The SUV merged onto Sunset, palm trees flickering past the windows like metronomes counting down to impact. Kade drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting near the gearshift — relaxed, but only on the surface. His eyes scanned every mirror, every lane, every car following too long.
Lex sat in the backseat, leaning slightly forward, elbows on his knees.
His phone buzzed.
ELIAS — CALLING
Lex answered immediately.
"Elias."
The old lawyer didn't waste a second.
"Lexington. We have a situation."
Lex's jaw tightened. "Define situation."
"The market opened twenty minutes ago," Elias said, voice rough with urgency. "Your short positions are performing beautifully — but Barnie's board is blaming you directly for the stock dive."
Kade let out a low whistle. "Damn, kid."
Elias continued:
"They are considering legal retaliation. Emergency injunctions. A smear campaign. And—well—something else."
Lex straightened. "Elias. Say it."
Elias sighed.
"They are implying that you may have acted with… leaked federal information."
Lex's pulse dropped to ice.
"That's impossible."
"Of course it is," Elias snapped. "But in a panic, boards don't care about truth. They care about preserving their skins."
Lex stared out the window.
"Keep pushing the narrative we prepared," he said. "Barnie made bad bets. I acted in self-preservation. Nothing illegal."
"Already done," Elias replied. "But that's not the urgent part."
Lex's eyes sharpened. "What is?"
Elias hesitated — never a good sign.
"The press caught wind of Rose Russo's disappearance."
Lex's spine stiffened.
"Repeat that."
"Entertainment news outlets," Elias said. "Three smaller blogs and one major tabloid. They're speculating she's missing — possibly kidnapped."
A pulse of cold shot through Lex's chest, but his voice remained steady.
"Of course they are," he murmured. "They always smell blood first."
"Lexington," Elias continued, "this is going to explode. If the Rose Russo story overtakes the Maddox raid, the board will weaponize it against you. They'll imply misconduct, distraction, emotional compromise—"
Lex cut him off with a calm he did not feel.
"Thank you, Elias. I need you to do something immediately."
"Name it."
"Wire two hundred million to Benny," Lex said. "Right now."
There was a pause — brief but heavy.
"Two hundred million?" Elias repeated. "For… what exactly?"
"Latham West Media," Lex said. "He's building our Los Angeles front. I need him armed."
Elias hesitated.
"And the second part?"
Lex looked out at the passing palm trees, eyes darkening.
"Send another two hundred million."
A low whistle escaped Elias's breath.
"Four hundred million total? Lexington, that's—"
"Necessary," Lex said. "Benny needs the flexibility to move fast. To make noise. To control press, talent, optics — and to drown out anything they try to spin about Rose."
Elias sighed like a man adding years to his life expectancy in reverse.
"Your grandfather is either smiling or screaming from beyond the grave."
"Probably both," Lex said.
"You're certain Benny can handle those amounts?"
"He has Elinor," Lex replied. "And he has purpose. That makes him dangerous — in the right direction."
A rustle of papers, rapid typing, the familiar sound of Elias taking action.
"Consider it done," Elias said. "Funds will hit within the hour. But Lex…"
"Yes?"
"Don't let Harrow corner you. Men like him don't negotiate — they eliminate."
Lex's voice lowered into something cold, almost serene.
"Then it's a good thing," he said, "I'm not here to negotiate."
He ended the call.
Kade glanced at him in the mirror. "Four hundred mil to the old guy? You serious?"
Lex didn't look up from Rose's jade bangle.
"Yes."
Kade let out a low whistle. "You don't hand out numbers like that unless you've got a plan. A big one. Fast."
"I do," Lex said.
"And you trust him with it?"
Lex finally met Kade's eyes through the mirror.
"If Benny says he can get something done," Lex said, "he'll get it done yesterday."
Kade snorted. "Guy looked like he'd pass out if Vanessa smiled at him."
"He probably will," Lex replied. "But he will still deliver."
The phone buzzed in Lex's hand.
BENNY — CALLING
Right on cue.
Lex answered.
"Benny."
Benny didn't even breathe first.
"LEX— okay— okay— I know you told me not to panic but— I've got three deals already— three— in twenty minutes— and my hands are shaking— and Elinor is terrifying— and I think I accidentally bought a building—"
Kade barked a laugh.
Lex almost smiled.
"Slow down," Lex said. "Tell me what you have."
Benny inhaled, paper rustling, voices shouting in the background — he was in motion, fully activated.
"Deal one," Benny said. "A director — one of your dad's old friends — wants to buy back his unreleased film if we fund a restoration. Six million. He says Roger saved that movie from dying once, and if you're involved, he's in."
Lex's chest tightened — not with pain, but memory.
"Good," he murmured. "Next."
"Deal two," Benny said. "A struggling studio wants a co-financing partner for their fall slate. They heard whispers you're entering the market. They want fifty million and access to our distribution contacts."
Kade whistled. "Man moves fast."
Lex nodded.
"Put them on a list. I'll vet."
Benny shuffled papers again.
"And deal three— this one's big."
Lex leaned in.
"Benny."
"A tech investor— one of Vanessa's orbit people — wants to meet with us. Says he has a VR-music crossover project he thinks you'll 'salivate over.' His words, not mine."
"that's a trap." Lex said,
Benny continued anxiously, "Elinor also told him we'd consider it. She said you like 'weird niche plays with high asymmetrical upside.' I don't know what that means, but he sounded impressed."
Lex closed his eyes for a moment.
That was exactly something he liked.
And exactly something he needed.
"Good," Lex said. "Set the meeting for tonight."
"Tonight?!" Benny squeaked.
"Yes," Lex said. "We don't slow down. Not now."
Benny exhaled shakily.
"Roger would be proud, kid. You're building something real."
Lex's throat tightened — a flicker of something human passing through the steel.
"I know," he said softly. "Keep going, Benny. Keep pushing. And keep watching Vanessa. She'll move soon."
"She already is," Benny muttered. "She asked for a coffee at noon. Should I say yes?"
Lex didn't hesitate.
"Yes," he said. "And keep your recorder on."
"Recorder?!"
"You're a producer," Lex replied. "Record everything."
Benny groaned. "Fine. But if she kills me—"
"She won't," Lex said. "You're too useful."
"And too adorable," Kade added.
"Shut up," Benny muttered and hung up.
The SUV went quiet.
Kade shook his head. "He's gonna have a heart attack."
"He'll adapt," Lex said.
"And you?" Kade asked. "What's your angle in all this?"
Lex looked out the window as The Ivy appeared up ahead — glamorous, white façade shining like a stage dressed for disaster.
"My angle?" Lex said, voice dropping into a razor-thin focus.
"Rose.
Deals.
Control.
And Eli Harrow at the center of all of it."
Kade smirked. "You really think he's coming alone?"
"No," Lex said.
He closed his hand around the jade bangle.
"But he thinks I'm coming unprepared."
Kade slowed the car, rolling up to the restaurant.
"Let's go disappoint him," Kade said.
Lex opened the door.
Showtime.