Chapter 3
1818 Words
“I had barely started training ” I replied, already knowing there was no point in arguing.
“Then clean yourself up and come home. There's no time for you to act like a teenager. We have something of utmost importance to discuss.”
The line went dead before I could respond.
Shaking my head, I clenched my jaw. I walked back to my car leaving my partner in silence and still on the floor. I did not bother driving speedily. But from the side of my eye, I saw a car that was parked at the dojo overtake me. I could see red hair from the driver's seat. It had to be Celeste but why would she be in such a hurry by this time.
Home. The mansion that had never really felt like one.
I pulled into the estate twenty minutes later, stepping through the grand entrance. As expected, my grandfather was waiting in his study, sitting behind his massive oak desk, a glass of whiskey in hand. He glanced at me, unimpressed.
“You look like hell,” he said.
“Nice to see you too, Grandfather.”
“Sit,” he ordered.waiting
I did not. Instead, I crossed my arms, waiting.
His sharp gaze met mine. “Being heady with me, does not work you know, anyways. How is the company doing?”
I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my damp hair. “Fine.”
“Fine?” His voice turned cold. “Killian, I do not need vague answers. I need results. I expect a full report on last quarter’s earnings and the projections for the next fiscal year. And you better do that with a smile.”
I sighed. “You have an entire team of analysts for that.”
His expression darkened. “And yet you are the one in charge. I do not need to remind you that it is your responsibility.”
I stayed silent. This was not the real reason he called me here. There was always something more.
He leaned back in his chair, swirling his drink. “You are running out of time, Killian.”
I frowned. “For what?”
“For the future of this family’s legacy.” He set his glass down, looking at me with the same piercing gaze he always used to manipulate and control. “You need to settle down. A grandson is needed to carry on.”
There it was.
I scoffed. “Not this again…”
“I am not asking, Killian. I am telling you.”
“I am not getting married just because you say so.”
His jaw tightened. “If you don’t, you will lose everything. The company. The inheritance. Everything.”
Silence stretched between us.
My pulse pounded in my ears. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am.” His voice was like steel. “You have had your fun. But it is time to be a man and take responsibility. I have arranged for you to marry someone. You do not need to love anyone, obviously love makes men dumb. It is just important.”
I clenched my fists. “You arranged…”
“You will marry Celeste Bachwell.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut.
I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Absolutely not.”
He did not flinch. “Then you will lose everything.”
My hands curled into fists. “You think you can control my life?”
“I already do.” His voice was calm, unwavering.
“I don't care I'm not marrying a stranger.” I told to him my tone flat.
“There's absolutely no need for this drama, you've already met her on multiple occasions. She is no longer a stranger.” He told me
My eyes widened in shock the realization dawning on me. I knew that me meeting her thrice in a row was no coincidence. I squinted my eyes the pieces all coming together.
“I can't believe you were behind all this.” I let out slowly.
“Behind what boy?” I don't have time to play Sherlock with you.
“But you have the time to play chess, making us bump into each other frequently?” I asked him irritated.
Fury burned through me. I had spent my entire life under his rule, proving myself, fighting for his approval, and now he was holding my entire future hostage.
“I won’t do it.”
His lips curled into a knowing smirk. “You will. Because I know you, Killian. You care about the company more than you care about anything else.”
I felt like the walls were closing in.
Without another word, I turned on my heel and stormed out. Went up to my room, changed my clothes and headed out.
The moment I stepped outside, I pulled out my phone.
It rang twice before a familiar voice answered.
“Hello,” I said. “I am on my way.”
I needed to get the hell out of here.
I left the mansion still fuming, my grandfather’s words echoing in my head. Marry or lose the empire. What kind of dumbass ultimatum was that? It does not even make any sense, losong your entire life just because you do not want to get married.
He had always been controlling, but this was a whole new level of madness.
He knew I did not believe in love, love makes a man weak, women generally were distractions and that is the last thing I needed right now. I only care about the company, myself and my family. Nothing more, nothing less.
Having kids is a whole other adventure on its own. I was not ready for all that bullshitting.
I had worked tirelessly to expand our company’s influence, yet he threatened to take it all away over something as ridiculous as a forced marriage.
As I drove toward the office, my phone rang. Adrian’s name flashed on the screen. I sighed, knowing I needed to vent.
“Man, you would not believe what is happening,” I said the moment I picked up.
“I already know you sound like hell. What did the old man do this time?” Adrian asked, his usual laid-back tone making me want to punch something.
“He is basically blackmailing me into getting married. If I don’t, I lose everything. The company, the assets, everything I have worked for all these years. It doesn't make any sense.”
There was a pause before Adrian let out a low whistle. “That is brutal. What are you gonna do?”
“Hell if I know. I just need to get through today without losing my mind. Today might just be the end of the world.”
“Just don’t do anything stupid. We both know how it gets when you are pissed.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered before hanging up.
Arriving at the office, I strode through the lobby, ignoring the greetings thrown my way. The tension in my shoulders did not ease even as I stepped into the elevator. The moment the doors opened onto my floor, I was met with chaos.
A group of executives stood outside my office, arguing in hushed but heated tones. The second they saw me, they scattered like roaches, except for my assistant, Rachel, who approached me hesitantly.
“There is a problem, sir,” she started.
“What kind of problem?” I snapped, already irritated.
Rachel hesitated. “It is the Sinclair deal. The files we sent were incorrect. We may have breached the contract terms.”
I felt my blood pressure spike. “What? That deal was airtight! Who the hell screwed up?”
Rachel flinched. “We are still trying to figure it out, but Sinclair’s lawyers are demanding a meeting. They are threatening to pull out, and that would be hell.”
“Get them on the phone now,” I ordered, shoving open my office door.
Inside, the air was heavy with tension. My legal team was already there, scrambling through papers.
“We just realized the numbers in the proposal were not updated before submission,” one of them stammered. “Sinclair believes we misrepresented the terms.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Fix this. I do not care how. Offer them something. Make it work.”
The next hour was spent on damage control. After several tense phone calls and a lot of back-and-forth, we managed to salvage the deal, barely. I hung up and exhaled sharply, leaning back in my chair.
Rachel knocked and peeked in. “Sir, someone is here to see you.”
I shook my head. “No. I am done for today.”
“The person insists on seeing you. They claim it's an emergency.” She said again.
“Who's that?” He said letting out a heavy groan. He didn't have the time or energy for any other person today.
“It's Miss Cele…”she was about to say before she was cut off.
My office door pushed wide open as Celeste strolled in a pissed off look on her face.
“I don't know the lies you've been feeding my grandfather with but one thing is certain. I won't marry you.” She said her chest rising and falling rapidly with anger.
“What are you talking about?” I said to her a confused look on my face.
“Don't you dare play dumb with me. My grandfather said I have to marry you or I'll lose everything. It doesn't take a genius to see that you're behind it.” She snapped back
“Well I hate to break it to you dear, but both our grandfather's are behind this.” I said to her letting out a humorless chuckle.
“We've been played by two cunning old men.” I added.
She stared on an incredulous look on her face.
“All I know is I'm not going to marry you so whatever conspiracy is going on I believe you should end it.” She said trying to gather her words.
“Why should I be the one to end it and be on the receiving end?” I asked her.
“I don't care, just end it!” She screamed.
I flinched at the high pitch sound. The pounding in my head increasing.
“Look I've had a really terrible day and I don't handle tantrums well. So I'll advice you to leave my office.” I warned her.
She stormed out in anger brushing past poor Rachel in the doorway.
Leaving the office, I loosened my tie and exhaled. I needed a distraction, something to take my mind off the insanity of my life. And I knew exactly where to go.
- Writer
