TB, I agree. As I posted above, regardless of predestination, Michael was susceptible to the intoxicating effect of power. He did not accept his father's guidance, he seemingly estranged himself to a large degree from his family (not just from his family's business) and, as the novel states, he enjoyed the icy chill that accompanied his hiding of his true feelings. Power ... that's what all of that was about: he was in control.