Lex adjusted the collar of his blazer as he followed Natalie Zhang into the sleek, glass-walled conference room. The office buzzed with quiet energy—a polished, modern space tucked inside her father's venture capital firm.
Natalie walked with the ease of someone who'd spent her life in places like this. Lex didn't. But he knew how to fake it.
Inside, three men in their late thirties sat at the far end of the table, papers spread in front of them. One of them, Tom Drexel, glanced up as they entered, barely masking his surprise at seeing Lex.
"Didn't know we were bringing guests today," Tom said, eyeing Lex with faint curiosity.
Natalie offered a smooth, practiced smile. "Lex is just sitting in. He's interested in emerging tech, so I figured he'd learn more here than at a classroom desk."
Tom chuckled under his breath but didn't argue. "Well, I hope you like hearing about burn rates and unproven business models," he said, flipping the next page in his binder.
Lex smiled faintly. "Sounds like fun."
Natalie gestured for Lex to sit beside her, closer to the middle of the table. As he settled in, she leaned over just slightly.
"This is a pitch from a health tech startup." Her voice was soft but clear. "They're working on AI-driven diagnostics for early disease detection. My dad passed on it last year."
Lex's brow lifted slightly. "Why'd he pass?"
Natalie smirked. "Because it wasn't making money fast enough. But they've pivoted since then—expanded their platform to partner with hospitals."
Before Lex could reply, the door opened and the pitch began.
A nervous but eager-looking man in his early 30s, wearing a too-tight suit, stepped forward. His name, Elliot Marrs, appeared on the screen behind him as he launched into a presentation full of slides, charts, and hopeful projections.
Lex didn't pay attention to the numbers.
Instead, he watched Elliot. The way his voice tightened slightly when he hit the financials—that hesitation. Lex recognized it. Elliot believed in the product, but the profitability was still a gamble.
When the presentation ended, Tom leaned back in his chair, tapping his pen thoughtfully against his notepad.
"It's a nice concept," Tom said with the thin smile of someone already preparing to say no. "But you're still bleeding cash on the hospital end. Even with the updated partnerships, it looks like you're two years out from being sustainable."
Elliot shifted slightly, adjusting his tie. "We're confident the second round of funding will close the gap," he said, though Lex could hear the doubt tucked behind the confidence.
Natalie sat quietly, arms crossed, letting Tom do the talking.
Lex didn't.
"If that second round doesn't happen," Lex interjected smoothly, "what's your next move?"
Elliot's eyes flicked toward Lex, clearly thrown off by the new voice at the table.
"We're…we're working on a lower-cost version of the platform for smaller practices," Elliot said hesitantly. "A licensing model that allows doctors to use it independently."
Tom arched a brow. "And why isn't that the main model?"
Elliot hesitated. "Because scaling with hospitals offers larger contracts. Long-term stability."
Lex leaned forward slightly, tapping the table.
"You're thinking too big," Lex said calmly. "The smaller model is your real play. Your tech's good, but the hospitals aren't. Their red tape kills growth. Private practices are hungrier, faster, and more likely to pay for what you're selling."
Elliot blinked, clearly weighing the words. Tom watched Lex carefully but said nothing.
Natalie smirked beside him.
"I like him," Elliot said after a moment, glancing at Tom. "Who is he?"
Natalie chuckled softly. "He's not important. Yet."
Tom exhaled, clearly unimpressed. "It's a risky pivot," Tom said. "We'll review it, but I wouldn't hold your breath."
The meeting wrapped a few minutes later, and as the room cleared, Natalie and Lex lingered by the window.
"You didn't have to do that," Natalie said, tilting her head toward him.
Lex smirked. "I couldn't help myself."
Natalie leaned against the glass, crossing her arms. "You know Elliot's probably going to reach out now, right?"
Lex's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice calm but certain.
"I'm counting on it."
Natalie studied him for a long moment before finally laughing under her breath.
"You're something else, Latham."
Lex grinned. "I get that a lot."
As they left the building, Lex could already see the pieces moving.
The startup wasn't his yet, but it would be.
Barnie chased after empires that were already built.
Lex was hunting the ones still under construction.