Foggotten Legacy

The Everett estate was tucked into the hills, just outside the city, wrapped in old money and forgotten fame. Lex's car crunched along the gravel driveway, stopping beneath the curved stone archway of the house.

Elias Marr stepped out of the passenger seat, adjusting his cufflinks with the kind of calm that said he'd closed bigger deals than this before breakfast.

"You sure about this, Lex?" Elias asked, his tone level but curious.

Lex turned his head slightly, offering a faint smirk. "I a steal. The name still carries a legacy. I even skip work to come, not that I was doing anything important, just pushing papers"

Elias didn't look convinced. "Its a pitch. But—the Everett estate isn't exactly thriving. This catalog hasn't generated value in years. Unpublished manuscripts on the shelf. Expire Film options. "

Lex paused. "That's the difference between you and me, Elias. You see an uphill climb. I see a clear shot to the summit."

Elias gave him a long, appraising look before sighing. "Noted."

The Everett family lawyer, Henry Weathers, was waiting in the parlor—a stiff, silver-haired man whose expression could sour milk. He sat beside Everett's two daughters, Margot and Cecelia Everett, both in their late thirties and draped in modest designer outfits that still whispered, we can't afford this anymore.

Margot was the one to greet Lex as they entered, her smile polite but distant. "Mr. Latham. We weren't expecting you personally."

Lex smiled smoothly, shaking her hand. "A deal like this isn't something I leave to assistants."

Cecelia's eyes narrowed slightly, studying Lex as if he might break something just by standing there. Henry Weathers simply folded his hands, nodding to Elias across the room.

"Shall we get to it?" Elias said, taking a seat beside Lex.

Margot sat down gracefully, her sister following. "We understand you've expressed interest in our father's catalog."

Lex nodded. "I have. But I'm not here for a licensing deal."

Henry's brow lifted slightly. "Oh?"

Lex leaned forward, resting his elbows lightly on the table. "I'm here to buy it. All of it. Rights to the music catalog, the unpublished novel, and the film options no one's touched in twenty years. I want full ownership."

Cecelia's eyes sharpened. "You want the entire estate?"

Lex's smirk didn't fade. "Just the part you aren't using."

Henry Weathers adjusted his glasses, his gaze flicking toward Elias. "And what exactly are you offering for decades of work, Mr. Latham?"

Lex exhaled lightly, tapping his fingers on the table. "Three million."

Silence hung in the room like heavy velvet. It was a low offer.

Margot's brow furrowed, clearly trying to decide if that number was insultingly low or shockingly generous. Cecelia leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.

"You think that's fair?" Cecelia's tone was cold, but Lex caught the undercurrent of doubt beneath it.

Lex's gaze stayed locked on her. "I think it's what the market will bear. Everett's catalog hasn't sold in years. The novel's sitting in a drawer, and whatever movie deal you're holding onto is decades out of date. Three million cleans the slate in this market."

Henry's jaw tightened. "The Everett name still carries weight, Mr. Latham."

Elias, who had been watching quietly, leaned in just slightly. "If that were true, you wouldn't be at this table."

Lex caught the subtle flicker in Henry's eyes—a crack. Margot shifted uncomfortably, while Cecelia pressed her lips together, glaring at Elias.

Lex let the silence sit a moment longer before he spoke. "Look, I'm not here to diminish your father's legacy. I'm offering to make sure people remember it. His music gets forgotten while artists like Rose Russo will give it new life. I'm not just buying tracks—I'm building a platform.**"

Margot glanced at her sister, lips tight. She was considering it.

Henry spoke first. "We'll need time to review this."

Elias cleared his throat, sliding a folder across the table. "Take all the time you want. But as of today, Lex is the only offer sitting here."

Lex stood, adjusting his coat. "Three million. I'll give you a week. After that, I'm not interested."

Margot nodded politely, but Cecelia's eyes lingered on Lex as if waiting for him to flinch.

Lex didn't.

Elias slid a folder across the table, his expression sharp. "The offer's here. Thirty days, full cash close. You won't find better terms."

Henry hesitated, but Margot reached for the folder, flipping it open. Her sister didn't stop her this time.

As Margot scanned the document, Lex rose to his feet, adjusting his coat. "Take your time. But don't wait too long. Nostalgia fades faster than you think."

Elias followed suit, nodding politely. "Gentlemen, ladies."

As they stepped out into the fading afternoon light, Elias glanced at Lex. "They'll fight it a bit longer. It's emotional."

As he and Elias walked toward the door, Elias smirked faintly. "You know they'll take it."

Lex glanced over his shoulder once. It was when you move that matters.