The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Flair

POV

I woke up the next morning, feeling listless as I got up and showered, dressing for the day in casual sweatpants and a shirt. I felt bloated and tired, Roscoe happily following behind me as I crept downstairs, certain that Grayson had left for work by now. So I was stunned to walk into the kitchen and find him cooking at the stovetop, his movements rhythmic and calm, while I tried to gather my composure, walking around and letting Roscoe out the side doors that led to the backyard and coming back to the dining area. "I thought you would be at work by now," I said quietly, knowing I must look awful, with dark circles under my eyes, my hair untamed and cascading wildly down my back and my eyes puffy and red from crying.

He began to stack pancakes onto a plate, glancing at me sharply "Sit down Flair" he instructed and I frowned, but was too upset and emotionally wrung out to argue, sitting down defeated at the breakfast table.

The table was already set with cutlery and various condiments and spreads. Grayson finished up and then walked over, placing a plate of pancakes in front of me, before sitting down himself, with his own plate. I glanced at them questioningly. "They're vegan," he said answering my question "No eggs, no dairy. I had to look the recipe up online, but they've come out quite well, don't you think?" he asked, sounding pleased with himself.

I just nodded, silently picking up a knife and spreading butter over the pancake along with some maple syrup, while Grayson mirrored my movements.

I cut into the pancake and took a bite, surprised at how fluffy and moist the pancake was. Grayson was evidently more than an adequate cook. Grayson looked at me steadily.

"We need to talk Flair," he said as I swallowed my piece of pancake, feeling like I was about to choke.

"This is about those photos," I said quietly.

He was grim-faced. "I tried to tell you yesterday that it wasn't me in them, but you wouldn't listen. I'm hoping you'll listen now" he said gravely.

I put down my knife and fork. Part of me dreaded what I was about to hear, but part of me was filled with hope. Hope that I had misjudged him, hope that I had been nothing but foolish to walk away yesterday.

"It wasn't me" he repeated, his eyes fixed on mine, "I would never do something like that to hurt you. When I said we would be exclusive once we were married, I meant it" he growled "and for you to assume the worst of me hurts more than you can imagine. You should have given me the benefit of the doubt," he said, as I bowed my head "I know that Johnathon has given you every reason to doubt but I'm not him Flair," he told me softly "and I already have somebody looking into the photos."

He wasn't Johnathon. I knew that and yet I had condemned him yesterday based on Johnathon's past actions. That wasn't fair. I was scared. Scared that history had been repeating itself and I had lashed out accordingly. I had tried to keep my heart from suffering another heartbreak it might not recover from. But Grayson's words were honest and his expression was sincere. His eyes were filled with pain, pain that I had put there. I swallowed hard. My husband was doing everything in his power to prove his innocence to me and the very least I could do, was believe him until the proof said otherwise. I should have taken a closer look at the photos, I should have known they might have been doctored.

"Grayson, I'm sorry" I whispered past the lump in my throat "When I saw the photos I thought..."

I was too ashamed to admit it but he finished the sentence "You thought it was like Johnathon repeating itself all over again."

I gave a nod, feeling ashamed of myself. Grayson's eyes narrowed "Flair I can understand that, but what if the photos had been of you and some man?" he pressed as I stared dumbstruck "Wouldn't you have wanted me to give you the benefit of the doubt and listen to what you had to say?"

I felt awful. I shakily nodded again, feeling tears come to my eyes. He was right, I would have liked to have been given the chance to prove it wasn't me. Had I done irreparable damage?

Grayson exhaled. "As it is I have a technological genius looking into the photos and they should get back to me today but I suspect that some software was used to trick you into believing the man was me. I've never seen the woman in the photo before" he said tightly.

"I believe you" I whispered "Forgive me, Grayson."

Silence. He must hate me, he must...."You're forgiven, Flair. I understand your reservations and we'll get through this together. Somebody wanted to cause conflict with us and I would say they almost succeeded."

"Who is looking into the photos?" I asked with interest, grateful my husband and I were on tentative speaking terms. Grayson looked smug. "Actually, I had the brilliant idea of contacting your brother Knox, especially after he hacked into the security system to release that video of Charlotte to the media" he coughed as I stared at him incredulously "he's agreed to look into the matter for us."

"He knew the photos were fake?" I asked shocked.

"Straight away" Grayson drawled, causing me to glance away guiltily "he's got a good eye" he commented and then scowled "Apparently he's going to invoice me but I get mates rates" he muttered causing me to giggle.

"Knox doesn't do anything for free," I told him lightly "and mate's rates" I hesitated as Grayson looked at me concerned "Doesn't necessarily mean money" I divulged.

"What" Grayson's brows rose in concern "Then what? He failed to mention that" he scowled.

"It could be anything from shares in a company to introducing him to a friend of yours to getting an important phone number. It depends on his mood" I said shrugging. "Fantastic" Grayson murmured "I wish I'd known that beforehand."

"It's what makes it interesting when you contact him for a favor," I said blandly "You never know what he's going to ask for in return. He once made me ask Rachel to go on a date with him so that he could avoid his ex-girlfriend at a movie premiere" I shrugged "Rachel had a blast" I added, "so it was a win-win."

"Fascinating" Grayson muttered, beginning to chow down viciously on his pancake "Your family is very interesting," he said, as I giggled.

"Well if you had contacted lan, he might have killed you first and then gotten the evidence," I said mulling it over "So it's probably for the best you contacted Knox" I exhaled.

Grayson contained to maliciously cut and eat his pancake while I began to politely bite into mine.

A knock sounded at the door. Grayson rose to his feet while Roscoe came bounding in barking excitedly. "I'll get it," he said gruffly.

Roscoe followed him to the front door. I heard it open and then close, before Grayson came walking back in, looking affronted. He was holding a gigantic bouquet of rainbow roses in his hands, along with an envelope with my name in cursive writing on it. "They're beautiful," I said as Grayson reluctantly handed them to me "Did you?" I began to ask.

"Not mine," Grayson said sullenly causing me to smile as I began to undo the envelope.

I had an inkling I knew who they were from, even though Grayson had yet to put it together by the sullen expression on his face. I pulled out the small note enclosed with some photographs.

Little sister

I worked on this all night for you

Tell Grayson I'll be demanding my favor soon

Sorry don't know who organized the pics but here are the originals.

I saved your love life, admit it Knox

I laughed out loud and handed the note to Grayson, before turning to the images. They were of the same woman, but the man was most definitely not Grayson. The man closely resembled him, but the hair had been changed in the photos we received and the man's face was not Grayson's in the original. Somebody had transferred Grayson's face over this man's to make it look like Grayson was cheating on me. Grayson glanced at the photos. "Your brother is quick" he commented, "I expected it to take longer."

"He must have been bored. Ordinarily, he takes longer, but maybe because it was for me he chose to do it quickly" I added, handing the photos to Grayson "It's a shame he couldn't tell me who did this or why." Grayson scowled "I have an idea of who it might be but no proof."

"You think it's Charlotte," I said looking at him as he put the photos to the side "but what would be the motive?" I asked confused.

"If she breaks us up and we get divorced, then I don't get my hands on the company" he explained simply.

"Then I played right into her game," I said shamefully, putting my head in my hands "My god it didn't even occur to me that she could be this determined."

He removed my hands "It's okay. Now we know that we have to be on our guard. We won't give her the satisfaction of winning. In fact, I plan on sending her a message with these photographs" he said lightly.

He captured my lips, his hand gently reaching around to the back of my neck, my eyes closing as I tasted the sweetness of his lips. He pulled back and I saw the sparkle in his eyes. "What are you planning to do?" I asked. "You'll see," he said with amusement "At the very least it will warn her we know what she's up to."

A smile curved on my lips "Knox would approve" I said, causing Grayson to snort out loud "Now let's hope he doesn't ask for our firstborn child as payment" I added warningly, causing Grayson to chuckle in amusement.