The old coot. I sighed. Just like him to play these mindless games. I shook my head and then glanced towards the stairs. Flair would have started to get ready by now. The party was hours away, but women had all sorts of things they liked to do to get prepared. I on the other hand only had to shower and throw a suit on. It seemed unfair now that I had to think about it.
I started back up the stairs and then knocked on the bedroom door, not wanting to disturb Flair if she was in the midst of doing something important.
“Come in” she called out and I entered, watching her clad in a robe, her hair up in curlers as she applied makeup at the dressing table.
“Do you need anything? Um, I can’t help with that” I teased her, gesturing at the makeup and curlers “but I can bring food up for you to eat” I offered.
She shook her head “I won’t be able to eat without ruining the makeup” she said with a giggle “who was on the phone? I heard you talking to someone?”
I sat on the bed, watching as she continued to dab at her face, feeling relaxed and more at ease just being in her presence.
“The old man,” I said with a shrug “warning us to be on our best behavior.”
Flair frowned at me in the mirror “are you a child that needs to be told they’ll be spanked if you misbehave” she said with a giggle.
I chuckled “Sometimes it feels like it, doesn’t it” I murmured.
Suddenly Flair put down the makeup tools and glanced down at her hands. “Grayson” she murmured as I came up behind her and put my hands on both her shoulders.
“What’s wrong gorgeous?” I asked her quietly.
She looked a little anxious, biting her lip, her eyes turning suspiciously shiny.
“I don’t know if I’m strong enough to do this. I don’t know if I’m able to congratulate that bastard after everything he’s done. Part of me doesn’t want to be the bigger person and I’m worried I’m going to say or do something that I’ll regret.”
I rubbed her shoulders. “Honey, the fact you’re willing to go to this party speaks volumes. You’re braver than you think. You’re a Grant” I reminded her, as she looked over her shoulder at me “and while you may not want that revealed tonight, you can remind yourself of that. Johnathon is nothing in comparison to you. Nothing. Besides, he cheated on you, so why don’t you think of it as Johnathon and Charlotte truly deserve each other? I guarantee if he’s cheated once, he’ll do it again” I told her sincerely.
Her eyes shone “I never thought of it that way or even that he might do the same to her. But I also have something else that neither of them do” she added, glancing at me meaningfully.
“Oh,” I said, staring down at her beautiful face and fighting the urge to kiss it “What’s that?”
She gave me a brilliant smile that almost had me swooning, it was so bright it lit the whole room up “I have you. A husband who has shown me exactly how it feels to be treated like a wife should be. Thank you, Grayson, for everything that you have done for me.”
I felt like I’d been praised for something I didn’t deserve. I couldn’t resist anymore and I leaned down, pressing my lips gently to hers, tasting the sweetness of her lips as she closed her eyes and gave in to me. I didn’t care if I ruined her makeup. I doubted she cared either. Not right then. I had never been more grateful to have her or to have her express such strong feelings towards me.
Who was I kidding? This was supposed to be a contract marriage but already it had unravelled and become something more. Neither of us was willing to speak the words out loud, but both of us knew that in our hearts. I pulled back and smiled down at Flair, whose eyes fluttered back open. “It’s I who should be thanking you,” I said gently “because you’ve shown me what it’s like to have somebody in my life, who only wants me and not what I can give them in the way of money or materialistic things. You are a precious jewel Flair Oakes and one I don’t intend to let go of anytime soon.”
I turned and walked deliberately towards the bathroom. I could have sworn as I entered that I heard a small sob behind me, and as I glanced over my shoulder, my wife’s eyes were suspiciously wet as she turned back towards the dressing table. My wife would be introduced to everybody tonight and I had no intentions of leaving her side, but it wasn’t just because I felt obligated to, but because I wanted to.
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 Ian 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 Ian and I should mingle with some of the peasants here” he added nonchalantly, clapping Ian on the shoulder and forcing him to move on as I gave a wry smile.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.