Lex stepped through the heavy doors of the Academy, the faint hum of early morning chatter drifting down the halls. The private school's marble floors gleamed under the fluorescent lights, polished to perfection for a crowd of kids who couldn't care less.
It was strange being here again—knowing exactly how little this day mattered.
One last day. Then I'm done.
Lex adjusted the strap of his bag, moving through the familiar crowd with an ease that came from years of navigating these hallways. He didn't stand out, not today. He wasn't here to make waves.
He was here to build connections.
Something he had missed before. He had spent too much time running after Trent, playing Barnie's game.
He had forgotten the game his grandfather loved to play.
Every person was a potential asset.
Near the west wing lockers, Lex spotted Daniel Hargrove. Son of a real estate developer. His family would hit rock bottom by the end of 2008, but with the right push, Daniel could be valuable before the crash.
Lex approached casually, leaning against the locker beside him.
"Daniel," Lex said smoothly.
Daniel glanced up, smirking faintly. "Latham. Surprised you're even here. Thought you'd already vanished to whatever fancy college your uncle bribed."
Lex smiled faintly. "No need to bribe. But speaking of college, I heard your dad's expanding downtown. New developments?"
Daniel's eyes flicked sideways, cautious. His family didn't talk about their business with just anyone.
"Yeah," Daniel replied slowly. "It's small right now. Why?"
Lex shrugged. "Just thinking long-term. Real estate's about to take a hit. Your dad might want to hedge with smaller properties—less exposure."
Daniel narrowed his eyes. "Why do you care?"
Lex met his gaze evenly. "Because when things start cracking, people with the right connections survive. I'll be making a few moves soon. If you ever want in, let me know."
Daniel frowned, uncertain. But Lex saw it—that flicker of doubt.
He'll remember this conversation.
Lex patted Daniel's shoulder lightly and stepped away without another word, leaving him to mull it over.
In the library, nose deep in a finance textbook, sat Ethan Mallory.
Son of Robert Mallory, a minor player in the banking world who would skyrocket in power post-crash by absorbing collapsing firms.
Ethan idolized his father. But he lacked his instinct.
Lex slid into the chair across from him without asking.
Ethan glanced up, blinking in surprise. "Lex?"
Lex leaned back in the chair, smirking faintly. "You're still studying? It's the last day."
Ethan sighed. "College starts next month. Gotta be prepared."
Lex tapped the cover of Ethan's book. Corporate Finance.
"You know that stuff's gonna be outdated in two years, right?" Lex said, eyes sharp with amusement.
Ethan frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Lex grinned. "Just a hunch."
Ethan wouldn't understand yet, but he would.
"I might have something for you later," Lex said as he stood. "Keep your line open."
"Wait, what?" Ethan asked, clearly confused.
Lex didn't bother explaining. Let him stay curious.
By lunchtime, Lex had spoken to six people. None of them knew what he was planning.
Except for Natalia Zhang.
She sat at their usual table in the courtyard, legs tucked up on the bench, black dress shoes barely touching the ground.
Natalia Zhang wasn't just another trust-fund kid. Her father controlled a Major Hedge Fund sepcialising investing in Tech startups, but Nathail herself?
She was the most dangerous kind of smart.
Cute enough to get underestimated. Sharp enough to gut you when you did.
Lex dropped into the seat across from her. "Morning, Zhang."
Natalia didn't look up from her phone. "Latham."
Lex smirked. "That's the warmest greeting I've gotten all day."
Natalia finally flicked her eyes up. "You're talking to people. More than usual. That means something."
Lex tilted his head slightly. "What do you think it means?"
She shut her phone off and rested her chin on one hand. "You're planning something. And if you're not telling me, that means you either don't trust me—"
"Or I haven't decided how much you need to know yet," Lex cut in smoothly.
Natalia studied him, lips twitching like she was holding back a laugh."Fair."
"Meet me in a few weeks," Lex said, standing. "I'll have something worth your time."
"You always do."
She went back to her phone.
By the bleachers, leaning against a motorcycle that had no business being on school property, sat Diego Morales.
Diego was a walking contradiction.
Brooklyn-born, Manhattan-bred. Son of a ruthless hedge fund manager and an ex-boxer from a small town. Diego had one foot in Wall Street and the other in the underground fight scene.
He also had a thing for trouble.
"Latham," Diego greeted, flicking his cigarette into the grass. "You running for office or something? You're making rounds like a politician."
Lex smirked. "Just catching up."
Diego swung a leg over his bike, resting his forearms on the handlebars. "You don't 'catch up,' Lex. You calculate."
Lex didn't deny it.
"You and your dad still running that club on 32nd?"
Diego's eyes flickered with amusement. "Depends. You looking for a drink or a favor?"
Lex smiled faintly. "A conversation."
Diego let out a low chuckle. "That's worse."
As Lex crossed the courtyard toward the east wing, he caught sight of Trent.
Leaning against the chain-link fence just outside the grounds, smoking lazily.
Trent wasn't a student. He had never been. Barnie pulled him out of the gutter, not a prep school.
But there he was, watching the school like a predator studying prey.
Lex's smirk faded slightly.
Trent's not here for me. Not today.
Lex walked past without acknowledging him. It was a small, petty move.
But it made looking at him tolerable.
Trent didn't take the slight well.
"Hey, Latham," Trent called out, voice dripping with amusement. "Too good to say hello now?"
Lex stopped but didn't turn around.
"Didn't see you there," he lied, voice even.
Trent chuckled, stepping closer. "Careful. You ignore the wrong people, you end up lonely."
Lex finally met his gaze. "I'll take my chances."
Trent smirked, but there was something hard in his eyes.
"You got a meeting soon," Trent reminded him. "Barnie's waiting."
Lex held his gaze. "Then I shouldn't keep him waiting."
Trent stepped back, letting Lex pass, but his watchful stare never left.
Lex didn't need to look back. He knew Trent would be watching.
And that was fine.
Lex had plenty of time for Trent later.
Today was about laying down the roots—quietly, without catching Barnie's attention.