The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
Chapter 119

Flair POV

I feel like I'm a robot as we make our way into the Grant mansion, Roscoe bounding at our feet. Father is asleep and lan is out. Knox waves us up the stairs, a look of concentration on his face which signals he's about to disappear into his room and work for the next few hours. I'm so drained that even the thought of food makes me feel sick and as we head upstairs, my head rests against my husband's chest, my steps filled with a weariness I feel all the way down deep into my soul.

Grayson is careful to open the door, allowing Roscoe to leap inside, his tail wagging. He replaces this exciting, a game to play. I climb into bed and allow Grayson to gather me close to his chest, his body spooning me while Roscoe clambers up onto the bed and curls up at our feet. I fall into an uneasy sleep, my eyes fluttering closed, the turmoil of the day getting to me. Exhaustion takes over and I willingly succumb to it. I just want to sleep.

"Aconitum Napellus" the shout caused both of us to jump in the bed, my body flailing around wildly as Knox entered without knocking.

"What the hell Knox" Grayson muttered, pulling the bedsheet up to cover us both, even though we were still wearing clothes and weren't in a compromising position "Haven't you heard of knocking" he scowled.

I looked at my brother, my heart still beating wildly in my chest. "Knox, you scared the living daylights out of me" I gasped, taking in the dark circles underneath his eyes, the puffiness of his cheeks, and the sheer tiredness on his face "Have you been up all night?" I demanded, getting out of bed and peering at him closely.

He looked like a damn zombie or the living dead. It was not a flattering look and yet I was accustomed to seeing him like this more often than not.

He waved a dismissive hand at me, his hair disheveled and standing on end. "Never mind that. I found out what the poison was on the flowers. It was dipped in Aconitum Napellus otherwise known as Monkshood if you want to be more specific" he crowed in triumph.

"Knox it's too early in the morning to concentrate" I complained.

He ignored us "Do you have any idea how difficult it would have been not only to get that specific stain but to then process it to a point it was able to be liquified enough for the flowers to be dipped in it? This wasn't just a run-of-the-mill toxin here" he said looking gleeful while Grayson and I shot each other resigned looks "This is, well this would take money and resources to organize and make it fatal enough to kill someone in that liquid form."

I shot him a wry look "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I said shrewdly "Because it doesn't. Coming out as Flair Grant has only made things more dangerous for me, not better" My voice was bitter.

"You think this is because you came out as the secret heiress?" Knox asked, intrigued and peering at me with narrowed eyes.

"What other reason could there be? Or is this related to being Grayson's wife as well?" I asked shooting my husband a pointed look as he stiffened.

After all, Ronaldo had been the husband of one of his ex-clients.

"It would be statistically impossible for it to be another client or family member of a client of Grayson's to be behind this" Knox argued as though knowing where my mind had gone "Give me time to replace the culprit Flair."

"No" I shouted out in frustration "I don't even care anymore. What's the point" I sobbed and collapsed on the bed "Everywhere I look and everywhere I go all I see is danger. Innocent people are dying because of me" I said thickly, a lump in my throat, my chest tightening to the point it was painful "Sam died because of me. The flowers were intended for me" I said hysterically "not him."

Knox and Grayson shot each other glances. Roscoe slunk over to me, sensing my distress, nudging my hand with his cold nose, and whined.

"Flair, listen to me. You have to realize that this comes with the territory, but I don't think this is related to you being a Grant. At least not entirely" Knox said "and I get that you're afraid..." he trailed off as I gave him a look so full of bitterness that he recoiled in shock.

"Do you?" I asked him sourly "Do you Knox? Do you know that I still see Brady's face as I shot him dead right in front of me? That I can still feel his hands all over me, even when I force it back so that I can be intimate with my husband?" my voice was matter of fact "or that I still see poor Myles's face as he's shot in the parking lot and left bleeding on the ground?"

"We failed you, we know that now, but..."

"But what?" I shouted, patting Roscoe "It's not any safer is it? Sam's dead, we're at the Grant mansion instead of home and you're acting as though everything is rainbows and sprinkles."

Knox's lip flattened "Flair, we can get to the bottom of this. Have patience."

But I was already well past the boiling point. As I opened my mouth to shout some more, I felt myself begin to gag as a wave of nausea swept over me. I put a hand to my mouth, the blood draining out of my face, and saw a look of concern on Knox's face while Grayson rushed to help me.

I raced into the adjoining bathroom and threw up, straight into the toilet bowl, feeling sick to my stomach. Grayson pulled my hair back and away from my face.

"Is she okay?" yelled Knox sounding panicked.

"I'm fine" I shouted, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand and flushing.

I washed my hands and then brushed my teeth and wiped my face before stepping moodily back into the bedroom.

"You got so upset, you made yourself sick," Knox said quietly before I could correct him.

"Knox that's not it" I sighed.

Whatever. I didn't want to tell them, at least not yet. Maybe it was for the best if I kept him in the dark.

"Come down and have some breakfast" Knox yawned "I have to go have a nap and then I can go back to work."

"Get some sleep," I said, as he turned and shuffled out of the room like an old man.

I sighed "Well we're up, we might as well get ready."

We headed downstairs, Roscoe right at our feet, and made our way into the dining room. The two people sitting at the dining table turned around and viewed us with stunned expressions on their faces. It was almost impossible to tell who was more shocked between all of us. We had not been expecting to see this particular person in the Grant mansion, but it was clear that they were friendly with my father and both of them were enjoying each other's company. I was the first to move forward and shake John's hand. "Mr. Deluca," I said quietly as he beamed at me "It's surprising to see you here" I added, my father, getting to his feet and kissing me on the cheek.

"Grayson, Flair" John Deluca said with twinkling eyes, "Fancy seeing the two of you here" he added.

"I heard about your bodyguard," my father said solemnly as we sat at the table "And I'm sorry for your loss. Sam was a good man" he added while John nodded as well.

"Yes, your father updated me on what happened as did Knox," John said apologetically "Forgive me if I'm intruding on a delicate time" he added.

I shook my head "It's fine. Did you come just to see my father?" I asked with interest as maids began to put plates of food in front of us.

"We um, we tend to get together on the odd occasion and talk business," my father said guiltily "It gives us old men something to talk about and to do."

I laughed "You're hardly old father" I joked "or you John. How is your health?" I asked.

"Much better thank you. How are you doing Flair?" there was a small smile on his face and his eyes were sparkling as he looked at me and Grayson leaning in close together, Grayson wrapping his arm over my shoulder.

"Everything is fine" I answered shifting uncomfortably on the chair.

"Hmmm," he murmured and then patted a sly Roscoe who was making the rounds in the hopes somebody would slip a bit of food to him "if you say so."

He didn't sound convinced.

"Leave the youngsters alone John" my father teased "They're still in the honeymoon stage" he added with a chuckle.

"At least you guys are. The temperature back at the Deluca house is positively glacial" John commented drily "One would think that expecting a baby would make Charlotte more appreciative and friendly towards her husband but she seems to be going in the opposite direction."

He shook his head looking resigned.

"Does that matter when it comes to the conditions on getting the company"

"Well I don't think she read the rest," he said with a sigh "but I had high hopes she would settle down when she was married. No offense Flair, I know she took your husband," he said remorsefully as I waved a dismissive hand "but she grows meaner by the day. It's like she's carrying a devil's spawn in her womb. To avoid an incomplete reading experience, visit Jobn'i'b.com. As it is, I've just checked on the manager of our company, and there are rumors flying around that he's begun divorce proceedings against his wife, which is going to possibly put the company in the limelight if we're not careful. Marriage just is not what it used to be" he said shaking his head sadly "Back in our day it used to mean something. We meant it when we said for the rest of our days. Now these young ones can't wait to get a divorce instead of trying to fix what's wrong" he said irritably.

My father chuckled "Well things are different now. Besides your managing director getting divorced shouldn't reflect badly on your company as long as there's no scandal attached" he advised John who nodded tightly while Grayson and I began to eat "but you should at least confirm that nothing nefarious is going on with him and anybody else. I know he signed a prenup, so what's in it for him?"

"Damnit, he is having an affair" John scowled "Thanks a lot."

My father laughed "Have another drink John" he said, pushing a small shot glass towards him as Grayson and I looked at them incredulously "I think you could use one."