The Million-Dollar Heart

As the quartet happily indulged in a cozy fondue dinner, Leopold brought over the documents from headquarters.

Peering through the empty doorway, Leopold hesitated, unsure whether to enter.

He texted Anna: [Where are you guys?]

Anna, who had not quite finished chewing her lamb, hit the voice message button, "On a mission, gotta stick to Ms. Vivienne like glue." Vivienne said, "Just drop the stuff off, and don't be a nuisance. You mess up the deal, I'll break your legs."

Percival added his own threat, "I'll dislocate your arm."

Thomas kept it simple, "Good luck, man!"

Listening to the sounds of bubbling fondue, fizzing sodas, and the stubborn mastication of lamb, Leopold was in disbelief.

Was this really a mission?

This was sheer torture!

But he had no choice; he had to deliver the documents quickly.

Griffin had already sent a reminder in the Little Bombs group chat - a special group Vivienne had created for convenience. With no other option, Leopold donned a mask and hat, covering himself completely, and entered Griffin's home.

The evening was setting in, and Griffin had only a desk lamp on, leaving the main lights off.

Three different-colored pens lay strewn across documents, each marking various annotations. Leopold cleared his throat gently, but Griffin showed no reaction.

He moved closer and tapped Griffin's head with the documents, "Hey, the papers..."

"Ah!"

Bam!

Stars danced before Leopold's eyes as he staggered backward and collapsed to the floor.

accurately, when he could finally open

Leopold awake, she nonchalantly remarked, "Are you nuts? Sneaking up behind people all in black with a mask? How do you expect someone to

right eye. "You're the one who's nuts! Didn't you say you didn't want to see me? How else

laughing. "Since when did you start following orders so

energy to argue. I've delivered

pointed outside, "It's pouring rain, and the cops towed

"Wait, what? Why

blocking traffic," Griffin said as if it were the most obvious thing

"Couldn't you, just maybe, help me out and move the car

my garage isn't for

finally settling

as if

rumble. He tapped the

looking back, Griffin gestured toward the

inside, alongside cans of soda - the classic

could not help but ask, "Is this what you

affirmation, "Just me

some reason, Leopold felt a sudden pang of

the first time, he noticed Griffin seemed much thinner

course, she would be on a diet

two cups of noodles, mumbling, "For a young woman, you could take better care of yourself. Why not keep some veggies or some meat in

shadow stretched out on the floor under the light, falling across her

fridge into Griffin's noodle cup, then placed it quietly on the desk

wolfing down the nutritionally

in her

Griffin asleep on the carpet, leaning against the couch, blue pen still clutched in hand, the other two pens

noodles were

"You're working

right eye less swollen, he approached and squatted beside her, staring at her with unknown thoughts in his mind. Suddenly, Griffin's head dropped, and Leopold

of silence, he lifted her into a more comfortable position on

instant noodles, he tossed it aside, grabbed Griffin's car keys, and