Chapter 1 Aiden Reiner

Aiden I drove my sleek silver Porsche to the landing field and parked it in the Executive garage. Moments later I was sitting on board my flight. I was on my way back to San Francisco. This had been a sweet deal l. Getting the deal signed was easy. But as expected not everything went smoothly, there were always small obstacles and details that needed to be smoothed out. It was business, so it was nothing unusual. At least I would have time to eat something before meeting with the board of directors back home, and I had discovered that it was always easier to deal with business issues with a full stomach. The flight would take a while, so, I decided to use that time wisely and catch some sleep. I lowered the back support and leaned against it in a nice relaxing position, closed my eyes and tried not to think of anything at all. I wasn't sure, but I thought I heard footsteps, and suddenly felt someone standing near me. So, I opened up my eyes and gazed at a gorgeous woman dressed in a tight blue uniform with white cuffs. Her face was elegant and artfully covered with makeup, her black hair tied in a neat bun, she spoke in a low voice. I got the impression that she was trying to make it extra husky. "Good day, my name is Aliya and I'll be serving you on today's flight. Would you like to have something to drink?" "Yes, a whisky would be nice," I replied. She giggled, and looked at me with her deep dark eyes, squinting her eyes a bit as she leaned closer.  "Could I tempt you...with some champagne instead?" She smiled at me a little too seductively. I rolled my eyes, Her nameplate flashed in the sunlight, and her words combined with that wiggling hips was a most tempting offer but I was in no mood for playing.  "Just a whisky, please and make sure no one disturbs me, I need to catch some sleep. Thank you." I said dismissively. "Sure sir," she replied a little disappointed and left me alone. ****************************** Aiden Malcome Reiner, aged 28, was one of the most sought after billionaire bachelor of the west coast. His great grandfather who hailed from Eastern Europe had shifted base to the USA a year before World War I. He used the great land of opportunity well and made a fortune by dealings in arms and ammunition, in a legal way of course. When his great grandfather passed away, he bequeathed his wealth to his only son, Malcolm Richard Reiner. His son who had inherited the same business acumen expanded their business further by, investing in real estates, land, and oil refineries.  Malcolm's son Thomas Malcolm Reiner took over the helm of his empire at the tender age of  26, he had proven to be just as successful in business dealings as his father and grandfather. When he turned 29, he married Aiden's mother, who came from a very wealthy family just like him.  Her family's wealth was almost equivalent to theirs, it was a perfect union. The society magazines had gushed about their wedding for months. A year later Aiden was born. Even though Thomas was a doting father, and an ideal husband. He was also a man with raving libido, who was trapped in a marriage of convenience. Gossips about his philandering ways were by no means false. His love affairs were an open secret. His wife was either unaware or didn't care. Whatever might be the case, they never displayed any marital discord at least in public. When Aiden was 6 he lost his mother in a car crash. Thomas was left free to become a swinging bachelor again. Within few months of his wife's death. Thomas Reiner announced to the world he was remarrying, this time to a twenty-two-year-old model who was already pregnant with his child. Old man Malcolm Reiner refused to bless this marriage. He also had a suspicion that the baby did not belong to Thomas but there was nothing he could do about it. 10 years year later when 16-year-old Aiden came home from his school he was informed by his grandfather that his father had a heart attack and had been rushed off to the hospital. That night Thomas Malcolm Reiner passed away in sleep. Leaving behind a young wife, and two sons. Aiden was still too young to run the family business as he was only sixteen, and old Malcolm had no intention of letting his opportunist daughter-in-law touch it, for he knew she was nothing but a scheming cold-hearted gold digger. Aiden was bundled off to the finest school in Europe to complete his education and to be kept away from his scheming stepmother. While he was abroad studying, and learning the sly ways of the world, his half brother William was growing up as the perfect spoilt-brat. His mother was teaching him the calculating, scheming ways of life. When old Malcolm Reiner wasn't watching. William would organize his wild parties at one of their many mansions where booze and cocaine flowed freely. He had to be bailed several times, by his mother for drunken driving, drug possession or assaulting a hooker. His mother would even pay the media to shut up. It's not that Malcome Reiner was unaware of his other grandson's erratic lifestyle,  but he chose to turn a blind eye as long as it was kept out of the media. He was bidding his time for Aiden to return and take over the family business. He was getting old and wouldn't be able to hold for long.  Much to his grandfather's delight, Aiden returned before he hit the bucket. In no time Aiden had taken over the family business. He was shrewd yet fair in his dealings. Older business rivals and friends had nothing but respect for young Aiden. Standing lean and trim at 6'3" with broad shoulders, snow skier's arms and legs, with a narrow waist. He was every inch of any woman's dream man.  The lush, sleek black hair he groomed so carefully had a rippling quality, a sign of his ruddy health.  The aquiline nose he sported complemented his prominent cheekbones. He possessed a latent, leonine power and always walked with purpose and authority. People had always remarked that his best feature was his entrancing, wayfarer-blue eyes. Sloe shaped, they could shine as bright as the evening stars when they were a-light with joy. At other times, they could resemble two liquid-blue pools of flashing fire. A flamboyant character, the room always filled with his sonorous, rumbling voice. He was also quick to crack a joke or fire off a humorous retort when needed. His square jaw with a dimple like cleft on his chin lent a sexy yet dangerous look to his already rugged handsome face not to mention that golden tan he had acquired while taking a well-deserved holiday in the Bahamas or skiing away at the French Alps.  Women would quiver with desire by just looking at him. He was so caught up in his work that it left little time for something called romance. Like any full-blooded male, he wasn't immune to feminine charm and he did have his share of fun. However, he knew where to draw the line. Lately, his grandfather had been nagging him to get hitched and provide him with some much-needed great-grandchildren. The old man, Malcolm was afraid that his other grandson, might produce a bastard before Aiden. He wasn't going to let his hard-earned business slip into the hands of his gold digger daughter in law. Aiden had been cleverly brushing off his requests so far. Relationships or marriage was not for him. Until a chance meeting with a girl changed his life.