The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Trigger warning: This episode may prove triggering to some readers. Please do not read if this may be triggering to you. Lorelai POV

I hum lightly under my breath as I drive the car home. Today had gone better than I thought and Knox, as he liked to be called, was nicer than I had pictured, considering how his father and brother had described him. He had helped which shocked me to my core. How many people would help a maid to clean their room? Having him that close to me had caused my chest to tighten and my heart to begin to race. Knox was more than attractive, he was like a Greek god in appearance and didn't even seem to be aware of how attractive he was to the opposite s*x. No wonder women seemed to throw themselves at him, I thought as I blindly opened the driver's door and got out, it was unsurprising when he looked like that. Somebody like me, average in appearance and working as a maid no less, would hardly even register on his radar, which suited me just fine, I tried to console myself, as a wave of disappointment swept over me.

I sighed. The day had been pleasant but exhausting. Not only had I cleaned what had arguably been a messy room but I'd cooked and delivered meals to him in between too. He had a tendency to get lost in his work, super focussed, and forgot to not only eat, I thought wrinkling my nose, but drink as well. The man needed a huge water bottle by his desk to keep himself hydrated, I thought absent-mindedly as I began to make my way up to the apartment. Not to mention somebody to remind him that there existed a world beyond the computer.

Jackson wasn't home. I didn't know whether to be relieved or suspicious. I shrugged and went to shower, before putting my clothes into the washing machine. I had on a nightgown as I treaded into the kitchen and began to cook something light for dinner. I wasn't hungry. I had eaten while at the Grant house, the cook had provided for all the maids and servants, but I knew Jackson would expect dinner when he got home, and if it wasn't ready...

I had just finished when the door swung open unexpectedly, startling me out of my wits.

"Is dinner ready?" Jackson's voice demands as I turn my head and force a smile onto my face.

"Yes, I was just about to put it on the table," I said breezily.

He grunts and stomps over to it, plinking himself down and scowling. I can feel my body beginning to tense in reaction. I place the plate in front of him and he begins to dig in while I sit opposite him, my throat seizing. He hasn't had a good day, I can tell and already I'm picturing the conclusion of tonight and it's not pretty. I try to keep everything from showing on my face and keep a hopeful expression on it instead. Perhaps I was reading too much into Jackson's mood. "How was work?" he growled.

"It was nice," I say delicately knowing I can't divulge too much due to the non-disclosure agreement which Jackson knows about "The man I'm working for is very polite."

He slams his fist down. I jump. The plates vibrate and shudder on the table. So do the glasses. I can feel a lump in my throat and the fear beginning to wash over me. I always felt like I was on eggshells when it came to what I said or did in regard to Jackson. "Nice" Jackson says, leaning back and staring at me with glinting eyes "he was nice was he Lorelai?"

I swallow hard. I put my fork down, my appetite was ruined. "He was nice in a professional manner" I try to clarify in an attempt to placate him.

There's an indecipherable expression on his face. "I swear all I did was work today Jackson. You can't think..." I trail off in desperation.

"As if a man would look twice at a maid anyway" he interrupts rudely as I try not to slump in my chair relieved "But don't you be getting any big ideas of trying to seduce him either you whore."

"I would never" I whisper, although part of me couldn't admit that I had been attracted to Knox because if Jackson ever got wind of that, his fists would be more brutal than ever "It's just a job Jackson, one that's going to pay well" I reminded him hastily.

He gives me a sidelong glance. God, please let that be enough to control his temper. My ribs still hurt from the other day and I wasn't sure I could take another beating so soon. He scowls and then picks his fork back up again. "Just make sure you don't start thinking you're going to get with someone else" he warns in a dangerous tone "We both know what happens if you try something stupid like trying to run away."

It's a blatant reminder of the last attempt. I try not to shudder. I had been so careful, or at least I thought I had been. I had gone to a woman's shelter, believing I had been safe. For two months I had been. I had thought it was over, that he would forget about me. He hadn't. Instead, as I went shopping, he waited and then he grabbed me, forcing me back to the apartment and I was forced to acknowledge that he was never going to let me go. It was either him or death as he told me. Sometimes I wondered whether death was preferable.

But then he would have his sweet moments and I would waver. He'd apologize, bring flowers, take me out to dinner and things would be good between us for a while and then the anger would take over and things would get bad again. It was like a cycle and I could never seem to get out of it. I was too scared to try running again. I felt like it was safer to just stay with him and make him happy. No matter how much it was costing me.

"I know Jackson" I answered obediently.

He looks satisfied. I say nothing, quietly pushing the food around on my plate. I feel tired but the dishes still need to be done. I have to wait until he's done before I can get up from the table. Luckily he doesn't take long and he gets up and heads to the bedroom. I get up and grab the dishes, quickly filling the sink and beginning to wash the dishes, feeling like I'm on autopilot. I'm so used to my routine in the apartment that I don't need to think about what I'm doing half the time. I just do it.

My thoughts turn to Knox. Something told me that he would never lay a hand on a woman, no matter how angry he got. There was just something about his nature that told me he abhorred hurting a woman. But I had once thought Jackson was incapable of that and look where I was now. No man could be trusted, I thought with a hint of bitterness, they could lie to you and seduce you with sweet words and gestures and then turn on you the moment they had you in their grasp. I sigh and begin to stack dishes in the sink, trying not to wallow in self-pity. After all for the first time I had a job that didn't involve dancing around a stripper pole, shouldn't that be something to celebrate?

I hear Jackson moving around the bedroom and then hear his footsteps slowly come padding out. I try not to react. I give a loud yawn, trying to indicate how tired I am as I finish up the last of the dishes and begin to pull the plug from the sink, draining the water. All I wanted now was to climb into bed, pull the covers over my head, and get some much-needed sleep until I had to go to work again in the early morning. But it seemed that Johnathon had other plans. Before I could turn from the kitchen bench, I felt his hands wrap tightly around me and his lips began to nibble on my neck as I stiffened.

"I had a terrible day at work" he murmured as I tried not to react or to say something to provoke him "But I know a way that you can make it better" he added with a grin as he spun me around to face him.

Before I could move, his lips were planted on me, slimy and cold, his tongue forcing its way inside my mouth and almost making me gag as he put a hand to the back of my neck, forcing my head to remain still as I endured his kiss. His other hand moved down and cupped my breast, squeezing it roughly. I jolted.

No, not tonight, I thought wretchedly. I wanted to yank his hand off me. I wanted to beg him to stop. But past experience had taught me what happened when you did that. Past experience had taught me that it would only be worse if I did. He pulled back and began to pull my nightgown roughly over my head, throwing it to the side. I shiver, my n*****s becoming hard little pebbles as he rakes his gaze over me.

"So f*****g beautiful" he mutters, his eyes gleaming "Go get on the bed Lorelai" he licks his lips looking expectant "I need a good f*****g to put me in a better mood before I go to sleep."

I cringe but turn towards the bedroom and woodenly walk into it. I lie down on the bed and stare up at the ceiling. He walks behind me. I feel his hands tear my panties apart, feel him position himself above me, and hear the sound of his zipper being pulled down as he frees himself. I barely have time to prepare or brace myself before I feel himself pushing himself inside of me, his hands roaming and pinching me everywhere as he begins to seek his own satisfaction. Revulsion sweeps over me as I keep the tears at bay. When he's finished, I curl up on the side and force my eyes to close, listening to the sounds of him zipping back up and then falling sound asleep like he has no care in the world. It's a long time before I'm able to do the same.