Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"That was quicker than I thought..." Yvaine chuckled as the call connected.

"Or---"

"When can we meet?" He interrupted her, scanning through the glass door as Scarlet walked back.

"I'm not in Westeron right now" Yvaine chuckled.

She fell quiet for a while and then...

"Grand crest Hotel— Cabrini, Kraven. 8pm"

Cabrini?

Wasn't that Kraven's capital city?

"Wait... I don't---"

He looked at the phone as she hung.

Fuck.

What the hell?

Scarlet scanned his face as she walked closer to him,

"Who's that?" She asked, raising a brow.

He exhaled, tucking the phone away.

Would she even know the Lumina group truly?

Maybe a test?

"Yvaine Dumroe..." He lowered his head slightly, peeking through to catch her reaction.

And there it was... That flash of Surprise.

She knew something.

Just how deeply?

"Do you know her?"

"I–I... Well..." She stuttered, trying to compose herself, "She's the mighty heiress of the Dumroe Family"

"Anything else?" He probed, stepping closer.

"She's quite popular— Duke Dumroe is a popular and loved noble"

Hmmm...

I should look into the family more.

Musk should be of help.

"W–Why's she calling you?" She turned to him,

"Romance?" She teased, forcing a smile.

He raised his brows to look at her as he sat down.

"Morlov introduced us— she'll make a great investor someday, no?"

"Definitely" she scoffed, eyes trailing across the room.

"I need your help"

She twitched, focusing her gaze on him.

"With what?"

"I need to be at Cabrini by evening— I need to sneak out of Westeron"

He could see the surprise in her eyes,

She flinched as a call came into her phone. Her surprise skyrocketed as she looked at the caller.

"Hello, Ma'am" she greeted, rushing to take the call.

"What?" She turned to him,

"S–Sorry..."

"Yes, Ma'am. I understand"

She looked at the phone as the person hung up.

A call so short, yet able to make her act so obedient— the Madam?

Does she have a mission?

I guess she won't be---

"I'll meet you by 6" she cut in, snapping him from his thoughts.

"Y–Yeah?" He flinched, surprised.

"There's going to be a chopper to take us there— where should I meet you?"

What's going on?

Did the Madam just call about the Kraven issue?

How did she know?

Was she part of Lumina too?

"Hello...?" She waved at his face, bringing him back to reality.

He blinked, looking at her face,

"I said, where should we meet?"

"What about restrictions?"

"She said to not worry about it" she huffed, taking a bottle of water from the table.

"I'm practically going through all this extra work— I need some compensation, no?" She glared at him,

Trying to profit from this whole situation, huh?

"Ask the Madam for extra— I pay you 12 million for fucks sakes" he huffed, standing up to leave.

Why was she so surprised then?

Does she not know anything even though she works for the Madam?

And... Just who---

"I need Xander to come along"

He turned sharply to look at her.

Why would she want Xander to come along?

"There's no---"

"He hasn't visited Kraven— it'll be a good opportunity" she cut in again,

"Alright" he sighed.

What's up with her?

They seem to be hitting it off damn well.

But it seems there wasn't even a need to be scared of leaving the country.

"Come to the house later— we'll leave from there"

His phone rang as he got closer to the door— Isak.

About time...

"What's up?"

"Trent!!!!" Isak shouted excited,

"You're a fucking demigod, Man!"

"Calm down, Bro..." Trent laughed.

No need for such a grand title.

"Calm down?" Isak shouted more,

"I'm staring at $230 million right now when we had thought of selling off recently and you say to be calm?"

Trent chuckled,

Did the price rise further?

"Wooooo....." Isak exhaled, sharply as he settled down.

"I'm closing this right now... Our analysis is definitely getting roasted at the month end meeting by the old man"

An overreaction, no?

Who could beat Ave?

"Congratulations, Man. I'm glad you're loving it"

"So is the old man, he was the one that called me to check it a few minutes ago— he even suggested giving you twice as much. I think---"

"It's okay. Send me the 30 instead of 100— that's the price for not roasting the analysis team"

"Whoa... What? Are you for real?" Isak gasped,

"Yeah" Trent chuckled, looking at Xander as he walked towards him,

"Get me a Super Puma helicopter instead of the cash— I hear they go up to 30 million" he giggled, signalling Xander to wait.

Xander watched him and glanced inside looking at Scarlet.

Isak fell silent for a while, surprised by what he'd just said.

"What about the 100 million? We can't have a contract without---"

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure there's a way to do it. And you already gave me the money for the contract"

People could find out about the secret account later.

It'll be left to how well he can shut them up.

"I–I'll get back to you. I have to run this through the old man"

"Alright..." Trent mused,

"Greet the old man for me"

"Take care" Isak added, hanging up.

"What's up, Sir?" Xander turned to him as he tucked the phone away.

Wait.

Were they just flirting?

Trent shook his head as he looked at him.

Interesting...

"We'll be going to Kraven by evening— Scarlet will prepare a ride for us"

"Kraven?"

"Yeah. There's an investor I have to meet there"

"... Alright, Sir"

"I'll also need to run something through Musk---"

Wait.

"No need" he shook his head.

Why ruin the intrigue?

Yes, they're definitely powerful and most probably have their fangs into every sector.

Really, Trent?

You're getting drunk on a power you've not even tasted.

What?

Look at your life, Man...

You're falling.

Ha...

He ran his hand through his hair.

Was I always like this?

"...Sir?" Xander snapped him out of his thoughts,

He blinked, looking at Xander

"I'll need to run something through Musk"

"I already set it to recognize your voices as main command— my voice and Miss Angela's are subordinate commands"

"Alright" he glanced at Scarlet as she walked towards them,

"You can come back later with her" he tapped Xander's shoulder with a grin.

Xander laughed nervously, turning to Scarlet.

Such a beautiful thing he's got going on. Let's hope he doesn't get burned.

_____

He looked through the window as he parked.

Did Marie get a new car?

"Damn..." He whistled as he stepped out of his car.

This wasn't her style though...

A Bugatti?

Was Angela around?

This looks so cool. Very high class hacker worthy.

"Sir..." Mia called out, walking towards him.

"How's everything going, Mia? Is Angela around?"

"Yes. She arrived about an hour ago"

"Where's she right now?"

"She's in the building at the back"

"Alright. Is the... Mrs in?" He chuckled,

Why was that almost weird?

"She's meeting a realtor"

Huh? A realtor? Was she planning to move out?

"I'll be going out with Xander. We'll probably come back tomorrow"

"Alright, Sir"

He dialed Marie as he walked towards the building.

He huffed, looking at the phone.

Why wasn't she picking?

HEY. I'LL BE MEETING AN INVESTOR WITH XANDER BY EVENING TO COME BACK TOMORROW.

He exhaled, staring at the message,

...I HEARD YOU'RE MEETING A REALTOR. IS EVERYTHING ALRIGHT?

No need to ask, Trent.

She'll tell you if it's anything important.

Plus, you haven't wronged her lately, have you?

Yeah. No need.

He erased this part and changed it.

I HOPE YOU'RE ALRIGHT. LET'S HAVE THE MOVIE NIGHT WHEN I GET BACK.

Great.

Let's leave it at that.

He stopped to look around.

He'd entered the building while typing and thinking.

What was this heavy feeling?

He took a deep breath and stepped into the stairs.

What will be, will be.

_____

"Tre– No. Boss..." Angela glanced at him as he walked in.

She was busy with the system— excitement written all over her face.

"You seem to be having fun"

She chuckled, typing on the keyboard.

"This... is just a masterpiece" she muttered, turning her head to him slightly as he stood besides her.

"Data Analysis, world building, social engineering, cyber security... Everything" she turned to him, eyes sparkling.

"It even broke through most of my security— firewalls I could swear were rock solid"

His eyes trailed from her to the screen.

"Hello, Musk..."

"HELLO, MR. TRENT ACKERMAN. IT'S NICE TO FINALLY MEET YOU. MR. XANDER HAS DESIGNATED YOU AS PRIME"

Prime?

"I've got a question today. I need to run a check on someone" he sat down on the sit besides Angela's.

"ALRIGHT, SIR. I'M READY WHENEVER YOU ARE"

"Should I excuse you?" Angela asked,

"There shouldn't be a need to leave" he turned to her with a smile.

Just some random checks. Nothing too deep.

"Musk... How many firewalls can you bypass and tell me the ones you can't"

"It can bypass everything..." Angela chuckled,

"CORRECT— I HAVE EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL, SIR"

"Alright. Tell me about Duke Dumroe, his connection to the Fasso family and the Family's strength"

"YOU'VE TRIGGERED 2 KEYWORDS"

What?

"PROCEEDING WITH TRIGGER COMMAND"

What's going on?

"THE NAME OF THE BOOK BEHIND ME IN THE VIDEO"

Wait. The automated voice switched to... Seren's?

"Master?" Angela gasped, eyes widening.

"I–Is it time to leave?"