Leisure Business

 Lex sat at the table, his fingers tracing the rim of his porcelain teacup.

The space was clean but lived-in. A mix of modern appliances and old-world touches, a perfect reflection of Mei Lie Latham herself.

Lex had never really paid attention before.

But today?

Today, he was watching.

Mei Lie stood by the counter, her silk blouse crisp, dark hair pinned back in a simple but elegant twist. She moved with a quiet efficiency, ladling steaming congee into bowls, setting down plates of pickled vegetables, fried dough, and scallions.

It had been years since he had breakfast like this.

And as Lex lifted his tea to his lips, a thought settled over him—one that had been creeping into his mind more and more lately.

I don't really know her.

Not beyond the surface.

Not beyond the image of the elegant, untouchable woman who had spent years wrapped in grief, keeping herself poised in the face of loss.

But who had she been before all of this?

Before his father's death. Before the Latham name became a weight she had to carry alone.

And more importantly—who was she now?

Mei Lie set a bowl of congee in front of him, her expression unreadable but calm.

"Eat while it's hot," she said simply.

Lex nodded, picking up his spoon. "Thanks mom."

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sounds the faint clink of porcelain and the occasional hum of the kettle.

Finally, Lex set his spoon down and looked at her. "I want to spend the day with you."

Mei Lie paused mid-sip, her dark eyes flicking up to meet his.

She arched a brow. "You do?"

Lex smirked slightly. "You sound surprised."

"I am," she admitted, setting her teacup down. "You've been busy. Latham Ventures, the film, your... investments. And suddenly, you want a family outing?"

Lex shrugged, watching her carefully. "I realized I don't know enough about what you do. I want to fix that."

Mei Lie studied him for a moment before nodding. "Alright. But I'm warning you—it's not an easy day."

Lex's smirk deepened. "I think I can handle it."

She exhaled softly, shaking her head with faint amusement. "We'll see."

Their first stop of the day was a business lunch with Anna Leclair, the CEO of Latham Agents & Property Management.

The restaurant was quiet, tucked into the Financial District, all sleek marble and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Anna was already waiting when they arrived—a woman in her mid-forties, sharp-eyed and impeccably dressed, her handshake firm and businesslike.

"Mei Lie," Anna greeted smoothly before turning to Lex. "And this must be the prodigal son."

Lex smirked, taking a seat. "Just the son today. No prodigal."

Anna chuckled. "We'll see about that."

The lunch was business-heavy—rental trends, high-value properties, upcoming developments.

Lex listened closely.

Mei Lie, despite her quiet nature, ran a tight operation. She didn't micromanage, but her presence was felt. Every time she asked a question, it was precise, cutting to the core of any issue.

Lex saw it for what it was. A different kind of power.

Not the cutthroat world of Barnie Maddox, not the high-stakes games he was playing himself.

But power nonetheless.

As the lunch wrapped up, Anna looked at him with curious amusement. "You asked a lot of good questions, Lex."

Lex smiled faintly. "I learn fast."

Mei Lie sipped her tea, watching him carefully as they finish their meal.

From the Financial District, they went uptown to Chinatown.

Lex had known his mother owned a restaurant, but it had never really registered as part of her daily life.

Until now.

The restaurant was modest but clearly well-run, the kind of place packed with loyal locals.

The moment Mei Lie stepped inside, the staff straightened.

"Lao bǎn," one of them greeted with respect.

Lex raised a brow. Lao bǎn. Boss.

Mei Lie slipped seamlessly into place, checking on operations, speaking with the kitchen staff, greeting regulars with a polite nod.

Lex watched, absorbing it all.

She wasn't just some investor in the background.

She was involved. Respected. Someone people listened to.

He'd spent so much time thinking about his father's legacy, about Maddox Holdings, that he had never stopped to consider—Mei Lie Latham had built something too.

Their final stop of the day was an art exhibition at a private gallery, a high-profile event sponsored by the Chinese embassy.

Cocktail dresses and tailored suits. Soft music, expensive wine.

Mei Lie moved through the room with quiet elegance, exchanging pleasantries with diplomats, artists, and business leaders.

Lex, meanwhile, took a slow sip of his drink, observing.

This was yet another world. One where influence wasn't built through power plays or financial gambits—

But through connections, culture, and reputation.

As the night wound down, Mei Lie turned to him with a small smirk. "Still think you can keep up?"

Lex chuckled softly. "I'll admit, you move more pieces than I realized."

She tilted her head slightly. "And what did you realize?"

Lex met her gaze. "That I've been paying attention to the wrong things."

Mei Lie studied him for a long moment. Then, quietly—"Maybe."

There was no lecture. No long-winded speech about what he should or shouldn't do.

Just that single word.

Lex took a slow breath, glancing around the gallery, then back at her. "I think we should do this again."

Mei Lie lifted a delicate brow. "Another day of following me around?"

Lex smirked. "A little more than that. I want to learn. Really learn."

She regarded him with something thoughtful. Softer than before.

Then, with a slight nod, "Alright, Lex. Let's see what you can handle."

As they stepped out into the cool night air, Lex felt something shift.

He had spent so much time looking at Maddox Holdings, at Barnie, at power in the corporate sense.

But there were other ways to control a board. Other ways to shape an empire.

And maybe—just maybe—his mother knew more about that than he ever realized.