Chapter Two
"Here's the mark: James Cern, age 38. No family on file – at least none I can find."
"Is that him?" Emma whispered. They were stood around the corner from a top-class, expensive restaurant, that specialised in catering to the rich and, more specifically their arrogant mark. He had just exited the building and was standing on the curb, checking something on his phone. Although he was dressed well, in a designer suit, he still stood out with his long, light brown hair and one ear that was stretched with an iron bar.
Rosalind checked her watch. "Yeah, that's him, and right on time. Quick Emma."
The blond nodded and walked briskly towards the busied Cern. With perfect accuracy, she made herself crash into him, sending a large amount of papers to the dry, concrete ground.
"Hey! Watch where…" Cern trailed off, his eyes brightened up instantly at the sight of the attractive woman.
"According to Abigail, there are two things Cern will do anything for: money and sex. And that is how we'll get him."
Rosalind grinned widely. "Hook, Line and Sinker. That was amazing - Sean, your next. You got the briefcase?"
Sean smirked back, raising the black leather case and shaking the container. Straightening his jacket, he moved forward acting the part of the overly confident business man that was common in this part of London.
"Before we do anything we have to find out what we're dealing with. Find out what type of deals he makes – that kind of thing. Emma, Sean, that's where you two come in."
Emma bent down instantly to pick up her fallen papers. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I really need to pay more attention to where I'm going – I didn't even see you…"
Cern laughed it off, crouching down to assist, leaving his briefcase behind him. "It's no problem really. It's both our faults – I should watch for those around me. Are you okay? I didn't hurt you did I?"
"No, no, I'm perfectly fine, but thank you for asking." She pretended to hesitate for a moment before smiling sweetly and holding out her hand. "I'm Emily Carter."
"James Cern."
"It's a pleasure." Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Sean approaching the two of them. His phone rang and he paused, placing his case on the concrete ground. One hand slipped into his pocket as he spoke causally to whoever was on the other end, about some business meeting that didn't exist.
"Yeah, right. Have the notes on my desk by the time I get there, and organise the Board in Conference Room 3 – I shouldn't be much longer." Sean ended the call, slipping his phone in his pocket, and grasping the handle on the briefcase. He straightened up and, with an over exaggerated sigh, he walked back the way he came.
"Well, I have to get going…but it was nice meeting you Mr. Cern." Emma smiled, taking a step back, "I'm already late for work. Thank you, for helping me."
Cern grinned back charmingly. "It's no problem, Miss. Carter. I hope to see you again soon."
"Me too." She walked away slowly, waving shyly over her shoulder, keeping up the act until she had disappeared around the corner.
The sound of the front door opening drew the attention of the suite's inhabitance. Each paused their movements, whether reading or setting up the white screen, and watched as an excited group of three walked into the building.
"Well?"
Rosalind beamed. "It worked brilliantly. The simple acts always were the best."
"He was too distracted by Emma to notice the stranger that had walked up behind him." Sean commented as he threw himself on one of the sofas and laid the briefcase on the glass table that sat in the centre of the room.
"He seemed like a nice guy. Started at my legs too much but other than that." Emma shrugged.
"Crooks don't usually act like crooks in public places Emma. It would spoil the illusion of perfection that they crave so much." Rosalind slid into place beside her Dad, "What's in the briefcase Sean?"
"Laptop, business reports, bank statements…oh, and condoms." Sean waved an unopened packet before dropping it back into the container. He picked up the collection of paper and leafed through them, "Jesus, he controls a lot of money. 25,000, 50,000…150,000…Maybe we're in the wrong business."
"Did you guys find anything?" Emma questioned.
"We think so. Ash looked that criminal record you mentioned." Mickey nodded his head.
"Yeah – I asked around a bit and found out he has a past in money. It's like low key loan sharking, giving small amounts of money to big criminals and getting 20% profit in whatever the client used the money for. Made a fair amount until he was arrested about 3 years ago – let out for good behaviour 15 months later. Apparently, he's on the straight and narrow. I did find some newspaper articles about a few sexual harassment cases too." Ash listed, "There was a small interview with him about the issues connected with his name. He denied any and all rumours of sexual harassment and loan sharking and stealing but he did say something interesting…"
"'Life is all about money and the power that comes with it'." Albert quoted, "We believe a convincer would be a good idea for this one."
"Trick him into thinking he's making a lot of money, not only for the company, but for himself…" Rosalind mused thoughtfully, "A deal of some kind. 'Carnal and Change' specialise in investing into companies and out bidding them. If we can convince him to put, say 90,000 into our company for the deposit on a new product, that won't be revealed…"
"I think this may work." Mickey hummed, deep in thought, "Okay, Ash I need you to create this company, make it fancy and expensive sounding, and do the necessary engine search edits. Albert, you should be our representative – entice him with a new deal, something profitable. I'll leave that thought to you. Sean, I need you watch the mark for today. Find out what you can, read him – we'll need to know as much as we can about him before we do anything. Emma, Rosalind, your parts will come in later…"
Sean, dressed in his suit, stood among the crowd of financial consultants, one for each department. He had grabbed a clipboard full of reports and lined paper on his way here to blend into the area. It had worked as far as he knew – no one had questioned his presence at least. From his position, he could clearly see the office that was the Financial Manager's.
James Cern swept into the department like a violent gush of wind, shocking some of the staff, and sending others into a panic. He dropped his briefcase on some poor woman's desk with a loud bang, not even stopping to say anything before he continued. "Right - I need to see the budgets for this month – now people! God, are you all retarded or something?"
Five or six suited business men and women hurried over to him, waving paper in front of them. He accepted the paper. His eyes had barely scanned across the first one before he had found something wrong. "25% for stationary! Running out of pencils in your section, Barden? And only 40% for investments? No, take it back. You have until the end of the hour to fix this little problem, or you'll be fired, understand?" He then proceeded to screw up the paper and throw it into some consultant's face who frantically scrambled to get away. After all, he only had 10 minutes and he really needed this job.
Cern managed to break through the crowd to get to his office. A young woman, a red head, rushed into the room straight away, a polystyrene cup of coffee in her hands. Sean watched as this predator smirk crossed his face, his eyes brightening instantly. The girl looked nervous as she smiled back. He wasn't sure how it happened but one minute, Cern looked like a stalker; the next the girl was crying and his face was red in anger. She sprinted out the exit a minute before Cern lent out of his office to shout, "Clinton! Get me another secretary by tomorrow, and let's try not to make this one a complete and utter idiot, shall we?"
