Chapter 4: The Playboy Billionaire

Aiden stood in his room, thinking about the mark on her wrist, about the way Damien looked at her earlier, about the strange jealousy twisting inside him every time another man got too close to her.

It didn’t make sense. She was his little sister.

So why did the idea of another man touching her make him feel jealous? He pushed the thoughts away.

**********

The next morning, Evie woke to the sound of rain tapping against her bedroom windows.

For a few moments, she lay beneath her blankets, enjoying the rare peace that existed before the world remembered who she was.

She reached for her phone on the nightstand.

A notification immediately appeared.

BREAKING: Aiden Scott Spotted With Mystery Woman After Midnight Meeting

“Ugh!!” Evie groaned—another one. Every week is always something new with Aiden: another woman, another article, and a photograph. She was tired of it all. “Will Aiden ever look my way?” I have to make him look my way. She muttered to herself. 

She opened the article despite knowing she shouldn't. A grainy photo filled the screen.

Aiden was stepping out of a luxury hotel while a beautiful brunette followed behind him.

The headline practically screamed for attention.

THE PLAYBOY BILLIONAIRE STRIKES AGAIN

Evie rolled her eyes. The media loved painting Aiden as some reckless billionaire who spent his nights partying with models and actresses.

The truth was that most of the time, he was working, attending business events, or trapped in meetings that lasted longer than they should have.

But the scandal sold better than the facts.

And Aiden Scott generated more headlines than almost anyone in New York.

Another message appeared on her screen.

From Lila: Tell your brother that he is ruining my ability to focus in class.

 Evie laughed.

 A second later, a screenshot arrived. It was another photo of Aiden. This time from a business magazine.

The cover headline read: THE KING OF WALL STREET

He's unfairly attractive: Lila texted. 

That's not my fault:Evie replied 

Actually, it is, you have access to him, Lila said.

Evie shook her head and climbed out of bed. If Lila found out about her attraction and the bad thoughts she has towards her brother, will she judge me? I have to tell her either way. She thought to herself. 

 Some things never changed. Not Aiden's reputation. Not the media obsession. And definitely not people's reactions to him.

***********

By the time she arrived at Ravenwood University, the rain had stopped. Students crowded the walkways between buildings. The moment she stepped onto campus, she noticed people staring at their phones. Whispering.Laughing.

 One girl pointed at a headline. Another showed her friend a picture.

 Even from a distance, Evie knew exactly who they were talking about. Aiden, again.

 “He really is everywhere,” Lila said as she joined her.

“What happened now?”

 Lila held up her phone. Three different articles. Two interviews. One social media trend. All about Aiden.

Evie sighed. “Does the internet ever get tired?”

 “No.”

 “Fair.”

“Lila, I have something to tell you,” Evie told her

“About the guy you have a crush on?” Lila asked.

“Yeah, wait, how did you know?” 

Lila shrugged. 

“Please don't judge me,” Evie said to herself with pleading eyes.

“I won’t judge you, Evie. I will always be here for you.” Lila comforted her.

“Thank you, the thing is….. I have a crush on my brother.” Evie told her.

“I knew it.”

“What?” “How?”

“The way you look at him, the smile that comes to your face whenever you see his text. I knew long before, just waited for you to come clean to me.”

“Wow, so you don’t see anything wrong with it?”

“I do, but since it's your heart, follow it. The heart is never wrong.”

“Okay, thank you, Lila.” She hugged her tightly.

“You are welcome. Release me Evie, I can't breathe.”  “But you have a lot to tell me about your brother. “

“Opps,” Evie laughed. “Sure I will tell you, let's go to class.”

 As they walked, snippets of conversation drifted through the crowd.

 “Aiden Scott is so hot.”

 “I heard he dated a movie star.”

 “My cousin works at Scott Empire.”

 “He's worth billions.”

 “He changes girlfriends every month.”

 Evie kept walking. She spared them no glance.

 People loved creating stories about him. The billionaire. The Playboy. The ruthless CEO.

The man who apparently never slept. Very few people knew the version she knew.

The one who remembered her exam dates.

The one who brought her soup when she got sick.

The one who called every night when he travelled.

The real Aiden existed far away from magazine covers.

She loved how only she could see that side of Aiden.

Unfortunately, the world preferred the myth.

Hours later, Aiden sat at the head of a conference table forty stories above Manhattan. The boardroom was silent. Not because the discussion was over, but because nobody wanted to be the next person he questioned.

Aiden glanced at the quarterly report in front of him. “This projection is wrong.”

The chief financial officer swallowed. “We double-checked…”

“Check again.”

 The room fell silent. Aiden closed the file.

 His phone buzzed. Most people wouldn't dare check personal messages during a board meeting.

Aiden wasn't most people.

The screen lit up with a message from Evie.

 “Surviving your meetings?”

 Despite himself, he smiled. A tiny movement.Barely noticeable. Yet half the room immediately relaxed. Because a smiling Aiden Scott was significantly less terrifying than the alternative.

 Barely, I wish you were here angel: he replied.

Why? She asked.

 Aiden: I feel relaxed whenever you are with me, and with everything going on. I really need you here baby.

 Evie: I would love to come but I'm in class Aiden, don't worry I will make it up to you tonight. She said with an evil grin. I hope my plans work tonight she thought to herself.  Good luck. Don't scare anyone. 

Aiden looked around the table. Too late. 

Aiden: Okay angel, see you soon.

Across from him, Lucas Reed noticed the exchange. “Evie?” he asked.

Aiden didn't bother denying it.

 Lucas laughed.”Of course.”

The board members exchanged confused looks. None of them understood how New York's most an intimidating billionaire could become completely different whenever his sister was involved. And Aiden preferred it that way.

Some things belonged to him alone. Including family. Especially his angel.

He always has this attraction towards his sister but he thought it was just brotherly love not knowing it was something more.

Outside the glass walls of Scott Empire, the city continued moving.

News channels discussed his latest acquisition.

Social media argued about his personal life.

Investors watched his every move.  Millions of people thought they knew Aiden Scott. None of them did.

Because behind the headlines and wealth was a man carrying responsibilities most people never saw. A man who had built an empire. A man who trusted very few people.

 A man who would do almost anything to protect those he loved. And although New York knew him as the Playboy Billionaire…

The story behind Aiden Scott was far more complicated than anyone realised. And before long, the entire city would find that out the hard way.

 Back at the mansion, Evie was already planning how to carry out her first plan. “I hope this works out, fingers crossed.” She said hopefully.