Chapter 4 Old Friends, New Dealing

The penthouse buzzed with newfound wealth. The sprawling windows framed the glittering city lights of New Veritas, a stark reminder of how far Johnny Lance had climbed-and how fast. Johnny sat on a sleek leather couch, a glass of whiskey in hand, swirling the amber liquid absentmindedly. His laptop rested on the coffee table in front of him, the numbers on the screen still displaying his latest windfall. The knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts. Johnny frowned, setting the glass down. He wasn't expecting anyone. He walked to the door, hesitating briefly before opening it.

When he saw the man standing there, his expression darkened. "Alan?" Johnny said, his tone sharp and filled with suspicion. "What the hell are you doing here?" Alan Reyes stood in the hallway, dressed in an impeccably tailored gray suit, his tie slightly loose as if he had just left a long meeting. His dark hair was neatly combed back, but his face carried an air of weariness. He gave Johnny a small, almost hesitant smile. "Good to see you too, Johnny," Alan said, stepping forward. Johnny didn't move, blocking the doorway. "I didn't invite you," Johnny said coldly. "How'd you even know where to find me?" Alan raised an eyebrow. "You're a hard guy to miss these days. The news about Silverstone is everywhere. I figured you'd want to hear what I have to say." He gestured to the penthouse behind Johnny. "Are you going to let me in, or should we talk out here in the hallway?" Johnny's eyes narrowed. He hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside begrudgingly. "Fine. But make it quick." Alan entered, his gaze sweeping over the lavish interior. "Well, this is a step up from that dump you were living in last year," he remarked, his tone half-joking. Johnny ignored the comment, crossing his arms. "Cut the small talk, Alan. Why are you here?" Alan turned to face him, his expression serious. "Because I'm worried about you, Johnny. And I'm here to help." Johnny let out a short, humorless laugh. "Worried about me? That's rich. Where were you when I lost everything? When Marcus stabbed me in the back? When I-" He stopped himself, his jaw tightening. "No. Don't play the concerned friend now. You don't get to do that." Alan's face softened, and he took a step closer. "I know, Johnny. I know I wasn't there when you needed me. And I'm sorry. I found out-about everything. The divorce. Losing Lily. Marcus stealing your company. I should've reached out, but I didn't. That's on me. But I'm here now." Johnny stared at him, his eyes cold. "Why? Why now? What do you really want, Alan?" Alan exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, you might not trust me-and I get that-but you've made a hell of a lot of noise with this Silverstone deal. You've put a target on your back." Johnny's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?" "I'm talking about the fact that you just made millions betting on Silverstone's collapse," Alan explained, his tone firm. "Do you have any idea how many people are about to lose their jobs because of this? Thousands, Johnny. Entire families are going to be ruined. And they're going to look for someone to blame. That someone is you." Johnny scoffed, walking past Alan and grabbing his whiskey from the coffee table. "Oh, spare me the lecture. I didn't force anyone to work for a failing company. I just saw the opportunity and took it. That's business." "Sure," Alan said, crossing his arms. "But business comes with consequences. Do you think people care about the nuance of how you make your money? All they're going to see is a rich guy profiting off their misery. You're already the villain in their story." Johnny sipped his whiskey, his eyes narrowing. "So what? Let them talk. It's not my problem." "It will be your problem when the lawsuits start piling up," Alan said sharply. "When regulators start sniffing around. When the media paints you as the face of corporate greed." Johnny smirked, setting his glass down. "Let them try. I've got enough money to handle whatever they throw at me." Alan shook his head. "Money won't be enough, Johnny. You need someone who knows how to navigate this kind of storm. You need me." Johnny's expression hardened. "Why am I supposed to believe that you're here to help me? After all this time?" "Because I know what it's like to fall," Alan said quietly. "You're not the only one Marcus screwed over, Johnny. He burned me too, back in law school. That's why I want to help you. Because I know how much he's taken from you. And because I believe you can come back from this." Johnny stared at him for a long moment, his jaw tightening. "Why do I feel like there's more to this?" Alan hesitated, then nodded. "There is. If you want to survive this, you need to stop thinking like someone who's fighting to stay afloat. You need to think like someone who's already won. And the way you do that is by taking control of the narrative." Johnny frowned. "And how do you suggest I do that?" "Simple," Alan said, stepping closer. "You buy the majority shares of Silverstone." Johnny blinked. "What?" "Think about it," Alan said, his tone urgent. "Right now, you're the guy who made millions off their collapse. But if you buy the company, you become the guy who saved it. You keep the jobs, rebuild the business, and suddenly, you're not the villain anymore. You're the hero." Johnny shook his head, pacing the room. "You're out of your mind. Why would I sink my money into a sinking ship?" "Because it's not just about money," Alan said firmly. "It's about power. Owning Silverstone gives you leverage. It puts you back in control. And it's the best way to show Marcus that you're not someone he can just crush under his boot." At the mention of Marcus, Johnny stopped pacing. His fists clenched at his sides. "This is about him, isn't it?" he said quietly. "You think I'm doing all this just to get rich? No. This is about revenge." Alan nodded slowly. "I figured as much. And I get it, Johnny. After what he did to you, I'd want revenge too." Johnny turned to face him, his eyes blazing. "I'm going to destroy him, Alan. I'm going to take everything from him, just like he took everything from me." Alan held his gaze, his expression unreadable. "Then let me help you. Let me be your lawyer. You're going to need someone you can trust." Johnny let out a bitter laugh. "Trust? That's a funny word coming from you." "I know I've got a lot to prove," Alan said, stepping closer. "But I'm here, Johnny. I'm standing with you. And I'll stand with you until the end." Johnny stared at him, his jaw clenching. After a long moment, he nodded slowly. "Fine. Do you want to help? Prove it." Alan extended a hand. "I will. I promise." Johnny hesitated, then took Alan's hand, gripping it tightly. "You'd better. Because if you screw me over, I'll make sure you regret it." Alan smirked. "Fair enough. Let's get to work. But first you need to pay a visit to a noisy journalist who is bent on digging into your matter." Johnny raised his brow "A Journalist? Who.....?"