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.

or more accurately, when he could finally open his left eye again, all the lights in Griffin's place were

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

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

laughing. "Since when did you start

exhaled sharply. "I don't have the energy to argue.

so fast," Griffin pointed outside, "It's pouring rain,

was dumbfounded, "Wait, what? Why would they

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

clenched his fists, grinding his teeth, "Couldn't you, just maybe, help me out and move the

garage isn't

speechless, finally settling on the couch in

work as if he was

rumble. He tapped

gestured toward

found nothing but instant noodles and pre-made sandwiches inside, alongside cans of soda - the classic

ask,

"Just me

reason, Leopold felt a

noticed Griffin seemed much thinner than he

she would be on a diet like

"For a young woman, you could take better care of yourself. Why not keep some veggies or some meat in the house? This..." He turned

floor under the light, falling across her

fridge into

the couch, wolfing down the nutritionally void

was still engrossed in her research. Bored out of his mind, Leopold eventually dozed off on the

on the carpet, leaning against the couch, blue pen still clutched in

noodles

sighed. "You're working

staring at her with unknown thoughts in his mind. Suddenly, Griffin's head dropped, and Leopold caught it as quickly as possible. His

lifted her into a more comfortable position on the couch, draping

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