Dinner and Deals

The next thing Lex remembered was the smell of food.

Warm, rich—something savory drifting through the brownstone, wrapping around him like a blanket he didn't remember pulling over himself.

His eyes cracked open slowly. The office lights were off. The monitors, dim. The faintest trace of daylight filtered in through the window.

He didn't remember shutting anything down.

Lex sat up, rubbing the back of his neck as his eyes adjusted. His watch read 5:42 PM.

I slept?

His brow furrowed as he pushed himself upright, making his way down the hall.

In the kitchen, Rose stood at the stove, sliding dumplings onto a plate, the steam curling softly into the air.

She glanced over her shoulder as he entered, arching a brow.

"Morning, Sleeping Beauty."

Lex smirked faintly. "It's evening."

"Yeah, I know. I let you sleep." She set the plate on the counter, nudging it toward him. "You looked like you were about to pass out on your keyboard."

Lex leaned against the counter, eyeing the dumplings. "You didn't have to stay."

Rose shrugged, pouring herself a glass of water. "I had to Benny sent me."

Lex's head lifted slightly. "Benny?"

"He needs you to approve Elle Rose. He said it can't wait." She slid her phone toward him. "He forwarded the updated production notes."

Lex swiped through the emails. Benny wasn't subtle—the subject line practically screamed "APPROVE THIS NOW."

Lex smirked. "He's impatient."

"He's Benny." Rose leaned against the sink, watching him. "I already told him I'd poke you until you signed it."

Lex grabbed a dumpling, biting into it thoughtfully as he scrolled through the notes.

Rose wasn't going to let this one slide.

"Fine. I'll approve it after dinner."

"Good. Because Netflix sent something too." Rose's eyes flicked toward his laptop sitting on the far counter. "It's a real check this time."

Lex glanced toward the screen, faintly glowing with Netflix's offer for Black Wall.

His smirk deepened.

"Finally serious."

Rose chuckled softly. "Guess they realized you're not cheap."

Lex pushed the plate slightly toward her. "Eat. If Benny's going to drag me into meetings tomorrow, you're coming too."

Rose grinned, but her gaze softened slightly.

"Fine. But Jason needs to run something by you, too." She crossed her arms, tilting her head. "Apparently, there's more music stuff—catalogs or something. He was vague."

Lex exhaled, shaking his head. "Jason's never vague. He's sitting on something."

Rose's brow lifted. "So, what's the plan?"

Lex smiled faintly.

"We eat. Then I deal with Benny, Netflix, and Jason. In that order."

Rose slid a dumpling off the plate, grinning. "Sounds like a solid plan."

Lex's phone buzzed just as he finished the last dumpling.

Benny C.

Rose glanced over from her spot on the couch, stretching out with the easy comfort of someone who didn't have cameras flashing in her face.

"You better take that," she teased, biting into another dumpling. "He might actually come knocking if you ignore him."

Lex smirked, leaning back against the counter as he swiped to answer.

"Benny. You're interrupting dinner."

Benny's voice exploded through the line, fast and sharp. He was buzzing.

"Lex, forget dinner. Netflix came back."

Lex's brow arched faintly. "With what?"

"Forty million."

Lex paused mid-sip of water, lowering the glass slowly. "For both?"

"For both. Silent Crossings and Black Wall." Benny exhaled, like even he didn't believe it. "They want them bad."

Lex exchanged a glance with Rose, who perked up slightly, catching the shift in his expression.

"What's the catch?" Lex asked, voice steady.

"No final cut." Benny's voice softened. "But—"

Lex's eyes narrowed slightly. "But what?"

Benny chuckled, the kind of sound that came with good news.

"You keep the IP. All licensing, merchandising, spin-offs, toys, even soundtrack rights. They just want distribution and exclusivity."

Lex leaned back against the counter, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully.

"So, they get the film, but I keep the universe."

Benny's grin was practically audible. "Exactly."

Rose raised a brow, mouthing, How much?

Lex held up four fingers, then added zero.

Her eyes widened slightly.

"Lex, this is it. I've never seen them throw numbers like this without demanding the whole farm." Benny's tone dropped lower, more serious. "But you have to say yes. They're already circling another slate if you stall."

Lex's fingers tapped lightly against the counter, eyes narrowing. It wasn't about the cash.

It was about control.

"If I sign, I want guarantees on theatrical releases. Festivals. Streaming isn't enough."

Benny didn't hesitate. "Done. They're already planning limited releases for Black Wall. They know it'll hit hard during awards season."

Lex exhaled slowly, letting the offer settle.

Forty million was no small number, but keeping the rights? That meant everything.

Barnie could buy up real estate. He could snatch up hedge funds and squeeze every cent out of them.

But this?

This was legacy.

Lex smiled faintly. "Tell them they have a deal."

Benny's laugh echoed through the phone. "Now you're talking. I'll send the papers tonight. We celebrate later. Call Jason when you're done—he's waiting on you too."

Lex hung up, tossing his phone onto the counter.

Rose watched him, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

"So, you're richer now."

Lex smirked. "Apparently."

Rose crossed her arms, grinning. "Just remember, I still get a cut when Elle Rose takes off."

Lex chuckled, shaking his head.

"Don't worry. You're getting more than a cut."

Lex barely had time to finish his first bite before his phone buzzed again.

Jason Wilde.

Rose shot him a look from the couch. "You're popular."

Lex smirked. "I should start charging by the minute."

He answered the call, sliding onto the edge of the coffee table.

"Jason."

"Lex, you sitting down?" Jason's voice crackled with excitement—the kind that usually came after finding something big.

Lex arched a brow. "I'm listening."

Jason didn't waste time.

"Four things."

Lex leaned forward, curious now.

"**First—I hit gold."

Lex's eyes narrowed faintly. "Gold?"

Jason laughed, practically vibrating through the phone.

"I pulled the rest of Lunar's archive. Full albums. Unreleased sessions. It's deep, Lex. I'm talking about three whole records sitting untouched."

Lex's grip tightened slightly on the phone. Jason had just help Lex buy the catalog for next to nothing a few weeks ago.

"Three albums? All original masters?"

"Every track." Jason's voice dipped, savoring the moment. "This isn't b-side filler either. I've had it on repeat for the last two days. It's good."

Lex's eyes flicked toward Rose, who had leaned forward, trying to piece together Jason's side of the conversation.

"You're telling me I've been sitting on a gold mine?"

"You've been sitting on a vault."

Lex smirked faintly. "Alright. What's next?"

Jason didn't miss a beat.

"**Second—I've got feelers."

"Feelers?"

"Other artists." Jason's voice lowered slightly, more serious now. "Old friends of mine—guys from the 80s and 90s, smaller acts that never sold out their catalogs. They're ready to cash out."

Lex's gaze sharpened.

"Names?"

"You'll recognize them. I'll send the list. But Lex, it's not just scraps. We're talking full discographies. Soundtrack potential."

Lex leaned back, tapping his fingers against the glass.

Catalog buying was one thing—but pulling entire sound libraries under his control?

Jason's excitement didn't waver.

"Third thing—"

Lex chuckled. "You're on a roll."

Jason grinned. "I want to make a boy band."

Lex froze.

"You're serious?"

"Dead serious." Jason didn't flinch. "The charts are wide open. No one's filled the gap in years and we already have the perfect songs."

Lex pinched the bridge of his nose, suppressing a laugh.

"A boy band, Jason?"

Rose perked up at that, raising her brows with genuine amusement. "Did he just say 'boy band'?"

Lex smirked, covering the receiver. "Yes."

Jason kept pushing.

"Lex, listen. Rose's track is already climbing. If we control another pop act—one with faces to sell—we run the table."

Lex exhaled slowly, considering it.

"You really think there's room for it?"

Jason's confidence didn't waver.

"I know there is. I've been scouting talent. Give me three months, and I'll build you the next obsession."

Lex's smirk deepened, eyes flicking toward Rose, who was clearly trying not to laugh.

"Fine. Do it."

Jason laughed, triumphant. "I'll put the pieces together. Fourth thing—"

Lex's brow arched. "There's more?"

Jason's tone shifted slightly—the playful edge thinning just a little.

"Yeah. It's about Rose."

Lex's gaze flicked to her again. She was flipping through something on her phone, but her attention wasn't fully there.

"What about her?"

Jason's voice lowered.

"She's getting attention from labels. Quiet interest. I thought you'd want to know."

Lex's jaw tensed slightly, though he kept his tone neutral.

"Which labels?"

Jason hesitated. "One of the big three. Nothing official yet, but they've been sniffing around very closely. Benny told me."

Lex exhaled softly, eyes narrowing.

"She's signing with us."

Jason chuckled softly. "Didn't know. But keep her close, Lex."

Lex's gaze lingered on Rose, her soft hum filling the space as she scrolled.

"I will."

Jason's voice lightened again. "I'll send the list of catalogs tonight. And Lex—"

"Yeah?"

Jason grinned. "Start thinking about what you'll call that boy band."

Lex laughed under his breath.

"I'll leave the naming to you. Just don't embarrass me."