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.

he came to, or more accurately, when he could finally open his left eye again, all the lights in

perusing the documents, and upon seeing Leopold awake, she nonchalantly remarked, "Are you nuts? Sneaking up behind people all

say you didn't want to see me? How else was I supposed to hide my

nearly burst out laughing. "Since when did you start following

energy to argue. I've delivered your

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

"Wait, what? Why

said as if it were the most obvious

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

garage isn't for storing

speechless, finally settling on

if he was not

Leopold's stomach began to rumble. He tapped

back, Griffin gestured

inside, alongside cans of soda -

ask, "Is

an affirmation, "Just me here,

felt a sudden pang

the first time, he noticed Griffin seemed much thinner than

of course, she would be on

care of yourself. Why not keep some veggies or some meat in the house? This..." He turned

shadow stretched out on the floor under

the fridge into

on the couch, wolfing down the

had not stopped, and Griffin was still engrossed in her research. Bored out of his mind, Leopold

he awoke, he found Griffin asleep on the carpet, leaning against the couch, blue pen still clutched in hand, the other two pens precariously perched

instant noodles were

"You're working too

mind. Suddenly, Griffin's head dropped, and Leopold caught it as quickly as possible. His face was a little flushed, and

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

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