The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress

Flair POV

"I do not forgive you. I wanted you to know how it feels to be degraded and looked down on. You no longer have that proud look on your face that you had when we came in" lan said with satisfaction as tears welled in Sophie's eyes "you see how easy it was to

break you and make you do something against your will?" he mocked.

Sophie said nothing, her head bowed. She didn't dare move, lest she anger lan who was still staring scornfully at her. Ian produced his phone from his pocket and pressed the dial button, shoving the phone at a stunned Sophie who took it in trembling hands. "I have the owner of this boutique on the phone," lan said with a snarl "and they've been made aware of the actions you took today. They would like a word with you," he said icily.

Sophie looked as though she would rather face the gallows as she awkwardly got to her feet and put her ear to the phone. I could make out the sound of yelling on the other end and I saw the blood drain out of Sophie's face.

"But, but I didn't" she began to blabber, only to be furiously cut off again.

"It wasn't my fault" she tried to protest, a roar coming through the phone.

She hung her head and then handed lan the phone.

"I will of course be appointing a new manager," lan said calmly, nodding slowly as I watched "one that is more suitable to customer service" he added "and I thank you for selling the business to me" he added.

"You bought Luxe?" I asked as he hung up.

He glanced at me "Of course. Did you think I would do anything differently?" he asked nonchalantly.

I shook my head. I should have anticipated that would be lan's reaction. Sophie looked devastated.

"My job, my position" she whispered, through cracked and quivering lips "it's all gone."

"Miss Sophie your services are no longer required at Luxe. Effective today, you are fired" lan told her dismissively as a tear began to trail down her cheek "I suggest you clear out your locker and grab your things so that I can check them before you leave." She gaped at him as he gazed at her coolly. He tapped his watch, "I don't have all day and I'd rather not have my bodyguards manhandle you if I can avoid it. I'm a gentleman that way" he said as she began to sob.

lan was unmoved. She put her hands to her cheeks and then turned and ran towards the back of the store, where the employees no doubt had their lockers.

"Follow her" lan instructed one of his bodyguards who nodded tightly and began to saunter after her.

He glanced around at the other women "Did any of these women stand up against the manager for you?" he said bluntly. "Only Melanie," I said softly, gesturing to her.

lan looked at her and smiled gently. It was like watching a transformation come over him. Melanie looked stunned as he stalked over to her, taking her hand and kissing her palm while Rachel and I rolled our eyes at each other.

"Melanie," he said kindly "how kind of you to take care of my personal friends" he added wryly, glancing over his shoulder at Rachel and me with a sigh "I cannot express my gratitude" he added smoothly. "Oh, that's quite alright" Melanie stammered.

His grin was rakish. "It appears that Luxe is now in need of a new manager," he told her as Melanie's mouth parted in shock "and I would rather have one that is familiar with the store and helpful to the customers."

He looked over his shoulder at me and Rachel "what do you think? Would Melanie make a suitable manager?" he asked.

"Hell yeah," Rachel said smugly "she's the best saleslady there is and she was the only one who dared to stand up against that b***h" she declared, gesturing towards where Sophie had disappeared.

I nodded "She's quite good at choosing fashionable pieces and anticipating what the customer wants. I think she would make an excellent manager for Luxe" I told lan sincerely as Melanie began to blush.

"That's settled then. Melanie congratulations on becoming the manager. I shall ensure that your pay is raised to suit your new position" lan said calmly, turning towards the other women, some who looked disgruntled. "Anybody who does not agree or like that Melanie has been given the position may leave. I have no interest in keeping around employees who cannot work as a team or who create disharmony instead of a positive experience for the customers."

The other women glanced at each other. Ian waited. I wondered if any of them had the balls to leave.

"We're not going anywhere. Melanie deserves the promotion, she does most of the work around the store as it is" one of the other women admitted in a low voice "Sophie just took advantage of her."

lan was pleased. "I shall take a look at financials and perhaps see if there's room for raises" he added, causing the women's eyes to brighten.

There was a loud ruckus from the back. "This is all mine" Sophie was shouting, as the body guard shoved her into the store rather roughly "I earned this, I worked all these years and I'm not leaving with nothing" she screamed.

"It looks as though Sophie does not wish to leave cooperatively," lan said blithely, glancing at his body guards who began to move to assist the other "please escort Miss Sophie out of the building so that this store can begin running again. I would like to see it possibly open again today and achieve a profit."

Sophie was screaming and yelling wildly, her face a crimson red, as the bodyguards bodily lifted her, her body flailing in the air, her handbag clutched tightly in hand. She had stock piled in her hands that the bodyguards promptly took off of her, as she wailed and screeched, depositing her smoothly out of the store and shutting the doors in her faces. She began to bang on the doors, but lan pointedly ignored her.

"If she doesn't leave on her own reconnaissance then I shall inform the police" he instructed everyone.

"Now" he added, "what were you doing before this all happened?" he asked me with eyes twinkling.

I giggled "Shopping lan. We were shopping" I gestured towards Melanie who still looked a little starstruck and nervously glancing at lan. "Do you think you could put our stuff through again?" I asked her.

She nodded "Certainly. I apologize for all of this," she said weakly, as Rachel and I burst into laughter "and I sincerely hope that you come back/ I promise it will not happen again on my watch" she added proudly.

"Well, seeing as you're the manager I'm more inclined to come" Rachel assured her as we stepped up to the register and our clothes and accessories got rescanned "but only if you serve me" she teased Melanie who nodded and grinned. lan was looking at the price askance. "Do dresses really cost that much?" he asked bewildered.

"Oh, these are one-of-a-kind designer dresses by Rair" Melanie hastened to inform him "so naturally the price reflects that. These dresses won't be found anywhere else. This designer only sells in our boutique and one other. Her dresses sell like hotcakes. If Miss Flair and Rachel had not come shopping today, they would not have managed to purchase one because they would have no doubt all sold today" she said with a bit of a squeak as lan glanced at us with interest.

"Rair," he said thoughtfully "what an unusual" he paused deliberately and stared harder at Rachel and me "name for a designer," he said blandly.

"I think it's unique and lovely," Melanie said excitedly "I'd love to meet her but nobody has clapped eyes on her," she said sadly.

"Is that right?" lan murmured "so nobody has seen this clever designer, not even the other boutique?" he asked with interest.

Melanie shook her head "Sadly no. A courier brings the dresses and we just have an email address to contact them. It's all very secretive, but isn't that what makes it exciting" she gushed.

Rachel and I remained very quiet. The look that lan was shooting us meant he wasn't as easily fooled. His eyes were narrowed as he went to fetch his card.

"No need," I said hastily "Grayson wanted to purchase the items" I added.

lan flattened his lips "Nonetheless I feel obligated to buy the items, seeing as we're such personal friends" he emphasised to me and Rachel "and seeming as I'm the new owner of the boutique."

I opened my mouth to protest, but lan had already scanned his black card, rendering me mute. Damnit. Grayson was going to wonder why I hadn't spent his money. lan was gloating, no doubt recognizing the dilemma I was in. I glowered at him as lan took the bags of clothes and accessories in both hands and inclined his head.

"We will go out the back" he said smoothly "While I cannot hear that horrid woman screeching anymore, there will be more privacy. I will be back" he told a nonplussed Melanie "and we will discuss what needs to be done."

He silently strode through the store, two bodyguards in wake, while Rachel and I shrugged at each other and followed him through the loading dock and outside to his waiting limousine. It seems that some sentences in this chapter require you to read the complete chapters on Jo (b)ni b.c o m in order to avoid an incomplete reading experience. He put the bags in the back and motioned for us to get in. "Congratulations on your marriage to Grayson" he said drily "father is fit to be tied, so when you see him, do your best to listen to him. Rachel" he added with a crooked grin "it was a pleasure to see you again. I'll see you both at the engagement party."

"You're invited?" I asked.

He grinned and winked "You bet your ass the Grants were invited. I can't wait to see what a s**t show it is" he added with amusement "do you think I would pass up an invitation like that?"

He banged on the door and the driver began to peel out while Rachel and I glanced at each other and then burst out laughing.

"Didn't he say no to Charlotte when she asked him out?" Rachel giggled.Content provided by NôvelDrama.Org.

"Yes" I said as tears came to my eyes "I'm starting to feel really sorry for her" I added as Rachel snorted.