The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Johnathon

POV

Needless to say, I was in a bereft mood, dwelling on the phone call Charlotte had been on and the messages she had received while we had been 'busy' in the swimming pool. Now we sat in the living room and Charlotte looked satisfied with herself, while I was glowering, angry at how used I felt and how she had managed to distract me from what I was beginning to suspect was a highly suspicious phone call.

"I'm surprised to find you two down here" her Grandfather quipped, coming into the room and settling his body down onto the sofa "Don't newlyweds normally spend their days in bed? Why don't you go spend some time at one of our hotels?" he suggested. "I have too much work to do" I muttered, not looking at Charlotte "and I intend on going back to work tomorrow."

"Johnathon, so soon after being married?" Karen objected while Charlotte stared at me angrily "Can't you put it off any longer?"

"|

I thought we agreed you didn't need to for a few days" Charlotte snapped.

"You assumed, I need to work in order to make money and I think that getting back into my regular routine might be good for us both."

I needed to get away from this place. Charlotte looked fit to burst but her grandfather nodded slowly. "I admire a man who has a strong work ethic, good for you Johnathon," he said causing Charlotte to shut her mouth "Strengthening your law firm is a top priority and I have no doubt you'll get more clients now that your last name is Deluca" he announced.

Or less, I thought sourly. No thanks to Charlotte's temper tantrum for all the public to see on national television. "But what about trying for a baby," Charlotte said, sounding frazzled "We can't afford to lose this opportunity, for all we know Flair is pregnant already" she blurted out.

Her grandfather looked at her disapprovingly "Is that the only reason you want to bring a baby into this world?" he demanded "You should be ashamed of yourself Charlotte Deluca. I understand how badly you wish to have the company, but a child should be considered a blessing, not an accessory like a handbag that you simply discard once it's born." Charlotte rolled her eyes "Well maybe you shouldn't have made an heir one of the conditions of getting the company then" she snapped at her Grandfather who looked at her disapprovingly "And nannies exist for a reason" she muttered under her breath.

"We don't have to spend every minute of the day trying for a baby," I said as Karen nodded agreeably "and there's no guarantee it will happen the first month of trying anyway" I warned her "Flair and I tried on and off for three years and nothing happened. Granted we never paid attention to ovulation dates or such nonsense but I want to believe that if you get pregnant it's for a reason or because it's the right time."

"Don't get all spiritual on me Johnathon" Charlotte sneered "If it didn't happen for you and Flair that's just something to be grateful for in itself." "You are such a venomous little thing," her grandfather said staring at his granddaughter "Sometimes I'm ashamed to have you as a granddaughter." Charlotte just scoffed at him "It's a good thing I don't live for your approval then, isn't it grandfather."

"Charlotte!" her mother admonished her.

Charlotte it appeared, was in fine form today and didn't care who she insulted.

Her grandfather let out a low growl of frustration "I will take my leave then" he said glaring at Charlotte "I have no desire to keep company with this, this harlot" he waved his hand dismissively at her and then walked off looking disgruntled and put out. "Charlotte, you can't afford to make him angry" Karen warned, "he could turf us out of the house and then where would we be?"

Charlotte shrugged "We can find our own house," she said but Karen shook her head.

"Charlotte, this house has been in the Deluca family for generations. If you are kicked out, it's as good as saying the Deluca's have disowned you. Do you want that?"

Charlotte looked mutinous. "Fine, I'll stop provoking the annoying old man" she griped and Karen relaxed looking relieved.

I just sighed. There was a loud pounding at the door, causing all of us to jump, startled out of our wits.

"For the love of all that is holy, somebody get that door" bellowed John from upstairs, sounding thoroughly exasperated. A maid went to the door looking apologetic and slightly fearful. "Probably just a damn salesman or somebody looking for money like a charity," Charlotte said dismissively.

The door opened and then a minute later it closed again. The maid came walking into the living room looking pale, her body trembling. "What's wrong?" I asked as she held out her hands.

"I think this was for Mrs Deluca," she said, glancing at Charlotte who frowned.

I saw the large knife first, and grabbed it, placing it carefully to the side. "It was pinning this to the door," the young maid said, quivering as she passed me the photograph.

"What the hell," Charlotte said peering over my shoulder.

We both eyed it. I was confused. It was a photograph of a woman with her breasts bared, kissing a man that reminded me slightly of Grayson. It was discernible enough to know it wasn't him though but this photograph had nothing to do with me or Charlotte as far as I knew but Charlotte's pallor had gone remarkably pale as she took in the picture. Her name, I suddenly realized had been written in cursive on the bottom. No wonder the maid had come to the conclusion it had been for Charlotte.

"You can leave," I told the maid who nodded timidly and quickly made her exit. I grimly turned the photograph over. There was a decent-sized hole in the top of it, where the knife had been plunged into it to pin it to the door, but it didn't affect the writing that had been written on the back.

The next time you try to manipulate our relationship

the consequence will be greater.

I was puzzled. Karen had a hand to her mouth, her body shaking. "How did this get past security," she said shrilly "I have to tell John" she insisted, making for the stairs.

"Don't bother" Charlotte grumped "I know who sent this and why. Honestly Mother, you don't need to be such a drama queen" she advised Karen who looked fit to be tied "Go and have a drink or something."

Karen opened her mouth to protest, took another glance at the dagger and photo, whitened, and then vanished towards the kitchen.

I waved the photograph at Charlotte instantly suspicious. "What is this about? You said you knew who sent it. So talk Charlotte" I demanded, as my wife's eyes slid away from me "Something tells me this is connected to the phone call you took this morning" I deduced.

"It's not as bad as you think" she began to say and I interrupted, my eyes blazing.

"Spit it out, what did you do" I said harshly.

She sighed and sat back down, crossing her ankles and looking remarkably composed.

"I sent that photo and a few others to Grayson's house, in an envelope that I paid somebody to pin to his door."

I glanced at the photo. "I don't understand. This isn't Grayson in the picture."

She rolled her eyes "You really are dumb. That's the original picture, the ones I sent were manipulated to look like Grayson was kissing the woman and cheating on Flair. I guess Grayson was smart enough to see right through them" she murmured sounding a little annoyed "I had hoped that Flair would leave him based on seeing the photos alone, but I guess that was a bit too optimistic" Her voice was tinged with sarcasm. "You did what?" I was incredulous.

She glanced at me "You act as though this is surprising Johnathon. But Flair and Grayson have already beat us to the altar and now they might beat us to getting pregnant if we're not careful. I want this company" she warned me as I stared at her dumbly "so bad that it hurts" she hissed "and if I have to sink down to getting my hands dirty and doing such deeds as this in order to break them up, I will. They can't get the hands on the company if they divorce or" she paused and I waited for her to finish the sentence but a small smile curved on her lips and she left the rest of it hanging.

"Or what?" I asked, feeling dread rising inside of me.

She gave a nonchalant shrug. "It doesn't matter. Just know that I'm willing to do whatever it takes. So Grayson saw through this one, good for him" she said blandly "But there's no harm done so stop acting as though I'm some horrible monster" she added. "The phone call?"

"Was the guy I hired wanting more money" Charlotte answered calmly "I've taken care of it."

She was so nonchalant about the whole thing. She had effectively tried to ruin Flair's and Grayson's relationship and marriage and she was unrepentant. There was a vicious streak to her. One that had me feeling on edge. I had known before I married her that she could be mean and sometimes cruel, but I hadn't anticipated how far she was willing to go to get what she wanted or, what she might be willing to do. Had I been so oblivious and blind or was I partly to blame for this? "Charlotte, no more," I told her, shaking my head "I don't want Flair hurt because of something you've done."

It was the wrong thing to say. "Flair hurt?" she repeated with a raised brow "Johnathon are you saying you still have feelings for her?" she asked in a chilling voice.

"That's not what I meant" I tried to deny, my mouth going dry.

But there was a glint in her eye as she turned and began to walk away, one that left me with a sense of foreboding. "Charlotte wait" I called out desperately.

"I need to rest" she answered, her voice mechanical "Don't worry Johnathon I don't plan on going anywhere" she murmured, but part of me didn't know whether to believe her or not.