Chapter 7 - THE MAN WHO MADE HIM

Daniel Voss closed the office door.

Alex stared at him.

Six years earlier, Voss had believed in Alex when nobody else did.

When Alex had been twenty-one, broke, arrogant and sleeping three hours a night, Voss had given him five hundred thousand dollars.

More importantly, Voss had opened doors.

Introduced investors.

Found customers.

Taught Alex how to speak in boardrooms where everyone else was twice his age.

“You?”

Alex finally asked.

Voss smiled.

“You sound hurt.”

“You funded Lattice.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew what it could become.”

Victor remained by the window.

Alex looked between them.

“You built Meridian's network.”

Voss nodded.

“Parts of it.”

“You're laundering money?”

Voss sighed.

“Don't use childish words.”

“What word would you prefer?”

“Influence.”

Alex almost laughed.

Voss continued.

“Governments influence markets. Banks influence governments. Investment funds influence banks. Everyone moves money to move people.”

“Eleven billion dollars.”

“Across twelve years.”

“That makes it better?”

“No.”

Voss stepped closer.

“It makes it normal.”

Alex thought about all the dinners.

All the advice.

The birthday calls.

When Alex's father had gotten sick, Voss had sent flowers.

“Why buy Lattice?”

“Because Noah's analysis created unnecessary risk.”

“Why not destroy it?”

“We tried.”

Alex understood.

“The backups.”

“Yes.”

“And me?”

Voss smiled sadly.

“You were supposed to become very rich, very respected and very quiet.”

“Then why the termination order?”

Victor looked away.

Voss's expression hardened.

“Because Victor panicked.”

Victor snapped:

“Don't put this on me.”

Voss ignored him.

Alex noticed.

The hierarchy was obvious.

Victor feared Voss.

That mattered.

Alex looked at Voss.

“You don't want me dead.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“You're useful.”

The answer was worse.

Voss sat.

“Come work for me.”

Alex stared.

“You're joking.”

“I'll restore your accounts today.”

“No.”

“Clear the investigation.”

“No.”

“Your parents will never be bothered again.”

Alex's jaw tightened.

Voss smiled.

“There.”

“What?”

“That got your attention.”

Alex wanted to hit him.

Instead, he remained still.

Voss slid a document across the desk.

“Sign this.”

Alex read the first line.

Employment agreement.

Ten years.

Executive authority.

Compensation large enough to make the acquisition price look insignificant.

“Two hundred million?”

“Minimum.”

Alex laughed.

“You think money fixes this?”

“No.”

Voss leaned back.

“I think fear does.”

Alex looked at him.

Voss pointed toward Alex's phone.

“How much time remains?”

Alex didn't answer.

“Three hours?”

Silence.

Voss nodded.

“You're wondering how I know about the timer.”

Alex's stomach tightened.

Voss smiled.

“Because the server you're using belongs to a building I purchased four years ago.”

Alex went cold.

The old pizza-shop apartment.

The landlord.

Everything.

Voss had known.

Alex grabbed his phone.

Timer:

02:53:11.

Still active.

Voss watched him.

“I haven't stopped it.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted you to feel clever.”

Alex stared.

Voss stood.

“Now reset it.”

Alex didn't move.

“Reset it, Alex.”

“No.”

Voss's smile vanished.

His phone rang.

He answered without looking away from Alex.

“Yes?”

He listened.

Then handed the phone across the desk.

“It's for you.”

Alex slowly took it.

“Hello?”

His mother's voice.

“Alex?”

His blood froze.

“Mom?”

“There's a man here.”

Alex looked at Voss.

His mother continued:

“He says you told him to drive us somewhere.”

“Mom, listen to me. Don't go anywhere.”

Voss took the phone back.

Alex lunged toward him.

Victor blocked him.

Voss ended the call.

“You've spent your entire life believing intelligence gives you control,” Voss said.

“It doesn't.”

He pointed toward the contract.

“Leverage gives you control.”

Alex stared at the paper.

Then he looked at the timer.

02:51:44.

His parents.

Maya.

Noah.

Everyone suddenly depended on what he did next.

Alex picked up the pen.

Voss smiled.

Alex signed.

Victor relaxed.

Then Alex placed the pen down.

“Done.”

Voss picked up the contract.

Looked at the signature.

His smile disappeared.

Alex had not written his name.

He had written two words.

LOOK OUTSIDE.

Voss turned.

Below Meridian Tower—

dozens of federal vehicles were pulling up to the entrance.

Alex smiled.

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“You taught me leverage.”