The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Flair POV "No."

A simple word but it caused me to look at the hairdresser amused all the same. "No?" I asked, raising a brow.

He shook his head emphatically "I will not cut off your beautiful hair" he said disapprovingly as Rachel giggled beside me "but I will style and trim it and color."

"Jean Luc is very good" Rachel assured me as the hairdresser put his hands on my shoulder and forced me to sit, while she took the seat next to me "So just go with what he says" she added in a low voice "Don't offend him."

I would never offend a hairdresser. They held your life in their hands, well at least your hair. I shuddered to think what Jean Luc would do to me if I offended him. He grabbed the ends of my hair and studied them. "I will layer your hair," he said finally "Cut off these split ends" he shuddered as Rachel smirked "And then we color your hair so it's a bit more light. Give it an ombre effect no?" he suggested.

"Whatever you say Jean Luc," I said nonchalantly as Rachel nodded enthusiastically, her keen eyes glinting.

He hurried off to get his supplies. Rachel snorted "You should see your face," she said with laughter.

"I've never had a hairdresser tell me no before," I said slightly offended.

She giggled "Well now you have. Jean Luc is the best trust me. Just go with it" she suggested "and have fun. You're going to look glorious when he's finished" she sighed.

"What about you?" I asked.

"He's doing my hair tomorrow" she shrugged "Today's about you."

Jean Luc came back and placed a cape around me before brushing my hair and beginning to cut off the split ends as I watched intently in the mirror. He had a habit of standing back every few seconds and examining his work, nodding solemnly. It was a little nerve- wracking. "You are very beautiful" Jean Luc enthused "You have a husband no?" he asked.

"Ah yes" I stammered "Grayson Oakes" I began and he paused.

"Grayson Oakes is your husband?" he asked excitedly.

"Yes," I said quietly.

"I do this on the house" he beamed "Grayson helped me with a legal matter earlier this year. Very helpful, very helpful" he continued to blather while Rachel giggled "Shame he wasn't gay," he said a little forlornly.

I tried to fight back my laughter. Rachel had turned around but I could see her shoulders shaking as she giggled. Jean Luc began to cut the layers into my hair. The door to the salon opened. "Jean Luc I need my hair done today" a familiar voice began to snipe. Jean Luc paused, looking uncomfortable. "Miss Deluca, I have a client at the moment, perhaps..." he trailed off.

"I can pay a lot more than she can" Charlotte sneered as I looked in the mirror, her lips curled in a twisted smile "You're wasting your time with that one."

"I will thank you for showing Grayson's wife some respect," Jean Luc said quietly "and I am happy to do your hair Mrs Deluca but after I have done Mrs Oakes." Charlotte looked peeved. "But Jean Luc" she blurted.

He shook his head firmly "I have already started on Mrs Oakes" he said tightly "if you needed an appointment you should have made one beforehand." Charlotte gasped and sat down on a chair, incredulous. "You've never made me wait before" she accused.

"Sucks to be treated like a normal customer, doesn't it" Rachel murmured from her seat "Welcome to the real world." Charlotte glowered at her. Jean Luc turned back to my hair. The door swung open again "Charlotte here you are, I brought you the pregnancy test you wanted ah..." Karen trailed off, holding a pharmacy bag in her hand.

I tried to keep my face expressionless as Karen shot me an uncertain glance and then perched on a chair next to Charlotte who grabbed the bag off her and placed it in her purse.

"Thanks a lot, mother," she said sarcastically "Just let them know what we're up to why don't you."

"It's no business of mine," I said evenly as Jean Luc moved around me, continuing to hold up sections of hair and cut away with a broad grin on his face "Or Rachel's."

"I'm sorry Charlotte" Karen began to apologize.

Jean Luc finished cutting my hair and I glanced at it. Although he hadn't taken much off the length, the layers gave me a softer and more sophisticated look. I was pleased as he beamed at me. "I get the color now" he murmured. Charlotte sneered "No matter how much you change your appearance you still won't look like you belong in the Deluca family."

It was an insult. Rachel looked like she was about to tear into her but I held up a hand. "I have no intention of trying to belong in your family," I said calmly "I am my own person and don't need to rely on the family name to make myself feel better about myself." Charlotte's mouth parted open in disbelief. Rachel grinned while Karen merely glanced down at the floor. Jean Luc came bustling back in. He clapped his hands. "I color your hair" he announced. Charlotte was forced to remain silent as Jean Luc began to dye my hair, being fastidious, humming lightly under his breath. He put in the dye and then eyed me.

"It takes about forty minutes," he said "Do you mind if I cut Miss Deluca's hair while you wait?"

He was gracious about it. I inclined my head "That would be fine, thank you Jean Luc" I said sincerely.

"About time" Charlotte mumbled as Jean Luc shot her a warning glance.

She got up and Jean Luc deliberately put her on the opposite side of the salon, away from me and Rachel.

"I hope he makes her bald" Rachel whispered as Karen followed behind him and sat beside her daughter.

I laughed lightly "I don't think it would do his reputation any good to do that," I said and Rachel smirked.

"Actually it would probably get him more clients. You underestimate how many women Charlotte's pissed off over the years."

I frowned. Karen had passed a pregnancy test to Charlotte. Had it been for Charlotte to take? I felt a little sick to my stomach. If Charlotte was pregnant then that would mean she would be the one to give birth first and my husband would lose out on getting his hands on the company. Although Grayson had been patient and hadn't been pressuring me to continue trying, it was in the back of my mind that we had failed in the first month. Would it cost my husband what he had wanted most? "I can see you thinking and you need to stop" Rachel advised me "You're only going to make yourself sick."

I could see Jean Luc cutting Charlotte's hair, being careful with it as she rolled her eyes and griped at him. He looked exasperated by the time he was done. He came back over, attempting to put a smile on his face. "Time to get the dye out," he said cheerfully. It took several minutes to wash it all out and then he began to blow dry my hair and straighten it at the same time. I stared at the reflection in the mirror stunned. My hair was now lighter on the top and darker on the bottom, creating the ombre effect. It was stunning. I looked gorgeous. The cut made my face look softer and it suited me well. I felt beautiful and the old Flair was gone. This was a new Flair like I had wanted. Jean Luc squeezed my shoulders when he was done. "Like an angel," he said proudly, "a sexy angel" he announced, causing Rachel to giggle and me to laugh out loud.

"Jean Luc it's gorgeous," I said as I stood up and looked at myself in different poses "How much do I owe you?" I asked, reaching for my purse.

He shook his head at me. "Your money no good here," he said solemnly, while Charlotte looked outraged at his declaration "Not for Grayson Oakes wife. You tell your husband thanks from me," he said, kissing the top of my hand as I giggled "and if he has any gay friends..." he trailed off.

"If we know someone, we'll set them up with you" I promised.

He smiled. "Rachel I'll see you tomorrow," he told her as she winked at him.

We began to walk out. I glanced over and saw Jean Luc beginning to color Charlotte's hair. She was glaring at me. "Something tells me she's not about to get the same treatment."

Rachel scoffed "Are you kidding? I happen to know that Jean Luc charges her double because he can't stand her and she still comes back to him."

I gaped "Does he really?"

"Oh yeah. He's one of the few hairdressers that put up with her so she pays."

I raised a brow. The limousine was waiting for us and for a moment I hesitated at seeing the face of the driver. The new driver. Instead of Myles, it was a man by the name of Dmitri. I swallowed hard. Rachel's gaze was sympathetic as she took my hand. "You'll get used to having a different driver in time," she said as I woodenly got into the car.

"Do you think Grayson will like my new look?" I asked, desperate to change the subject and fix my mind on something else.

Rachel looked incredulous "Honestly if he doesn't try to ravish you when you get home, then Jean Luc will be offended and think he didn't do a good job."

"We're going to drop Rachel off first" I called out to the driver who nodded and began to pull out into traffic.

"As for Charlotte having that pregnancy test," Rachel said as I leaned against the seat "odds are she's just having you on. The odds of her getting pregnant so soon in her marriage are small at best. She probably saw you in the salon and thought she could play mind games with you. Don't let her try to upset you."

But as I looked at Rachel, part of me wasn't so sure about that at all.