The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Johnathon POV

My wedding day. A happy day, at least for most people or at least I assumed it was. My smile was stiff, and my body posture was tense. Charlotte looked like a bride, clad in a beautiful white formal gown that flowed down to her ankles, a brilliant smile on her face as I held tightly onto her hand. John, the Grandfather, and Karen stood a little to the side, nodding to themselves. The ceremony was about to begin, but John continually looked towards the doorway, while the media stood respectfully at the back, quiet, unobtrusively taking photos of the bride and groom.

Charlotte stiffened "Are you kidding me" she hissed in an aside, as Grayson and his wife Flair came walking in slowly, "I thought Grandfather was joking when he said that they would be attending."

She looked as though she was ready to rip her Grandfather apart, and I glanced nervously toward the media who were taking shot after shot of us and of Grayson and his wife. "Well he wasn't" I murmured, smiling forcibly at her "Don't make a scene, or the media will have a field day."

"Charlotte, our guests are here," John said loudly, while Grayson scowled and Flair smoothed down her emerald green, knee-length dress that suited her perfectly.

"I can see that, thank you Grandfather" Charlotte snapped.

A warning glance from John had her flattening her lips and forcing a smile back on her face. Flair and Grayson took a seat in the pews but Grandfather was not having it. "Come and stand near the bride and groom, so that the press can get their photos" he announced.

Charlotte looked fit to burst. I squeezed her hand in warning. Flair looked miserable as she stood near John and Karen, with Grayson hovering beside her, a protective look on his face. Neither Flair nor Grayson were glancing at each other, I noted with surprise. Had they argued on the way here?

I studied Flair. Her hair was tied back in a loose chignon, exposing her face which was beautiful and contained little makeup. Her complexion fairly glowed in the emerald hues of the dress and she looked radiant. Charlotte did too, but she didn't draw my eye the way Flair continually did. I saw Grayson move closer to her and a lump caught in my throat. I wanted to shove him away, wanted to be near enough to smell the light perfume that Flair had an inclination to wear, in comparison to the heavy and pungent perfumes that Charlotte tended to wear.

"Now that all of us are gathered here today, let us start this ceremony between Charlotte Deluca and Johnathon Rourke." I tuned out. It was wrong of me, but even as I stared forward, even as the media began to take photograph after photograph, my eyes continually darted over to Flair, who was watching the ceremony with a wistful expression on her face. Her eyes were damp. Was she crying? Was she crying because I was remarrying? The notion surprised me. It pleased me. If Flair was upset, it meant she still possessed feelings for me. My chest tightened. I felt Charlotte's nails digging lightly into my hand and glanced down, remembering where I was and what I was supposed to be doing. I frowned.

"You may now kiss your bride."

Charlotte turned to me expectantly. Just like that, I thought dazedly, just like that everything was over. I had missed my own wedding ceremony because I had been so lost in my thoughts. I saw Flair's face turn ever so slightly as I captured Charlotte's lips with my own, Charlotte's eyes fluttering closed as we kissed. I quickly pulled away and saw the flash of disappointment on my new wife's face, though she hid it well.

"Congratulations" Karen beamed, coming forward to hug her daughter while John shook my hand. "I'm so proud of you baby" she gushed to Charlotte who smiled at her mother with misty eyes.

Grayson ventured forward, his eyes narrowed. I could tell that he resented being here and while I knew that John had orchestrated it, I couldn't help the smug smile that spread across my face as I deliberately glanced at Flair and saw the hurt on her face. Grayson gripped my hand and I fought back the wince as he crushed it in his strong grip.

"Congratulations," Grayson said with gritted teeth as I blinked at him and tried not to show weakness "I hope you'll be as happy with your choice of wife as I am with mine" he snarled.

Flair stepped forward and I saw Charlotte give her a malicious grin. She was enjoying Flair's discomfort. Grayson put an arm around his wife and she leaned against him.

"Congratulations Charlotte, Johnathon," she told us quietly, reaching out to shake Charlotte's hands.

"Thank you, Flair, that's so big of you, considering that I just married your ex-husband," Charlotte said tauntingly as Flair winced at her "I do hope that our marriage will fare better than yours did."

It was a deliberate slight and everybody knew it. Grayson let out a low growl but the Grandfather strode forward before everybody could start throwing down.

"Enough," he said sharply "Flair thank you so much for showing your support. You look beautiful," he said approvingly, glaring at Charlotte "Grayson, I appreciate you taking time out of your valuable day to make it to this auspicious occasion" he declared. Silence. Flair remained stiff lipped and Grayson glared at me. Charlotte smirked.

"Well Grandfather, has this satisfied you? Has the press gotten enough photos for the newspapers to appease you?" she asked sweetly.

John waved at the media "All of you, leave. You have had your allocated time. I expect to see the drafts before anything is printed."

The press immediately began to leave, silently while John turned and regarded everybody else. Karen was quietly standing next to Charlotte and tidying her hair up for her. "You are all standing here now" John began, once the last member of the press had gone through the doorway and the door had firmly shut behind him "because each and every one of you has now become, whether by blood or marriage, a Deluca."

"It gives me great pride to take the Deluca name as my last," I told John trying to appear genuine.

Grayson snorted "Stop trying to earn brownie points. Grandfather doesn't care if you keep trying to compliment him."

I opened my mouth to snap at him and John interrupted "Stop it already. I'm no fool. Both Charlotte and Grayson want their hands on the company. I admire their willingness to do what it takes to win, but I have to ask" he said peering at everyone closely, a hint of something else in his eyes "have you prepared yourselves for what you may lose if you win?"

Charlotte and Grayson looked confused. John shook his head and sighed. "The naivety of youth," he said exhaling. "So determined to win at whatever cost, that you can't see what's right in front of your faces."

More bewildered expressions and one of sadness, Flair's face almost like it was etched in stone. She didn't look as confused as everyone else did. In fact she was looking off into the distance as though she was thinking about something else entirely. "Grandfather just leave us be" Charlotte sniped "We know what we are doing. Besides, Grayson has no hope of getting the company. Not now" she gloated.

Grayson shook his head and put his hands in his pockets. There was an indecipherable expression on his face when he looked towards Flair. "I think we've done enough for you today Grandfather," he said tersely "I'm taking my wife home now, unless you have any objections."

Charlotte snorted "Go ahead and take Miss Nobody home with you," she said mockingly, while her mother giggled beside her "I'm going to go out and celebrate my marriage with Johnathon. You're becoming a boring homebody Grayson" she added viciously "but then again, with a wife like yours, I can't blame you for not wanting to go out and show her off."

"Why you little" Grayson exploded, reaching for her.

I quickly placed myself between him and my wife. "Grayson," I said warningly.

"Charlotte apologize" John thundered, his voice filled with rage while Charlotte smiled teasingly at Flair.

Flair reached out and touched Grayson's shoulder, her eyes soft and calm. She was unbothered by Charlotte's comment, I saw with some surprise.

"Grayson," she said quietly, causing him to glance over his shoulder "Please. Just leave it" she pleaded, her voice cracking slightly at the end "Those that insult others generally do it in order to feel better about themselves. I just want to go home and see Roscoe," she said as I wondered who the hell Roscoe was.

"Fine," Grayson said tightly, sensing Flair's distress as much as I was "We're going, Grandfather. Next time you have something to request of me, make sure it's not going to personally affect my wife, else I'm going to refuse" he warned him, causing John to grin as he nodded.

The grandfather seemed pleased by Grayson's protectiveness of his wife instead of affronted by his attitude.

"It was nice seeing you again Flair," he said sincerely as Flair nodded and Grayson ushered her towards the door.

They left, and I was left alone with my new wife, her mother, and John who was beginning to quietly gather up his things.

"I must take my leave now," he said gruffly "and leave you newlyweds to go do what you do" he exhaled "I have some important business to take care of."

Charlotte looked relieved. Karen took the hint and began to walk with the Grandfather towards the door. "I'll come too," she said, humming under her breath while the grandfather looked resigned "Give these two some privacy."

The door shut. Charlotte looked at me and squealed, flinging herself into my arms "Can you believe we're married" she shrieked, as I struggled not to drop her "Let's go party" she shouted, and it was all I could do, not to call out for Karen and John to come back as Charlotte wriggled free and grabbed my hand, dragging me towards the doorway. The very last thing I felt like doing in that moment, was partying, let alone celebrating our marriage.