Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"It's nice to see you, Mr. Ackerman," President Joe Stanper stretched stood up from his chair as they walked into his office.

Trent smiled at the Secretary that led them in and turned to him.

"It's an honor to be called by the number one Man of the Country."

"The country owes you for your services. And forgive me to say bluntly, but it needs your help now, more than ever."

Marie looked at Trent as they took their seats.

Joe Stanper— puppet President for the Sinclairs. He didn't even bother with a handshake and ignored me.

"This is my wife, Marie." Trent smiled, nodding towards her.

"She's my partner. In everything."

"You're welcome to The Cabin, Mrs. Ackerman." Stanper looked at her and forced a smile.

"You're Morlov Sanchez's daughter. It's int—"

"She's no longer associated with Morlov Sanchez. I'm sure you know that already, Mr. President." Trent cut in.

"Forgive my manners," Stanper chuckled, turning to Trent.

"You." He looked at the Secretary,

"Get us something to eat and drink. Let's get this meeting started while we talk about each other."

"I don't have much to talk about." Trent glanced at Marie.

"There's not much to know from a Businessman like me. It's just numbers."

"Eighty-Seven and O-One. Those are numbers." Stanper said, leaning on the table with a grin.

"Loyalty to the state has always been loyalty to the state."

"It's binding." Marie cut in,

"It's a duty of all citizens of the state."

Trent looked at Stanper for a while. Trying to show a tough side before being the good dog the Sinclair ordered?

"All citizens that are protected by the state have protecting its interest in their highest priority." Stanper leaned back on his chair.

"Especially when they spend most of their life in it's debt, don't you think so, Miss Morlov?"

"It's Mrs. Ackerman, Mr. President. Whatever grudge you obviously have with—"

"I'm guessing that's why I'm here, no?" Trent interrupted with a smile.

"I wouldn't be getting a call for a meeting to the Cabin if it wasn't important."

Stanper looked at Marie and scoffed,

"Mrs. Ackerman is a very interesting woman."

"She is. There's no way you get Prime results without being interesting in the slightest. Me on the other hand—"

"I find more interesting." Stanper chuckled, interrupting him.

"You had your Friend's father transfered to Owena Hospital with a phone call and flew out of the country twice without clearance."

"That's not why we're here now, is it?"

"True. You're not here for an interrogation on what you do. In my opinion, you can keep doing whatever you please as long as it doesn't go against state interest."

"You might regret that." Marie chuckled,

"Handing a free pass like that to a Businessman..."

"Tough times call for tough choices. Mr. Ackerman here is a talent that my," he paused, looking at the Secretary as she walked in with the chefs.

"A talent that I feel my country needs as the President." He chuckled,

"I'm sure you'll love the Caviar. It's the best."

Trent and Marie looked at each other.

He's going to beat around the bush and waste time.

"My associates tell me that Mr. Morlov Sanchez's actions caused us a lot of damages."

Stanper looked at him, stopping midway, the bread knife and crackers in his hands.

"Straight to business, huh?" He chuckled, dropping them.

"These crackers and caviar are so top notch, you should try them."

"Forgive me, Mr. President. I haven't been in the country for over a week so I have to take care of everything."

"Must be nerve racking."

"It really is." Trent exhaled.

"There's a lot of issues to be resolved and the issue of the states comes first. Those are my oaths."

"And we're lucky to have a man who keeps his oaths before his multi billion-dollar companies and problems." Stanper scoffed.

"The issue with Morlov Sanchez," He eyed Marie, "It's done damage to the country. Investors that have left are still watching to see if your company can—"

"I'll fill the gap that he has left." Trent interrupted,

"I hope you can see with reason that we do not have any relations to Morlov Sanchez with this."

"It will be perfectly clear if you step in. Taking over the gap that he has left to our economy will give us joy."

"It is always the duties to ones homeland that brings him joy." Trent chuckled.

"What other form of backing does he need but his state's?"

Stanper looked at him for a while.

"The state will always give it's power to a man that devotes his all to it's cause."

He glanced at Marie as she chuckled.

"The United States of Westeron will give it's all to Protect Mr. Trent Ackerman. How's that?"

"Beautiful." Trent chuckled.

"It is the duty of the citizens to be loyal and the duty of the state to protect. Those are the oaths."

"...What do you want?" Stanper exhaled, pushing the plates aside as he leaned on the table.

"Clearance. The type that only those at the top can enjoy."

"You are a Handler of the state, Mr. Ackerman. You get your clearance when you—"

"I am a Businessman, Mr. President." Trent cut in,

"There's a difference between business and loyalty. I do well not to miss the terms."

Stanper gritted his teeth, looked at him for a while and exhaled.

"You'll get the clearance that allows you information to as much as you want."

Trent laughed softly.

It's clear he'll approve it.

Joe Stanper is being offered to me by the Sinclairs. There's no need to reject a free meal.

"Is there another—"

"There is," He smiled,

"I will be running some Handler branches. I want to be guaranteed that there will be no interference."

"Those are government agencies, Mr. Ackerman." Stanper shook his head,

"There's no way—"

"They are being ignored. Underfunded. I assure you that this will not be the case when I take control."

Marie glanced at him.

He's really pushing it. What if—

"Fine." Stanper replied with a sigh.

"I'll have the Secretary of State and the Minister of Defense talk to you about the branches."

"Thank you. There's nothing else to ask for, then."

"Morlov Sanchez had done some serious devaluation of our currency. We've recovered losses because of the news of the Emperor's death but we don't know what will happen after succession."

Theo looked towards them.

Succession?

If Trent decides to take the throne, it'll fuck Westeron in a painful way.

"I'm sure there's nothing to worry about." Trent chuckled,

"I hear there's no crowned heir yet. It should take a while to resolve that issue."

"We just hope. There's news that Prince Aerwin Kravenberch is rallying people together. He's the favorite for the throne— groomed for the position."

Aerwin? He must be the rude grandson.

"It should take a while." Trent scoffed,

"I'll do my best to make everything right before then. A glorious path awaits Westeron, Mr. President."

"Joe. Joe Stanper. You can call me Mr. Stanper, Trent."

Trent smiled, looking at him for a second.

"Thank you for the honor, Mr. Stanper."

"Sure. It's a pity there are not much young ones like you in the Country. Just ten more of you and we can see a glory of a thousand years."

"I am more than enough for a glory of a million years." Trent chuckled.

Stanper burst into laughter.

Trent Ackerman— barely twenty-six and acting like King.

Why did the Sinclairs order that I take care of his needs?

"Some of my friends would love to meet you someday." He chuckled, picking the cracker and butter knife.

"I look forward to meeting with them." Trent laughed softly, looking at Marie.

"Sure... Let's dig in."

_____

"You had so much guts there," Marie looked at him, chuckling as she slid into the passenger's seat.

"It's a free lunch. I don't have to bother with the waiter," he looked at her, buckling his seatbelt.

"I only have business with the Owner."

"The Sinclairs are going to contact you soon."

"Certainly. And it seems Aerwin Kravenberch is going to ascend the throne soon if nothing's—"

"That Mommy's boy is going to be the end of the Empire." Thaddeus' voice cut through Trent's phone from his pocket.

Trent looked at Theo— He wasn't paying attention to them.

"You must've heard everything." He pulled his phone out, looking at Marie.

"What do you think?"

"You basically have that puppet as your toy now," Thaddeus scoffed,

"He's not completely yours so you should handle him with care lest he breaks or get reclaimed."

Marie looked at Theo as he slowed down and answered his phone.

"What?!" Theo's voice thundered.

"H–He was..." He brought the car to a halt and listened to the phone.

"What's going on?" Trent asked as he dropped the phone.

"Give me a few seconds." Thaddeus muttered, turning silent.

"I–I just got a call from some unknown number." Theo stuttered turning to them slowly.

"M–My nephew... He's just been kidnapped."