Dark Hunger

Fury exploded in Owen's chest. "I may be a fly to you, but an irritating one." He couldn't believe that he had prepared the data sheets of his company for the man sitting in front of him. "I know that you have come here to take revenge from me because we don't want Elize to be with us anymore."

"Ah I see," Neal replied very calmly. "But you may be right. Elize is part of the Silver House now, so yes everything against her will be taken personally. Taking over this company is actually a statement by our CEO Daryn Silver that no one messes with his family. Or did you think that this company is even up to our mark for Silver House? If we acquire it, it would perhaps be the lowest as fast as making money is concerned." He swirled his scotch once again. "And once we buy it, we have plans…" 

Owen clenched his teeth so hard that they hurt. "Now that it is established that you are here because you want to take revenge from me, then we better discuss the raw part." 

"Sure," Neal shrugged and scoffed. "That's why I was born." 

"So, Mr. Neal Perry, if you think of throwing me out of the company, then I will be left with no choice but to go and complain to the police that Elize is missing. And add that we suspect that Caleb is behind her abduction." Owen widened his legs in a more relaxed stance knowing very well that the Silver House would hate to go to the police. 

"Do you mean that if you stay in the company, you won't go and tell it all to the police?" Neal asked with a raised eyebrow and a curious mien. 

Owen chuckled. "Hell no! There is no guarantee. You have to give me a hundred thousand pounds every year to keep my mouth shut." He couldn't believe that he had struck a better deal. He will even have the job and they would have to give him the money as well. "If you don't agree to my demands, I am going to announce on TV that my sister is deranged because she thinks that she is a vampire and will launch a manhunt for her. Once I catch her, I will put her in a mental asylum and then Caleb would never be able to see her. Over here in Yorkshire, I am her guardian after our father's death." He relaxed back on the sofa even though on the inside he was too excited. He knew that Nessa was perhaps going to give him a great hug and sex after this. 

A long moment of silence followed in which Neal appeared to have got lost in his thoughts. He drank the entire scotch and then got up to pour some more for him. When he returned, he sat on the sofa and crossed his legs. "Is there anything more to add to your demands?" he asked in a quiet voice. 

Owen knew that the man had given into his demands. "There is nothing more," he replied. "We will be happy in only this much. However, you have to give us the first installment of money by tomorrow. If you won't, we will go to the police." 

Neal nodded. He sat back on the sofa and relaxed his hand over the armrest. After taking a large swig he said, "Then do what you feel like." 

Owen's eyes flew wide and his mouth fell to the floor. Flustered, he looked at Nessa who was looking just as confused. Nessa said, "Excuse me, what?" 

"I said that, do what you feel like," Neal shrugged. "You want to go to the police, be my guest. You want to complain about Elize, then go ahead. In fact, let's be fair on this. How about I accompany you to the police station?" 

"Are you fucking mad?" Owen shouted. "Are you bloody fucking mad?" All his plans would go down the drain if he went to the police. "Stop threatening us, because I will go to the police. Or are you testing me?" 

"I am not testing you," Neal replied in a low, throaty voice full of darkness. "Do what you feel like doing. I don't care." His gaze darted between Owen and Nessa. "You will not get a single penny—that's for sure." 

Sweat broke on his forehead. He licked his lips as his throat dried. As for Nessa, she was flushed with anger. "Mister, I hope you realize that the reputation of Silver House is at stake here? You don't mess with people like us who hold an upper hand in this deal." 

"Upper hand?" Neal said with amusement. "And you don't mess with people like us, Nessa. Now if you will please excuse me, I have a dinner appointment with the owner of your company," he added with a smile. "So get out!" 

"You— you just can't throw me out!" Owen blurted. "The takeover process is a long one. I will not leave." He could see his job going because as far as the money was concerned, he wondered if he would see it. 

"I know it is a long process, but now you are wasting my time. So just leave." He got up and waved his hand towards the exit. "I don't have time for more nonsense!" 

"You bastard!" Nessa shouted. She clutched her purse and swallowed saliva down her throat. She became too restless. Her breath became accelerated and suddenly she felt tightening in her chest. All the plans that she had made, all the dreams she had woven with those plans—all dashed against a rocky cliff and shattered. She could hear the loud noise in her mind. "You will pay for this," she said. "We will put Elize in a mental asylum one way or the other!" 

Neal raised his hand with the crystal and said, "Good luck with it." He moved his chin in the direction of the door, asking them to leave.

Nessa nudged her husband on his shoulders. "Let us leave, Owen. People like him do not understand things in a straight way. We will show you what we can do now. So good luck to you." 

Owen rose up and threw a dark glare towards Neal. He followed Nessa down to the lobby and then to the parking lot. They were both highly disturbed. The little bitch, Elize, had become a thorn in their eyes. If it were for them, they would have killed her or sent her to the mental asylum as a punishment. There she would have rotted for her entire life. "What do we do now?" said Owen, his pulse rising. He rubbed his chest. Everything they had dreamt, just came down with a loud crash of reality. 

"We go to the police now!" Nessa said. "Unless we make noise, they will not take us seriously. They think that we are flies. Then let us buzz around and show what flies can do!" They had to strike the hammer when the iron was hot. 

Pepped up by his wife's talk, Owen turned the car towards the nearest police station.. If they were going to go down, so would Elize.