| The Black Wall

Lex was halfway through the Talon Ridge acquisition file when his phone buzzed.

Benny C.

Lex let it ring twice before answering, keeping his voice casual. "Tell me you're not calling for more money."

Benny's laugh rattled through the receiver. "Relax, Latham. This isn't a shakedown. I've got something… interesting."

Lex glanced around the office, catching Trent watching him from the far end of the bullpen. Barnie's watchdog never missed a chance to linger. Lex lowered his voice and leaned back in his chair.

"Alright, Benny. You've got my attention. What is it?"

Benny's tone shifted, dropping the usual sarcasm. "Ever heard of 'The Black Wall'?"

Lex frowned. "Sounds like a metal band."

Benny chuckled. "It's not. It's a script. Been floating around for a while—no one's had the guts to take it on. Too expensive, too ambitious, too… well, cursed."

"Cursed?" Lex repeated, eyebrow arching.

"Cursed as in two studios tried to finance it and backed out halfway. Director quit. One of the producers went bankrupt. It's one of those projects that everyone whispers about but won't touch."

Lex smirked faintly. "Sounds like exactly the kind of thing I'd be interested in."

"Yeah, I figured," Benny replied. "Listen, Jason Wilde's got his hands on it now. He's been trying to pull funding, but no one's biting. Thought of you."

Lex tapped his pen against the Talon Ridge file, considering. Jason Wilde wasn't a household name, but he had a reputation for finding talent before everyone else caught on.

"What's the story?" Lex asked.

Benny's voice sharpened with interest. "It's a psychological thriller. Set during the 1930s, on the construction site of a high-rise in Manhattan. Workers start disappearing, accidents pile up, and the lead—a young architect—uncovers that something sinister's built into the foundation. Think The Shining meets There Will Be Blood."

Lex leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing. A period thriller with a psychological edge? Ambitious, sure, but it had potential. The kind of project that could explode if done right.

"What's Wilde asking for?" Lex asked.

"Five million for production. Minimum," Benny said. "But here's the kicker—the leads aren't locked down. Wilde's been in talks with two actors. One of them's an up-and-coming Broadway star who just hit the scene. The other is someone Wilde won't name yet, but it's apparently a musician looking to break into film."

Lex's interest sharpened. A musician trying to cross into acting meant headlines—free press, buzz, and an audience that followed.

"And you're sure this isn't another dead project?" Lex pressed.

"Jason says it's ready to roll. He ask me to help. He needs someone with cash and… let's say less studio interference," Benny replied. "He's offering executive producer rights and sequel options to whoever bankrolls it. If you jump in now, you'll get creative control over casting."

Lex smiled faintly. There it was—the real leverage.

A project like this wasn't about the film itself. It was about the actors, the connections, and the influence that followed. Locking down leads early meant Lex could shape careers before they exploded.

"Where's Wilde now?" Lex asked.

"He's usual at his studio in Brooklyn," Benny replied. "Wants to meet tomorrow. I told him you'd show if you were interested."

Lex glanced at the glass windows of Barnie's office down the hall, where his uncle's silhouette stood, back turned.

Lex smirked. "Set it up. I'll be there."

"Good call," Benny said. "But just so you know… this thing could go south. A lot of people have tried to make 'The Black Wall' happen, and all of them crashed."

Lex chuckled, closing the Talon Ridge folder, opening up his own personal laptop. He was planning to open some short positions since soon Bear Stearns would annource that the two subprime hedge funds had lost almost all its money.

"I like challenges," Lex said, standing from his desk. "Let's see if the curse holds."

Benny laughed. "See you tomorrow, Latham."

Lex ended the call, tucking his phone into his pocket just as the door to the executive wing swung open with force.

Barnie Maddox.

He moved through the office like a storm, his polished shoes clicking sharply against the marble floor. The noise in the room dulled as people shrank in their chairs, heads down.

Barnie's pale blue eyes zeroed in on Lex, his jaw tight, his expression a cocktail of anger and barely-contained disdain.

"Lexington!" Barnie's voice cut across the room like a whip.

Lex glanced up. "Uncle Barnie."

Barnie didn't stop until he was looming over Lex's desk. "Don't 'Uncle Barnie' me." His voice lowered, but it carried a sharper edge. "Do you know your mistake?"

Lex raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "You seem angry."

"Angry?" Barnie's laugh was cold and humorless. " You always come in late. An intern. You check in. You check out. Like everyone else."

Lex tilted his head, feigning curiosity. "I didn't realize interns were such a cornerstone of the company."

Barnie's fist slammed down on the desk, rattling the stapler and scattering a few papers. The noise drew every eye in the room. Lex stayed perfectly still, his smirk widening slightly as he watched the other man struggle to compose himself.

Barnie leaned closer, his voice a low hiss. "This isn't a game, Lex. This is business. You don't get to waltz around and pull stunts with Elias."

Lex's smile didn't falter, but his eyes turned sharp. He knew exactly why Barnie was here—it wasn't about his attendance. Elias had made a phone call, and the board had been notified. The balance of power was shifting, and Barnie hated it.

Lex leaned forward now, his tone dropping to match Barnie's. "What's wrong, Uncle? Afraid the board might realize they've bet on the wrong Maddox?"

The tension between them hung heavy. Barnie's fists curled on the desk, his knuckles white. But Lex didn't flinch, holding his uncle's gaze with a quiet, unshakable confidence.

"You're a cocky little—" Barnie started, but Lex cut him off with a grin.

"Ambitious," Lex corrected smoothly. "And good at what I do. Don't worry—I'll keep it under control. Wouldn't want anyone thinking I'm after your job."

Barnie's glare could've cut steel. Without another word, he straightened, turning sharply on his heel and storming out of the office.

The door closed behind him with a heavy thud, leaving the room in stunned silence. Lex exhaled slowly, a smug smile playing on his lips as he settled into his chair, opening his laptop. The familiar hum of the screen lighting up filled the quiet room. With a few clicks, his stock portfolio appeared, the numbers stark against the dark interface.

$1.9 million in blue-chip stocks.

His father had opened this account for him when he was twelve to teach him investing. The lessons had been valuable helping him make a living during his past life—but now it was time to break the rules his father had drilled into him.

Lex leaned back, his fingers steepled as he studied the numbers. Blue chips were safe, reliable—but there was no safety in a market about to crumble.

He typed quickly, the keys clicking in rhythm with his heartbeat. One by one, he began selling off his entire portfolio, General Electric, ExxonMobil, Johnson & Johnson—all gone.

The trades processed swiftly, his portfolio transform to a number: $1.9 million.

Lex cracked his knuckles, pulling up the options trading screen. The ticker he needed was already in his mind: VIX—the Volatility Index.

He opened the chain for long-dated call options, his eyes scanning the expiration dates and strike prices. January 2008 calls with a strike price of 25 —enough time to capitalize on the chaos he knew would start brewing in a few weeks. The premiums were cheap now, hovering around $0.25 per contract.

Lex's fingers hovered over the quantity box. The math was easy: his $1.9 million could buy 7.6 million options contracts. But that wasn't enough.

He switched tabs, opening his broker's margin leverage settings. His cash balance could serve as collateral, allowing him to double his position with a 2:1 margin. The additional risk was substantial, but Lex wasn't too concerned.

His Final Position was double with15.2 million contracts. This was his move against the board.