Moving the Pieces

The early morning light filtered through the tall windows of Lex's room, casting long shadows across the floor. His laptop screen glowed softly, illuminating his face as he scrolled through the wire transfer confirmation.

$15,000.

Benny's name flickered across the transaction details.

Lex leaned back in his chair, rubbing the back of his neck. The rest would come when Benny sent the complete script and castlist.

Lex drift to the faint outlines of the lincon center. It wasn't just financing a film—this was the start of building influence in circles Barnie didn't control. Media, entertainment, and eventually politics. This was his opening gambit. The entertainment world was a realm Barnie didn't touch, a space free of his claws.

He picked up his phone and dialed. Benny answered after three rings, voice groggy.

Lex picked up his phone and dialed. The line rang three times before Benny's voice crackled through, groggy and irritated.

"Who the hell wires money at six in the morning?" Benny grumbled, the sound of shifting sheets in the background betraying his half-asleep state.

"Rich people," Lex replied smoothly, settling back in his chair. His tone was calm, but there was a faint edge of satisfaction in it. "Check your account."

A pause. The faint sound of Benny fumbling for his phone filled the line, followed by the rhythmic tapping of a screen.

"Well, damn," Benny muttered after a moment. His voice sharpened as if he were fully awake now. "Fifteen grand? You really weren't kidding."

"I told you I was serious."

Benny chuckled, his tone lightening. "You know, most people drop a couple hundred bucks when they 'dip a toe' into the film game. You're out here cannonballing into the deep end."

"Cannonballs make the biggest splash," Lex quipped, his voice measured. "Besides, this isn't a vanity project. It's an investment."

"Yeah, yeah, 'investment,'" Benny said, still clearly amused. "Alright, I'll have Mikey finish the revisions by next week. Guy works slow, but he's good. You'll have something slick to show."

"Good." Lex leaned forward, his tone sharpening. "But I need more. I need names."

"Names?" Benny's voice rose slightly. "What kind of names?"

"Actors," Lex clarified. "Not the big ones. I'm talking rising stars—people on the verge of breaking out. Talented but still affordable. Hungry enough to take risks, but skilled enough to deliver."

Benny let out a snort. "Cheap but good. Got it. Why am I not surprised?"

Lex didn't rise to the bait. "Think of it as early investments. We attach them to the right project, and they'll pay off in spades when they blow up."

"Sure, but what's the angle here, Lex?" Benny asked, his tone turning more curious. "You're not throwing fifteen grand at this just to make some art-house darling for kicks. What are you really after?"

Lex's gaze flicked toward the desk where his father's ledger key rested in plain sight. A small piece of leverage, a symbol of the bigger game he was playing.

"This isn't just about the movie," Lex said evenly, his voice carrying a weight that Benny would recognize but not question.

There was a pause on the other end of the line. Benny wasn't the type to push when the answers didn't come freely.

"Alright, boss," Benny said finally, his tone shifting to something more practical. "I'll pull a list together. Give me a few days we'll get name actors but it'll cost extra. What else?"

Lex exhaled, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. "I need the pitch refined before you send it out. I want it lean, focused, and with enough room to maneuver if we need to pivot. This project is about flexibility."

"Lean, focused, and flexible," Benny echoed. "You're making it sound like a damn startup pitch."

"In some ways, it is," Lex said smoothly. "This isn't just about making a movie, Benny. It's about creating something bigger."

"Bigger, huh?" Benny said, his tone skeptical but intrigued. "You planning to tell me what 'bigger' looks like Richie?"

Lex smirked faintly, his voice softening just enough to carry a hint of humor. "Stick around, Benny. You'll see soon enough."

Benny laughed outright at that. "Fair enough. Alright, I'll get you the list and make sure Mikey stays on schedule. Anything else, or can I go back to sleep for the next hour?"

"That's all for now," Lex replied. "But don't drag your feet. The clock's already ticking."

"Yeah, yeah. You're lucky I like money," Benny said, his grin audible even through the phone. "I'll text you tonight."

"Looking forward to it," Lex replied before ending the call.

He set the phone down, his mind already calculating the next steps. Benny's cynicism was part of why Lex choosen him out of the list of his father contact and friends. He wasn't just a yes-man—he was sharp enough to push back, but smart enough to know when to follow. The kind of piece you kept in play until the endgame.

Lex hung up and opened a new tab on his laptop.

Casting Networks – 2007 Talent Directory.

Names began populating the screen, headshots of actors who hadn't yet made it big. Lex recognized a few—faces that would dominate Hollywood in a few years.

Ryan Gosling – Early career.

Chris Hemsworth – Still working on Australian soaps.

Scarlett Johansson – Only a few leading roles.

Oscar Isaac – Practically unknown.

Ana de Armas – Still in Spanish films.

Lex's eyes narrowed slightly. One or two of these names in the right project would spark headlines.

His cursor hovered over Scarlett's profile for a moment before clicking out. Too high profile.

Instead, he marked Oscar Isaac and Ana de Armas. Rising talents who hadn't crossed the threshold of fame yet. They'd be easier to bring in without attracting Barnie's attention.

Lex sent a quick email to Benny with the selections, subject line plain and unassuming.

"Get them."

He closed the laptop and exhaled slowly, the edges of a smirk tugging at his lips.

Barnie was busy playing chess at Maddox Holdings as Lex sets up his board.