The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
[Book 2] Chapter 21

Knox POV

"How was the gala?"

lan is leaning against the doorway of my room, an expectant look on his face. I don't question how he knows about it, sensing that he's here for another purpose altogether.

"Just like any other I've attended," I say casually as he raises a brow "Why?"

He gives a low chuckle "Really? Because normally you don't take a maid as your plus one" he says wryly.

s**t. Somebody had ratted on me. I frown at lan. "I needed a date, Lorelai happened to be free," I say icily. It was a bunch of bull and lan knew it.

He raises a brow "Knox, I know you. You've attended gala's before without a date, why ask Lorelai to this one?"

I shift uncomfortably in my seat "Abigail Stevens was going to be there" I mumbled.

He laughs "So you thought, I'll get another woman to fend her off?" he guffaws "You're playing with fire Knox. I see the way she looks at you" he warns me as I look at him "Lorelai is not like other women who fling themselves at you. She's going to wind up hurt if you mess with her feelings."

"I'm not messing with her feelings lan" the words burst out of me before I can think, and it's too late to take them back "I like her."

I more than liked her, that was the problem.

He smirks. "Anyone can see that you i***t. But have you thought about how this is going to affect her work? She needs it, Knox. She can't date you and work for you at the same time" he pointed out as I scowled at him "and I happen to know she has a boyfriend." He puts the nail in the coffin as I stare miserably at him. Why hadn't Lorelai mentioned she had a boyfriend to me? I would never have made her attend that gala with me if I had known.

Lies a voice in my head whispered you want her so badly you're willing to do whatever it takes to get your hands on her. Even if she has a boyfriend.

"Knox I don't want to see you get hurt" lan hesitates "You wear your heart on your sleeve man. You haven't exactly had a serious relationship" he adds as I try not to cringe at that "And I know how much you like her, but...."

"But what lan? She's never going to fall for someone like me who can't read social cues so easily or who is on the spectrum?" I say coldly.

"I'm not saying that" lan begins to protest but we both know that's exactly what he means.

I glance away irritated. "It's not my fault that I haven't had a serious relationship," I say crankily "Every time I try and date someone they replace out about my problem and then they abandon ship" my voice is bitter and resigned.

"Then they don't deserve you" lan argues back "You deserve somebody who loves you for all your quirks and eccentric ways. Knox, you act as though you have nothing to offer when you have so much to offer someone. I wish you could see yourself through our eyes. Heck, you made Grayson name their son after you" he pointed out.

I smirk "It's easy enough to do when people need favors from you" I mutter "not so much when you're struggling to carry on a conversation in a social setting."

He sighs. "Father is considering an arranged marriage for you," he says delicately as I turn and stare at him "he's worried that without one, you might never replace somebody to marry and settle down with."

"Are you kidding?" my voice is strangled "I'm not that old that he has to start worrying about my future yet. I didn't think I was that far gone" I protested.

lan chuckles "It's only a consideration at the moment not a given. You still have time to replace your princess," he says teasingly as I roll my eyes "but I do know he would love to have some more grandchildren to spoil."

"Then why don't you get married?" I say bluntly.

He stiffens and then glances away "Because that's impossible," he says and I know I've hurt him.

"Sorry lan," I say and he waves a dismissive hand at me.

"Don't worry about it."

We're silent for a moment. "Why don't you come to the company on Monday? I could use the company and it's boring being the only CEO to attend the business meetings" lan grumbled.

I look at him guiltily. I tended not to attend the meetings for fear of saying something inappropriate. It wasn't fair to lan. "What about Lorelai?"

He frowns "Does she need to be by your side in order to do your work?" he asks half-jokingly.

When he put it like that, the answer was no, but I was nervous leaving my room alone with a maid to clean it. lan sensed that and rolled his eyes. "Fine" he exhales as I try not to grin at him "bring her with you. She can file papers or do something else that's useful while she's there." "What's on the agenda for Monday?"

I didn't want to be unprepared. Ian frowns "Not a lot," he says as I relax "I have one meeting in the morning with potential investors, and then after that just paperwork so it will be relatively quiet. It would be a good time for you to show Lorelai around." "Can I bring my laptop?"

He fixes his eyes on me "You're not about to hack into the company's financials or anything stupid like that are you? Or the investor's financial records?"

His tone was more curious than admonishing.

Guilty. I look at him innocently. "It's wise to do a background check on anyone wanting to invest in our company." "We did one" lan argues.

"Not extensively. You know I can get information that others can't."

My tone is casual and matter-of-fact. When it comes to hacking and technology, I'm relaxed and at ease. lan groans. "Fine, but don't tell Father I let you" he growls "Otherwise I'll get the blame. Besides I genuinely don't think there's anything shady with these investors."

Success. I pull my bowtie off and feel better immediately. lan's phone pings and he pulls it out to look at it. He glances at me wryly. "You must have had a better night than I thought," he said gruffly. "What do you mean?" I ask.

He shows me his phone. I suck in a breath. It's a picture of me and Lorelai kissing, my hand cupping her cheek, and her face turned up to mine. Her eyes are closed and we look like any other romantic couple. There's a text written beneath it. Grant Knox Enamoured with Mystery Woman. Who Could This Mystery Woman be and Is there Wedding Bells to Follow? s**t. I hadn't even noticed that anyone was taking photos. I glared at lan who was looking highly amused. "Have them pull the story" I growled.

The last thing I needed was for this to be in the papers. lan was shaking his head and chuckling as he began to text back. "It's been pulled but it would have made an interesting scandal" he commented "How could you have done something so careless where people could see you?"

I flushed. "I wasn't thinking" I muttered ducking my head.

"Clearly" his tone was mocking "perhaps next time you might consider the possibility of there being reporters and media being present at the gala and behave appropriately in respect to that?"

"Okay, okay" I growl, wanting to fling a pillow at him "Is this all you came here to say?"

"No, I also wanted to ask you to look into something for me," lan said calmly as I glowered at him.

The nerve, wanting a favor after this! "What?" I ask tiredly.

"I need you to look into the background of all of our current employees at the house."

I glance at him sharply. "The agency already does that" I pointed out tersely "And you were the one who told me not to" I added with a scowl.

"I'm aware," lan said heavily "but twice now our company has been beaten to the post in regards to investing in certain products. I would normally think it was bad luck, but in both instances, I left files pertaining to the products in father's study" he said. I stare "You think one of the maids saw it and then told the competition to invest instead."

"I'm positive," lan said quietly "I wish I wasn't but I think one of our staff works for our competitor and is spying on us for them. I need thorough background checks, not just on the new staff," he said grimly as I viewed him in shock "but all the old staff, even those we trust implicitly. There's no telling how long they've been in our employ."

"I'll make a start, but we have so many staff in our employ, not to mention the various contractors who come through here."

"Start with the cook and maids," lan said calmly "those that have a reason to be inside the house and have access to the rooms. We can go from there."

I nod, already staring at my computer and feeling the urge to power it on.

"Knox" lan's voice interrupts my train of thought.

I look at him and see him roll his eyes "As much as I want you to make a start, for the love of god, get some sleep first. It's not like this can't wait. I know you and if you don't get some rest, you'll be useless to me later."

I try not to look indignant at that. Ian's face is expressionless. I cave. "Fine," I say throwing up my hands and beginning to unbutton my shirt "I'll get some sleep but then I'm going straight to work."

"I expect nothing less" lan chuckles and reaches over to pat me on the shoulder "I appreciate it, Knox."

I look him in the eyes "Just remember you owe me a favor for this."

He visibly shudders "I dread to think what I owe you," he says faintly before leaving the room while I grin with satisfaction "But I'm not calling my unborn child after you" he shouts over his shoulder. "That's what you think" I mutter as I begin to climb into bed and pull the covers over me "We'll see how long that lasts."

I yawn and snuggle under the covers, but my sleep is filled with dreams of Lorelai, her body wrapped around me while I do unspeakable things to her and it's restless rather than the restful kind.