Handler XX: Stock Maestro

He ignored the call as he looked up, at Marie.

Not now...

Wait.

He glanced at the screen as it rang again,

"Hello" he answered, hurrying towards Marie as she opened the door and was waiting for him to enter.

"Hello, Trent..."

"I'm kind of busy right now, so I think---"

"The Billionaire husband stuffs himself" she chuckled, cutting in.

What?

"What's that now?"

"That's what you're being called online... There's a video trending already"

Fuck.

"I hear you're meeting Yvaine tonight"

He glanced at Marie sharply, reducing then phone's volume.

"You're going to make this confusing for whoever hears" he growled softly in a whisper

"Oh..." She mused, "She's there isn't she? I've gotta---"

"Why did you call?"

She fell silent for a while,

"To pass words from the leader. He says to pass them"

"Alright... What does he want to say?" He turned to Marie, signalling her to hold on a bit

"Good luck. You've done well, Stella"

"What?" He cringed,

"That's what he said"

"Alright..." He replied, drawing the word out in a confused manner.

Ah...

Isn't this the best person to ask?

"Can I ask you a question?"

"...Yeah? Go on..."

"Do you know who my parents are?"

He listened carefully to know how she'll react.

The slight pause and increase in breathe gave it away— she knows something.

"I don't..." She replied,

"I'm sorry"

Oh?

Would you look at her?

"It's no problem..." He huffed.

She's keeping it a secret too.

"I'm thinking of telling Marie"

"What?"

"Is that against the rules? She's my wife" he increased his voice, turning to Marie.

"Hah..." Wanda exhaled deeply, "It doesn't. There's consequences is she talks"

"Alright" he replied nonchalantly,

"Anton says Hi"

"W–What? What's that---"

He hung up before she could complete the question.

"I'm sorry about that" he turned to Marie, tucking the phone away.

"About the stunt you just pulled or about making me wait for you to complete your call?" She asked, sitting on the bench.

"...About everything" he muttered,

"Look..." He stretched his hand towards her.

"I'm sorry that I've kept secrets away from you. I'd like to talk if you'll permit me and---"

"There's nothing to talk about. I don't care what sort of relationship you have with that old bastard either... We're not really married, remember?"

Fuck.

"M–Marie..."

"Don't Marie me" she snapped,

They both stared at each other for a while until she chuckled,

"That's not a pun" she glared at him,

"...Sorry" he chuckled softly, cleaning his eyes.

"You know..." Marie tapped the bench for him to seat,

"That was cute"

"Cute?" He mused as he sat besides her.

"I was going to let you stuff yourself to the brim and not take your money"

"Free food?" He chuckled, "Me like..."

They fell silent for a while.

"I'm sorry about everything, Marie" he spoke after a few seconds.

"Well..." She glanced at him,

"I discovered that I'm not mad at you. Truth is, I just hate seeing you getting close to that Jerk when he didn't spare the time for..." Her jaws tightened.

"I'm not spending time with him" he shifted closer,

"He's the big that keeps coming into my life" he huffed.

"That doesn't mean you're not keeping secrets" she huffed, turning her face away.

"And I'm going to tell you those secrets"

"I don't really care to know what---"

"My Secretary..." He cut in,

"She's an agent for Kraven's Intelligence"

"What?" She gasped, turning sharply at him,

"Yeah..."

She thought silently for a while,

"No wonder..." She muttered,

"Angela's a really good hacker"

"I know that" She scoffed,

"And there's a super computer at the back of the house that can track anything online— Seren Rotschen created it"

"What? Wait---"

"Xander and Angela studied under Him"

"Wait..." She signalled him to stop,

"That's so much information"

"Alright..." He chuckled,

"So, your secretary's a spy..." she raised a brow,

"Yeah. She's Scarlet not Serta"

"Okay... Xander is a genius hacker"

"Yeah. He never meant to hide it from you"

"There's a super computer at the back of the house"

"Yes"

She stared at him for a while.

"That doesn't explain your connection to the bastard"

"Right..." He chuckled,

"I met Scarlet---"

"The secretary"

"Yeah. I met her when we attended that dinner at Morlov's and I knew she was an agent for Kraven because of information that..."

He paused to look around the place, and twirled his hand around,

"No. Theres no bugs here— I made sure of that" she whispered.

"Alright" he sighed,

"Information that Yolaf gave to me. It---"

"Wait" She paused him, confused.

"Yolaf? Like Yolaf Tyn? The mission against the NIA?"

"Yeah. I didn't report it in since it seemed dangerous and destroyed it after seeing it"

"You..." She grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer.

"That's dangerous as fuck"

"I know" he chuckled, pulling himself back.

"I know a lot of things too. That's how I could tell Zayn was a Handler"

"Oh..."

"Well... Scarlet approached me and she now works for me based on a failed recruitment"

"They tried to recruit you and she ended up working for you?" She asked, confused.

"Yeah... That's the connection between me and Morlov"

"You're both traitors of the state?"

"No... I'm not" he scoffed,

"...Morlov is"

Take that fall bastard...

"I just partner with them and I've never given them information. They were the ones that helped catch Zayn"

She fell silent for a while.

"Alright. Who was on the phone? I heard you say something about Favor? It's alright if---"

"Scarlet's Boss. I found out that she used to be in a relationship with Anton and she was proclaimed dead 25 years ago before she went underground"

"Wait. She's Anton's wife?"

"I don't think they're married..."

"They definitely have a kid together"

Huh?

A kid?

"What's that about a kid?"

"Theo— he told me Anton's talked about his kid and how they were same age"

Huh?

That can't be.

"What was the favor about?"

"... Finding out who my parents are" he muttered.

Her eyes widened as everything clicked.

"You..." She gasped.

"I know..." He gulped, lowering his head.

It all makes sense now.

Wanting to be called Father.

The way he's treated me growing up.

How she knows about Diamond Man and Madam Web.

Fuck.

"...Anton's my Father" he stuttered,

"And that lady's your mother" she muttered.

"What's her name?"

Trent glanced at her and exhaled.

"Wanda... Kravenberch"

She gasped, eyes widening at the mention of the name.

"A Kravenberch? Direct lineage?"

"...Yeah..."

"Holy..."

How funny...

Looked like them?

That old man, Frez definitely knew the truth too.

Did he just not want me?

"...Man..." Marie shifted closer to him,

"I know it's---"

"It's alright" he chuckled, cutting in.

"They must've done it for my good"

Let's just think like that.

They must've thrown you away too, but make your happiness, pal.

His subconscious jeered at him.

He stood up, forcing a smile at her,

"Will I see you later?"

Or were you going to cut me off too?

"Sure" she replied, standing up.

"I'll see you at Home later"

Hmmm...

Home, huh?

"Alrighty..." He chuckled, turning to leave,

"I've got a meeting with an investor later. I'll be back before 9. The snacks are still there for the movie time"

"Alright" she muttered, "T–Trent" she called out softly as he walked away,

Damnit.

Anton, that foolish old jerk.

She dialed Anton's number immediately as Trent left.

"Hey Wildling..." Anton mused as it connected.

"Hi..." She answered, sharply.

"...Is there a problem with the Twerp? He's been acting---"

"You mean your Son?" She snapped

"W–What" his voice hitched and he fell silent,

"Cat's got your tongue?" She chuckled in a dry tone.

"H–How did you find out?"

"Is that the question, really? Why not ask who else has found out?"

"Fuck..." He growled,

"Trent..."

"Bingo..."

"Fuck"

"He just left this place"

"H–How did he find out?"

"Why don't you ask Wanda?"

"What?"

She hung up, furiously before he could continue.

Acting all confused.

The nerve...

______

Trent walked out of the elevator, looking at the phone's screen.

He'd been drinking at the bar area since he left Marie's eatery

Hmm...

I didn't know a hotel like this was in town

I should bring Marie here.

Hah...

He glanced at the Guards standing beside the door as he reached the room she said.

"Good evening, Sir" they greeted, opening the door as if they knew who he was.

Well.

They probably do.

No need thinking about it.

"You're early..." She mused as he walked in, leaning her back on the chair.

"I'm 10 minutes late" he scoffed.

He'd come a few minutes later for fun.

"You've been drinking at the bar" She scoffed,

"That's not fitting for a Lord"

"And I'm not drunk" he glared at her,

"I take it, you're not here to give me a lecture"

"Oh..." She mused

"Apologies" She chuckled, taking out a file from her bag.

"I am indeed here to give you a little lecture tonight, my Lord"