The Kidnapped Heiress

Chapter Ten

“Oh! I needed this!” Eloise sighed as they enjoyed a massage after a session in the sauna. “This was the best idea you’ve ever had, Aria.”

“Oh, really?” Aria smirked. “This was the best one ever?”

“You remember the time Aria convinced us to skip school so we could head to the Alps early for our ski trip?” Monica laughed.

“Or the time we ducked out when the class took a field trip to the Louvre and went to the Eiffel Tower instead because you wanted some air?” Eloise added.

The foursome shared a laugh at their adventures, many of which occurred on Aria’s whims. Amazingly, they seldom got into serious trouble. At the time, they attributed it to luck, but now they were beginning to have an inkling that Aria’s family had more clout than she let on.

“Okay, so spill,” Monica suddenly said once they were left alone to relax and enjoy refreshments. “How do you know Victoria Laurant? She can’t really be your aunt.”

Aria hesitated. She supposed this conversation was inevitable after what happened in the boutique. When they were younger, Aria seldom told anyone about her family because she didn’t want the other kids to treat her differently. Brie was the only one she confided in and that was only after Brie confronted her.

“Like I said, she’s my maman’s best friend,” Aria said. “When my mother moved here, Victoria was the first person she met. Vicki was her French tutor.”

“Victoria Laurant as a remedial French tutor?” Eloise giggled.

“Well, that was before she made a name for herself,” Aria chuckled. “You know Dillon Martin, don’t you?”

“Oh yes! She’s a fabulous photographer! Almost as famous as M. Gray!”

“Well, Dillon was my au pair,” Aria said, “and she learned all about photography from my mother.”

“But in interviews she always claimed M. Gray was her mentor,” Eloise protested.

“My mother is M. Gray,” Aria said. “It’s a play on her maiden name: Macey Grayson. That’s how she came up with it.”

Eloise and Monica’s jaws dropped. Beside them, Brie merely smiled. She remembered her own shock when it was revealed to her as well. Glancing in her direction, the others immediately felt betrayed.

“You knew?” Monica demanded.

“Well yeah, for a while now,” Brie said. “I didn’t know about the Victoria or Dillon connection though.”

“How long have you known?” Eloise demanded.

“Since lycée, I think.”[1]

“That long!” the others exclaimed. “Why did she tell you and not us?!”

“Well, to be fair, I kind of forced her to.”

Monica and Eloise traded confused looks.

“I just thought it was strange how Aria never seemed to get into serious trouble no matter what she did,” Brie explained, “so I confronted her about it.”

Aria nodded with a grimace, “So, I explained who my parents were. She was so shocked I didn’t want to overwhelm her with more, so I left out Vicki and Dillon.”

“Wow,” Eloise shook her head. “Wait, parents? So, your father is famous too?”

“I wouldn’t say famous,” Aria shrugged. “He runs the European branch of our family’s company.”

“Your family—DaLair? Wait, you mean you are those DaLairs!?” Monica squealed. “I always thought the name was just a coincidence, but you’re actually that family?”

“What family?” Eloise asked.

“Only the richest family in the world!” Monica exclaimed.

“We’re not that rich,” Aria rolled her eyes.

“Oh please, your family could buy half of France,” Monica argued.

“Are they really that rich?” Eloise asked.

Brie nodded, though she wasn’t certain about actually buying half the country. They did have plenty of money, which was why it always surprised her that they lived as modestly as they did. For the most part, Aria and her siblings were down to earth as well. They didn’t act superior or flaunt their wealth, aside from using the reputation of their parents to get out of trouble.

It explained why Aria never complained about not having enough money when they went shopping. She never made a fuss about covering one of them if they ran short when they were out and about. Procuring exclusive tickets was also never an issue. Now, they understood why.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Monica asked.

“Didn’t you trust us?” Eloise demanded.

“It’s not that,” Aria shook her head. “I guess I was afraid you’d treat me differently. Whenever we visit New York, everyone knows who our family is, and they all treat us weird.”

“Weird?”

“Yeah, some put us on a pedestal and treat us like glass. Others tried to get close hoping we could help them, or they would take advantage of us,” Aria sighed. “So, we have to pretend to be friendly, but never too friendly. If that makes any sense.”

“Yeah,” Eloise nodded. “It actually kind of does.”

Monica nodded in agreement.

Aria continued, “I’d lost friends before because they found out who my family was.”

“We’re your friends,” Monica assured her. “We would never treat you differently because of your family.”

“Although there is a pair of shoes I’ve had my eye on,” Eloise said.

The foursome shared a chuckle. One thing Eloise didn’t need was more shoes.

“So, why didn’t you tell us later?” Monica asked.

“I don’t know,” Aria shrugged. “I guess it never came up. I mean, at first, I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want our friendship to change, and then it was just easier not to bring it up.”

“Then why did you schedule an appointment with Victoria’s shop?” Monica asked. “You had to know we’d ask.”

“Brie deserves the best and tante Vicki is the best,” Aria said. “I don’t really like to flaunt the people I know, but I would never let my friends settle for second best.”

“Oh, I’m going to cry,” Eloise said.

In the past, Aria never scrimped when it came to gifts for her friends, though always within reason so they wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. They never questioned it because Aria never made a big deal of it. Perhaps if they paid attention they could have started this conversation much earlier.

“Does this mean we’ll all get Victoria Laurant dresses for our weddings?” Monica asked.

“I don’t see why not,” Aria smiled. “Tante Vicki would be offended if I took you anywhere else.”

“Damn, this is going to be so wild!” Monica exclaimed.

“I think our wish lists just got longer,” Eloise laughed. “Girl, you really are full of surprises.”