XAVIER BAINBRIDGE-X The Man

If he felt like the man before, he really felt like the man now. Being in a recording studio, hearing himself in playback was a rush. He walked with extra swag through school now.

The girls picked up on it as well.

As much as he loved Chrissy, it could not stop his urges to have some of Dunlap Academy's finest hook him up with whatever he needed.

He already knew the girls with the reputations. All the guys did. So when he was propositioned by one of the lovely ladies with mad skills wanting to hook him up, he obeyed. Right in the boys' restroom, she sat on the stall while she gave him a blow job.

He kept telling himself it was not sex and that he was not cheating. Every single day that week he chose a different girl who wanted a piece of X. He almost got caught on Friday when the security guard came in for a sweep. The girl sat up on the toilet and he played it off.

To make matters worse, Asia was even more persistent.

"I'm not sure a guy like you needs to be tied down by one girl," she said to him when she stopped him in the hallway.

"Give it up Asia."

"I'm just saying X, what do you see in Chrissy? She's not on your level."

"Leave Chrissy out of your mouth."

Asia moved so close to him, he could smell her fruity gum and feel her full breast against his chest. He wanted to look down and gaze at her cleavage but he kept his eyes focused on her face. That was distracting enough because hands down she was the prettiest girl at school.

"X, come on! You know you like me too, you wouldn't have kissed me at your party."

His dick hardened, but he took a step back, clenching his teeth as he talked to her. "I didn't..." He was about to lose it, but he controlled himself. "If you fuck up me and Chrissy, I'm still not going to be with you, so stop it."

He could have easily given Asia what she wanted. Fuck her, and have her give him head like all the rest of the groupies. But Asia was different. He actually did like her, he just liked Chrissy more. If he did succumb to Asia, he knew she would not keep quiet about it.

TONY JACKSON-Young Mogul in the Making

He made an important decision.

After school, he headed down to J. Scoville Records. He needed to see Justin. The building that housed the small record label was in the busy Midtown central area where lots of college kids hung out. There was not much staff at J. Scoville Records, but he had done his research. It was a new business.

There was a receptionist that looked like a bored college student. There were several office spaces, all empty. The recording studio also on the main floor. Justin's office door was half open so he walked in without knocking.

Elayne was there sitting on Justin's lap, kissing him.

"Yo!" Justin said when he noticed him.

"Hey, Tony." Elayne did not bother to move from Justin's lap.

Tony held in his anger about how he felt about these two together. He was going to overlook that for now.

"Yo J, I need to talk to you."

"Sure man," Justin said, moving Elayne from his lap. "Hey, baby, you mind giving us a minute?"

"Just a minute." Elayne gave Justin another kiss.

"Five minutes, okay," Justin stated.

Elayne sighed and rolled her eyes. She walked past Tony and pushed him.

"Stop playing," Tony said to her as she walked out of the office.

"Alright T-man, what do you have for me?" Justin asked.

Tony took a seat in front of his desk.

"I want in."

"In what?"

"I want to invest in J. Scoville Records."

That is what he wanted to do with the money his father gave him. Not buy anything frivolous. Not spend it willy-nilly. He wanted to invest in something he felt good about. He might not like Justin personally, but he knew Justin understood music and the business.

"I wasn't looking for investors."

"But if you want to grow, which you do, you gotta have more financial means. And Scoville money only goes so far in this town lately."

He did his research. The family sold off half of their company, and bought some back, but were still not as strong as they were a few years ago. Justin used his inheritance to start the business.

Justin sat back in his chair. "Keep going."

"I'm just saying. Let me get in on this, J."

"What do you know about running a record label?"

"Next to nothing. I can learn."

"You're still in high school."

"Yeah, so?"

"How much investment are we talking about?"

"One million, maybe more." He had to negotiate the deal, he knew it would take a lot to get Justin to agree to let him in, but he was willing to make it work.

JUSTIN SCOVILLE-Money Talks

That got his attention.

Money always talked to him. The kid was talking about a good game. Although he did not have plans to have a partner, he was liking the idea of having more funding to do things right.

"Jacksons living large like that? I mean, I'm familiar with you all, how you acquired some of my father's properties from Van Russell, but-"

"This has nothing to do with my family business. I'm also a Van Russell. Ethan is my father."

He raised an eyebrow at that name. Ethan Van Russell was well-known in Midtown. He had no idea Tony was his son.

"Whoa! No shit!"

That was the golden ticket right there. Now that was the connection with Elayne and Chrissy Van Russell. Interesting. Then Tony did have the means. This could work. He conveyed more excitement.

"Van Russell and Jackson money meet, I like this. So listen, I put in over six point five million to get this off and running. One million will buy you not even one-fifth ownership. I'm still in charge, I run this. You need to learn, so you can be my right hand."

"I want a bigger stake," Tony said. "One-third."

"Boy, you have balls. I like it!"

ETHAN VAN RUSSELL-Made of Money

Just like every day, Ethan wanted to hurry up with his work and head over to see Donna. In a few days, he had a business trip to Italy so he would not see her for a while. He had to get his fill of her to last him.

He was about done when Tony walked in.

"Hey, dad."

"Hey, son."

"Got a minute?"

"Not really." He gathered files on his desk to take home to work on. "I was just about to leave, take some work with me."

"I have to ask you something."

"Go ahead."

"I need to borrow another half million dollars."

That stopped him in his tracks. He looked up at his son. Did he just blow one point eight million in a few weeks? He did not look like the type of kid that could do that. Maybe Donna was right.

"Tony, what's going on?"

"It's legit. I did not blow the money you gave me. I'm investing in a business with a guy I know."

"What kind of business?"

"A record label."

Ethan scoffed at that. "Really?"

"It's legit!"

"Tell me more."

"Well, Justin is his name. He started the company a few months ago but he has not made a splash yet. He just signed X and I liked what he was doing. The guy knows his stuff."

Ethan grunted. "X? As in Xavier, Chrissy's little friend?"

"Yes. So X is signed to J. Scoville Records with Just-"

"Scoville? As in the jackoffs that ran a business to the ground?"

This was too much.

"But dad listens, Justin Scoville knows his stuff."

"And you trust him?"

"Honestly? Personally, he's too cocky, acts arrogant, and is a spoiled richy rich kid, but business-wise the boy is on point. I've done my research. Justin's been making music for a while. He sings, he writes, and he produces. He's studying music at Midtown University. I don't know if his business skills are that great, but that's where I come in."

"I've worked with my mother reviewing contracts, and my uncles have been grooming me in business for years. I know how to play the game. Plus, I know my boy X is going to blow up and triple my investment."

Tony was talking about a good game.

"So I'm supposed to hand you money like it's nothing?"

"I could have asked my uncles, but... I'd rather come to you. Ask your advice."

That made him feel proud.

"If you feel strongly against it, I'll pull out."

Ethan thought about it. He was glad to see this kid, his son, so gung ho and passionate about not spending money, but making money. He was not going to let his son fail either. He would support him in whatever he did.

"Did you agree to anything yet?"

"Not really. Verbal contracts are nonbinding and up for renegotiation. I want a third ownership so that is why I need a bit more money."

"So the buy-in is?"

"Two point two."

Ethan's palm itched, and that was a good sign. That meant he was going to make money.

"I trust you kid. And even if you're wrong, it's a learning experience." Ethan stood. "I have to get to your mom."

"So?"

"I'll wire the two-point two to your account tomorrow."

"But dad, all I need is another half a mil."

"That money I gave you is yours. This is the loan. Pay it back when you make it."

He put an arm around his shoulders.

"Proud of you son. You're taking the initiative and making things happen. Makes me proud to be your father."

"I just want to be like you one day," Tony said with a grin to him.

"No son, be better."

A/N: Tony going into business with Justin, who saw that coming?