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.

finally open his left eye

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

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 my

"Since when did you start following

energy to argue. I've

"It's pouring rain, and the cops

dumbfounded, "Wait, what? Why would they

said as if it were

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

smirked. "Sorry, my garage isn't

was speechless, finally settling on

if he

Leopold's stomach began to rumble. He tapped the desk,

back, Griffin gestured toward the fridge, "Help

and pre-made sandwiches inside, alongside cans of

help but ask, "Is

"Just me here, so I make

reason, Leopold felt a sudden pang of

the first time, he noticed Griffin seemed much

course, she would be on a diet

"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 to

floor

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

sat on the couch, wolfing

the rain had not stopped, and Griffin was still engrossed in her research. Bored out of his mind, Leopold eventually dozed off on

couch, blue pen still clutched in hand, the other two pens precariously perched in her

noodles

sighed. "You're

thoughts in his mind. Suddenly, Griffin's head dropped, and Leopold caught it as quickly as possible.

lifted her into a more comfortable position on

at the untouched instant noodles, he tossed it aside, grabbed