Chapter 10: The First Steps Towards an Empire
Leon Carter sat in his apartment, his mind racing with possibilities.
His $100,000 investment in the AI finance startup was a long-term bet. His cash on hand was down to $25,172.
If he wanted to keep growing, he needed to generate more money—fast.
And that's where his next plan came in.
The investment network idea he had pitched to Michael wasn't just some random thought. It was a high-value opportunity that could bring in tens of thousands of dollars in just a few weeks.
But before he focused on business, he needed a break.
Personal Life: Reconnecting with Family
Leon glanced at his phone and noticed a missed call from his mother.
With everything that had happened recently, he hadn't spoken to her much.
He dialed her number, and after a few rings, her warm voice answered.
"Leon! Finally, you call back."
Leon smiled. "Yeah, sorry, Mom. Been a little busy lately."
"Busy? You're always busy. Are you eating properly? Are you getting enough rest?"
Leon chuckled. "I'm fine, Mom. Just working on some new projects."
"Projects? Are you still working at that investment firm?"
He hesitated. He hadn't told her that he had quit his job and was now working independently.
"Not exactly. I'm doing my own thing now—investing, starting a network for high-value clients."
There was silence on the other end before she spoke again, softer this time.
"Leon, I just want you to be stable. You know how hard it was for us growing up. I don't want you to take unnecessary risks."
Leon's chest tightened. He understood where she was coming from.
His mother had worked multiple jobs just to keep a roof over their heads. She had seen struggle firsthand, and the idea of him stepping away from a secure job must have worried her.
"I know, Mom," he said gently. "But trust me, I'm building something that will change our lives. Not just mine—yours too."
She sighed. "Just promise me you'll be careful, Leon."
"I promise."
After a few more minutes of conversation, he hung up, feeling both guilty and motivated.
He wasn't just doing this for himself.
He was doing this to give his mother the life she deserved.
And he wasn't going to fail.
Building the Investment Network
Leon pulled out his laptop and started outlining the structure of his exclusive investment group.
Goal: Provide high-value investors with insider-level market insights.
Entry Fee: $5,000 per investor (minimum).
Membership Perks:
• Handpicked investment opportunities with high-profit potential
• Exclusive stock market strategies (powered by his system)
• Access to real estate deals with proven success rates
• Connections with serious investors and entrepreneurs
If he could get just 10 investors to sign up, that would be $50,000 upfront.
And if he expanded beyond that?
The numbers could be huge.
But before he started recruiting investors, he needed credibility.
Leveraging Connections
Leon picked up his phone and dialed Michael Brooks.
"Michael, I need you to connect me with some high-net-worth investors."
Michael chuckled. "Already moving fast, huh?"
"No time to waste," Leon said. "I need people who are looking for serious investment opportunities and have money to move."
Michael paused for a moment. "I might have a few names. But they won't just throw money at you. You need to prove you can deliver results."
Leon smirked.
"That won't be a problem."
Michael sighed. "Alright. I'll set up a meeting with a few people. But if you can't convince them, this whole thing dies before it even starts."
"Trust me," Leon said. "They'll want in."
The First Pitch
Two days later, Leon found himself sitting in a private lounge at a luxury hotel in downtown Manhattan.
Across from him sat three investors, all introduced by Michael.
• David Klein – A real estate developer with a net worth of $15 million.
• Jacob Reynolds – A stock trader known for taking high-risk, high-reward bets.
• Victor Chang – A retired hedge fund manager who still loved making money.
Leon took a deep breath. This was his first real test.
"Gentlemen," he started, "I won't waste your time. You're here because you're looking for the next big opportunity—and I have exactly that."
Jacob raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you different from any other so-called financial expert?"
Leon leaned forward. "Because I don't deal in theories. I deal in results."
He pulled out a folder with detailed reports on his past trades, real estate deals, and market insights.
"In the last two months, I've successfully flipped real estate for over 40% profit, picked high-growth stocks before they boomed, and made investment moves that even professionals overlooked."
David studied the reports. "These numbers are impressive, but why start an investment network?"
Leon smirked. "Because big money moves in circles. The wealthy don't rely on public information—they rely on connections and inside knowledge. I'm building a network where people like us can get access to high-quality deals before the rest of the market catches on."
Victor, the former hedge fund manager, folded his arms. "What do you want from us?"
Leon didn't hesitate.
"A $5,000 buy-in. That gets you exclusive access to handpicked investment opportunities, market strategies, and insider financial intelligence."
The room went silent.
Then Jacob chuckled. "Ballsy move, kid. You're asking us to bet on you."
Leon met his gaze. "I'm not asking. I'm offering you a chance to make a lot of money—before everyone else realizes what's happening."
Victor smirked. "You remind me of myself when I was younger."
David leaned back. "I'll think about it."
Leon nodded. "Take your time. But once I hit 10 investors, the door closes."
As he stood up to leave, he could see the interest in their eyes.
This was just the beginning.
First Client Secured
Later that evening, Leon received a message from Victor Chang.
"I'm in. Let me know when to send the payment."
Leon grinned.
One investor down. Nine to go.
He checked his balance:
• Current Cash: $25,172
• Investment Network Revenue (Pending): +$5,000
With each new investor, his financial empire was growing.
And this was just the first step.