Dr. Matt Bronner blinked at the sudden question, and Lucas glared at Selene, who immediately calmed down. Her outburst had been too aggressive, too revealing. Lucas would deal with her later.Lucas turned to Dr. Matt with a soft, practiced smile. "What my companion meant is, have you had experience with the pill? Have you ever handled it, Do you know its components if it was brought before you right now?"Dr. Matt glanced momentarily at Alan, then cleared his throat. The question had caught him off guard, but he was a professional. He would answer it with the same precision he brought to his medical practice."In my youth, I spent a brief stint at the ice-capped mountains of Slavin, where a small group of monks lived," he explained, his voice taking on a nostalgic quality. "They are the originators of the chakra pill, and I had gone to learn their techniques. It was a dream of mine, to master the ancient art of chakra balancing, to bring that knowledge back to the modern world after

Jessie strode into the penthouse with the confidence of one who walked in and out whenever she wanted. The months she had spent working for Reed had been transformative, not just for her career, but for her sense of self-worth. He was without question the best boss she had ever had. He trusted her judgment, valued her input, and never made her feel like she was anything less than an essential part of his operation.The penthouse was bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the polished marble floors. Everything was immaculate, as always. Reed's attention to detail extended to every aspect of his life.As she walked into the living room, she immediately raised her hands and shut her eyes.'This again!' she thought as the blush rose high on her skin. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.At this point, Reed was sure to start thinking that she was doing this on purpose. What else would explain the fact that she had walked in on him almost naked twice? The

Annie crept along the hallway and looked around to be sure no one was around. Satisfied that she was alone, she continued along her path, her footsteps silent against the plush carpet.It was late in the evening at the More Heat Entertainment offices, and there were only a few staff around. The building had that strange, hollow feeling that all office buildings get after hours, the hum of the fluorescent lights, the distant whir of the ventilation system, the occasional creak of settling wood. Most of the offices were dark, their occupants long gone for the night.Annie had stayed late on the pretext of using one of the studios since they would be busy in the daytime. She had told the front desk that she needed to practice a new routine, that she was preparing for an upcoming performance. They had believed her. Why wouldn't they? She was Annie, after all. A star. A veteran of the industry.But in reality, she had an ulterior motive.Thanks to recent events, Annie realized that she n

“Sorry for keeping you all waiting," Mr. Chen walked back in, and everyone let out a sigh of relief. The tension that had filled the room moments ago dissolved like morning mist.Highly talented creative people had weird quirks that were allowed because it was believed that restraining them would hinder their creative process.For Director Chen, he was meticulous about his selection of actors. When he entered his director mode, he saw how he wanted the film to look and he knew exactly what he wanted from the actors.Directors, writers, artists… they were all permitted their eccentricities. So everyone in the room had been ready to wait until his return, no matter how long it took.Moreover, this was his highly anticipated return, a project that the entire world waited for with bated breath. How could they not wait?Fortunately for them, he did not take too long, and it seemed he was ready to proceed."So, Miss Orla," Mr. Chen looked from his desk to the young woman standing before him

After he spoke, police barged into the room and pulled Annie to her feet. The officers moved with practiced efficiency, their expressions grim and professional."Miss Diaz, you are under arrest," one of the officers spoke, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you."After theyread her her Miranda rights, they ushered her wailing and sobbing self out of the room. Her cries echoed down the hallway, fading into the distance as she was led away.When the chaos had died down, Reed turned to Mr. Chen with an apologetic half smile. The room felt emptier now, the tension slowly dissipating."I must apologize for the drama, Mr. Chen," Reed said, his voice sincere. "This was not how I intended this to go."Mr. Chen waved off the apology with a smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Dram