Words: 2.8k MORE POWERSTONES
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Jason Winston was a patient man.
A greedy, opportunistic, slightly shady man, but patient nonetheless.
He had already hit the jackpot with those secret snapshots inside the restaurant, but why stop there? The real money was in the full storyline, not just a dinner date, but what happened after.
Would Alex and Scarlett leave together? Would there be a moment outside the car—a lingering touch, a too-long glance, something that screamed more than just colleagues? Would they go together in their house? Who would go to whose house?
That was the golden ticket.
So, he stayed.
Of course, a place like this wasn't exactly paparazzi-friendly. High-end restaurants catering to Hollywood royalty knew the game. The security was tight, the exits discreet, and Jason was 100% certain that if he loitered for too long, he'd get politely escorted off the premises.
So, he did what any self-respecting sleazeball would do.
He bribed a guard.
Nothing major, just a casual handshake with a couple of hundred-dollar bills tucked inside. "Hey, man, just need to step out for a smoke. Won't cause trouble."
The guard eyed him for a second before pocketing the cash with a grunt. "I haven't seen you."
Jason grinned. "My man..."
And just like that, he was in.
[Meanwhile – Inside the Restaurant]
Alex leaned back in his chair, swirling the last sip of his wine in his glass. Across from him, Scarlett was finishing the last bite of her molten lava cake, humming contentedly.
"Okay," she said, setting her fork down. "I officially regret nothing. Tonight was heaven."
Alex smirked. "Told you."
Scarlett rolled her eyes, dabbing the corner of her mouth with a napkin. "Alright, cocky. Don't let it go to your head."
He chuckled, finishing his drink. "Too late."
The night had gone surprisingly well. No awkward pauses, no forced small talk... just a smooth, effortless conversation that neither of them had to fake.
And yet…
Something in the air had shifted.
Scarlett had felt it the moment Alex leaned in just a little too close when explaining the new tune he was trying to play, but couldn't get it right for one thing or another. When his voice had dipped into that dangerous territory. When he looked at her like he wasn't just seeing an actress across the table but something more.
And now, as she sat there, casually playing with the stem of her wine glass, she felt it again.
That unspoken question hanging between them.
Alex checked his watch. "We should head out. It's getting late."
Scarlett nodded, suddenly feeling the weight of the night settle on her. "Yeah, we should."
They both stood, and just as Alex pulled out his wallet, Scarlett held up a hand. "Oh, hell no. You are not paying for everything."
Alex raised an amused eyebrow. "You sure?"
Scarlett huffed. "You already booked a private room. The least I can do is cover half. And I won't take a no."
Alex chuckled seeing the way she pouted for a brief second. He was pretty sure she looked more cute. "As you wish. Let's split it."
Scarlett rolled her eyes but allowed it.
A few minutes later, after handling the bill, they walked toward the exit.
And outside?
Jason was waiting.
..
[Outside]
Jason had positioned himself in the best possible spot. Close enough to get clear shots, far enough to look like just another random guy checking his phone.
He had already adjusted his hidden camera, making sure it was angled just right.
And then...
There they were.
Alex and Scarlett stepped out of the restaurant, moving with the kind of effortless confidence that only Hollywood power players had. They weren't holding hands or doing anything scandalous, but the body language?
Oh, the body language was gold.
Scarlett walked just a step closer than necessary.
Alex placed a casual hand on the small of her back as they approached his Aston Martin.
She laughed at something he said, tilting her head back slightly, the warm glow of the streetlights making the whole thing look straight out of a damn movie.
Click. Click. Click.
Jason's camera worked overtime, capturing every little moment.
The money shot was coming.
Would they hug before getting into the car? Would there be a fleeting touch? A moment where they both hesitated?
But just as Jason was getting greedy, just as he was about to adjust for an even better angle...
Alex stopped.
And then…
He turned.
Jason felt a chill crawl up his spine. He barely ducked behind the car.
Alex's eyes scanned the area casually, but there was nothing casual about the way his brain worked. Years in Hollywood had trained him well, not to mention his 'Keen Observation skill' was telling him someone was watching them.
The air was too still. The silence was too loaded. And the hairs on the back of his neck? Standing up.
His gaze went upward. CCTV cameras.
'Damn it.' He could feel someone watching, but he couldn't act recklessly. Not here. Not in public. Not when there were eyes, digital and human, waiting for him to slip.
So, instead of reacting, he did the opposite.
He acted normal.
"Everything okay?" Scarlett asked, tilting her head slightly as they reached his car.
Alex smirked, slipping seamlessly back into the moment. "Yeah. Just making sure no one dings my car. You'd be surprised how reckless people get in expensive parking lots."
Scarlett snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure your million-dollar baby is in constant danger."
Alex chuckled, unlocking the car and opening the passenger door for her. "You joke, but you'd be surprised. Some people have no respect for good engineering."
Scarlett slid into the seat, shaking her head with a grin. "Men and their cars…"
Alex shut the door, circling to his side and slipping into the driver's seat.
Jason, still lurking in the shadows, exhaled slowly. 'That was close. What the fuck is he? A ninja?'
The way Alex had looked around? That wasn't normal. He knew something was off.
'Gotta be more careful…' Jason thought, adjusting his angle as Alex started the car.
The engine purred to life...
Alex pulled out of the lot and onto the road, driving like he had nowhere to be in a hurry. Jason trailed behind at a safe distance, careful not to make it obvious. He'd followed enough celebrities to know the game. Blend in. Wait for the moment.
And then…
Scarlett leaned over slightly, speaking to Alex.
Jason adjusted his camera, lip curling. Oh, this is gonna be good.
[Inside the Car]
Scarlett tapped her fingers against her knee, debating something. Then, finally:
"So… the paintings."
Alex glanced at her. "What about them?"
She shrugged, playing it casual. "You mentioned them earlier. Kinda curious now."
He smirked. "Curious enough to want a tour?"
She hesitated for half a second before nodding. "If it's not too much trouble."
Alex considered that. He could take her straight home, play it safe… Or, he could invite her into his penthouse. But he went with the first one. Better play it safe and take it slow. So, he was taking her to her home earlier.
He took a deep breath, tapping his fingers against the wheel. "Alright. But fair warning... if you insult my art, I will revoke your dessert privileges in the future."
Scarlett grinned. "Oh, please. I bet you paint like a tortured genius."
Alex smirked. "Guess you'll find out."
And with that, he made a turn... away from Scarlett's apartment, toward his penthouse.
On his way, he noticed a blue Lotus following them ever since they got out of the restaurant. He memorized the number plate.
[Meanwhile – Jason]
Jason's heart pounded as he watched the car veer off course.
'Where the hell are they going?'
His pulse quickened. This is it. This is the real scoop.
One dinner? Interesting.A private ride? Better.A late-night trip to Alex Wilson's penthouse?
Fucking priceless.
Jason grinned, stepping on the gas just enough to keep them in sight.
Time to see how deep this rabbit hole goes.
..
[Penthouse] [This is the second penthouse. Here, Alex keeps his paintings and guitar collection, awards, and other collections.]
Alex pulled the car inside the gate of his penthouse.
"Nice setup," Scarlett mused, noting the security cameras and private access doors.
Alex replied, shutting off the engine. "Perks of needing privacy." He gave her the keys and a card. "Top floor. Elevator's private, just scan the card."
Scarlett took the keys and card, raising an eyebrow. "And you?"
"I'll park properly, lock the gates." Alex's voice was casual, but his mind was already elsewhere. He knew they were being followed.
Scarlett didn't question it. She stepped out of the car, and made her way toward the elevator. Alex watched her go, waiting until the doors slid shut before his smirk faded.
His fingers drummed against the steering wheel once. Twice. Then he parked it and got out, locking the garage.
Then...
He walked out of the gate and saw that same Lotus parked across the street.
'Got you, motherfucker.'
Alex was about to cross the street but there were cars going, so he had to wait a bit.
A massive truck had rolled up out of nowhere, stopping right between him and the Lotus. Its engine sputtered as the driver cursed and tried to restart it. Alex narrowed his eyes, impatient but keeping his cool. A delay, not a problem.
The truck stayed there for about forty seconds before finally roaring back to life and rolling away.
Alex exhaled, shaking his head as he stepped forward. The road was clear. His eyes were on that Lotus. Still there. Same model. But different number plate.
And it was empty.
No driver. No passenger. Nothing.
'What the hell?'
He was sure this car had been tailing him. His instincts never failed him. The timing, the movements, the distance, not to mention that the little sticker near the head lights was still there. His photographic memory never failed him.
So where the hell was the driver?
Alex circled around the front of the car, scanning the area. The street was quiet, only the occasional flicker of a streetlamp breaking the stillness. There were no signs of someone running, no obvious hiding spots nearby.
'Did they get out when the truck blocked my view? But the number plate... Something weird is going on here... Well, gotta go. Scarlett's waiting... Tsk. Gotta keep an eye out. There's something going on around me. I can just feel it.'
[Inside the Penthouse]
Scarlett stepped into the penthouse, the doors sliding shut behind her with a soft whoosh.
The place was insane.
Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline, the lights stretching endlessly into the night. The interior was modern. A mix of dark wood, black marble, and just enough personal touches to make it feel lived-in.
A massive red couch took up most of the living room, facing an absurdly large flat-screen TV. A little fireplace. Shelves lined one of the walls, stocked with books, film awards, and little artifacts from Alex's travels.
But what really caught her eye?
The paintings.
Several canvases leaned against the far wall, some mounted, others unfinished. She could tell that some were done by professionals, but others? They had Alex's signs at the corner.
'Wow, he wasn't bluffing.'
She exhaled, running a hand through her hair. This was his space. Private. Personal. And she was standing right in the middle of it.
Scarlett quickly scanned the penthouse and spotted a hallway leading off to the side. She noticed the towels hanging near one door and there was a rack of shampoo and soap beside it. It was in the open area, so she saw it. 'Bathroom. Let's be quick.'
She moved quickly, pushing open the door and stepping inside. The light switched on automatically. 'Would you look at that...'
She stopped before the mirror.
'Okay. Breathe.'
She wasn't sure why she felt the need to freshen up, but she did it anyway. Pulling a small makeup pouch from her purse, she touched up her lipstick, smoothed out her hair, and took a deep breath.
'This isn't a date.'
'It's just two colleagues hanging out.'
'In his penthouse.'
'At night.'
'Alone.'
Scarlett groaned, pressing her palms against the marble sink. "Damn it, Vanessa, you're in my head," she muttered.
Her sister's voice replayed in her mind—'If you don't lock this down, I will.'
She rolled her eyes at her own reflection. 'This isn't like that. It's not.'
And yet…
She took one last glance in the mirror, making sure she looked put together before turning and stepping back into the penthouse.
Alex still wasn't back yet.
Her eyes drifted to the paintings again.
…Maybe she'd take a closer look.
She stood in front of a half-finished painting, arms crossed, eyes scanning every brushstroke.
It was different from the others.
Darker. Heavier. The colors weren't smooth or controlled like the others... It looked like someone had started painting with purpose but abandoned it midway through, leaving it raw and unfinished.
Something about it made her curious. She was never into paintings, but for some reason, she felt a weird feeling while looking at that incomplete painting.
She reached out, fingertips hovering just above the canvas...
"You like it?"
Scarlett jumped, turning sharply.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," Alex locked the door and took off his shoes.
Scarlett quickly dropped her hand, feeling caught. "I was just looking," she said, a little too fast.
He smiled, stepping further into the room. "You can touch it if you want."
She hesitated, then turned back to the painting. "It's different from the others."
Alex nodded, moving to stand beside her. "Yeah. It's… not finished."
Scarlett glanced at him, her curiosity growing. "Why not?"
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Sometimes, you start something, but you don't know how to end it."
Scarlett tilted her head. "…That's deep."
Alex chuckled. "Didn't mean for it to be."
She looked at the painting again, then back at him. "You ever gonna finish it?"
Alex's gaze flickered toward the canvas. His lips quirked, but there was something almost distant in his expression. "Maybe. But I need a model. You see..." He stepped forward and touched the blank part. "A girl with emotions in her eyes... Real ones... Happy, sad... Anything as long as it's real. So, I was thinking..." He smiled at her.
Scarlett studied him, then turned back to the painting. The unfinished strokes, the hints of emotion buried in the raw layers of color, it all suddenly made sense.
She exhaled softly, her fingers trailing just above the edge of the canvas. "So, you need a model," she murmured, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "And you think I qualify?"
Alex smirked, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I think you're one of the most expressive people I've met. Wouldn't be the worst choice."
Scarlett let out a short laugh. "Is that a compliment or just your way of saying I have an overly dramatic face?"
Alex tilted his head, pretending to consider it. "Little bit of both."
She scoffed, crossing her arms. "Wow. You really know how to charm a girl."
Alex chuckled. "Oh, come on. I'm offering you something priceless here."
Scarlett arched an eyebrow. "And what's that?"
He turned to fully face her, his smirk softening into something more sincere. "A painting. One of a kind. Yours to keep."
Scarlett hesitated, caught off guard by how serious he sounded.
"...You'd give it to me?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah. Call it a gift. Something personal. No cameras, no Hollywood, no press. Just… a moment frozen in time. Yours."
Scarlett's lips parted slightly, and for the first time that night, she had no witty comeback. There was something oddly intimate about the offer, something that went beyond a simple gesture.
A piece of his work. Made just for her.
That was different.
She swallowed, suddenly feeling a little warm. "And all I have to do is… what? Sit here and look pretty?"
Alex smirked. "Basically. Though, I'll need some real emotion. No posing, no pretending. Just… be in the moment."
Scarlett eyed him. "And how exactly do you plan on getting that?"
Alex stepped closer, just enough to make her pulse hitch slightly. "That's my job."
Scarlett inhaled sharply, fighting the urge to step back. But she didn't. Instead, she tilted her chin up slightly, her curiosity outweighing her nerves. They were so close that she could feel his breath on her face. Her eyes went toward his lips. She wanted to kiss him.
"Alright," she said, her voice quieter than before. "I'll do it."
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[7 advance chs] + [6 chs of Two and a Half Men] [All chs available for all tiers]
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AN: I planned to release Two and a Half Men by Sunday, but it would seem someone is uploading a ff based on it. What a coincidence. So, I'll take my sweet time and wait for another month and get more stockpile.