The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
[Book 2] Chapter 1

Knox

Story

Knox POV

I left Flair with her new baby, striding back into the corridor, only to hear lan calling my name out with a sense of urgency. I turned around, hiding the scowl I had on my face. It had evoked a reaction in me, to watch Flair holding a baby in her arms, with Grayson by her side. It had brought feelings to the surface, that I had long thought I had buried. Part of me longed to have the same, to have somebody care about me that much, but I knew it would never happen. Who was going to fall in love with a tech whiz who couldn't keep track of the days or times or who slept hours at a time because he'd spent all night working on something? Not to mention the infamous temper that kept the maids from wanting to go anywhere near me. I had lost count of how many had resigned because they were tired of my reactions or because they couldn't stand the state of my room.

"Knox," lan said, reaching out and grabbing my arm, preventing me from walking any further "Where are you going?" "Home," I said emotionless "You wanted me to look over the new prototypes for the company remember?" It's as good as an excuse as any that I can come up with. It was almost believable. Almost.

He looks at me in disbelief "That can wait" he argues, running a hand through his hair and causing it to look even more disheveled "Don't you want to spend some more time with Flair and your nephew?" he asks.

"I already did," I said looking at him "and Flair wants her privacy at some stage so she can spend time as a family with just Hunter and Grayson. I don't want to intrude on what should be her personal family time."

He looks unconvinced by the lame argument I'm presenting. I don't care. He knows me too well by now. I guess as fraternal twins he's able to read my mind even if I'm taking care not to let anything show on my face. He eyes me carefully.

"It's more than that," he said finally as I avoided his gaze "You're upset. I can tell."

I grit my teeth "I'm fine lan."

I did not want to speak to him right now. I just want to get the hell out of here before I lose control of myself completely.

"You're not" he exhales "I saw the look on your face when you saw Flair holding Hunter. You said that you'd given up on love, but I don't think you have. I think you want what Flair has, badly," he said lowly, looking at me consideringly "and that's nothing to be ashamed of Knox. It's perfectly normal."

"Except that I'm not normal" The words burst out of me before I could stop them and I wished I could take them back as I saw the pained look on lan's face "Am I?"

"Knox" he breathes but I glance away, knowing he's unable to deny what is arguably the truth.

By anyone's standards, I'm a freak. I've always been a freak. Everybody knows it.

"I've never been normal have I? Neither of us have been. Women throw themselves at us, but only because of the Grant name and because they know the extent of the wealth we have" My voice is bitter "not because they are interested in who we are as a person. When was the last time a woman asked you out or took you on a date and paid because she didn't know who you were?"

lan says nothing. His silence says it all. He looks frustrated by the argument. It's one we've had before.

"Knox, just because you have some unique qualities, it doesn't mean that you should give up on finding someone" he began trying to phrase it delicately.

"Yes, it does. I'm good for a one-night stand, a screw or two" I am deliberately as brash about it as possible "but not for a relationship. Women can't stand me. I'm too annoying, too oblivious, too out of it for their liking. They think I ignore them or that I can't pay enough attention to be worth their while. None of them are interested in technology and while I could live with that, their disinterest in children or even animals is a deal breaker."

Just like Flair, I had a soft spot for animals and children. Something that had initially surprised lan considering that I had such a temper at times and that I could spend days cloistered inside a room surrounded by my computer and be unaware of how much time had passed me by.

"You'll find someone" lan attempted.

I shook my head and gave a bitter laugh "How? By pretending to be someone else? I'm not about to be someone other than who I am, just to end up divorced a year or two later. I would rather have someone fall for the real me than the fake me. I know you mean well lan, but let's just face the facts. I'm going to end up alone and maybe I need to be okay with that."

Was it better to be resigned to the fate you were going to have or was it better to keep fighting a losing battle? I suspected the former.

"Stop talking like that" lan shouts, frustrated and beyond his boiling point now as I stare at him "You talk like you're worth nothing and it pisses me off. You're worth something Knox, you just have to believe it."

Nurses and doctors walk past, giving us a wide berth, their gazes curious. We ignore them, too intent on our argument to care if we're drawing attention to ourselves.

"Because it's true" my voice cracks slightly as I look pointedly towards the hospital room where Flair and her husband still are, with our father who thankfully can't hear this conversation "The only thing I'm good for is the technological things. I'm not good for a relationship let alone considered good husband or father material."

"Says who" lan demanded, moving closer and suddenly becoming more aggressive as he continued to shout at me "You? Because Flair and I happen to disagree. Anybody who gets you is going to be incredibly lucky Knox in that respect. Because although you refuse to see it, you're loyal, you're kind, you're compassionate. Yes you have a temper" he allowed "but you're not physical. You get frustrated easily and you lose it sometimes. But you also have a heart of gold. You think I don't know that you give to various charities anonymously, most of them to do with children or rescue animals?"

I stay silent. It was surprising he knew about that. Even Flair didn't know I gave money to charities. I tried to keep it on the down low. lan's eyes softened. "I wish you could see the value you have instead of focussing so much on the negatives." "You're my brother, you only see the positives," I said shaking my head sadly and turning "You and Flair. I love you but, this is something that you can't fix. I can't be fixed"

"You're not broken" lan hissed behind me "screw anybody that tells you that you are. Do you hear me Knox? You are not f*****g broken" he roared in outrage as I began to trudge towards the exit with my head bowed low and my hands in my pockets, fighting to keep the tears at bay.

Not broken? What do you call a man who has everything but what his heart desires the most? What do you call a man who is desperate to feel the kind of love that having your own family can give you? Every time I had attempted to start a relationship with somebody, it hadn't lasted more than two dates before the girl had ghosted me, despite the Grant name. It was enough to tell me that I was bad at dating and only good at f*****g. It was not a pleasant thought and it rankled. I had stopped doing one-night stands a while ago. They no longer excited me as much as they did lan. Now I regarded women who threw themselves at me with resentment. They only wanted one thing from me and I wanted something completely different. I wanted what I couldn't have. That hurt so much

more.

I walk outside and breathe in the fresh air. I turn my head and sigh in relief when I notice that lan hasn't followed me. He can be stubborn my twin when he wants me to listen to him. My bodyguard is following discreetly behind. Part of me considers losing him but I'm too depressed to do it today. I quietly head towards the SUV. The bodyguard gets there first. Damien is his name. He opens the passenger door for me, despite the various times I've told him I can manage to open the damn door on my own. "Sir," he says.

I get in the car feeling gloomy. Damien shuts the door and then gets in the driver's seat, glancing at me sympathetically.

"Where would you like to go, sir? Are we just going home or would you like me to escort you somewhere else?" he asks politely.

Always so polite. Just once I'd like to see him lose his cool with me. I bite my lip pondering where to go. The home is empty except for the maids. I could look the prototypes over but I wasn't in the mood. The thought of sitting at the computer and staring into the abyss wasn't appealing right now. "Take me to the nearest bar" I instruct, leaning back and rubbing my forehead with tired hands.

Darius raises a brow but says nothing, turning the engine on and beginning to drive. I need a drink, badly, and a way to lick my wounds. Getting drunk seems like the best way to go about it. At the very least it would numb me from the emotional turmoil and pain I was feeling and that was all I wanted right now.