-Big Breakfast News (24th July, 2007)

The smell of freshly cooked rice and miso soup filled the air as Lex stepped into the dining room.

At the center of the table, neatly stacked, were twenty-five lacquered bento boxes—each one carefully arranged, colorful, and unmistakably from Rose.

Lex smirked as he lifted the lid on his own box, the door swung open, and in walked Rose Russo—messenger bag slung over her shoulder holding flowers.

"Good afternoon."

Lex, already picking up his chopsticks, tilted his head. "You didn't have to bring food for the whole house."

Rose scoffed, crossing her arms. "Yeah? You expect me to let you and your art-obsessed guests survive on coffee and questionable life choices?"

From the hallway, Noah's voice called out sleepily. "I take offense to that—but also, is there extra?"

Lex chuckled, setting down his chopsticks. "Rose, I've got news for you."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Good news or 'Lex Latham just made a move and now I have to clean up his mess' news?"

Lex smirked. "Netflix-sponsored tour."

Rose froze.

Noah and Jonathan looked up at the same time. "Wait, what?"

Lex leaned back, sipping his tea. "Three million. When the deal is signed."

Rose just stared.

For once, she was speechless.

Then, finally—

"You're serious."

Lex smirked. "Have I ever joked about money?"

She exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "You actually pulled it off. A full tour."

Lex tilted his head. "You ready?"

Rose's lips curled into a slow, knowing grin.

"You know I am."

Lex sat at the head of the dining table, sipping his tea as his phone buzzed with an incoming update from Elias.

Rose was still flipping through the tour details, Noah and Jonathan were half-asleep over their bentos, but Lex's mind was already on the next move.

He answered the call. "Talk to me."

Elias's voice was calm, methodical—already deep in the negotiations. "We're nearly there. Netflix's legal team is reviewing the final terms now. I expect we'll have everything ironed out before Thursday."

Lex smirked. "So the usual posturing?"

"Of course." A faint rustle of papers. "They want guarantees on Rose's availability, backend participation, and promotional control. Nothing we can't work around."

Rose looked up, eyebrows raised. "They better not be trying to own me."

Lex chuckled. "Relax. Elias is handling it."

Elias's voice remained steady. "They want you at dinner tomorrow to finalize things. Standard industry handshaking."

Lex leaned back in his chair. "Fine. But they'll be signing before the end of the week. No delays."

Elias hummed. "I already made that clear. You'll have their signatures by Friday."

Lex bearly had time to end the call when his phone buzzed again.

D. Dante.

He sighed, rolling his neck before answering. Calls this early on a Monday were never good news.

"Tell me this isn't annoying."

Dante didn't bother with greetings. "Lex, the FBI wants you in today. It's urgent."

Lex raised an eyebrow, tapping his pen lightly against the thick catalog of estate pieces laid out in front of him. Urgent. The Bureau didn't do urgent unless they wanted to rattle someone.

"That's unfortunate," Lex said, flipping to the next page. "I'm busy."

Dante exhaled sharply. "Lex—"

"No." Lex leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out. "I have an auction in two hours. Guests are flying in."

"This isn't a request," Dante said, his voice sharper now. "They expect you to show up today."

Lex smirked faintly, glancing toward the polished silver cufflinks sitting neatly on his desk, ready for the evening. "Then they'll be disappointed."

Dante swore under his breath. "Lex, I'm telling you—"

"And I'm telling you, no." Lex's voice was smooth, but the edge was there now. "This is a lot of money even by my standard. I'm not rearranging my schedule because the Bureau suddenly decided I'm interesting."

A pause. Then Dante sighed. "You're making this harder."

Lex chuckled. "I make everything harder. Tell them I'll see them when I see them."

He ended the call, setting the phone down before reaching for his whiskey.

The FBI could wait.

Tonight? Tonight was about legacy.

Lex barely had time to put his phone away when the doorbell rang.

Too early.

Lex moved toward the door, smoothing down the cuffs of his shirt. By the time he pulled it open, he was already half-smirking.

Standing there, a small entourage waiting behind them, were some of the biggest names in fine art and private collecting.

Lex let the silence stretch.

Then, finally—

"You're early."

The first guest, Laurent Chevalier, a French art mogul known for owning pieces even museums couldn't acquire, gave a polite, calculating smile. "Time is valuable, Mr. Latham. And so is opportunity."

Behind him, Eleanor Harrington, an heiress with a keen eye for emerging trends, adjusted the cuff of her silk blouse. "When a collection like yours surfaces, no one waits until afternoon tea."

Kenji Sato, a Tokyo-based investor with deep ties to fine art institutions, gave a small, respectful nod.

Lex exhaled through his nose, clearly expecting this. He stepped aside.

"Then let's not waste time."

Lex lead the group to the tea room and calming boiled the water. He took his time pouring tea, his movements deliberate. He was in no rush.

The collectors, however? They were restless.

Laurent Chevalier tapped his fingers against the arm of his chair. Eleanor Harrington shifted, clearly itching to talk numbers. The Chinese Embassy representative kept his gaze on the Mei Lei scrolls, but his stillness was its own kind of pressure.

Noah, setting up his camera, grinned. "Latham's making them marinate in their own impatience."

Jonathan, still half-processing his life choices, muttered, "They should've known better. He's not rushing for anyone."

The Eleanor finally cracked.

"Mr. Latham—"

Lex set his teacup down gently, the sound barely audible.

"Not yet."

The weight of those two words landed like a stone.

Laurent inhaled sharply. Eleanor Harrington bit the inside of her cheek.

Kenji Sato, however, gave a small, amused nod.

"A proper game does not begin until all the pieces are on the board."

Lex's black eyes gleamed. "Exactly."

Lex hand out tea to each guest respectfully. Each taking their time to enjoy the moment before the games began.

Then the next arrival shifted everything.

David Zhang walked in, calm as ever, followed by Nataline Zhang and—most notably—Madam Zhang.

The air tightened.

Laurent Chevalier straightened slightly. Kenji Sato gave a small, respectful nod. Eleanor Harrington recalculated her position in an instant.

Noah watching the shift, muttered, "Even the sharks are nervous."

Jonathan, still overwhelmed by everything, sighed. "They should be."

David Zhang's gaze settled on Lex. "You've gathered quite the crowd, Mr. Latham."

Lex, perfectly unbothered, pour him a cup of tea.