The Grandmaster's Legacy (HOT Historical Suspense, Box Set)

by Taylor Lee

  “Elena, I know you, sweetheart. You remind me of myself at your age. Like you I had an overpowering but wonderful father who protected me to a fault. I had everything a girl could ask for but I was terribly sheltered. Honey, the reason I am saying this is that I know something is bothering you. I hope you will tell me what it is. I never had a mother to ask about the things that were new to me or that I didn’t understand, but, my darling, you do. You have not been yourself since the attack at the waterfall, which is understandable. But something significant and troubling has happened since then. Please tell me what is bothering you, Elena.”

  Elena flushed and looked at Lei in amazement. “Am I that transparent, Lei?”

  “No, honey, only to me and probably your father. You’ve never tried to hide anything from me before. I hope you won’t now.”

  When Elena continued to look down at her hands, Lei said, “Come now, honey. It is obvious something has upset you. Please talk to me.”

  Elena looked at her and her lips trembled. Lei could see the tears welling up in her eyes. She smiled at her and said softly, “Talk to me, honey.”

  Elena took a deep breath. When she spoke, her voice shook.

  “Lei, I’m…I’m not ready to tell you everything. But… but I do have some questions that … well … that I don’t know the answers to.”

  “Sweetheart, are these questions that have to do with things between a man and a woman?”

  Elena nodded. Her cheeks flushed, her tears threatened to fall.

  “Lei, I…I feel so stupid. There are so many things I don’t understand. I have been surrounded by men all my life. Most of my friends are men. But I have never had a boyfriend. You know - a boy or a man who is more than a friend. And then those awful men at the waterfall … Oh, God …There is so much I don’t know or understand.”

  “I know that, Elena. I had a feeling someone has come in your life. He is forcing you to think about things you haven’t dealt with before. But, honey, that can be a good thing. You are twenty years old. Tell me, is it someone I know?’

  “Please, Lei, I don’t want to talk about him. Actually I hate him, despise him. But things have happened that I don’t understand.”

  “Hmm, that is complicated. Well, let’s forget about him for now. Why don’t you ask me about the things you don’t understand?”

  “I don’t know if I can,” she whispered. “You might think I am bad.”

  “Honey, you can ask me anything, but before you do, know one thing; I could never think you are bad because you are not. So let’s hear it. What is question number one?”

  Elena looked up and said in a fierce voice, “Okay, you asked for it…Lei, if a man… kisses you and you get wet… down there; does that make you a bad person?”

  Lei hid her smile and responded in a matter of fact voice, “No, that makes you a lucky person. Being a responsive woman, sexually, Elena, will bring you much happiness in the future.”

  “But what if the man knows that you got wet, is that bad? Will he think that I am not a nice person?”

  “Oh, my darling, let me tell you. There is nothing a man likes better than to know that he has made a woman respond to him. One of the ways she shows that is to get wet and open in special places.”

  They heard footsteps signaling Wyatt was coming up the stairs.

  “What’s your next question; quick, while we have a moment?”

  “Okay, but…okay. Whose fault is it when a man gets hard…you know where…that part …?”

  “If you mean when he gets an erection, it is not about fault, Elena,” she said with a gay smile. “It is much more about credit. When a man is with a beautiful woman and he gets an erection, it is because he finds her attractive. He desires her. It is a huge credit to a woman when a man finds her desirable.”

  There was a knock at the door and Lei said, “Elena, let’s finish this conversation later. It’s clear there are many things we need to talk about. But I warn you. I am going to be fierce trying to find out who is the lucky man.”

  “You don’t understand, Lei. He hates me, or, at the very least, he dislikes me greatly.”

  “I find that hard to believe, darling. How do you feel about him?”

  “That’s easy. I hate him …but sometimes… sometimes I am not sure.”

  “Honey, we definitely are going to talk later.”

  Wyatt spent several minutes with Elena. As Lei predicted, her beauty brought Wyatt to tears. He gave her precious sapphire earrings the color of her eyes. With trembling fingers, and tears in his eyes, he helped her put them on. When they finished, the three of them walked to the head of the stairs. They had agreed that Wan would escort Elena in to the ball and Wyatt would accompany Lei.

  Wan come to the bottom of the stairs to greet Elena. Like Wyatt, tears welled up in his eyes when he saw his beautiful granddaughter. Elena smiled at him and extended her hand. When Wan bowed low and kissed her hand, Lei saw Elena’s face pale, then flush. Following the path of Elena’s gaze, Lei saw Bai standing off to the side of the hallway, leaning against a column. His arms were folded across his chest. His face was taut, inscrutable. When he saw Elena, his eyes flashed dark with appreciation, and then, with what looked to Lei, like a mix of anger and lust. Lei was startled. She smiled to herself thinking, well that is one mystery solved. Hmm, we are in for some interesting times, indeed.

  ~~~

  “You look sinfully handsome tonight, Bai,” Lei said, marveling at his black tail coat and trousers, dark grey patterned waistcoat and silver and grey striped shirt with a stiff white wing collar.

  “How cunning of you to choose a silver ascot tie rather than those silly white bow ties that for some reason are the rage. You’ll notice that neither Wan nor Wyatt is wearing one of them.” She added with a smile, “And you didn’t even have me advising you!”

  “Thank you, Lei. That is high praise from the woman who has defined fashion for the last ten years. I am filled with pride that your beautiful Chinese face has come to be the standard for grace and beauty in the most prestigious salons in the East. My understanding is that even the European designers are now coming to you for advice.”

  Lei smiled. “Thank you, Bai. You and I understand the challenges and opportunities for mixed race Chinese people like ourselves. Thanks to the standard my father set for us both, the opportunities have been much more apparent than the challenges.”

  Bai nodded in agreement.

  Lei smiled and said with a twinkle in her eye, “As extraordinarily handsome as you look, Bai, I think you might be even more handsome if you could force the semblance of a smile across your face.”

  “Thank you, Lei. I guess that is a compliment. I will make an effort to look as though I am enjoying myself if it will please you.”

  “I know it will please my father to know that you are enjoying his party. But tell me, is there a reason you are dismal?”

  Bai ignored her question and motioned a servant over to them. “Will you have a glass of champagne, Lei?”

  “That will be lovely, thank you.”

  They sipped on their champagne and stood watching the dancers.

  Lei said, “Speaking of lovely, have you ever seen Elena look more beautiful? I know I shouldn’t boast about my daughter, but the only thing lovelier than her dress is her gorgeous body.”

  Bai grimaced and said in a flat voice, “Yes, she looks very nice tonight.”

  “Come now, Bai, she obviously looks much more than nice.”

  “I said, very nice.”

  Lei smiled. “I won’t ask you again why you look as though you are being forced to attend a hanging rather than a beautiful party. Instead, I will ask you to dance with me -- given that there are at least seven men waiting in line to dance with Elena.”

  “The only line I intend to stand in tonight, Lei, is the one in front of you. Shall we dance?”

  They danced by Elena and Peter Sampson. Elena and Lei exchanged friendly waves while Bai glared at Peter. When they had pa
ssed by, Lei said in a casual voice, “Sometimes I think we made a mistake sending Elena to college in Wyoming. She insisted she wanted to be close to home and both Wyatt and I agreed.”

  When Bai didn’t answer, Lei added, “She has led a sheltered life -- certainly compared to you, Bai.”

  “So it would seem,” Bai said.

  Lei continued, “It always surprises me that young people who grow up on a ranch and watch animals all their lives can be ignorant about the facts of life.”

  “Do you have something you wish to say to me, Lei? If so, please say it. One of the things I like best about you is that you don’t dissemble like most women I know.”

  “Thank you. As you would say, I guess that is a compliment. You are correct. I do have something I wish to say to you. I will be direct. Elena asked me if a woman gets ‘wet,’ does that mean that she is a bad person.”

  Bai flushed and asked with a lift of his eyebrow, “What did you tell her?”

  “I told her that it means she is a healthy responsive woman and that it bodes well for her future happiness.”

  Bai’s face hardened.

  “I am uninterested in discussing Elena’s sexuality with you, Lei.” He added dismissively, “She’s a child, Lei. A spoiled, headstrong one at that. I know how protective and possessive Wyatt is, but even he knows she is spoiled. Surely you do, as well.”

  “Yes, she is headstrong and perhaps a little spoiled. But the Elena I know is an empathetic, bright young woman. Look at the way she works with injured horses. And I have never had a more disciplined or talented kung fu student. Admit it, Bai. She is accomplished, complex, and lovely. She is anything but a child.”

  “We have a difference of opinion, which is understandable, Lei, given she is your daughter. I see her as a spoiled child who was pampered and sheltered like a royal princess all her life. She got anything and everything she wanted and throws temper tantrums when anyone tries to tame her. Add to that, she was told that she is the most beautiful creature alive. She assumes that every man who sees her agrees.”

  The music stopped and they moved back from the dance floor.

  “My goodness, Bai, you seem to be responding rather intensely to my daughter. And that is an interesting choice of words. Tame her? Hmm, I can imagine it would be difficult to tame Elena. Indeed, in my opinion, that would be a fruitless task, even for a powerful man accustomed to being obeyed.”

  She smiled when Bai flushed darkly, and added, “Oh, one more thing. She also asked me whose fault it is if a man gets an erection.”

  Bai said with a gasp, “Jesus God, Lei.”

  Lei smiled. “Be a dear. Please bring me another glass of champagne.”

  Bai scowled. He walked over to the serving area and ordered one of the servants to take Lei a glass of champagne. He took bourbon for himself. Nodding to Lei, he walked away.

  ~~~

  Bai stood, leaning back against a wall, watching the men crowding around Elena. He grimaced, noting that the group of men lined up four or five deep waiting for the next dance had been embarrassingly steady throughout the evening. He didn’t try to analyze why he was angry. Instead he pushed down his annoyance and took a large swallow of bourbon. He looked around for a potential dance partner, but found none among the horde of women who had been ogling him hopefully throughout the night.

  Wyatt and Wan joined him. Both of them looked fondly at Elena, grinning at the throng of men surrounding her. Wyatt shook his head with a proud smile. “That’s some granddaughter you have, Wan.”

  Wan nodded in agreement, then looked at Bai who was staring straight ahead, grimacing.

  “Are you intent on establishing a record, Bai?”

  He glowered. “What do you mean?”

  “That you wish to be the one man in the ballroom between the ages of seven and seventy-five who hasn’t lined up to dance with our lovely Elena?”

  Bai responded with a forced smile, “I don’t do lines.”

  Ignoring the look Wyatt and Wan exchanged, Bai finished his drink in a single swallow. He handed the glass to a passing servant. He strode to the center of the dance floor where Elena was dancing with Greg Forester, the governor’s chief of staff.

  Bai grinned at Greg’s surprise when he approached them. He didn’t try to hide his contempt or his anger. He barely understood it himself. All he knew was that he was the only person who was going to dance with Elena. Bowing slightly, with a derisive smile twisting his lips, he reached out and removed Greg’s hand from Elena’s back.

  “I trust you won’t mind, Greg, but I want to finish this dance with Elena.”

  Greg was astonished. “What the hell, Bai. I’ve been waiting thirty minutes for this dance. Christ, I’ve been waiting my whole life for someone like her. Hell, man, wait your turn.”

  Bai had his hand on Elena’s arm and said softly, ‘You know me, Greg. I’m not a patient man. It shouldn’t surprise you I don’t take turns and I don’t wait in line for anyone. For that reason, I suggest you get the hell away from her before you are crawling away on your hands and knees.”

  “Jesus Christ, Bai, have you gone crazy?”

  Bai thought to himself that might be possible but his lips curled contemptuously. He jerked his thumb. “Go, now, before I knock you down on your self important ass.”

  Greg’s face flushed, first with embarrassment, then hardened with anger. He pulled himself up to his full height, but at full height he came only to Bai’s chin. He hesitated, then stepped back.

  Bai grinned knowing it was more than their height differences that made Greg draw back. There was no question that everyone on the governor’s staff had heard the stories of the Frenchman. Bai knew they found it hard to believe that the urbane, distinguished man they worked with was a cold blooded killer. But tonight standing next to him, Bai made no attempt to mask his distain or the predatory power that epitomized the Frenchman.

  Greg paled, gasped and moved away. A devilish grin crossed Bai’s face. “Good decision, Greg.”

  Bai took Elena in his arms. Without looking back at Greg, he whirled her away from the young man who stood in the middle of the dance floor, shaking with anger and disbelief.

  Elena flushed and said over her shoulder, “I apologize, Greg. I’m sure you know Bai is accustomed to giving orders. He expects everyone to obey him without question.”

  Bai twirled her in a circle and said with a wry grin, “Not everyone. Some people require a little discipline.”

  She flushed and tried to pull away, but Bai held her tight. He smiled at her embarrassment, enjoying the feel of her soft slender body. With her high heels, she came to his shoulder, but still had to tip her head back to look in his eyes.

  “You look beautiful, Elena. Your dress reminds me of Zhenqui; like her, the stark white of your gown only heightens the color of your eyes. They look like hot blue flames. And this hair of yours. It is always on fire.” He shook his head and grinned appreciatively reaching down to twist an errant curl. “You look like a beautiful flame -- red, gold, blue, and white hot at the center.”

  She looked at him surprised, as if waiting for the negative follow up she was sure would come. When he just smiled at her, she asked, “Why are you being nice to me?”

  “I am trying a new tack. Perhaps if I flatter you and fawn over you the way everyone else does, you will do as you’re told like a good little girl.”

  When she pulled back her eyes flashing with anger, he said with a grin, “Who knows, maybe I won’t have to spank you again.”

  “Goddamn you, Bai. Let me go. I don’t want to dance with you and I won’t. Let me go!”

  “But, of course, cherie. This dance ended several minutes ago. I wondered why you were still clinging to me.”

  Elena looked around and saw the people standing next to them staring at her. She jumped back and jerked away from him, her face hot with embarrassment. He bowed slightly, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. He turned to join a group of men that included the governor and the chi
ef justice. Bai moved like a panther: lithe, graceful and dangerous. His eyes were cool and an ironic smile twisted his lips. Over his shoulder he said, “Thank you for the dance, cherie. It was my pleasure.”

  ~~~

  Elena stood by herself in the middle of the dance floor, stunned. Her eyes filled with tears. She turned and ran across the room, making her way to the outside corridor. She saw Lei, Wyatt, and Wan standing together off to the side. It was clear from their expressions they had watched the scene in its entirety. Her father’s face was dark. She heard Lei excuse herself and move to follow Elena down the hallway.

  Elena ran down the corridor to the door to the garden and kept running. She didn’t want to talk to anyone, especially Lei or her father. She knew she was going to cry and wanted to get as far away from the party as possible. She was angry at Bai and hurt. Why did he have to be mean, cruel to her? She hated him. She ran out of the house, down the path toward the garden.

  A moment later she heard footsteps behind her. A shiver ran through her when she heard his soft accented voice. “Where are you going, Elena?”

  She didn’t answer. Instead she ran faster, but in seconds he was beside her. He caught her arm and pulled her back to him.

  She twisted away, her face tight with fury. “Let me go! Now!”

  Bai held her and pulled her up to him as she struggled to get free. “According to three people in the ballroom, I owe you an apology. As two of them are kung fu masters and the other is a grandmaster, I decided the least I should do is beat a strategic retreat.”

  She tried to pull away. Surprising them both, she burst in tears.

  “Hell, maybe I do owe you an apology if I contributed to these,” he said, holding her close, reaching down to brush the tears off her face.