Silent Flyght – Chapter 8

“You two know each other?” Marcelo is more surprised than I expected him to be.

“Well, in a sense,” I say and sign at the same time.

“Vivian rescued me on the Lee home ship,” Mat signs, and I translate.

I drop my voice to Marcelo, being sure to keep Mat in the conversation. “‘Rescuing’ is a bit of an exaggeration. I merely helped him find his way.” I turn back to Mat. “You were there to see a ship, right? Did you make it to the cargo bay in time for your meeting?” I struggle through my signs and grunt in frustration. “Sorry, my USL is rusty. I should study more.”

“Your USL is perfect, and yes, I saw the ship and bought it. It turned out to be a great day,” Mat says, looking pointedly at everyone at the table. I beg forgiveness for my rudeness and introduce Jinzo, Ken, and Gus. They all shake hands, and I conduct the translations.

While we’re making small talk, more drinks arrive at the table. Mat picks up his champagne glass and gestures to me to toast. I tap my glass to his and drink.

The bubbles hit the back of my throat, and I savor the dry apple and rosemary flavor. “Mmmm, this is delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever had anything like it. Do you finger-spell ‘rosemary’ in USL?”

He nods. “Good catch. That batch does have rosemary.”

Gus smiles at us, picks up his drink, and signals to Ken and Jinzo. “We’re going to go check out the wider selection at the bar.”

As they leave, Mat turns to Marcelo. “It’s good to meet you in person,” he signs. “I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to agree to a meeting, but I’m sure you can understand my need for privacy.”

I translate everything as I let this meeting soak in. This man is looking for a life partner, but he’s also looking for privacy. Shit, I’m looking for privacy, but hell if I can find it. I sip more champagne and glance over at my network at the bar. Jinzo and Ken are deep in conversation about something, but Gus is watching us. His stare is clinical, and he’s kept his eyes on me, not the new guy.

“Ms. Vivian and I understand your need for privacy. She’s only ever sought to keep her private life under the radar. We hope that now, with Ms. Briar-Stevenson off the news, her life can pick up where it left off. Ms. Vivian,” he says, turning to me, “Mr. Aravena is interested in you and your network staying the weekend here. I asked that we have our initial meeting first before we make any definite plans.”

I keep the smile on my face as hope dies swiftly in my chest. Everyone has set this meeting up to fail. Mat is interested in me, but I’m a public relations liability. Marcelo believes Mat will decline based on our initial meeting, probably because I am a public relations liability. Finally, everything I’ve been fighting against has caught up with me. But the connection between Mat and me is high-powered, burning like a roaring campfire. There is something here.

Are we already doomed?

I need this to work. With one glance at this estate, it’s obvious there’s big money here. Big money that could save my farm, save my life. And Mat? He’s captivating, as compelling as that first moment our eyes met on the Lee home ship. I need to give this everything I have. A fantastic weekend could be the difference between a cordial friendship and something much more. I will have to work it and work it hard. Two days’ worth of work will not make or break me. If it doesn’t work out, then so be it. If it does, it could be just the ticket I need to win that auction and add another fantastic and influential man to my network.

I hold my emotions in check as I assess Mat as a romantic partner. This is one hell of a handsome guy. He’s got it going on, for sure. Every time he lifts his hands to sign, I’m captivated by his strong forearms and the way his shirt stretches over his chest. It’s surface vanity, pure and simple, but it’s working for me.

My thoughts come to a screeching halt when I let the whole situation sink in. It wasn’t until this moment that I really considered his disability. Mat can’t speak. He’s mute. In the universe we live in, it’s more of a problem than it should be. There’s technology to help, but it doesn’t bridge all the gaps.

First, I’m sure Jinzo, Ken, and Gus don’t know USL. Maybe Gus because he’s worked in a hospital, but I’m sure Ken doesn’t know any. At least he didn’t when I was learning at university. He always thought my obsession with the language was strange.

Second, if Mat had the NV virus as a kid, it means he may not be able to father children, at all. It’s not the worst thing in the world for a man of a relationship network. He can always be the father to other kids in the family. But many men find that to be emasculating.

Right, this is now a challenge. I will either make this work or not, but I’m not giving up on the first meeting.

“This is a beautiful arboretum. Did you plant all of these yourself?” I change the subject, pick up my champagne glass, and step away from the table. “Please excuse me. I won’t be able to sign and drink at the same time.”

I want to make sure I use USL so I learn more signs and he can correct me if I’m wrong. He’s not deaf, just mute, but it would be a wasted opportunity not to show him some respect and learn at the same time.

Mat downs the last of the champagne in his glass quickly before stepping away from Marcelo. “It’s no problem. I’m pleased you sign at all. Most people just talk and then read my signs in return.” I keep my eyes on his fast hands. “I have planted most everything here, but I have a gardener who does a lot of the work for me.”

He follows me away from the table, and we leave Marcelo to his own devices as we walk the path through his indoor garden.

Mat tells me he’s obsessed with ivies, orchids, and Earth-origin plants. When he’s not working on the vineyard, he’s exploring the worlds of the Duo Systems looking for people who grow and cultivate plants from our past.

Chills roll over me from head to toe, and I have to stop tears from gathering in my eyes. Fear mixes with awe in my belly and halts my breath. How does this happen? I was just talking about this with Gus last night! This is something I have always wanted to do! And this man is already doing it.

“Earth had a wide and varied ecosystem before the Decline.” He stops to touch the dirt of a nearby pot. “But it suffered from global climate change and wars. Only a small percentage of what they had ended up here.” He blows a long breath out through his nose, a kind of heavy sigh. “And the Californikos planets would be dead rocks without the plants and animals we brought.”

“I know.” I can’t bring my voice above a whisper. “I… I studied Earth-origin plants at university.”

I can’t bring myself to say anything more. This is an obsession I set aside years ago and only recently thought about, thanks to Gus.

“Then you understand what I’m talking about.” His smile is so pleased like I’ve passed a test.

“Only Rio has anything that’s not of Earth-origin.” I finish my glass of champagne, and a young man appears to take it away and put a glass of white wine in my hand instead.

“May I?” Mat asks, then extends his hand for my glass. I hand it over.

He dips his nose into the glass to inhale, closes his eyes, and once he’s had a moment to think, he hands the glass back to me. “Ah, good. They brought out the 324 Year first. This one goes well with the food. Shall we go back to the tables? I’d love for you to try the local olives, meat, and cheese. The cheese especially goes well with this wine.”

His hand grazes the small of my back, and heat climbs to my cheeks. Is it possible this guy is as interested in me as I am in him?

I don’t know what to do with this sizzling connection. Ken and I grew to love each other over time. It wasn’t an instant attraction. I thought Gus was handsome at first glance, and it took me a while to warm to Jinzo. I love them all now, even though the attraction started out on uneven footing. This is something totally different.

I let him lead me back to the main crowd, and I’m not surprised that the eyes of all the women in the room follow me back to my network. They want him, I’m sure of it. The real question is, why doesn’t he want them? Why would he consider me instead of someone from his own planet, someone who probably understands him a lot better than I do?

Sliding in between Gus and Jinzo, I place my wine glass on the table and smile at Mat as he walks away.

“So?” Gus asks, leaning in to slide a plate of food across to me. Cheese, crackers, smoked sausage, and grapes. Classic.

“There’s definitely something here.” Tears bubble up through the backs of my eyes, and I look away from the guys. Shame covers me from head to toe, shame that I didn’t feel the same attraction to them from the very beginning. “But I’m sure it’s doomed to failure.” I clear my throat and pop a grape in my mouth, letting its sweet juice flow over my tongue. Do they grow table grapes here too? I’m dying to get out of this house and walk through the fields.

Jinzo scoffs. “That can’t be, Vivi. He can’t keep his eyes off you.”

“There are other, more desirable candidates in this room, I think. If looks could kill, I would’ve been dead yesterday.”

I lean out of our tight circle at the table and spot Mat speaking to a few people at the bar. I hate that I can overhear them from such a distance, but I can read his hands clearly. “She’s someone I’m considering,” Mat signs. One of the men responds in a low voice. “I know it’s dangerous,” Mat answers, “but I have no other prospects.”

I look away before he can catch me snooping.

Dangerous. No other prospects. But the three other women here are dying to get in his pants. Hell, maybe they’ve already slept with him and been rejected? That’s an interesting thought. Still, what about them makes them out of bounds for him but keeps me in the running?

“I’m… I don’t know what’s going on.” I place my fingers over my mouth, thinking about what’s dangerous about me. My penchant for ending up on OEN? He’s been a recluse all his life, so I’m not sure why I’m here. “I’m not an ideal pick, but for some reason, he still has to consider me.”

Gus’s face falls. “When I spoke to him, he was excited to meet you. He said nothing about you being anything less than what he needed.”

I glance over at Mat again at the bar. He pours wine for other people and lifts his eyes to meet mine. I make sure to appear at ease, and he smiles at me before looking away to talk about the wine.

“Yet, I am.”

Ken sets his wine glass down and steps away from the table. “We should go. I don’t like to think of anyone insulting Vivi.”

“Shhh.” I hush him with my hand. “Look, I’m not insulted, just confused. His actions say one thing, but his hands say another. And I’m not too proud to admit that I have faults. I’m not the most desirable candidate to ever walk into this estate. Just look at the other women who came here today.” The guys glance around, taking notice of the three women in the room. “Yet, he’s considering me, even if I’m an imperfect match.”

I tap my foot on the floor and take a deep breath. “There’s a mystery here that needs solving. We should stay. I should give this a chance.”

Marcelo’s eyebrows draw together. “Ms. Vivian, I don’t like putting you in a situation where you’re likely to be hurt. He said he was interested, and so did his head of staff. If that’s changed, then we need to secure your standing and leave.”

I raise my hand to halt the burble of affirmations that rise up from the guys.

“Vivian, I’m serious.” Jinzo’s eyes meet mine. “You’ve been through enough. This should be an easy win for you, not another hassle.”

“There are no easy wins. The auction could be any day, and I’m short several million credits. I can spare some humiliation to see if this will work out or not because there’s no one else. Am I right, Marcelo?”

Marcelo’s face is carved from stone. Well, at least I have that answer. There is no one else. This is it. If I fail with Mat, there’s no one else to go on to.

“I told you, right from the beginning, it would not be easy,” I remind him. “I’m sure you thought otherwise, but…”

Marcelo holds up his hand. “You know I admire you, Ms. Vivian. I consider you… almost a daughter.”

My face heats with the compliment.

“But yes, the last few months have challenged me at every possible moment. Men keep lying to me, and I don’t think it has anything to do with you.” He shakes his head. “It used to be everyone I worked with was upfront with me about all their details, flaws, and pet peeves. They knew that if they hid anything, I would call them out about it. Now, things are different.”

“The Reformers have changed everything,” Ken says, lifting his wine glass to his lips. “I see it every damned day. Either the men I know are cocky enough to believe they can get by without women, or they’re desperate to get into a network before everything falls apart.”

Makes sense. Times are changing, as always, and we have to shift with them.

I step back from the table and brush the wrinkles from my shirt.

“I’m going to tempt him away from the crowd. Maybe if I can get him alone, I can find out what’s going on. You guys hold down things here, but feel free to head back to the hotel whenever you’re ready.”

Jinzo raises his glass. “I’ll stay for you. However long it takes.”

I back away from the table and nod to them. These guys are a part of my network now, and whatever I do next, I do for them too.

Making my way through the crowds, I ignore the stares of the women I pass and head straight for an open spot near the door. I linger there, waiting for Mat to notice me. When he looks up, our eyes meet, and I smile. I keep the smile simmering and tilt my head. Once I have him, I turn and walk out the back door.