The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Flair POV

I can't stop sneaking glances at Grayson who looks so handsome in his suit and tie that my mouth is watering just looking at him. I smooth down my dress for what feels like the hundredth time and he smiles and shakes his head at me, taking hold of my hand and kissing the palm of it while butterflies flutter in my stomach. "I'll say it again, you look beautiful," he murmured as we headed towards the back of the Deluca mansion and into the marquee that had been set up for the party, "far more than any other woman here," he added as we joined the crowd of elites and socialites mingling.

The marquee is decked out with magnificent decorations. There are twinkling fairy lights, fancy tables, and chairs. Waiters and waitresses walk around offering glasses of champagne and cocktails. Grayson's hand remains on the small of my back as we head a little further in, only to spot my brothers who immediately make a beeline towards us both. "Knox," I say in a whisper, greeting my brother who is excited to see me, his boyish smile causing me to laugh as he picks me up and whirls me around with strong arms. "Put me down" I scold, while lan rolls his eyes and offers his hand to Grayson who shakes it.

"It's been too long dollface," Knox says easily, putting his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

"Still calling me that" I sigh, before motioning towards Grayson "Knox I would like you to meet my husband Grayson."

Knox shakes Grayson's hand with enthusiasm, his eyes sparkling. His brown hair is neatly slicked back behind his ears. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he tells Grayson "but if you do anything to make my sister cry, I'll kick your ass" he adds in a hushed voice. Grayson looks taken aback. I giggle, causing several people nearby to openly stare, some making comments wondering who I am, and why I'm holding onto Grayson's arm so blatantly. "Where's father?" I whisper.

"He decided it was in his best interest not to attend," Knox said with a shrug "and passes on the message that he'll be seeing you real soon."

Naturally. I sigh and then see Rachel coming timidly towards us, escorted by none other than Timothy, both with big smiles on their faces. Knox let out a low whistle "Rachel's looking good," he said "and I'd love to stay and chat some more with this husband" his voice dipped dramatically on the last word of that sentence, "Of yours but if you don't want your identity divulged, then lan and I should mingle with some of the peasants here" he added nonchalantly, clapping lan on the shoulder and forcing him to move on as I gave a wry smile.

"Knox is quite interesting" Grayson commented as Rachel joined us.

"That's an understatement," I said with amusement "Rachel you look gorgeous" I added as Timothy shook my hand and Grayson's.

"So do you" she gushed. "Did I just see Knox and lan walking away?"

"Trust me, you didn't miss much," I said with a grin "he's just as obnoxious as ever."

She laughed "he wouldn't be if women would stop throwing themselves at him."

"You said it, not me," I said as Grayson listened to us both amused.

"I see a client of mine," Grayson said and was about to walk over there, holding my hand when a rather old man started walking towards us instead.

Grayson groaned. "Timothy best you take Rachel towards the refreshments or towards the stage" he advised "No doubt Charlotte has something to do with that as well" he added under his breath.

Timothy looked slightly confused but nodded, pulling a reluctant Rachel alongside him. I waved at her, just as the old man stopped in front of us, a crooked grin on his face.

As far as old men went, this one looked almost youthful. He had a full head of glorious white hair, and a friendly smile on his face and although he held a cane in one hand, he didn't appear to need it for mobility. He wore an expensive suit and Rolex and his eyes twinkled as he looked between Grayson and me.

"Grayson," he said extending his hand "Back at the family home at last" he murmured.

Grayson scowled "Not for good just for the party Grandfather" he countered back rudely.

I tried not to gasp. So this was the infamous Grandfather. The old man studied Grayson for a moment and then extended his hand to me. "Welcome," he said, taking my hand and pressing it to his lips "It is a pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman. Grayson wasn't lying when he spoke about how pretty you were."

Grayson had told him about me? I looked at my husband whose eyes had narrowed. He was observing the old man silently. I coughed. "It's nice to meet you," I told him as he dropped my hand, trying to remember my manners "I've heard so much about you." He smirked "Is that so Mrs Oakes? Well all of it is true, including the bad parts," he said with a chuckle.

"Grandfather" Grayson spoke, his voice dripping with warning.

His grandfather frowned at him. "There's no need to take that tone with me young man. I'm merely here to welcome your new wife Flair, to the family." Grayson was not convinced, I could see the suspicion in his eyes and on his face.

"Truly," the grandfather said, holding his hand up in surrender "Really Grayson, must you be so suspicious?" he sighed.

"Mr Deluca," I said, hastily, fingering the ring that was on my finger and admiring it "I must thank you for the beautiful ring that you allowed Grayson to give me. I understand that it's a family heirloom and I want to assure you that I will take good care of it. I know how valuable it must be to you and the rest of the family" I finished.

There was an indecipherable look on the old man's face. He glanced at Grayson. "It's precisely because I know that you will take care of it, that it was gifted to Grayson to give to you," he said cryptically "and as for valuable, I think you underestimate your own value." I smiled. The old man patted Grayson on the shoulder. "Tonight should prove interesting" he commented, "I can see Charlotte coming down the stairs. I believe she has a speech prepared for everybody" his smile dipped slightly at that "before she begins to mingle with everybody. Please do stay for as long as you can" he aimed this at me "events like these are only bearable when there are interesting people to talk to" he muttered, before turning around and beginning to slowly head off.

"I like him," I told Grayson nonchalantly "he's very interesting."

"Humph" he snorted "that's one way to put it. Busybody, interfering, Manipulative, sly, all other ways to word it."

I giggled and handed my empty glass to a nearby waiter. As far as parties went, this was mild, and I wondered if the grandfather had anything to do with that. Soft music began to play and then, I saw Charlotte Deluca step out on the stage, wearing the blue dress she had dared to take off me in the store. It suited her, I thought, studying her, but the makeup she wore with it made her look slightly pale and washed out. It was petty of me, but it filled me with a certain degree of satisfaction.

Everybody's eyes turned to the front of the stage. I surmised she probably had a band to play music afterward. Charlotte held a microphone in her hand. There was no sign of Johnathon anywhere. Grayson wrapped his arm around my waist. "Now comes the long dreary speech that thanks everybody for coming etc etc" he muttered under his breath "Johnathon's probably out the back drinking if he's smart" he scowled "It's too late to get out of the crowd now" he sighed.

I swatted at him playfully. The music stopped and Charlotte cleared her throat loudly. Silence. "Welcome everybody to the engagement party of Johnathon Rourke and Charlotte Deluca" she announced proudly "I want to thank everybody here for taking time out of their busy lives for coming and being here with us today. I know how hard it is to take time out of your busy schedules. I cannot even begin to express just how grateful I am to have all my friends and family around me to celebrate this auspicious occasion with me and my fiancee today."

"Where is your fiancee?" yelled a voice from the crowd.

Grayson's lip twitched. Charlotte frowned at the direction the voice had come from. "He's ah, he's just running a little late," she said and then breathed a sigh of relief as Johnathon came walking up beside her, looking slightly harried "You see" she said triumphantly. "Late to your own party, Johnathon," roared someone else, and the crowd burst into laughter.novelbin

Charlotte's face was turning red. I fought to keep a straight face. "Anyway," Charlotte said loudly, bringing the focus back to her "I believe that Johnathon has something he would like to say."

She roughly shoved the microphone at Johnathon who took it with one hand, his head turning to look at her. "Charlotte Deluca, you are the most beautiful, wonderful woman that I have ever had the pleasure to meet and fall in love with. So I have one important question for you and I hope that the answer is yes" he said almost robotically as Charlotte beamed at him, getting down on one knee and producing a ring box as the crowd began to cheer loudly "Will you marry me?"

"Yes" screamed Charlotte, waving her hands in the air.

I watched as Johnathon put the ring on her finger, and they embraced on the stage. She took the microphone back. "Now it's time to celebrate our official engagement. Please help yourselves to food and drink. Johnathon and I will try to get around and speak to all of you," she said, beaming. "And once again, our thanks for being here."

It wasn't a bad speech I thought, watching Charlotte and Johnathon link hands, handing a microphone to a band coming onto the stage. Music started up and Grayson led me onto the dance floor that had been set up.

"Dance with me," he whispered, and I wrapped my arms around his neck and began to sway in time to the beat, becoming lost in his eyes and oblivious to everything around us until Charlotte chose to come storming over. That was.