The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

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!

before Leopold’s eyes as he staggered

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 people all in black with a mask? How do you expect someone

you say you didn’t want to see me? How

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

energy to argue. I’ve delivered your stuff; I’m out of

“It’s pouring rain, and the

was dumbfounded, “Wait, what? Why would

if it were the most obvious thing

fists, grinding his teeth, “Couldn’t you, just maybe, help me out and move the car into your

garage isn’t for storing Husky

was speechless, finally settling on the couch in

as if

rumble. He tapped

Griffin gestured

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

not help but ask,

me

some reason, Leopold felt a sudden

noticed Griffin seemed much thinner than

of course, she would be on a diet like

preparing two cups of noodles, mumbling, “For a young woman, you could take better care of yourself.

find Griffin with headphones on,

on the floor under the light, falling across

the only sausage left from the fridge into Griffin’s noodle cup, then placed it

couch, wolfing down the nutritionally void

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

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

noodles were

sighed. “You’re working too

approached and squatted beside her, staring at her with unknown thoughts in his mind. Suddenly, Griffin’s head dropped, and Leopold caught it

was a little flushed, and so was

of silence, he lifted her into a more comfortable position on the

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