Handler XX: Stock Maestro
Chapter 7: What if I say we get married?

Chapter 7: What if I say we get married?

"No we’re not in danger. It’s just—"

"It’s just what?" Trent glanced at her

"I have a nosy Father" she exhaled.

"Should I pull over? Who the hell are you?"

Trent slowed the car down

"No. Keep going"

"They’ll give up soon" she replied.

"I’ll tell you about myself some other time, not now"

"That’ll be much appreciated. Really" Trent huffed as he increased the speed.

They got to the store and a valet came out to take the key.

"What kind of store has valet?" Trent asked as they walked in.

"This kind" she laughed, "It’s one of the oldest stores in the city"

"If it isn’t Miss Marie" a lady walked to the, hands stretched

"It’s good to see you again, Gina" Marie greeted, hugging her.

"This is Gina, the store manager. This is Trent" she introduced.

"Hi. It’s nice to meet you" Trent greeted with a bow

"Such an excellent young man. Have you finally decided to give dating a chance?"

"It’s nice to meet you" she walked towards Trent, her gaze shifting around his body

"A bit frail, but handsome. I have the excellent clothes for you" she laughed taking his hands.

"He needs a suit—" Marie cut in.

"For the wedding?" Gina teased

"I have excellent suits. I’m the best in town, remember?" She laughed, guiding them to a section.

Some of the suits caught his eye as he looked through the clothes but a black one with a rose design stood out.

"Can I see that one?" He asked, pointing at it.

"That’s an excellent choice. You’ve got taste" Gina laughed.

She picked it and looked at it, "Excellent"

"I’ll get some things for myself. She’ll lead you through while you pick" Marie said, walking off

"So... How did you guys meet?" Gina leaned in.

"What?"

"How did you meet? Marie is kind of a hard nut to crack" she giggled.

"At her eatery" he answered, "and yes— she’s a tough nut"

They both laughed.

They paid for everything they got and had them arranged into bags.

As soon as they stepped out, a man blocked them,

"Good evening, Miss" he bowed, "The Master would like to meet you"

Trent glanced at Marie. She seemed irritated by what was going on.

"I don’t want to meet him" she snapped back.

"He says to bring you" the man insisted.

"New mission initializing..." Ave cut in.

"The Ergo Palace— Interact with target. Bonus reward will be given"

A bonus reward again? He’d tried to read when he got home and he absorbed more than he previously could. The +5 Intelligence was so awesome.

He glanced at Marie, she didn’t seem like going. Should be just give up on this one,

"Ave, Is there a penalty for not going?" He whispered,

"Negative" Ave responded

Marie turned to him, "You should go home. I have to settle this issue" she said handing him her bags

"The master wants him to be there too" the man says.

"He’s nobody— He doesn’t have to be there" she fires back.

"If it’s alright, I’ll go with you" Trent interrupted

"No... You don’t know what you’ll be entering"

"I guess I’ll just see" he laughed

"Ugh" she scratched her head, looking at him, "Don’t blame me"

The valet brought the key and Trent tossed it to the Man.

Marie kept groaning and mumbling as they drove to the place. Why did meeting her father make her so uncomfortable?

_________

They walked into the place. It was a very luxurious hotel— fitting to be called a Palace.

The receptionist greeted them and they headed straight for the elevators and arrived in a private area.

There was a table with two seats at the middle of the room. Trent seemed to have seen the man seated somewhere..

Morlov Sanchez? He turned to Marie sharply, "Your Dad’s Morlov Sanchez?" He whispered

So, Mo— was supposed to be Morlov?

She just looked at him and frowned.

"It’s good to see you, my Princess" Morlov said as they walked closer

"I wish I could say the same" she scoffed as she walked to the seat.

"Still as cheeky as ever. You’ll get married soon, you should talk like a lady"

She sat on the chair opposite his and folded her arms.

"Why am I here?"

"You’re here, because I, your father wanted to see you" he answered, dipping his knife into the steak.

"A father that sent his daughter to a government program and wants to marry her off is not a father to me"

"You’ll understand all my intentions soon" he continued as he ate.

Trent watched the tension between them.

He’d been notified by Ave that Morlov Sanchez was the target when he stepped into the room.

How does he start the interaction?

"And I wanted to meet your Friend" he looked up at Trent.

"I’ve heard incredible things about you in the past hour, Handler 87"

Trent blinked. Was he supposed to know that?

"I’m Trent Ackerman" he bowed forcing a smile.

"Yes. And I’m sure you know who I am"

"But.. I am also the Father to this Princess. And I don’t want rumors flying about when she’s about to be married" Morlov replied, twirling his glass of wine.

Trent looked at Marie. She grinded her teeth as she looked at her father.

"I’m not getting married to that fucker. Find some other way to play your politics" she hit the table.

"I am your father. And If I say you are, then you are" he fired back, bringing his glass to the table.

They stared at each other for a few seconds.

"This is for your own good. And for the good of the family" he said calmly, wiping his mouth.

Marie growled low, cornered and furious. She glanced at Trent.

"I already have somebody to marry"

"That’s not going to work on me" Morlov shook his head.

"I’ll get married to who I want to marry. You have another daughter, marry them off"

She stood up to leave, holding Trent by his arms.

"You, be careful" Morlov said to Trent as they walked off.

__________

"Am I permitted to know what that was about?" Trent asked as he drove.

She’d been awfully quiet when they left the place, unlike her usual self.

She looked at Trent and exhaled, "That bastard is my Father"

"Yeah. That was kind of clear" Trent answered

"It’s alright if you don’t want to talk about it. I was just curious about the marriage part"

She fell silent for a moment as if thinking about it.

"He wants me to get married to a Prince of the Kraven Empire" she muttered.

Trent gripped at the wheels trying not to lose control from the surprise.

"Yeah. He’s planning to create ties with the Empire for the growth of his business, and—"

"I’m the sacrificial lamb" she laughed, cold, self-mocking, bitter.

"I didn’t start the Handler’s Project like you guys" she continued.

"I was three when my mother died. And he placed me in the program because I was an illegitimate child"

Trent just listened as he drove. It must have been very hard for her. No wonder she hates him.

"For my own good, my ass"

"To that lecherous drunkard and he says it’s for my good"

"Is the Prince bad?" Trent asked softly.

"Hah" she scoffed, "not a week goes by without him causing a scandal"

"He once beat a hooker to death in his room while toying with her"

"They covered it up, but I’ve got sources"

"I’m sorry you’re going through such a terrible situation" Trent replied.

He pulled over at the front of the eatery.

"If there’s anything I can do, just let me know"

She looked at him as if trying to make a request but held herself back

"Anything?"

"That’s a dangerous thing to say" she laughed as she got off with her bags.

"I’ll help as long as I can, I promise" Trent smiled at her, with assurance.

"You’ll regret these words, Golden Boy... Never make promises you can’t keep" she said as she walked off.

Trent watched her enter the eatery before driving off.

________

He quickly turned on the laptop as he entered the house.

"Selene Corp... and Fordow"

Ave had directed him to initiate a buy for Fordow by 12pm the next day.

He’d buy Selene by 8, and Fordow by 12.

And he couldn’t think about the bonus reward in the heat of the moment but he’d been feeling the changes gradually.

+3 Stamina. Is this some stat thing?

"Ave?"

"Yes, Trent"

"Can I check my stats since you keep adding?"

"Affirmative"

Strength: 6

Agility: 7

Stamina: 10

Intelligence: 27

"Strength and Agility are one digit" he mumbled

"What’s the average for an adult male"

"An adult male, averages 10" Ave responded.

He sighed in frustration.

He closed his laptop after setting the order for Selene Corp and went to bed.

____________

The sound of his phone woke him up. He rubbed his eyes, who’d call him at this time?

He picked the phone without looking at the caller id.

"Hello" he answered sluggishly, "who’s this?"

"It’s me" Marie’s voice cut through the speaker.

"Marie... It’s so early" he looked at his phone, "it’s just past 5"

"You said you’ll help me right? You promised"

"Yeah... What’s up?" He replied, positioning himself on the bed post.

"What if—" she hesitated,

"What if, what?"

"What if I say we get married?"

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