[2 Broke Girls] Ch: 192 [New talents for Comic Con & an attack...]

AN: First of all, sorry about the slow updates. With the rainstorm, blackout and flooding, things got a bit difficult where I live. If any of you live in Kolkata, you know what I am talking about.

So, here you go, a big chapter. 3.8k words.

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[New Titan HQ] [Alex's Office]

The model section of Titan Studios had always been Alex's pet project. He hated watching promising faces get chewed up and spit out by Hollywood's darker corners. The dream was brutal, and most never stood a chance unless someone gave them a hand. So he did.

That morning, Alex leaned back in his chair, reviewing the dossiers of four fresh talents. Each one had been flown in from New York to Los Angeles. And they were handpicked by him. Most of them would have turned to the porno industry, failing to get a break, and Megan would have ruined her natural beauty, but not if he could help it. Well, this was just the first step.

Angela White – Age 21.

She had been sitting in her tiny Brooklyn apartment when the letter came. The envelope bore the Titan seal, black and gold, so out of place against the stack of unpaid bills on her counter. At first she thought it was a scam. The week before, she had nearly signed a contract with an adult agency that kept circling her like sharks. Everyone wanted her curves, her GG chest, her body on display. Nobody cared about her dreams. But when she opened the letter and read Alex Wilson's name, her hands shook. For the first time in months, she felt a way out.

April O'Neil – Age 20.

She was wiping down a Starbucks counter after a long shift when her manager slid the envelope toward her. "Came in the mail for you," he said with a shrug. Her green apron was stained with coffee, her feet ached, and she had already convinced herself that her modelling dream was dead. Her debut was great, but after that, she didn't get many offers since she refused to sleep with an investor. And the usual financial struggles made her think of becoming a cam model to earn some quick cash. But the letter proved her wrong. Alex's agent had spotted her weeks earlier, lingering in line at the very same café. She remembered the strange spark of interest in his eyes. She opened the letter with trembling fingers right there in the back room, ignoring the hiss of the espresso machine. By the time she finished reading, she had to sit down.

Bobbi Starr – Age 23.

The letter arrived while she was lacing up her shoes in a cramped dressing room. She had just finished another exhausting gig as a backup dancer, sweat still clinging to her skin. The manager had pulled her aside earlier that day, pushing her toward a role as a stripper in some low-budget film. "It's work," he had told her. Work that would cheapen her name before she even had one. Then came Titan's letter, slid under the door like fate. Bobbi read it twice, then three times, her pulse racing. Someone saw her not as an extra, not as background noise, but as someone with potential. She took the offer without a second thought.

Megan Fox – Age 18.

Young, hungry, and nearly broken. She had been bouncing from casting call to casting call, every time leaving with a hollow "we'll call you." She played nameless girls in three movies already. No lines, no credit. Just a pretty face filling space. When Titan's letter came, she was in her bedroom, sitting cross-legged on the floor with her cat asleep beside her. She opened it slowly, expecting another rejection. Instead, her eyes widened as she realized what it meant. Titan wanted her. Not as an extra. But as a model. As someone worth investing in. She clutched the letter to her chest and laughed until her cat startled awake.

...

Back at Titan HQ, Alex closed each file. [Rachel was busy with Caroline's father's case. So, she took some time off.]

The intercom buzzed. The assistant outside informed him. "Mr. Wilson, the new models are here."

Alex leaned forward, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Alright, send in Angela White first."

Angela White entered the office, the black and white suit hugging her frame in a way that still looked professional but couldn't hide her curves.

Alex pointed at the chair across from his desk.

"Take a seat."

She nodded quickly and sat, folding her hands in her lap. Her eyes darted around the office for a moment before locking on Alex again. His presence was overwhelming. 

'I'm so nervous. Don't say anything stupid,' She thought while fidgeting with her fingers.

Alex leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment before speaking. "So. Angela White. Twenty-one. Brooklyn girl. Tell me. What are your dreams?"

Her breath caught a little at the question. "Dreams?"

"Yes," Alex said, his voice calm, almost clinical. "Not what people tell you to settle for. Your dream. What do you see when you close your eyes and imagine the life you want?"

Angela took a small breath. "My dream… is to model, yes. But more than that, I want to prove I can be more than just my body. People have… certain expectations when they look at me. They don't see a person, they see parts. I want to change that. I want to be more."

Alex's expression softened just a touch. "That's a good answer. But wanting it isn't enough. Modeling is brutal. Competition, rejection, gossip, exploitation. It'll try to break you every step of the way. Even if you achieve success and step into acting, it's even more brutal. So I'll ask again. How hard are you willing to work?"

Her heart raced. 'As hard as it takes. Anything. Even if I have to sleep with him, I will. Who wouldn't? He's Alex Wilson. The top brass of Hollywood. The golden boy. One of the richest men in the world. If that's the price of success, I'll pay it.'

Her fingers twitched against the edge of her jacket. Slowly, hesitantly, she began to slide the button loose, her eyes lowering.

Alex raised his hand, his expression shifting into bafflement. "Whoa. What the hell are you doing?"

Angela froze mid-motion, her jacket half-open, confusion clouding her face. "You said… how hard am I willing to work. I thought…" She trailed off, embarrassment creeping in. "I thought you meant…"

For a second the silence hung heavy, then Alex blinked, realization dawning, and let out a short incredulous laugh. "Work doesn't mean stripping down in my office. This isn't that kind of studio."

Angela's cheeks burned crimson. "Oh God, I… I thought…"

"God, why does everyone think that whenever I do auditions?" Alex said, shaking his head, still amused despite himself. "I meant sweat, discipline, sacrifice. Not… whatever you just tried."

Angela buried her face in her hands with a groan. "This is the most humiliating moment of my life."

"Haaa... Just fix your clothes," He said.

There was a moment of pause as she fixed her clothes.

"I want hard work," Alex said simply. "Commitment. If you can give me that, I'll give you an opportunity. Fair trade, don't you think?"

Angela nodded, still a little flustered, but now smiling faintly. "Yes. Absolutely."

"Good," Alex replied. "Then we'll see if you have what it takes."

Alex opened a side drawer in his sleek mahogany desk and pulled out a folder, sliding it across to Angela with a soft motion. The folder was thick, held together by a simple clip, the type of document that made its contents feel weighty.

"Here's the deal," Alex said calmly, watching Angela's face as she picked up the folder and opened it carefully. "Two-year contract. You'll be one of Titan's exclusive models. That means you won't work for anyone else during that time. In exchange, you get stability. A monthly income of fifty grand to start, a studio car, and medical insurance. The kind of safety net most models dream of."

Angela's fingers trembled slightly as she flipped through the pages. Her eyes widened with each line she read.

Two-year contract.

Fifty thousand a month.

A car.

Medical insurance.

Exclusive to Titan.

Her heart raced as the numbers and promises soaked in. This was huge. It was a lifeline for someone in her situation. Her whole life could change, and it could happen immediately.

But as her eyes scanned further, she paused on one line. "No drugs or controversies. Must have clean records. Failure to do so will result in immediate termination."

She looked up at Alex, a hesitant frown on her face. "Wait, no controversies? You mean, like, no... no messing up?" she asked, feeling a sudden weight in her stomach. The idea of clean felt both freeing and terrifying.

Alex's expression remained neutral, but his voice had an edge of seriousness. "Exactly. No scandal, no drama, no public messes. Working with us means you're one of the faces of Titan. You’re walking the line now. If you want this kind of opportunity, you need to keep your image pristine."

Angela swallowed hard, the weight of it all settling in. She thought back to her time in Brooklyn, struggling to pay rent and fighting off the temptations of a quicker, more dangerous path. She had wanted an escape from that life—an escape from being seen only for her body, for her curves. This was a chance at something better.

But she had to play it right. No slip-ups. No distractions.

Her fingers gently traced the edges of the paper. She could feel the potential in every word. Fifty thousand a month. A car. Health insurance.

And then there was the final line: First gig: Spider-Woman cosplay at Titan’s Comic Con in March.

The excitement bubbled up in her chest. That was a huge opportunity with exposure like no other. But then it hit her.

"Spider-Woman?" she asked, almost laughing with disbelief. "You want me to cosplay Spider-Woman?"

Alex’s lips twitched, amused. "I do. You'll need to familiarize yourself with the character. It's a good fit for you, trust me. Strong, confident, and you get to show off more than just your body. It's a way to introduce you to the world."

Angela's brain spun with all the possibilities—this was more than just modeling. This was a platform. It was the launch she had been waiting for.

She looked up at him again, her fingers still gripping the contract as if it might disappear if she let go. "This... this is too good to be true."

His smile grew. “Not if you’ve got what it takes. All you have to do is stay focused, stay clean, and put in the work. If you do that, you’ll have a future here. And trust me, it’ll be a big one. Besides, as I said before, it'll be a brutal competition. I am also investing in three other models. Depending on the performances, I'll cast one in my upcoming movie. So, give it your all."

'If I can somehow get that movie chance...' She thought.

"A chance in your movie?" She asked, surprised.

"Yes. I launch new artists from time to time, and I have a couple of movies in the works. So, do your best if you want a spot," He said, looking into her eyes. 

“I’ll do it,” she said, her voice steady now, determination creeping in. "I’ll take the contract."

Alex's expression softened, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Good. I think you're going to do great things here. Now, take a look at the rest of the details. There's a lot to get started on, but don’t worry, we’ll guide you every step of the way."

Angela nodded and began reading the contract more thoroughly. She could hardly believe this was her new reality. As she skimmed over the last lines, she stopped again.

Her first gig—Spider-Woman at Comic Con.

It seemed like an impossible dream, but here she was. Alex Wilson had given her a chance to prove herself. No more desperation. No more selling out.

Just hard work.

"Alright," she said after a long pause, her voice quiet but firm. "I’m in." She took the pen from the table and signed the papers.

Alex leaned back in his chair. “Welcome to Titan, Angela. Let’s make sure the world knows your name.”

..

Next was April.

The door clicked open again, and April O’Neil stepped inside. She looked smaller than Alex expected, her frame lean from long shifts on her feet, her hair tied back in a loose ponytail. She clutched her bag against her chest like a shield, her Starbucks uniform long traded for simple jeans and a white blouse.

“Sit,” Alex said, gesturing to the chair across his desk.

She nodded quickly and sat, her back stiff, eyes flicking nervously toward him.

“April O’Neil. Twenty years old. Former barista, part-time model.” He glanced at her file. “Your career started good, getting your name up in the top 10 isn't a small task, but things didn't work out. If I were to guess, you got one of those usual offers from the studio that launched you, didn't you? You refused, and they made your life harder. You thought about giving up before the letter came, didn’t you?”

Her lips pressed together before she gave a small, honest nod. “Yes. I… I was ready to quit. Nobody was calling me back. My parents said it was a waste of time and I ain't earning much. My manager at Starbucks laughed when I said I wanted to model. I was just… done. I'm so desperate that I was ready to do a camgirl thing and felt stupid to refuse the previous offer.”

Alex leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. “And yet you’re here.”

April gave a small, shaky smile. “Because of you. Because someone thought I was worth more than spilled lattes and fake smiles.”

“Worth more, yes,” Alex said evenly. “But a dream doesn’t hand itself to you. You’ll sweat for it. You’ll fight for it. And in this studio, only the strongest rise. I’m investing in four of you. At the end, only one will land a role in my upcoming movie. The others will keep modeling contracts, but only one gets that leap."

April blinked, her stomach flipping. “Wait… a movie?”

“Yes,” Alex confirmed. “A role. It’s not guaranteed for you. It’s a competition. Performance, discipline, growth. Whoever proves themselves will earn it.”

April sat frozen for a second, her hands gripping her bag tighter. ‘A movie? He’s saying I could… I could act? This can’t be real.’

Alex reached into his drawer, pulled out another folder, and slid it across the desk. “Here’s the contract. Two years. Fifty grand a month. A car. Health insurance. Exclusivity with Titan. And your first gig: Wonder Woman cosplay at Titan’s Comic Con.”

April’s hands shook as she opened it, her eyes widening as each line burned into her brain.

‘Two years exclusive? Fifty thousand dollars a month? A car? Medical insurance? This… this is insane. I’ve never seen numbers like this in my life. Is this even legal? This is… it’s too much.’

Her eyes hit the last line: First gig: Wonder Woman cosplay at Comic Con.

“Wonder Woman?” she asked, her voice breaking into a small laugh of disbelief.

“Yes,” Alex confirmed. “This is your stage. Take it.”

April stared down at the papers again, her breath quickening. She could see her old self mopping up coffee stains, scraping for tips. Now here was Alex Wilson offering her the kind of stability she never thought she’d have.

She looked up at him, eyes wide, trembling with the weight of it. “I… I’ll sign it. I want this.”

Alex slid the pen toward her. She signed.

“Good,” He said simply. “Welcome to Titan, April.”

She nodded quickly. “Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

..

Next...

Bobbi walked in with a dancer’s poise, her posture perfect despite the sweat still clinging faintly to her skin from the morning’s practice. Her brunette hair was pulled into a tight bun, and she wore simple streetwear over her athletic frame. She didn’t fidget. She didn’t glance around. She looked Alex dead in the eye as she sat down.

“Bobbi Starr,” Alex said, skimming her file. “Backup dancer. Twenty-three. You’ve been grinding, but you know as well as I do that path doesn’t lead far.”

Bobbi crossed one leg over the other, voice cool. “That’s why I’m here. I don’t want to fade into the background anymore.”

“Good,” Alex said. “Because fading isn’t an option here. I’ll tell you the same thing I told the others. Four of you are being signed. Only one of you will be cast in my upcoming movie. The rest will model, but this is a competition. Do you understand what that means?”

Her jaw tightened slightly. “It means I have to fight for it.”

Alex nodded once. “Exactly.” He slid the contract folder across the desk. “Two years. Fifty thousand a month. A car. Medical insurance. Exclusive to Titan. First gig: Magik cosplay at Comic Con.”

Bobbi’s eyes flicked over the papers, her hands tracing the edges of the folder as she opened it.

‘Fifty grand a month? A car? Health insurance? Two years exclusive? No scandals allowed? This is too much… I’ve been living paycheck to paycheck, doing side gigs just to cover rent. This is… unreal. It’s like a cheat code for life.’

She paused at the cosplay note. “Magik?”

“Yes,” Alex said. “My team will mail you with the necessary information on the character. All you have to do is get yourself familiar with the character.”

Her lips curved faintly, the first hint of a smile breaking her stoic exterior. “Alright. Sounds good.”

“Well, at least you look confident, that's a plus in my book. But we'll see soon enough what you are capable of,” Alex said with a smile.

Bobbi stared at the signature line, her pulse hammering. She thought of the cramped dressing rooms, the cheap managers, the offers that would stain her before she even had a chance to shine. Plus, no stripping involved. This contract was salvation.

She picked up the pen and signed without hesitation. “I’m in.”

Alex gave her a small nod of approval. “Welcome to Titan, Bobbi.”

Bobbi stood, folder in hand, a new fire in her eyes. She left the office with the confident stride of someone already stepping into a bigger world.

The assistant’s voice followed: “Megan Fox? Mr. Wilson will see you now.”

...

Megan stepped into the office. She looked nervous and gorgeous. Way better than the plastic version Alex knew from his past life. This time, he has the power to change that, and he is going to use it.

Alex told her to sit and explained the contract to her, just like he did with the previous girls.

Two years. Fifty grand a month. A car. Medical insurance. Exclusive to Titan. And a chance to get a role in Alex's movie.

First gig: Black Cat cosplay at Comic Con.

Megan’s fingers tightened on the folder as she read.

‘Two years? Fifty grand? A car? Health insurance? No scandals? This is… impossible. I’ve been begging for roles where I don’t even get a name, and now… this? And Black Cat? This is it, Meg. Your first chance to step into the big game. With the upcoming Spiderman anime coming up and the rumors of movies, if I can crack this one, I might just get the chance to become one of the leads.’

Her heart pounded. She thought of the auditions where they never looked at her twice. Of the whispers telling her she wasn’t enough. Of her cat at home, curled up on the floor beside her, the only witness to her laughter when she read the invitation.

Megan picked up the pen. Her hand shook, but the signature came out clean.

‘This is my chance. I’m not going to waste it.’

She closed the folder and met Alex’s gaze. For the first time all morning, there was no hesitation in her voice. “I’m in.”

Alex leaned back slightly, the faintest smile playing at his lips. “Good. But remember... this isn’t a gift. You’re competing. Four of you signed today. Only one of you will get cast in my upcoming film. Work harder than the rest if you want that spot.”

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[Later that noon]

As planned, Alex was about to meet up with Angelina and Halle for lunch, but things didn't go as planned. On the way to the restaurant...

Alex stopped at a school zone. There were kids everywhere, crossing the road as usual. Today was probably half day. So, he waited.

Suddenly, his survival instinct flared. It was unlike before when he faced those goons with guns. This was on another level. He couldn't tell what or where the attack was coming from. There were too many cars and people... kids...

Bullets? Sure, he can dodge any day. But what if it's an explosion? With such a tight space, if anyone was targeting him or someone else around that place might use explosives.

'Gang war?! Or... A fucking terrorist attack in a crowded area?'

"Where the fuck are you motherfucker?!" He mumbled under his breath.

BOOOM!

For a moment, everything blacked out. He felt the world slow down as usual, but this time, something was different. The intense heat and pain...

Alex squinted his eyes, trying to regain his focus. His ears were ringing like hell and his ribs ached. He could taste blood in his mouth. There was smoke everywhere. The car on his right was burning.

It exploded.

To make things worse, his car was burning.

People screaming...

Alex ripped his seat belts off and tried to open the door, but it was stuck, so he kicked the windshield hard enough for it to shatter and somehow dragged himself out. Then another explosion followed. The car behind his burning car exploded.

The shockwave sent him flying a few feet back.

He watched people running, caught up in the explosions, burning... dying.

The guards assigned to Alex quickly grabbed him and were about to put him into the SUV, but...

"Those kids..." Alex pointed at the unconscious kids on the ground. "Save them. We got enough cars. Get them to the fucking hospital. NOW! This is an order."

He ran over and picked up two kids and then ran to the SUV. Their parents looked at Alex. They were still in shock. "Get that ass moving. C'mon. No time to daze around." He yelled.

His guards followed to help them.

The parents felt a jolt as they came back to their senses.

Thus, the sudden rescue mission began...

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