Chapter 2 – CEO Rex’s Dilemma

"It has almost been a year," CEO Rex murmured, looking out of the floor-to-ceiling glass window of his cabin. The cabin was enormous, boasting a full 360-degrees view of the City of Light. It was rumoured that anyone who had the privilege to see the view from CEO Rex's cabin would fall in love with the City of Light.

There was some truth to the rumour, since the cabin was located on the topmost floor of the tallest skyscraper in the City of Light. In fact, it not really a 'cabin' at all. CEO Rex had the entire floor to himself, and what he called his 'cabin' was actually the glass outer circle of the top floor. Within this, was another circle, with black marble walls. This contained everything an apartment should have – a bedroom, a guestroom, a kitchen, two bathrooms, a walk-in wardrobe, a kitchen, a dining room and a living room. On the days when CEO Rex was too busy to go home, he lived here. More often than not, his Executive Assistant also stayed in the guestroom. Within this second circle, there lay a third one, which was simply a circular corridor with cream walls and display shelves, filled with odds and ends from every corner of the world. From a seashell worth half a penny to a painting worth billions – the collection was as eclectic as its owner. And finally, there was the central sphere, which had two elevators, a waiting area and two meeting rooms. Of the elevators, one was directly connected to the deepest level of the basement where three of CEO Rex's cars were always ready to move, and the other was connected to the floor below, where the top management of the Zephyr Business Group had their cabins. It was the only way for a visitor to come up and meet CEO Rex. A tunnel like corridor, set in a straight line, connected the inner sphere to the outside glass cabin. The access to the second and third circles required a retinal scan and voice command of CEO Rex. It was said that other than CEO Rex's grandfather, who was his only living relative, and his Executive Assistant Ao, who was the son of his grandfather's butler and had been groomed to be by his side from a very young age, no one had ever stepped into the second and third circles.

That last part would have been true until a year ago. Currently, there were six more men who had been inside, and even stayed over. These were the very same six men CEO Rex had invited for his midnight rendezvous this evening.

"Have you decided which one you wish to marry?" Executive Assistant Ao asked quietly.

CEO Rex sighed heavily. "I have made a decision," he murmured. "I just don't know if it's the right one." He looked up at his childhood friend and his most capable employee. "What do you think I should do, Ao?"

Executive Assistant Ao looked away. He had immense respect for CEO Rex's grandfather, the semi-retired President of the Zephyr Business Group. The old man had lost his wife, his only son and his daughter-in-law in an accident many years ago, leaving him with a three-year-old Rex. However, the old man had not only taken the family's business empire from being a domestic player to a dominant international position, but had also single-handedly brought up Rex, giving him the love and affection and learning of a grandparent, a parent and a mentor. Under his guardianship and guidance, Rex had bloomed from a traumatised little child to a charming, confident young man with worldwide fame no less than that of a celebrity.

CEO Rex was a very attractive young man, currently twenty seven years old. He was tall and slim, with a headful of dark, unruly curls, giving him a rakish charm. With a straight, aristocratic nose and a pair of unusual dark, liquid eyes, which seemed like pools of molten gold when light hit them at a certain angle and a mischievous, crooked smile that instantly drew people to him, it was no wonder that he was often referred to as the most eligible bachelor on the planet. Countless men and women wanted to gain his favour, but CEO Rex had neither been interested nor been tempted. His only romantic experience had been during his college days, and that had been an unmitigated disaster.

After that miserable experience, for the rest of Rex's college days, Ao had stayed with him. Thanks to Ao hovering around Rex like a mother hen, no one had dared to approach Rex again, and Rex himself seemed to have washed his hands off any romantic entanglements.

However, Rex's grandfather had become increasingly worried about Rex's ascetic lifestyle as he grew older. And thus, soon after Rex's twenty seventh birthday, he had issued an ultimatum – before Rex turned twenty eight, he had to find himself a suitable partner and get engaged, or he would lose his position as the CEO of the Zephyr Business Group.

And much as Ao respected the old man, he felt that such a condition was really unfair for Rex, who had poured his heart and soul into the Zephyr Business Group, bringing up its ranking within the top three in the world in just five years!

Rex had naturally been in a dilemma, but this time, he had taken a very logical and structured approach to the matter of finding a partner. He had shortlisted six potential candidates, and he had spent ample time with all six in the last eleven months. He had not yet managed to choose one, though. And therein lay his dilemma.

These six people, however, were excellent and outstanding men – smart, successful and genuinely affectionate towards Rex. Even Ao, the mother hen, approved of their attitude towards Rex, and started allowing Rex to go on private dates with them after the initial scrutiny period of two months.

Ao shook his head. The one year period was nearly up. Rex's birthday was next week.

"What do you think, Ao?" Rex pressed.

Ao sighed. "All six of them are good men," he said finally. "No matter which one you choose, I'm sure they'll keep you happy." His blue eyes hardened. "If they don't, they'll answer to me."

Rex finally smiled.