Benny's car pulled up in front of a quiet, worn-down brick building in Chelsea. The sign over the door read "Wilde Audio Productions" in peeling gold lettering. The place looked more like a forgotten jazz bar than a functioning studio.
Lex stepped out, buttoning his coat as Benny rounded the hood.
"This where careers are made?" Lex asked dryly, eyeing the faded exterior.
Benny smirked. "Hey, don't let the looks fool you. Jason's good at finding talent before they explode. He just doesn't care about aesthetics."
Lex glanced at the building one more time. Fair enough.
Benny led him through a side door, down a narrow hallway that smelled faintly of stale coffee and old wood. The hum of low bass drifted from the studio below as they approached a glass-walled lounge overlooking the recording booth.
Inside, Jason Wilde stood leaning against the mixing console, nodding in time with the beat thumping softly through the speakers. He wore a leather jacket over a plain tee, and his graying hair was pulled back into a loose knot. A cigarette dangled from his lips as he monitored the soundboard with an almost obsessive focus.
Benny knocked lightly on the glass. Jason glanced up, eyes narrowing briefly before he waved them inside.
Lex followed Benny through the door, letting it swing shut behind him.
Jason pulled his cigarette from his mouth, exhaling slowly. His gaze landed on Lex.
"Well, if it isn't the young Latham," Jason said, stepping forward and shaking Lex's hand. "I've been hearing your name more than usual lately."
Lex smiled faintly. "I'm working on that."
Jason chuckled. "Good answer. Benny told me you're interested in The Black Wall."
"I am," Lex replied, his tone smooth and even. "I heard the leads aren't locked yet. I want in—with creative control and rights to tie down the talent for the sequel."
Jason arched a brow, clearly intrigued but keeping his guard up.
"You haven't even read the full script," Jason said, watching Lex carefully.
Lex's eyes didn't waver. "I don't need to. I know how long you've been pushing this project. If you're still holding on to it, that's enough for me."
Jason smirked faintly, turning toward the glass and nodding at the booth below.
A soft acoustic track played as a young singer in the recording booth adjusted his mic. His voice, smooth and rich, carried through the room like honey—rough around the edges but unmistakably talented.
Lex leaned closer to the glass, studying him. The guy couldn't have been older than twenty-two, with dark curls falling over his eyes and a casual confidence that suggested he was used to smaller stages.
"Who's that?" Lex asked.
Jason smiled slightly, watching the booth.
"Aiden," Jason said. "Not a household name yet, but he's getting traction. Had a viral single last year—some breakup ballad that's been circling streaming charts. He's young, hungry, and wants into film. I've already tapped him to score half the movie."
Lex's gaze lingered on David. Small name now, but not for long.
"And the other half of the score?" Lex asked, glancing at Jason.
Jason chuckled, grinding out his cigarette. "We'll see if he survives the first half."
Lex smirked, turning to face Jason fully.
"I'll fund it," Lex said. "Five million—full backing. But I want Aiden under contract for the sequel if this takes off."
Jason considered it for a moment, tapping his fingers against the edge of the console.
"You're betting a lot on a no-name kid," Jason mused.
Lex shrugged. "That's what you did once, right?"
Jason's lips curled into a grin. "Fair enough."
He extended his hand. Lex shook it firmly.
"I'll send over the paperwork," Jason said. "You'll have it by the end of the week."
Benny grinned, raising his glass of water from the corner. "I love it when things work out."
Lex's eyes flicked back to the booth below as David finished his recording, pulling off his headphones and flashing a quick smile at the engineer.
This wasn't just a deal.
It was the start of something bigger.