Building a Latham

Lex hadn't even shifted the car into drive when Elias's phone buzzed, the vibration cutting cleanly through the quiet interior. The lawyer glanced down at the screen, his practiced calm betraying the faintest flicker of curiosity.

"Well, that was fast," Elias remarked, answering the call with the smooth efficiency of a man who never wasted time.

Lex leaned back in the driver's seat, arms resting casually on the wheel, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He already knew the answer.

Elias listened, his expression unreadable as he nodded once. "Understood. I'll make sure the paperwork is ready today."

Hanging up, he slid the phone back into his coat pocket and turned to Lex, a faint glint of amusement breaking through his otherwise steady gaze.

"Margot folded," Elias said simply. "Cecelia's not thrilled, but she's not arguing, either."

Lex let out a low chuckle. "Told you. Sentimentality doesn't survive in the same room as overdue bills and cold winters."

Elias tilted his head slightly. "Or maybe they realized you'd buy up every piece of the estate through intermediaries if they said no."

Lex grinned wider, shrugging. "It's not manipulation if it's efficient."

Elias raised an eyebrow, his tone sharpening just slightly. "Three million is efficient, is it? I don't suppose you've mapped out the exact return-on-investment timeline while we're still parked?"

Lex's smirk deepened. "Elias, you're asking the wrong question. The point isn't how soon it pays back—it's about who's allowed to touch the assets when I'm done."

Elias studied him for a moment longer before exhaling. "Alright. But let me guess. You're not stopping with the Everett estate, are you?"

Lex leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering to something almost conspiratorial. "No. I'm not. Maddox Holdings is overleveraged—Barnie's sinking it faster than he realizes. I want to start something clean, under my own name. A hedge fund. Latham Capital."

Elias blinked, then leaned back, tapping his fingers lightly against his knee. "You're serious."

"Deadly," Lex replied, his smirk softening into something colder. "I'll use my grandfather's trust to seed it. And I'll do what Barnie won't—bet against the markets that are about to collapse under him."

Elias nodded slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You're not just trying to outlast him. You're setting the stage to push him off the board entirely."

Lex's gaze sharpened. "Barnie's had his run. The way he's bleeding this company dry? Maddox Holdings will burn. And when it does, I'll make sure Latham Capital is there to take its place."

Elias laughed softly, shaking his head. "You know, most people would think twice before taking on someone like Barnie. But you—"

Lex started the car, the engine humming low beneath them. "I've already lived with his shadow, Elias. This isn't about revenge. It's about making sure he never casts it again."

Ten minutes later, after dropping Elias at his office, Lex pulled into his parking spot and dialed Benny.

The call barely rang once before Benny answered, his voice crackling with energy. "Please tell me I'm hearing what I think I'm hearing."

Lex grinned. "Everett's estate is ours. Full rights—music catalog, the unfinished novel, all of it."

Benny let out a low whistle. "Damn. I figured it'd take at least a month of back-and-forth."

"They didn't have a month," Lex replied smoothly. "Now we move fast. I don't just want a film based on Everett's life. I want that unfinished novel adapted."

Benny groaned lightly. "A book no one's read, written by a guy whose name only sells vintage vinyls? You're aiming pretty high."

"I'm thinking a legend," Lex countered. "Everett's last work, brought to life on screen with a star that makes people stop and pay attention."

Benny hesitated. "Rose?"

"Exactly."

"You know how hard it's gonna be to sell a period drama on a first-time lead, right? Hollywood loves chewing up fresh faces."

"Rose isn't just a fresh face. She's talent. Her voice already has critics talking. Her presence is timeless. This film builds her into more than just a name—it makes her unforgettable."

Benny sighed theatrically. "Alright, but you're gonna need a big name to anchor this. What are you thinking? Clooney? Blanchett?"

"Ryan," Lex said firmly.

Benny choked on the other end. "Ryan Gosling? Sure, let me just grab coffee with him real quick."

Lex smirked. "Pitch it. Hard. If we get him, this goes from gamble to goldmine."

Benny groaned again. "You're relentless. Fine. I'll make the calls. But you owe me a drink if this doesn't land."

"You'll get a case," Lex said lightly. "Also, Natalie gets a part."

"Zhang? The startup queen?"

"She's earned it. Send Flowers. Find her a supporting role—something memorable."

Benny paused. "You're building an empire out of favors, Latham."

"No," Lex replied, his tone sharp. "I'm building it out of loyalty. It lasts."

As the call ended, Lex stared out over the city skyline. Barnie could keep Maddox Holdings.