Chapter 5 – The Hidden Heiress

“Grayson, help” she sneered “he hates me. He would rather see me suffer than step in and help me. As if it’s my fault that my father divorced his mother and married mine.”

I viewed her skeptically. I felt there was more to the story than just that but Charlotte avoided my eyes.

“I don’t know what you want me to do then Charlotte. I hardly have the power to demand the newspapers don’t run the story. Why don’t you try using your name to get them to stop?”

She deflated. “Grandfather and Grayson are the only ones who have the authority to prevent the newspapers from running the story. If I involve my grandfather then he’s going to be even more furious than he is with me already.”

I sighed. “Maybe the papers will focus more on Flair who hit you then on you” I suggested with optimism, making Charlotte perk up and smile.

“Of course, why didn’t I think of that? Flair is a nobody, so she’s bound to draw more interest than me. Plus I’m certain they didn’t hear the reason as to why she slapped me” she said with hope “I bet they villionise her instead!”

She settled back against the seats, looking far more cheerful. I wanted to shake my head at her. She was like a child sometimes. I couldn’t help comparing her to Flair, who was so even tempered and sweet. It made me scowl. Why was I thinking of my soon to be ex-wife, when I had a gorgeous heiress in front of me, with a fortune at her fingertips, ready to grant me my every wish as soon as I married her? I needed to stop being so damn nostalgic. Flair understood my ambitions to be a powerful lawyer and make it up in the world. It had never been a secret, but even I had to admit that she could have found out about Charlotte in a different way that was less hurtful. I had owed her that at least, but Charlotte was vicious, wanting Flair to find out in the most embarrassing way she could envision. She had grown tired of waiting for me to ask for a divorce and had engineered a way for it to happen.

“Where are we going?” I asked evenly, as the limousine drove through the large city, staring out the window, lost in contemplation.

Charlotte drew her brows together. “We’re going back to the family home of course” she said a little annoyed “you can hardly expect me to deal with grandfather myself can you? At least with you there, he’s going to have to reign in his temper somewhat” she said with a grimace “although I doubt it’s going to be much.”

Great. But Charlotte wasn’t finished yet “when are you going to send the divorce papers to Flair?” she demanded icily “and get them signed? I want to be able to inform grandfather that we plan on getting married and soon. Besides” she added meaningfully “it’s been over six months since we’ve gotten together Johnathon and I’ve waited long enough.”

“Six months is not a long time Charlotte, by any stretch” I countered back, smoothing my shirt “and I will send the divorce papers out in due time” I added, causing her to glower at me.

“I want them sent out Johnathon” she snapped “I refuse to be kept waiting. I want a ring on my finger and I want to be wed. The sooner you and that b***h Flair get divorced, the better. Then I can finally get my hands on the company my grandfather refuses to hand over.”

I stared at her “that’s what this is about isn’t it? The company? Your grandfather has a stipulation on it doesn’t he?”

Charlotte gave a smug grin “he does. In order to inherit the damn company, either I or Grayson have to be married first and provide an heir. But the heir has to be provided in wedlock. So the sooner we are married, the sooner we can get started on providing the heir” she blurted out “and then I get the company, not my bastard brother Grayson.”

She patted my knee condescendingly “and it’s not as though there aren’t perks for you” she said with a grin “not only will you own half the company with me, but I’ll be able to direct the clients to your law firm. You’ll get tons of business and so many clients you won’t be able to keep up. All of them wealthy. You’ll be a billionaire in your own right. It’s a win win and we’ll have children to pass on the business to.”

“You failed to mention all of this to me before Charlotte” I said a little taken aback but also secretly thrilled.

A fifty percent share in the worlds largest company that had billions in profits year after year? What man was going to pass up such an opportunity? All I had to do was marry Charlotte and have a baby with her? In retrospect it didn’t seem all that much and I could spend my life in luxury, while building a prestigious law firm that would rival anybody’s in the country. I could feel my heart racing at the thought, my hands turning clammy. Charlotte gave me a knowing look.

“I couldn’t risk telling you before” she said nonchalantly “but I trust you now Johnathon. There’s no other man I would rather be married to than you” she added, flipping her hair over her shoulder, her eyes gleaming at me.

“But Charlotte, I don’t exactly see you looking after a child” I said frowning.

She didn’t seem like the maternal type. Charlotte laughed, throwing her head back. “Johnathon you’re hilarious” she said “naturally our child will be brought up by nannies. I don’t intend on being a hands on mother” she shuddered at the thought “the thought of changing diapers and late night feeds, urgh” she flinched “its so repulsive” she complained.

I felt a pang at that. I had always wanted children and had never thought of palming them off. I convinced myself that it was a small price to pay for what I would receive in return. Our child would still be loved, be well cared for. I ignored the small voice in my head that was protesting and smiled lovingly at Charlotte. “Very well, I will take care of the divorce papers, now that I know there is a reason for the urgency my love” I told her loyally, making her face light up “and then we can announce our engagement to the media, which should make your family happy.”

Flair POV

I forced back my groan as the sunlight hit my eyes, my head throbbing with what felt like the world’s worst hangover, and stumbled to the bathroom, where I forced my body underneath the shower and out of hibernation. I blinked back the sleep from my eyes and carefully got ready for a new day, heading out of the room, fully dressed, only to come across Rachel looking a little worse for wear at the dining table, munching on a large piece of toast, with a woebegone expression on her face.

“I drank too much last night” she moaned, sipping coffee and making a face “now my head feels like it’s about to explode.

“Tell me about it” I muttered, grabbing some juice and aspirin “I feel like severing my head from my body” I complained, sitting down next to her.

Rachel smirked “Still, it was worth it, just to see that b***h Charlotte Deluca’s face when you gave her what for,” she said teasingly, wincing slightly.

I stared at her uncomprehendingly. “Sorry, what?” I asked.

Rachel snorted “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already,” she said with a shake of her head and then grabbed the newspaper, handing it to me as I gripped it with slightly shaking hands.

Spoilt Heiress Has Affair with Married Man. Given Slap by the Woman She Wronged!

I swallowed hard, grateful not to be eating anything for fear it would have come right back up. There, in black and white, as plain as the nose on my face, was a close-up picture of myself slapping Charlotte Deluca in the face. Oh boy. Suddenly I was grateful to be sitting down. I gripped the edges of the table. This had to be some sort of prank. I glanced at Rachel who was smirking at me. Slowly images from last night began to flash into my mind. “I slapped her,” I said incredulously “Oh my god, I actually slapped her.”

What was I thinking? I had never slapped anyone before in my life. Not only that but if I were honest with myself, it had felt good to slap that heiress b***h in the face. This was not like me. I wasn’t some vindictive hateful woman. But right now, part of me wanted to do that to her again. Rachel laughed “Trust me she deserved it. I’m actually surprised you didn’t slap Johnathon as well considering he had a few choice things to say. Shame really” she sighed “Maybe next time” she added hopefully.

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