AN: Double chapters. Yeah, I know a little late. But if you got Powerstones, give them to me.
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[Alex's Office]
Alex sat behind his desk, tapping his pen slowly against the edge of a thick black folder. Across from him sat Chris Pine, sharp as ever in a navy blue suit. His eyes flicked from the folder to Alex's face, waiting.
"I want you to play Hal Jordan," Alex said. "Green Lantern."
Chris raised his eyebrows, surprised. "Wasn't this the Mr. & Mrs. Smith audition?"
"It was," Alex replied. "But I'm taking the lead role. And canceling the rest of the process would have looked arrogant. You showed up. You gave your time. I'm not wasting it."
Chris leaned forward slightly. "You're serious?"
"Yup, it's time for the next step," Alex said, sliding the folder across the table. "In less than a year, we made them the biggest-selling series in print. People are ready for the next step. I want Hal Jordan to be the start of something massive on the DC side. Charisma, danger, control, and chaos—all wrapped in a jet pilot's uniform and a green ring."
Chris opened the folder. The contract inside bore the Titan seal, along with production clauses, scheduling notes, and a page marked: "Role: Hal Jordan – Green Lantern."
Sitting back in his chair, Alex added, "You'll have time to prep. Four months' notice before pre-production. You can say no. No pressure. But if you say yes, you get to become part of something new and big."
Chris grinned and nodded once. "I'll read through it. But I'm in."
[Next Meeting – Oscar Isaac]
Oscar sat down without a word, his script binder still in hand from the earlier audition. Alex watched him closely before speaking.
"Forget Mr. Smith. I want you for Moon Knight."
Oscar blinked. "Moon Knight? The vigilante with dissociative identity?"
Alex nodded. "Marc Spector is a mercenary and a lost soul, making him one of the most complex characters in the Marvel lineup. He embodies charm, haunting depth, righteousness, and an unhinged nature. I want to see all of that. I need more than just a superhero; I need someone who can portray a character whose mind is at war with itself."
He passed the contract over.
Oscar opened it, reading the highlighted sections. He paused at the page where the character breakdown detailed Moon Knight's split identities and ancient Egyptian lore.
Alex leaned forward. "You would not just be a man in a suit. You'd be the heartbeat of a story about identity, justice, and what it means to fight for balance in a broken world. And it won't be rushed. You'll be told in advance when to prep. Four months before we roll."
Oscar closed the folder slowly. "It's bold."
"That's the idea."
Oscar gave a faint smile, but from his expression, Alex knew he wouldn't say no. "I'll think on it. But it's hard to say no to something with real depth."
[Next Meeting – Henry Golding]
Alex stood as Henry Golding entered the room. He greeted him with a firm handshake and motioned to the seat across from his desk.
"Thanks for coming, Henry. I wanted to speak with you personally."
Henry sat down, eyes sharp with curiosity.
Alex reached for a black folder and set it in front of him. "I'm offering you the role of Shang-Chi."
Henry blinked. "From the Titan comics?"
Alex nodded. "Straight from the core line. Shang-Chi: The Legends of the Ten Rings. You'd be the first actor to bring him to life on screen."
He leaned forward, his tone measured but full of vision.
"You'd be leading the Eastern wing of the Marvel cinematic universe."
Henry opened the folder. Inside were full role breakdowns, early costume sketches, training requirements, and a contract marked with the Titan seal.
"I'll be honest," Alex continued. "We're not rushing. Pre-production isn't starting yet. You'll get four months' notice before anything moves. That gives you time to prepare mentally and physically."
Henry flipped through the pages, pausing on a concept illustration of Shang-Chi mid-combat, surrounded by crimson silk and a giant dragon.
"There's power here," he said quietly as he closed the folder slowly and looked at him. "I'll give you my answer soon. But I'll tell you this... I'm very interested."
Alex smiled. "That's all I wanted to hear."
[Next Meeting – Jake Gyllenhaal]
Jake sat across from Alex, flipping through the pages of the comic script Alex had handed him.
"So… Mysterio?" he said, intrigued.
Alex nodded. "Quentin Beck. Master of illusion. Architect of deception. One of the smartest men in the Marvel universe and easily the most dangerous when underestimated."
Jake glanced up. "You want me to play him?"
"Yes, you'll be the first and only live-action version of him," Alex replied.
He tapped the contract that sat neatly on the table.
Jake studied Alex for a second, then picked up the contract. The title was stamped in silver: Spider-Man: Chaos Line
Role: Mysterio / Quentin Beck
"I've read the comics," Jake said. "He's theatrical and dangerous but calculating. I won't lie, I like the character." He leaned back slightly, the pages still open in his lap. "What about the schedule?"
Alex replied. "You'll get the full script two months before rehearsals. Four months' notice before pre-production. This will not be some paint-by-numbers villain arc. He'll be iconic."
Jake closed the folder and nodded. "I'll go through it. But from what I've seen? This might be the most interesting thing I've been offered in years."
Alex reached out and shook his hand. "Then let's make him unforgettable."
[Final Meeting – Sebastian Stan]
Sebastian entered the room with a calm confidence, holding his portfolio under one arm. Alex was already standing, no small talk, no wasted time.
"I want you to play Winter Soldier," Alex said directly.
Sebastian blinked once. "For the Titan Marvel line?"
Alex nodded and stepped forward, holding out a black folder stamped with the Winter Soldier emblem.
"You were one of the top contenders for Mr. Smith," Alex continued, "but I'm offering you something bigger."
Sebastian opened the folder. Inside was the contract: production terms, character overview, timeline. His name was already printed at the top of the talent agreement.
"I won't promise you immediate shooting. You'll get a four-month heads-up before we go into pre-production. Read it over. Sign if you're in."
Sebastian glanced up. "This is a serious commitment."
"Of course it is," Alex replied. "I'm building the definitive cinematic universe. And I'm picking people who can carry it."
Sebastian closed the folder slowly, his grip firm. "I'll go through it tonight."
Alex gave a nod. "Take your time. But I hope to see your name on that signature line soon."
Sebastian gave a half-smile and walked out, contract in hand.
...
[Alex's Office – 9:34 PM]
The office was dim, with only the soft glow of city lights coming through the large windows. Most of Titan HQ had cleared out hours ago. The usual noise of staff was gone, replaced by occasional distant footsteps and the sound of an elevator.
Alex sat at his desk with his sleeves rolled up. In front of him was a folder with Titan's latest financial statements. He flipped through the pages slowly, looking at the margins, trends, and forecasts. Everything looked stable. Revenue was rising. Merchandise sales were doing better than expected. Production costs were under control. Titan's profit margins remained strong.
He signed off on three budget approvals, flagged a suspicious transaction for Rachel to investigate, and scribbled a few notes on a side pad regarding sponsorship tier restructuring. He also approved Rachel's suggestion to do another photoshoot with Max and Caroline. After finishing the last signature, he set the pen down and leaned back in his chair.
A large yawn escaped his mouth as he leaned back on his chair and opened the System window.
He scanned the list without hurry.
Max: Happy. He smirked slightly. If she was happy, she was likely messing with the golden spatula or enjoying the jacuzzi to heal from the previous night's marathon.
Caroline: Happy. No surprise. She always balanced joy with quiet elegance. If she was calm, it meant the balance in their triad was still strong.
Scarlett: Missing Alex. That tugged at him a little. She had texted earlier that morning, just a photo of an empty plate at their favorite restaurant with no caption. She missed the quiet moments. So did he.
Evangeline: Excited. Probably rehearsing lines or gearing up for their next dinner. She had a specific type of excitement — the creative, wide-eyed kind that made everything feel fresh again.
Rachel: Satisfied. That was rare and always meant she had solved a problem or crushed an obstacle. He'd check with her tomorrow and ask what fire she put out this time.
Angelina: Excited.
Alex paused on that one.
His thumb hovered over her profile. She never talked about 'them' during their shooting practices for the past few days.
But her being excited could mean anything. Maybe she's enjoying a nice mocktail. Maybe she heard good news from her family. But it could also mean she had made up her mind. Maybe the silence she had held since their last talk was not hesitation but preparation.
He took a slow breath, sat forward again, and shut the System screen.
It was out of his hands now.
Whatever happened next wouldn't come from him.
She would choose. On her own time.
...
[Scarlett's House – 10:19 PM]
Alex stepped out of the car and walked up to the front door of Scarlett's house. The porch light was on, casting a soft yellow glow over the welcome mat. He didn't knock right away. He stood there for a moment, thinking about the call with Vanessa on his way.
"She's been sulking for two days," Vanessa had said. "She's not crying, just... not herself. She barely left her room. I caught her last night watching that old cooking show you two used to make fun of. She's even eating mint chocolate chip, which you know is her emergency flavor. You should come by. She won't say it, but she'd like that."
Alex pressed the doorbell.
A minute passed before the door opened.
Scarlett stood there in a baggy T-shirt and pajama shorts, a spoon still in her hand. Her hair was tied in a loose, messy bun, and her eyes were slightly red like she had been tired for hours but hadn't managed to sleep. There was a faint smudge of ice cream on the edge of her lip.
When she saw him, she blinked.
"You're either a stalker or a genius."
Alex smiled. "Genius. Obviously."
She stepped aside to let him in. "You caught me mid-crisis."
She then closed the door after he entered.
"I heard." He looked her over. "Ice cream, old shows, and that look in your eyes that says you just got your confidence wrecked by flour and eggs."
She gave a small laugh and turned to walk back into the living room. "Baking classes. I suck. And I mean Olympic-level suckage. I've failed at everything from muffins to macarons. The instructor keeps telling me I have a 'raw rustic talent,' which is apparently code for 'you're famous so we won't tell you your banana bread tastes like drywall.'"
She flopped onto the couch and pulled a pillow into her lap, digging into the pint again.
Alex sat down across from her and picked up one of the failed cookies from the tray on the coffee table. He broke it in half and gave it a sniff.
"It's dry, but not tragic."
"It crumbles like a sandcastle," she said, already bracing for him to agree.
He popped a piece into his mouth, chewed slowly, and shrugged. "Okay, yeah. This belongs in a survival ration pack, not a bakery."
Scarlett groaned and buried her face in the pillow. "Why did I sign up for baking classes? Why did I think I could be good at something that requires measuring?"
Alex leaned back and rested his ankle over his knee. "Because you're relentless. You hate not being good at something, even if it's cookies. And because part of you likes being underestimated."
"I don't like being patronized," she said, sitting up. "And that's exactly what this guy is doing. The other day he said my pound cake had 'personality.' Alex, it sank in the middle like a sinkhole."
He grinned. "You want help?"
"I was thinking about asking Max or Caroline," she said, twisting the spoon between her fingers. "But I couldn't bring myself to do it. I already feel like I'm lagging behind. They're always so effortlessly good at everything. Caroline's precise. Max is chaotic but weirdly gifted. And they're both always... around you."
Alex leaned forward. "You think they'd mock you?"
"No," she admitted. "But I'd feel like I'm handing them another reason to win the invisible game we're not talking about."
Alex gave her a long look, then stood up.
"Get dressed. We're going to my place. Max and Caroline are already there. I'll call them now. You want a real baking lesson, we'll turn it into a game. You'll learn, you'll laugh, and we'll level the field."
Scarlett hesitated. "You sure?"
"I'm not dragging you into some beauty contest, Scar. You're part of this circle whether you like it or not. And tonight, you're the guest of honor."
Scarlett looked at him for a long moment. Then she smiled and stood up. "Arggg! Fine. I'll go."
Just then, he received a text. He took his phone out, and Scar went to her room.
'Oh!' The text was from Angelina. She invited him for dinner, tomorrow at her apartment.
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[POWERSTONES AND REVIEWS PLS]
Support link: www.patr eon.com/UnknownMaster
[5 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] [No double billing.]
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