+The Buyout

The glow from Lex's laptop barely cut through the late afternoon light pooling into the old brownstone office. He sat at the desk, reviewing the final short contracts, fingers moving in steady rhythm. Numbers lined the screen—each one a carefully placed blade pointed at Maddox Holdings.

Lex didn't rush. Markets collapse slowly at first. Then all at once.

A faint knock echoed from downstairs. Lex wasn't expecting anyone to be in the house, since his mom was in Thailand.

Lex barely glanced away from the screen. "It's open."

The door creaked, followed by light footsteps crossing the hallway.

"You know, for someone who's betting millions against entire industries, this place could use a vacuum."

Lex smirked faintly but didn't turn. "I like the dust. Keeps the mystique."

Rose.

She leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, hair pulled back in a loose twist. No diamonds tonight. Just faded jeans, a hoody, and that sharp look she always carried.

"I'm not here to critique," she said with a mock sigh, holding up a keyring and shaking it lightly. "Your mom gave me the keys. She wanted the place dusted while she was gone."

Lex glanced at the keys, recognizing the jade pendant dangling beside them—the same stone that circled Rose's wrist.

"She trusts you with the whole place now?"

Rose stepped inside, resting the keys on the edge of the desk. "Someone has to keep an eye on you."

Lex arched a brow. "I thought I was the one keeping an eye on you."

Rose's smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "That's cute. But no."

Lex leaned back in his chair, the faint flicker of numbers on the screen reflected in his eyes.

"How's the movie shoot?" he asked, steering the conversation just slightly.

Rose sighed, picking up a small framed photo of Lex's father and turning it in her hands. "Benny's chaotic. He wants twelve different angles for the same scene. It's exhausting."

Lex smirked. "That's his process. It works."

Rose rolled her eyes but said nothing, stepping further inside. She dropped the cloth onto the bookshelf, letting her fingers trail along the old leather bindings.

Lex's phone buzzed before she could speak.

Benny.

Lex answered without hesitation. "Tell me you've wrapped."

Benny's voice filtered through, tinged with exhaustion but unmistakably triumphant.

"We're done. Black Wall is locked and tight. Cut's sitting at just under two hours. I think we have something.**"

Lex smirked faintly, leaning back in his chair. "You think?"

Benny chuckled. "I know. It's a hitter. Monroe's performance is Oscar bait, and the pacing hits hard. Critics are going to eat this up."

Lex let the satisfaction sink in, but only for a moment. "Good. We'll line up festivals by the end of the week. I want heat before it drops."

Benny hesitated for half a second. "Speaking of heat… Netflix called."

Lex's gaze sharpened. "They already offered. I passed."

"Yeah, well. They're back—with a counter."

Lex shifted forward, elbows resting on the desk. Rose caught the subtle change in his posture and stepped closer, quietly listening.

"How much?"

Benny exhaled like he was still processing it. "Twenty Five million."

Lex's eyes narrowed slightly. It was almost generously More.

"For Silent Crossings?"

"No. For Silent Crossings and Black Wall. Exclusive rights. They want both."

Lex didn't react immediately, letting the number hang between them.

"Distribution worldwide?"

"Front page. Full awards circuit push. They want the prestige project lineup this year, and they're betting on you."

Rose's eyes flicked to Lex, watching for his reaction.

He said nothing for a long moment, gaze fixed on the glowing contracts on his screen.

Twenty Five million.

That wasn't small money. It wasn't just a deal. It was an offer that could give Roger&Son breathing room for the next two years.

But there was a catch.

"Sequel rights?"

Benny sighed. "Gone. Same as before. They take the catalog and lock it behind their brand."

Lex's jaw tensed slightly.

Rose arched a brow, finally breaking the silence. "That's a lot of money, Lex."

He glanced at her. "I know."

"And you're thinking of saying no."

Lex smirked faintly. "I might be."

Rose crossed her arms. "Of course you are."

Benny's voice crackled through the line again. "Look, Lex. I get it—you want to own the long game. But this? It's real money. They're throwing the bag at you."

Lex leaned back in his chair, eyes drifting to the faint reflection of his father's old clock on the wall.

Time was ticking.

But he wasn't desperate.

Lex glanced at the open hedge fund reports glowing next to the film contracts on his screen.

The short positions were already working. Barnie was stretched thin, and the cracks in Maddox Holdings were growing.

Lex wasn't just betting on films. He was betting against Barnie's entire empire.

Finally, Lex spoke.

"Counter. Fifty-five million."

Benny choked on whatever he was drinking. "Lex, they'll laugh you off the phone."

"Maybe. But they'll call back." Lex's smirk returned, slow and cold. "They know exactly what they're buying. Let them show me how badly they want it."

Benny hesitated, but there was something almost amused in his tone.

"You're insane."

"So I've been told. Let me know what they say."

Lex ended the call and set the phone down quietly.

Rose shook her head, watching him with a mixture of disbelief and something else—something more familiar.

"You know most people would've taken that, right?"

Lex shrugged. "Most people aren't me."

She leaned against the desk, tilting her head slightly.

"What if they walk away?"

"They won't."

Lex's gaze flicked back to the screen. He had set the board to win.