The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Grayson

POV

The mood is somber, despite the joviality of the patrons in the pub. Knox is almost unrecognizable in his casual clothing and baseball hat as he slides into the booth opposite me.

"Grayson" his voice is low, his expression one of concern "you said this concerns Flair?"

I silently push the photos towards him and watch as his expression changes to anger, his eyes blazing as he glances upwards. "They aren't me," I tell him quietly.

He snorts. "Of course, they aren't. The work is good" he adds, picking up the photos and examining them closely "but even I can see that there's overlapping and that the image is slightly distorted which means it's been tampered with. I'm no photographer but I recognize when technology and software have been used to create something."

I'm relieved, exhaling as I lean against the seat, mildly sipping away at my bourbon, while Knox looks at me shaking his head "I take it that Flair did not see the photos for what they are?"

"She was upset," I said pausing and refusing to elaborate any further "and I do not blame her Knox. Is there some way you could find out who engineered this?"

He looked thoughtful, glancing carefully over his shoulder. Despite his nonchalance and careless look, there were several subtly placed bodyguards in the pub milling around in the crowd. "I'm not certain. It could just be as basic as Photoshop being used, in which case this person's above average with their skills or a different software entirely, but I can't promise it will lead back to anything. Do you have an idea of who you might believe it to be?"

He waves down a waitress "I'll have a gin and coke" he tells her, and she nods, scampering back off.

"I have several ideas and possibilities. But nothing concrete. I glanced at the security cameras I had around the perimeter but the person who left the envelope was clad in black head to toe, including wearing a scarf around their face and a beanie on their head. Nothing was familiar to me and I suspect they were paid to put the envelope on the door at the first opportunity that nobody was home."

He sighed "Who says being a lawyer doesn't pay" he deadpanned with a grin "I guess it's better you than me. What are you going to tell Flair?" "She's not speaking to me at the moment," I said gravely, finishing off my drink and exhaling "She thinks I'm capable of cheating on her."

My voice was tinged with bitterness. Knox opened his mouth and then hesitated "For what it's worth Grayson" he said slowly, while I looked at him "Flair finds it hard to open up to people. She learned early on that people would use you simply for the power of the Grant name. Both lan and I have had harsh lessons and she's seen the greed of people for herself. But Johnathon broke her heart. She was madly in love with him, to the point that she disobeyed our father and married him without his blessing." My eyes narrowed and I studied Knox carefully "So your father disowned her?" my voice was slightly disgusted.

Knox shook his head "Oh he was angry" he admitted wryly "and we didn't hear much from Flair while she was married to him, but my father kept close tabs on her over the years without her knowledge. It hurt, for him to realize he had lost his only daughter to a man that was not worthy of her."

"What made Johnathon so unworthy?" my voice was even.

Johnathon was many things but what caused Mr Grant to be so angry he refused to give his blessing to the marriage. Knox looked pained. "It was more a feeling father had. He can sense what a person's character is like and the instant he met Johnathon, he didn't like him. Flair never knew that father had met him in person, in disguise, so that he could feel the man out, but my father was so disgusted by how vain and shallow Johnathon came across as that he immediately wanted Flair to break up with him." "She refused," I said calmly and Knox nodded.

"My father never admitted that he had met Johnathon in secret and Flair was too stubborn to back out of a relationship that she claimed was love at first sight. The end result was catastrophic. Instead of persuading Flair that Johnathon wasn't the man for her, it had the opposite effect. She rebelled and married him, even though it meant she couldn't come back here."

"My father has spent the last three years watching over Flair from afar. He knew that you were marrying her and he never tried to intervene. That's because he likes you, Grayson. He knows your reputation, your personal character."

"But I don't recall meeting him" I murmured, "except for when we've done business together."

"That's the point of his disguise," Knox said with a shrug "It wouldn't be effective if you saw through it" he pointed out nonchalantly.

Strange. "My point is that you need to give Flair a break," Knox said as the waitress came back with his drink and placed it in front of him, Knox handed her a large bill and winked at her.

"Keep the change sugar" he drawled and the waitress smiled, sauntering off.

"But if your father knows I'm a good man, then why doesn't Flair?" I murmured, feeling dismayed.

"She's already been betrayed. She knows you're a good man but she thought the same thing about Johnathon and got burned. She's scared. That's good" Knox said slowly, speaking as though I was a child now.

"How is that good Knox?" I growled "She thinks the worst about me and right when I was about to tell her..." I trailed off and pushed my empty glass away with a grimace.

"Tell her what?" Knox leaned forward interested.

"Never mind" I looked away.

He looked disappointed. "What I mean is if she's scared it means she already has strong feelings for you" he took another swig of his drink and placed it carefully down. "Not strong enough to believe me when I said it wasn't me in the photos" I scowled.

He sighed. "Grayson, try to look at it from her perspective. You're practically still newlyweds feeling each other out. She's just had to watch her ex-husband marry the woman he had an affair with and then this has happened. How do you think she must be feeling right now?" he pointed out wisely.

Damnit. I was a right cad. I felt like a bastard as I stared down at the table. Knox chuckled. "See, it's not all black and white" he added smugly.

"Lucky you called me and not lan" Knox added, sipping "he's not as well versed at picking out discrepancies with the naked eye. He would have had you on the table with his hand around your throat before you could have so much as blinked if he'd seen these photos."

I sensed he was telling the truth by the wicked grin he gave me.

"I better keep this from Father as well" he murmured, spreading out the photos and considering them "at least until I've determined how they've been changed and what the originals looked like."

"Do you have a timeframe?" I asked tightly "As much as I want to give my wife some time to come to her senses, I would like to put this to rest as soon as possible. I don't know if the motive was simply to cause us to break up, or if there's another set of photos about to suddenly appear on the television tonight" I warned.

Knox's eyes flashed "If they had been sent to the media, I would have received an alert," he said stacking the photos back up "and they would be foolish if they didn't verify the photos first. I would bet the former was their motive. Maybe one of your clients is disgruntled with a verdict the court handed down or a spouse upset over a divorce you oversaw" he suggested.

"It could be."

"I'll put a rush on this" Knox informed me "but in the meantime, try and talk to Flair. She's a good-hearted girl but she's been treated badly in the past and that tends to make her wary. Expect to hear from me tomorrow, the day after by the latest if that. I'll get this sorted for you, but like I said, there's no guarantee I'll be able to track down the person who had them created."

"Even if you manage to verify their fakes I'll be happy," I said tiredly, getting to my feet and looking down at Knox as he continued to drink his bourbon, which was practically gone by now "I just want my wife to be on speaking terms with me again." He winked at me "It's not nice being in the dog house is it?" he joked as I scowled at him.

"I'll invoice you" he called out as I began to turn and walk away.

I glanced at him and he blew me a kiss "Don't worry darling, I'll give you the special rates" he added as I began to blush and some of the women in the bar looked at me and Knox peculiarly.

Damn you Knox I fumed, bowing my head and walking out the door, feeling like I had my tail ducked between my legs, the sound of his laughter following in my wake. Flair's brother was one hell of a mischievous guy but I was eager to hear back from him. As I headed back to the house and stepped inside, noting all the lights were off. Flair was asleep. I tiptoed upstairs and reached for the knob on the bedroom door, hesitating. The sound of soft crying filled my ears and I tensed. Whatever words I spoke to her, would only end in more conflict and more tears, I thought upset. I forced myself to let go of the doorknob and walk to a guest room, resigned. Knox better contact me soon, because I did not know how long I could stand hearing my wife cry like that. It was tearing my heart in pieces as I slowly climbed into bed, knowing I was responsible for it.