Family Meeting

Lex lingered near the door as the boardroom began to empty, his sharp eyes watching the Maddox sisters—Margot, with her understated presence, and Charlotte, the polished and bitter socialite—exchange a brief look before heading toward the hall. He intercepted them with a calm, measured step, his hand gesturing toward his office down the corridor.

"Aunties,"

"I assume this isn't small talk, Nephew?" Charlotte said.

Charlotte walked in with condience. Her designer heels tap against the polished floors. The scent of expensive perfume followed in her wake. She was a socialite, a collector of secrets.

Margot her much younger half sister trailed behind, less polished, but sharper in her own way. Where Charlotte moved like she owned the room, Margot knew every backdoor and escape route. She had spent years running quiet errands for Barnie, handling things that weren't meant to leave the house.

Both women had been through bitter divorces, casualties of what people whispered was the Maddox Curse.

Charlotte took the seat across from Lex without hesitation, crossing one leg over the other. Margot hesitated a beat longer, her eyes flicking around the office before sitting.

Lex leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the desk.

Margot crossed her arms. "Barnie's going to ask questions if he hears we were here."

Lex smiled. "Then let's make sure he do hear about it."

Elias shot Lex a brief glance but remained silent, letting him lead the conversation.

Lex's gestured for them to sit while he leaned against the edge of the desk, arms crossed.

"Aunt Margot you still handle some of Barnie's personal errands, don't you?" he asked casually.

Margot stiffened just slightly. "I don't work for him."

Lex met her gaze. "I've heard rumors."

Margot shifted uncomfortably. Charlotte's expression remained unreadable.

Lex didn't let the silence drag.

"Barnie's has Russian businessmen at the house."

Margot's posture stiffened noticeably this time.

Lex tilted his head. "So, it's true."

Elias, who had been quietly listening, finally frowned. "Russians?"

Margot exhaled sharply. "Barnie meets with them privately. I don't know the details, but it's—unusual. And he's careful. No staff, no records."

Charlotte tapped her fingers against the armrest. "I know he's been socializing with several foreign investors, but I didn't know they were Russian."

Lex sat back slightly, processing. Rose had warned him about this. In the last timeline, Barnie had leveraged shady offshore deals—and swapped valuable art pieces in the process.

Which meant…

"The art," Lex said aloud.

Charlotte arched a brow. "What about it?"

Lex turned his attention fully to her now. "Barnie borrowed several pieces from the Maddox collection. Where are they?"

Charlotte's expression darkened slightly. She caught on to Lex conclusion. Margot knew it was happening and she was once again on the losing side of the deal.

"He moved some to his private estate," she admitted. "The rest—he claimed they were being restored."

Lex exhaled slowly. Restoration. That was the same excuse Barnie had used last time.

And in the last timeline? Those pieces were swapped with fakes.

Lex straightened, shifting gears.

"I want control over the Maddox Legacy holdings," he said. "The artwork, the gallery collections—the entire catalog."

Charlotte narrowed her eyes. "That's a significant request."

Margot, still tense, muttered, "Barnie's going to lose it if you touch anything he's moved."

Lex's smirk was sharp. "I don't plan on selling anything. I do plan on renting them to museums, luxury events, and film productions."

Charlotte tilted her head, considering. "You're talking about monetizing the collection?"

Lex nodded. "Properly. Right now, it's collecting dust while Barnie plays games with it. I want to turn it into an asset, not a liability."

Margot's gaze flicked toward Elias. "Legally, can he do that?"

Elias, who had been quietly reviewing documents, finally spoke.

"If both of you co-sign the authorization, then yes," Elias said. "As Maddox family members, your signatures carry weight in preserving the legacy."

Charlotte studied Lex carefully. "You don't want to sell, just lease?"

Lex nodded. "Museums pay millions to display exclusive private collections. Films and luxury brands spend even more to feature historical pieces. Why not let the Maddox name profit off something Barnie's been hoarding?"

Margot hesitated. "Barnie will see this as a power play."

Lex's smirk didn't fade.

"It is a power play."

Charlotte exhaled through her nose, her gaze flicking toward Vivienne. There was a long pause, and then—

Charlotte reached for the pen on Lex's desk.

"I'll sign."

Margot frowned. "Charlotte—"

"We've sat back long enough," Charlotte said. She glanced at Lex. "You're right. The art should be used for something meaningful. I also expect 10% payout."

Margot still looked uncertain. "What if Barnie—"

Lex cut in, voice calm but firm. "Barnie won't be able to stop it. Legally, this is above him. And soon, everything else will be too."

Margot stared at him, then sighed, grabbing the second pen.

"Fine. But you owe me if this gets messy."

Lex's smirk widened. "Messy is where I thrive."

Charlotte and Margot signed the authorization, and Elias gathered the documents with a satisfied nod.

"I'll have this processed by tomorrow," Elias said. "The moment the paperwork is finalized, Lex has full control over the Maddox collection."

Charlotte stood gracefully, smoothing out her dress. "Keep me updated," she said. "And if you need to know which of Barnie's old flames still working with him, let me know."

Lex chuckled. "I'll take you up on that."

Elias leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. "You really are Barnie's worst nightmare."

Lex chuckled as he watched the sister leaving, the one thought lingered. Barnie was dealing with the Russians. Last time line it had been the beginning of the end. This time it was the beginning.