2024-04-26 06:52:28The detective would cough blood in anger if he heard how the old man referred to him. “Aiden Romanov. That’s my name” Aiden smiled, for years he had been searching for his true identity, even though he had limited means.
“I’m Lorenzo Romanov, the CEO and chairman of Romanov conglomerate.” Aiden was stunned, he blinked his eyes a few times. Even though he didn’t watch the news, Aiden had heard a few things about the prestigious families in New York, with Romanov as the number one.“Cool right?” The old man laughed in happiness, seeing the stunned expression on his grandson’s face. “I guess that’s why he needs a lot of bodyguards.” Aiden thought out loud, seeing the darkened expression on Lorenzo’s face, he gasped. “Oops. I didn’t mean-”“You brat!” Lorenzo was fuming as he got to his feet. “Since I’ve found you, I can now retire to my private island and leave all the responsibilities to you.” The way Lorenzo’s expression could change in seconds amused Aiden.One minute he could be burning in rage, the next, he’s grinning like a fool. Just like that moment. “All I have to do is eat and sleep, I don’t have to worry about the company since this brat is here to take care of it.”Aiden was well aware that the Romanov conglomerate is made up of a chain of different businesses and companies. “You are not thinking of leaving all that work to me, right?”“What do you think? Wait till I inform the board of directors tomorrow. Those old fools would mourn, that that crazy old friend of mine, what’s his name, yeah! Kohler. Adam Kohler, I can’t wait to inform him that I’ve found the perfect heir. He would turn red in anger.” The old man kept talking to no one in particular, grinning at his inward thoughts. “Listen old man, I know nothing about running a business and you sure are not going to dump all your responsibilities on me.” Aiden commented exasperatedly.“Says who? It’s goodbye to my responsibility and hello retirement. I need to create a bucket list.”“You need a bucket list?” Aiden resisted the urge to roll his eyes.“Of course. Everyone has one, don’t you?”Aiden shook his head. “I never had a need for it.”“Ha! You snooze you lose.”“Old man is there anything else I need to be aware of?”“You have a brother.”“I have a brother?”“No need to worry about that brat, he’s adopted. The conglomerate still goes to you since you are my grandson.”Aiden shook his head, he was about to respond when a soft voice reached his hearing. “Daddy?” In the middle of the conversation, Zia was woken up by Lorenzo’s loud voice, she approached the living room but was too scared to go any further because of the bodyguards.“Sweetie, come here,” Aiden stood up and gestured to her with open arms. Zia ran to him as fast as she could and Aiden carried her before giving her a proper hug. “Eh, who did you steal this cute child from?” Lorenzo circled around the father and daughter pair, Zia shrunk into her father’s arms, hiding her face shyly. “Old man, this is my daughter. I didn’t steal her from anyone.”“I have another descendant!” The man burst into boisterous laughter. “Come here, let this old man give you a kiss.” He stretched out his arms in a bid to carry Zia.“Old man, don’t even think about it.” Aiden warned him, he held onto Zia tightly and stepped out of the man’s grasp.“What? I haven’t even punished you for making this old bones get tired from looking for and now you don’t want me to acknowledge my great grandchild?” He sniffed, before wiping tears from his eyes. “How can you be so mean to this old man?” Lorenzo returned to his seat. If business associate related to Lorenzo were to be present, they would be stunned silly by his act. His presence alone could cause employees to quake in their boots but here he was, acting like an aggrieved child. Aiden had no choice but to give in, he whispered into Zia’s ear before carefully dropping her, worried that she might break if he used too much strength.Zia looked at the old man with curiosity before approaching him, “Grandpa, do not cry.” She gently tilted her head to the side, one of her index fingers in her mouth as she smiled. Her expression was so cute. Even the bodyguards who were looking away indifferently, ignoring their master’s tantrums were moved by Zia’s childish appearance.“Grandpa won’t cry.” Lorenzo hurriedly wiped his face tears, he was ever excited but tried to restrain himself from grinning too much. “What is your name?” Lorenzo leaned to the young girl’s height, patting her head gently.“My name is Zia, I am five.” Zia made a display of counting her fingers to prove her words.Lorenzo started laughing again, he brought out a few items from his pocket. “You are so cute, let grandpa give you a gift. Pick your choice.” Of course he didn’t have chocolates in his pocket, but credit cards.Aiden’s eyes widened in surprise, Lorenzo had brought out seven cards with three different colors. Black, purple and platinum gold. The three card colors had different cash limit, with Platinum gold being the highest. Zia was attracted to one of the purple cards and immediately picked it. “Pretty!”“That’s my great grandchild. This color suits you perfectly.”“Old man, how come I don’t get to have a pick?” Aiden inquired.“You unfilial brat! You still address me as old man, what do you expect!” Lorenzo completely ignored Aiden and focused on Zia who was more interested in the card. “Finally, my family has a princess, a really cute one. I would see how that old man Adam would brag about his granddaughters. I would make sure he forks out a lot of presents for my family’s princess.”“ Since when did Zia become your family’s Princess?, she is still my daughter.” Aiden couldn’t help but tease the old man.“You! You- Do you want to anger me to death?”
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The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter Eleven
Walking through the exquisite halls of the mall, Aiden trailed behind the attendant, who led him to the private room where he would be selecting a jade bracelet for Zia. His heart pounded with a mix of pride and defiance. Amelia and her aunt had humiliated him just moments ago, their eyes gleaming with the cruel certainty that he couldn’t afford anything from these high-end stores. They weren't wrong, of course. Aiden couldn't actually afford anything there; in fact, he was still in awe of everything himself. He replayed the scene in his mind. Amelia's condescending smirk and her aunt’s derisive laughter vanished the moment he held out the platinum gold card. For once, he felt a surge of pride. It wasn't just about the money; it was about proving them wrong, about showing them that he wasn't as worthless as they had believed. He could almost hear the echo of Amelia's gasp, see the disbelief etched into her face. She hadn’t expected this. She never did. But now, at least this once,
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter twelve
The lady who had admired Aiden earlier spoke again, her voice filled with admiration. “I think I’m already in love with him.” Aiden said nothing, letting their whispers wash over him as he followed Lorenzo. For the first time, he felt special, seen in a way he never had before. It was a stark contrast to the closest thing to feeling special he had known—serving drinks at the bar, where customers looked up to him to be served. But this, this was different. It was powerful, being defended and valued by someone like Lorenzo. They turned the corner and headed back towards the private room where Amelia and her aunt were waiting. Lorenzo’s presence was like a force of nature, commanding attention and respect. Aiden could feel the weight of every eye on them as they walked, a mixture of curiosity and fear for what he was capable of doing next. As they approached the room, Lorenzo’s pace quickened. He pushed the door open with a force that made it swing back on its hinges and stormed ins
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter thirteen
"No, son, just gather whatever you have and join us in the car. We're going home, where you belong," Lorenzo said firmly. Aiden wanted to insist on staying in the apartment with Zia, not wanting to subject them to a life they had just escaped. But with all the guards around and Zia in Lorenzo's care, any attempt to resist would be futile. He didn’t want to do anything stupid. He turned towards the apartment and grabbed the luggage he had brought in a few days ago, gathered Zia’s medications, and some snacks from the grocery bag they had received. On his way out, he dropped the fresh perishable supplies at the doorstep of one of his old neighbors who doubled as their gardener. The guards took the luggage from him to the car, and one hurried to open the car door for him to step in. It all looked like a dream too good to be true. As it was getting late, Aiden asked that they stop somewhere for dinner so Zia could eat and take her medication, anticipating that she would already be as
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter fourteen
"It's fine, I had only just arrived," Aiden replied. "We have been assigned to take care of Zia from now on relax and give orders we are always at your service. Her room has already been prepared, and I hope it meets your approval," the chief maid continued, her face bowed to the ground. "Oh no, there would be no need for that. I would rather stay close to my daughter here," Aiden responded. Before he realized what was happening, she went on her knees, and the others followed suit. "The Grand Patriarch will not let us off if he realizes that his efforts to make his granddaughter comfortable were in vain. Please, at least come and see the room. Anything you need changed or repositioned will be done right away so that she can comfortably rest for the night," she pleaded. Aiden helped her to her feet. "Lead the way," he said. He could see the excitement in her as she hurried to another door some distance away from his, demarcated by a corridor lined with beautiful indoor plants an
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter fifteen
Aiden sighed, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. “I had tried so hard to make it work, for Zia’s sake, but it only made it worse.” Lorenzo reached across the desk, taking Aiden's hand. “I can only imagine what you went through all those years. I will make sure they pay in my own way. You don’t have to worry about caring for Zia alone anymore, Aiden. Here you have me to help you protect Zia and give her the life she deserves.” Aiden nodded, feeling a sense of relief. “Thank you, g-grandfather,” he stammered, still getting used to calling him Grandfather. Lorenzo smiled, a warmth in his eyes that Aiden hadn’t seen before. “We’re family, Aiden. And family sticks together. Now let me answer some of your questions.” Patriarch Lorenzo's study was filled with the ambient glow of a warm evening, the golden light spilling through the tall windows. Lorenzo leaned back in his chair, reached into a drawer, and pulled out a worn leather-bound photo album, its edges frayed with age. He
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter sixteen
Aiden began, "To be very honest, personally, I do not know anything about running a business, let alone a business as large as the ones you have built. The closest I have come to running a business is the bar. So if Zain and Bryden can handle it, I think you should let them do it." "Everything can be learned," Lorenzo countered. "Besides, this is your birthright. You cannot just toss it away over some lame excuse. There are systems in place already; all you need to do is follow my directives when you need assistance while you enroll in business school. You'll see that it's not that difficult." "I hope I can be all that you hope for me to be without letting you down," Aiden said. "I am convinced you will be," Lorenzo replied. "We also need to identify the traitor in our midst. Whoever orchestrated this has been hiding in the shadows for too long, and I need them brought to light." Aiden nodded. "How do we start?" "We begin by looking at who had the most to gain from their deaths,"
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter seventeen
Aiden handed Zia the smartwatch that the guards had given him and explained how to use it if she ever felt in danger. She nodded seriously, then hugged him tightly. “I love you, Daddy.” “I love you too, Zia,” he said, his heart swelling with pride and love. He then returned to his room to get ready for the day. Staring into the mirror, Aiden punched his face lightly to ensure he wasn’t dreaming. He couldn’t believe he was wearing an Armani suit, just like those people he had admired from afar. His closet was filled with luxury accessories—from wristwatches to belts, shoes, and more. Each item seemed to be a different expression of wealth and status, and there were so many that he doubted he’d ever wear them all. A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. It was the chief guard assigned to him. “Your grandfather is ready and wants to know if you are,” the guard said. “I’m ready,” Aiden replied, adjusting his suit. The guard looked at his wrist. “What happened to your smartwatch
The formidable Aiden Romanov Chapter Eighteen
Before Zain could respond, Bryden, who had been silently fuming, interjected. “Grandfather, I understand your kind intentions, but even if it turns out that Aiden is indeed a Romanov, he wouldn’t even know our business establishments, let alone be able to manage them successfully. You should reconsider your decision.” Lorenzo’s voice was firm. “I have made my decision, Bryden. There will be no changing it, especially as I look forward to retiring soon.” The room fell silent, waiting to see if anyone else would speak up. No one did. Lorenzo nodded, satisfied, and adjourned the meeting. He motioned for Aiden to follow him, and they, along with a few guards, headed to his office. As they walked through the opulent halls, Lorenzo glanced at Aiden. “You handled that well, Aiden. I know it wasn’t easy.” “Thank you, Grandfather. I have to admit, I was nervous,” Aiden replied, still reeling from the confrontation. “That’s understandable,” Lorenzo said as they entered his office. “But you
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chapter 119
Aiden leaned over the table in the safehouse, his fingers tracing the map spread out before him. The docks, the industrial warehouses, and the surrounding areas were marked with pins and annotations. The intel about the upcoming shipment was either a trap or an opportunity. Either way, Aiden couldn’t ignore it. "Here’s the play," he began, his voice low but commanding. His team—James, Katarina, and the rest of the crew—listened intently. "We’ll let Orlov think we’re taking the bait. If it’s a real shipment, we hit it hard and cripple his supply chain. If it’s a trap, we spring it on our terms." Katarina crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "And how do we ensure it doesn’t blow up in our faces? Orlov’s not stupid—he knows you’ll come for this." Aiden met her gaze, his voice steady. "That’s why we don’t go for the shipment directly. We use decoys. James, you and a small team will run a fake assault on the main route. Make it loud enough to draw their attention." James nod
Chapter 118
The command center hummed with quiet efficiency. Monitors displayed live feeds from across the city: surveillance cameras, drone footage, and intercepted communications. Orlov paced in front of the largest screen, his mind whirring with strategy. The explosion at the docks had sent a clear message, but it wasn’t enough. Aiden Romanov had survived worse, and Orlov knew his opponent well enough to anticipate retaliation. He turned to Viktor, who was reviewing the list of assets and potential targets. "We need to force Romanov into a position where he can’t think clearly. Fear, Viktor, is the greatest weapon. And Romanov’s greatest fear lies not in losing a fight but in losing the people he loves." Viktor hesitated. "You mean Silvana and the child?" Orlov’s smirk was cold. "Precisely. They are his Achilles’ heel. Romanov thrives on control, and nothing shatters control like the threat of harm to those he holds dear."He motioned for one of his tech operatives to step forward. The
Chapter 117
The docks loomed ahead, shrouded in fog and silence. Aiden led his team through the maze of shipping containers, his senses heightened by the tension in the air. Every creak of the metal structures, every distant clang of a crane, felt amplified as if the night itself were holding its breath. “Comms check,” Aiden whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the distant waves. “All clear,” James responded, perched on a container with his laptop, hacking into the dock’s security feeds. “Moving into position,” Katarina added, her tone calm yet charged with anticipation. She was leading the diversion team to draw Orlov’s men away from the cargo ship. Aiden’s team consisted of himself, James, and Nikolai—though Aiden still harbored doubts about Nikolai’s loyalty. His gut told him to keep a close eye on the man, but for now, he needed every hand he could get. They reached the edge of the dock, where the cargo ship loomed like a dark behemoth. Its lights were dim, the shad
Chapter 116
Aiden stood in the war room, a somber expression on his face as he traced his finger over a map of Orlov’s known operations. The team gathered around him, their wounds still fresh from the recent ambush. The air was thick with tension, but it was laced with determination. “We’ve been on the back foot for too long,” Aiden began, his voice steady but laced with anger. “Orlov thinks he’s outplayed us, but this time, we’re going to be the ones setting the trap.” James leaned forward, his laptop open. “We’ve mapped out his network,” he said, pulling up a web of interconnected nodes. “This command center he lured us to—it’s not his primary base. He has a second, more fortified location near the docks.” Katarina crossed her arms, her sharp eyes scanning the map. “So, we hit the docks? Or is that another trap?” Aiden shook his head. “If Orlov is there, we can’t wait for confirmation. We’ll need to move with precision, but not without a plan to cover every possibility. We’re done walki
chapter 115
Orlov paced the dimly lit chamber of his backup command center, the faint hum of machinery filling the air. His failure to trap Aiden at the warehouse had stung more than he was willing to admit. The man had always been resourceful, but this level of persistence, this sharpness, felt almost personal. His top lieutenant, Viktor, stood nearby, reviewing the aftermath reports. "They hit us hard, sir," Viktor said, his voice carefully measured. "We lost critical supplies and several high-ranking men. The team was swift and precise, like they knew our movements beforehand." Orlov's jaw tightened. "Of course, they knew," he muttered, his voice like venom. "Romanov has someone feeding him information. It's the only explanation." He slammed his fist onto the table, rattling the nearby monitors. "This ends now," he hissed. "Enough of these games. If Romanov wants to hunt me, I’ll make him regret it. We’ll hit him where it hurts most." Viktor hesitated. "What are you suggesting, sir?"
Chapter 114
Orlov was silent as he stared at the monitors in his command center. The live footage of the chaos caused by Aiden and his team flickered on the screens before him. His guards lay incapacitated, his carefully constructed defenses breached, and his lower-level systems compromised. The calm exterior he maintained belied the storm brewing beneath the surface.His lieutenant, Viktor, stood beside him, rigid and uneasy. “They’ve crippled our lockdown protocols,” Viktor said cautiously. “Our communications are exposed, and our tactical advantage has been diminished.”Orlov turned slowly, his cold eyes locking onto Viktor. “Diminished, but not lost,” he said, his voice icy yet calm. “Aiden Romanov and his merry band of fools have underestimated what happens when you provoke a wounded animal.”He leaned against the edge of the table, his fingers steepled in thought. The tension in the room was palpable as he calculated his next move. Then, with chilling resolve, he issued his commands.“Activ
Chapter 113
The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the glowing screens of laptops and tablets spread across the table. Aiden leaned forward, studying the holographic blueprint of Orlov’s command center. The building was a fortress, surrounded by high walls, multiple guard posts, and an advanced surveillance system. “This is insane,” Silvana said, her voice heavy with concern. “There’s no way we can get in without setting off every alarm in the city.” “We’re not going in through the front door,” Aiden replied, his tone resolute. “Orlov’s security is focused on keeping threats out, but every system has a weak point. We just have to find it.” Katarina, seated to his left, pointed to the blueprint. “What about the ventilation shafts? They’re narrow, but they could provide a way in.” “Too risky,” James said, his voice crackling through the comms. “Orlov’s likely installed motion sensors and heat detectors in the vents. You’d be caught before you made it ten feet.” Aiden
Chapter 112
The warehouse exploded in a fiery cascade, sending shockwaves through the surrounding industrial district. Aiden and his team were already several blocks away, hidden in the shadows of an abandoned alley. The force of the blast lit up the night sky, and the sound of sirens in the distance signaled the authorities were on their way. Aiden crouched behind a rusted dumpster, catching his breath. His heart pounded against his chest as he glanced at Silvana, who was busy wiping soot from her face. Katarina leaned against the wall, her expression grim, while Nikolai kept a wary eye on the road. “That was... louder than expected,” Silvana muttered, adjusting her comms. “It had to be,” Aiden replied, his voice steady but low. “We needed to send Orlov a message—and buy ourselves time.” Katarina let out a sharp breath, tossing her empty pistol magazine to the ground. “We sent a message, alright. But now Orlov knows we’re targeting his supply lines. He’ll retaliate, and it won’t be subtl
Chapter 111
Aiden paced back and forth in the dimly lit warehouse where Nikolai had parked the decoy truck. The air smelled of rust and oil, and the flickering fluorescent lights above cast long, restless shadows across the room. Silvana and Katarina stood nearby, sifting through the contents of the crates with grim determination. “This doesn’t add up,” Aiden muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Why would Orlov risk exposing these weapons just to throw us off? There has to be something we’re missing.” “He’s stalling us,” Katarina said, her voice sharp. She tapped the lid of one crate with the butt of her gun. “This whole thing is too clean. There’s no tracking, no additional intel—nothing that ties these weapons back to his bigger operations.” Silvana nodded, holding up what looked like a blueprint for the weapon designs. “These are prototypes. High-tech, yes, but not functional. Orlov’s pulling a bait-and-switch.” Nikolai, leaning against the truck, crossed his arms defensively. “
