Handler XX: Stock Maestro

She chuckled, glancing at him

"Go on" he mused, "But I'm not sure---"

She shot him a glare before he could complete the sentence

"You're not sure, what?"

He exhaled, turning his face away,

"Mr. Morlov has been a pain in my ass recently but I don't think it's the right time to pay him for everything back"

She turned away from him, face dropping

"So I can't do anything?"

He looked at her for a few seconds before responding,

"I'm not saying you can't do anything. But if we do something now, he'll know that I did it and might retaliate"

"You fear retaliation?" She scoffed,

"You've got a super AI that can dig into secrets and you just took down a congressman so easily and you fear retaliation?"

"That's---"

"You just don't want me to do it" she turned to him, "There's still something you're hiding, right?"

"No" he paused, staring into her eyes.

"I'm not going to ask" She chuckled in a dry tone, "The fact that you've told me enough means that you somewhat trust me a bit"

Should I just tell her?

He exhaled, glancing at the computer screen

"Musk..." He called out,

SIR...

"Set Marie Ackerman as part of sub access" he glanced at her as she turned to him, surprised

"W–What are you---"

"I trust you, Marie" he shook his head, interrupting her.

"And I want you to wait for a perfect opportunity and we will get your revenge— a better one than whatever you're planning right now"

"Well..." She turned her face away.

What's wrong with me?

"I just wanted to move some money from his account. Not enough for him to notice" she mumbled

"Why not take everything?" He mused, "when the time is right, I promise that I'll let you wipe him clean"

She peeked at him, a smile forming on her lips. That sounds like a better plan— the ultimate revenge against such a greedy bastard.

"...Alright"

"Thank you" he smiled,

"Now... with sub access, you can check any thing apart from what I restrict"

I haven't really restricted anything yet. I should restrict my identity first so that none of them can check anything on it.

"Anything, huh?" She mused, eyes brightening

"Sounds fun"

Of course it's fun.

"Let's head out" he chuckled,

"I'm sure Anton is waiting outside"

She chuckled, nudging him slightly,

"As you wish... Your royal highness"

"Ugh..." He cringed, making a face of embarrassment, "Some shit royal highness. Doesn't that make you a Princess?" He mused

"No wonder he calls you his Princess. I wonder---"

He screamed in pain as he hand landed on his back.

"Shit..." He groaned

"You should act right" she scoffed,

"I'll tell your father to give you some lessons on manners"

"...I don't think he has that much time" he chuckled, watching her as she left.

_____

Anton turned to them as they stepped out of the building,

"Terna called"

"What did she say?" Marie asked, glancing at Trent as he playfully rubbed his back.

Did I hit him too hard?

Trent chuckled seeing the worry on her face. That much was nothing.

For the fun of it... Let's tease her a bit. He sobbed playfully

"What happened?" Anton asked, confused.

"Husband abuse" he replied

"There's nothing like---"

"That's what you get for marrying a wildling" Anton chuckled, "Never knew you'd stoop so low to domestic violence"

"Now I know where he gets his manners from" she huffed, shaking her head

I hope the Mom's a bit sane.

"You said Miss Terna called" Trent chuckled softly, trying to focus back on the top.

"Yeah. She's got everything sorted— enough that you'll be able to meet Ornand Curry smoothly"

"He could meet him now in the guise of sponsorship" Marie cut in,

"He's gotten the status to do it without drawing suspicion, no?"

"...He certainly has" Anton replied

"And I'll have to be there along with my secretary, Theo and Xander. We have to make provisions for all that"

"How do you go around it?" Anton asked.

"Leave it to me. Tell Miss Terna that she's been so helpful and I'll pay her for whatever damage she's experienced during the process"

"Leaving it to you is---"

"Just leave it to him" Marie chuckled,

"He's probably got higher connections than you now. Could you have dealt with the Congressman if it was you?"

"Well..."

"Just chill" Trent chuckled, taking his phone out of his pocket as it rang— Xander.

"Excuse me" he excused himself and walked a bit farther from where they stood

"What's up, Man? Is Isak back home?"

"I dropped him at his office" Xander replied

"Good. What's going on?"

"It's the SEC"

"Alright? Got a problem---"

"No" Xander cut in sharply,

"They called to tell us that we'll soon be approved. The Director himself made the call"

"Oh?" Trent mused,

Finally clocking the danger if they didn't huh? Nice to see things moving smoothly.

"That's good news. How's the project going?"

"We've completed it and reached out to the military. We're on the last phase of exhibition and sealing the deal"

"Alright. That's great" he mused, hanging the phone.

It'll be 2 weeks from when Ave gave that notification in a few days.

I have 90%. A total of 900,000 shares and with the evaluation of 10 million dollars, it should list for ten dollars per share

Let's see just how much I can make from doing it like this. A few trajectories have been changed— I'd have traded the stocks normally and seen results, but I've decided to be part of it.

Two long weeks...

This definitely be worth the wait.

"Trent?" Anton called as he reached where he stood, bringing him back from his thoughts.

"...Where's Marie?" Trent looked around as him mind booted back

"She said she's got something to handle in her eatery— got a call and rushed off"

An urgent business to handle?

Trent shook his head.

If it's something bad, she'd have said something. No need assuming

"What about you? The branch Chief just can't be leaving the branch like that, can he?"

Anton exhaled, placing a hand on his head.

"...I've gotta head back"

"...Has she contacted you?" Trent turned his face away,

"Contact–" Anton paused, realizing what he'd meant

"Not yet" he sighed, "I'm sure she will when she's ready to talk and maybe she's just avoiding the Emperor's watch?"

You think it's that simple.

Simple to avoid the watch of the leader of the world's most powerful organization?

"So much for fighting a war" he scoffed

"What?" Anton asked, not hearing what he'd said properly

"It's nothing" he shook his head.

"I'll send you 250 million later— distribute the funds amongst the branches and give Cisco and his team enough to fund whatever they need"

"What about the rest?"

"Get yourself a car or something? Can't have my father driving an old model like that" he chuckled, turning to walk off.

"I love that car" Anton huffed, "I've got cool bikes and other cars too, you know?"

"Right..."

"And the remaining amount is too big to buy a car"

"Just hold onto it then"

He glanced at his phone screen as another call came in— Rosa Theron

"What's up with the frequent calls?" He mused, "One will think you're trying to court me"

Anton looked at him for a while

"I'm leaving" he muttered, "I'll send you the account details"

"Okay" Trent muttered back, waving his hand.

"Drive safe"

"Who's there with you?" Rosa asked, listening hearing the mutterings from her end.

"My... Father" he chuckled, looking at Anton as he walked towards his car.

"Hmmm..." She chuckled,

"I can't wait to see where you get your genes from"

"Yeah?" Trent laughed "Enough about that. What's up, Rosa?"

"I see you're getting comfortable with me..." She mused, "I like it. Just the way a partnership should be"

"I am grateful for your grace" he laughed

"Trent" she called out in a serious tone.

"...Yeah" he responded, tone shifting from the playfulness

"I need you to meet me in a..." She paused, "I'll send the address"

"Is there some kind of problem?" He asked, trying to get her to clarify,

"Did you run into an issue?"

"No" she chuckled, "I've got some friends that'll take it as their honor to meet with you"

Friends that will be honored to meet me? Oh? Is this what I think it is?

He glanced at the screen as a notification buzzed in

HOTEL MERSI. ROOM 001

This hotel?

"I'll be there in a few minutes" he chuckled

"Thank you" she replied, "I promise that you'll not regret it and it will be of huge help to you"

"I hope so"

He stared at the message on the screen as she hung up— a kind of knowing smirk forming on his lip.

Talks about a group last time.

Friends that will like to meet me.

A meeting that could be of huge help.

Another secret society invite, huh?

Who would they be this time?

This seems fun.