The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Dawn

POV

I knew that Dexter would cause trouble. It was in the very nature of his being. I should have phoned him back when I had the chance. The irony of him claiming to be clean, only to rock up drunk was laughable but typical of the man. I fumed as Dexter stumbled into our midst, his hands restrained behind his back, the bodyguards none too gently shoving him forward while we watched silently, lan's eyes were like glaciers as he raked his gaze over the man, a scornful look on his face. This was not how I envisioned either lan or Dexter meeting each other, and I knew instinctively that it was not going to go well.

Dexter's shaggy brown hair was down to his shoulders and his beard was grizzled and messy. He wore crumpled and creased clothes, stained and worn. His eyes were glazed and he looked older, most likely due to his earlier addiction to drugs and alcohol. I tensed as Dexter straightened himself up, smoothing back his greasy hair and attempting to smile at me. I scowled at him, more than irritated at how he had ruined the evening for everyone, by his own selfishness once again.

"Dawn," he said jovially, smirking at me and ignoring everyone else "just who I wanted to see."

I stepped beside lan, maintaining a cold look on my face. "Perhaps you should have waited until I contacted you then Dexter, as we were in the middle of something when you decided to do something so stupid as to attempt to break in?" I said frostily. He blinked, not fazed by my anger at all. He swayed slightly on his feet. "Well, I wanted to see Faith" he slurred, "it's been a long time since I've seen my little girl" he added pointedly.

I was more than aware that it had been a while. Almost a year since his last visit to see Faith. I glared at him "That could have waited."

"You can't keep her from me" he snapped and I tensed, while lan cleared his throat, and Mr. Grant nodded subtly at the guards who stepped backward, keeping a close eye on the proceedings.

"Dexter is it?" lan said smoothly as Dexter swung his head towards him "I can assure you that nobody is keeping Faith from you, but you are trespassing on private property" he said calmly as Dexter stared at him "And whether you wanted to see Faith or Dawn, you should have made the appropriate arrangements with them instead of turning up like this. It's late" lan pointed out wisely "and in your condition, it would not be wise to let Faith see you."

"What condition would that be?" Dexter growled "What are you trying to say?" he challenged.

I closed my eyes and then opened them, my rage increasing. "You're drunk, you imbecile" I hissed, losing my temper "what happened to being clean? You left me a message stating it and you're pissed" I motioned with my hands "I should have known you would be lying" I shouted, my frustration evident.

"I am clean" Dexter denied "I haven't touched drugs in months. I only have the occasional drink now, that's better isn't it?" he asked blankly, like the moron that he was.

I wanted to wring my hands around his neck and strangle him. I breathed deep breaths while lan took my hand and held it, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by Dexter who narrowed his eyes.

"Looks like you've made your way up in the world Dawn," he said nastily as I shot him a sharp glance, hearing the underlying resentment beneath his voice "You always wanted more than I could offer you."

"I wanted a stable home for me and for Faith," I said evenly, "and you couldn't give us that. That's on you" I said shaking my head "and if you're referring to my engagement with lan, that has nothing to do with you."

"Really," he said with a smirk on his face, as I felt my stomach begin to churn "Because I would say it has a lot to do with me. Do you think I want some strange man looking after my child in my absence? How do I know he's not some pedophile or something?" he said snidely.

"That's low even for you," I told him sickened "lan is nothing of the kind and for you to even consider the possibility, just shows how deranged you are."

"My son is a respectable and compassionate man" Mr Grant interjected, finally joining the conversation, his jaw clenched as he stared hard at Dexter "and I would appreciate it if you stopped insulting my family while you are on our property. Otherwise I will have you firmly booted out," he said raising his chin and staring Dexter down.

"Fine" Dexter mumbled, before sitting down on a chair and crossing his legs, a small smile curving on his lips "Make all your threats, but it's not going to stop me from going after what I want."

"Which is what Dexter?" I forced myself to remain calm, my voice even, despite my body trembling slightly "what do you want? You can't tell me this is just about Faith. You don't give a damn about her. She's just a distraction to you. You show interest in her for a day or two and then disappear back out of her life again. She deserves better than that" I hissed "Faith deserves a father who cares about her emotional well-being instead of one who is constantly being a selfish bastard."

Silence. lan looked ropeable. Mr Grant was solemn. The bodyguards gleefully cracked their knuckles. Dexter chuckled. "Calm down Dawn, you're getting yourself all worked up again," he said shaking his head while my hands clenched into fists, the urge to strike him one that was almost overwhelming, shocking me to my core.

Never before, had I felt this violent towards somebody before, but Dexter brought out the worst in me. He always had. How I had thought I was in love with him when I was younger, I would never know.

"Leave Dexter. Just leave" I said my voice cracking as lan placed his hand on the small of my back, attempting to comfort

me.

"Not until I see my daughter. I have rights" Dexter said loudly "And so help me, Dawn, I'll call the police, if you try and prevent me. Of course" he smiled winningly at lan and Mr. Grant whose faces were inscrutable, a glint in his eyes "I am amenable to your suggestions or offers. Maybe I could be persuaded to come back again another time, that would be more suitable to you?" he suggested with a raised brow, a look of cockiness on his face.

Money. It always boiled down to money. I closed my eyes, feeling the urge to scream at my ex even as lan looked at Dexter with a stony face. "Are you implying you want money in order to leave right now?" lan asked directly.

Dexter gave my fiancee a crooked grin "You're smarter than you look" he said deliberately hurtful "Naturally that's what I'm implying. Otherwise, I'll stay here and make a big fuss, even get the media involved if it comes to that, or you could pay me" he pauses "and I could go quietly, make a time that suits everyone and discuss this properly. It's really up to you."

"You manipulative son of a b***h" I snapped, about to walk forward, lan's hand preventing me "How can you be so f*****g low? You're like a guttersnake" I told him heatedly as he chuckled at me "What I ever saw in you" I spat, shaking my head and looking at him in disgust.

I must have been blind to have ever thought this man was attractive to me.

"Dawn," lan said quietly, still staring hard at Dexter who looked triumphant "That's enough. He's enjoying provoking you. This is a game to him. Please, calm yourself" he advised.

I clenched my jaw and took deep shallow breaths, forcing myself to regain control. Mr Grant looked at his son with approval in his eyes and a hard expression on his face.

"One million and you walk away, now, leave Dawn and Faith in peace. I'm assuming it's going to cost a lot more for you to agree to give Dawn custody of Faith full-time."

lan's voice was low but harsh. I tried not to stumble as I heard his words. Was this Dexter's plan all along? Blackmail lan into giving him money to give up his threat of taking us to court for shared custody? I should have known this hadn't come out of nowhere. He was a sly one, Dexter. I had never given him enough credit for how intelligent he could be. He must have seen the engagement announcement in the papers or the magazines and formed a plan right then and there. No wonder he had come back out of nowhere. This had never been about Dawn. I wanted to weep with despair. My poor daughter had no knowledge of how cold and ruthless her biological father could be and I hoped she never found out.

"Hmm one million and I leave now" Dexter mused, rubbing his beard, a gleam in his eyes "But as to the custody thing, well that's going to take a hell of a lot more. I happen to be very fond of my daughter just so you know."

"Leave now, with the money, and come back tomorrow afternoon with a discussion about the custody arrangements" lan instructed, holding out his hand "Give me your phone so I can transfer the money."

I watched stunned as Dexter eagerly handed over his phone, bending over lan's shoulder and muttering instructions in his ear as he wired the money to the sleazeball, feeling guilt in the pit of my stomach.

"Well, it was a pleasure meeting you lan," Dexter said, pocketing his cell phone and smirking "I guess I'll be back tomorrow. Dawn, make sure you get refreshments ready. I think I'll be quite thirsty for a drink when I arrive. lan, it was very accommodating of you to meet my request so cordially" he grinned, before beginning to turn his back and saunter towards the gate "I'll take my leave now but I won't forget to come back. Say hello to Faith for me" he waved over his shoulder, the bodyguards following closely behind him, until he vanished.

I burst into tears, sinking onto my knees, even as lan held my head over his lap and stroked my hair. "I'm so sorry" I sobbed, broken and feeling lost "lan I..."

"Hush," he told me as Mr. Grant disappeared inside the house and it was just the two of us alone outside "Dawn, everything is going to be okay," he told me grimly "That bastard is not going to get his hands on Faith. I would pay him a hundred times over if it meant keeping the two of you safe" he promised and I wept even harder as he gripped my shoulder and swept my hair away from my face.

If only I could believe that, but I knew how tricky Dexter could be and what he was capable of. I had to trust in lan, but could lan match Dexter's callousness and ruthlessness? Because if I knew Dexter, this wasn't over, not by a long shot.