Becoming the Richest Man Alive

“There’s something off about this one. It lacks… flair.”

“You really do know your antiques, Casper,” Victoria said approvingly, and pointed at the porcelain vase with variegated glaze. “What do you think of that one?” If both the vase and the temple jar turn out to be fake, I’d lose two showpieces for the Antique Fair.

“No. That one is the real deal.” He said, to her relief. “Those two men were good with mind games. They used an authentic piece of antique to go along with a fake one to muddy the water. When pretense receives credence, a lie becomes the truth. It would be the ultimate scam if I hadn’t intervened.”

“To think I almost let them get away with it…” Embarrassed, Tony turned to Casper. “Please forgive my arrogance earlier. Showing off my knowledge about antiques to you is like teaching a fish how to swim.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Mr. Lane. You are no doubt a master of your craft. With your seniority and experience, I can hardly hold a candle to you.”

Grateful for the out and awed by Casper’s capability, Tony grew fonder of the young man by the minute, especially after he found out that Elena was the latter’s secretary rather than his girlfriend. What a promising yet humble individual. It’s rare to find such qualities in youths nowadays.

He handed Casper his business card before making his departure.

After Tony left, Victoria smiled at Casper. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” Her smile turned flirtatious. “I have to admit that I quite like seeing you like this.”

“Then how do you feel about me naked?” He deadpanned, eyeing her suggestively.

“You wish!” she said in mock anger, but there was something inviting in her eyes.

Sprouting a goofy smile, Casper found his gaze dropping lower as if pulled by a magnet, until it rested on her rather impressive rack.

Or, you can stay the night and we can do some… not-staring,” Victoria whispered

music to his ears. “Sure thing,”

to,” she interjected a little too loudly. “Didn’t

men and looked down at them coldly, as if

some guts trying to sell me

know,”

one bought his story, especially since they had tried to flee after

“Relax, guys. All I want to know is the whereabouts of the guy who made

will we know who or where the person is? We thought the vase was real, but it turned out to be a

Victoria. He was sure that under her “care,” they would tell the

looked at him. “Why do you want to find

a rhetorical question than anything. As shrewd as Victoria was, she had already guessed the motive behind his determination—he wanted to use antique forgery to profiteer. Finding the forger for the vase would be the equivalent of finding the fabled

of your store by selling you

had a reputation for selling only genuine antiques, the unspoken rule in the line of business was that a piece of antique would be considered real, as

know what you’re up to, Casper. I want in. If you find that man, I want access to

if he should feel bad about discussing going halfsies on Buck—his fellow apprentice, and a senior one at that—like a commodity. However, it was simply too good an opportunity to pass up. The fleeting moment of hesitation was gone as

there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you, Ms. Stalling,” Casper gave her a heads up that the various associations were preparing to strike against Victoria’s Chamber at the Antique

be making a name for yourself,” she said. “When we first met, you were just a student, and now you’ve become some big-shot

lucked out,

then, come the Antique Fair,” she said with good cheer, pressing a kiss on Casper’s forehead as