CHAPTER 58: A CHANCE AT GREATNESS

The sun had begun its slow descent when Alex walked into the Gatehouse. It was quiet as usual. Elliot sat on the wooden bench just outside with a book in hand, Beauty in Creation by James Parker. There was something peaceful about the way the breeze blew through the nearby trees. It brushed gently against the walls of the small building

Alex walked over and smiled. "Wow, you’re reading Beauty in Creation?"

Elliot looked up and returned the smile. "Yeah. Staying alone all day gets boring. Thought I’d feed my mind a little."

Alex chuckled and sat beside him. "That’s good. I’m glad you’re getting some fresh air too."

Elliot glanced sideways at him. "Would you still tell me not to come outside? Or should I be locked up inside all day?"

Alex laughed softly. "It’s not like that, Elliot. This is all for the best. You’re talking as if I’m trying to suffocate you."

Elliot exhaled through his nose, not in anger but quiet reflection. "I understand though," he said. "Haven’t heard from Raymond? Haven’t seen him in days."

"Me neither," Alex replied. "But he’ll come here soon. He’s just been busy with his company and all that’s been going around there, this is a critical time for him... That’s not why I’m here, though," Alex continued after a breath. "I want to ask you something."

Elliot sat up. "Alright, shoot."

"What do you think of this," Alex started slowly. "Imagine a platform, online, where people who need mentorship can connect with those who are willing to mentor. Real people and professionals. They could guide you, talk to you, teach you stuff you won’t find in school. And to keep things serious, people pay a small fee to register."

Elliot stared at him for a second, then blinked. "Hmm."

"I mean," Alex continued, "would you register for something like that?"

Elliot leaned back a little. "To be honest... if you’d asked me this like a few years ago, I’d have said yes without even thinking twice. But now..." He shrugged. "Now I don’t know. At this point in my life, it’s too late."

Alex nodded, not judging. He just listened.

"But back then?" Elliot added. "If I had come across something like that? Oh, definitely. I’d have signed up without wasting time."

There was a pause before Elliot tilted his head. "But let me ask you, do you want to register when you already have a mentor? Or do you want to take all the mentors in the world like Pokémon cards?"

Alex burst out laughing. "Well, not like that actually, such a platform doesn’t really exist. At least not yet."

Elliot raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yeah," Alex said. "It’s just an idea. But it’s my idea. It’s what I want to create. That’s the reason I’m asking."

Elliot stared at him now, longer this time. "You’re not serious, are you?"

"I am."

A long breath came from Elliot as he sat up straight. "Wow. So you really came up with something like this. That’s... that’s something, Alex."

Alex didn’t say anything. He just let the compliment settle.

Elliot shook his head in awe. "That would do well, bro. Honestly, it’s different. It’s needed. So many people are lost, just floating. A platform like that could really help."

He smirked, bumping Alex on the shoulder. "I always knew this brilliant brain of yours would be useful one day."

Alex gave a sly grin. "It’s always been useful."

Elliot rolled his eyes. "Barely."

They both laughed, light and genuine. But just as quickly, Elliot’s smile faded. He looked away.

Alex noticed immediately. "What’s wrong?" he asked. "Why are you quiet all of a sudden?"

Elliot took a deep breath. "Alex... You’ve got something real here. Something good. Don’t mess it up. Don’t joke with it."

Alex frowned. "What do you mean? Why are you talking like that?"

Elliot looked at his hands. "You see, people like you... You have hope. You have vision. Me?" He laughed softly. "For me? It’s too late."

Alex shook his head. "Stop. Don’t say that."

"But it’s the truth," Elliot said, almost in a whisper.

Alex leaned in. "Listen to me. It’s never too late. Never. You think you’ve run out of time, but the truth is, you’ve barely started."

Elliot leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, eyes fixed on the ground. His voice was quiet but heavy.

"You just won’t understand."

Alex looked at him, confused. "Understand what?"

Elliot turned to him with a worn expression. "The regret. You just wouldn’t understand it."

Alex didn’t blink. "That’s not true. I might not have lived your exact story, but I understand pain. I understand feeling like you’re stuck. But Elliot... you’re doing this thing where you keep looking down on yourself, like you’ve got nothing left. It’s painful to watch."

"I’m not looking down on myself," Elliot muttered defensively.

"Yes, you are," Alex said, not unkindly. "You’re acting like you’re done. Like life has passed you by. But it hasn’t. You’re still here. Still breathing. So do something. Be a part of something good."

"A part of what?" Elliot snapped.

Alex took a breath and said calmly, "Alright then... do this one with me."

Elliot paused. "What?"

"This platform. The one I talked about. Do it with me."

Elliot blinked slowly. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," Alex replied firmly. "Dead serious. Your experience with tech? I need it. I can’t build this alone. I have the vision, but you know how to structure things. That’s your world. And I want you in this with me."

Elliot stared at him, lips slightly parted. No one had trusted him with something that important in a long time.

"I don’t know," Elliot whispered. "I’ve made so many wrong turns."

"So?" Alex shrugged. "We all have. But you can make this the right one. Do this with me and once it takes off, and I believe it will, you’ll have something to be proud of. Something real. Something that says, ’I didn’t give up.’ You’ll be able to stand up and say, ’I did that.’ And that matters, Elliot. That matters a lot."

Elliot looked away for a second, then back at Alex, shaking his head slowly.

"Who would’ve thought?" he said with a small smile. "You, of all people, would be the one stretching a hand out to me in something this... positive."

Alex smiled warmly. "I told you. I believe in you."

There was a beat. Elliot reached out and grabbed Alex’s hand.

"Alright," he said. "Let’s do it. I’d love to work with you on this."

Alex grinned, stood up, and extended his hand again. "So? Partners?"

Elliot stood as well and shook it firmly. "Partners."

They both smiled, genuinely.

As they settled back down, Elliot turned to Alex again. "So, what’s the plan? How are we going about this?"

Alex leaned back slightly. "First, I’ll draw up the blueprint, rearrange a few things, modify it, and see how it all comes together. Then I’ll take it to Raymond. He promised to sponsor any project I’m serious about. If he gives the green light, we move into full development."

Elliot nodded. "Then it’s settled."

Alex added, "Yeah, but before anything else, we need to write down the plan and the structure."

Elliot smirked. "Exactly. That’s what we’re starting right now."

"..."

Then Elliot asked, "By the way, I heard Sarah’s going to be graduating from law school soon?"

Alex’s eyes lit up. "Yeah. She’s also going to be called to the bar. It’s going to be a big ceremony. A really proud moment for the family."

Elliot nodded. "I can’t miss that. I have to be there."

Alex nodded slowly, then added, "Hopefully by then, things will have settled. You know... the mess with everything going on."

Elliot sighed. "But what if it hasn’t? What if things are still the same? I don’t want to keep living like this. Every day, I feel like I’m just barely surviving."

Before Alex could answer, a voice came from behind them.

"The plan’s already in motion," Zane said, stepping into the scene.

Both Alex and Elliot turned toward him. He looked more confident than usual, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket.

"It’ll most likely work out before any of these events you guys are talking about," Zane continued. "We’re close. We’ll hit George soon. And when we do, it’ll be big."

Elliot shook his head. "I think you guys seriously underestimate George Agnew. That man’s a maniac."

Zane smirked. "Relax, we’re already three steps ahead."

Elliot shrugged. "Alright... if you say so, but even if you hit him... the circle doesn’t end there, does it?"

Zane nodded thoughtfully. "No, it doesn’t. But hitting George shakes the foundation. That’s how we get to the rest. We’ll keep going till we get to the bottom of everything."

Alex turned back to Elliot, giving him a half-smile. "You see that? That’s positivity. You need to learn a little bit of that, bro."