The Maddux estate stood against the fading afternoon light, its stone walls and towering gates a relic of old New York money. It wasn't just a house; it was a monument—built not for comfort, but to remind everyone who passed by that the Maddux name carried weight.
Lex remembered the first time he'd come here as a kid, gripping his father's hand tightly while his great-grandfather, William Latham, led them through the vast halls.
"This house isn't about living, Lex," William had said, pausing beneath the grand chandelier. "It's about owning. People respect what they can't touch."
Lex let out a slow breath as he climbed the back steps to the staff entrance. William was gone, and now Barnie wore that authority like a crown.
For now.
The door creaked open just enough for Rose Russo's sharp eyes to meet his.
She didn't bother hiding her annoyance. "Seriously, Lex? You don't call first?"
Lex smirked. "Thought I'd surprise you."
Rose opened the door wider, letting him slip into the side kitchen. The house was quiet, but Lex could feel the weight of the place. His great-grandfather's portrait hung in the main hall, always watching.
"You shouldn't be here," Rose said, setting a dish towel aside as she leaned against the counter. Her eyes flicked toward the hallway, half-expecting Barnie or Trent to show up unannounced.
Lex shrugged, pulling an envelope from his coat pocket and sliding it onto the table.
"What's this?" Rose asked, though the faint edge in her voice suggested she already knew.
"Money," Lex said plainly. "Enough to keep things steady. For you. For your mom."
Rose's jaw tightened. "I didn't ask for this."
"You didn't have to."
Rose glanced at the envelope but didn't touch it.
"Your great-grandfather used to do the same thing," she said, her voice quiet now. "Slip money into people's pockets when they weren't looking."
Lex's gaze flicked up, brow lifting slightly. "I didn't know that."
Rose's eyes softened. "My dad told me once. When your father was still alive, William used to pay off the staff's debts. Not because he had to—because he thought the house didn't run without them."
Lex leaned back against the chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. That sounded exactly like something William would do.
"He told me something else once," Lex said, voice distant. "He said power wasn't about who worked for you—it was about who stayed even when they didn't have to."
Rose's gaze lingered on him, thoughtful but guarded.
"Barnie doesn't think like that," Rose said. "He doesn't care if anyone stays."
Lex's smirk faded slightly. "I know."
That was Barnie's greatest weakness—he saw people as tools, not investments.
Rose finally stepped forward, sliding the envelope off the table and tucking it into the drawer beneath the sink.
"You sure about this?" she asked quietly.
Lex met her eyes. "Positive."
She hesitated, leaning on the counter as the tension in the room softened just a little.
"Barnie's been busy," Rose said after a pause. "New people in and out, mostly at night. They stay in the east wing."
Lex's eyes narrowed slightly. "You recognize any of them?"
Rose shook her head. "No. But they aren't like the usual boardroom types. These guys look like they belong outside courtrooms, not in them."
Lex tapped his fingers lightly against the table. That wasn't Barnie's typical style—he preferred polished assassins in suits, not men who left fingerprints.
"Trent caught me trying to listen in," Rose added, her voice lower now. "Didn't say anything. Just… watched."
Lex's jaw tensed at the mention of Trent.
"Don't get too close," Lex said quietly. "If Trent's involved, Barnie's making moves. I need you to watch but stay out of sight."
Rose arched a brow. "You know that's not how I work."
Lex smirked faintly. "That's why I'm paying you."
She laughed softly.
"You really think you can outplay him?" Rose asked, watching Lex carefully.
Lex's gaze drifted toward the far wall, where an old black-and-white portrait of his great-grandfather hung. William's eyes seemed to bore into him, the same way they had when Lex was a kid sneaking through the house.
Lex's smirk faded into something more serious.
"I'm not playing his game," Lex replied, his voice soft but certain. "I'm building something he can't touch."
Rose crossed her arms, tilting her head as if trying to figure him out.
"Guess I'll stick around," she said. "Could be fun watching you prove it."
Lex stood, sliding his hands back into his coat pockets.
"Do that," he said with a smirk. "But stay out of trouble until I need you."
Rose followed him to the door, opening it just enough for him to step outside.
As Lex glanced back, his eyes flicked once more to the windows of the east wing, where William's office used to be.
Barnie sat there now.
But not for long.