Evangeliepped into Alex's penthouse, slipping off her heels with a quiet sigh of relief. The pce was stunning, but that was to be expected. What surprised her, however, was that it didn't feel like a billionaire's showroom.

  Yes, the open floor pn, modern furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Los Angeles skyline screamed luxury. But there were small signs of actual living instead of the sterile, museum-like vibe she had been expeg.

  A soft, oversized couch with a khrow b casually draped over the armrest. A coffee table with a half-empty cup of what she assumed was whiskey or coffee. A record pyer in the er, a stack of vinyls beside it. Some cssic rod some jazz.

  It was… warm.

  She turoward Alex, who had just set his car keys down on the ter.

  "Nice pce," she said, gng around.

  Alex smirked. "Expected something different?"

  Evangeline shrugged, walking toward the rge windows overlooking the city. "I don't know… Maybe something more..." She gestured vaguely. "Gold statues? A shark tank? A throne made of Oscar trophies?"

  Alex chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, no. I like my home to actually feel like a home."

  She nodded, appreciating that se.

  Then, she cpped her hands together. "Alright, Wilson. Poio the washroom. I o freshen up."

  Alex gestured down the hall. "First door on the left."

  Evangeline gave him a mock salute. "Got it. Don't start the movie without me."

  She disappeared down the hallway, closing the door behind her.

  [Washroom]

  Evangeline spshed cool water onto her face, staring at her refle in the mirror.

  'Okay. Just breathe.'

  She wasn't nervous. No, not at all.

  …Okay, maybe a little.

  Dinner had been amazing. Flirting with Alex had been way too much fun. And now? They were alone. In his penthouse. Getting fortable.

  She exhaled, reag for a hand towel. "Get a grip, Evie."

  She wasn't some lovestruck teehis was just a friendly movie night. Just two colleagues... friends...hanging out.

  …At nearly midnight.

  At his penthouse.

  Alone.

  She groaned, pressing the towel to her face. 'God help me.'

  Shaking her head, she quickly fixed her hair, ran a finger under her eyes to up any smudged eyeliner, and straightened her dress.

  'Alright. Py it cool. Don't do anything funny and lose trol.'

  She stepped bato the living room.

  Alex g her from where he himself a drink. "Better?"

  "Much."

  He oward the hallway. "I'll be back. Make yourself fortable."

  She watched him disappear into the washroom.

  ...

  Left alone, Evangeline wandered a bit.

  The open living space led toward a baly, ahe sliding doors, there was a long wooden table covered in papers. Curious, she stepped closer.

  Her eyes widened.

  Unfinished manuscripts, notes scribbled in the margiire paragraphs crossed out aten.

  Her fingers ghosted over a thick book draft— Star Wars: Attack of the es.

  Her lips parted. 'Wait… the sequel to his best-selling novel?'

  The first ohe Phantom Menace, had been a massive hit three years back. It had sold millions, with fans raving about the deep world-building, the mysticism of the Force, and the uake on the sci-fi adventure. Critics called it the great sci-fi epic.

  And here was the sequel, unfinished, just lying out in the open.

  Evangeline carefully flipped through a few pages. The story tinued—wars intensifying, betrayals deepening, and more battle ses.

  She goward the hallway where Alex had disappeared. 'He's been w on this i, huh?'

  But that wasn't all.

  Beside the manuscript, a stack of hand-drawches caught her eye.

  Evangeline picked one up, eyes widening.

  Intricate, detailed character models of warriors with glowing swords, masked vilins cloaked in shadow, battle-worn soldiers in futuristic armor.

  She had no idea Alex could draw this well.

  The lines were precise, the shading was deliberate. These weren't just rough cepts; they were alive.

  She flipped through a few more. One was beled Obi-Wan Kenobi. Another, Padmé Amida. And then—

  Darth Vader.

  A tall, imposing figure i-bck armor, his face hidden behind a terrifyi. A sie was scribbled beside it:

  "A man who lost everything. Not a vilin… but a tragedy."

  Evangeline swallowed. 'Damn.'

  She carefully pced the drawings back down and turned her attention to something else...

  A folder.

  Bold, capital letters were printed across the front:

  "MARVEL"

  Evangeline furrowed her brows. 'What the hell is Marvel?'

  Curious, she flipped it open.

  Inside were more sketches that looked like ic sketches of masked vigintes, super-powered beings, and symbols she didn't reize.

  A man in a red-and-blue suit swingiween buildings.

  A robot in red-and-gold armor, hands glowing with some kind of energy bst.

  A massive greeure, muscles bulging, rage evident in his expression.

  Another note, scrawled at the bottom of one of the pages:

  "A universe of heroes. Hope, loss, sacrifice. The start of something bigger."

  Evangeliared.

  This wasn't just aory.

  This was an idea.

  A huge idea.

  She had read a lot of scripts in Hollywood, and seen a lot of pitches, but this?

  This was different.

  This felt different.

  It felt like something big.

  "Find anything iing?"

  She nearly jumped.

  Evangeliuro find Alex leaning against the wall, arms crossed, amusement dang in his eyes.

  She pced a hand over her chest. "Jesus, Wilson. Wear a damn bell or something."

  He smirked. "Didn't mean to scare you. Just enjoying the sight of you snooping through my work."

  Evangeline rolled her eyes but lifted the Marvel folder. "Alright, I'll bite. What is this?"

  Alex exhaled, walking over. He plucked the folder from her hands, flipping it open. His firaced over one of the sketches—a man in red and blue, mask c his face, swinging from a web.

  "This…" He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. "This is something I've been thinking about for a long time."

  Evangeline crossed her arms. "And?"

  Alex g her, a small smirk pying on his lips. "And… if I do this right, it's going to ge everything."

  Evangeline raised an eyebrow. "ge what?"

  Alex's smirk widened. He closed the folder and tapped it lightly.

  "The entire industry."

  Evangeline blinked. She had no idea what he meant.

  But something in his eyes told her that whatever this Marvel thing was…

  It was only just beginning.

  "..."

  Alex led Evangeline upstairs to the penthouse's private theater room, a cozy, dimly lit space with a massive projector s, plush reer seats, and shelves stacked with Blu-rays, film reels, and collectibles.

  Evangeli out a low whistle. "Damn, Wilson. You've got your own little movie paradise up here."

  Alex smirked, p them each a gss of wine. "Perks of the job. But the real question is, what are we watg?"

  She ran a finger along the shelf, eyes sing the titles before stopping at a familiar one. Her lips curled into a smirk as she pulled it out.

  "u the Vampyre. 1979." She turo him, holding up the case. "How do you feel about some cssic horror?"

  Alex raised an eyebrow, impressed. "I wasn't expeg you to pick that."

  She shrugged. "What I say? I like the eerie, slow-burn kind of horror. It's all about atmosphere. Not just cheap jump scares."

  Alex chuckled, setting down the witle. "Good taste. Alright, u it is."

  He took the case from her, slid the disto the projector system, and dimmed the lights. Evangeline curled up on the couch, tug her legs beh her, as Alex grabbed a b and draped it over both of them before settling beside her.

  The film started.

  A haunting score pyed as the s lit up with u's chilling imagery. The gloomy ndscapes, the uling silehe slow, creeping dread of t Dracu's presence...

  For the first fifteen mihey sat in fortable silence, sipping their wine, fully immersed.

  Then...

  Evangeline nudged him. "Alright, ho review. What do you think so far?"

  Alex smirked, taking another sip of his drink. "It's beautifully shot. Herzog really knows how to make horror feel poetic."

  Evangeline grinned. "Exactly! It's not just scary... it's art."

  Alex nodded. "Kus Kinski as Dracu is something else. He doesn't even need dialogue. Just the way he moves, the way he stares... it's pure nightmare fuel."

  Evangeline gave him an approving look. "Alright. I'm officially impressed."

  Alex smirked. "Thought I was just a blockbuster guy, huh?"

  She shrugged. "Hey, a guy who appreciate slow-burn horror? That's rare. Anyone else would have givehat look... 'Horror movie on a date night. What is wrong with you?'"

  "I like horror movies. And there's nothing wrong with pig what you like. The plus point is our tastes match..." He said with a smile.

  They went back to watg, the eerie sound design filling the room. Every so often, Evangeline would g Alex, watg his reas.

  He was pletely focused, brows slightly furrowed, fiapping lightly against his gss.

  She liked this side of him.

  The filmmaker, not just the businessman.

  The guy who wasn't calg deals or navigating Hollywood politics, but just… enjoying a damn good movie.

  Halfway through, she shifted slightly, the b slipping off her shoulder. Alex, without saying a word, reached out aly pulled it back over her.

  A small gesture.

  But it made something warm settle in her chest.

  They tinued watg, the film reag its most uling moments. The tension built, shadows stretched, and u's chilling figure loomed closer.

  Then, as the music swelled...

  A loud creak echoed from somewhere in the penthouse.

  Evangeline jumped slightly.

  Alex, entirely unbothered, smirked. "You okay there?"

  She shot him a look. "Did you hear that?"

  He took another sip of his wine. "Ah! Probably the wind. The kit's window ag up tely. So..."

  Evangeline squi him. "Said every horror movie character befetting murdered."

  Alex chuckled. "Rex. I don't have hidden vampires in the penthouse. Probably."

  She huffed but leaned back against the couch. "If u crawls out of your damn kit, I'm bming you."

  Alex smirked. "Duly noted."

  They settled bato the movie, but now there was something different in the air.

  Something quieter.

  More fortable.

  Evangeli her body rex against the couch, the warmth of the bhe soft flicker of the s casting light and shadow across Alex's sharp features.

  As the final act pyed out, she let out a soft sigh, resting her head slightly against the back of the couch.

  Alex g her. "Getting sleepy?"

  She stretched her arms with a small groan. "A little. But I'm seeing this through."

  Alex smirked. "That's the spirit."

  And they did.

  They watched until the very st frame faded to bck.

  The credits rolled, and for a long moment, her of them moved.

  Alex g Evangeline as the credits rolled, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Well, that was..." He stopped mid-sentence.

  She was out.

  Head tilted slightly, lips parted, chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

  Fast asleep.

  Alex exhaled a quiet chuckle. "Figures."

  He took a moment just to look at her, illuminated by the soft glow of the projector's light. It was rare to see her like this. Unguarded and peaceful. No teasing remarks, no sharp ebacks, just… Evangeline.

  And damn if that didn't do something to him.

  "Haaa..." Shaking his head, he carefully set his wine gss down and shifted, trying to figure out the best way to move her without waking her.

  "Alright, Evie. Let's get you somewhere more fortable."

  Gently, he slid one arm beh her knees and the other around her back, lifting her effortlessly into his arms. She stirred slightly, mumbling something i against his shoulder, but didn't wake.

  Alex carried her to his bedroom. The massive bed, draped in blue sheets, was much better thaing her pass out on the couch.

  Carefully, he id her down, adjusting the pillows under her head. She shifted slightly, curling into the warmth, a out a small sigh.

  Alex hesitated for a sed before reag for the b, pulling it up to cover her.

  Standing there, watg her sleep, he huffed a quiet ugh to himself.

  "If you were awake, you'd probably have some smart-ass ent about this."

  Still, he found himself lingering for a sed longer before finally stepping away. He turned off the bedside mp, casting the room into soft shadows, and slipped out without a sound.

  Ba the living room, he pulled out the sofa bed, grabbing ara pillow and b.

  As he y down, staring at the ceiling, he couldn't help but smirk.

  Tonight had been… ued.

  And for the first time in a long while, he found himself looking forward to what came .

  With o goward the hallway, he exhaled, closed his eyes, a sleep take him.

  ...

  Evangeline y still, listening to the sounds of Alex moving around the penthouse.

  She had been awake the whole time.

  Well, almost. She had drifted for a bit, the warmth of the b and the fort of the moment lulling her into a light doze.

  And she had waited.

  Waited to see what he would do.

  It wasn't that she didn't trust him because, strangely enough, she did. More tharusted most people in Hollywood.

  But this was a test.

  A quiet one.

  And he passed.

  She had felt the careful way he lifted her into his arms, the steady heartbeat beh his chest, the way he made sure she was fortable before even sidering walking away.

  No lingering touches. No opportunistices. Just... care.

  And damn if that didn't make her heartache in the best ossible.

  Evangeline waited until she heard the subtle creak of the sofa bed unfolding in the living room.

  She opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling with a small, quiet smile tugging at her lips.

  "You're full of surprises, Wilson..." she murmured to herself. "Mumm..."

  With a soft sigh, she rolled onto her side, hugging the warmth close.

  This wasn't just about Alex being a gentleman.

  It was about what it meant.

  Because if he had wao, he could have used this moment. He could have tried something, pyed it off as just being close or the work of the wine... just being caught up in the moment. She had heard enough stories and knew about certain troversies reted to such situations.

  But Alex?

  He had made sure she was fortable first. And then he left.

  That meant more to her than she was willing to admit.

  'Haa... On our first date if he makes me feel this way... Haha... I 't wait for our date.'

  Her fingers curled slightly against the b as a thought drifted through her mind—dangerous, reckless, but impossible to ignore.

  'Maybe… just maybe… I could trust him.'

  Maybe she already did.

  And that?

  That was terrifying.

  She exhaled a quiet breath and closed her eyes.

  For the first time in a long time, she fell asleep feeling safe.

  And that?

  That was everything.

  ------

  AN: Ok. I know some are mad, no segs, wtf, and all that. To me, it feels excessive to add segs on the first date. Once again, no matter the girl MC is dating, you won't be getting any segs on any first date. The first one will be Max Bck (2nd date). Then SJ (during the shooting days) and Lily (third date). So, have a little patience. You won't be disappointed.

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