Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"Billions?"

"You've not heard? I thought you'd have checked or Mr. Ferte would've told you."

"We've been very busy lately."

"You're the biggest gainer. The news shot all our stocks above the roof. That why I'm saying you should take care."

"Thank you, Rosa. I'll invite you over for dinner when after everything."

"Alright." She mused,

"Greet Marie for me."

Trent exhaled as he tucked the phone away. Billions? Wouldn't that be over a hundred thousand percent?

Was that why it took so long?

"Yo, Cap!" Theo called out,

"What's going on?"

"It's nothing." He chuckled, walking towards the helicopter,

"Has everyone made themselves comfortable?"

"Yeah. Let's go."

He smiled and nodded at Diana as he entered.

"I hope you like the place."

_____

Mia stood by the fields, waiting. Xander had called an hour ago to inform her.

"Is everything ready?" she asked the maid at her side.

"They should be here any moment."

"The rooms are ready, Ma'am."

"Good." She exhaled, turning at the whir of an approaching helicopter.

"They're here. Carry the bags—I'll arrange them."

They stepped forward as the helicopter landed.

"Good evening, Sir."

"Good evening, Mia." Trent chuckled, glancing at the young woman beside her.

"She's Martha—one of the new people I picked." Mia introduced her.

"Good evening, Sir." Martha bowed.

After the greetings, Trent introduced the guests and ordered that they be shown to their rooms and given whatever they asked for.

"Why bring Ornand along if he betrayed the program?" Marie asked, edging closer.

"He only worked for the Emperor. Love blinds people, don't you think? Plus, the succession dispute—"

"Don't you think Theo's right?" she cut in.

Trent stared at her face for a while and smiled.

"There's no need to become Emperor. Do you want to be Queen so badly?"

She huffed, turning away. You don't become Queen in a fake marriage.

"There's power beyond the throne," Trent said.

"It could end the silent war between the two," she countered.

"Wouldn't that be great?"

The war?" He scoffed.

"There is no war. Just a game of chess."

"You could become the chess master."

He held her gaze for a moment, then smiled.

"Your revenge… I think it's time." He walked off.

There's no need to be Emperor of an empire ready to collapse.

Theo approached as Trent came closer.

"I'll head out, Cap. Need to check on Mikhail and the old man."

"Why don't we go along?"

"It will be a long drive, Man. You've got a meeting with the President tomorrow too, I'm sure they'll understand."

"It'll he faster to use the chopper."

Theo shook his head and exhaled,

"You're supposed to be resting."

"Let's go."

"What's up?" Marie asked as she reached where they stood.

"We're going to visit Mikhail at the hospital." Trent turned to her,

"Shouldn't you be resting? I'm sure---"

"I don't know when next I'll have the chance to visit." He smiled, turning to Theo,

"Come on, Man."

_____

Theo smiled at the nurse as she stretched her hand toward the room door.

"Thank you, Tiffany."

"Take care, Mr. Arkov." She smiled and walked off.

"How many times have you been here?" Trent chuckled as Theo opened the door.

"Throughout until we travelled. I got to know a lot of them. Plus, they're respectful since we could get a room."

Mikhail and his uncle turned as they entered.

"T–Trent?" Mikhail stood up.

"I heard you were coming back from your travel today, but—"

"It's great to see you too." Trent chuckled, cutting in.

"It's good to see you in good health, Mr. Reynolds." He bowed.

"You're—"

"Trent Ackerman. I'm Mikhail's and Angela's friend."

"Good evening, old man," Theo chuckled. "He's Trent—the one that got the room."

"You don't have to…" Trent raised his hand as Mr. Reynolds struggled to sit upright.

"T–Thank you very much, Mr. Ackerman. I—"

"You are welcome, Mr. Reynolds. And you can call me Trent. I did what I could for my friends."

"Friends, huh?" Reynolds chuckled, glancing at Mikhail.

"You've brought great fortune to us, Mikhail."

"He's also Angela's boss. And mine," Theo cut in.

"How's recovery going?"

"It's going well." Reynolds chuckled as they sat down.

"You just missed Rosetta."

"She'll be back soon," Xander said, turning to Trent.

"She's gone to get—"

"He can't wait, man. Maybe some other time," Theo cut in.

"Is there a problem?" Reynolds asked.

"We just got back from Kraven, and he has a meeting with the President tomorrow morning."

They gasped, looking at Trent.

"I decided to visit since I might get busy with work and—"

"Ah. Congratulations, man." Xander cut in.

"I apologize for not calling. I heard your company's been booming these past few days."

"Thank you." Trent chuckled.

"He's the owner of that company, Uncle—Reeves Technologies. The one on the news."

"Wow. You've been doing excellent numbers lately…"

"Thank you." Trent laughed softly.

"I'm glad you're getting better."

"I'll ride the trend when we come out and get the sales up." Xander chuckled.

"It'll be a feast."

"You should," Theo laughed.

"Supplier for the owner of a multi billion-dollar company—that's a good relationship flex."

"I'll assist if I can." Trent stood.

"I wish you a complete recovery, Mr. Reynolds."

"Thank you for everything, Trent." Reynolds stretched out his hand.

"I'll tell Angela to invite you for dinner sometime soon."

"I look forward to it." Trent shook his hand.

"Take care of yourself. The doctors will handle the rest."

_____

"So, how's the issue with Ornand Curry going to play out?" She folded one of her legs on the bed, looking at him as he got dressed.

"Nothing's going to happen. You're the only one that knows what happened and Anton won't report if I tell him." He glanced at her image on the mirror.

"The fact that you're doing this means the Emperor—"

"Yes. He told me to spare Ornand." He turned to her.

"And I did. There's no need to make this a bigger issue, is there?"

"Was that what you wanted?"

They stared at each other for a while.

"What I wanted to do isn't important in the matter now." He exhaled,

"I'll be keeping my eyes on him regardless."

She scoffed, turning her face away.

"He might have all his accounts frozen for his relationship with the Princess."

"I'll handle all that. It'll be good to place him in my debt when an opportunity comes. It's business."

"Just don't let your schemes swallow you." She turned to him.

"I'll have you to back me up, no?"

"...Not forever." She murmured, turning away.

He stared at her for a while and chuckled,

"You make the dress look beautiful."

"Are you saying the dress isn't beautiful?" She stood up, smiling softly.

"I'm saying you're more beautiful than the dress even in its beauty."

"You should become a poet." She scoffed,

"You've got sweet words."

She glanced at the mirror and peeked at him as he turned away.

Does he really mean it?

"Let's go now, my lady. The world awaits your beauty." He laughed, walking away.

_____

Damn...

He stared at the phone's screen.

What type of magic made the share prices go up so much?

Five dollars to Twelve thousand in less than Ten days?

A rise of two hundred and forty thousand percent.

How much would I have invested if it was stock trading?

A billion?

Would it have risen up so much if I did?

He looked at his phone as it rang— Montclair

"Good morning, Mr. Montclair."

"Good morning, Trent. I hear you're back in the country? I didn't want to disturb your vacation and I had things to take care of."

"I heard about your companies in Kraven. I hope everything's going well, now."

He glanced at Marie as she placed her glass on the cupholder.

"It's no issue." Montclair chuckled,

"I've made enough to cover the losses through the investment with you. I hear you're visiting the President?"

"That's where I'm headed right now."

Montclair stayed silent for a while,

"Remember when we first met?"

"At the mall. I remember."

"I'd helped you with something so little back then." Montclair laughed softly,

"And I've gotten a lot of help from you in return for the past few days."

"I'm grateful that you agreed to invest with me. I—"

"You could've still made the money." Montclair scoffed,

"I just dropped five hundred thousand to a person that was worth Eight Hundred million at the time."

"I'm still grateful." Trent chuckled.

Montclair stayed silent for a few more seconds.

"You'll have to put all your smarts and go through this one, Trent. I sincerely wish I could help."

"I know." Trent chuckled, looking at Theo as he brought the car to a halt.

"I just arrived at the place."

Montclair exhaled,

"May the star force be with you."

Trent scoffed as Montclair cut the call.

It's touching that he's worried about me but there really is no need.

I will not fall for the schemes of a mere Puppet.