AN: New week. Time to climb the ranking again. Thanks for all the power stones. Managed to hold the top 15 position last week. 🫡Â
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Morning had arrived with the chaotic energy of a talent show where everyone woke up convinced they were the headliner. The clock hit ten. The sun was shining. Birds were chirping. And inside Alex's penthouse, four world-famous actresses were locked in a battle that could only be described as Fashion Hunger Games.
Not for Alex though. He had already escaped.
He took one look at the battlefield, heard the phrase "Which clutch matches this better" for the ninth time in forty seconds, and made a strategic decision fit for a war documentary.
He grabbed a hoodie.
He grabbed the nearest pair of running shoes.
He grabbed his phone and wallet.
Then he slipped out of the penthouse while quietly praying no one spotted him.
If he stayed, they would drag him to emergency shopping trips, perfume opinions, hair consultations, or worst of all the dreaded "Which dress looks better on me" quiz where there were no correct answers except pure luck.
As much as he'd loved to stay there and maybe sneak a few kisses, a bit of flirting, enjoy the girls dropping their dresses before dressing up, maybe a little 5-minute sex or bjs or pussy eating in the name of helping them let out their tension... As much as it sounds fun and enticing, a man must know his limits.
Alex knew his.
He hit the elevator button and thought, 'Jogging. I'm going jogging. Getting lazy lately. Gotta keep my fitness level up. No, sex doesn't count, though I had a nice cardio last night with all four one after the other... Then, it got fun when Halle opened the strawberry jam jar and... Ahem! That's not the point. Jogging is good for health.'
Inside the penthouse, Angelina stood in front of one mirror while Halle claimed another. Scarlett had taken over the kitchen counter because the lighting was better. Evangeline had chosen a corner with the seriousness of a monk selecting a meditation spot.
They were surrounded by open jewelry cases, makeup kits that looked like toolboxes, shoe racks, perfume bottles, clutch contenders, backup clutch contenders, and hair artists who looked like they had already lived through three midlife crises today.
Angelina checked her reflection again. "Does this hairstyle say graceful goddess or tired mother of three?"
Scarlett adjusted her earrings. "Neither. The classic bun with side curls looked way better."
"Really?" She checked again from the side.
"Yeah. Trust me, those side curls go well with your face... Remember what Alex said that night? It makes you look hot," Scarlett replied.
Halle popped open a compact mirror and carefully examined her face. She was trying to find some wrinkles or aging marks, but nope. Not a single mark. 'Looking good... gorgeous.' She thought with a confident smile.
Evangeline held up two clutches. "Gold or silver?"
Scarlett answered without looking. "Gold."
Halle replied at the exact same time. "Silver."
They both looked at each other, then back at her.
Angelina quietly backed away. She had seen that kind of standoff before. It usually ended with someone switching to a third option out of pure emotional exhaustion.
A stylist rushed past with a curling iron. "Ladies, twenty-minute break before nails."
[1 hour later]
Angelina looked around. "Where's Alex? He was supposed to check which earrings look better."
Scarlett smirked. "Saw him sneaking out with his jogging shoes so we wouldn't drag him around and make him pick perfume samples, dresses..." She pointed at Angelina. "...earrings."
Angelina paused. "We were absolutely going to do that."
Evangeline nodded. "And he knows it."
Halle crossed her arms. She was looking at her new dresses. "Ah! C'mon. He always picks the best dress and everything for me when I go out on special occasions and he's perfect. He always knows what I'm thinking and what makes me look awesome. Like..." She thought for a moment. "...Oh god! I need him. I got two dresses. Black and silver. I can't decide what to wear."Â
Then she noticed the small note on the bag of the silver dress. She picked it up. It was from Alex: Silver one looked great on you when you tried it last night.
"Huh!" She smiled.Â
Scarlett chucked. "He knows you better than you think he does."
"Yeah," Halle blushed a bit. "He does know me."
...
Two hours later, peace finally returned to the penthouse.
The stylists had evacuated like exhausted survivors of a natural disaster. The mountain of makeup kits, hair tools, and accessory boxes had been packed away. Now the four actresses sat at the dining table in their robes, sipping coffee with the blank, thousand-yard stare of people who had survived fashion warfare.
They all grunted in tired agreement.
That was the exact moment the front door swung open.
Max and Caroline have arrived from NY. Caroline's dad decided to stay in NY for a while.Â
Max burst in like she was making a Broadway entrance.
"We are back," She declared with the volume of a foghorn. Her eyes scanned the room with anticipation. She expected to see Alex. "Alright, where is he? Bring him to me. I want my hug. It is tradition."
Caroline patted her arm. "Max, calm down. He probably went to get something."
But Max was already pouting. "He always shows up when I come in. He hugs me. I hug him back. Then I kiss him. Then he—"
She never finished.
Strong arms wrapped around her from behind and lifted her clean off the ground. Max let out a gasp and then instantly relaxed, recognizing the scent, the warmth, and the unspoken smugness of the man who loved surprising her.
Alex spun her once before setting her down.
Max turned around and launched herself at him with the kind of full-body bear hug usually reserved for long-lost lovers in dramatic train station reunions. She kissed him soundly, holding his cheeks as if claiming her property before anyone dared contest it.
When they finally pulled apart, Alex brushed a thumb across her jaw and grinned.
"What? You thought I wouldn't show up?"
Max giggled with a little blush. "No. But I was ready to yell if you made me wait."
Caroline smiled from the side. "We both know you had a speech prepared."
Max tilted her head proudly. "I did. It started with emotional guilt and ended with light blackmail. It was perfect."
Alex laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Then he walked over to Caroline, picked her up in a bridal carry. She wrapped her arms around his neck and both kissed hungrily with too much tongue involved. He was about to take him to the bedroom, but Max grabbed his hoodie, stopping him.
"No, no, no, no. No sex. You gonna help me with my dress. There are only a few hours left and I want to look perfect at the Red Carpet," Max said.
"Buzzkill," Caroline sighed.
"Yep!" Alex kissed her once more before letting her down.
Angelina leaned back in her chair, smirking. "Good. Now that he's here, we can make him look at our jewelry options."
Alex froze.
Halle clapped once. "Yes. We saved the real work for you."
Scarlett added, "And your opinion is legally binding."
Evangeline lifted two clutches. "I have questions."
Alex closed his eyes for one long moment.
Jogging had been pointless.
His fate had found him.
Max squeezed his hand. "You will survive. Probably."
He sighed. "Okay. Show me the earrings."
...
...
[5 PM]
[Titan Studios LA]
[Red carpet]
[Alex used two floors and made a big theatre. Let's just say, when you have money, something like this is a piece of cake.]
Titan Studios had transformed into a glowing canyon of spotlights, camera flashes and reporters who looked like they had sprinted here from five different continents. Fans lined the barricades with signs, posters and at least one homemade cardboard cutout of Alex that was either flattering or deeply cursed.Â
Photographers were shouting names like auctioneers.
Media crews scrambled.
Influencers shoved microphones at anything that moved.
Celebrities arrived in waves.
Robert Downey Jr strolled in with sunglasses and the casual confidence of a man who had never once lost an argument in his life. Jeremy Renner followed, giving a few poses. Anthony Mackie arrived, grinning, already telling jokes to a group of bewildered reporters. Tom Hanks showed up a bit later and joined the group inside after a couple of clicks.
Kate Winslet stepped out of her limo, instantly drawing cheers. She was excited to meet Alex again after all these years.
Jennifer Lopez stepped out of her Porsche, wearing a shimmering black dress that left half the photographers speechless.
Claire Guinness posed with her trademark sharp smile.
Behind them came more stars.
Chris Hemsworth and Ryan Reynolds arrived together. And Ryan was already making jokes so fast PR staff panicked about what he might accidentally leak.
Hugh Jackman shook hands. Keira Knightley and Jessica Alba posed together. George Clooney charmed everyone older than six. Sandra Bullock turned heads. Steven Spielberg chatted with a small cluster of producers. Even Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz were there.
Alex's model team was also there: Megan Fox, April, Bobbi, and Angela.
Behind them came a familiar army.
YouTube reviewers marched toward the entrance, holding confidentiality documents tighter than college students clutching exam cheat sheets. The ones who had not signed were gently escorted to the side by Titan's legal squad. Nobody escaped the NDA vortex.
Then came the sound.
The sudden, unmistakable growl of an engine that belonged less to a car and more to a caffeinated dragon.
Max's Mustang GT rolled to the curb, glossy black with flame stripes that demanded attention. The crowd erupted. Phones shot upward. Photographers nearly climbed each other.
The car door opened.
Max stepped out first in a crimson gown with a high slit. Her diamond earrings sparkled in the light. She flipped her hair like a model, aiming to impress everyone around her.
Caroline followed, wearing an emerald dress that looked stunning. When the cameras flashed, the jewels on her neckline sparkled brightly, capturing the attention of several photographers.
Reporters yelled questions. Fans shouted her name.Â
Both women walked the carpet with the easy confidence of seasoned models. Max playfully blew kisses toward the fans. Caroline offered soft waves. Together, they looked like they could single-handedly raise the global stock market.
Behind them, another car rolled in. The Rolls-Royce. Scarlett had shipped it from NY.
Halle Berry stepped out in a silver gown, looking gorgeous. Scarlett emerged next in a pure white dress that made half the photographers forget how to breathe. Evangeline came out next in a blue gown that floated around her legs like water.
The three walked forward like a synchronized squadron. Calm, powerful and deadly to camera lenses.
Reporters shouted questions. Fans begged for photos. A teenager screamed, "I love you, Scarlett," at a volume that physically shook a security guard.
They entered the building.
Just when the chaos seemed to settle, another car rolled up.
A Cadillac CTS stopped at the curb. The door opened and Martha Rodgers stepped out first.
Martha was dressed in a flowing lavender gown with pearl earrings and a hairstyle that screamed theatrical majesty. Her smile was so bright the photographers instinctively zoomed in.
Alexis climbed out next in a soft champagne colored dress that looked classy and elegant. She looked like she was trying her best to stay calm, but her hands were shaking slightly. This was her first major red carpet and she was two seconds from passing out from excitement.
Castle stepped out last in a black tux with a wine-red tie. He looked polished, proud, and absolutely terrified he was about to trip on live television.
This was Castle family's very first high-profile Hollywood premiere and it showed. They moved like tourists inside the Louvre, overwhelmed but delighted. Yeah, they attended a few events but not on this scale.
Though not everyone recognised them, there were enough paparazzi and some fans who recognized Castle.
"That's Richard Castle..."
"Castle... Here..."
"Martha Rogers!"
"Don't tell me Titan is finally going to make a movie adaptation of Nikki Heat!"
"Is she a new actress?"
"Focus on her. She might be a new talent Alex hired."
Well, Castle and Martha waved hands as they walked inside, while Alexis simply smiled and followed them. This feeling was too overwhelming for her.
Everyone was here.
All that was left was the arrival of the man and woman of the hour.
Then an engine note ripped down the boulevard. Oh, no. It's not a polite engine or a hybrid making eco-friendly purrs.
No.
This was the sound of every millennial gamer's childhood sitting up in bed and screaming.
A BMW M3 GTR rolled up the carpet.
The crowd went silent for half a second, the kind of silence usually reserved for plot twists and weddings.
Then all hell broke loose.
"That's the Most Wanted car!"
"No way that's real!"
One influencer straight up started crying. A grown man dropped his latte and clutched his chest like he had been personally blessed by the Racing Gods.
A few reporters started arguing about whether BMW even allowed customers to buy one. Titan security shrugged. They had seen stranger things, like an entire custom-built spaceship at the back of the old studio, just to shoot a movie.Â
The driver's door clicked.
Alex stepped out in a white suit, looking charming as usual. Cameras flashed as he walked to the other side and opened the door. Angelina stepped out in a golden gown.Â
Then the usual... Camera flashes, yelling and too many questions.
Alex gave Angelina his arm. She took it. The cameras went insane.
A reporter shouted, "Alex, you arrived in the Most Wanted M3 GTR. How in the world did you get your hands on that?"
Alex grinned. "Long story. Short version. I picked it up from the dealership fifteen minutes ago. They needed signatures. I needed the keys. Traffic happened. I blame Los Angeles."
The crowd laughed.
Another reporter leaned in. "So this is your new car?"
"Yes," Alex said. "I apologize for being late. Test driving your dream has side effects. Mainly forgetting the concept of time."
Angelina smirked. "He drove like he was filming an action sequence. I had to remind him we were going to a premiere and not running from helicopters."
Alex lifted a hand. "In my defense, the car encourages questionable life choices."
A cluster of fans cheered at that.
The microphones pushed forward again.
"Alex, how does it feel to attend your first premiere as an actor?"
"Nerve wracking," he admitted with a quick laugh. "But I'm confident it's gonna be great."
Angelina bumped his shoulder. "He did great. The movie will speak for itself."
Someone shouted, "Angelina, you look stunning."
She smiled. "Thank you."
The reporters switched targets like caffeinated seagulls.
"Alex, are you and Angelina dating?"
He smiled politely. "We are here for the movie."
Angelina added, "Watch the film. You will get enough romantic tension to last a year."
Reporters scribbled like their lives depended on it.
More questions came. Alex answered a few, joked with a couple of journalists and posed for photos with Angelina. The photographers practically begged for more angles.
Then a studio staff member approached.
"Sir, ma'am, the screening is about to begin."
Alex nodded.
Angelina touched his arm. "Ready?"
He took a breath. "As ready as a man can be after driving a video game legend to his own premiere."
They walked forward together.
Fans reached out. Cameras flashed. Reporters called their names.
The stars had arrived.
And the premiere was finally about to begin.
*****
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[5 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] [No double billing.]
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