Predators' Prey

Chapter 4

Stepping out of the taxi, Ailey scanned her environment for her mother's helper. "Very nice of me not get a name or a picture" she mummured to herself.

She quickly dialed her mother's number to get further info on the man but she turned and saw her boss standing in front of the marriage registration bureau.

"That should be Mr. Damien Voss. I wonder what he is doing here" she thought

She ended the call without thinking and turned to walk towards him.

"Good morning Mr. Voss" she greeted with a smile

Looking at her and thinking briefly he replied "Good morning. Let's get this done with"

"Done with?" she mummured as she watched him march into the office with Liam waiting for her to join him.

Turning to look behind her, there was nobody behind her, the helper was nowhere to be found, so she walked into the office not really sure what she was doing. At the point,she was not really feeling anything but she knew, at the back of her mind, things are going to change.

Some minutes later, she walked out with a signed marriage certificate in her hands. She was now Mrs. Voss. So easy, with ease she got into the Voss family. She did not know how to feel. The emotions were mixed up. She was happy, evident in the wide grin on her face, she was scared of what she would encounter as Mrs. Voss, evident in the loud pounding in her hearts, conflicted on if she would be able to complete her mission and leave in one piece. Either way, she had to act accordingly.

"Here is the money" Liam handed her an envelop filled with money. then Mr. Voss continued "I'm sure Miss Tammy would have walked you through everything seeing as she had loved you from the first day you entered the office.. My chaffeaur will come pick you up tomorrow morning by 8am to our house as a married couple..." he tucked his hands into his pants pocket and fixed his eyes intensely on hers. he could not look away. As if being drawn in by the sea waves, she felt like she was drowning and she could do nothing to save herself. Not until he looked away was she pulled back to reality, she did not know when she started breathing heavily.

"I'm in deep mess" she muttered as she watched him stride off with Liam behind him. Liam opened the passenger door and he went in, he closed the door then opened the driver's side door and went in. They soon zoomed off leaving the dust with her.

ring ring ring

"Hello" she called without checking the caller's name

"Nice one mi amore. I see what you have done there" he chuckled while trying to cover his fast breathing at the background. "I always say, of all my apprentices, you are always full of pleasant surprises. You know that is why I love you right?" he asked

She could hear a female's whining voice over the phone. She considered herself lucky because, although he went about calling her so many endearing names, said so much vulgar and s****l words to her, he has never acted on it.

So ignoring it, she replied "There's more where that came from so stay tuned"

She earned a boisterous from him. "Very good. I'm watching, let's see what is next" then he ended the call

Without enough time to put the phone into her bag, she saw a young dainty lady get out of a cab and rush into the marriage registration bureau while scanning her environment for something or someone before rushing inside. Not really minding her environment, she put her phone and marriage certificate into her bag as well as the envelop of money she got.

"Anyways, I still got money for my mother" she chuckled. then she called a cab and got in.

Before she left, she saw the lady that rushed in previously, tapped the shoulder of a man that just walked in there. He gave her an envelop and she smiled shyly while getting it then he said something to her, held her hands and walked into the marriage registrar's office

"Somethings are just meant to happen the way they do. No hard feelings" she muttered before looking away.

"Ailey Hobbs!"

When she heard that strong demanding tone, she knew it was her ever so loving superior about to scold her for coming in late

"Good afternoon Miss Voss" she greeted. Although a distant relative to the Voss family, she preferred to be addressed as Miss Voss, so why not.

"What is good about this afternoon?" she frowned. "Can you give me a valid reason as to why you clock in by 10am?" she demanded with folded arms

"I was busy getting married to your boss" she thought to herself but "I called in earlier to take excuse" was what she said

"I am your boss, who did you take excuse from?"

"I asked Randy to help me take the excuse"

"Randy? Who is Randy? the effontery of all these interns. Today, dealing with the absence of the arts appraiser, nobody paid much attention to the AI department but trust me, this won't go unpunished." With a huff, she turned to leave but Ailey heard her mummer "where do i have to find an arts appraiser in 20 minutes before i get fired"

"In as much as I don't care if you are fired, I think this is the opportunity i need" Ailey quickly calculated and before her superior entered the office, she called out "Miss Voss, I can do it"

She stopped at the door, turned around to stare at her. "Do I look like i'm in need of a joke intern?" she sneered

"No, but I can appraise it"

"If you do not get out of my sight, i cannot guarantee you will remain an intern tomorrow" she said through gritted teeth.

Knowing that she was already not ina good mood, she used a different approach "I know you do not believe or trust me but either way, you need an art appraiser. I can check it out, while you search for a genuine appraiser and if his result is different from mine, then you can actually stop my internship."

Voss Empire is one of the biggest company in the country. no one, after succeeding to intern at the company would gamble it away except her words are genuine or she is a fool and she would want to believe it is the first option. even if it turns out to be the second option, she would buy time to find a real arts appraiser and later get rid of a fool in the company.

"Follow me" she turned and walked away from her office, down the long hall to the elevator

"The Voss family has accumulated lots of art piece over the years. The Adams family is having a union with the ................... family and they have sent us an invitation to participate in an auction for charity that would take place during the reception. The Voss family partriach has said to give out one of the art piece they own but they need an appraiser to make sure the piece is not fake to avoid any misunderstanding in the future. That is now where you come in. I hope you understand what you are to do?" the explanation lasted from when they entered the elevator till they got to the room where the art was kept.

"Yes, I know" she answered confidently

"In any case you do not know what to do,, delay the appraisal till i get back with another art appraiser"

"Don't worry miss Voss, I've got you covered" was her last reply when the door was opened.

In front of her was a big room but only a glass table stood at the center and on it was something, probably the art piece, covered in a white cloth

She noticed three men on suit walking about but stopped on registering her presence. Damien, the only person seated, was also present with Liam.

As she stepped into the room, she noticed Daamien'os nose flare up. He got up from the seat and strode towards her.

"Why is this woman here?" he demanded whilst staring at miss Voss

"The art appraiser is absent and she volunteered saying she is an art appraiser as well. But while she is checking it out, I will go out to find someone else to confirm whatever decision she has made" she hurriedly explained as she continuously wiped her sweaty palms on her jean trouser, her voice, as soft as water droplet in a pool.

"And you believed this woman?" he could not help asking

For some reasons, he did not know if this woman's sudden appearance is normal, coincidental or staged. Was she even trust worthy? What AI expert is an art appraiser as well? he though to himself.

He turned to stare at her deeply. A second time in a day. "Who really are you?" he asked her

"I am Ailey Hobbs, intern at Voss Empire, I also have high knowledge in art appraisal because I have 5 years of study and experience in the field" she found herself saying .

"I will give you a chance" he raised his brows spotting a dangerous smirk on his face "Spoil anything and I promise your life will be spoilt just like it"

He went back to his seat but his eyes never strayed from her.

taking a deep breath in and out, she walked into the room then she heard the doors shut behind her and she was syure miss Voss was no longer in that room.

She went up to the table, uncovered it and came face to face with the most beautiful art piece she had never seen before. The art forger in her begged to be let loose while she battled with herself to hide the ecstacy almost pouring from her eyes.

"Do you know what to do?" she heard his voice just behind her. The voice carried all the restrainst she needed to concentrate and start her work here