Sealing the Deal

Lex barely had time to set his phone down when it buzzed again.

Elias Marr.

Lex smirked faintly, shaking his head. "They don't sleep, huh?"

Rose looked up from her phone, arching a brow. "Who now?"

"Netflix," Lex muttered as he answered. "Elias."

Elias's calm voice flowed through the line, but there was a sharpness to it. The kind of tone Elias used when things were moving quickly.

"Lex, Netflix didn't waste time. Contracts just came through. It's solid. Clean."

Lex leaned against the counter, crossing one arm over his chest. "Good."

Elias paused. "Lex, I think you can push for more."

Lex's brows furrowed slightly. "More?"

Elias continued without missing a beat. "Look, you hold the IP. That alone gives you leverage. But the streaming space is desperate for prestige content. Black Wall is about to ride Oscar buzz. Netflix needs something to plant a flag on. If you play this right, they'll pay extra just to make sure it doesn't land somewhere else."

Lex swirled the glass of water on the counter thoughtfully.

"So you think I should stall?"

Elias's voice hummed in agreement. "I'll draft revisions. Give them a reason to think you're second-guessing. We won't overplay it, but a few tweaks might make them bite."

Lex smirked faintly. "You really think they'll add more on top?"

Elias chuckled. "Lex, this is Netflix we're talking about. If they want it bad enough, they'll throw in bonuses, backend percentages—hell, maybe even awards clauses."

Lex's gaze flicked toward Rose, who was listening quietly now, head tilted slightly in curiosity.

"Fine. Send over the contract and flag anything that can move the needle. I want this locked down, but only if they pay for the privilege."

Elias's tone lightened. "I'll have revisions ready by morning."

Lex exhaled, feeling the weight of the deal already starting to settle in his chest.

"Thanks, Elias."

The call ended quietly.

Rose set her phone down, folding her arms as she leaned against the couch.

"So? Big deal?"

Lex smirked. "Big enough. Netflix wants Silent Crossings and Black Wall. Elias thinks we can squeeze more out of them."

Rose arched a brow. "I thought Forty million was already insane."

"It is. But that's just the start."

She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "I guess when you play the game, you really play it."

Lex glanced toward the office, where the soft blue glow from his monitors still flickered.

"It's not just about the money." His voice dipped lower, more thoughtful. "It's about control. The moment you give that up, someone else starts deciding how the story ends."

Rose watched him carefully for a moment, something unreadable flickering in her gaze.

"Well, I hope they know you're not planning on losing anytime soon."

Lex smirked faintly. "I think they're starting to figure that out."

Lex's must have gotto two bites of food when his phone buzzed again.

He glanced at the screen—Natalie Zhang.

"Nat," Lex answered smoothly. "What's up?"

Her voice was quick, almost urgent. "I'm at the club with those founders I told you about—the ones working on that rental app."

Lex leaned forward, already sensing where this was going. "Airbnb? What about them?"

"They're nervous," Nat said bluntly. "Thinking about backing out altogether. They're spooked—debts piling up, no beta, the usual early-stage jitters."

Lex's brow furrowed, but his voice stayed calm. "Alright. Where are you?"

"Smoke Jazz," she replied. "Can you get here? I told them you'd want to meet."

Lex said as he grabbed his code. "Seven minutes."

It was 6:02.

When Lex pushed through the doors of Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, the familiar hum of chatter and jazz music. Nat was seated at a corner table with Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, both of them looking stiff and rather out of place.

Lex walk over and extending a hand to both founders. "Brian. Joe. Lex Latham."

Brian shook his hand reluctantly. "Nat said you wanted to partner with us, but we're starting to think we're better off on our own."

Lex arched a brow, taking a seat across from them. "Better off? Mind walking me through your thought process?"

Joe frowned. "We've got a strong concept and a clear market. That's all we need."

Lex chuckled softly. "A strong concept and a clear market? That's adorable. But let me tell you something—good ideas don't sell themselves. Execution is everything. Your app helps people like yourselves—travelers looking for short-term stays. It's a great idea, but limiting. Mine's different. I target people who own properties. Empty spaces, sitting there waiting to sell."

Joe tilted his head. "How does that make it easier to market?"

"Simple," Lex said. "I tap into existing networks. Realtors, property managers—people already looking to offload their listings. I give them a tool to generate revenue in the meantime. No cold-start problem, no desperate need to build trust. It's a ready-made market."

Brian crossed his arms. "So, what are you saying? We ditch our idea and start from scratch?"

"Not at all," Lex replied. "We pivot. Your core concept stays the same—short-term rentals, flexibility—but we shift the focus. Instead of travelers, we target property owners. I handle the funding, the strategy, and the marketing. You handle operations. You'll still be CEO, Joe."

Brian raised a brow. "And you?"

Lex smirked. "Majority investor. I'm the one putting my name—and my money—on the line."

Joe leaned in clearly conflicted. "It's just… we've worked so hard to get here. Selling everything feels like giving up."

Lex smiled faintly, unbothered. "You've heard of Rizz, right?"

Both men exchanged a glance, then nodded.

"That's my skill set," Lex said, leaning forward. "I took an app with good tech and no direction and turned it into the go-to platform for exclusive connections. I built partnerships, secured events, and positioned it to dominate its niche. Ask Nat if you don't believe me."

Nat chimed in smoothly, "He's underselling it. Look at what Lex did with RIZZ. It was a sinking ship that everyone was jumping off. Now, it's the top event app in its niche."

Joe and Brian exchanged a glance, the tension in their expressions softening slightly.

"What's your final offer?" Brian finally asked.

Lex leaned back, confident. "Sell me everything—the app, the brand, the tech. You two get 5% stock each. We'll pivot to my model, but you stay on as CEO and head of operations. I'll inject funding and guide the vision."

Joe rubbed the back of his neck. "And if we say no?"

Lex's smirk widened slightly. "Then I do it without you and become a competitor. You'll have a 6 Month head start if you have the cashflow to run payroll and Marketing. It's a gamble. With me, you're gaining a partner who knows how to scale this into something real fast."

There was a long pause before Brian exhaled, extending a hand. "Alright."

Lex shook his hand firmly. "Good choice. Let's get to work."

After the hand shake Lex Called Eddie over to show the boys to their room. It wasn't everyday you get to close a billion dollar deal.