Handler XX: Stock Maestro-Chapter 26: Ghosts

"What are you doing here?"

"That hurts— I missed you"

Trent walked to the door to check who it was.

"Perfect. You’re here— the husband"

"Who’s this?" Trent asked, eyeing the man with the bouquet.

"He’s—"

"Her boyfriend" the man replied, chuckling.

"He’s not," she snapped.

Trent turned to the Man, "She never mentioned you."

If she had a boyfriend, why not choose him for the fake marriage? His chest tightened as he clenched his fist.

"I’m Trent Ackerman— the husband" he faked a smile.

"Zayn Volta," the man said, smiling. "Boyfriend."

"No. Ex-boyfriend," she snapped.

Trent exhaled, looking at them. What sort of bullshit is this?

Wait... Why does this bastard looks familiar?

Zayn Volta— Handler’s Program. Same branch, graduated 5 years ago.

He picked his phone as it rang,

"Hello" he walked away to answer

"Good morning, Mr. Trent" Kimberly greeted from the other end.

"Good morning, Miss Kimberly. What’s up?"

"I wanted to tell you that you can move in whenever you want— everything’s ready"

"Great. Thank you very much. I’ll move in immediately— it’s perfect"

"You’re welcome. Xander and Mia are grateful you’ve given them a chance"

"It’s alright— I’ll head there soon"

He looked back towards the door— they were whispering so he couldn’t hear them. How nice.

He stuffed some clothes and his laptop into a bag.

They stopped their conversation when he walked closer.

"What’s this?" She looked at his hand, surprised.

"Mr. Boyfriend" he turned to Zayn, "I don’t know what this is about, or why you’re here, but she’s my wife"

"Fake wife" Zayn coughed with a smirk.

How does he know about that?

Trent glanced at Marie— she seemed equally confused.

"Isn’t that right?" Zayn asked her, raising a brow.

"That’s what I thought"

Trent looked at her. She couldn’t say a word to deny it. He exhaled.

"You two have a fun reunion"

"Trent—" she called after him.

He didn’t stop.

To hell with the fake marriage.

_____________

"Welcome, Sir" they bowed as he walked towards them.

"Thank you— it’s nice to meet you guys. I hope we get along well" He forced a smile as he replied.

"Show me to my room" he ordered, walking away. Xander took the bag and followed behind.

"The Madam—" Mia asked.

"She’s on a trip. It’s just me for now"

Mia showed him to the room— neat and spacious.

"You’ll have to do the cooking and cleaning since it’s both of you— Xander will assist you. How much were you been paid?" He asked as he walked in.

"Five thousand, monthly" Xander answered.

He thought for a while. Five thousand— such pennies. Wait, wasn’t that what he was given? His jaws tightened.

"That’ll be twenty thousand from now on— do well to find more people"

Mia and Xander looked at each other,

"Thank you very much, Sir"

"If there’s any need, do tell me"

"What would you like to have, Sir?" Mia asked as Xander dropped the bag and set up the TV.

"I’m not in the mood— maybe pork for dinner"

They bowed and left the room

He exhaled as he sat on the bed. Marie Morlov and Zayn Volta, huh? Right when he— hah... What a shitty life.

His phone rang—Marie again. Seven missed calls. He ignored it.

"A fake marriage" he huffed. Perhaps the real marriage candidate just showed up.

Why are you like this, Trent? Getting jealous and acting like a loser.

He stood up to take his clothes off and headed into the bathroom.

_____________

"Sir" Xander bowed as he stepped out of the room.

"Can you please stop bowing? I’m not a King"

Xander hesitated a bit and smiled, "Yes, Sir"

"I want to take a tour of the place and note for repairs"

Xander led him out and they walked around the manor— it was spacious, with fields and even a small creek for fishing.

"Befitting a Senator" Trent murmured as he continued.

"What’s that place?" He turned to Xander, pointing at an isolated building behind the stables.

"That’s the Senator’s private place— outsiders are not allowed"

"Right... and I’m an outsider now, ain’t I?" He scoffed

"I’m very sorry, Sir" Xander bowed

"Wait for me here" he commanded as they reached the place.

Why wasn’t this on the house plans? Too small—or too secret?

He walked in and looked around— almost empty. A few workout equipments and an odd axe stuck to the wall at the end of the room.

He tried to pull the axe out and mistakenly pushed the handle down.

He turned around as he heard a noise— gears turning. The floor split apart at the middle of the room, revealing a stairway.

That Old Fox was hiding something, huh?

The air grew colder as he moved downward, each step echoing like he was trespassing in someone’s secrets.

He descended into a dim room lined with shelves. At the center, a computer sat on a dusty desk.

Trent checked the books first— advanced studies on technology, computer programs and artificial intelligence.

A study? He flipped through one book—barely understood a thing.

His eyes caught the colors painted on the shelf at each sides of the room— green, yellow, red and black.

He walked to the part of the shelf colored green and picked a book— basic knowledge on technology studies.

He looked around the room— so, basic, intermediate, advanced and? His eyes stopped trailing at the shelf colored black.

The lights dimmed as he turned the computer on.

A blank screen with a combination of numbers he didn’t understand— it didn’t change pages no matter what it tried.

He sighed and shut the screen. "Angela needs to see this," he muttered turning the screen off

As he walked up the stairs, he sighted the soundproofing panels on the walls of the main room.

"I like the room— don’t let anybody go near it except I approve" he said to Xander as he walked out

"Yes, Sir"

He groaned as his phone rang— unknown number.

"Hello..." He answered, walking away.

The person on the other end chuckled as he answered.

"Who’s this?"

"Sorry, you just sounded funny," the woman said, clearing her throat.

Funny? He squinted, one brow lifting, as if trying to make sense of the nonsense.

"What’s funny, and who is this?"

"You don’t remember my voice?" Her tone dropped.

"After all those nice memories we shared— those promises..." She sniffled.

Nice memories. Promises.

Shit... Elena?

"Elena?" he whispered, eyes widening.

"Bingo" she laughed.

Elena... Somebody he’d fallen in love with in the program. Pure combats department. She’d left 5 years earlier than normal and Anton said she taken out for urgent treatment. Why was she suddenly back?

"Are you there?"

"Y–Yes, Elena"

She went quiet for a while,

"You’re not even calling me El or Mama anymore?"

He cleared his throat, "It’s been a while"

"Yeah— five years" she replied, dragging the words.

"I heard you’re rich now and even got married"

"Well..." He tried speaking. His chest tightened. You’re supposed to be dead. He didn’t say it, but it was all he could think. That part of his past—buried, grieved—was suddenly breathing again.

"Can we meet?" She asked, "I got into town two days ago"

"Oh. Welcome back..."

"Or, should I come to you?— I’ve missed you a lot, ti roi..."

"Ti roi?"

"It means ’my love’—Icardenian."

"Send me your location and I’ll be there by evening"

"Alright" she replied, excitedly and hung up.

TERTO’S MOTEL. ROOM 10, I’LL INFORM RECEPTION.

A motel? He exhaled, turning back to Xander.

"Get me plain clothes, a hoodie, and a mask—use the Porche." he counted some cash from his wallet.

"Ah... I forgot to give you the keys, Sir"

"It’s no problem. Mikhail hasn’t even called. Must be busy. Taking a taxi here was stressful"

"I’ll get you the keys, Sir"

Ugh. This formal way of speaking...

He walked off, Xander following behind into the house.

________________

A knock came in as he scrolled through the Internet, "Come in"

Xander walked in with a bag.

"These are the clothes, Sir. And the change" he stretched some cash forward.

"Keep the change, Man. Thank you" Trent stood up to check the clothes.

"Nice..." He muttered as he looked at them. "You’ll help me with shopping soon again"

"It’ll be my pleasure"

He wore the hoodie and nose mask and Xander handed him the car key.

"Tell Mia that I’ll eat when I get back"

_____________

Trent sighted her as soon as he pulled over— still as beautiful and sexy as ever

He paused as he observed her waving at a taxi that was about to leave. A friend?

"Hello..." he whispered as he reached her.

She threw her arms around his neck.

"Ti roi..."

He gasped, gently pushing her away as she tightened her arms around his neck.

"It’s nice to see you too... El"

She stepped back, eyes narrowing.

"Fuck. Those bastards..."

Trent’s eyes trailed the direction she looked at. His jaws tightened as he sighted her.

Why the fuck was she here?

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