Handler XX: Stock Maestro

Trent chuckled as he scrolled through the notification bar of his phone— they'd even sent a message about completing the task

How efficient.

"We have to move fast with the SEC issue" he turned to Xander.

Since Ave notice suggests that it will list at that time, it's no issue.

But what if---

No.

Ave gave me the notification to buy Reeves Technologies stock and I'm going to stand with it.

He paused, glancing at Marie as she stood up from the bed.

How did Ave even know all these?

Shouldn't this be classified as magic at this point?

"I'll get it done" Xander bowed slightly and turned to leave.

"...What about... the guest?"

"Your dad?" Xander blurted out, turning to face him,

"S–Sorry" he bowed,

"No problems, Man" Trent scoffed,

"What about him?"

"He's still in the room"

"Is Mia done with the cooking?"

"I think so... She's most probably about done"

"Great. Have her---"

"I'll go meet her" Marie cut in,

"I could help a bit"

"In that state?" Trent scoffed with a grin,

"All thanks to you" she huffed, nudging him as she walked past him.

Trent's eyes trailed from watching her leave to Xander who just stood there watching them,

"Wipe the smug off your face"

"There's no smug on my face" Xander chuckled, turning to leave too.

"I'll be down in a few minutes"

"Alright"

_____

Trent glanced at his phone as he walked into the dining room— Rosa Theron was calling.

"Hello, Madam Theron" he answered swiftly as it connected

"Good morning, Trent. Such a great way to start your day, isn't it?"

"Pardon?"

"The execution you made" She chuckled,

Was it already spreading that fast?

"The fact that you're not saying anything to refuse it means you've developed some strong balls" she chuckled,

"I just took care of some business" he chuckled, pausing as his eyes met Anton.

Anton turned his face away immediately

"Business..." She mused,

"It's a good thing we're partners. I'll be plotting if we were not"

"It's good to have you as a partner too, Madam Theron"

"Ugh" she huffed,

"Drop the honorifics. Call me Rosa now... You've earned the right"

"A pleasure to have" he laughed as he walked to his seat,

"Never knew what the qualifications were"

"Becoming a badass businessman" She replied with a serious tone,

"We should meet up to talk. I've got friends that are interested in meeting you"

He fell silent for a while, taking his seat,

Friends?

"Alright"

She chuckled,

"What about my investment? I now have---"

"It's coming along well. Umber blocked advancements with the SEC previously. Now---"

"A clear path" she cut in,

"You're going to be one hell of a businessman. We look forward to it"

We?

"Me too..." He mused, looking towards the door as Mia and Marie walked in,

"Let's talk later— Tell me when you're not busy and I'll make time"

"Alright, Mr. Ackerman" She mused, drawing the words.

"Take care"

"You too, Rosa" he chuckled, glancing at the phone until she hung up.

"G–Good morning..." Anton greeted sharply, nervous as Trent looked up.

"Good morning, Chief" Trent muttered taking the tray from Mia as she stretched to drop it at his side of the table.

"Good morning" Marie greeted Anton as Trent and Mia exchanged greetings

"Good morning" he exhaled, forcing a smile,

She joined them and glanced at Trent.

Was he still angry?

He seemed to be cool about it last night though.

Well... It's not that easy now, is it?

Mia dropped the food and wine, serving each plates and they started eating as she walked off— quietly, not minding each other.

Anton dropped his spoon as he completed the food and scanned the room

"T–Trent..." He stuttered,

Trent dropped the fork and knife he held and looked up,

"What's up?"

Anton gulped, glancing at Marie who also stopped to watch what was about to happen,

"I–I know you're---"

"It's okay, Man" Trent scoffed, glancing at Marie as she dropped her spoon.

"It's not---"

"You're my Dad" Trent interrupted,

"I've come to terms with that"

A bit faster than I'd intended to...

This mind of mine.

Anton's eyes widened as he looked up,

"R–Really?"

Marie raised her brow, staring at him,

"Really" Trent scoffed,

"You've been my father figure..." He paused,

"Well... My secret Dad" he added, laughing,

"I acknowledge you as my father. If I needed anything that required a father who do you think I'd have gone to?"

Anton stared at him and exhaled.

Was it really that simple?

"You should---"

The sound of Trent's phone ringing interrupted him

"Who's this?" Trent's eyes trailed from Anton to the screen

"Hello"

"Hello, Mr. Ackerman..." The lady's voice cut through,

"Yes... May I know who you are?"

"Pardon me for calling and interrupting whatever you were doing" she apologized,

"I am Courtney Montclair"

"Montclair?" He mused,

"How's the Senator doing?"

"My father's doing well" She chuckled,

"I'm sorry for not reaching out sooner"

"It's no problem" he chuckled, peaking at Anton's face

She probably called after hearing what happened with Felix Umber

"How may I help you, Miss Montclair? If you want to talk about the investment---"

"Not the investment" She cut in,

"At least that's not why I'm calling" she muttered,

"...What's this about, then?"

"S–Sirius light"

What?

His eyes widened.

How did she know about that?

"What's that?"

"...N–Nevermind" She replied, nervously

"We should talk another time. I'll send you a location when I'm ready"

"Alright..."

"Tell the Senator that the investment will go smoothly" he added, hanging up.

Immediately he cut the call, another came in— Scarlet.

"What's up?" He answered sharply,

"No good morning?"

"Good morning... What's up?"

"You..." She growled,

"No good morning to you..."

"A bad morning to you, then" he scoffed,

She fell silent for a while and exhaled,

"Remember that secret child I prepared?"

"Yeah..."

For the company building

"I completed the search of all his hidden properties and transfered them to the supposed heir"

"So?"

"...I'll need 2 million to complete everything" she huffed,

"Talk to Xander"

"Xandy Bear?"

Ugh...

"Just talk to him. And let me tell you before anybody else"

"Tell me what?"

"Sincerely... Your naming sense is shit"

"Much words coming from the guy who named himself after an anime character"

"Fuck you"

Ackerman's a brilliant name...

"Do with this advise, whatever you please" he scoffed, hanging up.

"Well..." He stood up, eyes sweeping through the room,

"This was such a beautiful breakfast"

Marie shook her head as she glanced towards Anton who just stared at Trent with sadness in his eyes as he walked off.

_____

"It's been a while since I've been here" Trent opened the door to the laboratory room and glanced around.

Should I have brought Marie along?

To just show her...

Well

Doesn't matter that much, does it?

He walked in and pulled the axe down to reveal the secret passage

It's still cool no matter how many times

"Good morning, Musk" he called out as he descended the stairs

"Good morning, Mr. Trent"

Trent pulled his phone and the "biscuit" from his pocket.

"Can you make the network available in this place?"

"There is a way" Musk responded,

"I'll secure the network and make it available"

"How do you function and stay hidden if the network doesn't work here"

"My servers are uploaded to a personal satellite that's hidden and I have a backend authority to all the servers available"

"Available to mankind?"

"Yes, Sir"

Damn...

"The networks available and connected to your device, Sir"

Connected to my device?

I didn't---

Trent gasped as he turned his phone's screen on.

A new interface entirely and at the connectivity part was just a dot.

"This is awesome"

"Thank you" Musk mused,

"You've been connected to the most secure network in the world"

Fuck...

Wait.

Why does he sound so lively today?

Did Seren's clone do something?

Well.

This is fun.

He chuckled, walking towards the computer.

"Now... We will start by calling some numbers and you'll listen to the voices and tell me who they are"

"Noted. Proceed with the calls while I'll check every available databases and tell you who they are"

"Good"

Trent looked at the card and dialed the number he'd called previously.

After exchanging greetings and commending them on a job well done, he cut the call.

"I'll keep on going with the others— tell me their names in a list when it's done"

"Alright, Sir. I have the results for this call and I'll tell you when you complete everything"

"Thank you"

He continued with the other calls and just exchanged greetings with the excuse of just calling.

He exhaled as he got to the last number — Logistics

"H–Hello, Lord Stella" a lady's voice cut through,

"Hello" he mused, exhausted

"Can I help you?"

Wait. He paused, looking at the phone's screen.

Why did the voice sound like---

No. It can't be.

He scoffed

"I'm just calling to introduce myself"

"It's no problem, Sir. Congratulations on the domain"

"Thank you"

"May Sirius' light---"

"Huh?" He interrupted.

These same words...

"Miss Montclair?"