Tycoon Actor C487

Neil stared at Lucas, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. Of all the wild things Lucas had ever done—lavish donations, risky investments, spontaneous Netflix projects, funding experimental medical research—this topped them all. He could understand the philanthropy; pouring billions into charity had moral weight. But this? This was different. This was insane.

“You’re… serious?” Neil asked, leaning forward. “Buying Twitter? Since when was that even on your radar?”

He paused, as if expecting Lucas to burst out laughing and say it was a joke. But Lucas just smiled, casually sipping his wine like he hadn’t just dropped a billion-dollar bomb.

“Lucas, come on,” Neil pressed, voice rising slightly. “This isn’t like buying a mansion or funding a Netflix project. You’re talking about acquiring a global social media platform—something that costs upwards of twenty billion dollars.”

Jennifer, sitting beside Lucas, looked at her fiancé and then back at Neil. “I told him it’s crazy too,” she said with a small shrug. “But when he gets that look in his eye... I know better than to stop him.”

Neil’s fingers raked through his hair, lingering at the roots as if trying to pull the thoughts out.

“Look, I’m not saying you can’t afford it. God knows you’re the youngest billionaire in the world. Your net worth is skyrocketing, your shares in half a dozen companies are multiplying like rabbits…”

He jabbed a finger toward Lucas. “And that’s exactly why you need to think this through. Twitter isn’t just some platform—it’s a war zone. Politics, media storms, lawsuits, regulatory heat—one slip-up, and the whole world blames you. Not to mention, it’s worth over twenty billion. That’s not just a purchase—that’s you handing over a huge chunk of your hard-earned empire.”

Lucas finally set down his glass. “I get it,” he said calmly. “Under normal circumstances, I’d agree. No sane person buys Twitter for anything under twenty billion.”

“Then why the hell—”

“Because,” Lucas cut in, “thanks to the recent fallout with Cambridge Analytica, their valuation took a hit. Hard. I’ve already started talking to their board. If everything goes as planned, I can make a bid while the market's still recovering.”

Neil’s expression froze. “…Jesus. You’re serious.”

“I don’t play games with things like this,” Lucas replied, voice quiet but firm.

Neil exhaled slowly, then drummed his fingers on the table. “You do realize this might be the most insane thing you’ve ever done, right?”

Lucas chuckled. “Yet.”

Neil shook his head. “You need to think long and hard about this. Twitter isn’t just a company—it’s a storm. You sure you want to step into it?”

Lucas gave no answer—only a calm, determined smile.

After a heavy pause, Neil sighed and threw up his hands. “Well, if I can’t talk you out of it—so be it.” He met Lucas’s eyes, his voice tinged with concern. “But I’m saying this one more time—be careful, Lucas. This might be the craziest thing you’ve ever done. And I’m seriously worried for you, man.”

Lucas gave a calm, knowing smile. “I get it. Really, I do.” He leaned back. “But trust me, I didn’t just wake up yesterday and decide this. I’ve been preparing. Quietly, over the years—I’ve bought about 18% of Twitter’s shares. That’s nearly two billion dollars’ worth.”

Neil’s eyes widened. “Eighteen percent? You’re practically a cornerstone investor.”

Lucas nodded. “Exactly. I’ve laid the foundation. Now, to take full control, I’ll need board approval. That’ll probably run me another ten billion, maybe more—but thanks to the recent scandals and the stock dip, it’s finally doable.”

“So,” Neil said slowly, “you’ve been planning this for years?”

“No need to pretend otherwise.” Lucas chuckled. “Yeah. I have.”

Neil let out a low whistle and shook his head. “You really are out of your mind.”

Jennifer laughed softly beside them. “He’s always been a little crazy. I think the shooting just kicked it up a notch.”

Lucas grinned. “Guilty.”

Neil leaned forward, now more serious. “Jokes aside—why Twitter? Why not just start your own platform?”

Lucas took a moment, chewing thoughtfully before replying. “Because I realized something.” He placed his fork down. “The monsters in power? They’ve got control of the media. They shape the narrative. They silence whistleblowers, survivors—anyone who threatens them.”

He raised a finger. “I want to level the playing field. To give a voice to those who’ve been muted. Twitter already exists as a public square—I just want to make sure it actually stays public. Real freedom. Real reach. Not filtered by the same people we’re trying to hold accountable.”

Neil and Jennifer exchanged a quiet look.

“So basically,” Neil said, piecing it together, “you’re building your own media stronghold. One that empowers the weak—and keeps the monsters out?”

Lucas nodded with quiet conviction. “Yes.”

Neil leaned back slowly, absorbing it all. ‘He’s really doing it. He’s not just playing defense—he’s building a weapon. A weapon for justice.’

And for a moment, Neil wasn’t just worried—he was impressed. And a little afraid.

Neil leaned back and smirked. “So that’s really it? Just giving the oppressed a voice? Where’s the business angle in all of this? Don’t tell me you’re going full saint now.”

Lucas chuckled. “I figured you’d bring that up.”

He turned to Jennifer with a teasing smile. “Babe, care to fill him in?”

Jennifer grinned. “Gladly.”

She looked at Neil, who was already raising an eyebrow. “It’s simple. Lucas already owns Vine—and by owning Twitter, he can integrate the two platforms. That means cross-promotion. Vine users will funnel into Twitter, and Twitter users will be reintroduced to Vine.”

Neil's brows lifted. “Smart. Creates a loop of user engagement.”

“Yes,” Jennifer nodded. “Plus, Vine now has livestreaming. We’re working on features for creators to accept donations directly. Add advertising revenue, and the monetization possibilities grow fast.”

Neil let out a short laugh. “So it’s not just about giving the weak a voice. You’ve got a money trail too.”

Lucas shrugged with a grin. “Even Batman needs a fortune to fight crime.”

That got a laugh from all three.

“Batman, huh?” Neil chuckled, shaking his head. “You really do love dramatic analogies. But, hey—can’t say it doesn’t suit you.”

---

Meanwhile, the news about Lucas attempting to buy Twitter was quiet at first.

The company was still reeling from the fallout of the Cambridge Analytica exposé—despite it being primarily a Facebook data breach, the ripple effect hit Twitter hard. Investor confidence took a hit, and the platform’s image was under pressure. When Twitter banned Cambridge Analytica to save face, their stock dropped nearly 10%.

That dip was enough.

With morale low and major shareholders looking for exits, Lucas seized the opportunity. His proposal for full acquisition was delivered discreetly to Twitter’s board of directors.

Inside the boardroom, the directors exchanged tense looks as the offer was reviewed.

“Lucas Knight wants to buy out Twitter?” one director said, stunned. “That’s… bold.”

Another leaned forward. “I know he’s the youngest billionaire on record, but is he really capable of acquiring a company of this scale?”

The man across from them—Lucas’s representative and financial strategist, Miles Harrington—nodded calmly.

“Mr. Knight has substantial holdings across multiple tech companies. He’s a major shareholder in Tesla, Netflix, and several fast-growing startups. He’s already leveraged some of those assets to raise the cash for this offer.”

He tapped a folder on the table. “And with his existing 18% stake in Twitter, he’s not just entering the game—he’s been in it for a while.”

The room went quiet.

“He’s not bluffing, that's for sure...” another director muttered.

“He’s coming for the whole boardroom,” someone else whispered.

And they all knew: this wasn’t a celebrity PR stunt.

Lucas Knight had made his move—and it was serious.

The board of directors spoke with Miles Harrington for nearly two hours before finally adjourning the meeting. On the surface, they claimed they needed more time to deliberate. But truthfully, most of them were already leaning toward accepting the deal.

Twitter’s profitability had been stagnating for years. Growth had slowed. User retention was inconsistent. And after the Cambridge Analytica backlash, the writing was on the wall.

They had been quietly searching for a way out.

And Lucas Knight had just walked in with the exit door.

Still, the board wasn’t ready to give in without a fight. They wanted more than the $8–10 billion Lucas was offering. Even with the company in decline, they believed Twitter was worth more—at least $13–15 billion, if not in revenue, then in brand weight alone.

So they decided to play their hand.

To apply pressure, the board discreetly leaked the news of Lucas’s bid to the media, hoping to stir public interest and spark investor speculation. A small wave of hype might temporarily inflate Twitter’s stock—and push Lucas to raise his offer.

By the next morning, headlines were everywhere:

“BREAKING: Lucas Knight Bids to Acquire Twitter in $10 Billion Offer!”

“Youngest Billionaire Shocks Tech World — Twitter Takeover on the Horizon?”

“Twitter’s Board Reviewing Offer From Vine Owner Lucas Knight.”

Social media exploded.

“Bro this man really said ‘I act, I sing, I save lives, and now I buy Twitter.’ LUCAS. WHAT.”

“Not Lucas turning into a tech mogul?? I swear he’s speedrunning life.”

“Jennifer’s marrying a real-life Batman. Billionaire. Philanthropist. And he owns Vine. 😭”

@TMZ: “👀 We’re working on getting EXCLUSIVE details on this takeover. Stay tuned.”

As expected, Twitter’s stock saw a slight bump, bouncing 2% over the day. It wasn’t massive—but it was enough to reinforce the board’s strategy.

---

Lucas stared at the trending headlines, jaw tight. He could already see through the board’s move—they’d deliberately leaked his offer to raise public hype and shareholder confidence. It wasn’t illegal… just an underhanded, strategic push to manipulate the deal in their favor.

His phone buzzed.

Miles Harrington, his acquisition strategist, was calling.

Lucas answered, “Let me guess. They want more.”

“You got it,” Miles said flatly. “They’re demanding we increase the offer. No exact number yet, but they think your bid’s too low.”

Lucas let out a slow breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I expected this.”

He walked to the window, eyes narrowed on the L.A. skyline.

“Here’s what we do,” Lucas said. “Keep negotiating, but hold the line in our favor. If they refuse—act like I’m walking away. No threats. Just silence. Let’s see who blinks first.”

“You want to pull the retreat bluff?” Miles asked.

“Exactly. Their morale’s already in the gutter post-scandal. We play it cool. They want out—I just need them to admit it.”

“I’ll get to work,” Miles replied. “But I won’t lie, sir… you’re asking for a miracle.”

Lucas cracked a smile. “Good thing you’re in the business of miracles.”

The call ended.

Lucas turned back to his phone, where a new message lit up the screen. It was from Christopher—known to the world as Marshmello.

Christopher: “Saw the news. Looks like you’re busy saving the world again. Too bad.”

Lucas chuckled and replied: “What? You need me for something?”

A moment later, Christopher replied: “I want to make you me for one concert. Marshmello helmet and all. Let the crowd think it’s finally a face reveal. Then surprise— oh, it was just Lucas Knight...”

Lucas blinked. “You want me to prank your entire fanbase?”

Christopher: “Bingo. Epic troll. For charity too. What do you say, Mr. Billionaire?”

Lucas shook his head in amusement, already imagining the chaos.