Seeing the flicker of belief take root in Aren's expression, Rex smiled internally. This—this was exactly what he had been aiming for.
Fear alone could never bind someone to you, not in any way that truly mattered. If you wanted someone to work with sincerity, to give you their best, you had to feed them the right kind of sweetness. Especially someone like Aren. New, unsteady, cornered by his own dreams. What he needed wasn't just money or a lifeline—it was awe. A reason to believe. Rex wanted him to feel it: that he wasn't just being rescued, he was being led by someone exceptional. Someone he could trust. Someone who saw what others didn't.
Rex noticed the glimmer in his eyes—curiosity melting into admiration. He could practically hear the thoughts swirling in Aren's head: Was Rex some kind of genius?
He almost laughed aloud.
If only it were that magical.
