Handler XX: Stock Maestro-Chapter 22: On the Floor

"What’s the issue?" Trent spoke into the phone, as he drove.

"You’ll see— just head to the location... Boss" Scarlet chuckled

"It better be something good— worth my time"

"Depends on your standards... They don’t appear to be too high"

"Yeah? That’s why you’re not my type" Trent snapped, hanging up.

The message had ruined his mood and almost affected the date— was it a date?

He exhaled, gripping the steering wheel tighter, "Get your shit straight, Trent" he muttered, gritting his teeth.

What will she think if he does arrange a date? Hah... So confusing. Should he just forget it since it’s a fake marriage?

___________

"Welcome... Boss" she smiled walking towards him, arms stretched wide open.

"I don’t need your welcome... What’s the code Blue?"

"If red is bad, blue’s gotta be good, no?" She sighed, dropping her hands.

"What nonsense is that? What’s good about coming here?" He snapped at her.

She turned back, walking away from him.

"You told me to find an office— I got you a whole building. That’s blue"

He paused for a moment, eyes trailing at the height of the building.

"The whole place? How much?"

"5 million— they won’t go lower"

He thought about it for a while.

Before coming here, he’d invested 2 million dollars from his over 90 balance into Greta & Bolts stocks this morning.

"What are you thinking so hard about?— You don’t have that much?" She asked.

"I do— Let’s see how this goes" he walked past her.

"You know you’re rude, right?— saying I’m not your type and not wishing me a happy new month" she clicked her tongue.

"Does Kraven wish everyone happy new months? How surprising— I only wish my friends"

She walked faster, overtaking him.

"You’re lucky that you’re... Ugh... Bastard" she grumbled.

___________

"Miss Serta— You’re here. We had doubts" a man walked towards them

"Mr. Raymond was about to leave" he added turning to the Man beside him.

"You’re in luck then, Buck" Scarlet chuckled, stretching her hands towards the other man.

"Yenifer Serta— Secretary. This is my boss— Trent Ackerman" she introduced Trent.

The man ignored her and turned to Trent, "It’s nice to meet you. I’m Raymond Richardson— I own this building"

"Rude..." Scarlet muttered, withdrawing her hand.

Trent chuckled seeing the anger on her face. How refreshing...

"It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Richardson" he stretched his hand for a handshake.

Raymond looked at his hand ignored it too.

"Call me Mr. Raymond. My father was Mr. Richardson"

Scarlet laughed— softly and mockingly, covering her mouth with a hand. She watched as Trent clenched his fist and withdrew his hand.

"I’m sorry" Buck laughed, nervously. "Mr. Raymond keeps a strict hygiene—"

"I said 5 million— you’re late, so it’s gone up to 7 million" Raymond interrupted.

Bucked turned to him sharply, surprised.

"What’s going on...Serta?!" Trent asked, grinding his teeth

"Mr. Raymond, this isn’t what we agreed on the phone... Is it, Buck?"

"This is my goddamn building— I set the price, you do as you’re told— it’s my territory"

Trent chuckled. Territory, huh? A little man playing territory Lord...

"Some territory you’ve got— worth so much that the Lord is about to sell it"

"8 million— you’re being rude and wasting my time" Raymond stepped closer with a grin.

"How about... no million?" Trent snapped.

Richard growled, grinding his teeth as Trent spoke to Scarlet.

Suddenly, some masked men with weapons ran into the building.

"On the floor. All of you!!!" One shouted, firing a shot.

The staffs being the reception desk hid while the others present panicked, dropping to the floor.

"Don’t..." Trent whispered to Scarlet as she reached for her gun.

He scanned the Men as he dropped to his knees. They were armed— shotguns and pistols.

Fuck. What kind of shitty luck is this? fгeewebnovёl.com

____________

One of the masked Men dragged the a staff towards them as the others stood watch over Trent and the others.

"The Manager— caught him hiding in the closet"

The others laughed as he pushed the Manager to the ground, spitting on him.

Another walked up to the Manager and squatted— he’d been the one to call the shot. Most probably the Boss.

"All of you are going to work with us— Our employer needs the building papers, you got that?" He said to the manager, holding his face.

He trailed the Manager’s eye as he panicked and looked at Buck

"Who’s he?" He laughed holding the manager by his face.

"What’s your name, suit man?"

"B–Birdman" the manager stammered.

"Birdman?" He laughed loudly.

"The suit man says his name is Birdman" he turned to a lady besides the manager— another hostage.

"Not funny?" He glared at her.

She laughed, nervously.

"Hah... This lass thinks I’m funny" he stood up. "She thinks my existence is funny!"

The lady cried softly, trying to explain herself.

"Perhaps she needs some lesson" he reached for his trousers to unbuckle the belt.

Scarlet growled as she watched them. She turned to Trent— he was staring at them, jaw tightened. Clearly angered. Why did he tell her to stop?

"That’s the owner" Birdman shouted, pointing towards Buck as the man unbuckled his belt.

"The new owner?" The Boss looked up, excitedly.

"Ahem..." He cleared his throat as he looked towards them.

"That’s the owner, huh?" He arranged himself and walked up to Raymond.

"You’re the rich owner of this place, huh?" He held Raymond’s chin up— eyes still trailing in search of something.

"I guess Birdman couldn’t stop but be a chicken" he laughed as he released Raymond’s face.

Raymond coughed, falling back as the man released him. He glanced towards Trent and then back at the Man.

"I’m the owner— What can I help you with?"

"Let’s talk in your office" The Man smiled at him. He signalled some of his Men and they left 3 others to watch the hostages as they walked up to Raymond’s office.

"You saw that?" Trent whispered to Scarlet, "Ray’s got some massive balls" he chuckled.

"Hey!!" One of the men shouted at him, "Keep quiet or I’ll make you"

After a few minutes, the Men walked back with a bag and the Boss glanced at Trent— eyes meeting.

"You’re all saved!!!" he turned to the hostages— arms stretched wide.

"You all should be grateful to the owner— such a kind Lord"

He turned to Raymond who grinded his teeth in a corner.

"Thank you very much"

He fired his gun once more and they left, hurriedly getting into their cars and speeding off.

__________

"That was well taken care of— Thank you, Mr. Richardson" Trent said as he stood up, dusting his clothes.

Raymond glared at him,

"My bad... Mr. Raymond" Trent chuckled.

"We will get back to you, Buck" Scarlet spoke to Buck gripping his shoulder.

Buck winced and shook his shoulder off— scared.

"I–I look forward to the next meeting" he stuttered,

"I’m sure Mr. Raymond looks forward to it too"

Raymond walked off, not saying a word.

"He should" Scarlet muttered, "it’ll be a meeting he’ll never forget"

Trent ignored Scarlet as she tried to explain and talk about what just happened.

What kind of crap was she going to say anyway?

"Take care of it"

"Knew you weren’t my type" he muttered as he got into the car.

_________

"Hello"

"Hello— This is Earl’s Palace. How may I help you, Sir"

"I would like to reserve a table for two— Premium"

The person went silent for a bit,

"There’s one available... Tonight?"

"Yeah... Name’s Trent Ackerman. I’ll send the money and forward the receipt"

"The details are on our webpage— Thank you, Sir"

Trent cut the call and started the engine, watching Scarlet walk away.

"Blue, my ass" he muttered.

___________

Raymond hummed to the tone of the music playing.

That bastard, Nico— he’d told them to come that time but he should’ve at least called.

Trent Ackerman— such a big fish.

He bit his lower lip as he thought about it. Such a perfect plan gone to waste— sell the property and have it stolen back.

Since it’ll be sent to an account under a fake name, it would’ve been hard to trace back to him and there will be no proof of the payment.

He even had the cameras shut down in the whole building that morning— fuck.

His phone rang, pulling him from his thoughts.

"Nico" he spoke into the phone

"Lord Raymond"

"You bastard" Raymond cursed,

"You dare collect more money from me?"

"I couldn’t bring my brothers to a party and not serve food, could I?" Nico answered, chuckling.

"They send their thanks, Boss— hit me up when the main dish is ready" he laughed, hanging up.

"This bastard..." Raymond muttered to himself.

"Marcus!" He shouted towards the door for his butler.

"Marcus!!!" He repeated, standing up

"I don’t think he’ll hear you" a voice cut through the edge of the room

Raymond staggered back, surprised

"Who’s there" he shouted.

"It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Richardson"

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