding him.”
Alexander sighed.
“I know.”
Emily almost laughed.
“You know?”
“Yes.”
His mother signed again.
Emily tried not to smile.
“She says you ignored her messages for six hours.”
Alexander looked embarrassed.
“That’s not exactly what happened.”
His mother raised an eyebrow.
Emily translated.
“She says it is exactly what happened.”
For the first time that night, Emily saw Alexander Kingston lose.
Not in business.
Not in negotiations.
Against his mother.
A small smile appeared on his face.
“You two became friends quickly.”
Emily looked down.
“I just helped her.”
Alexander studied her.
“No.”
His voice became quieter.
“You did more than that.”
Emily didn’t know what to say.
Because he was right.
She had done something simple.
Something anyone could have done.
But nobody had.
Alexander turned toward the hostess.
The smile disappeared.
“What happened before I arrived?”
The hostess immediately looked nervous.
“Mr. Kingston, I—”
“My mother was standing here.”
Silence.
“She was trying to communicate.”
The hostess swallowed.
“I didn’t know she was…”
“Deaf?”
Alexander finished.
His voice was calm.
That made it worse.
“She has been Deaf since childhood.”
The hostess looked down.
“I apologize.”
Alexander didn’t answer.
Emily noticed something.
He wasn’t angry because someone embarrassed his mother.
He was angry because someone made her feel small.
That was different.
Then Mr. Dawson stepped forward.
“Mr. Kingston, we can handle this internally.”
Alexander looked at him.
“Can you?”
The manager went quiet.
Emily knew that tone.
A conversation was over before it started.
Alexander looked back at Emily.
“What is your name?”
“Emily.”
“Emily Carter?”
She nodded.
“You know my last name?”
Alexander looked surprised.
“Your manager mentioned it.”
Emily smiled awkwardly.
“I’m not exactly memorable.”
Alexander’s expression changed.
“You are.”
The words caught her off guard.
Before she could respond, his mother touched her arm.
She signed something.
Emily read it.
Her eyes widened.
“She wants to invite me to dinner.”
Alexander looked at his mother.
“Mother.”
The woman ignored him.
Emily laughed softly.
“I’m working.”
Alexander glanced at the empty tray in her hand.
“Not anymore.”
Emily looked confused.
“What?”
Alexander turned to the manager.
“She’s finished for tonight.”
Mr. Dawson immediately nodded.
“Yes, Mr. Kingston.”
Emily frowned.
“You can’t just decide that.”
Alexander looked at her.
Most people probably lowered their eyes when he spoke.
Emily didn’t.
And somehow that surprised him.
“You’re right.”
He paused.
“I can’t.”
His voice softened.
“But I can ask.”
Emily didn’t expect that.
Nobody like him asked.
They ordered.
They demanded.
They took.
But Alexander Kingston asked.
Before she could answer, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
The color disappeared from his face.
Emily noticed.
“Is everything okay?”
Alexander didn’t answer immediately.
Then he whispered.
“No.”
His mother saw his expression.
She signed.
“What happened?”
Alexander looked at her.
Then at Emily.
“There’s a problem.”
May you like
A problem serious enough to change everything.
Because the message on his phone was from someone who was supposed to be dead.
