The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Lorelai's POV

It's quiet in the conference room. Knox has a grumpy expression on his face. I feel foolish at how I reacted to his slight outburst earlier, chiding myself for thinking he's capable of being dangerous. Neither one of us has mentioned the kiss from the other night and I have to think it's because he wants to forget about it, although I can't. It's impossible to forget about the feel of his lips on mine and the way his arms felt wrapped around me. Is he regretting kissing me? Had he overstepped his bounds and now wanted to establish professionalism? I try not to sigh as I stare bleakly down at a sandwich, crinkling my nose as I bite into it. It tastes like cardboard, or maybe it was just me. "Thank you for your hard work today Lorelai" lan's voice is smooth and slightly hoarse.

While I've been filing and working meticulously all morning, lan's been darting in and out on the phone communicating with suppliers and clients. It's easy to see why he's the face of the company, everybody adores talking to him and he has a manner about him that makes him instantly likable.

"It was my pleasure," I tell him honestly.

It was a welcome break from cleaning and a way to utilize some of my computer skills. I was rather enjoying myself. Even if Knox continued to look at me disgruntled, like I was doing something wrong. Or was he looking that way because lan had deigned to speak to me? "How are you going, Knox?" lan tries to approach him as he tears viciously into a sandwich and swallows it down. Knox puts his sandwich down and clears his throat. "You don't want these people as shareholders," he says calmly. I'm shocked, but so is lan judging by his expression. "Care to elaborate on that?" lan says slightly on edge. "Their financial records have been forged," Knox says calmly as lan begins to look mutinous "I dug a little deeper and every business they invest in suddenly begins to have trouble with suppliers, financial difficulties, and eventually ends up being taken over by them. I don't know what their final game is, but I would hazard a bet they are laundering money on top of other dubious methods. Send them packing" Knox warns as lan nods tightly. "Well so much for that" lan sighs.

"That's what you were working on this morning?" my voice is impressed.

Knox shrugs nonchalantly. "I mean, that's impressive Knox" My voice is shrill but he just looks as though it's normal for him and perhaps it is. "Are you going to inform the authorities?"

lan looks to Knox "How concrete is your proof and how questionable are your methods of retrieving it?"

Knox blinks at him "Fairly concrete but very questionable" he confirms wryly "I would strongly advise against going to the authorities for the moment."

Had he obtained the information illegally? My jaw drops open and I hastily shut it. Knox bites into his sandwich unfazed by lan's question. Ian merely nods and looks resigned. "Lorelai I must ask that you don't divulge anything that you see or hear today as part of your non-disclosure agreement," lan says eyeing me closely.

"Of course," I say obediently, staring down at my sandwich.

Who exactly was I going to tell anyway? I would never willingly betray Knox like that.

"Well if you're done then there's no point in you two hanging around," lan says resignedly "You can pack up and go back home."

I sigh disappointed. Knox looks thoughtful. "I still have the other assignment you assigned to me" he reminds lan.

"You can do that at home," lan says dismissively and shoots a quick glance at me "I have a feeling that it's somebody who's been with us for some time anyway."

Knox sighs and finishes his sandwich. I feel a bit disappointed. "I'm going to go use the ladies' room," I say, standing up and dusting crumbs off my uniform.

"Down the hall to the left," lan says easily.

I nod my thanks and make my way down, quickly doing my business and then tidying my hair and smoothing down my clothes. I'm just about to leave when the door swings open and a woman steps in, looking harried.

"Oh, I'm sorry" I begin and then fall silent as I take in the gun that's shaking in her hand.

How did she get that past security? It had been relatively tight when we had gotten here. The woman looked older, more mature than me and she looked as though she had seen better days. Her makeup was smeared, her clothes were crumpled, and although she wore designer, they looked shabby and unkempt. She pointed the gun at me.

"Where are they?" she demands.

I frown. Instinctively I knew she was asking where Knox and lan were. I tightened my lips. If I told her their location she would kill them but if I didn't she would kill me. I exhaled trying to think of a solution. I didn't want to die today, but I didn't want to be responsible for somebody else dying either. "Where are they" she shrieks "Where are Knox and lan Grant?"

I lick my lips "Not here" I say slowly, holding my hands up in surrender "Why do you want them?"

It's obviously not for anything good. Not with a gun in her hand.

She sneers at me "Revenge" she murmurs, crossing the room and grabbing my arm, yanking it behind me as I gasp in pain, the gun going to the back of me and digging in as I feel myself becoming lightheaded. "Whatever you think they've done..." I begin desperately as she shoves me towards the doorway.

"I know what they've done" she hisses, "they are the reason my daughter is dead. They are the reason for her being ruined. Now open that door and move slowly through it."

I hold my hands up and open the door, sidling through it. She jabs me in the back with the gun. I swallow hard, feeling apprehensive. She hesitates. "Take me to them or I'll shoot you so help me god," she says in a low voice.

"Think about this," I say as I begin to walk, my hands held up "You're never going to get out of here alive. You still have a chance to get away clean. All you have to do is walk away and nobody has to know what you had planned. You could get away scot-free and still have a future" I'm pleading in a low voice by now as we move step by step towards the conference

room.

I'll say anything to save myself and both Knox and lan.

She scoffs at me and my heart sinks. She wasn't planning on making it out alive I realized with dawning horror. My heart was racing a mile a minute. I stole a glance over my shoulder and saw that she was tightening her lips and clenching her jaw. There was a look of resolve on her face. Her eyes were crazed. I pause.

"Please, this isn't worth dying for" I try once more to reason with her "The Grants aren't going to forgive something like this. Do you really want to go up against one of the most powerful families in the country?"

Was she stupid or suicidal? She had to know she wasn't going to get away without being punished for this.

She snorts. "I can tell you're trying to stall girl, and it's not going to work. Either you move, or I shoot you in the leg" she threatens violently.

I have no choice but to walk forward, my eyes on the ground. I reach the conference room door and can hear the low murmur of Knox and lan's voices from behind the door. The woman's lips curve into a vicious smile. "Open the door" she hisses nudging me.

I hesitate. If I open the door, the boys are dead and so am I. She's not going to hesitate to take them down and I doubted she was going to want to leave any witnesses behind who could identify her. I could feel my body trembling as I felt the barrel of the gun poking into my back. My breathing became shallow. What was I going to do? I had to think fast.

"Open it."

"I have to give them the password first" I make up "They're very strict on security."

She buys it. Her shoulder relaxes slightly. "What are you waiting for then? Tell them the word" she snaps.

Tell them the word. What word did I use to convey the situation I was in? How could I get them prepared to face a threat that was only inches away and give them a chance of surviving. I wracked my brain in desperation. Knox was big into technology and I didn't know much about lan at all except he was big on formalities and proper protocols.

That was it. One of the folders I'd filed had a protocol for a hostage or gunman situation. In such cases, the word to be used, either as a text message or conveyed across the building using the PA System was meant to be Mr Roscoe. A strange word, I thought a little blankly, but then how many times would it need to be used in such a situation? It wouldn't give anything away if it were to be called out on the PA system.

I knock loudly, my hand shaking violently. Ian and Knox's voices fade away. I hear lan clear his throat. Before he can utter a word or give away that there was no such security protocol in place I speak loudly and with clear emphasis.

"Mr Roscoe"

Silence. I hoped he remembered his own protocols. I twist my hands wringing them frantically together. The woman nudges me angrily with the gun. I swallow hard. Just when I think the woman is going to push me inside anyway, I hear the sound of Knox's voice and it's remarkably calm.

"Come on in Lorelai, great work remembering the security word."

Thank god. Knox understood what I had been trying to do. I closed my eyes in relief, even as I opened the door and stepped slowly inside, the woman right behind me. lan was standing directly in front of us, his eyes narrowed as he took in the woman, a glint in his "I should have known that you would turn up eventually," he said nonchalantly "It would have been better for everyone if you had simply stayed away. Am I to understand it that you blame me and Knox for what happened to your daughter?"

eyes.