Handler XX: Stock Maestro
Chapter 11: Thaddeus Kravenberch VII

Chapter 11: Thaddeus Kravenberch VII

"Are you trying to kill yourself with alcohol?" she snapped, snatching the glass.

"That’s your fifth."

She looked at him— frustrated and tipsy.

"Well, forgive me for having such a tough resistance..." He replied, burping

"This is not you, Trent" she held his hand.

"Don’t tell me who I am— I barely know myself right now"

He slowly rested his head on the table.

"You’re Trent Ackerman— A good man, who despite having the choice to not, agreed to a marriage because he cared"

Marie shifted her chair closer.

"A good man—" he laughed mockingly

"One who’s just killed a man"

She looked at him pitifully.

"It’s part of the job" she murmured.

"And I don’t want part in it!" He yelled.

He didn’t want part in the killing— in taking lives because he was ordered to.

But, Ave seems to be pushing him deeper. Why?

She sighed, tightening her grip on his hand.

"I don’t want it either"

He raised his head slowly to look at her— it didn’t seem like a lie.

Even though they were taught to lie since they’ve been kids, this seemed sincere.

A dictated fate, huh? How pitiful.

He composed himself, staring into her eyes.

"News of our marriage and the Summit would be trending right now"

"Yeah" she turned her face away

"Your accounts should have been unfrozen by now"

"About that..."

"How did you get the things back?" She asked in a shy tone.

"I met my dear Father-in-law" he chuckled. "He seemed to like me"

"Guess I’m just that handsome"

She laughed softly, glancing at him... It’s great that he’s come back to usual.

"Let’s get out of here" he stood up

"We’ve got more things to do"

His phone buzzed as he shifted the chair backwards

"...Why would they want a meeting?" He asked, looking at the message

"Who wants a meeting?"

"Slumbr Inc."

He opened his trading account to check the sell order he’d taken.

+958%— Over 19 million in profit. A total of over 21 million on the position.

"Now I see why..." he said, closing the position.

He’d brought his balance to $100 million. Of course they’d want a meeting.

_____________

"Hello, Trent" Mikhail spoke through the phone.

"Yeah. What’s up?"

"You’ve become such a big customer... After whispering here and there that you bought a car with us, Business has been booming"

He laughed.

"Are you still in the Capital?"

"I’m on my way back... What’s going on?" Trent asked.

"A realtor friend of mine was hoping to see you for business— an estate but in a very quiet location"

"How quiet?" Trent asked, looking out the car window.

"It’s secluded— trees around and it’s far from where people live"

"Price?"

"He says he can talk less than 500 grand, but he needs to see you" Mikhail sighed.

"If he includes the whole area—trees, all of it—I can go up to 1.5."

"Really?" Mikhail gasped, "Alright... See you soon"

Marie looked at him, she’d overheard the call a little,

"You’re getting a house?"

"Yeah. It’s perfect— secluded and with trees. I’m sure reporters wouldn’t lurk around"

"Since we’re playing marriage, you can just move in after I complete everything"

She leaned back. She didn’t hate the idea of moving in, since scandals may spread if they live separately.

This was just a complicated decision... Moving in with him.

He glanced at her,

"I’ve seen the way you eat already"

"There’s no reason to be shy" he chuckled.

She exhaled. This cheeky bastard.

____________

They quickly moved into the helicopter as they got to the helipad site.

"You’ve had a tough day" the pilot greeted them as they got in.

"Well, thank you for your service too" Trent nodded as he buckled the seat belt.

The ride back was faster— Trent laid his head back and rested.

Marie kept scrolling through her phone and cursing. Probably some social media bullshit.

They took Trent’s car as they got down.

"So, back to the hotel, yeah?" She asked as she slid into the passenger’s seat.

"Yeah... The reporters must be snooping at your place by now. They wouldn’t know where I live"

Trent drove to the hotel, windows closed ignoring the reporters at the gate.

"It’s not like I’m some celebrity" he cursed as he stepped out.

"Yeah... Celebs must have it rough at the start" Marie exhaled, eyeing the reporters.

They kept yelling their names and trying to press through but the security blocked them.

"Oh... Terna says she wants to see you" Marie gasped. She’d forgotten.

"Who’s Terna?"

"The owner of this place— she’s one of us"

"One of us, huh?" He looked around and sighed.

They walked up to the receptionist,

"Is the boss in?" Marie asked.

"Yes. I will notify her... Mrs. Marie" the receptionist nodded with a smug face.

"Playing like that, huh, Cecilia?" Marie narrowed her eyes as Cecilia chuckled, dialing.

"What’s it?" Her voice cut through the speaker

"It’s me..." Marie answered.

"Oh, Marie... You’re back"

"You’ve got a visitor waiting too..."

A visitor?

"We’re in the office" Terna added, hanging up.

Marie signalled Trent and they walked to the office.

They heard his voice as she opened the door— Anton?

What was he doing here?

He looked at them, a cup of coffee in hand as they entered. He must’ve just arrived.

"What are you doing here?" Trent asked, surprised.

"I have a life aside being a government agent, you know?" Anton chuckled as he sipped.

"How’s the twerp holding up?" He asked Marie.

"He’s here... How do you think he’s doing?" Marie answered, greeting Terna as she took her seat.

"He looks alright to me"

"I’m alright... Thanks for asking" Trent answered as he sat.

"Why are you here?"

"Tsk... You’re becoming like the wildling" Anton said, dropping the cup.

"I saw that Morlov bastard yapping and decided to come give you guys my blessings too"

"You’re not even my father" Trent muttered.

Anton stared at him— his silence heavy.

"Doesn’t mean I didn’t watch you grow and take care of your snotty ass" he snapped back.

"I brought the drink..." He raised a bottle up, "come pour it"

Trent looked at him— he was serious... Well, if there was anyone he’d call his Father, It would be Anton.

"You old man..." He took the bottle and opened it.

"Thank you for everything, Dad" he said quietly— and laughed.

Marie caught the look on Anton’s face before he could hide it— grief, happiness and pride laced with despair.

Why did he have that look?

"Hmph..." Anton gulped the drink, "You should be grateful"

Marie also poured him a drink and they laughed together.

"That’s not the only reason you’re here, right?" Trent leaned into his seat.

"Yeah..." Anton exhaled, pulling a file from the bag besides him.

"After receiving the recording she sent... We drafted a new plan going forward"

"Terna here, has a lot of underground connections with people in Kraven so you might need her help"

Terna winked at Trent, "We would be great allies"

"That’s why I wanted to see you... and to talk partnerships in investing"

"I see" Trent nodded, shifting his gaze back to Anton.

"She’s a good agent" Anton assured.

He opened the file, displaying some pictures and documents.

"He’s Ornand Curry, a basketball player— that’s what people know"

"Ornand here, works for us as a secret agent in Kraven"

He held a picture up.

"He recently caught the eye of a Princess in the Empire and they’ve been dating, while he supplied us information"

"I heard he naturalized to Kraven... Doesn’t that count as treason?" Trent asked, leaning in.

"No. Because we made it happen"

"The Emperor of Kraven— Thaddeus Kravenberch the Seventh, happens to love basketball... So the genius, Ornand caught his eye"

"And they didn’t find it weird that he got approved?"

"No. Tons of people naturalize to Kraven" Anton shook his head.

"And the Emperor has an excellent eye for talent. He’s smart, and dangerous—"

"Dangerous?" Marie asked

"He knows about the Handler’s Project" Anton exhaled as he arranged the file.

"What?!" They all shouted in surprise,

"Doesn’t that mean we are all exposed?" Terna asked.

"No" Anton replied

"How can you be so sure?" Trent looked at him.

"Before he became Emperor, Thaddeus lived here— in Westeron"

"His father— then Emperor, didn’t birth any child with his Queen and Thaddeus was an illegitimate child"

"The Empress found out and killed Thaddeus’ mother, but the Emperor had Thaddeus sent here"

Anton looked at them.

"Long story short, Thaddeus was part of the first handlers and was later called back by the Emperor who was about to die"

"He became Emperor thanks to the Handler’s Program because of how outstanding he was"

"Then why does the Empire treat us as Enemies?" Marie asked.

"Thaddeus found out that his mother had escaped the Empress, but she was killed by our people— people close with the Empress"

Anton clicked his tongue, filing his glass.

"He swore to not tell any soul about the program, but couldn’t kill the people because they’d became high up making things complicated"

"How high up?" Trent asked.

"The Presidency" Anton exhaled. Terna hissed, stretching to collect the bottle for a drink.

Anton’s phone rang and he picked it up.

"Fuck..." He cursed as he hung up.

"What happened?" Marie asked.

"One of our senators has been killed— a syringe to his heart"

Marie and Trent looked at each other.

"Just like Gentely..." they murmured

It seems the Empire has responded.

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