Empire's boy

Chapter 2: Welcome to the Empire

The bus ride to Philadelphia was long, but Elias barely noticed. His headphones stayed glued to his ears, his notebook open in his lap. He scrawled lyrics between each passing city, the weight of his mother's last words pressing down on him like a lead jacket.

"Promise me you'll go to him. He has the power to make sure you're not alone."

Alone. He had never felt that word more deeply than he did now.

The bus rumbled into the station just after dawn. Elias stepped off, his duffel bag slung over one shoulder, the DNA test folded neatly in his pocket like a weapon he might need to draw. He had no address for Lucious Lyon, but he didn't need one. Empire Entertainment was all over the news, a powerhouse label ruling the industry.

And Elias was heading straight to its doorstep.

---

Empire Headquarters.

The glass tower loomed over him, its golden logo catching the morning sun. This was it—the heart of his father's empire. He adjusted his bag, took a deep breath, and walked through the revolving doors.

Inside, the lobby was all marble floors and flashing screens playing the latest Empire music videos. Artists walked past, draped in designer clothes, assistants trailing behind them like shadows. The air buzzed with energy, with importance.

He walked up to the front desk, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"I need to see Lucious Lyon."

The receptionist, a woman in a sleek black dress, barely looked up. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No. But I have something he'll want to see."

She sighed, typing something before glancing up at him for the first time. Her expression was unimpressed. "Lucious doesn't take walk-ins. If you want to submit music, there's a process."

Elias exhaled sharply. "I'm not here to submit music. I'm his son."

That got her attention. Her eyes flickered over him now, sizing him up. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." He reached into his pocket and slid the DNA results onto the desk. "That says Lucious Lyon is my father. So, yeah, I'm not leaving until I talk to him."

The receptionist hesitated. The tension in the air thickened. Finally, she picked up the phone. "Security will handle you if this is a lie."

Elias crossed his arms. "Try me."

---

Security came fast, two men in suits flanking him in an instant. "You need to leave. Now."

Elias stood his ground. "Not until I see Lucious. He wants proof? He'll get it."

Before they could drag him out, a voice rang through the lobby.

"Wait."

Elias turned. A woman in a fitted red suit strode toward him. Cookie Lyon. He had seen her on TV before—sharp, fierce, and completely in control. She stopped in front of him, eyes narrowing.

"Who the hell are you?"

Elias met her gaze, willing his voice not to shake. "Elias Cole. And I'm Lucious's son."

Her expression didn't waver. If anything, she looked more annoyed. "Lucious got a lot of sons, baby. What makes you so special?"

He handed her the DNA results. Cookie unfolded the paper, her eyes scanning the words. Her jaw clenched, her grip tightening. Then, after a long pause, she looked up at him with something new in her eyes—recognition.

"Come with me."

---

The elevator ride was silent. Elias could feel Cookie studying him, reading every inch of his face, his stance. Finally, as the doors opened to an executive floor, she spoke.

"You got your mother's eyes."

The statement hit him like a gut punch. He didn't know what to say, so he stayed quiet as she led him down a sleek hallway, stopping in front of massive double doors.

She knocked once before pushing them open.

Inside, behind a large desk stacked with contracts and gold records, sat the man himself. Lucious Lyon.

Elias had spent his life seeing his face on TV, hearing his name in songs. But being in the same room with him was something else entirely. Lucious was older now, his beard streaked with gray, but the power in his eyes was unmistakable. He glanced up, irritated.

"What is it now, Cookie?"

Cookie stepped aside. "You've got company."

Lucious's gaze landed on Elias. His brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of confusion before his expression hardened. "And who the hell is this?"

Elias stepped forward. His hands clenched into fists, his heartbeat slamming against his ribs. "I'm your son."

The room went dead silent.

Lucious leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "My what?"

Elias threw the DNA results onto the desk. "My mother—Sandra Cole. You probably don't remember her, but she remembered you. She raised me alone. She never asked you for a damn thing. But now she's gone. And I'm standing here because I have nothing left."

Lucious picked up the paper, his face unreadable as he scanned the results. When he looked back up, his gaze was sharp. "And what do you want from me?"

Elias's jaw tightened. "Nothing. Not your money, not your pity. Just the truth."

Lucious stood, his presence filling the room. He was a man who had built an empire from nothing, a man who chewed people up and spat them out. "The truth? The truth is, I don't know you. And I don't owe you a damn thing."

Elias felt something inside him snap. "No. You just walked away and let my mother struggle while you built this empire. I don't want anything from you, Lucious. But I'll tell you one thing—you're gonna know my name. And not because I'm your son. Because I'm about to take over the game."

Cookie smirked at that, but Lucious just laughed, low and dismissive. "That right? You think you got what it takes?"

Elias met his eyes. "I know I do."

Lucious stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "Then prove it."

The challenge hung heavy in the air. Elias had come here looking for answers, but now, he had something even better—a reason to win.

And he wasn't backing down.