Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"W–Who's that?" Marie's eyes narrowed as she looked up

"You expecting guests, Twerp?"

Trent chuckled, watching the helicopter land on the middle of the field.

"You'll see" he mused as he walked forward.

Isak waved at him as he stepped out of the helicopter, blocking his head with one hand

"Isak Slumba?" Anton muttered as he walked behind Trent.

"You know him?"

"I know his father— Cunning Old Man. He's a Friend. Why's his son here?"

"Who's he?" Marie asked, looking at Trent.

"CEO of Slumbr Inc." Trent mused, glancing at her.

"He's come to deliver my package"

"Package?" She asked, confused,

"Wait. Don't tell me---"

"Correct"

"You crazy rich bastard..." She growled, looking towards the helicopter.

"What's happening?" Anton asked

"Trent!!!" Isak called out excitedly, interrupting their talk.

"You're here faster than I expected— It's less than 30 minutes" Trent chuckled, quickening his steps to meet Isak

Isak stretched his arms apart for a hug when they reached each other

"It's nice to see you, Man"

"It's nice to see you too" Trent chuckled, hugging him

"How's your Old Man?"

"The Old Man's on vacation" he chuckled, tapping Trent's back.

"You've got a beautiful place"

"Thank you. It just needs some more work"

Isak looked at Marie and Anton as they caught,

"Care to introduce us?" He glanced at Trent with a smirk

Trent chuckled and cleared his throat,

"This is Marie, my wife" he stretched his hand towards Marie,

"Oh" Isak gasped, walking towards Marie with a hand stretched for a handshake

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Ackerman. Trent is lucky to have such a beautiful wife"

"Thank you" Marie chuckled, glancing at Trent as she shook his hand.

Should this be considered his luck, though?

"And..." Trent walked forward pointing at Anton

"This... is my old Man" he chuckled,

Anton smiled, looking at him

"My" Old Man, huh?

So... beautiful to hear.

"Oh... Y–Your..." Isak's voice hitched as he stared at Anton,

"It's so nice to meet you, Mr. Ackerman" he rushed towards him, bowing slightly

"I..." Anton stuttered

"Your son is a genius" Isak continued, excitedly, glancing at Trent.

"I can't imagine the kind of teachings he must've gotten from you growing up"

Teachings, huh?

Anton's face dropped as he looked at Trent.

"It's nice to meet you too, Isak Slumba" he forced a smile, shaking Isak's hand.

"Y–You know me?"

"I know your Father" Anton replied, chuckling,

"I don't know if he remembers me since it's been very long"

"I'll tell him about you" Isak chuckled,

"Can we take a picture later?" He turned to Trent.

"Yeah... Why not" Trent mused, looking at Anton.

Mr. Ackerman, huh?

I've never really asked what his last name was.

"W–Why are you here?" Anton turned to Isak as his eyes met Trent's

"To deliver that" Isak turned, pointing at the helicopter.

"That?" Anton gasped, eyes widening

"I knew it" Marie muttered, nudging at Trent

"You've got an extraordinary Son, Mr. Ackerman" Isak mused

"R–Really extraordinary, I see"

"The papers are inside" Isak walked towards Trent,

"You've got an exquisite taste. Let's go see it, shall we?"

Trent chuckled as he watched Isak walk away slowly, towards the helicopter

"By the way" he whispered to Anton,

"What's your last name?"

Anton chuckled, glancing at him,

"Never really had the time to choose one, so I guess it's Ackerman now"

"That's not---"

"That's good, isn't it?" Marie cut in,

"It'll be simple to update, no?"

"Should be" Anton mused as they walked towards the helicopter.

They looked at it, the documents and took some photo's after.

"Can't believe you really bought a chopper" Marie nudged him as Anton took a picture with Isak.

"It's a gift" he chuckled,

"You'll be surprised on what I'm about to buy"

"Gift?" Her brows raised,

"Wait... What are you about to buy?"

"Take a guess" he chuckled, looking away

"An... Island?"

He chuckled, looking at her

"You should start preparing a list of names for the place, Mrs. Ackerman"

"Right..." She scoffed, looking away

"How big can it be?"

She looked at him sharply as he continued chuckling,

"You... How much are you spending?"

"Take another guess"

"I don't like this game" she growled,

"Tell me how much you're spending if you want to"

"250 Mil for the Island"

"W–What? That's---"

"750 Mil to develop it"

She gasped, lowering her head.

One billion dollars?

"I took your suggestion and decided to invest" he chuckled, watching as Isak and Anton walked towards them

Oh. She blinked.

Did he take that seriously?

"This isn't an investment, is it?"

"It is... The place is like a small city" he laughed softly,

"It's tax laws are way better than here so I hope they agree to sell— it'll be good to move some of my businesses there"

Isak looked at his phone as it rang and answered it, walking away from where they stood.

It seemed to be a serious call from the way he sounded.

"Is there a problem?" Trent asked as he joined them

"Just some work stuff" Isak chuckled,

"You've got an awesome Dad, Man" his eyes brightened again

Trent looked at Anton— his sad expression from the morning seemed to have disappeared completely.

"I'm grateful that I have him" he chuckled, as their eyes met.

"I'm grateful that I have such an extraordinary Son too" Anton muttered

"Okay, lovebirds..." Marie scoffed, cutting in

"Let's go in for a drink. This calls for a celebration"

"Uh..." Isak stuttered,

"I don't think I can— I have to go and check what's happening. Maybe some other time"

"...I hope everything's okay. If you need my help---"

"It'll be okay" Isak smiled, interrupting Trent.

"And I'll do well to reach out to my good friend, Trent Ackerman and his cool Family when I need help" he chuckled

Good Friend...

"I'll tell Xander to take you home"

"Xander?" Isak asked, confused.

"My good friend... and Butler" Trent mused, walking away.

After a brief talk and introduction with Xander, Trent requested that Isak and the pilot be driven back to their location.

"The pilot will drive" Isak cut in, releasing his hand from his handshake with Xander.

"I would like to know more about Mr. Ferte. He's been trending amongst some friends in my circle recently. It's surprising to know that he's your Butler"

"It's my honor to work with Tren– Mr. Ackerman" Xander chuckled.

"We're all friends here" Isak laughed,

"Call me Isak"

"Alright. Call me Xander"

They talked for a while before entering the car and driving off.

"He's such a good lad" Anton muttered, watching the car as it drove out of the place.

"He's a cheerful fellow" Trent chuckled

"It's hard to believe he's the son of a Conglomerate" Marie added.

Trent turned towards the fields.

The Super Puma Eurocopter— It was more magnificent than in the photos.

"You're treating us to dinner, right?" Marie nudged him

"Another movie night for you" he chuckled, turning to them

"D–D..." He exhaled, looking at Anton.

Why was it still so awkward to say when I've resolved everything?

"Dad..." he said sharply, "I'll send you the 200 million for the branches"

"Branches?" Marie blinked

Anton exhaled, trying to maintain his composure.

He'd called me Dad, right?

Just now.

Not as sarcasm.

Not a joke or out of anger.

Neither of courtesy.

Dad.

That---

"World to Old Man Ackerman" Marie called out, snapping him back to reality.

"Y–Yeah" he stuttered,

"He called for a---"

"I called the branches that were being underfunded and told them I'd sponsor them" Trent cut in

"Why?" She raised a brow, confused

"It's an investment" he chuckled,

"And it'll benefit the generation to come. Just like it did for that Umber bastard"

"No generation of mine is getting spoiled to that extent" Anton scoffed.

Marie exhaled, looking at them.

A generation.

Does that even include me?

Her stomach twisted at the thought.

What's wrong with me?

She shook her head. This is a fake marriage.

But no... She glanced at Trent.

Why... do I want to be part---

"Marie?" Anton called, snapping her back to reality.

"T–That's cool" she stuttered, forcing a smile.

Trent stared at her for a second.

A lineage with her...

That'll---

No, no, no....

What an absurd thought.

It's... a fake marriage.

With all your intelligence, Trent...

A part of his subconscious jeered at him.

He forced at smile as their eyes met and she turned her face.

"I've got one more thing to show your guys" he looked at Anton.

They deserve to know, no?

"What's it?" Anton asked

"Follow me" he chuckled, walking off

When they reached the building behind the stables, he turned to them.

"I've never being here" Marie muttered, scanning around

"I hope you keep what I'm about to show you guys a secret"

"Is it the super---"

"Yes"

"Super what?" Anton asked

"Let's go in" he chuckled, opening the door.

"Stay away from the center" He c

autioned, walking straight to the axe on the wall as they stepped in.

Their eyes widened as the floor opened.

"W–What's that place?" Anton looked at him.

"Let's go in" he pointed, signalling them to step in.

"New mission initializing" Ave spoke as he descended the stairs

Nice... He chuckled.

Time to print some moolah.