Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"I–I'll... It's going well" he lied, forcing a smile.

Anton looked at him, brows raised and exhaled,

"25 years with you and I know when you're lying. What's going on?"

"N–Nothing..." he scoffed, eyes trailing towards the door as if trying to escape.

"Marriage issues?" Anton chuckled

"It's nothing, Man" he replied again, walking off.

I just need to sort everything out and it'll be nothing.

"If you say so... As long as there's no issue"

"You can also use other agents right?"

"Well, yeah. They're not just as big and popular as you are so meeting Ornand would draw suspicion"

What the need to think of suspicion when the Emperor already knows everything?

He looked around, scanning the place and brought his head closer to Anton's

"It doesn't bother you that the Emperor knows about us?"

Anton looked at him silently for a second and sighed,

"It does... But I know he doesn't go back on his words"

"That's some high level of trust"

"I've seen reasons to have such level of trust" Anton's jaw tightened as he looked away.

"You should just carry on with your life. They won't stand on your way" he muttered, walking off.

What?

Stand on my way?

Trent flinched as somebody tapped him as he walked out the door,

"...was that surprising, kiddo?"

Oh. The old man.

Trent laughed softly as he bowed and stretched his hand,

"It certainly was... It's nice to meet you, Sir Frez"

"He's certainly raised a good lad" Frez chuckled shaking his hand.

"You look just like them..."

"What?"

"Oh..." Frez stared into his face for a while and chuckled, "You look just like the photos and videos I've seen" he continued, releasing his hand.

That's not---

"Anton's raised you to become such a fine young Man. He must be proud"

"Proud?" Trent scoffed, shaking off the thought, "I hope so"

"He is. That's the face..." Frez turned to look at Anton and laughed softly.

"You did well with the talk today... You're a born businessman"

"Thank you" Trent bowed slightly, forcing a smile.

"I hear you're married?..."

"Y–Yes, Sir" Trent stuttered, caught unaware by the question.

"And she's a Handler..." Frez paused, clearing his throat, "You should treat her well"

Trent nodded nervously.

I should.

I plan to, but where do I begin?

By telling the truth, Dumbass.

Fuck.

"I can tell you have a lot on your mind" Frez interrupted his thoughts,

"I look forward to working with you. Make sure to send the documents— it's too big to be word of mouth"

"Yes, Sir. I know that"

I'm not going to give over $200 million away for a deal made through verbal arrangements.

Would I need to involve the government though?

"See you later, Kiddo" Frez turned away, giggling and walked off.

Anton smiled at Frez as he walked up to Trent.

"He's a cool Old Man... He's helped me countless times"

"Yeah? He does sound cool... Just maybe a bit---"

"Playful" Anton scoffed, cutting in.

"Yeah"

"You really took me by surprise..." Anton chuckled, "$200 million... That's a big amount for someone who got pissed about 20 grand"

"I'm grateful that I'm not where I was anymore" Trent chuckled, looking towards the others.

"They're hyped up about this— it's that big" Anton exhaled,

Trent scoffed, glancing at Anton.

"Who do I look like?"

"Your Grandfather..." Anton scoffed, answering instinctively before realizing.

"W–We don't know who the parents are so it's probably the grandparents... Like the saying..." He stuttered, faking a smile.

"What saying?" Trent frowned.

"That---"

"Nevermind" he snapped.

They're definitely hiding something from me— something about my parents.

I had set my mind on not finding out who they were long ago...

It seems necessary now.

"Twer– T–Trent..." Anton called out as Trent walked towards his car.

He exhaled and just stood to watched as he drove away.

______

Why act so suspicious when a matter about my Parents come up?

Was Anton related to my father?

Was that why he said to call him Father?

Wait... Was he my---

He snapped back as his phone rang,

"Ugh..." He groaned loudly, taking the phone from where he'd stashed it and looked at the screen. It was Kimberly.

"Hello..." He cleared his throat to answer.

"Good Morning, Trent"

"Good morning, Kimberly... What's going on?" He tightened his grip on the wheel, slowing down the brakes.

"About what you asked for" she muttered,

"Is there a problem with it? You can take---"

"I found one" she cut in.

"Oh..." He paused, "Isn't that good news?"

"Well..." She paused for a moment,

"It's in a very remote place"

"How remote?"

"It's an island in Icarden— massive island that the government has decided to sell"

Icarden?

Is that where Elena is?

"How big is it?" He exhaled,

"8000 acres"

Wow. That's big...

"How much?"

"$200 million"

"Hmmm... That's a great price. Why is the government selling it?"

"After the gold mine dispute with Faso which they both lost to the custody of Kraven, they've been thinking of other ways to secure funding"

"I don't care about how remote it is. As long as it's good"

"Yes... It's very good. It's just---"

"Is there another problem?"

"There's other people trying to buy it"

"Anyone noteworthy?"

"Not really... A celebrity and a Businessman from Kraven"

"Tell the Icardenian government that I'll go up to 250 million and that I plan to develop it with over 500 million"

"Oh..." She gasped.

"Wouldn't that sort it?"

"Of course, it would. I'll get to it"

"Alright. Thank you" he hung the call, tossing the phone on the passenger seat.

He exhaled as he looked up.

That's one thing taken care of.

Unto the bigger issue at hand.

Let's check if she'll be at the eatery.

_____

He parked at the front of the eatery as he got there.

It's been a while.

He exhaled, tightening his grip on the wheel.

The first place Ave had given a mission to.

First step into what he currently was.

He scanned around before stepping out and walked straight to the eatery.

The bell attached to the door rang as usual. This time a bit unnerving since he was practically unwelcomed.

His eyes met Marie's who was serving to a customer as he entered.

She huffed and turned away, continuing with the customer.

He quietly found his way to a seat around the corner and waited for a waiter or her if possible to come to him.

He watched as she walked back into the kitchen area and somebody else walked out to meet him.

"Hello, Sir..." She greeted warmly with a smile,

"Hello" he forced a smile,

"Uh... Is She busy?" He looked towards the kitchen area

"Oh" the waitress chuckled, glancing towards the place,

"She is... She said to attend to you instead"

Hah...

"Alright..." He exhaled,

She's not going to come out, huh?

"I'll have everything on the menu— starting with the first one" he leaned his back on the seat taking the menu.

"P–Pardon?" She blinked,

"I'll have everything" he repeated, "Starting with the steak" he passed the menu with a grin.

She gulped, staring at him for a while,

"A–Alright..." She replied, forcing a smile.

"Thank you" he smirked.

I'm just going to be staying here and eating till she decides to come out.

The stats should be enough to handle all that.

The waiter took a bit of time before she brought the food.

He settled down, loosening his belt a bit and smiled at her as he dropped it

"Keep it coming"

_____

It's already the 5th dish on the menu.

He looked up as the waiter brought the next dish.

It has been 3 hours of eating...

I'm already getting the attention of some of the customers.

His eyes met one of the ladies seating close to him and smiled at her.

He sighted a customer recording and winked, flashing the perfect sign as he took the food tray.

Hah.

This is definitely going to end up online.

"U–Uh..." The waitress whispered nervously, glancing around,

"Yeah?" He paused, lowering the spoon slowly

"N–Nothing" she forced a smile and turned to walk away.

Hmmm...

Was I already getting it?

After a few minutes, Marie walked out marching straight towards him.

"What the hell are you doing?" She whispered, raising a brow.

"What?" He paused

"Eating in my wife's place" he scoffed, continuing.

"You---" she growled, sliding into the seat opposite him.

"I'm sorry" he spoke before she could talk.

She flinched, looking at his face.

He dropped the spoon and reached out for her hand.

"You..." She glanced at the people looking,

"There's a lot of people here"

"I know..." He chuckled, withdrawing his hand. "Can we talk somewhere private?"

"The changing room" she huffed, standing up

"Alright..."

He glanced back at the people as he stood up and winked.

They were already giggling and murmuring at the sight of what was happening.

His phone rang as he followed her.

Who's it?

Wanda?

Ugh... Why's she calling now?