The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Flair

POV

My secret was out. I should have felt relieved, but the look on Grayson's face almost broke me. He looked hurt. Like I had inflicted intentional pain on him. I could see Timothy get up and quietly leave the room, leaving Grayson and me alone, in order to grant us privacy, but at that moment I wished he had remained. I moved to sit down opposite my husband, trying to maintain my composure, even as part of me wanted to beg for his forgiveness.

"Grayson, I never intended to hurt you" I began, glancing at him pleadingly, "I was going to tell you about my identity." He was silent, his body so still that I wondered if he was even paying attention to what I was saying to him. "Why didn't you just tell me from the outset?" he asked and I was relieved to note that there was no anger in his voice, merely curiosity.

I looked down at my hands, wringing and twisting them together. "I find it hard to trust people. With Johnathon, there was always this suspicion in the back of my mind that if he found out I was a Grant, he would use my name to his advantage. In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't tell him. I know it's different with you, you being a Deluca and all."

"But you still needed to ascertain if I was trustworthy enough to tell me your secret" Grayson supplied raising a sardonic brow.

He gave a large exhale "Part of me is angry with you" he admitted in a low voice and shame swept through me, along with a sense of humiliation and regret "But another part of me understands the necessity" he confessed.

I sighed in relief. "I swear, Grayson as soon as I felt it was safe, I was going to tell you" I blurted out "It was starting to feel uncomfortable keeping it from you."

He gave a chuckle "Well to be fair, part of it is my fault" he allowed "I could have looked more closely at the marriage certificate or used my listening ears during the ceremony" he added with a slight scowl that made me giggle despite the gravity of the situation. He pushed his chair back slightly and regarded me with a thoughtful expression. "Come here," he said finally, and awkwardly I got back to my feet and slowly paced towards him, my heels sinking into the soft carpet, his arm shooting out to wrap itself around my waist and draw me even closer to him.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look today?" he murmured "If I didn't that was very bad of me" he added and I smiled at him.

"You did, but I never grow tired of hearing it," I told him, playing lightly with his tie as he looked up at me with darkening eyes.

"Tell me one thing," he said and I sensed it was important "Are you keeping anything, anything else from me?"

"In what sense?" I asked lightly and with a slight sense of foreboding "Because truth be told, I have numerous identities and businesses that I'm involved in as a designer, investor, partner, you name it" I said thoughtfully.

He groaned "Why do I have the feeling you own that yoga studio?" he said with amusement.

I blinked "I do, but Johnathon never thought to ask me about that."

He smirked "Doesn't surprise me. What does surprise me is that in three years of marriage, he never twigged on that you had another identity?" his voice was questioning.

I let go of his tie and smoothed it down. "Johnathon believed what he wanted to believe. As long as it didn't affect him or get in the way of his firm, he didn't care what I did or worry about what I got up to."

My voice was slightly scornful. Grayson took hold of my hand and squeezed it.

"This changes some things, but not everything," he told me lightly "Underneath everything, you are still the same old Flair that I married and have known for the last few weeks."

He pulled me onto his lap, causing me to gasp and blush, his arms wrapping tightly around me so that I couldn't wriggle free. "Flair Grant" he murmured wickedly "it's a nice name but I much prefer Flair Oakes," he said with satisfaction "It has a much nicer ring to it." I relaxed. It felt nice to be held like this. Grayson's eyes were twinkling and there was no trace of resentment or anger left in his expression.

"Well," I murmured, breathing into his ear, "I happen to prefer Flair Oakes as well. I plan to keep it for now" I teased, causing his arms to wrap tighter and even more protectively.novelbin

I leaned my head and snuggled into his shoulder. I sighed in contentment. For all his bluster, and his anger, Grayson had exhibited a maturity and a willingness to forgive that far outweighed Johnathon in his angriest moments.

"Are you sure you don't want to take over your father's company?" he muttered "Because if it's something that you do desire, I won't get in your way."

I snorted "With all due respect husband, I have no desire to take over the family reigns. They belong to lan and Knox. I have my own businesses. My own interests. Thank you, but my brothers deserve the title of CEO."

I leaned against his chest, feeling his rock-hard muscles beneath his shirt. I closed my eyes, inhaling his masculine scent.

"God I can smell your perfume" he whispered, sniffing appreciatively "It smells like roses and gardenias."

I was a little surprised but didn't have time to comment before he locked lips with me, kissing me deeply, my arms wrapping around his neck, my body shifting on his lap as I shifted to an easier and more comfortable position. He left me gasping for air, my body feeling like it was floating as he pulled back, his hand cupping my cheek.

"Today didn't exactly go to plan," he said with a crooked grin "I think that we should take some time to reset, go have a drink at a cafe nearby, and then go home. Timothy can push my appointments and work back. I was planning on taking tomorrow off anyway so that we could get ready for the engagement party together."

He stroked up and down my arms. I shivered at his touch. My throat went dry. I was dazed. "A cafe" I stammered, envisioning a warm, relaxed atmosphere with a crowd of people seated around us "That sounds perfect."

It was what couples did, wasn't it? My eyes sparkled. The thought of having more quality time with my husband made my heart begin to race a little harder and my hands go slightly clammy.

"Does Rachel know?" Grayson asked out of the blue, causing me to glance at him blankly.

"Hmmm," I answered, my thoughts on going out of this building and venturing to a new one. "Does Rachel know what?" I asked a tad confused.

"Does Rachel know your true identity?" he asked patiently.

"Oh" I exclaimed, my brain focussing again "Rachel has always known. We've been best friends since college. She's a partner in many of my businesses, making her extremely well off as well. I would be lost without her guidance and creativity" I mumbled, causing Grayson to look a bit perplexed "She's the glue that holds it together and the sparkle to my bling" I added with a great degree of satisfaction.

"That's a strange way to put it" Grayson teased as I slid off his lap and began to smooth down my clothes "but I guess that at least you've had a friend to confide in all these years."

"It's helped," I said seriously "and for what it's worth, she likes you so that's a bonus," I said nonchalantly, fighting back the urge to laugh at the expression on his face.

"I guess I'll take that as a compliment" Grayson growled, standing up and shaking his hair, causing it to look even more disheveled, my breath hitching at how handsome he looked at that moment.

"Considering she didn't like Johnathon all that much, it is," I told him sincerely as Timothy came back into the room, looking slightly apprehensive.

"I figured since I didn't hear shouting, it was safe to come back in," the man said highly relieved.

"I plan on punishing her later" Grayson deadpanned and then winked at me, causing me to turn beetroot red.

I had a feeling that the punishment might involve the bedroom. Part of me felt excited by the idea. Thankfully the threat went right over an oblivious Timothy's head. Either that or he didn't see the need to comment about it.

"Well then, what would you like to do about work?" Timothy said calmly as I grabbed my bag and Grayson began to gather up his papers, a knowing look in his eyes and a resigned look on his face.

"Complete any paperwork you can today and push my appointments or meetings back. As you know I'm not in the office tomorrow either" Grayson instructed him "And I advise you to take the day off as well" he told Timothy, stunning his assistant. "Are you sure?" he stammered.

"You are taking Rachel aren't you?" he asked coolly "Spend the day getting ready. Take her out for dinner beforehand if you want. God knows the food is usually crap or so small it doesn't fill your stomach," he said bluntly, causing me to giggle again "get her to the party in a good mood" he advised, flinging a hand over my shoulder and winking at me;

"Thank you, sir," Timothy said, nodding and smiling.

"I hope to see you and Rachel at the party Timothy," I told him sincerely as Grayson began to lead me towards the door. "Oh um, Miss Flair," he said gingerly as I glanced back at him "Does Rachel know who you are? I don't want to let anything slip" he added biting his lip and looking worriedly at me.

"Rachel knows but try not to tell anyone else" I advised him cautiously and he nodded relieved, Grayson reaching out and opening the door for me, his hand on the small of my back.

I walked out, Grayson behind me and sensed that there were eyes on me as several females watched with disgruntled expressions as we walked downstairs, some of them eyeing me with envy and jealousy. I straightened my shoulders. Grayson was a handsome devil, I thought smiling up at him, and I was lucky to have married a man with such good qualities and redeeming features. It could very well have turned out differently.