Handler XX: Stock Maestro-Chapter 28: Zayniac

"Where’s she?" Anton walked in, pushing the door wide open.

"Why are you here?" Trent asked, watching him.

"Where did you learn to cook? You’ve—" She strolled into the sitting room, shocked to see Anton.

Shit.

He rushed behind Anton, overtaking him and standing between them

"There’s an explanation you need to know"

"I already know"

"What?"

"I–I don’t think you do" she peeked out behind him.

"I’m not here to kill her, Twerp— somebody provided evidence"

Anton exhaled, placing his hand on his face.

"I just need to verify it— it’s pretty clear, but could be fake"

They sat down and discussed what had happened— everything— the mission gone wrong and the misunderstanding.

"That bastard" Anton snapped,

"He always had that stupid smirk— the brat"

"What should we do?"

"We can’t let him know we’re coming" Elena muttered.

"Where’s the wildling?" Anton looked around

"She’s not here— left her at the hotel with Zayn Volta"

"You met him already?"

Anton looked at him, squinting his eyes, "so you and the girlfriend spent all night together, huh?" he asked with a smirk.

"Now you’ve got a stupid smirk— you guys must be pals" Trent scoffed, turning away.

"Nothing happened" she muttered.

"Don’t answer him"

Anton stood up and made a brief phone call.

"We’ll catch this traitor— both of you will help"

"How’s it that I never met any of the Seniors in the program and we come from same branch?"

Anton laughed, "Each training branch is as big as a city— I change offices, every year, no?"

True. They were always being moved— different rooms. It was so complicated.

His phone rang— Scarlet. He walked a few feets away from them.

"What’s up?"

"I found out the golden goose our prince charming has been after" she chuckled, "take a guess"

"I already know— Marie"

"Bingo. Five points for the genius" she burst out in laughter,

"Want to guess why? Double the points?"

"Get to the point"

"Your dear Father-in-law has promised him a large sum to break your marriage"

His jaws tightened— that old bastard. Dared to play with him.

"His location"

"Nuh uh... I have needs too, Boss— I saw the contract you gave that Theo guy. I need same"

"Forget about it" he snapped, hanging up.

"Who was that?" Anton asked as he walked back.

"My secretary"

Elena stared at him as he took his seat. That voice— secretary, huh?

She watched as Anton teased him and the way he acted— what a dangerous man he’s become.

"I know how we’ll get the bastard"

"Do tell, Twerp... What’s the plan?"

"Marie— we need her" his voice dropped.

"Alright... Let’s get this fucker and put him down"

_________________

He hesitated as he reached out for the door. "What?" He flinched as the door flung open.

They stood— facing each other. She was dressed, holding a little purse.

"Are you heading out?" His eyes trailed her body, "A date?"

"No—" she muttered, "I was going to meet you"

"I—" they said at the same time.

"You first..." He nodded.

"I’m sorry about the whole Zayn thing— I’d broken up with him and told him never to contact me again"

"It’s no problem" he replied, chuckling, "It’s a fake marriage after all"

His chest tightened as he said it. Her fist clenched too.

"That’s why I’m here— about Zayn"

They walked inside the room— she sat on the bed while he stood.

"I have some information, you might not believe it, but hear me out"

She looked at him, curious.

"Your Dad hired Zayn to ruin the marriage"

She laughed, startling him.

"What?— why are you laughing?"

"Sorry... It’s just because I knew something was up— why do you think I broke up with the bastard?— Greedy Bastard"

"That’s not all" he walked closer

"He’s a spy for Kraven Intelligence" he whispered.

"What?"

He nodded his head and sat on the bed.

"Betrayed the program on an op to Kraven— pinned it on somebody and got away"

"That..." She growled, "How do you know about this?"

"Anton told us"

"Us? He never told me anything"

He groaned realizing the slip, "The person he’d framed— she’s a close friend from my set. Graduated early"

"She?" She moved her face closer, "How close?" she chuckled.

He pushed her face back, "I don’t know yet— I’m sorry I got angry"

"It’s alright if you were jealous" she laughed, "I didn’t think to tell you— I’m sorry"

"It’s no problem" he stood up, "main part— invite him to a date— Sheraton Hotel. We’ll take care of the rest"

"Got it— I’ll call him"

"Thank you. Message me when you’re almost there"

"See you later"

_______________

"I never thought you’d call me— such an expensive place no less" he laughed.

"We needed to talk, Zayn"

"You’re not going to call me Babe, huh?"

A waiter walked over and collected their order. Zayn looked back, whistling as the waiter walked off.

Ugh— can’t even hide his lust.

"I told you never to contact me again"

"That was a one-sided split. Give me a chance to explain" he turned to her.

He winked at the waiter as she returned with the orders.

"Cheers" he raised his glass of wine to Marie.

"You’re not listening to me, Zayn"

"We’re about to eat— let the talking come later"

"I know my Dad hired you to do this"

He lowered his glass, almost choking as he heard her, "That’s a bold accusation"

"Accusation, huh?"

He looked around, bringing his head closer, "W–Why..." He sniffled, shaking his head, "F–Fu... Fuck!" His eyes trailed the glass to her.

Everything faded as his head hit the table.

_____________

He could hear little noises as he woke up— an argument?

He sniffed— such dry air.

"He’s up"

His head split in pain as he raised it to look at the person talking.

"Hi, Zayn" Anton walked forward, "Remember me?"

"Where am I?" He muttered, looking around— two, three... Four people?

"Hi" Trent waved.

"H–Hi" his eyes narrowed, "You’re the husband" he chuckled.

"Chief Instructor? Marie? Such a lineup. W–Who’s that?"

Elena shifted back, into the shadows.

"You’ve been playing games, Zayny" Anton chuckled, squatting at his front.

"Games?" He asked, with a soft laugh. "I haven’t played video games in a while"

"Kraven Intelligence"

He flinched, eyes widened— tried to break his hands free.

"I take that you know what I’m talking about"

"Baseless accusations" he laughed, "You’re not believing all these, right?" He turned to Marie.

"You, tell me" she walked closer.

"These are baseless" he shouted, struggling to free himself.

"We’re going to know that soon" Trent walked forward— syringe and vial in hand.

"You know what this is— our trusty friend"

Zayn gulped as Trent walked closer.

"I didn’t do anything" he turned to Anton, "I’ve always served the program well"

"Yeah— You’ve been a brat since day one too"

"What?"

"Never really liked you, Brat" Anton clicked his tongue.

"You’ll be alright... Mr. Boyfriend" Trent chuckled as he injected him.

Zayn confessed to everything— getting recruited by Kraven Intelligence and betraying his team, pinning it on the only survivor and killing some agents for Kraven.

"You’ve been very busy... Babe" Marie chuckled.

He turned his head to her slowly,

"Now answer mine— how much did Morlov promise you and how did he connect with you?"

Trent flinched. Definitely through Scarlet. Fuck. Was this going to be an issue?

"H–He invited me to a hotel in Kraven. I don’t know how he found me. Promised me part of his fortune as inheritance"

Marie burst out into laughter, "You fool— and you believed him? You’re greedier than I thought"

"Who approached you from Kraven? Tell me everything you know about them"

Shit.

"I–I don’t know much about them— just got information from Scarlet"

Trent’s grip tightened around the vial. Fuck.

"Scarlet?" Anton asked, "Any other?"

What? Trent glanced at Anton. His voice, expression— he definitely knew something.

"Who’s this Scarlet?" Marie asked walking forward.

"S–She" he coughed, "S–Scarlet is..." he mumbled.

"The drug’s losing effect so soon?" Marie turned to Trent.

"I don’t think so"

"She met me— at a bar 2 years ago. Offered me a hundred grand"

"A hundred grand?" Elena, snapped walking out, "You betrayed us for a hundred grand?"

"W–Who" he looked up at her.

"Hi, Captain. Remember me?"

"E–El... Elena?" His eyes widened in shock.

"Yeah— it’s nice to see you too" she chuckled as she squatted. Anton stood up and walked away.

"We made so much together with the military and you betrayed us for a hundred grand?"

"I– I owed a lot" he coughed.

"So it was true..." She laughed, "You were gambling"

"We have everything already— wrap this up" Anton looked at Trent as he walked away.

Marie clicked her tongue. What a bastard. She looked at Elena. She couldn’t see her face before— such a beautiful lady. Was this his type? She glanced at Trent as she walked away.

Trent moved closer to Elena, holding her shoulder.

"Here..." he stretched a gun.

Zayn’s eyes fell on the gun— his heartbeat quickened. "N– No"

She stood up, cocked the gun and looked at him.

"Apologise to the team when you see them"

Trent groaned as his phone buzzed.

So soon? Fuck.

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