Handler XX: Stock Maestro

Why is he here?

He glanced at Marie— she looked irritated, even though she tried to mask it

"I'm taking it he didn't contact you" he muttered,

"Calm down..."

She shot him a glare, gritting her teeth.

"You've got a beautiful place here" Morlov chuckled, eyes trailing around to scan the place.

"I must've missed the house opening invitation" he looked at them.

"It's nice to see you, Sir..." Trent glanced at Marie and walked towards him.

"It's nice to see you too, Lord Ste---" Morlov paused, looking towards Marie with a grin.

Trent's jaw tightened.

What the hell was he planning?

"It's nice to see you, Trent" Morlov chuckled,

"And you too, my Princess— you should've invited Papa over when you moved in"

Papa?

Marie clenched her fist, forcing a smile.

"I have been busy. It's nice to meet you too... Dad." She felt a shiver of embarrassment flow through her as she called him that.

Dad?

Well, he was.

Not just qualified to be called that by me.

And what was he about to call Trent?

She stared at Trent.

Fuck.

Trent flinched moving towards Morlov.

I can feel her stares like daggers at the back of my head.

"There was no house opening" he chuckled nervously, "We'd have invited you"

"Yeah" Morlov scoffed, "You've been very busy" his eyes trailed towards the cars,

"I'm here now" he laughed, turning to Trent with his arms stretched apart.

"Are we going to head in, or is has it not been opened yet so no invitation?"

He looked at Marie and smirked.

What a cute expression.

I don't care if you like me, Marie...

I'm here to draw a line.

He chuckled, glancing at Trent as he led him towards the door.

I'm not going to let a boy still wet behind his ears lead me.

I am Morlov Sanchez and I should be Lord. Not some yellow haired kid from some training centre.

And you...

"Are you still mad at Papa about the marriage arrangement?" He looked at her as he reached where she stood.

She gritted her teeth silently before replying,

"Why would I be? I---"

"You've forgiven me, then" he cut in, interrupting her, "Makes me happy to know" he grinned, winking at her.

Ugh...

Oh, Stars— just one punch on that smug face.

Just one.

She tightened her fist

Trent coughed, shaking his head slightly as their eyes met.

He looked at Morlov.

Was he here to threaten me with Marie?

What a funny old man.

It'd actually work if this was a real marriage.

I wouldn't be keeping things away from her now if it was, would I?

You would.

His subconscious jeered at him.

You're secretive, Trent.

It's a method of survival and excitement you've developed.

As if.

He glanced at her as she walked behind Morlov and looked towards the gate as Theo drove in.

Xander looked at him, confused, seeing the car parked and the driver standing at the front of the car.

Trent signalled him to come and walked in.

_____

"This place is great..." Morlov mused as Marie led him into the drawing room.

"It's lacking in workers though... I could help with that"

"I already asked somebody for that" Trent closed the door as he walked behind them.

"It's a fitting place for a Lor---" Morlov coughed, glancing at Marie with a grin.

"It's a fitting place for a billionaire such as yourself... You could come to me for advice when you get wealthier"

Marie huffed, looking at Trent.

That name again.

Lord, what?

Trent turned his face away as their eyes met.

This old bastard.

You're here to play games, huh?

"I'll definitely do that" he coughed,

"Miss Serta says you've contacted her with the investor"

"Oh. Yes. My friend was very pleased to see the company's plans. She's a good one isn't she?"

"Of course" Trent scoffed,

"She's a very excellent help"

Marie just sat down and watched them.

What was he even here for?

It's definitely not just to meet us.

"I decided to know where my Princess lived" Morlov looked at her,

"You've married a really great Man" he chuckled.

"Thank you for your praises" Trent chuckled, bowing slightly.

Morlov smirked, walking towards one of the paintings.

He glanced towards the door as Xander entered the room.

"Good day, Sir" Xander bowed towards him,

"Aren't you... Reeve's Technologies CEO?"

"He is..." Trent chuckled, "Meet Reeves Technologies CEO, Xander Ferte"

"and butler..." Xander chuckled, bowing slightly.

"Butler?" Morlov raised a brow.

"He works for me and he's been entrusted with the company based on his excellent performance and qualifications"

"Thank you" Xander chuckled.

"Get us some wine, Man. I'm sure---"

"No" Morlov cut in,

"I have somewhere to be. I just came here to give my repec---" he paused as if he made a mistake and hummed softly for a second.

"I'm here to see my princess and Son-in-law. And I've seen you people doing well, which nourishes my heart" he smiled towards Marie.

"I'll be on my way"

"But... A little more---"

"Don't worry about me, Lord St---" he shook his head, "Take care of my Princess, Trent Ackerman"

He bowed slightly and walked towards the door.

Trent's eyes caught Marie's, who was staring at him.

Fuck.

This old foggy.

"Have a great day, Sir"

"I will" Morlov mused, "Let's have a brief introduction as you lead me out, Mr. Ferte" he tapped Xander's shoulder as he reached him.

Xander looked at Trent who nodded in approval that he goes.

"Alright..."

_______

"M–Marie..." He called out as she stood and stormed out of the room.

Fuck.

He stood for a while and followed behind her.

As soon as she got into the room, she took a bag and started arranging some clothes into it.

Damnit.

"Hey..." He called out again, looking at her as she stuffed the bag

"Don't hey me, Trent..." She huffed, zipping the bag.

"I don't know what---"

"And don't lie to me either" she shot him a glare

He gulped as she walked towards him.

"Wait" he held her as she reached him.

"I know I need to make some explanations and I'm really sorry that---"

"That you can't, right?" She laughed softly, yanking her arm from his grip.

He just stared at her for a second.

"I'm not doing anything against you, I promise..." He muttered.

"Yeah?" She scoffed, "First it was that secretary, who is clearly not some ordinary secretary— I looked at her background. So many loopholes that I could find. Too clean"

"It's..."

"Then it's the deals and weird relationship you have with him. Things you're hiding and now he suddenly starts calling you Lord" she shook her head with a dry laugh.

"Lord of what, Trent?"

"It's not---"

"You're in a group with him. Maybe all this was planned. I don't care to know anymore" she pushed him aside and walked off.

"M–Marie..." He called out, frustrated.

She didn't stop. She walked past Xander and Theo who were entering and headed straight for her car to storm off.

Xander and Theo looked at Trent.

"What's---"

"No" Xander whispered to Theo stopping him.

Trent glanced at them and walked inside the room.

Morlov.

That bastard.

_____

He turned towards his phone as it rang.

Who was calling this early in the morning.

A bit of nervousness flowed through his mind with thoughts of Marie but he shrugged it off as he looked at the caller.

Yvaine.

"Hello..." He grumbled as he picked the call.

"Good morning..." She mused,

"Good morning. What's this about?"

"...Our meeting. You've not forgotten, have you?"

"Of course not" he replied, sitting upright against the bed post.

"Good" she mused,

"The Lords are proud of the results you've shown them"

Oh. The stock price action call I gave them.

I couldn't even check it yesterday with everything going on.

I'd gone to the eatery later that night but Marie wasn't there.

She probably found another place to stay.

"Just send me the location and I'll be there around the time. I'm kind of busy this morning though"

"Alright. See you soon"

"Okay..." He hung up before she did and exhaled.

Time to get ready and meet Anton and those other heads of branches.

He looked over the other side of the bed.

Why did the empty space feel like a hole in my chest?

Fuck.

He ran his hand through his hair as he stood up from the bed and walked towards the bathroom.

_____

"Good morning, Sir..." Mia greeted as he walked into the dining room.

"Good morning, Mia"

Wait. Would she know about where Marie was?

No need.

"I'll be leaving this morning and might not be back till tomorrow"

"Okay, Sir"

"...If Mar---" he paused, shaking his head.

"Sir?"

"Nevermind"

A call came in as he sat to eat— Anton.

"Good morning, Twerp..."

"Good morning. I'll be with you soon"

"I know. There's been some changes— that's why I'm calling"

"Changes?"

"Yeah. It's a switch of locations"

What type of damned morning is this?