John looked up from the tablet where he had been reviewing the final scores. The silence stretched just long enough to make it unbearable. "Alex wins," he said flatly. "Ninety-four percent accuracy. Five seconds faster."
Angelina leaned back against the nearest barrier, tilting her head toward the ceiling of the range as if trying to absorb the news. She wasn't surprised, not really, but part of her had hoped for a miracle round. Her lips curved into a wry smile.
"Of course he does," she muttered.
She pulled her ponytail free, shaking out her hair. Her tank top clung to her skin, damp with sweat and adrenaline. She looked over at Alex, one eyebrow raised, the corner of her mouth curving up.
"Well," she said, voice low but steady, "a deal's a deal. What do you want?"
Alex walked over and picked up his towel from the bench, slinging it around his neck. He didn't answer right away. Instead, he took a drink from his water bottle, eyes on hers.
"I was going to ask for something dramatic," he said, finally breaking the silence. "Something reckless or cinematic. But we've both been running drills for hours. You're sweating. I'm starving. And John looks like he's about two seconds from tranquilizing both of us just to get some peace."
She let out a tired laugh and nodded. "Guilty on all counts."
Alex took a step closer, holding her gaze. "How about we clean up and grab a quick meal? There's a nice restaurant nearby. Then maybe I'll decide what the real favor is."
Angelina blinked, surprised for a moment. She had expected a flirtation grenade or some loaded request, not something as simple as food. But the idea of sitting across from him at a table, away from targets and timers, stirred something else entirely.
"Alright," she said, brushing hair from her face. "I'm starving."
She went toward the washroom to get cleaned up.
John packed the weapons back into their cases, nodding to himself with something that might have been relief. Then he asked. "You held back."
"Yeah, giving it my all would have broken her confidence," Alex replied as he watched her close the door. "That would be bad. I need her to retain that fire and give it her all."
"Good call, John replied.
...
[4:30 PM] [HanSik Ga Korean BBQ, Brooklyn]
The scent of sizzling meat and garlic drifted through the air, mixing with the soft hum of Korean pop music and the clatter of side dishes being set on low tables. The restaurant was cozy, not flashy, tucked between a laundromat and a bookstore on a quiet side street. Perfect for staying out of sight.
Alex and Angelina sat in a corner booth, both dressed down in hoodies and dark glasses. The staff had no idea who they were, and they intended to keep it that way.
A tabletop grill smoked gently between them, as thin cuts of pork belly sizzled against the heat. Bowls of kimchi, pickled radish, spicy cucumbers, and sesame-marinated spinach filled the table. An unopened bottle of soju sat beside two shot glasses.
Angelina picked up her chopsticks and flipped one of the strips of meat. The grease sizzled louder, popping along the edge of the metal plate. She leaned back slightly and looked across the table at Alex.
"I forgot how good this place smells when you're starving," she said.
Alex pushed his hood back slightly and reached for the tongs. "You ever been here before?"
"Not this one," she replied. "But I used to sneak into Koreatown late at night during filming years ago. Took my assistant once at 1 AM because I couldn't sleep. We ended up eating five bowls of rice between us."
Alex smiled, adding another piece of meat to the grill. "That sounds about right. The first time I came here, Rachel was with me. She was drunk, threatening to fire the head of security for calling her 'ma'am.'"
Angelina grinned. "I believe that."
He passed her a slice of perfectly grilled pork belly with a pair of tongs. She placed it on a lettuce wrap, added garlic, a dab of ssamjang paste, and folded it up neatly.
"Cheers," she said, lifting it like a toast before taking a bite.
Alex followed her lead, making his own wrap and eating it in silence for a moment. The food was delicious, with bold flavors and a rich heat that provided a slow burn on the tongue. It was exactly what they needed.
Angelina poured him a shot of soju without asking. "You earned it," she said.
He raised his glass and nodded. "To Mr. and Mrs. Smith."
They clinked glasses, then drank. The liquor was cold. It hit just hard enough to relax the muscles without dulling the senses.
Angelina reached for another piece of meat and flipped it. Her sleeves were rolled, her hoodie slightly unzipped, and a flush had returned to her cheeks. "So," she said, settling back, "was that really all you wanted? A meal?"
Alex met her gaze across the table. "Honestly, I needed some quiet time. I just wanted a moment where no one is watching. I've been very busy lately. The movie launch date is coming up, and I'm handling business deals, sorting out competitors, producing films, writing scripts, and creating comics. That's a lot to manage. It's pretty exhausting."
She studied him for a second, then nodded slowly. "Wow! That's too many things."
"You tell me."
Angelina leaned forward and rested her arms on the edge of the table. The heat from the grill touched her face, and for a second, the whole world outside felt far away. "You always carry it well," she said. "Most people in this industry start unraveling by year three. You're somehow building an empire and still functioning like it's just another Monday."
Alex looked down at his shot glass, then back at her. "Functioning is a stretch. Some days I wake up and don't know what continent I'm in. Other days I wake up and wonder if I'm even allowed to have five minutes where I'm not solving someone else's problem."
He picked up a slice of meat, dipped it in sauce, and dropped it into his wrap. "Then someone calls me for business deals and whatnot. But I have some close people who keep me grounded and loved. Still, as days are passing, I feel like I'm spending too little time with my loved ones."
Angelina chewed her food slowly, watching him with a mix of curiosity and quiet respect. "You ever think about what it would be like if you just… walked away?"
He looked up.
"Not forever," she added quickly. "Just long enough to breathe without any deadlines. Just a normal life for a month or a week. Even a weekend."
Alex didn't answer right away. He poured them both another round of soju. The silence wasn't uncomfortable. It was thoughtful.
"I've thought about it," he said finally. "But I don't think I know how to be normal anymore. When I stop moving, something feels off. Like I'm missing a step. Or someone else is catching up."
Angelina let that sink in. "Yeah. I get that. I used to feel the same. But now I think normal isn't about slowing down. It's about choosing where you burn your energy. And who you spend it with."
He looked at her more closely now. "Is that your way of saying I should spend more time with you?"
She smiled. "I'm just saying the table's open. If you ever want a break from building the world, I don't mind sharing a few nights of quiet with you."
Alex tilted his head, amused. "Nights, huh?"
"I didn't stutter," she said, eyes not blinking. And then she realized what she had just said without thinking. 'WHAT THE FUCK DID I BABBLE OUT?! ARGGGGG! He must be thinking I'm trying to get into bed with him like a freakin' gold digger. Shit! I messed up. And I can't take it back.'
Alex didn't say anything on that matter and there was a moment of silence between them.
They shared another drink. The food was almost gone now, only a few pieces of meat left on the grill. The side dishes were half-eaten. Their bodies had relaxed, but the tension between them hadn't faded. It had shifted into something slower, warmer.
Angelina reached for her water and leaned back in the booth. She decided to break the ice.
"Okay," she said, her voice lighter now. "Serious question. If you weren't making movies, running Titan, or assembling spy weapons at private ranges, what would you be doing right now?"
"Humm," He thought for a moment before replying. "That's kinda hard to tell. But I think I'd be a pro racer or a boxer, maybe. Oh, I know, an MMA fighter. That sounds fun. What about you?"
"Yup! I can imagine that," She said. "As for me..."
Angelina rested her chin on her hand, staring into the middle distance for a moment, as if she were genuinely weighing her alternate universe options. Her lips tugged into a small smile.
"I think I'd be a pilot," she said. "Or maybe I'd be running a dagger museum in some remote town near a lake. Just me, a fireplace, and a collection of ancient blades no one but weird tourists cares about."
Alex leaned in slightly, curiosity piqued. "A pilot, I get. But a dagger museum?"
She laughed quietly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I've always had this weird love for blades. The craftsmanship, the history, and the way every culture treats them differently. A dagger isn't just a weapon. It's a symbol. Ritual, protection, betrayal, power... all wrapped into one clean, sharp little package."
He nodded, smiling. "That actually sounds like the most Angelina thing I've ever heard."
"Yeah?" she said, half-challenging.
"You in a leather coat, giving a tour to bored backpackers while secretly cataloguing priceless ancient weapons. Makes sense."
She chuckled. "I wouldn't give the tour. I'd be in the back room doing restoration work while some underpaid college intern explains how this dagger was once used in a Balkan rebellion."
Alex laughed, taking another sip of soju. "Sounds peaceful. Kind of dark, but poetic."
Angelina's expression turned thoughtful. "Honestly, I think about it more than I should. I love the adrenaline and the work, but as you already know, my career went down, like so down that I was only getting B-grade softcore porn movie offers. Then, I was financially struggling while doing a few modeling gigs that barely paid enough. And I fell into depression. At that moment, I just wanted to sell everything and disappear. But your mail turned my life around. So, I canceled my trip and the plan to open the museum."
He watched her for a moment. "If you ever make that museum, let me know. I'll fund it. Or maybe I'll be the guy who drives up once a month in a black car, drops off a new piece, and vanishes without saying a word."
She grinned. "You'd wear gloves, speak in riddles, and bring something wrapped in old silk."
"Exactly," he said, pointing his finger at her. "Mystery donor number seven."
She smiled and said, "I'll add you to the plaque."
The last bits of food were finished. The soju bottle sat empty, and the table was quiet except for the slow fade of K-pop in the background. Neither of them was in a rush to leave.
Angelina finally exhaled and reached for her hoodie, pulling it back on over her tank. "This was good. I needed it. So..."
"So..." He looked into her eyes.
"You going to ask?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you gonna say yes?" He smirked.
"Yes," She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes.
"Well," Alex gave a slight nod... [TO BE CONTINUED...]
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[POWERSTONES AND REVIEWS PLS]
Support link: www.patr eon.com/UnknownMaster
[6 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] [No double billing.]
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AN: That's it for this week.