CHAPTER 41: WEALTHY PROBLEMS

"Hello, Savior"

Ah—

"Diana?" He looked at the number on the phone.

"Hello... How are you?"

"T–That’s not--" the other voice growled,

"It’s alright" she chuckled to the lady,

"I’m alright"

"Forgive me if I’m being rude, Princess" he said, turning to look at the staffs.

"You don’t have to be all formal with me— I’m calling to say thank you"

He paused for a moment— this shouldn’t be discussed on the phone.

"Alright— I hope you love them" He cleared his throat

"Oh—" she understood, "The gifts are lovely... How do you know I love Emeralds?"

"The piece on your neck and how you looked at them at the mall"

"Thank you" She scoffed,

"You’re welcome. I look forward to meeting you again"

"Yeah. And... don’t worry too much" she muttered, hanging up.

He exhaled, looking towards Xander and Scarlet.

Honestly, it’d be a lie if he said he wasn’t worried.

That lady seemed to be close with Diana. The fact that she’s surrounded by traitors is worrying.

Xander glanced at him as he approached them,

"Is there a problem, Sir?"

"There isn’t" he shook his head, glancing at the other staffs.

"They’re too scared to meet you after that stunt" Scarlet said, chuckling,

"Seems you need to make friends"

Really... Was that too harsh?

They seemed to be avoiding him.

"They seem to disagree..." Xander mused, nodding towards Rosetta and Elias.

They seemed nervous, stealing glances at Trent.

Their legs trembled as they walked towards Trent as he signalled them.

"Don’t be nervous, Rosy" Rosetta murmured, walking closer.

Why does the walls seem to be closing in?

She glanced at Elias— equally freaked.

"You don’t have to be nervous" Trent chuckled as they reached him,

"You’ve done great jobs and deserve the rewards"

"Y–Yes, Sir" Elias stuttered, head down.

"We appreciate the reward, Sir" Rosetta cut in, finally gaining composure.

"The Executives present—" he turned to Xander,

"10 grand each irrespective of rank"

What? They gulped as they listened.

"Both of them can choose any car within 100 grand" he looked at them, smiling.

"S–Sir" they gasped,

"I hope you continue working hard" he chuckled, glancing at Scarlet, with a smirk.

This bastard... She huffed.

"Let’s have a brief meeting" she turned to Rosetta.

"Y’all have fun" he chuckled,

"I should have a meeting with the key executives later" Xander sighed,

"Alright" he replied, walking off.

What a successful morning.

This was more of an introduction than a meeting— they ought to know their new Head.

Not a bad feeling at all.

---

"What are you doing here?" Anton glanced at him as he walked into the base.

"I decided to visit. Does that bother you?"

"...of course not. I’m sure some people would be happier to see you than seeing me" he scoffed, walking towards him.

"What?"

"Congratulations on turning my tech team into a fan base" he huffed, shaking his head.

Oh— That.

"Are you jealous?" Trent mused

Anton turned to the agents that walked past,

"You wish..."

"Looks pretty jealous to me"

Trent looked around the place— they’d placed everything back as it was.

"How much did you promise them to make them so interested?"

They didn’t tell him?

Anton raised his brow as he raised two of his fingers,

"200 grand?... Well, I guess---"

"2 million"

"What?" He blinked,

"Not that much, is it?" Trent teased,

"You know" Anton exhaled, placing a hand on his face,

"They say money makes people shitty— you’re the perfect example"

"Says a jealous man" Trent mused, with a grin.

This kid... Anton glanced at him as he walked off.

Same kid that was so angry over getting $5000.

Such massive growth in a months.

"You’re one hell of a kid"

"Is that a compliment" Trent turned,

"I don’t know" he raised his shoulders, laughing.

"Got any whiskey?" Trent asked, laughing.

"Yeah. And you know, my stash is running---"

"I’ll get you some" Trent exhaled,

This old Man.

"That’s my boy..." Anton nudged him walking past.

They entered his office and had a long conversation about politics, business and all the drama that had been happening.

"You haven’t forgotten, yeah?" Anton asked as he stood up,

"About what?" Trent asked, confused.

"The gala— it’s tomorrow"

"Oh"

Shit. Already?

"I–I haven’t" he lied, turning his face away.

"Right..." Anton scoffed,

"Here" he picked one of the files on his table and stretched it.

"That’s who you’ll work with— she prefers to be called X"

Huh? He flipped through the files,

"No name?" He asked, looking at the blank section for name.

"Special agents don’t have names— figured if I’m going to fuel the bastard’s ego, it should be worth it"

"For him?"

"Fuck, no..." Anton huffed,

"If the others see that we provided a special agent for OUR GUY" he air quoted,

"They’ll want to donate more for such privileges"

His grip tightened on the file.

So, it’s just advertisement?

"It’s not what you think" Anton exhaled, looking at him,

"Truth is, we’ve been getting budget cuts"

What? Trent looked up from the file.

"Why?"

"We’ve not really been doing well. Plus having a traitor for a previous branch Chief doesn’t sounds well" he explained, leaning back on the chair.

Trent thought silently for a while,

"So you need external sponsors"

"And there’s no many that know about us" Anton sighed.

So, it’ll be different if there was?

"Is it just our branch?"

"Over 100 branches— lots are struggling"

Trent exhaled, dropping the file.

For such an important government agency to be struggling.

What do they even do with the money?

"I’ve gotta prepare for tomorrow"

"Yeah. Take care"

---

His phone rang as soon as he stepped out of the base— Nevell Hamilton.

Why was he calling?

He’d ignored all their messages. He looked around the surrounding.

Better leave her before taking the call.

He called the number after driving far from base into town,

"S–Sir..." Hamilton’s voice trembled as he picked the call.

"Mr. Hamilton. What’s going on?"

Hamilton cleared his throat before continuing,

"I–I’m very sorry about the call"

What’s happening?

"Forgive me for not replying the messages— I’ve been very busy" Trent replied, turning the stereo volume down a bit.

"It’s no problem, Sir"

"Thanks"

"U–Uh..."

"What’s the problem?"

"Can we have a meeting, Sir. I’m really going to lose my job at this rate" Hamilton responded— rushing every word.

"Oh" Trent chuckled softly.

He must be having a hard time.

"I seem to have caused you trouble"

"N–No, Sir... You’ve been busy. And I hear you’re attending the gala"

Trent sighed, taking a turn,

He’d have to prepare today,

There’s the gala tomorrow...

Fuck.

"Let’s have the meeting after the gala"

"R–Really?" He gasped,

"Yeah. See you on Wednesday" he chuckled, hanging up.

Just when I think the day’s going great.

Shit. I haven’t completed the payment for that car too.

---

He sighted Theo’s bike as he parked.

Great. We needed to talk.

"Hey" Theo called out excitedly as he walked in, nudging Mikhail to look.

He waved to them walking closer.

Why were there so many people here today?

"What’s happening?" He asked as he reached them, eyes scanning around.

"Today’s maintenance" Mikhail turned to him, nodding.

"I hear you’re going to the gala tomorrow, Cap"

"Yeah" he sighed, "That’s why I’m here"

"The car?" Mikhail asked,

"Yeah. I told you to have it ready, when I haven’t paid"

"That’s okay— you’re a valued customer" Mikhail chuckled.

"Remember my cut" Theo winked,

"Of course" he scoffed,

"Can I take a look at it?" He turned to Mikhail.

"Sure. It’s this way" Mikhail stretched his hand,

---

"Damn..." Theo mused, walking past them towards the car,

"No wonder it’s got a space of its own"

"It’s one of our most expensive cars— with the classics" Mikhail glanced at Trent.

He seemed impressed. Good.

"It’s really beautiful" Trent turned to him, "and I’ll love to see the classics you’ve got"

"They’ll suit your taste" he chuckled,

"Gentlemen, let me present once more, Rolls Royce— Serenity. There’s only 10 on earth"

"What?" Theo turned to them.

"This version is a model of the Serenity from 2015— a one of version. Just more unique. It’s a latest model"

"Is that why it’s only 10? Since it’s been a decade?"

"Yes— It’s a wonderful story"

"This salesman" Theo scoffed,

"How much is it?"

"3 million"

Theo blinked, drawing his hand back from the car immediately.

He turned to them slowly.

3– 3 mil?

Wait... 5%.

150 grand?

"Damn..."

Trent chuckled watching his reaction.

"So what do you think?" Mikhail asked,

"It’s worth the price— and the occasion" he mused,

"Let’s go to your office and sort everything out"

"Alright"

"Wait..." Theo snapped out of his thought, "How much is the original model?"

"I’m not sure the owner will sell— it could go up to 1.5 seeing the hype it’s been getting"

"Fuck"

Theo thought for a while,

"Can you connect me? Taking my Nephew to school on that will be great" he chuckled,

Trent glanced at his phone as it rang— unknown number.

"Ugh..." He growled, picking the call.

"Who’s this?"

"Oh my... It seems you haven’t saved my contact" the voice cut through, chuckling.

Huh? Who--