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.

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

nonchalantly remarked, "Are you nuts? Sneaking up behind people all in black with a mask? How do

Didn't you say you didn't want to see me? How else was I

out laughing. "Since when did you start following orders so

don't have the energy to argue. I've

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

was dumbfounded, "Wait, what? Why would

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

grinding his teeth, "Couldn't you, just maybe, help

garage isn't for storing

settling

work as if

Leopold's stomach began to rumble. He tapped

gestured

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

not help but ask, "Is this what you usually

me

reason, Leopold felt a sudden pang of

noticed Griffin

be on a

started preparing 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

floor under the

lips and silently added the only sausage left from the fridge into Griffin's noodle cup, then placed it quietly on the desk

couch, wolfing down the

stopped, and Griffin was still engrossed in her research. Bored out of his mind, Leopold eventually

he awoke, he found Griffin asleep on the carpet, leaning against the couch, blue pen still clutched

noodles

"You're working

Suddenly, Griffin's head dropped, and Leopold caught

her into a more comfortable position on the couch, draping

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