Handler XX: Stock Maestro-Chapter 31: Jackpot!

His phone rang as they stepped out of the building— Scarlet. He looked at the notifications, five missed calls. The room must’ve blocked out cell reception.

"What’s up?"

"Where have you been? Ignoring my calls, Boss?"

"I’ve been... busy" he quickened his step away from them.

"I just saw the calls, what’s going on?"

"I’ve arranged the secret child, we just need your signature. And, the Madam says well done"

He exhaled, turning to look at them.

"Well, it’s happened. Let’s meet tomorrow"

"It might be today" she muttered, "Somebody contacted us to meet yesterday— nice business"

"Business? It better not be one of your code blues" he scoffed.

"He said you’ll know him— Zac—"

"Rotschen" he cut in.

"Yeah, that guy. Says he’s got something better to sell you"

"And you didn’t tell me yesterday" he sighed, "It’s almost noon" he looked at his wristwatch, "Tell him we’ll meet in an hour"

"Alright, Boss. See you there" she replied, hanging up.

"Xander" he called out as he walked back to them. "You’re coming with me. We leave in an hour"

Xander looked at him, surprised, "Yes, Sir"

"Where are you headed?" Theo asked.

"Reeves Technologies— Business"

"I still can’t believe I’m close to a millionaire" Theo chuckled.

Angela glanced at him and laughed softly.

"Will you guys be waiting while we’re out? And do you really want to stay here" Trent asked

"Staying here... would be nice" Theo answered, looking around, "Just not today"

"I’ll stay here today— there’s a lot of things to study" Angela answered, "I’ll call Mikhail"

"Alright. I’m sorry this was short— this is kind of urgent"

________

"I’m ready, Sir" Xander walked in— neatly dressed in a suit and hair well packed.

"You look great"

"Thank you, Sir. So do you"

"What were you doing before you became a butler?" Trent asked, arranging the cufflinks.

"I worked as an IT guy for a small company— Met Mr. Rotschen at presentation. I became his butler to pay off a favor"

"Favor?" Trent looked at him through the mirror.

Must be something tough since he didn’t answer.

"Don’t worry about it"

"Thank you..." he muttered.

"Let’s go— You’ll drive"

"That’s my job, Sir"

"Like a proper businessman" Trent arranged his collar and stared at the mirror.

Let’s go do Business.

________

He sighted Scarlet as he stepped out of the car.

"You’re looking sharp, Boss— I think you need new suits tho"

"What wrong with this one?" He looked at himself and glanced at Xander.

"This is the same suit you wore last time— I can’t let rumors go around that I work for a miser" she clicked her tongue, "Who’s this cutie?"

Trent turned to Xander,

"Xander Ferte— my butler. He’ll be working with us."

"It’s nice to meet you" Xander stretched his hand towards her.

"Yenifer Serta— my secretary"

"It’s nice to meet you too" she took his hand and winked, "I hope we get along well"

"Don’t get too close to her" Trent held his shoulder, "She’ll ruin your life"

"I haven’t ruin yours yet, Boss" she huffed

"I see it been ruined soon if I’m not careful. Let’s head in, they must be waiting"

"MISSION COMPLETE. FRAZER LIMITED— BUY. 5TH, JULY" Ave’s voice cut through as he stepped into the building.

That’s in two week. Why was it so long?

________

"Mr. Ackerman... It’s nice to meet you again" Zac greeted as a staff led them into the conference room.

"It’s nice to meet you too, Mr. Rotschen" He smiled, walking towards him, "You too, Mr. Anders"

"My pleasure to meet you again, Sir" Anders greeted.

"Miss Serta says there’s business" he said as he took his seat, "I like the sound of business"

"Of course..." Zac chuckled, sliding some papers towards him, "That’s why we called for you"

Called for? Trent scanned his expression. What a cheeky bastard.

"Here I am" he chuckled, flipping through the papers.

"Ten million?" He looked up as he saw the price.

"That’s the evaluation, Sir" Anders spoke up immediately.

He turned to Scarlet and passed her the papers.

"Why don’t you sit, Xander?" He turned to Xander who remained standing.

"Forgive the late introduction" he turned to Zac, "This is Xander Ferte— he works for me"

"It’s alright" Zac nodded with a smile as Xander sat down.

"This doesn’t seem right, Boss— I did some digging and it should be worth eight million at best" Scarlet looked up, passing the papers to Xander.

"That’s what she says— what’s this, Mr. Rotschen?"

"I’d never try to be smart with you" Zac laughed, "We included two more companies into the deal— a million each"

"Why is it not in the papers then?"

"It’s included— here" Anders stretched another file.

Wait— were they trying to be smart and see if he’ll bite? He chuckled as he took the file.

"Frazer Limited and Zion Foods"

What? He looked at the paper properly, Frazer Limited? His eyes widened as he saw the name.

He turned to Xander, who looked equally surprised.

"Is there any big happening soon in the companies?" He looked up, trying to hide his excitement.

"Frazer’s been stuck on developing an AI model for the military— they say they’ll succeed this time but we’ve had losses. That’s why it’s a million" Zac replied

"It was once worth twenty million" Anders added.

"Is it listed on stocks platforms?" Trent asked, leaning in.

"No— it’s been struggling to stay up"

Damn... They’ll probably succeed since Ave said to buy. What a jackpot...

"What about Zion Foods?"

"There’s too many competitors— we’ve decided to take a step back and develop the other companies" Zac replied, leaning his arms on the table.

"Still—" Scarlet spoke,

"Nine million and it’s a deal" he cut her off, "I’ll have the money wired to any account of your choice" he chuckled.

"Really?" Zac asked, eyes widening with surprise and excitement.

Would you look at him? Trent grinned, hiding his own excitement.

"Boss—"

"We’ve done business before and this seems like a good deal— I can only do nine" he said, leaning back on the chair.

Anders spoke into Zac’s ear and they covered their mouths to whisper.

"Deal" Zac said, wide grin on his face after their talk, "Let’s proceed to sign"

Trent moved Twenty million from his trading account to his bank account, leaving over 400 million left and proceeded to sign the documents and make the transaction.

"It was nice business, Mr. Ackerman" Zac stretched his hand, standing up.

"Indeed— Thank you for reaching out to me" Trent smiled as he took his hand.

"The building, staffs, structure— you can do anything you want with it, Sir" Anders added, carrying his bag.

"You—" She hit him with the file as Zac and Anders walked out of the room,

"What sort of good business was that? You just got ripped off"

"Manners..." He growled, "and it’s good business. Isn’t it, Xander?"

"Yes, Sir" Xander replied, arranging the files, "It’s a jackpot" he chuckled.

She looked at them. Were they high on something?

"I came for an orange and got the tree" Trent chuckled.

While it means he will not be able to trade stocks due to insiders trading, this was an opportunity to make a bigger move.

"What are you guys saying?" She looked at Xander, "A poor business sense for such a fine face" she clicked her tongue.

"Xander— You’ll be in charge of this place and Frazer Limited" he said, standing up.

Xander gasped, dropping the files he held, "W–What? Me?" He looked around.

"Yeah— You. Sc–Serta will be in charge of Zion Foods while tending for the overall company. We should establish a group" he chuckled.

"A sudden promotion" she chuckled, "me like... Means I get a bigger pay, no?" She brought her face closer.

"Ugh... Yeah" he scoffed, pushing her face away, "We need a lawyer" he exhaled.

"Mia" Xander answered immediately.

"What?" He turned to him,

"She studied law— she works as a chef because she has her own favor to pay"

Such a surprise.

"Can the person handle it?" Scarlet asked.

"She helped review files that Mr. Rotschen couldn’t trust to his lawyers"

"Good—" Trent chuckled, "I’ll talk to her when I get back. I’ll increase your pay to a million per year and a car of your choice as bonus"

"What about me?" Scarlet gasped,

"...same for you" he sighed. There wasn’t any need to treat her unfairly in such a good mood. He glanced at her, still didn’t trust her though.

She held Xander and jumped excitedly. How childish.

"What’s the way forward?" Xander broke free from her.

"You’ll assist Frazer in developing the whole thing. They might be close but just see to it. Pass down word that structure stays as is and they should expect bonuses for working hard"

"What about me?" Scarlet asked, sitting on the table.

"I’ll give you as much as you’ll need to revive the place. I’ve got work to do myself"

"Work?"

"Yeah" he replied with a smirk, "it’s time to meet some snobby rich friends"