The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Flair POV

The second that we heard Charlotte Deluca's voice inside the store, we knew that things were not going to go as smoothly as anticipated. We had delayed inside the fitting rooms for as long as we could. Now she had taken my dress and insulted us and Rachel was about to let loose. I could see the look on my friend's face as she faced Charlotte.

"I suppose it must be exhausting," she said with false sympathy as I looked at her, fighting back the urge to grin as Charlotte looked at Rachel confused.

"Exhausting?" she asked.

"Constantly having to steal from others because you lack intelligence," Rachel said nonchalantly "What's that saying again, Flair? Wisdom has been chasing you but you've always been faster?"

I snorted. I couldn't help it. Charlotte still looked bewildered. Johnathon looked slightly angry. He at least, knew his fiancee had just been insulted even if Charlotte was too dim to realize the same. Rachel smirked.

"Whatever" Charlotte rolled her eyes "At least I can afford to shop in here" she added with a glower "The two of you should have been thrown out the second you stepped foot in this shop" she added as the manager came back, eyeing us both with contempt. "We have every right to shop here as you do" Rachel snapped.

I saw the saleslady hovering in the background, looking concerned. "Ladies, please, I must ask that you don't fight in our boutique" Sophie, the manager asked, almost pleading with us all "We have a reputation to uphold. Please, Miss Deluca, I have several pairs of shoes and purses that require your attention" she added, gesturing wildly towards the chairs that we had vacated.

Charlotte hesitated. I could tell she wanted to continue the fight. Johnathon remained silent and tight-lipped. Rachel looked ready to throw down and fling some punches. I gave the manager a cordial smile. "I apologize if we have not conducted ourselves in a seemly manner," I said sweetly as Charlotte scowled "I have no desire to fight someone insignificant to me."

Charlotte's mouth dropped open. I continued, heedless of the rage on the girl's face "Rachel, I can see Melanie there. I will need another dress now, let's go and see what she's able to find for me. Johnathon, I wish I could say it was nice bumping into you" I said with a faint trace of sarcasm.

Rachel grinned and followed me over to a repentant-looking Melanie while I heard a low growl come from behind me, sounding as though it was coming from an angry Charlotte.

"I'm so sorry Miss Flair" Melanie apologies "Miss Rachel. My manager insisted I give the dress to Miss Deluca and I could not disobey her instructions."

I waved a dismissive hand at her "it's quite alright Melanie. Is there by chance another dress out the back? One that is a dark wine burgundy? It should have a long split up the side, a gathering of the fabric across the bodice, and spaghetti straps with a crisis cross strapped back" I said with a frown, remembering the design.

Melanie's eyes lit up "I think I know the one. I put it aside, thinking it may be a bit too daring, but Miss Flair, it would go wonderfully with your hair if you are willing to wear it. It's just your size" she added with glee.

She didn't even think to question how I knew about the design. I winked at Rachel. "There's no need to try on the dress here," I said to Melanie kindly "I will simply take it. I would hate for Miss Deluca to take a second dress off my hands" I added in a whisper as Melanie nodded fervently.

"However the shoes and the purse will no longer match" I added with a sigh.

"Easily fixed" Melanie declared "meet me at the register. I think that black will go better with the dark wine color. I can find ones to match within moments. I have a pair of heels and a clutch already in mind. Please wait for me," she said exuberantly. She was already rushing towards the back before we took a step. I raised a brow at Rachel, impressed.

"She's my favorite saleslady," Rachel said nonplussed as we headed casually towards the registers "she knows exactly what I like and doesn't mess around."

"She's fantastic," I said agreeably, suitably impressed before groaning as Charlotte and Johnathon stepped up to the registers to pay for her dress and accessories.

Reluctantly we stepped back and Charlotte grinned at us smugly as the dress and her pieces were rang up by the manager herself.

"Such a beautiful dress" Charlotte cooed, "It's going to look so gorgeous on me. Thank you Johnathon for buying it" she gushed.

I saw Rachel roll her eyes. The manager hastened to stoke Charlotte's ego "This dress was made for you Miss Deluca. We at Luxe hope that you have enjoyed your shopping experience and anytime you wish to stop in here, don't hesitate to call beforehand. I will not hesitate to close the store so that you can shop in peace" she breathed.

Charlotte didn't even blink at the price, which was well over five million, stepping back so that Johnathon, who looked slightly pale, could step forward and use his card to pay. I tried not to laugh. Even though Johnathon had plenty of money, he had always been frugal with his money and had never wanted to spend it on me, and he looked nauseous now as he spent it on Charlotte.

"Here are your bags" the manager smiled, handing them to a reluctant-looking Johnathon as Charlotte made no move to help "Have a nice day and we hope to see you again soon" she gushed.

Charlotte smirked at us "Good luck paying for your stuff. I'm sure the man that's footing the bill is expecting a reward of some kind when you get back" she said crudely "better prepare to spread those legs of yours" she added wickedly, grabbing hold of Johnathon's arm and spinning him around.

"Goodbye now" she called out cheerfully over her shoulder.

"Barbie b***h" Rachel murmured behind me "God I hate her."

I giggled. "You come up with the weirdest insults," I said with a smile as Melanie came hurrying back, a dress, shoes, and clutch in hand. I eyed them with a critical eye and then nodded satisfied. They were perfect and blended well together. Melanie had a great eye for fashion. She carefully placed them down to ring the sale up while the manager kept a disgruntled eye on us, no doubt wondering if we could afford to pay for the items, even though Rachel had shopped instore before. "All together please Melanie," I said calmly.

She nodded, placing the items gingerly into bags. She was acting as though each item was made of china, terrified of breaking or ripping them.

"Cash or card?" she asked, glancing at us.

"Card," I said, glancing at the total and raising a brow.

It was not extravagant, not by any means. For my family, it was a mere drop in the ocean, but for Grayson, it might be a lot. I wondered how he would take the cost and then sighed. He was the one who had encouraged me to go shopping and to pay for Rachel's as well. He did not strike me as the type to be the same as Johnathon when it came to spending his money. Rachel gave a low whistle.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"I forgot how much our own dresses sold for," she said with a little giggle "are you sure Grayson will be alright with this?" she asked in a low voice.

"He'll be fine" I assured her, grabbing the black credit card from my purse and handing it to an awed-looking Melanie.

I heard the manager give a gasp.

"Stop" she declared.

Melanie stopped, looking over at the manager with a confused look on her face.

"Is something wrong Miss Sophie?"

The manager's lip was curled back and she was looking at myself and Rachel with pure disgust in her eyes. "Melanie, use your brain" she admonished the saleslady as she blushed and stared at her "has Miss Rachel ever used a black credit card when shopping instore with us?" Melanie bit her lip "Well no, but..." she stammered.

The manager raised a brow and stepped closer, as I stared at Rachel confused by the manager's strange and aggressive behavior. "Exactly and this woman here" she gestured to me rudely as I glared at her "does she look like she comes from wealth?" I hadn't exactly dressed to the nines, I'll be honest, but I didn't look like a peasant either. I felt insulted as Melanie glanced at us with apologetic eyes. "But Miss Sophie" she tried to interrupt "that doesn't mean."

The manager plucked the credit card out of Melanie's trembling hand "This card cannot be hers" she sneered, and then turned it over, showing it to Melanie with triumph "see, this is not even a woman's name. She stole it" she declared, drawing herself up and shooting us a haughty expression, her eyes glinting with triumph.

"Excuse me" I interjected calmly, while Rachel looked like she was about to wrestle the woman for the card "but that is my husband's card."

The manager paused and for a moment I thought I might have reached her because she hesitated and Melanie's body relaxed, a look of relief coming over her face. Then she looked back down at the card and her eyes widened and she looked back at me with disgust.

"You expect me to believe that Grayson Oakes, the famous lawyer and wealthy bachelor is your husband?" she said shrilly, before laughing out loud "Puhleeze" she cried "as if somebody like that would marry the likes of you. You stole this card" she said with disdain and gestured towards another saleslady as we stood there in shock "call security and lock the doors. These women do not leave. Mr Grayson will be pleased to get his card back from us. He might even reward us" she told them gleefully. "You're making a mistake" I tried to warn her but she paid me no heed, the doors and the locks to the boutique closing with an ominous clicking sound as my stomach began to drop. Grayson was not going to be happy about this. But how was I to know that the manager would accuse me of stealing his card? Now I had to find a way to fix this. I grabbed my cellphone and began to dial a number I knew by heart. I'd be damned if my husband was contacted over such a bothersome thing. The manager was about to get a nasty surprise.