Lex sat across from Jason Wilde in the dimly lit studio, the air thick with cigarette smoke and frustration. Jason flipped through a folder of unfinished contracts, half-signed agreements, and demo tapes that hadn't seen a studio session yet.
Lex had come to deliver a contract and a $1 million check for The Black Wall. He hadn't planned on staying, but three beers in, Jason started venting.
Jason exhaled sharply, tossing the folder onto the table. "I'm telling you, Lex—these kids are talented, but they won't listen. They keep bouncing between producers, chasing hype instead of locking in and doing the work."
Lex leaned back, stretching his arms over the couch. "And why do you think that is?"
Jason shot him a dry look. "Because I don't have the cash to sign them. No upfront money means no commitment. I give them free studio time, and they treat it like a damn hobby."
Lex swirled his beer bottle, watching the bubbles rise. "So let me in."
Jason frowned. "In? On what?"
Lex's smirk was slow, calculated. "Fifty-fifty. I'll put up the money—you keep running the studio, signing talent, producing albums. You be the music guy, I'll be the money guy."
Jason leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You want in on my label?"
Lex arched a brow. "I want in on something profitable. And right now, your biggest problem isn't talent—it's leverage. You don't have any."
Jason let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You really think throwing money at this will fix everything?"
Lex's expression didn't waver. "Money doesn't fix everything. But it forces people to take you seriously."
Jason exhaled, rubbing his temple. He was silent for a long moment, weighing it.
Lex pushed. "How much to sign Aiden?"
Jason ran a hand through his hair. "I'd need at least a quarter mil to lock him in for three albums."
Lex nodded. "And the others?"
Jason hesitated. "Another two-fifty for the full roster—studio time, production, marketing."
Lex leaned forward, holding Jason's gaze. "Then you've got a deal. Half a million in, right now. I'll have my lawyer draft the paperwork."
Jason let out a breath, shaking his head in disbelief. "You move fast."
Lex's smirk sharpened. "I don't waste time."
Jason stared at him for another beat, then finally extended his hand. "Alright, Latham. Let's make some damn music."