Unknowingly His

Grandfather

"Mr. Michaelson, I'm afraid this can't wait. It's your grandfather. "

The young assistant finally blurted out after managing to get in touch with her boss. She bit on her lower lip as she waited for a reply from the other end of the phone call.

Ten, twenty, thirty, thirty-five. There was finally a large sigh, after thirty-five seconds.

"What is it, Taylor?"

Her boss finally asked, clearly trying to mask the hint of worry in his voice. For a moment, she paused and cursed herself silently for being so stupid and careless and drawing her boss' attention.

It was true that it was about his grandfather, but given the old man's ever-failing health and her choice of words and the nineteen phone calls and messages she had left for her boss, it was only natural that the young master would fear the worst had happened to his grandfather.

"Hello? Taylor?"

He called out, this time unable to mask his worry.

"Uhh...yes ...yes... Your grandfather left a message for you. He wants you to go to the villa immediately. He said this in the morning. And that is why I've been trying to ..."

She was cut short by the sound of something smashing, a glass, maybe. It came from the other end of the phone call, and it was followed by a grunt. She knew her next words had to be chosen carefully.

"Is that all Taylor?"

"Yes sir, that is all. I'm sorry for ..."

She was cut short again, this time by the beeping sound of a call that had just ended. She facepalmed herself as soon as the call ended and started yelling at herself.

On a normal day, Young Master Michaelson barely smiles and one look from him is more than enough to make you question your entire existence, even when you have caused him no trouble. She wondered what her fate would be when her boss returned to the office and decided to punish her for stupidity.

"Oh he's going to kill me Lizzie."

She said, to an older woman who was sitting beside her.

"Don't worry child. The young master will understand that you were just doing your job. He's not a monster."

"Oh Lizzie, you have no idea how worried he was and how his voice quickly changed into something completely different and dark when I told him his grandfather just wanted to see him. I swear he would've strangled me through the phone if he could."

"Nonsense! He's a reasonable man, not a monster."

Taylor nodded and started to relax a bit and Lizzie smiled at her.

On the other hand, Maximilien Michaelson raced in his car over to his grandfather's enormous villa which he had been summoned to. He was fuming inside. It wasn't anger, it was his worry about his grandfather earlier on and the calmness that followed when he learned his grandfather just wanted to see him that was battling inside him. It made his chest grow tighter and tighter, making it hard for him to breathe, until he reached the gates of the villa where he exhaled violently and gasped for fresh air.

He didn't wait for the gates to open for him, he jumped out of his car and made his way to his grandfather.

"Welcome, young master !"

"Thank you, go get my car and park it in the garage"

He said to the butler and tossed the keys at him, not caring where the keys landed. He was usually a composed person, and always treated the butler and the maids with respect, so his sudden action towards the butler hurt a little.

As if sensing the tiny ache in the butler's heart, Maximilien came to an abrupt stop and called out to the butler. The butler quickly approached him, avoiding eye contact with the young master.

"I'm sorry Hugo, forgive me, my head's not in the right place today. I'm sorry."

His little apology drew a bright smile on the old butler's face as he grabbed the young master's hand and placed it on his chest.

"Hugo forgives you, young master. "

Maximilien nodded and made his way to his grandfather. The old man seemed to be waiting eagerly for his grandson when he got there.

"Good morning evening grandfather."

"Maxie boy! Come here, sit with me!"

The old man shouted with joy. Maximilien obeyed and sat by his Grandfather silently.

"My boy, you know, I don't have much time left."

"Don't say that grandfather."

"Oh, my dear boy. It is the truth and we both know it. I have lived a good life. I had the kindest companion and I can't wait to join her wherever she is."

The young master tried to say something but was silenced by his grandfather, who had raised a hand. He forced his words back in and listened to his grandfather speak.

"Maximilien, you are the only Michaelson heir. I need to know that this legacy will continue, and you'll be with a kind companion as I was with your grandmother. I know you will find another partner."

The young master knew what his grandfather was hinting at and slowly shook his head.

"Max, my boy, I need to see you with my next heir, please. " Won't you grant a dying man's wish?"

The oldman looked at his grandson with pleading eyes and Maximilien knew he couldn't refuse his grandfather's request. In truth, he had no plans of settling down soon or having a child, but how could he let his grandfather down? That man was the only family he had left.

"I'll try grandfather. I will try to settle down and give you a grandchild to comfort you until your time has come."

The young master said, and his grandfather burst out in a joyous laugh and hugged his grandson. Finally, he could be at ease and soon, he would know his grandson was in safe hands and wouldn't be alone when he was no more. He simply couldn't

Maximilien, on the other hand, felt guilty for lying to his grandfather in the most unexpected way. As he hugged his grandfather, he silently prayed that his grandfather would forgive him if he ever left this world after realizing his grandson had no intention of fulfilling his dying wish. He simply couldn't. He couldn't make himself love again, not after what his ex-fiancee had done to him.