Chapter 11: Expanding the Network and Unexpected Encounter

Leon Carter stood by his apartment window, staring at the glittering New York skyline.

The message from Victor Chang still sat on his phone screen.

"I'm in. Let me know when to send the payment."

One investor secured. $5,000 incoming.

Nine more to go.

But securing investors wasn't the only thing on his mind tonight.

Personal Life: A Surprise Call

Leon's phone buzzed. Expecting another business-related message, he glanced at the screen.

Sophia Lewis.

His heart skipped for a second.

He hadn't spoken to Sophia in weeks. Ever since he quit his job, their conversations had become less frequent.

He answered. "Sophia?"

"Hey, Leon. Hope I'm not calling too late."

"No, it's fine. What's up?"

She hesitated. "I heard from a friend that you left Winston Capital. Is it true?"

Leon exhaled. "Yeah. I left."

"Why?"

"I wanted to build something for myself. Something bigger."

Sophia sighed. "Leon, you had a great career ahead of you. You were on track for a six-figure salary within a year. Why throw that away?"

Leon leaned against the wall. "Because I don't want to work for someone else's dream. I want to build my own empire."

She was silent for a moment. "You've always been ambitious."

Leon smiled slightly. "And that's a bad thing?"

"No," she said softly. "I just hope you don't lose yourself in the process."

Leon's chest tightened. Sophia had always grounded him. She wasn't just an old colleague—she was someone who had truly understood him.

"Meet me for coffee tomorrow?" she asked.

Leon hesitated. With everything on his plate, was now the time for personal distractions?

But something in her voice made him say, "Yeah. Let's meet."

Growing the Investment Network

The next morning, Leon arrived at Michael Brooks' office.

Michael leaned back in his chair. "So, Victor Chang is in?"

Leon nodded. "One down. Nine more to go."

Michael tapped his fingers on the desk. "I have two more names for you. Ethan Price and Jonathan Hale. Both are high-net-worth investors looking for new opportunities."

Leon took a deep breath. "Set up the meetings."

Michael smirked. "You really think you can pull this off?"

"I don't think. I know."

Investor Meeting #2

That evening, Leon met Ethan Price and Jonathan Hale at an upscale restaurant.

Ethan was in his late 30s, a tech investor who had made millions from early-stage startups. Jonathan was older, a conservative investor who focused on real estate and long-term assets.

Leon laid out his pitch:

• Exclusive access to high-profit investment strategies

• Handpicked stock and real estate opportunities

• Private deal flow before the public gets in

Ethan leaned forward. "I like the idea. But how do I know you actually have profitable insights?"

Leon slid a report across the table.

"This is a stock pick I made three weeks ago. It's up 22% already. This is a real estate deal I closed with a 40% return in a month."

Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "You're young. But you're making the right moves."

Ethan smirked. "Alright, I'm in. I'll send the $5,000 tonight."

Jonathan nodded. "I'll join too. Let's see if you can actually deliver."

Leon shook their hands.

Two more investors secured.

He checked his balance:

• Current Cash: $25,172

• Investment Network Revenue (Pending): $15,000 (Victor, Ethan, Jonathan)

Things were moving fast.

But as he left the restaurant, his phone buzzed again.

Sophia: "See you tomorrow. 11 AM, our usual spot."

Leon smiled.

Maybe, for once, business wasn't the only thing that mattered.

An Unexpected Encounter

As Leon walked down the street, heading toward his apartment, a voice called out from behind him.

"Leon Carter?"

He turned around and saw a well-dressed man in his early 40s approaching him.

"Who's asking?" Leon replied cautiously.

The man extended his hand. "My name is Robert Langford. I work with Langford & Associates, a private investment firm."

Leon shook his hand but kept his guard up. "What can I do for you, Mr. Langford?"

Robert smiled. "I've been hearing your name a lot lately. A young investor building an exclusive network, closing profitable deals, making all the right moves. That kind of thing doesn't go unnoticed."

Leon's mind raced. How did this guy know so much?

"I'm just getting started," Leon said.

Robert nodded. "That's why I'm interested. You see, people like me don't like competition. We prefer partnerships."

Leon narrowed his eyes. "And what exactly are you offering?"

Robert's smile widened. "A chance to join forces. You have talent, but without the right connections, you'll hit a ceiling. Work with me, and I can fast-track your success."

Leon crossed his arms. "And what do you get out of this?"

Robert chuckled. "A piece of the action, of course. Your network, your deals—I want a cut."

Leon's instincts screamed caution. This wasn't just a simple offer—it was an attempt to control him.

"I'll think about it," Leon said.

Robert nodded. "Do that. But don't take too long. The finance world moves fast, and opportunities like this don't wait forever."

With that, Robert walked away, leaving Leon standing in the middle of the sidewalk.

For the first time since starting this journey, he realized he wasn't just playing a game anymore.

He was stepping into a world where powerful players were watching him.

And some of them might not want him to succeed.