The Unloved Heiress Goes Rogue

Alluring

Grayson POV

"Sir" Thomas came into the office, a strange expression on his face, a large folder in his hand.

I glanced up from the mounds of paperwork I was attempting to get through, curious as he stood there, lightly tapping the folder against his thigh.

"Thomas," I greeted him, raising a brow as he remained silent. Is there something wrong?"

He shook his head and sat opposite me. "Not exactly," he said, a look of displeasure on his face "but you told me that you wanted me to find out about Raine Stockland's background before Mr Rosethorn's wedding if you recall?"

"Ah yes," I said, leaning back in the chair and eyeing the file with interest, "Is that what's in the file?"

He slowly handed it to me. "You won't believe it," he said as I began to open it, intrigued by this girl who had been persuaded to marry the mature-aged Edgar Rosethorn.

I was speechless for a moment when I saw the photograph of the girl at the front of the folder. Raine Stockland was younger than I could have anticipated. I looked down at her face, taking in the youthfulness of it, along with her long brown hair that reminded me of the color of chestnuts and her big doe-like eyes that seemed to stare straight through you. Her complexion was like a pale porcelain and her lips were a rosy pink. I sucked in a breath, drawn to the look in her eyes, the girl no older than twenty-three at the most and that was putting it politely. What kind of parents could have agreed to a match like this? I knew with certainty that this girl would not be marrying Edgar Rosethorn willingly.

"Raine Stockland" I began to read, reluctantly pulling my eyes away from the photograph, "twenty-three years old. Has a younger sibling called Summer. There's only a year's difference between them" I said, grabbing the photo of the other sister and eyeing it.

The two girls were polar opposites in looks. Summer was blonde with big blue eyes and long blonde hair. She wasn't as attractive as her sister Raine or as interesting.

"Summer spends her days just lazing around the house according to sources whereas Raine takes on part-time jobs in order to earn her own money to buy her own things."

I raised a brow. "That's unusual for a daughter of a wealthy family. Most parents don't allow their daughters from such backgrounds to do something like that, believing it to be beneath them."

Thomas's lip twisted. "From what I've heard, Raine is not exactly favored in the Stockland home. Her mother is not her real mother and Summer is only her half-sister."

Interesting. So the mother was blaming Raine for an affair or some such nonsense and taking it out on Raine. It wasn't the first time that had happened in a wealthy family. The man or father tended to get off scot-free. It was wrong on several levels. I had no admiration for a man who claimed to love his wife, only to turn his back and cheat on her. I found such methods to be cowardly and believed it spoke a lot about a man's character.

"Are there any other relatives?" I asked mildly "anybody who could object to Raine having to marry this man?"

Surely somebody cared enough about her to stop this sham of a wedding. The girl deserved a lot better than to be shackled to a man as cruel as Edgar Rosethorn. I wrinkled my brow, unable to stop glancing subtly at the photograph of Raine, my eyes drawn to her over and over again. There was something about the way she smiled, even when she looked sad that made me want to help her. A strange feeling for somebody who had always been declared to be ruthless to those who knew him.

"No one" Thomas's voice is wooden "there was a grandmother but she passed away several months back. Raine was close to her and she was the only one looking out for her granddaughter's best interests."

I frowned. "What about her father?"

Although the man had an affair, that didn't necessarily mean that he treated his daughter badly. Thomas shook his head and offered a rueful smile. "The word is that he's pushing Raine as much as the mother in order to save their company."

"So he's selling the elder daughter off. What about the younger daughter? Are they arranging a marriage for her as well?" I asked with curiosity.

After all, there was only one year between Summer and Raine. Both girls were of marriageable age. Thomas shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable as I glanced at him. He cleared his throat. "It's quite despicable actually" he began, his face contorting into an expression of anger "but there were rumors that the person intended initially for Edgar Rosethorn was actually Summer Stockland but Raine has been persuaded to marry him instead."

"By persuaded you mean coerced," I said dryly, feeling disgusted by the Stocklands in general.

I couldn't fathom how you could simply force your own daughter into a marriage simply to benefit yourself. It was an incredibly selfish act.

"What's Raine like personality-wise? Are the two sisters alike?" I asked, doubting it.

Thomas laughed. "Raine is hardworking, kindhearted, sweet, beautiful, charming, loving" he listed, using his fingers as I nodded "whereas Summer is lazy, weak, selfish, self-centered, vain, irritating..." he trailed off with a sheepish expression "and that was just the nicest words that people used to describe her."

"So not just opposite in looks then" I mused "but personality as well. I'm going by the assumption that Summer has grown up in the lap of luxury and spoiled rotten whereas Raine has had to work for everything she's got."

Thomas nodded agreeably. I sighed.

"The wedding is just under a week away. Mr Edgar Rosethorn has requested we attend. What are your thoughts, sir?" Thomas asked respectfully.

I glanced back down at Raine's photograph, my lip twitching. To see a girl as young as her married was a travesty and yet, I could not interfere in a personal matter that had nothing to do with me. However, I was eager to see this girl in person, to see for myself if she was as beautiful in person as her picture was. My jaw clenched.

"We'll attend Thomas but I'm not sure about doing business with Edgar Rosethorn anymore. There are other businesses offering competitive rates and are just as able to supply what we need then Edgar Rosethorn. We need not do business with him simply for the added convenience. I want the contract to go to the business that most deserves it."

"But Edgar Rosethorn will be angry if he doesn't receive the contract as he's assumed."

"I have no cares about what this man wants. I am looking out for the future of my company. I have several others I want you to look into" I changed the subject, handing Thomas a small list "these ones in particular. Look into their financial backgrounds and speak to some of their other clients. Find out how satisfied they are with the business. Compare them all. I don't necessarily want the cheapest offer but the one that has the highest quality supplies at the most reasonable cost. Customer service is also a must. I hate talking to machines" I muttered darkly "if I can't talk to a human then scrap them off the list. I don't care how unreasonable that sounds, it pisses me off."

Thomas tried not to laugh at that. He knew well how angry that one particular thing made me. He nodded, glancing down at the list.

"I'll get right to it sir. It will take a few days to properly scope them out and ensure their financials all match up with their own business records."

I waved a hand at him. "Have it done before Edgar Rosethorn's wedding. I intend to tell him that we will no longer do business with the bastard once the wedding is over and done with. I have no wish to see his smug expression and perhaps this will take him down a peg or two. At the very least" I trailed off "it will make me feel slightly better about attending such a miserable event."

"You would be putting him in a difficult financial position" Thomas warned.

"Good," I said darkly "he's too cocky and arrogant. Let him be humbled."

Thomas said nothing more. He went to gather up the file but I stopped him, sliding out the photograph of Raine Stockland and eyeing it.

"Sir?" Thomas sounded confused.

I shot him a sharp glance. "I want to keep the photo. That way I know who to look for" I lied.

He looked unconvinced as he took the file in his hands but wisely said nothing. He walked towards the doorway, a thoughtful expression on his face. I opened my desk drawer and carefully put the photograph of Raine into my desk drawer, smoothing it out.

What was it about this girl that was so alluring? It wasn't just her beauty, although I had to admit that she was stunning. Perhaps the way that Thomas had described her was appealing to me, or the notion that she worked hard to get what she needed in life. There was something about this girl that made me want to seek her out, an urge that was almost overwhelming. I had never felt this protective towards a girl before and I knew that I couldn't afford to let my emotions get the better of me. For all I knew Raine Stockland could be a wonderful actress that came across as kind but was really cold underneath the surface. I scanned my eyes over the photograph once more, taking in every minute detail and then with great reluctance closed the desk drawer, sealing the photograph inside and away from my prying eyes. Even then, I could still see her in my mind, the image of her never going away as I attempted to get my work done and distracting me from everything as I tried to push it aside with no success.