"It's not about the money though, is it? It's about the power. The guy just wants me to find five clients and work my ass off, literally, to get back in the game. I can pay James back in time, maybe he'll forgive me for robbing him blind but this isn't going to be fixed by us collecting our pennies and getting our money back. The money is pointless." The guy wanted Axel to go right back to where he was before he met Hartley. With Hartley, he aimed higher, he tried harder, he was doing well for once and it was making a lot of people unhappy. He just had to get back to where he was. Axel didn't promise anything, he didn't want to lie to Hartley. "Keep your money for your schooling like I said before. You need your money for you. I can always find cash."