The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Johnathon POV

The old man looked pale in the bed, while Karen nibbled on her nails looking anxious and Charlotte merely looked bored. One minute he had been lecturing her on her manners and the next he had clutched his chest and fallen, having a heart attack. The doctor bustled around, checking vitals and his heart, while we waited to hear the results of the surgery he had undertaken. "Your Grandfather is lucky," the doctor said, looking at us all "We thought we were going to have to perform surgery on him, but it appears that isn't the case after all. He's suffered no ill effects from his heart attack which is a miracle in itself."

I exhaled in relief but Charlotte just sighed "I knew the old coot wasn't going to kick the bucket" she grumbled as I stared at her.

"Charlotte" Karen scolded.

"It's true, he's too stubborn to die" Charlotte pouted "I'm going to go get some coffee, anybody want to come?" she asked. Her mother hesitated. "I'll come with you. I hate hospitals, they're so cold."

I shook my head "I'll stay in case he wakes up" I murmured.

Charlotte gave a careless shrug "Suit yourself. We'll be back after we've had something to drink and calm down. It's been an emotional morning" she said, touching her eyes and face "And I need to repair my makeup."

Was she serious? Her mother was nodding "Good idea, you want to look your best for when your grandfather wakes up" she muttered "In case the press decide to take photos" she advised her daughter who solemnly nodded.

Did they care about poor John at all? They vanished from the room and I sighed, sitting on the armchair and glancing at the poor guy on the bed who was as pale as a sheet, hooked up to various machines, and looked strangely vulnerable for once, instead of the angry, stubborn old man I was used to.

"Are they gone?" croaked the old man and I almost fell off my seat.

"Charlotte and her mother went to get drinks, yes" I answered, stunned to see John's eyes flutter open.

"Thank god" he sighed, turning his head to regard me "Bloody vultures. Probably hoping I'd die so they could get their hands on my will."

I said nothing. Part of me suspected he was right. John chuckled at the expression on my face. "They would have been in for a shock if they had tried," he said and then looked around the room "Is Grayson here yet?"

I shook my head "His assistant Timothy" I frowned, certain that was the name "was trying to get in contact with him. I'm sure he'll be here soon."

He sighed. "I must admit, I'm surprised you chose to remain back here while your wife went" he admitted drily.

I stared at him "Do I come across as that shallow to you?"

He chuckled "You married Charlotte for her money, didn't you?" he parroted.

I gritted my teeth. He exhaled "How is that working out?" he asked knowingly as I glanced down at the floor "Is the marriage everything you were hoping for?"

I clenched my jaw and didn't answer. John looked at me and I swore there was a sympathetic look on his face. "You left a diamond for a lump of coal," he said mysteriously "What a foolish man you are."

I frowned. I wanted him to elaborate but he merely groaned, causing the doctor to come rushing back inside, a look of concern on her face.

"Mr. Deluca please" she scolded "You mustn't move around too much. You just had a heart attack," she told him, carefully placing the blanket back around him "You have to rest and recover your strength. Your family is here to make sure that happens." He gave her a blunt look "My family is here hoping I die" causing her to look stricken.

"I'm sure that's not why your granddaughter came" she stammered.

John continued to look at her sharply and the doctor blushed. "Well I want you to rest" the doctor insisted "I have you hooked up to fluids as you were also dehydrated. Have you forgotten to drink plenty of water?" she admonished.

Now John looked slightly guilty. "I get busy during the day," he said unapologetically "Sometimes I forget to look after myself."

The doctor gave him a stern look. John was not cowed in the slightest. "Stubborn old man" the doctor muttered "Well I'm going to have some food sent in to you and I want you to eat every last bite of it. You need to change your diet too, so that you have less sodium in it, and eat more white meat, less red."

John frowned "I'm already old, what's it matter if I die soon?" he complained "I have such little pleasures in life already, what's the harm of having a steak or two during the week?"

I tried not to laugh at the fierce expression on the doctor's face as she put a hand on her hip and glowered at the old man. "You take my advice, you live for a long time" she advised him as he scowled "I'm sure that your grandson and granddaughter want you around for as long as possible," she said eyeing him carefully.

"Hmmph" snorted John rudely "That's what you think. They just want to get their hands on the family company. I'm certain they don't give two hoots about me" he complained.

The doctor rolled her eyes and took his blood pressure, causing John to swear out loud as the cuff went tight around his

arm.

"Language" the doctor hissed.

John glared at her. She removed the cuff and wrote it down on his chart. "I'll get that food sent in" she muttered, shaking her head and leaving the room again.

John sat up a little and leaned against the bed. Charlotte and Karen came walking back in.

"Grandfather you're awake," Charlotte said, forcing a smile on her face.

John eyed her coldly "No thanks to you" he scowled "You couldn't wait to leave the room, could you?" he snapped.

Charlotte flushed "I went to get a drink Grandfather, it's not like I left the hospital. Besides you were asleep" she pointed out.

"Is that why your makeup is perfectly applied?" he demanded, as Charlotte's eyes slid away and Karen flushed. "Hoping the paparazzi come walking in to take photos of the near-dead Mr Deluca hmmm?" he asked sarcastically. "Father-in-law we're happy that you appear to be so well," Karen said quietly, wringing her hands together "Is there anything we can do for you?"

He glared "You can get me discharged from this infuriating place" he snapped "I don't want to be here any longer than necessary. It's like a prison cell" he added being dramatic.

"John" I spoke evenly "the doctor has told you to rest. You've just had a heart attack, you're not going anywhere soon. Not to mention, you may need somebody to look after your well-being" I added pointedly as he glared at me some more. "Johnathon is right," Charlotte said sweetly, "you can't just leave Grandfather. You have to let the doctors and nurses take care of you."

He waved a dismissive hand "I can hire a nurse at home" he said.

The old man was determined to leave the hospital. "What about Grayson?" I interjected as Charlotte and her mother stiffened, "he's bound to be here soon to see you? If you leave you may not get a chance to see your grandson."

I was clutching at straws to get him to remain in bed. He scowled and sat back, plucking at the hospital blanket with his fingers. "Fine" he snarled "I'll stay."

We all breathed sighs of relief. A nurse came in with a tray of food, placing it in front of John on his little bedside table. She quietly left while John surveyed the contents with a look of disgust on his face.

"What is this?" he spluttered, "broth, bread and butter, jello. This is sick people's food" he growled.

I tried not to roll my eyes and remind him he was a sick person.

"Please eat, you need to get your strength up" Karen pleaded as he looked at her mutinously.

The sound of footsteps had everybody turning their heads expectantly, the tension rising in the air. There could only be one person those heavy, steady footsteps belonged to, I mused and that had to be Grayson Oakes. I found myself holding my breath, wondering whether Flair would be with him and almost laughing at myself. Of course, Flair would be with him, at this time. She would be here to hold Grayson's hand and reassure him that everything was going to be fine. She would be there for him to lean on in his time of need because Flair was generous and loving like that. She never needed to think twice about being there for people. She was the exact opposite of Charlotte, my own wife.

Sure enough, Grayson entered the room, a look of concern on his face, with Flair by his side, holding his hand. As soon as he entered, I saw a look of relief on John's face, although that quickly faded. Charlotte objected to Grayson's presence straight away "You don't need to be here, as you can see we're taking care of Grandfather" she protested.

Doing what I thought sarcastically. If applying makeup and going for coffee was taking care of her grandfather than I hated to see what her trying to nurse him properly was like.

"Charlotte, Karen, Johnathon leave," John said rudely "I wish to spend some time with Grayson and Flair alone."

Charlotte opened her mouth to object but Karen stepped in, glancing nervously at me. "Charlotte he's just had a heart attack, we should do as he's asked."

"I don't care," Charlotte said heatedly and I forced myself to grab her arm and begin hauling her towards the door "Johnathon" she wailed.

"We can talk to your grandfather again afterward, let your brother and his wife visit him," I said listlessly, wishing I could lay eyes on Flair again.

Charlotte flattened her lips and obediently walked out of the room. I knew I was going to pay for this later though.