Dark Hunger

"Neal Perry?" Owen asked with a frown. "Who is Neal Perry?" 

"I don't know!" The colleague shrugged. "Just hope that your jobs stay or there isn't a reshuffle, which I suspect there is going to be." 

Owen smirked and then left for his cabin. He wasn't bothered about the new development. After all, in a day or two, Caleb would send the money. He was as such planning on resigning. For the whole day, Owen didn't see his boss and so there was nothing much to do. In the evening, when he went home, he told Nessa about the company's decision. She was making dinner for both of them and also making extra snacks to carry with them on travel. When she heard about it, she laughed it off. "Let your company go to hell, my dear!" She hummed a song. 

Owen went to take a bath and when he came down to the living room, he sat at his laptop and out of curiosity found out who Neal Perry was. "I am hungry!" he called as he switched on his computer. 

Neal Perry was the right-hand man of Daryn Silver, the CEO of the Silver House and younger brother of Caleb Silver. "Fuck!" he rasped and continued to read about Neal's accomplishments. "Nessa!" he called his wife. "Look at this!" 

Nessa sauntered in the living room where he was and looked at the screen. She sat on the armrest and shock made her head dizzy when she saw who Neal Perry was. "Why would he do this?" she remarked. "Unless—" she whipped her head in Owen's direction. His wide eyes and pale face said it all. "Unless, they are targeting you. Does this mean that Caleb is behind the takeover?" 

"That is possible!" Owen breathed out, his body tingling with discomfort. He raked his fingers through his hair and then rubbed his hands over his face. 

"But what has taking over the company you are working in got to do with the ransom?" Nessa said, trying to figure out the relation between the two. 

Owen got up and started pacing the room. All his appetite vanished. "Should I go and meet this Neal Perry?" 

"And what will you say?" Nessa asked. 

"One thing is clear Nessa— Neal knows me very well. Otherwise, why would they come out of the blue to acquire the trading company I am working in?"

"So what if he knows you, Owen?" Nessa snapped. "How does it matter?"

Owen paced the room more. "I should go to him and threaten him before he comes to me," he said after careful thinking. 

"Threaten Neal? Are you mad? What if he doesn't know anything about you? What if this is just another acquisition of the Silver House?" Nessa countered. 

"This can't be a coincidence, Nessa," Owen reasoned. "I have to meet Neal Perry before it is too late." 

"Too late about what?" 

"What if we don't get the money and I lose my job?" he shuddered at the thought. "I have to secure one thing at least!" 

Nessa's eyes flew wide open. She adjusted her glasses on her nose as she shifted in her place with unease. All her dreams were about to shatter and what Owen said made sense. She nodded, as anxiety flooded her. "You should meet Neal Perry, but what are you going to tell him?" 

"Leave that to me!" he said and rushed upstairs to get dressed. He knew the hotel where the man was staying. 

Nessa followed him upstairs. In an angry voice she said, "Tell that bastard that if they don't pay us a hundred thousand pounds, we are going to complain to the police that Elize is missing and that we suspect that it is Caleb Silver who has abducted her." 

"But Nessa, Caleb is her husband. How can you accuse him of having abducted her?" he asked as he wore his shirt and pants. 

"Just threaten him with this, okay?" Nessa forced. "Tell him that if we don't get the money, we will reveal to the world that she thinks she is a vampire and is mad." 

Owen narrowed his eyes as he zipped his jacket. "Why don't you come with me, Nessa?" He dug out a folder of papers. 

"Okay!" she said. "Give me a minute!" She disappeared in the bathroom and when she came out, she was dressed in a yellow skirt and white shirt with a black jacket. She picked up one of her bags that she had bought for the money. "Let us go!" Soon they were on the road to the hotel where Neal was staying. 

Owen parked the car and before he could stop the ignition, Nessa had jumped out and was on her way to the reception of the hotel. Owen darted to her and stopped her. "Do you think they would simply give the identity of their guest?" Nessa looked at him with frustration. "Wait, let me do something!" 

He took the folder of papers in his hand and walked to the receptionist with poise. "I have an appointment with Mr. Neal Perry." Owen gave his name to him. "I was asked by my Director to give these statistics about the company to him personally." 

The receptionist frowned and then called the room. When he placed the phone back on the receiver he said, "Mr. Perry would like to see you." 

Owen suppressed his smile and then strode to Neal's room. 

"That was quick!" Nessa commented. 

"See? That's why I am telling you that something is fishy." They hurried to the lift and pressed the button of the suite. 

When the door of the room opened, Owen found himself looking at a man who was slightly bald and was not more than five feet ten inches. But he had a muscular body that was well hidden beneath a blue shirt and black pants. "Hello Owen," said Neal and extended his hand for a handshake. A cold handshake later, Owen and Nessa entered the suite. 

Neal walked to the bar where he poured scotch for himself and Owen in crystal and asked Nessa if she would also like to have. She shook her head, feeling mesmerized by the werewolf standing in front of them. Neal handed the crystal to Owen and said, "What can I do for you?" His manners were too polished. There was not a modicum of tackiness about him. He was so calm that it almost felt dangerous. Neal leaned back on his sofa and tilted his head, waiting for them to speak. 

Owen started. "So, you already know that I am Elize's brother." 

"Of course!" Neal chuckled. "Why else would I let you come to my suite?" He meant that it was because of Elize that Owen was having the honor of meeting him.

"Why are you here?" Nessa asked, impatient as hell. 

Neal swirled the scotch in his glass. He took a sip and said, "To take over the company you are working in. And don't ask stupid questions. You already know that, don't you?" He felt the warmth of the amber liquid down his throat as he watched the couple. 

"I know it isn't a coincidence that you have come to acquire the company I am working in!" Owen snarled. 

Neal leaned forward. "You give too much importance to yourself, Owen.. But you are nothing more than a fly for me."