AN: New week. Time to climb up the ranks. Don't forget those Power Stones.
Today's goal: 400 PS> 1 bonus chapter
---
Halle walked out of the room a few minutes later, dressed in her casual clothes. Her hair was tousled, her cheeks still faintly flushed. She looked at him with a playful gleam in her eyes.
"So," she said, stretching her arms, "I should probably head back to the hotel, freshen up, maybe put on a little black dress and heels. And I do want to look like I put in some effort for tonight."
Alex leaned against the edge of the table, arms folded, eyes locked on her. "I hear you. But I already told you, you look great as you are. More than great, actually. Why waste time changing when I'd rather spend every second with you?"
She gave him a skeptical look, though the corners of her lips betrayed her amusement. "That's sweet, but you do realize women actually enjoy getting dressed up for these things, right? The perfume, the heels, the whole ritual? Half the fun is the preparation."
He grinned, stepping closer. "I know, but hear me out. What if instead of some fancy dinner where we're both overthinking how we look, we keep it simple? We planned the cooking thing earlier, right? So let's do that. We'll shop together, argue over pasta or chicken, walk the aisles like a couple, maybe check out some shoes if you get distracted. You in?"
'Calm down, girl. Don't get too excited.' Her lips curved into a slow smile. "That actually sounds kind of perfect."
"Good," he said, already fishing his car keys from his pocket. "Because I'm starving, and I don't trust myself to wait while you try on five different perfumes."
She laughed, giving his arm a playful shove. "You're lucky you're cute."
They left the studio together, slipping into the warm glow of the early evening.
Alex held the car door open for her, and when she slid into the seat, she caught him watching her with that same appreciative look from earlier. She shook her head with mock exasperation. "Don't start with those eyes, Wilson. I'll never survive this date."
"Too late," he said, shutting the door. "I'm already in trouble."
The drive to the supermarket felt light, the tension of the studio giving way to something easier. The windows were down, the breeze playing with Halle's hair as they moved through traffic. They joked about which one of them was the better cook—Halle swore she made the best roasted chicken in the world, while Alex claimed his secret pasta sauce could ruin her for all other dinners.
By the time they pulled into the parking lot of the upscale market, they were already laughing like they had known each other for years. Alex parked and glanced over at her. "Ready for domestic bliss?"
Halle gave him a mock-serious look. "This is our first big test as a couple. If we survive shopping together, we can survive anything."
They walked inside hand in hand, the automatic doors whooshing open to greet them with bright lights and the faint smell of baked bread. Alex grabbed a cart, and Halle immediately dropped her purse into the child's seat with a smirk. "You push. I'll direct."
"Oh, so this is how it's going to be?" he asked, steering them toward the produce section.
"Exactly," she replied, squeezing his hand. "Every good partnership has a leader and a follower. Guess which one you are tonight?"
"Follower?"
"Smart man."
They lingered at the vegetable stands first. Halle held up a bunch of fresh basil, waving it under his nose. "Smell this. Doesn't it just scream pasta?"
Alex leaned in, inhaled, then shook his head. "Chicken. Basil is perfect with lemon and butter."
She gasped dramatically. "We're already fighting. This doesn't bode well."
"Compromise," Alex said smoothly. "We buy both. Pasta with basil and tomato sauce for me, lemon-butter chicken for you. Winner gets bragging rights."
"You mean I get bragging rights," she teased, tossing the basil into the cart.
They moved through the aisles slowly, letting their hands brush now and then, pausing to laugh at little things. Halle stopped at a display of exotic cheeses, holding one up with exaggerated seriousness. "Do we need truffle brie? It seems very… couple-shopping-in-Beverly-Hills."
Alex plucked it from her hand and dropped it into the cart. "We're committed now. Tonight, we're the bougie couple who makes truffle brie pasta at home."
She grinned, leaning against the cart. "I can live with that."
At the meat counter, they argued playfully over cuts of chicken versus a pack of ribeye steaks Alex insisted would make the perfect backup plan. The butcher looked vaguely entertained as they debated like an old married pair, finally agreeing on both just to keep the peace.
By the time they reached the wine section, Halle was leaning comfortably into his side. She tilted her head against his shoulder, scanning the rows of bottles. "Red or white?"
"Depends," Alex said. "Are we celebrating or seducing?"
Halle tilted her chin up to look at him, her smile both daring and playful. "Why not both?"
They picked a bottle of each, laughing at their indecision. Then, they went to the shoes section, and Alex bought two sets of expensive shoes and then a pair of casual clothes from the clothes section. Halle then bought Alex a nice suit with a nice tie.
After walking around for a bit, they finally went toward the checkout. Halle paid the bill for his suit, while Alex paid the bill for the other items, despite Halle trying to split the bill. He simply kissed her before everyone to make her give up. Well, more like stunned.
Outside, it was already dark. The bags rustled as Alex carried them in one hand and reached for hers with the other. Their fingers laced naturally, like it had always been that way.
"Not bad," Halle said as they walked toward the car. "We didn't kill each other over pasta or chicken. That's progress."
Alex squeezed her hand. "We're unstoppable."
She laughed softly, resting her head against his arm for a moment as they walked. "You know, this was a good idea. I enjoyed every second of it. Especially that kiss. I won't lie, but it actually felt slightly different than before... Like, it was good... Made my heart flutter a bit. Just saying."
He stopped and looked into her eyes, voice dropping just slightly. "Well, it's just the beginning. Halle Berry, I'm gonna rock your world."
...
[Alex's Penthouse]
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and Halle followed Alex out into the penthouse hallway. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, flicking on the lights. Warm, golden tones spilled across the hardwood floors, and Halle stopped just inside, her breath catching.
"This is…" She trailed off, her gaze sweeping across the wide-open living room. "Not what I expected."
Alex set the bags on the kitchen counter and smiled. "What did you expect? Marble floors? Crystal chandeliers?"
"Something colder," she admitted, stepping further in. "More… CEO. Sleek, intimidating. But this? This feels lived in. Cozy."
The first thing she noticed were the walls. Instead of the minimalist art she had expected, several framed canvases hung. Abstract strokes, bold lines, and a couple of moody portraits. She walked closer, drawn in, realizing these weren't from any famous gallery.
"You painted these?" she asked, turning to look at him.
He shrugged, almost shy for the first time since she'd met him. "Yeah. It helps me think. Sometimes the studio noise gets too much, and this… quiets everything down."
She looked back at the paintings, tracing one with her eyes. A stormy piece full of sharp angles and shadowy blues. She didn't have to ask what mood had birthed that one.
"This one looks great. Ok. I admit. You are good."
He chuckled and disappeared down the hall. "I'll take that as a compliment. Give me five minutes to freshen up. Make yourself at home. Oh, there's a second bathroom upstairs. You can freshen up there if you want."
As he went to freshen up, Halle let her curiosity lead her. She noticed a bean bag near the window and a guitar leaning casually beside it. She pictured him there, late at night, strumming a few chords while the city lights glittered below. It was a softer image of him, stripped of power plays and boardroom suits.
She wandered past the kitchen as her eyes caught on a door slightly ajar. Something about it pulled her. She hesitated only a second before pushing it open.
Inside was a smaller, dimly lit studio.
She stepped in and froze. The walls were lined with canvases. Dozens of them.
Unlike the curated ones in the living room, these were raw. Unfinished sketches. Half-painted portraits. Explosions of color on large frames leaning against each other. There was a stool splattered with dried paint and a table covered in brushes, rags, and jars of water still faintly clouded with pigment.
But what struck her most was the intimacy of the subjects. A city skyline at dusk. A woman's silhouette curled in sleep. A hand reaching out but never touching. She stood there, her chest tightening, realizing she was seeing pieces of his inner world no one else had.
Her fingers brushed the edge of one canvas—a portrait of a woman's face caught in shadow, lips parted as though she had something urgent to say.
"Impressed?"
She had no idea how long she just stood there, admiring his work.
Then, she jumped slightly, turning to find Alex leaning against the doorframe. His hair was damp, his shirt changed, a hint of body wash drifting toward her.
"More than impressed," Halle said softly. "You really don't do anything halfway, do you?"
Alex walked inside, joining her in the little studio. He looked at the painting she'd been staring at. "That one's unfinished. I could never figure out what she wanted to say."
Halle tilted her head, studying it. "Maybe she wasn't supposed to say anything. Maybe she just wanted someone to listen."
Alex glanced at her, their eyes locking. Something unspoken passed between them, and she felt her breath hitch.
"You always do that," he murmured.
"Do what?"
"Find the thing I couldn't put into words."
Her smile was small but steady. "Maybe that's why I'm here."
For a moment, they just stood there among the canvases, the silence more powerful than anything else. Then Alex reached out, his hand brushing against hers before sliding fully into her palm. His touch was warm, steady, grounding.
"Come on," he said quietly. "We've got food to cook, and you need to freshen up."
[Approx-15 minutes later]
Halle took a quick shower, put on her new clothes that Alex bought her. A simple blue shirt and leggings.
She joined him in the kitchen...
Halle leaned against the counter, watching him pull vegetables from the bags.
"You look way too comfortable in here," she teased. "Are you sure you're not secretly a chef?"
"I told you, pasta sauce is my specialty," he said with mock seriousness. "If you survive tonight, you'll never want another man's cooking again."
She laughed, picking up a lemon and tossing it from hand to hand. "Big words, Wilson. But I'll have you know, my roasted chicken has made grown men cry."
"Oh really?" He arched a brow. "We'll see about that."
They worked side by side, chopping and stirring, occasionally bumping shoulders on purpose. She snuck basil into his sauce, and he retaliated by flicking a drop of tomato on her arm. She gasped in mock outrage, and soon they were laughing so hard the pasta nearly boiled over.
At one point, as she leaned across him to reach the wine bottle, her hand brushed his chest. They both froze, the playful rhythm pausing for a beat too long. His eyes dropped to her lips, and she felt her pulse race.
But instead of closing the gap, Alex turned, pouring wine into her glass. "To truffle brie pasta and lemon chicken," he said smoothly, though his voice was a little lower than before.
She raised her glass, her fingers brushing his as they clinked. "To surprises," she replied, her smile tinged with something deeper now.
Dinner was simple but perfect. They ate at the balcony table, the city skyline stretching before them, the night air warm against their skin. Halle curled her legs under her chair, completely at ease, laughing at his ridiculous stories about his childhood, when things were good. He listened just as intently to her, asking about her own moments of doubt and fun.
Then they talked about their favorite movies, music, food, and hobbies.
Halle was surprised to know that Alex was into mixed martial arts and loves to spend time at the gun range. She herself loves boxing, and she's good at it. Alex joked about having a friendly match sometimes.
Somewhere between the pasta and the wine, their hands found each other again. Fingers laced, resting casually on the table as if it had always been natural.
Alex picked up a strawberry from their fruit platter and held it up, brushing it against her lower lip before she bit into it. Her eyes lingered on his as juice stained her mouth, and he reached forward, thumb grazing her skin to wipe it away before sucking that thumb without breaking eye contact.
Neither of them moved for a long moment after that.
Finally, she whispered with a knowing smile, "You're evil!" She was expecting a nice kiss.
"Well, how does it feel to be on the other end of the knife?" Alex said with a smirk.
"You better kiss me hard, Wilson, or I'll..." Before she could finish, Alex was already leaning in as he pressed his lips on hers.
---
[POWERSTONES AND REVIEWS PLS]
Support link: www.patr eon.com/UnknownMaster
[6 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] [No double billing.]
---
SPOILERS> Upcoming ch names. Click to read.[1]
[1] Ch: 180 [First time with Halle Berry] Ch: 181 [Some Duties Outweigh Others] Ch: 182 [From Yoga Mats to Cupcake Trays] Ch: 183 [Flowers, Gummy Bears, and Jealousy] Ch: 184 [The Dress, The Ex, and The Burn] Ch: 185 [The Rookie in Danger]