Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Ackerman." The man stretched his hand as Trent entered the conference room.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Jabari..." Trent smiled, shaking him.

His eyes swept through the room— the board of directors.

"There's no need to stand up." He chuckled, stopping them as they were about to.

"I am here on business. It's my honor that you all have agreed to meet me." He bowed slightly.

"I must say..." Jabari chuckled, stepping forward. "I was surprised to see your call, Mr. Ackerman."

"It simply caught my attention," Trent looked at him, "The beautiful work you have planned... It's a piece of art."

"You are a big name, Mr. Ackerman," A lady close to him cut in, "Probably the biggest right now... It's a great compliment coming from you."

"This is Sofia Zen..." Jabari introduced,

"She's our lead scientist in BlueBee and a pioneer member of the board."

"It's nice to meet you, Madam Zen." Trent chuckled, "It's nice to meet all of you."

"May I ask..." Jabari cut in,

"For clarity... You said you had a proposal? I don't—"

"A few days ago, I had the fortune of seeing this company on my not so regular Internet surfing." Trent interrupted, walking towards the empty seat.

"And I said to myself..." He paused, looking at them, "That's a masterpiece."

"You flatter us but Reeves Technologies is doing far better than what we might be able to do. We can't understand—"

"You're going to do numbers." Trent interrupted.

"This firm is going to do numbers in unimaginable ways..." He chuckled.

"Tell me Mr. Jabari... How much percentage increase do you think it will do when it's listed?"

Jabari thought for a while,

"A thousand percent... That's overrating it but some of us think it will do that much. Max."

Trent scoffed and smiled at the person besides the seat as he sat down.

"W–We are having some issues," Sofia stood up, "The SEC—"

"That's not the problem." Trent shook his head.

"You think too little. That's the problem."

"And I guess you're here to solve that." The man opposite him scoffed.

"Adrian Patterson." He introduced himself, "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Patterson." Trent bowed slightly,

"You're correct... I'm here to help."

"We can solve the issue of the SEC..." Jabari cut in, "It's going to take some time but we've recently met with—"

"Jubal Nylov..." Trent cut in.

Jabari flinched, brows rising in surprise.

"And I'm sure Mr. Nylov has given you his word that he will make sure he helps..." Trent smiled, "After he received his pay of two million of course."

"How do you—"

"I know a lot of things, Mr. Jabari..." Trent leaned his arms on the table.

I had Musk run a thorough check on everything. Including every single person in this room.

His eyes swept through the room.

They were all surprisingly clean.

"I have business that I think will solve the issue and place the company at the forefront of Internet providing technology."

Jabari placed his hands on the table and exhaled.

"Mr. Jubal will—"

"He made a call to your biggest competition this morning." Trent interrupted, pulling his phone from his pocket.

They gasped as he raised the phone and played a recording— Jubal Nylov speaking to the CEO of VIA communications— a rival company.

"You've all been played." He stopped the recording and tucked the phone away.

"How will you help us, Mr. Ackerman?" Adrian asked,

"The... tactics you used to clear Umber won't work in—"

"Just a call." Trent smiled,

"I just need to make one phone call."

"And... what do you want in return?" Jabari asked slowly

They looked at Trent as he hummed silently for a few seconds.

"It's not much." He laughed softly,

"A bit of shares from each of you... Enough to make me major shareholder and—"

"That's outrageous." The man seated besides him interrupted fiercely,

"And you are..."

"He's Juan Castor..." Jabari introduced

"For the price I've offered already, I think it's a reasonable deal, Mr. Castor..." Trent smiled,

"But that's not all."

"What other—"

"Natural Partnership with Reeves Technologies through me and I am willing to pay five times the value for those shares."

The room echoed with murmurs as he said this. Castor just stared at him amidst all the noise.

"I know you all love the company and that you won't do anything against it..." Trent turned to Jabari.

"That's why I'm here. To help."

"If we announce a deal like this and can list..." Adrian looked at Jabari,

"The prices it'll do in the market will be unbelievable, Ethan."

"I know..." Jabari answered,

"But—"

"I can make the call to the SEC right now and have everything sorted out." Trent cut in,

"Very easily."

"The shares..." Sofia cut in,

"It's a win for all of us. But do you really think the company deserves—"

"It deserves everything." Trent stood up, "That's how beautiful it is."

Ave wouldn't give it out of it wasn't.

Better to invest and gain long term than profit once.

"Two hundred million... That's the current valuation. I just want a bit from everyone that totals up to Sixty percent."

"What about the staffs... the Scientists... what will—"

"Everything will remain the same." Trent interrupted, "The board stays the same. It's profitable to you guys right now and trust me, it I'll be long term."

Jabari looked at the others.

He sighed after a long silence and looked at Trent.

"I think we'll need to have this conversation some other time, Mr. Ackerman."

"It's alright..." Trent chuckled,

"I wasn't expecting a deal to be made today. But as sign of good faith..." He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hello Mr. Sanders..." He spoke a sthe call connected.

"This is Trent Ackerman. I hope I am not interrupting anything. You must just have returned from the meeting."

"How do..." Sanders paused,

"Your reputation proceeds you, Mr. Ackerman. To what do I owe this sudden call?"

"My friends..." Trent looked at Jabari,

"BlueBee Technologies. They're having issues with the SEC regarding listing and—"

"I can't help you with anything illegal and I—"

"It's nothing illegal, Mr. Sanders..." Trent cut in,

"I swear with the life of your four children that they are being bullied."

"What the—"

"Forgive me." Trent chuckled, "It's actually two, isn't it?"

"T–That's—"

"I'm just kidding, Mr. Sanders. Forgive me for making such an insensitive joke. But truly, they are being blocked by competition."

Trent chuckled as Sanders stayed quiet for a while.

He must be wondering how I know about his illegitimate children.

How fun...

"I'll make sure to look into it and—"

"Mr. Ethan Jabari will be happy to have dinner with you later this evening. Send a location and he'll be there."

Sanders exhaled.

"Have him contact me. I'll make sure to solve any issue he has."

"Thank you so much." Trent laughed softly, cutting the call.

They looked at each other as he tucked his phone into his pocket.

"I might not be able to attend another meeting." He raised his face up, smiling.

"Please contact Mr. Xander Ferte when you decide."

"W–Was that just—"

"The Chair for the SEC, Rogan Sanders. I'll give you his number... A pen and paper please..."

"H–Here..." Juan Castor rushed and stretched a paper and pen.

"Thank you, Mr. Castor." Trent chuckled, collecting it.

He wrote the number on the paper and returned the pen.

"I–I'm sorry about—"

"It's alright, Mr. Castor... This company is fortunate to have people like you in it." Trent interrupted with a smile.

"Here..." He passed the paper to Jabari as he reached where he stood.

He turned to the others and bowed,

"I look forward to doing business with you all."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Ackerman—"

"Call me Trent, Madam Zen." He chuckled,

"I hope you all are comfortable with me when we get to do business and that the next meeting here is with champagnes."

"Definitely, Trent..." Jabari cut in,

"I'll see you out."

"Have a nice day, everyone." Trent waved as he walked out with Jabari.

_____

"What's the update?" He tightened his hand on the wheel as he answered the phone.

"The contractors called. I don't know why they had to—"

"What happened, Kimberly?"

"They made something else. It's not as you've asked but—"

"I didn't think they could make a manor in five days." He chuckled,

"I just wanted something done. What did they make?"

She stayed silent for a while and sighed.

"A container mansion. The pictures are beautiful, you'll love it but—"

"Send the pictures in. I'm sure they'll be beautiful as you've said. I'm sorry for making the past few days tiresome for you—"

"It... wasn't actually." She cut in, a low tone.

"I know the contractor. He didn't bother me and just carried on with the funds. He's someone I trust but he's a bit eccentric."

"I'll love to meet this person." Trent chuckled.

"Is the place big?"

"It's big. You won't even believe it's made of containers... They didn't make it at the center though. He'll proceed with the main project at the center."

"Alright. I'm driving, I'll call later."

"Alright."

He looked at the phone as a call came in as he hung up— Anton.

"What's—"

"Come to base."