AN: I'm back once again. Got enough for this week. So, time to climb the rankings again. You can expect 5 chs as usual.
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Kate Winslet was in a meeting with her shoe brand team when her assistant walked in, holding a phone as if it were very important. The conversation around the table quieted as Kate saw the look on her assistant's face. She looked serious.
The assistant leaned closer and spoke in a low voice. "Alex Wilson's assistant is on the line. She asked if you're available for lunch today because Alex wants to discuss a role."
Kate paused before answering. She needed a moment to process what she had just heard. Then, a warm feeling rushed through her chest, and she sat up straight in her chair without realizing it.
"Tell them yes," she said at once, already reaching for her phone as a few executives around the table exchanged curious glances. "Cancel everything after this. Move whatever needs moving. I'll handle the rest."
Her assistant blinked, briefly surprised by the speed of the decision, then nodded and stepped outside to confirm.
Kate leaned back slightly, her fingers brushing the edge of the table as memories surfaced uninvited. Titanic. The cold water sets—the quiet moments between takes. Alex moving through chaos with a calm focus that made everyone trust him without question, even though he was new in the industry.
That film had changed everything.
He had written her character with a depth and vulnerability that made every scene feel alive. He had pushed her through emotional moments, guided her through quieter ones, and when the film was released, it grew far beyond anything she had imagined. The Oscar came months later, her first, and when she stood on that stage holding the golden statue, she had thanked him before anyone else.
Since then, her fame in Hollywood has grown a lot, and she has received many movie offers. However, none of these films felt as satisfying as her work with Alex. So, she has been waiting. Not obsessively, and not in a way she would admit, but in the back of her mind, she always expected his name to show up again, whether in a script, a call, or a message.
Years passed. Nothing came.
Until now.
She barely heard the rest of the meeting, offering polite nods while her thoughts drifted toward the lunch ahead. When it finally ended, she stood quickly and gathered her things just as her manager approached with a questioning look.
"Everything okay?" he asked, adjusting his glasses.
Kate smiled, and this time the excitement beneath it was unmistakable. "Alex wants to meet about a role over lunch today."
Her manager paused, then let out a slow breath. "Well… that changes things."
Kate gave a small laugh as she slipped her coat over her shoulders. "It really does."
He hesitated before adding, "You already signed preliminary talks for the Harrison project. And there's the European movie starting negotiations next week."
Kate waved a hand lightly as she took her handbag and walked toward the door. "We'll figure it out. If schedules clash, I'll reschedule. If they can't move, I'll withdraw."
Her manager followed, clearly surprised by the firmness in her voice. "You'd drop them just like that?"
Kate slowed near the elevator and looked back at him, her expression steady and certain. "It's Alex. I'm not missing this opportunity."
He studied her for a moment, then nodded, understanding more than she had said.
Kate stepped into the elevator, her reflection staring back from the polished steel walls as the doors slid shut. She took a quiet breath and smoothed her hair, anticipation settling deep in her chest. 'Alright, Kate. This is it. This is what you've been waiting for such a long time.'
She clenched her fists and did a quick jumping dance.
"Yes, yes, yes, fuck yes!"
Then she stopped, fixed her clothes and hair, took a deep breath, and put on her usual charming expression. Her phone pinged twice. She took it out of her bag and unlocked it. It was from her assistant. The meeting is at 2 PM at the Golden Sakura restaurant. And right now, it's 11 AM. She has around three hours to prepare.
...
[Titan Studio]
Meanwhile, across the city, Alex sat in his office with his laptop open and a cup of coffee. He scrolled through early reactions to House MD. The show started airing on Jan 1.
The show had only aired three episodes so far, yet the response had already started building momentum.
He leaned back slightly while reading a comment that caught his attention.
"Dr. House is an asshole, but somehow I still want him to solve every case."
Alex smiled faintly as he scrolled down.
Another comment appeared.
"This show feels different. It's medical, but it's also psychological. Every episode feels like a puzzle. Looking forward to more."
He read a few more comments and the majority of them were good so far.
Alex nodded slightly, fingers tapping lightly against the armrest. "So far so good. We're making money and getting views."
He clicked open a review from a television blog.
IMDB Rating: 8.7 out of 10.
"House MD brings something fresh to the medical drama genre. Hugh Laurie delivers a sharp, cynical performance that carries the show. The writing balances humor, mystery, and emotional tension effectively. If the show continues this trajectory, it could become one of the defining television series of the decade."
Alex exhaled slowly while absorbing the words. Three episodes in, and the show was already carving space for itself.
He scrolled further.
RT Score: 9.1
Audience comments poured in beneath the ratings.
"I didn't expect to laugh this much in a medical show."
"House is brutal. I love it."
"That diagnostic scene in episode three was insane. I actually tried guessing the disease."
Alex chuckled softly under his breath as he leaned forward again. The engagement mattered more than the numbers at this stage. People were thinking, guessing, arguing, and discussing theories. That meant the show had already hooked them.
His phone buzzed on the desk. He looked down and saw a message from Rachel.
Kate confirmed. 2 PM. Golden Sakura.
Alex read it once, then placed the phone back down while closing the review tab.
...
[On the other side]
Meanwhile, the Williamsburg Diner sat unusually quiet for the middle of the day. The usual chatter, clinking plates, and background noise had been replaced by a lazy stillness. A rally a few streets over had pulled most of the regulars away, leaving the place almost empty except for the familiar faces who practically lived there.
The door swung open, and Max and Caroline stepped in with their usual effortless confidence, boots clicking against the tile like they still owned the place. Max pushed her sunglasses up onto her head while scanning the nearly empty diner, and Caroline tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear as she looked around with a nostalgic smile.
Earl noticed them first.
He sat behind the counter, reading a worn paperback with his glasses sliding halfway down his nose. The moment he looked up, his face lit up slowly, like someone had just turned on a familiar light inside his chest.
He stood up from his stool, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Well, look who decided to grace this old place with their presence today," he said, his voice warm with genuine affection. "You two walking in here always makes the day feel a little brighter, even if the rally chased away all the regulars."
He stepped around the counter as they approached, arms already opening in welcome. Max walked straight into the hug without hesitation and gave him a firm squeeze before pulling back with a smirk playing on her lips.
"Still smelling like old coffee and broken dreams in here, Earl. You really need to air this place out before the health department shows up again," she said, her voice carrying that familiar bite wrapped in affection.
Caroline stepped in beside them, smiling warmly. "Hi, Earl. You look good."
Earl nodded toward her. "And you look good too, Caroline."
Sophie sat at her usual booth, delicately sipping her tea with her pinky raised just so, but she lowered the cup the second she spotted them and waved enthusiastically. "Max! Caroline! You come to brighten up this boring day, yes?" she called out, her thick accent wrapping around every word like warm honey.
Before they could greet Sophie...
From behind the kitchen counter, Oleg poked his head out, wiping his hands on a towel with a leering grin spreading across his face. "Ah, the duo returns at last. My heart beats faster already. Also other things beat faster."
Max rolled her eyes instantly. "Good morning to you too, walking HR violation."
"Arg!" Caroline made a disgusted face. "Still the same Oleg."
Han came rushing out from the back room, nearly tripping over a chair in his hurry. He held a clipboard in one hand, eyes wide with excitement. "Max. Caroline. You came back." His voice carried genuine happiness as he approached them quickly.
Caroline smiled warmly. "Hi, Han." She walked over and sat before Sophie.
Han looked between them with his usual grin. "I was just doing inventory, but now inventory can wait. This is more important."
Max leaned against the counter casually. "Relax, Han. We're just visiting. Not here to take your jobs back."
Han laughed nervously. "You never lost your jobs. You simply... evolved. So..."
Max opened her handbag and took out a file. "Here you go. Now, you're officially allowed to sell our signature cupcakes, Titan-exclusive drinks, food, and small merchandise. Read and sign then send it to the main studio."
Han took the file from her hand. "Thank you so much, Max."
"Oh, by the way, Max," Sophie suddenly remembered something important. She quickly opened her purse and rummaged through it before pulling out a letter. "Someone dropped it before your old apartment door this morning. I think they didn't know you don't live there anymore."
"Max getting a letter? Now, that's new," Caroline asked, looking curious.
Max walked over and took the letter from Sophie's hand. Her name was written on the back, and the letter looked like wax sealed with two letters. DD. "Huh! Who the hell is DD?"
She opened the letter. Inside was an invitation card to a secret party and there was a platinum access card. There were some rules written in there, like no cameras, phones, and any type of electronics.
Max stared at the contents for a moment, then let out a short laugh.
"This is either the fanciest stalker invitation I have ever seen or someone is about to get robbed at their own party," she said, shaking her head. "No phones, cameras, or electronics? Yeah right. Like I am walking into some mystery rich people cult cave without backup."
She folded the invitation card and slid it back into the envelope along with the platinum card.
"Creepy as hell. I ain't touching this with a ten-foot pole. If DD wants to party, he can send me a normal text like a normal person, then I'll show it to Alex and he'll mess him up pretty good."
Max held the letter before Han with a smirk.
"Here, Han. You want it? Free platinum card. Maybe you can finally upgrade from your sad life and get a girl or two."
Caroline looked at the envelope. "You're not even a little curious?"
"Not enough to risk ending up in a basement somewhere," Max replied dryly. "I've seen enough true crime documentaries to know how this ends and Alex warned me about situations like this. Hard pass."
Han looked interested for a moment until Max said the basement part. "I think I'm good."
"Oh, I got an idea," Max took out her phone and dialed John's number. "Never mess with Max Black."
...
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