Lex stormed out of the boardroom. Ignoring the sidelong glances of junior analysts and interns. And went stright to Elias's office.
The door was closed, but that didn't stop him. He pushed through without waiting for Kat to buzz him in.
Elias was on the phone, but the sharp click of Lex's shoes against the floor made it clear—this wasn't a conversation that could wait.
Elias held up a finger, silently asking for patience.
Lex ignored it. "We need to talk." His tone was clipped, controlled.
Elias sighed quietly, ended the call, and placed the receiver back in its cradle.
"This is about the trust meeting."
Lex paced in front of the desk like a caged animal. "How the hell didn't we see this coming?"
Elias remained calm, watching him carefully.
"Barnie's been pulling strings, burning through trust capital like it's Monopoly money, and no one thought to stop him?"
Elias leaned back, fingers laced."The trust was supposed to be secure, Lex. We had no reason to believe Barnie would justify tapping into the fund under the guise of 'stabilizing' Maddox Holdings."
Lex stopped pacing, turning to face him. "They almost gave him the money. If I hadn't said anything—"
Elias held up a hand. "You stopped it. That matters."
Lex's eyes darkened. "It's not enough. Barnie's made a mess of Maddox Holdings, and now he's trying to drag the trust down with him."
Elias exhaled slowly. "Your options are limited, Lex. You're seventeen. The trustees hold the power until you're eighteen. Legally, you can't block his moves directly."
Lex's gaze narrowed."And if I quit playing intern and start playing hardball? If I walk away from this charade and focus on stopping Barnie from the outside?"
Elias studied him for a long moment. "Leaving Maddox Holdings might weaken your position. The internship keeps you in the room. And it's easier to influence decisions when you're part of the conversation."
Before Lex could respond, Elias's phone buzzed loudly on the desk.
He frowned, checking the screen. "It's Margot."
Lex's brow lifted."The younger one?"
Elias nodded. "The social worker, not the socialite."
Lex leaned against the desk. "Great. Answer it."
Elias picked up the receiver, his tone shifting. "Margot, good to hear from you. What's going on?"
Lex crossed his arms, watching Elias's expression carefully.
Elias's lips pressed into a thin line as he listened. "Yes, I heard about the meeting… No, Lex was there. He raised valid concerns about Barnie's proposal… Of course, I agree it's a problem… Yes, I'll handle it."
He set the phone down, his expression unreadable.
"What did she want?" Lex asked.
Elias leaned back. "She doesn't trust Barnie. She's worried about the trust's future and wants to know if we have a plan."
Lex let out a humorless chuckle. "A plan? The only plan right now is damage control. And honestly, I'm not sure it's enough."
Elias watched him carefully. "Lex, you're young, but you're not stupid. You've done more in two weeks than most people would in a year. If you want to quit interning, that's your choice. But quitting doesn't mean stepping away from the fight. It just means changing how you fight."
Lex met Elias's gaze, his voice steady, despite the fire in his eyes."Then tell me what I need to do."
Elias's expression shifted, something more calculating settling in. "I'll release your funds."
Lex straightened slightly."All of them?"
Elias nodded. "The trust loans—your father's, your grandfather's, even your great-grandfather's. I'll request full access that almost $100 million."
Lex's brow lifted slightly."No holding back?"
"No holding back." Elias smirked faintly. "Serious as the market crash you keep warning me about."
Lex's mind was already calculating.
He could fund startups, acquire IPs, move on film projects, build a hedge fund—
Own. Everything.
Elias tapped his pen against the desk. "And while we're at it…"
Lex arched a brow. "What?"
Elias smirked. "I assume you'll want the label set up officially. You've been circling the idea for weeks. Why not make it real?"
Lex's lips curled into a faint grin. "Roger & Son."
Elias raised a brow. "Sentimental?"
"Strategic." Lex shrugged. "But yeah. My dad would've liked it."
Elias chuckled. "The music industry is volatile, but you've got the catalog to back it up."
Lex nodded. "The catalog, the talent, and the money. That's more than half the battle."
Lex leaned forward, his tone sharper now."And Barnie? What's his next move?"
Elias's smirk faded as he turned serious."Margot called because the trustees are pressing Barnie for proof."
Lex's fingers drummed on the desk."What kind of proof?"
"Cash flow statements. A plan to stabilize Maddox Holdings. He's stalling, of course, but he can only buy so much time."
Lex's jaw tightened."How much time?"
Elias flipped through his notes. "A few weeks at best. Less if you push. It's about time the trustees realize he's got nothing but smoke and mirrors."
Lex exhaled slowly, the fire in his chest cooling to something more dangerous—calculated determination.
"Fine. Get the paperwork started. Hedge fund first, then the label. And send me the updated trust account balances—I'll figure out where to allocate everything."
Elias stood, extending his hand with a faint smirk."You're about to become a very busy young man, Lex."
Lex gripped his hand firmly."That's the idea."
As he left Elias's office, the weight of the day no longer felt suffocating.
The trust.
The hedge fund.
The label.
They weren't just opening moves on a board.
They were the beginning of something bigger.