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.

open his left eye again, all the

casually perusing the documents, and upon seeing Leopold awake, she nonchalantly remarked, "Are you nuts? Sneaking up behind people all in black with a mask? How do

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

when

sharply. "I don't have the energy to argue. I've delivered your stuff;

"It's pouring rain, and the cops towed

was dumbfounded, "Wait, what? Why

if it were the most obvious thing in

"Couldn't you, just maybe, help me out

"Sorry, my garage

was speechless, finally settling on the

her work as if he was not even

Leopold's stomach began to rumble. He tapped the

gestured toward the fridge,

inside, alongside cans of soda - the classic bachelor's

ask, "Is this what you usually

"Just me here, so I make

reason, Leopold felt a sudden

first time, he noticed Griffin seemed much thinner than he

of course, she would be on a

you could take better care of yourself. Why not keep some veggies or some meat in the house? This..." He turned to

floor under the light, falling across her

his lips and silently added the only sausage left from the fridge into Griffin's noodle cup,

sat on the couch, wolfing down

in her research. Bored out

found Griffin asleep on the carpet, leaning against the couch, blue pen

noodles

sighed. "You're working

unknown thoughts in his mind. Suddenly, Griffin's head dropped, and Leopold caught

of silence, he lifted her into a more comfortable position on the couch, draping his jacket over

noodles, he tossed it