Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"How much information is in the file?" Trent asked, looking at his phone.

"Enough to have him executed." Thaddeus chuckled.

Trent looked at Xander as he stepped out of the house.

"I just got off the phone with Mr. Jabari." Xander said, walking to him.

"The issue with the Sinclairs..." He continued, looking worried,

"We don't know how it will affect our—"

"I'll have it all resolved." Trent interrupted,

"We are going to have a great day in the stock market today."

He smiled and nodded at Theo as he walked to the car.

"Call Rosa..." He turned to Xander.

"And reach out to the opposition party's key leaders. I need—"

"Won't the President be—"

"Call the Ruling Party leaders too. Tell the Parties I'd love to meet soon."

"What about Rosa?"

"Tell Rosa to position for a press conference in half an hour. You will need to attend too."

"Is there a need for a press conference?" Xander walked closer

"We need to make good use of the events happening." Trent laughed and opened the front passenger's seat.

"Shouldn't you be sitting back as the Boss?" Theo chuckled, looking at him.

"Want me to drive?" Trent looked at him and laughed.

"Let's go meet the President of this honorable country."

"I got a call from Vagus this morning. He left town last night."

"Tell him to return." Trent replied, closing the door.

"What do you want to do with him?"

"Well... He's got a wife and kids. It will haunt my conscience to—"

"He was going to kill your Nephew." Trent interrupted.

He stared at Theo and exhaled.

"He's at your disposal."

Theo stayed silent and turned the car on.

"There's no need." He murmured.

_____

"You're here earlier than I expected." Stanper walked into the office in his night robe.

"You'll have to wait for me to get ready, Trent. The Family will have a lot to—"

"We should talk, Mr. President." Trent interrupted, looking at the guards that followed Stanper in.

Stanper turned to them,

"You can wait outside."

He looked at Theo,

"You should join—"

"He will stay here." Trent shook his head.

Stanper stared at him for a while and forced a smile.

"Alright."

"Thank you." Trent smiled, resting his back on the chair.

"And you shouldn't worry about the Family."

"There are always forces targeting the good people in this world," Stanper clicked his tongue and walked to his seat.

"They don't seem good to me." Theo muttered

"What?" He shot a glare at Theo.

"How dare you make such a—"

"He's not lying though, is he?" Trent interrupted.

Stanper looked at Trent and shook his head,

"You shouldn't believe those false accusations . It's an attack on the pillars of our country by—"

"The Kraven Empire?" Trent mused,

"They are too busy to target us, aren't they?"

"It definitely is—"

"Spare me the lies, Joe..." Trent laughed,

"We both know that they are guilty of everything."

"W–What the hell are you saying?" Stanper raised his voice standing up.

Trent looked at him and smiled.

He took his phone out,

"Send it."

"Send what?" Stanper asked, confused.

He looked at the computer as it buzzed.

"You should check that before we continue our talk, Mr. President." Trent leaned forward.

"It'll disappear completely after you read it."

"Is this come kind of–" Stanper paused, eyes widening as he read through the document.

"You've been engaging in some really interesting things, Joe." Trent stood up and walked towards him.

He gulped, eyes locked on the screen as he read through.

"I... What the hell is—"

"You know what it is, Joe." Trent laughed, sitting at the chair opposite his.

"And," He tapped on the table.

"We both know all these aren't false accusations."

He raised a finger before Stanper could talk as he looked towards the door.

"You don't want to do that." He shook his head.

"They might kill me, but we both know what follows."

They looked at each other for a second.

"You'll become more popular than you are right now." Trent giggled.

"Won't that be fun? I'm sure your opposition will have fun."

"W–What do you want?" Stanper stuttered, turning to the screen.

"T–These—"

"Could all go away without seeing the light of day." Trent interrupted,

"Poof! Like it never existed."

"Y–You're blackmailing the—"

"Yes." Trent nodded,

"I am blackmailing the President of the United States of Westeron. And it feels so fun to do."

He looked at Theo,

"Doesn't this feel fun, Man?"

"It's a beautiful show." Theo chuckled, walking forward.

"Quite fun."

"Hear that?" Trent turned to Stanper.

"And you have a choice— let the world share in this fun from a stupid decision or—"

"What... What do you want me to do?" Stanper stuttered,

"The Sinclairs won't—"

"They won't be able to do a thing." Trent smiled,

"They are left with nothing. Not even a dime."

"T–They have billions and—"

"It's all gone." Trent interrupted, shaking his head,

"Like magic. I guess you're too low level to the family to know."

"R–Reagan isn't—"

"He's dead."

"W–What?" Stanper's eyes widened,

"That's not possible. Reagan Sinclair—"

"Dead." Trent laughed,

"Same with Matt and all other key members. It's really sad news."

Trent shook his head, leaning his arms on the table.

"To think they'll commit suicide together instead of face their crimes."

"H–How is that—"

"A poisoned wine." Trent lowered his head,

"Isn't that a touching way to go?" He raised his head with a smile.

Stanper stared at Trent for a few seconds. His eyes trailed to Theo.

"What should I do?"

"That's better." Trent nodded,

"Looks like you've come to reason." He stood up.

"First." He walked towards Stanper's painting on the wall.

"You're going to call all the reporters lurking outside and we're going to talk about the Sinclair crimes and how we'll work together to make the country better."

He scoffed as he reached the painting.

"Both of us." He turned to Stanper.

"And how a disease called the Sinclair Family has been cured from the country's system."

"T–That's—"

"Not going to be hard at all." Trent chuckled,

"We are going to be heroes. And the Stock and foreign exchange markets will testify our great deeds."

Stanper gulped as he stared at Trent.

"Don't you want to be a Hero, Joe?" Trent asked, brows raised,

"Don't you want to be elected a second time with little opposition?"

He walked towards Stanper and stretched his arms apart.

"Don't you like staying at The Cabin?"

"I... I will—"

"It's a legacy, Joe." He laughed softly,

"You've been trying to take down the big bad wolf and are really happy that someone did."

"W–What will we say about the people that took them—"

"That's not a problem, Mr. President." Trent chuckled,

"We'll call them something fun later. A little birdy tells me they're not through with work yet."

Theo looked at Stanper.

The great President of the United States of Westeron— feared by world leaders— brought to such a pathetic state.

How funny.

"A–Alright..." Stanper stuttered,

"That's the spirit, Joe..."

"B–But... this file—"

"Which file?" Trent asked acting confused,

Stanper gasped as he turned to an empty screen on his computer.

"We have a press conference to hold, don't we?" Trent smiled.

"Y–Yes."

"It's such a pity the sinners chose to die so cowardly, isn't it?"

"Y–Yes..." Stanper gulped.

"And we will put in all our power to make sure the others are caught, won't we?"

"Yes..." Stanper nodded his head vigorously,

"D–Definitely."

"You're the best." Trent chuckled,

"You should go get dressed. And find another person to do a better painting."

_____

"We just concluded the press conference..." Xander said through the phone.

"It's a few minutes until the market opens and the buzz is already so wild. Your press conference with the President was beautiful..."

"It was art, Man..." Theo cut in,

"I had shivers running through my spine. My sister will see me on national television."

"It was the best ending to this show." Trent chuckled,

"What did the Parties say?"

"They weren't so cooperative before the press conference," Xander replied,

"Guess who's disturbing my phone now..."

"How is Rosa doing? Tell her that—"

"She's here..." Xander interrupted,

"Hold on..."

"You crazy bastard..." Rosa spoke as she took the phone.

"What the hell have you done? It's going to be a—"

"Feast for us today..." Trent cut in, laughing.

"I'm sorry to disturb your sleep but I thought I'll call you to join the fun."

"And you didn't call the Montclair..." She huffed,

"I didn't want to disturb the—"

"I called him. He sent his daughter immediately. I can't wait for the stock market to open..." She laughed

"Is she there with you, right now?"

"Yes. Do you want to pass a message to the old man?"

"Just give her the phone."

"H–Hello, Mr. Ackerman." Courtney Montclair spoke as Rosa gave her the phone.

"Miss Courtney..." Trent chuckled,

"I think it's about time we meet."

"Really?" Her voice hitched,

"When are we—"

"I'll send a location to the others too." He chuckled,

"It's about time we all meet."