Handler XX: Stock Maestro

"Princess Diana" he chuckled, glancing at Marie

"There's no need to call later"

"I'm happy that you still remember me" she laughed softly

"How's everything been going, Mr. Trent?"

"Just call me Trent"

"If you'll call me Diana. If you'll be willing to accept me as a friend"

"Deal" he replied, laughing softly,

"How's everything been going, Diana? I hope you're alright"

"Well..." She paused, "I–I hear you're coming to Kraven for the world's tournament?"

Why did she stop?

Is there someone there with her?

"I'll be in Kraven soon and we can meet"

"I–I don't think I'll be able to come to---"

"Leave it to me" he cut in, firmly.

He stared at the phone as she remained silent for a while.

"See you in tomorrow, Diana"

"Tomorrow?" She gasped, "The tournament's in---"

"See you tomorrow" he cut in again.

"Take care of yourself. I'll send you some friends"

"...Friends?" She paused, confused.

"...Take care of yourself, Trent. I just called to hear from you. It'd be my pleasure to show you around but---"

"I look forward to you showing us around"

"...Thank you" she murmured, hanging up.

He exhaled, staring at the screen for a while

"Getting in touch with your family already, huh?" Marie giggled, starting the car.

"Family?" He scoffed.

The Kravenberch will not consider me a part of them.

"She's a friend" he leaned against the seat. "A frail friend"

"The knight that saves the Princess?" She glanced at him,

"It's not the Prince that saves the Princess"

"Just drive" he scoffed, typing a message to that unknown number that helped with things in Kraven.

Wait. He paused, looking at the message.

I should call Wanda to ask if I can do anything. That's not my domain.

He deleted the message and put on the seat belts.

"I'm definitely getting something expensive" she laughed softly, driving.

He chuckled, looking at her.

Should we stop at Athens Autos?

See how Mikhail's doing and get her something.

Just because.

_____

He watched her from a corner as she selected some clothes.

"She's super excited" Gina laughed, as she reached where he stood.

"Well..." He chuckled, still staring at her.

She looks so much beautiful smiling like that. That face and smile---

"Did you find anything you like?"

He blinked, shaking his head.

What was that?

Gina giggled looking at him.

"You should go meet her if you're going to be staring that hard"

"She's going to buy everything there at this rate" he chuckled, ignoring what she just said.

"It's not like you can't pay for it"

He turned to Gina and smiled,

"What does she like the most?"

"Hmmm..." Gina paused for a moment, "It's a very limited edition and we don't have it available. She's always wanted to get it but she's too much of a miser to buy it"

"She couldn't buy it?" His brows furrowed, confused.

"She's too much of a miser to get it for herself" Gina huffed.

"What is it, and how much?"

Her eyes brightened with excitement,

"It's a bag... 2 million dollars"

He looked at her for a few seconds and turned to look at Marie.

"Can you get it today?"

"T–Today?" She gasped,

"Like---"

"Before we leave" he glanced at her,

"I'll add any amount you want"

"Damn..." Gina muttered,

"I know a place that'll have it"

"Tell me the account number and I'll send the payment"

She brought out her phone and called the account details while he processed the transfer from his bank app.

"Two and---" she gasped, looking at his face sharply,

"I'm sure we'll get a lot of things at this rate. If 500 isn't enough, I'll send more"

"I–It's---"

"What's going on?" Marie interrupted, walking closer to them with one of the staffs.

"It's---"

"I just paid for the things" he cut in with a smile, turning to her.

"Oh?" She tilted her head, chuckling.

"Thank you very much, Hun"

He blinked, smiles widening.

"I'll go get some refreshments for you lovebirds" Gina giggled, signalling the staff to her side.

"We'll soon---"

"You just spent a ton here" she shook her head interrupting Marie.

"Melissa will take you to the private area and I'll order your favorite pastries"

Trent chuckled as he saw Marie's eyes brightened immediately.

"I'll have the same thing"

"Of course" Gina winked at him, walking off.

"You got so many clothes" he turned to Marie.

"A lady's clothes has no limits" she chuckled, watching Gina walk off.

"What did you get?"

"Picked a few suits and tuxedos"

"You should also take some casual wears. You've been living too corporate"

"Noted. I'll get---"

"I picked some for you" She chuckled, turning her face away

When did she---

"Thank you"

The staff led them into the private room and brought a bottle of wine and the snacks after a couple of minutes.

"These are still fresh" She giggled, taking one of yen doughnuts from the box.

"Don't stuff yourself so you can have the curry rice"

"Aye, Captain" he chuckled, picking one from the box

_____

"What's that?" She asked glanced at the extra bag he held.

"A gift" he chuckled, nodding to the staff.

She looked around, searching for Gina. Just what did he buy? And who's he going to give the gift to?

She turned her face away as she realized he'd noticed her staring too hard.

"It's for you" he laughed softly, passing the bag.

"You can check it when we get home"

"I'll check it when we get in the car" she passed the car key and one of the bags she held.

He chuckled, looking at her face as he collected the things from her.

After they dropped the bags, except the gift bag, on the trunk, he opened the passenger's seat for her

"Well, thank you" she giggled as she slid into the seat and closed the door.

"I'll make a quick call" he smiled, pulling his phone out from his pocket

"I'll check what you got me, then" She chuckled, nodding.

He laughed softly, turning his back from her

"Knock yourself out"

Now. He scanned around and smiled at the staffs standing around as he dialed the number— Wanda.

"Hello, Trent" she answered immediately it connected.

"Hello... Wanda"

"Hurtful" she chuckled,

"Anyway you want it, though"

"That's how you want it" he replied firmly

"...why the sudden call, Trent? I'm sure they already arranged the tickets and you can stay in as many rooms as you want in the hotel since you've got the card---"

"That's not why I'm calling" he cut in,

"I... need a favor"

She stayed silent for a while before responding,.

"As the Madam, Wanda, or... Mom?"

Mom? He scoffed

"Diana Le Kravenberch..."

"The collateral you saved?"

"...Yes"

"Alright... What do you want?"

He exhaled, turning to look at the car.

"I think she's under some weird surveillance where she is. I need you to change everyone around her except the ones she trust"

"Hmmm... And you want a favor for this? You do remember that we do not involve ourselves in issues concerning governments and---"

"That's why I'm asking for permission. And I'm not involving myself in any succession disputes. I'm just helping a friend that's in a shitty situation"

"I'll have to talk to the leader about it---"

"Thank you" he sighed, "I thought---"

"On one condition" she mused,

"...what do you want?"

"You really need this, don't you?" She chuckled,

What's she playing at?

"Of course I do"

"You can't watch your frail young friend fall into the claws of people so evil, can you?"

"Stop playing around and just say what you want. I don't have---"

"Mom" she cut in sharply,

"Call me Mom"

W–What? He blinked, surprised.

Call her... Mom?

"You've gotta be kidding me" he muttered

"Oh, I'm not" she replied

He chuckled in a dry tone, staring at the phone's screen.

"Help me with the favor... Mom..."

"That's not how you---"

"Mom" he cut in, sharper tone than he'd intended.

"Have a nice day, Mom" he added, cutting the call.

Does she think this is some kind of joke?

Fuck.

He closed his eyes for a few seconds and exhaled as he opened them.

Ruining my mood all of a sudden.

_____

He slid into the driver's seat, glancing at Marie who was staring at him as he entered.

"I'm sorry it took longer than I'd expected. I didn't think---"

"Thank you" she cut in.

He turned to look at her properly— a beautiful smile met his eyes. One that melted all the frustration away.

Fuck.

"It's no problem about your call" she turned her face away, embarrassed by his gaze.

"J–Just... Thank you" she stuttered.

"Gina said You could've gotten it if you wanted"

"I'm not going to spend 2 million on a bag" she turned to him immediately.

"But you'd gladly spend that much on a car"

"That's my babies... Gotta splash on them" she chuckled.

"Let's stop by Athens Autos and go to the eatery for lunch" he chuckled, looking at how tightly she held onto the bag

"Quick reminder... I don't have money to pay you with. Except you're going to take---"

"I'll gladly take you, Mo chéri" he chuckled, starting the car

"Ugh... You're scaring me already"

She picked her phone up as it buzzed.

"What's this?" She muttered, growling.