The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
Chapter 117

Johnathon POV

Charlotte and her mother are busy discussing how to set up the nursery when I come down in the late morning in the hopes of trying to avoid her. "I think yellow is a nice neutral color don't you mother?" Charlotte asked as I sat down and motioned for one of the maids to bring me a fresh cup of coffee. "Why don't you wait until you know what gender it is then you can pick a color that suits" Karen suggested calmly, raising her mug and taking a sip.

Charlotte looked put out by that. She glanced at her phone and I saw her flick through a few messages, gritting her teeth. Now she looked on the verge of an explosion. What on earth was wrong with her this time? Why was everything causing her to get so angry lately?

"Charlotte what's wrong?" asked Karen as she slammed the phone on the table in a fit of temper.

"What's wrong?" she blustered "Nothing, only that b***h Flair is going to upstage me again" she scowled sounding furious. "Upstage you about what?" I broke in, feeling impatient as Charlotte folded her arms and glared at me "What has Flair done to offend you now? Other than survive" I muttered with a twinge of sarcasm.

"It doesn't matter" she scowled and grabbed the phone, "I need to make a phone call."

She put the phone to her ear and turned away, heading out of the kitchen and flipping her hair lazily over her shoulder as I stared at a nonplussed Karen.

"It's just pregnancy hormones," Karen said kindly "I'm sure that she'll settle down in time once they've settled. Just give her time."

"I doubt it" I growled, standing up.

This was ridiculous, Charlotte and I needed to have a proper discussion, especially considering she had thrown me out of the room last night. Karen watched as I strode off purposely in the direction that Charlotte had gone. I was determined to speak my mind to her once and for all. Maybe this time she would listen to me and realize I was serious.

"Are you certain that she is? Did you see the medical report up close? You can't afford to be wrong about this" Charlotte's voice was purposely hushed as she spoke to the person on the other end.

Medical report? Now what was she up to? "I'm not saying I don't trust you. The information you gave me on that Ronaldo's wife turned out to be exactly what I needed, but she ended up living through that" Charlotte hissed "So forgive me if I'm a little trepidatious about any new information you give me."

Ronaldo? Information? "Well, how far along? Did it state the gestation period?" she asked urgently.

I ducked behind a doorway to continue eavesdropping, certain that Charlotte didn't want me to overhear. "What do I want to do? Right now she's under strict security. There's no way anybody is going to be able to get near her while she's on her guard" Charlotte was complaining, pacing back and forth, her expression vicious as she nibbled on a perfectly manicured nail "Naturally I'll pay you for the information" she hissed holding the phone in her hand and moving it back to glare at it "you act as though I'm not trustworthy. Haven't I paid you each time you've had something for me?" She put the phone back to her ear, glancing at the doorway which I thankfully ducked behind just in time. "No, don't come to the house, it will make my husband too suspicious. I want copies of the medical records" she muttered, "she'll have to make another appointment soon, even if it's to get an ultrasound done. Keep an eye on her upcoming appointments as well" she instructed the person on the other end.

I saw her raise a brow "You want an extra 10% of what I'm already paying you?" she sounded peeved "I'm already paying you an exorbitant amount" she snapped "and getting very little in return for it. Flair was not meant to come back unscathed from Mr. Ronaldo's kidnapping. You assured me he was out for blood" she snarled.

Silence. A frown on her face. "Of course, I'm aware of what that will do. Send the report to me" she instructed and then she hung up, angrily glaring down at the phone.

"I should have known the little b***h wasn't going to give up so easily" Charlotte sneered, "If Grayson thinks that I'm not prepared to fight dirty for the sake of the company and the money it's going to give me then he's in for a surprise" she exhaled, tapping her foot thoughtfully.

What did I do? Did I make my presence known? My wife was a psycho, but I had already known how ambitious she was when I married her. I didn't know what the Ronaldo business was about and part of me was too afraid to find out what it was. Charlotte seemed to be digging a deeper hole for herself and the lengths she was going to were extending further as she raised the stakes. I shook my head and gave an inward sigh.

I backed away slowly and headed back into the kitchen, listening as her heels began to clack towards me, causing me to move faster, zipping into a seat at the table as Karen looked at me confused.

"I have to go out" Charlotte announced, grabbing her purse and handbag off the counter with a huff "I'll be back later." "Where are you going? I'll go with you" Karen offered "If it's to look at baby things then..."

Her voice was eager.

Charlotte interrupted "It's not," she said flatly causing her mother to fall silent "I need to go and do some errands. It will only bore you," she said dismissively "I'll be back later. Maybe we can do dinner together or something," she said tiredly. "What about me?" my voice was hoarse.

Charlotte glanced at me "What about you?" she asked bluntly.

"Do any of your plans include me?" I was deliberately provoking her but she was making me angry now.

"Don't start with this whole woe is me bullshit Johnathon" Charlotte growled, rolling her eyes and scoffing "I'm not in the mood. You're not hard done by, you live in a mansion with me, you barely go to work" she pointed out as I winced "and we have a baby on the way. I'm sorry if you feel I'm not making you a priority."

"That's not what I meant," I said indignantly.

She raised her brows and then turned away, heading out of the kitchen as I sighed in defeat.

"It's just pregnancy hormones" Karen repeated softly, gazing at me sympathetically "This is totally normal. They make you crazy. She'll soften once they settle down."

"I bloody don't think so," I said nonchalantly, glaring down at the table "I have a feeling that this is just the beginning of how bad she's going to get," I said gloomily as Karen opened her mouth to defend her daughter and then thought better about it. "Is it just me or is she in a mood?" John muttered coming into the kitchen.

"It's not just you," I said heavily.

I glanced at him. He was sweating profusely and there was a sheen of sweat across his forehead. I jumped to my feet and assisted him to sit down. He waved a hand impatiently at me. "I'm fine," he said irritably "Don't baby me."

He looked at me with disappointment "Shouldn't you be at work?"

"I have no clients today" I admitted shamefaced.

Between that and the embarrassment of having to pay back the investor that I suspected might have been Flair, I was hiding at home and licking my wounds.

"So drum some up" John scowled "I swear, all you youngsters are the same. Lazy all of you" he admonished "Instead of waiting for clients to come to you, get out there and put your name forward. What's the worst that's going to happen?" he said shrewdly. They could hear the Deluca name and remember Charlotte's tantrum on television I thought sourly, biting my tongue. "I think it's best that I remain patient," I said instead as he harrumphed at me.

"What are your plans today John?" Karen asked meekly.

He glanced at her coldly. "I have a business meeting," he said, which explained the suit and the tie "with an old colleague of mine" he waved a hand "All very boring I assure you."

"You still put in a lot of work at the company, don't you?" I asked him "Even though you're partly retired?"

He scoffed "I need a way to fill my day, otherwise I would have nothing to do but sit here and twiddle my thumbs."

"But with your health John" I began and he shook his head at me.

"My health is fine" he argued "Do I look like I'm about to have a heart attack anytime soon? I'm healthy as a horse. Would you prefer I die of boredom?" he sneered "Well I'm not giving you the satisfaction" he added grimly.

"Who's the current manager of the company then?" I asked doubtfully "I mean you have somebody running the company while Charlotte and Grayson try to meet the conditions of getting the company for themselves."

"Yes, we have somebody managing the company, not to mention there's the board," John said peering at me "Why the sudden interest John?" he asked suspiciously.

"No reason, it's mere curiosity."

"Hmmph" he snorted "Well if you must know the managing director of the company is a man that goes by the name of Mr Ferryweather. A good lad that one although a bit green around the ears. His wife is one of my friends, there's quite an age difference between them. I didn't approve of that, but I guess love is love" he murmured with a shrug "Who am I to disagree with that."

"If they are so rich why is he working?" I asked my mouth dry.

He shot a glance at me "Why do you work when Charlotte is rich? Pride my boy, simple pride. It is the ultimate humiliation to depend on your wife's money and not make any of your own."

Although I was probably imagining it, it felt like his words were directly aimed at me. I swallowed hard. The barb had hit home. "I think I'll go to work after all" I murmured getting up from the table as John nodded approvingly "I'm sure there's something that requires my attention."

"That's the spirit" John called out "You give them hell boy."

But all I could think about was this Mr. Ferryweather and what kind of man he must be in order to marry a woman so much older than himself. Was I any better? The strange thing was I didn't know anymore and I was beginning to feel a strange camaraderie with this man I didn't know.