Casper did not begrudge Tony for the finger-pointing earlier. Unlike other two-faced snobs out there, the latter’s outburst happened because of his passion for antiques.

“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.

It’ll last longer. Or, you can stay the night and we

to his ears. “Sure

“Hey, those two men just came to,” she interjected a

tied-up men and looked down at them coldly, as

some guts trying to sell

didn’t know,”

his story, especially since they had tried to

smiled at them. “Relax, guys. All I want to know is the whereabouts of

the

over to Victoria. He was sure that under her “care,” they

do you want

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

name of your store by selling you imitations. I’m going to apprehend him for your sake,

in the line of business was that a piece of antique would be considered real, as long as no one outrightly said otherwise. Hence, she was equally tempted by the prospect

want in. If you find that man, I

going halfsies on Buck—his fellow apprentice, and a senior one at that—like a commodity. However, it was

I’ve been meaning to tell you, Ms. Stalling,” Casper gave her a heads up that

eyelash. To his surprise, she was more interested in how he was doing. “You seem to be making a name for yourself,” she

lucked out,

your good hands then, come the Antique Fair,” she said with good cheer, pressing a kiss on Casper’s forehead as goodbye. “I’ll let you know when

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