In a spacious unadorned apartment, Aidan Wilson leaned against the kitchen counter. His fingers idly tapped over the cool marble surface as his eyes narrowed at the dim glow of his spare phone screen. It wasn't his main device, too traceable, too exposed.
This was under a different name. A trusted one.
He had long learned that being discreet was more than just a necessity, it was survival. Especially with siblings like his, who would rather see him bloodied and bruised than sipping fine wine in peace. He had gone through countless layers of caution. Cars, SIM cards, even private accounts. None of them bore his name.
Alex Ford was one of his assistants working behind the scenes. He wasn't foolish enough to simply transfer ownership to them, he had used many guarantees, contracts, legal binds and a stack of blackmail-worthy evidence to deter them from backstabbing him.
His siblings were watching his every move like a hawk, forcing him to use underhanded methods to deal with them.
Tonight, his attention was stolen by a massage he hadn't expected. His busy schedule had made him forget that episode, the young man's ridiculous act of damaging his car.
A soft snort escaped him as he accepted the friend request, and typed a reply, dark amusement filling his brown eyes.
AAA: Really? Your running back after screwing up my car was hard to miss that night.
Thinking he could afford the repair?! The boy was totally delusional.
Well, someone like that boy, a waiter, was clearly from the lower class of society. How could they recognise the top luxurious cars in the world?!
What Aidan Wilson didn't know, of course, was that Micah had seen too many high-end cars in his life that they barely registered anymore. To Micah, they all looked the same, ordinary!
Not to mention, Aidan had always been a bit of Scrooge. His greediness and frugality had taken a deep root in him from a young age. Everything he possessed, he thought of as priceless and valuable, reflecting his power and status.
The phone buzzed again. Another message. Aidan texted back and forth with the young man until he read the last message.
RogueOverlord: Wow! I am shaking! Please, this kind of threat is old news. First, This is a WeChat account. You can't easily track the mobile number. Second, Mr Alex Ford, I have the upper hand here. You don't know even my name. Who are you threatening?!
Ps: drink some hibiscus tea, it's good for your health. Wouldn't want you having a stroke at your age.
Aidan's anger flared.
A low, angry laugh escaped his lips. His brows drew together, and he ran a hand slowly through his hair.
"Well, Let's see who is old and who needs a beating!" he muttered to himself, his voice like ice.
Dialling his assistant, he spoke coldly.
"Shirley, find out who the hell landed on my car's roof that night. I want a name, address, family history, everything! I want his entire damn file on my desk by tomorrow evening."
A small pause, and then she said.
"Yes, Sir."
Aidan ended the call without another word, and his eyes flickered to the WeChat screen on his phone.
The boy's username stood out in bold letters.
RogueOverlord.
The young man truly believed he was unbeatable.
Aidan snickered.
The boy's appearance flashed in his mind. He could still remember the boy's eyes, expressive, hazel, almost too large for his face. The lighting was dim, blurring most of his facial features.
Curious now, Aidan tapped on the boy's profile picture.
A cartoon cat grinned devilishly back at him, complete with two red devil horns and a tiny pitchfork.
Ha! Childish.
Aidan took a sip from his wine glass, and unknowingly, his mood visibly lightened.
He tapped on the moments section, wanting to see the boy's face. But it was empty.
'Not too foolish.'
Aidan thought to himself. The boy had blocked him, not allowing him to see his moments.
His phone rang again.
"Yes?!" he snapped.
"Boss, the owner of that Bar called. Said Micah Ramsy will be there this Friday. Do you want to see him?"
His assistant, Alex Ford, asked
.
Aidan rolled his eyes, walking slowly toward his floor-to-ceiling window.
"What is there to see? He is just a waste, lending money to a gambler. Proceed with the plan."
Aidan said with disdain in his voice.
"Understood."
Aidan hung up the phone. His gaze swiped over at the night view of Isatis City in front of him. His reflection was visible faintly on the glass. Sharp jawline, tousled brown hair, and a four-day stubble that added to his careless elegance.
A smirk filled his handsome face.
Two years.
In just two years, he would solidify his position in the Wilson family. No more power struggles, no more mind games. Just total control. And once he had that, the road to success, to dominate the industry, would be as easy as eating pie.
Someone like Micah Ramsy, the young master of that famous high-tech family, was just a scapegoat for him to step on to fulfil his ambitions.
With his arrogant, prideful personality, manipulating him into incompetence was not that hard. Just feed his ego a bit, push him to waste money like an endless river, and drain his credibility to zero. It wouldn't be long before he would fall from grace, slowly, publicly. He would be forced into a corner.
This kind of person would do anything to save face, even sell information about his family business deals or core data to cover his past mistakes.
Aidan had seen many people like him. They could only see what was in front of them, not foreseeing the bigger picture.
Their big ego and shortsightedness would be their downfall.
When they completely fell into the trap, they would stab their family without even knowing.
Aidan scoffed. Some people were lucky enough to be born with silver spoons, but they were stupid enough to ruin their future and even their families.
Such a fool…
He didn't deserve to waste his time on him right now. For the next two years, he would be drained of all his money and resources.
And when Micah was desperate, cornered with no way out, he would appear, like the only light in a vast darkness, offering him encouragement and resources, gaining his trust.
And it would be easy. A soft whisper, a favour asked in return. A few files here, and a bit of data there. The core data of Ramsy's high-tech empire would be in Aidan's hands.
Someone as gullible as this young master surely would be over the moon, believing someone of his stature was approving of his talent and abilities.
Aidan lifted His glass and took a slow sip, savouring the rich taste of wine with a glint in his eyes.
He had crafted a perfect five-year plan, each step meticulously calculated. And he would not let anyone or anything sabotage his hard work.