Chapter 1

By the time Michael was twenty-five, he had the entire shipping business under his complete control. His father had no desire to be involved with  the business of shipping any further, to the point of wanting to sell off his interest. But Michael, the shrewd young man he was groomed to be, persuaded his father to entrust his share to him. Michael’s younger brother’s and sister’s interests were held in fiduciary trust. As far as the command of the fleet went, it was Michael who ruled over it without question. He began to travel the world over as he chose, and in his grandfather’s footsteps, collected the most beautiful and expensive  fabrics, goods and artifacts the world had to offer.

Michael’s  eye was cast toward America, and the moment he entered the New York Harbor  he instinctively knew America would be where he would center his  headquarters. He sailed to Boston where he acquired several large  warehouses, in which he stocked costly dyes, silken threads, delicately spun yarns, the softest leathers, the finest Spanish wools, looms from  India, silks and satins from China and the most exquisite rugs from Persia and extensively more, all to fill the appetites of the wealthy men and women on the east coast.

America bustled with the air of excitement, the type that nearly took Michael’s breath away, and the kind that stoked the excitement in his heart for the party and nightlife. Boston had men of means; and Michael attracted to himself men who were not fearful of taking chances. America was far, far away from the yoke of English rule and just loose enough for him to ‘live it up’ as he chose without English restraint breathing down his neck.

As wildly as Michael desired to conduct himself at times, he was not without the cleverness it took to hide the obstreperous side of himself from the eyes of others when he chose to. He could transform himself from the roguish appearance of a man bent upon no-good, to that of one who could project the image of a stylish statesman who commanded respect wherever he went.

His handsome looks drew the drivels of all the women he met, as well as those of the women who could only look upon him from afar. His sharp wit and charm seemed to beam in every direction at once. Men wanted to boost their status by association with him, and women gossiped amongst themselves about his attractiveness.

Michael desired the best for himself. He chose the best acquaintances of men who could enrich his golden chest of opportunities, those who would give in with ease under his bribing charm; and, he romanced women as though each one was the only flower on the tree, until he drew all the nectar from their hearts then tossed them aside with boredom. Thus, Michael went on pleasing himself year after year, for nearly half a decade.