AN: Am I back? Take a guess. Late. So, hope you saved some ps.
---
[Next Day]
Alex sat at the dining table with two neatly stacked scripts in front of him. One was bound in blue, the other in black. He sipped his coffee slowly. "Oh, yeah. I make a killer coffee, if I say so myself."
Angelina and Halle sat across from him. Angelina had one leg crossed over the other. She was wearing a loose blue shirt and shorts. Halle was holding a coffee mug between her hands. And she was wearing her yoga outfit.
Scarlett and Chloe had already gone out for their morning jog.
Trixie had been up since dawn and was currently on the floor of the living room, gently rolling a toy mouse back and forth for Nacho. The orange cat responded by batting it once, then sitting on it like a king guarding treasure.
Max and Caroline had left early, armed with coffee and ambition, because their cupcake shop was receiving new vending machines and Max had declared it "a very emotional day for baked goods."
Rachel was still asleep, fully committed to her rare day off and absolutely not answering texts until noon.
Alex set his coffee down and slid the blue-bound script toward Halle.
"Alright," he said. "Let's start with you."
Halle raised an eyebrow, amused. "That sounds ominous."
"It is not," Alex replied. "Unless you hate meaningful stories that make people cry in public."
She smiled and pulled the script closer, reading the title.
The Blind Side.
Her expression shifted immediately. "Wait. I think I've heard this name before."
Alex nodded. "One of my earlier novels from 2003. Still one of the ones people email me about when they need to feel something. You will be playing Leigh Anne Tuohy."
Halle nodded, looking interested. "Tell me more about the plot."
"It is a sports story," Alex said. "A wealthy family takes in a homeless teenager named Michael Oher. He is quiet, guarded, and incredibly gifted athletically, but no one has ever really looked out for him. Leigh Anne is the center of the story. She is strong, stubborn, compassionate, and does not ask for permission to do the right thing. She sees Michael as a person first, not a project."
Halle listened carefully, her fingers resting on the script.
"I will be playing Sean Tuohy," Alex continued. "The husband. He is practical, supportive, and quietly steady. The story is not only about football. It is about family, choice, and what happens when someone finally says, 'You belong here.'"
Halle smiled softly. "That sounds beautiful."
"It is," Alex said. "And demanding. Emotionally, not physically. Although there will be some football scenes."
"I can handle that," she said with a nod. "I love it already."
"Good," Alex replied. "Because people are going to love you in it."
He then reached for the second script and slid the black-bound folder across the table toward Angelina.
Angelina opened the folder and read the title, "Maleficent."
Alex leaned back in his chair. "Yes. A fantasy movie."
Angelina flipped through a few pages. "So. What's the story?"
Alex explained. "Maleficent is a powerful fairy who is betrayed and deeply wounded. The story explores how love twists when broken and how revenge feels justified until it becomes too costly. She is not evil. She is hurt."
Angelina's eyes sharpened with interest.
"She is feared because she refuses to be small," Alex continued. "The curse comes from betrayal, not cruelty. And the heart of the story is redemption. Not through romance, but through understanding and sacrifice."
Angelina closed the script slowly. "She is complex."
"She is you," Alex said plainly.
Angelina laughed under her breath. "I was going to say that."
Across the room, Trixie let out a delighted giggle as Nacho finally chased the toy mouse for exactly three seconds before flopping onto his side like he had completed a marathon.
Alex looked at both women. "I've already asked Jane to start the audition process and Rachel will take care of the permits as usual. And shooting for The Blind Side will start in November. By then, I'll wrap up the Spiderman shoot. As for Maleficent, it'll take some time to create sets capable of capturing the magic. So, a rough estimation is around January next year. But I won't let you just sit idle for that long...
Angelina tilted her head, suspicion sharpening into interest. "Alright," she said. "I know that look. What else are you hiding?"
Alex smiled. "I greenlit something big last night."
Halle looked up from her script. "Of course you did."
Alex folded his hands on the table. "Justice League. Animated series."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Angelina blinked once. "Say that again."
"Justice League," Alex repeated evenly. "High-quality animated series with long-form storytelling and character-driven arcs. And you will be voicing Wonder Woman."
Angelina leaned back in her chair slowly, processing. "Animated."
"Yes."
"Voice work."
"Yes."
"As Wonder Woman."
Alex nodded. "The Wonder Woman."
Halle smiled into her coffee. "That actually sounds perfect."
Angelina exhaled a soft laugh, half disbelief, half excitement. "You are serious."
"Yup!" Alex said. "This is not a side project. This is the foundation."
He leaned forward slightly, tone shifting into something more deliberate. "We start with animation because it lets us build the world properly. We introduce the characters the right way. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman. We let people fall in love with them again without rushing to spectacle. Just like how we did with Spiderman."
Angelina listened closely now.
"This series will run long enough to build a massive fanbase," Alex continued. "And while that happens, we seed the future. Teases, symbols and stories people will argue about online at three in the morning. By the time the first live-action DC movie goes into post-production next year, the audience will already be hungry."
Halle nodded. "That is actually very smart."
Angelina tapped a finger against the table. "And my role in all this?"
"You are the face and the voice of Wonder Woman," Alex said. "You will do the voice sessions, obviously. But you will also be doing fan events, conventions, talk shows, and podcasts. You will talk about the character, the themes, and hints of something big in store in the coming year for DC fans."
Angelina smiled faintly. "You want me to sell the soul of the universe."
"I want you to ignite it," Alex replied.
Trixie looked up from the floor. "You'd look so cool as Wonder Woman."
Angelina glanced down at her and smiled. "Oohh! Thank you."
Nacho chose that moment to stretch, yawn dramatically, and steal the toy mouse again, clearly uninterested in superhero discourse.
Alex looked back at Angelina. "It will be busy. Voice work, travel, press, a lot of talking and a lot of eyes on you. This is not a quiet few months."
Angelina met his gaze without hesitation. "You are asking if I can handle it."
"Yes," Alex said simply. "Do you think you can?"
She smiled then, slow and confident. "Alex, I have been handling chaos my entire career."
Halle laughed. "That is not an exaggeration."
"So yes. I can handle it," Angelina replied.
Alex raised his coffee mug slightly. "Good. Because things are about to get loud."
Trixie pumped her fist from the floor. "Super loud!"
Nacho flicked his tail, unimpressed, but remained exactly where he was, guarding his mouse like the true overlord of the penthouse.
...
[Evening]
Alex was still on the Spiderman set, shooting... Meanwhile, the girls went on a girls' day out, and since Chloe doesn't get to meet them often, she decided to take this chance and just enjoy life a bit, far away from police work. But Max had other plans for Trixie. She somehow convinced Trixie and both of them went to the barn to meet Chestnut.
[Upstate Barn]
Trixie stood just inside the open barn doors, frozen. Her eyes were huge and her mouth was slightly open.
She was currently staring at the horse a few steps away from her.
"That," she said slowly, pointing, "is a very big animal."
Max stood beside her, arms crossed, watching Trixie's expression with a grin.
"That," Max replied, "is Chestnut. He is gentle, dramatic, and has better hair than both of us combined. And let's not forget his golden heart. He once saved me from a stalker by pooping on his leg."
Chestnut lifted his head from the stall and snorted softly, as if acknowledging the compliment. His coat gleamed warm brown in the light, muscles shifting lazily as he took one slow step forward.
Trixie squeaked and grabbed Max's leg.
"He moved," she whispered urgently.
"Okay," Max said calmly. "Rule one. Horses smell fear. Rule two. He also smells carrots. Guess which one he prefers?"
Trixie peeked around Max's leg. "Does he bite?"
"No," Max replied. "He judges. Which is worse, honestly."
Chestnut lowered his head slightly and huffed, warm breath puffing out like a living space heater.
Trixie gasped. "He sneezed at me."
"That was a greeting," Max said, patting Chestnut's back with confidence. "He is saying hello and also probably asking for snacks."
She then scooped Trixie up in her arms and brought her closer.
"Alright," Max said. "Just touch him with one hand."
Trixie hesitated, then reached out and placed her hand on Chestnut's back.
Her face changed instantly.
"Oh," she said softly. "He is warm."
"Yeah," Max nodded. "He is basically a walking fuzzy radiator with opinions."
Trixie smiled widely and petted him again, this time more confidently. "He is so soft. Hi, Chestnut."
Chestnut flicked his ears and shifted his weight, clearly pleased with the attention.
Max grinned. "Congratulations. He likes you. Which means you are now legally responsible for him."
Trixie giggled, petting him again. "He is my new friend."
"Careful," Max warned. "That is how he gets you to buy him things."
Max stepped back. "Alright, Chestnut. Sit."
Trixie's eyes widened. "Horses can sit?"
Chestnut bent his front legs and lowered himself onto his haunches with a dramatic sigh, like he had just finished a long workday.
Trixie screamed. "HE SAT."
Max put Trixie down. "See. Overachiever."
Chestnut stayed there for a moment, very proud of himself, then slowly stood back up.
Trixie clapped so hard she almost fell over. "Do it again."
"No," Max said. "That trick costs carrots."
She reached into her bag and pulled out two bright orange carrots.
Trixie gasped like she had just witnessed magic.
"For him?" she asked.
"For him," Max confirmed. "He does not accept payment in cash or compliments." She gave Trixie one carrot. "Here you go. Just hold it up."
They each held out a carrot. Chestnut leaned forward and took them gently, crunching loudly.
Trixie laughed. "He is eating like a cartoon."
"That is because he knows he is being watched," Max replied. "Drama horse."
After Chestnut finished, Max brushed her hands off and nodded decisively. "Alright. One more thing."
Trixie looked up at her immediately. "Is it another trick?"
"Yes," Max said. "But this one involves height, trust, and ignoring common sense in a controlled environment."
Trixie's eyes sparkled. "Is it riding?"
Chestnut flicked his tail like he already knew where this was going and had opinions about it.
Max walked over to the tack rack and grabbed the saddle. "Relax, Hollywood. We are not galloping into the sunset. This is a calm, dignified walk. Think princess parade, not action movie."
She set the saddle on Chestnut's back with practiced ease, adjusting the straps and tightening everything properly. Chestnut stood perfectly still, looking bored but cooperative, like an employee who had accepted this as part of the job description.
Trixie bounced on her toes. "I am going to be so tall."
She crouched in front of Trixie. "Okay. Rules. You sit in front of me. You hold the saddle horn or my hands. You do not let go unless I say so. And if you scream, make it a happy scream, not a dinosaur-invading scream."
Trixie nodded very seriously. "I can do happy screams."
Max lifted her up and settled her gently onto the saddle. Trixie froze again, eyes wide, hands gripping the horn like it might run away.
"I am on a horse," she whispered. "This is so cool. Chestnut, you are so tall. I can see everything."
"Yes," Max said, climbing up behind her and settling into place. "You are now officially cooler than most adults and your friends at school."
Max wrapped one arm around Trixie's waist securely and took the reins in the other hand.
"Chestnut," she said. "Let's go for a walk."
Chestnut snorted softly and stepped forward.
Trixie gasped.
"He is moving," she announced loudly, as if alerting the authorities.
"I know," Max replied. "That is the horse part of the horse."
They moved slowly out of the barn and into the open field. The grass stretched wide and green, the air warm and calm. Chestnut walked at an easy pace, each step steady and smooth.
Trixie's initial stiffness melted into wonder. She looked around, taking everything in from her new height. "I can see so far. I can see the trees. I can see the fence. I can see that Chestnut's ears wiggle."
Chestnut flicked one ear back, then forward again.
"He heard that," Max said. "He is very sensitive about his ears."
Trixie leaned back slightly against Max, completely relaxed now. "This is the best thing ever. I feel like a knight. Or a queen. Or a knight queen."
"Very powerful position," Max said. "Historically dangerous."
They made a slow circle around the field. The breeze brushed past them and the rhythmic sound of hooves filled the quiet space.
Trixie grinned so hard her cheeks probably hurt. "Can we do this forever?"
Max looked down at her fondly. "Forever is expensive. But we can do another lap."
"Yes," Trixie said instantly. "I vote yes."
Chestnut took another step forward, clearly pleased with himself and fully aware that he was the star of the day.
---
Support link: www.patr eon.com/UnknownMaster
[7 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] [No double billing.]
+ [Castle 5 chs Early access]