THE BAIT THAT STOLE HIS HEART

Celeste's POV I exhaled sharply, wiping the sweat from my brow as I circled my opponent. My muscles ached from the grueling previous sessions, but I enjoyed the burn. A soothing and satisfying feeling. Taekwondo had always been my sanctuary, a place where I was not just Celeste Bachwell, heiress to a corporate empire, but just another fighter perfecting her craft. A time I could be a normal person just living life without the media attention and excess work stress. My opponent made his first move in a quick and almost surprising motion, aiming a punch at my side, but I dodged swiftly, catching his wrist and twisting it behind his back. With a sharp movement, I swept his legs from under him and pinned him hard against the mat. His breath came out in a puff, his dark eyes burning with frustration. “Quite impressive,” a voice called out grabbing my attention. I turned to see Killian Marshal, my eyes scrunch up in confusion at his presence in the dojo. My eyes took in his appearance, scrutinizing him. He was dressed in a dobok with a black belt tied round his waist. I moved off my opponents back allowing him to leave while I sat on the mat to catch my breath. “I didn't know you did taekwondo.” I said to him surprised. “Now you know.” He replied curtly “You've been showing up almost everywhere I go since the dinner. Is there something else you're not telling me?” I asked my voice laced with suspicion. “Don't flatter yourself lady. I'm here to practice that's all.” Killian replied. “Alright, if you say so.” I told him my words slowly rolling off my tongue still showing my suspicion. “I have a feeling you don't believe me.” he said with a smug grin on his face. “You can think whatever you want.” I said back to him. Wrapping bands off my hands as I prepare to leave. “You need to stop hesitating before your attacks. It is like you are telegraphing every move.” He told me “I will definitely keep that in mind but next time if I needed your advice I would ask.” I replied dryly. I looked down at my phone, trying to reply any notifications I had missed while practicing. “Alright, I'll be taking my leave now. My partner wants to spar.” He said pulling my attention back to him. I had never really taken note of Killian and his looks. But it was only now, as he stood up, that I truly took him in, the chiseled jaw, the piercing gaze, and an undeniable air of authority and confidence that did not belong in a training hall. Killian Marshall. I recognized him from the internet. I usually did not care about other people as I was concerned with my work and nothing more. Until my grandfather invited him for dinner, something about him clicked. It made me all too intrigued. CEO of Marshall Enterprises. One of grandfather’s closest business ally. And, if rumors were to be believed, a man who rarely took orders from anyone. Someone who singlehandedly made the company stand where it was today even though the company had been in existence long ago. He took off to the other end of the dojo while I watched studying him. I headed to the dojo bathroom, while in the shower the little sparring victory replayed in my head and I thought of everything else I could have done to make it a lot more satisfying, but what is done is done. I left bathroom in no time, put on my work clothes again and headed out. The moment I stepped outside, my phone vibrated against my palm. I glanced at the screen and saw a missed call from Miriam, our housekeeper. A text followed immediately after: Miss Celeste, your grandfather is back home from the hospital. My breath caught. My grandfather. The man who had raised me after my parents’ death. The man who had taught me everything I knew about business, discipline, and life. I did not waste another second, I ran as fast I could to my car, my heels almost betraying me and drove like a madwoman through the city, my hands shaking against the steering wheel. It seemed like my grandfather was on a suicide mission. He had been allowed small supervised breaks from the hospital to attend meetings but moving back home entirely was out of it. It was like my grandfather had run mad. Thoughts flying through my head, making me tear up. When I arrived at the house, it was chaos. The ambulance was moving different equipments into the house. Miriam stood from the kitchen and watched nervously. She too knew that something was very wrong. I walked to Miriam in a hurry, “where's Grandpa?” I asked her. With hands shaking she pointed to the room down the corridor on the ground floor. I followed the directions of the hospital workers as they continued moving equipments. As I stepped into the room I saw my grandfather on a wheelchair in the corner of the room while my cousin Victor stood beside him. “Grandpa, what's going on?” I asked him frantic, my heart pounding. He looked…frail. Too frail. His normally sharp eyes were dulled with exhaustion, but when they landed on me, they flashed with something I could not place. I couldn't understand for the life of me why he would decide to move back home. “I'm moving back home.” He said his once strong voice croaking. “What about your health? What about…?” I asked confused. “Celeste.” My grandfather said his voice cutting me off. His lips curved into a ghost of a smile. “You have always been my pride. My precious little darling. And it is my wish… to leave everything to you.” “Grandpa that isn't what we're talking about right now. We're talking about why you're moving back home.” I told him stress lines appearing on my forehead. “I just gave you the reason, I'm handing everything over to you.” He said again. “The entire Bachwell Holdings. The empire. It will all be yours.” He added. “Grandpa we can talk about property sharing much later. Why are you….” I paused. The meaning of what he said dawning on me. “Yes, Celeste that's the reason. I can't continue in that place anymore all they do is pump me full of drugs that just prolong my torture. The white walls and constant smell of disinfectant nearly drove me mad. I've decided that my time has come to return home to die in peace.” He explained to her.