THE BAIT THAT STOLE HIS HEART

Chapter 2

Celeste's POV:

His last words dropped like a bomb exploding in my ears. I sank to my knees in silence the tears I was struggling to hold back now pouring down my cheeks like torrents. My whole world went silent. I couldn't hear any other thing. I slowly crawled on my knees closer to my grandpa in his wheelchair. I laid my head in his lap and continued sobbing, he rested his hand on my head to comfort him. After while I looked up at him with my tear streaked face.

“Grandpa, no don't do this. Please I beg of you, I know it's tiring but you have the best doctors in the world. They promised you'll get better.” I begged him.

“Celeste I wish I could but I can't do this anymore. I've decided to spend my last moments with you and putting my house in order.” He said trying to soothe me.

It didn't work as my chest continued to wrack with sobs. I slowly looked up to Victor my cousin standing beside him.

“Where were you when he decided this huh?” I asked him angrily.

Victor taken back stuttered, “well what did you expect me to do?”

“I expected you to maybe talk some sense into him, try and stop him from all this death talk!” I screamed at him.

He flinched and walked out of the room. I watched him walk out, I sighed. It wasn't his fault I know I just wanted someone I could blame, someone to hold responsible for this.

“I'm a grown man Celeste. It's nobody's fault but my decision. I've seen enough of life to know that being in that hospital with tubes attached and being pumped full with drugs isn't living.” Grandpa told me.

“I just have one wish before I die.” He added after a while of silence.

“I want to be the one to walk you down the aisle. I've watched you grow up and I know how painful it would be for you to walk down the aisle alone, with no father figure in your life.” He explained his voice trembling

I pushed myself away from his laps. “Marriage?”

“Yes Celeste marriage.” he said

“I want you to get married as soon as possible.” He told her

“Grandpa that's impossible.” She scoffed.

“I don't have a boyfriend and I barely go out on dates.” She told him

“I knew you'd say that. I already arranged for you to marry one of my very good friend's son.” He said his tone light.

“And who could that be?” I asked.

“Killian. Killian Marshal.” He told me.

I scrunched up my fists in anger, so he's the one behind my grandfather's delusion.

“But…but I can't marry him. He's a total stranger.” I said to my grandfather.

“I understand Celeste.” He said to me.

“No you don't because if you did you wouldn't ask me to ruin my once in a lifetime moment marrying a total stranger.” I countered.

“It's for the future of the company Celeste.” He blurted out

“The company is doing great under my leadership and it's projected growth is over 200%. So what other future are you talking about?” I asked him my voice slowly rising.

“I didn't want to do this Celeste. Don't make me do this.” He sighed.

“Do what?” I asked confused

“If you don't marry Killian you'll lose your inheritance.” He said dejected.

“Wow grandpa, you can't be serious.” I said to him.

“I am, if you don't marry him. The board takes over the company and Lord knows what they'll do with it.” He told me with a straight face.

“Grandpa I know this isn't you. I don't know who's filling your head with all these ideas but when I get the person. He would pray to die.” I said as I stood and walked out of the room angrily.

“Please Celeste, consider my last wish.” My grandfather called out after me, his weak voice cracked and strained.

In my anger I ignored him and slammed the door behind me brushing past some nurses in the corridor.

Killian’s POV:

I walked into the new dojo majority of the team voted for. My eyes scanned the dojo, searching for what made it any better than our previous dojo. As I took in the surroundings my eyes caught a red haired woman taking down a grown man twice her size. Intrigued I moved closer to watch the match. She paused for a minute as the man held her hands in a gridlock before using her feet to sweep him down to his butt. I let out a chuckle an amused smile on my face as I watched the man take a beating. They wrestled for a while on the floor before she flipped him over her knee digging into his bag. She looked ahead panting, it was then I caught her face. Celeste Bachwell, the CFO of Bachwell Enterprises. I had heard of her iron fist and her track record in th corporate world. But it wasn't until last week I met her. She was an impressive woman, intellectual and well grounded. Although she grew up rich, her type was rare and that intrigued me. Watching her wipe the sweat off her forehead as she spoke proudly to the man beneath her. I couldn't help but be more impressed.

I didn't know when I called out to her.

“Quite impressive,” I told her grabbing her attention.

She turned moving off her opponent and settling on the mat. She scanned me head to toe as if searching for something.

“I didn't know you did taekwondo.” she said to me a surprised look on her face.

“Now you know.” I replied curtly.

“You've been showing up almost everywhere I go since the dinner. Is there something else you're not telling me?” she asked her voice laced with suspicion.

“Don't flatter yourself lady. I'm here to practice that's all.” I told her.

I didn’t want her to get the wrong opinion. She was beautiful but I'm not searching for that right now. Although now she brought it up, she was making some sense. First it was the dinner then the office. Now my team decided to choose the exact dojo she trains in it was starting to not look like a coincidence anymore.

“Alright, if you say so.” she told me her words drawling out as if she didn't believe me.

“I have a feeling you don't believe me.” I told her with a smug grin on my face.

“You can think whatever you want.” she said to me as she unwrapped her hands.

“You need to stop hesitating before your attacks. It is like you are telegraphing every move.” I told her, recalling her match.

“I will definitely keep that in mind but next time if I needed your advice I would ask.” she replied dryly.

I still had the amused look on my face, it seemed I had hit a spot. She picked up her phone, in a bid to ignore me I believe. My partner was calling me.

“Alright, I'll be taking my leave now. My partner wants to spar.” I said to her before walking off.

I didn't have any interest in continuing my conversation with her anyways. As I walked to the other end of the dojo where my partner stood. I felt like I was being watched, I felt eyes burning into my back. I tried to ignore it but my curiosity got the best of me. As I turned to look at her, she quickly picked up her back and headed for the showers. I couldn't confirm she was staring at me but I'm sure it was her. I stared slightly confused as I watched her disappear behind the door with the shower sign on it. I couldn't help but imagine what was under those clothes.

“New dojo and you already have a girl?” My partner said jolting me back to reality as he slammed his hand on my back.

I shrugged off his hand as I replied, “stop saying nonsense, I was just impressed by her moves that's all.”

“I was just impressed by her move that's all.” He said mimicking me.

“Can we just spar?” I said as I rolled my eyes.

“You weren't in such a hurry when you were trying to burn holes into the shower room door with your eyes.” He teased.

“I'm going to kill you.” I joked as I grabbed him by the ankle and slammed him to the ground.

“Hey we hadn't even started yet.” He called out.

I ignored him and was about to land a punch when my phone rang out loud. I left him and rushed to my phone atop my bag.

It was my grandfather.

I sighed. Of course. Talking to him had always been a burden. Never a fun moment with the old man. He enjoyed stressing my life out, but well… I signed up for it.

I hesitated for a moment, then answered.

“Killian,” his voice came, firm and expectant, “I want to see you. Now.”