Chapter 14 – The Hidden Heiress

“Thank you,” I said as he nodded at me, before walking away.

“Ooh” squealed Rachel “Is it his phone number?” she asked as I examined the card, my mouth going dry in surprise.

I looked at her with a bit of a laugh “I guess” I admitted with a shrug “In a matter of speaking” I allowed.

She plucked the card from my hand before I could protest and began to read it, her brows rising.

“Grayson Oakes Attorney at Law” she read and then shot me a look as I stared at her confused.

“Don’t you know who this is?” she asked.

I had no idea. I shrugged looking at her helplessly. “Clearly he’s a lawyer” I tried, making her snort incredulously.

“Oh Flair,” she said tsking and shaking her head as I stared at her indignantly “You really need to read the gossip papers a bit more often. This is serendipity, or fate,” she said with a cry.

“It’s a lawyer,” I said with annoyance “another man just like Johnathon. We don’t need to keep the card” I added, trying to wrestle it away from her while she stubbornly refused to let it go.

“Are you insane? You can’t get rid of this card” she said, holding onto it as though it was some sort of precious jewel.

I gave up and sat back panting in my seat “Why not? Pray tell, what’s so special about this man?” I asked.

“You’re hopeless” she sighed “Grayson Oakes is one of the most eligible bachelors in this city. Not only that,” she said looking at me with wide eyes “but the man refuses to date. He doesn’t show interest in anyone. Any woman that tries to get a date with him, is swiftly turned away. Getting this is like getting the golden ticket in freaking Willy Wonka” she said with a screech, making several patrons stare at us.

“Calm down” I hissed “People are staring at us.”

“Let them,” she said dismissively “The man is showing an interest in you,” she said, “and you want to throw this number away? I’m not letting you,” she said “Your sex life will thank me for this later.”

I blushed, my cheeks flaming red. “He probably just wanted me to have his card in case I needed to use his services” I hissed “not because he wants to date me. You said yourself he has no interest in dating.”

Her eyes were dancing. “Well, there’s always a first time, and who wouldn’t want to date you? You’re gorgeous” she purred “If I went in that direction, I would date you,” she said nonchalantly.

“Thank you,” I said slowly, deciding to take that as a compliment.

She waved the card at me looking triumphant “You said you needed a lawyer” she reminded me “and his office is downtown.”

“How do I know that he’s not a friend of Johnathon’s?” I said, feeling slightly defeated by her optimism.

She was like a tsunami that refused to crash and break. She laughed sounding amused “You don’t pay attention much do you? Grayson and Associates is a rival law firm against Johnathon’s. He’s always complained about them taking cases that should have been his. They aren’t friends Flair” she said knowingly as I stared at her, feeling a spark of hope in my chest “They’re enemies. Don’t you see? This could be the answer to your prayers. You don’t need to look for a lawyer, one has just literally fallen into your lap.”

She finally relinquished the card back to me. I took hold of it, staring down at the words and the address. The waiter removed our plates and Rachel subtly asked for the bill. I couldn’t believe my luck. The divorce papers flashed in my mind. Rachel’s grin was smug. “I’m right, aren’t I,” she said happily “You’re going to go and see him.”

I carefully undid the zipper on my handbag and pulled out my purse, opening it and placing the card with infinite care into it. I glanced at Rachel a small smile curving on my lips and rose smoothly to my feet as Rachel took care of the bill. “I think I just might,” I said coolly “After all” I added as we began to head out of the restaurant and hail a cab “it would be rude to ignore what basically constituted as an open invitation” I added as Rachel pumped her fist in the air. “Grayson Oakes” I murmured as we slid inside the cab “what an interesting name.”

I decided to research him as soon as we got back to the apartment. I was intrigued now, and as the man’s face flashed in my mind again, I had to admit to myself, that a small part of me was attracted to him as well.

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