2 Broke Girls x 1 Rich Man [TV series 2 Broke Girls ff]

[Five Years Later]

The big red carpet at the Academy Awards sparkled under bright lights with fancy dresses, sharp suits, and cameras clicking everywhere. Reporters shoved to get a little closer as Hollywood's most famous stars paraded by shouting over each other to get one quick comment from the celebrities.

At the very end of that carpet, stepping out of a sleek black limo, was Alex Wilson, everyone knew for making outstanding movies.

Wearing a perfectly fitted black tuxedo, Alex straightened his cufflinks as the crowd cheered louder. Everyone was talking about him. It wasn't only because of his latest movie, The Hurt Locker, which had raked in much cash and earned acclaim from the critics, but he was breaking records left and right.

In the last five years, every project Alex worked on became a huge success. "Forrest Gump" was just the start. The movie won big at the Academy Awards, taking home Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for Tom Hanks. Alex quickly rose to the top in Hollywood. Instead of struggling under the pressure, he did even better.

He had followed up Forrest Gump with a string of back-to-back hits: Titanic, Argo, No Country for Old Men, and his latest The Hurt Locker.

And that wasn't all. Alex's skills as a screenwriter had also propelled other directors to success. Movies like Million Dollar Baby and Gladiator carried his name and swept the awards season, reminding one that he was nothing less than a creative genius.

His awards include four Best Director Oscars in a row, alongside numerous Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Screenwriters Guild Awards. Critics were going to proclaim that he was not only the finest filmmaker of his generation but arguably of all generations.

[Present time: Backstage at the Academy Awards]

Alex stood in a quiet corner backstage, away from the noise and chaos. The ceremony was underway, and his latest masterpiece, The Hurt Locker, was expected to sweep. Yet, even amidst the anticipation of yet another triumph, Alex felt a peculiar emptiness.

The fame, the accolades, the respect he had everything he had once dreamed of. And yet, something gnawed at him, a faint echo of the man he used to be before all of this.

A voice broke his reverie. "Alex, they're ready for you."

Vanessa Harper, now his close collaborator and one of the most powerful producers in Hollywood, approached him with a warm smile. Her faith in him had never wavered, and over the years, she had become one of the few people he trusted implicitly.

"Another win, huh?" she teased, adjusting her earring. "You've made this look too easy."

Alex chuckled. "You know better than anyone, Vanessa. Easy is the last thing this has been."

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh, please. You're a machine, Alex. You haven't had a single flop and the way you work… it's like you're pulling these stories from thin air. Where does it even come from?"

Alex hesitated. Vanessa didn't know, of course. Nobody did. How could he explain the truth? That he wasn't just a creative genius but a man reborn, armed with memories of a world brimming with untapped stories?

"It's just… intuition," he said finally, flashing her his trademark enigmatic smile.

Vanessa shook her head, laughing. "Well, whatever it is, don't stop. Hollywood would fall apart without you."

When Alex's name was announced for Best Director, the crowd erupted into loud cheers. He walked up to the stage, looking calm but thoughtful, as he took the golden award in his hands.

"Thank you," he said, his voice strong as he looked around the room. "Every time I stand here, I remember how fortunate I am to work with such amazing people. My fellow nominees, my incredible cast and crew, all those who have supported me through the years..."

His eyes scanned the crowd. He could see the smiling faces of his closest friends and colleagues, including Vanessa, who nodded encouragingly.

"And finally, a special thanks to the Academy. This award is not just for me. It belongs to everyone who has helped make this dream possible."

The applause was deafening. Alex smiled as he stepped down from the stage, the weight of the award in his hand a reminder of all that he had achieved. And yet, there was still a part of him that remained unconvinced.

He had become everything he had once dreamed of being. So why did he feel so empty inside?

...

[Post-Ceremony Party]

The party was held at the Roosevelt Hotel. Chandeliers gleamed from the ceiling, casting a warm gloom over the entire room as Hollywood's old stars came together for the most important night of the year. The bar was slammed, waiters weaving through the crowd with trays of champagne, and a live jazz band played smooth music in the background.

With champagne filled to the brim not once but twice before he had noticed, Alex stood in the middle of the room, sipping away. Of course, the lively group around Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie, the two boys from The Hurt Locker, commanded much attention.

"Alex!" Renner called out, raising his glass as Alex approached. "Here he is! The man who made us all look good."

The group cheered, and Alex chuckled, raising his own glass. "I think you've got that backward, Jeremy. You're the one who carried this movie, literally, in half the scenes."

Renner laughed, clapping Alex on the back. "Come on, man. You gave us the vision, the words, the scenes that hit people right in the gut. None of us would be standing here without you."

"Don't let him downplay it," Anthony Mackie chimed in, his signature grin lighting up his face. "This guy made us crawl through dirt, dodge explosions, and face the most intense scenes of our careers and somehow, we loved every second of it."

"I seem to remember a lot of complaining between takes," Alex quipped, smirking.

Mackie feigned offense. "Complaining? That was artistic feedback! You directors never listen to us actors!"

The group burst into laughter, and Alex shook his head. "You'll have to excuse me if I didn't take your suggestion to add a dance-off in the middle of a war zone."

"I still think it would've been a game-changer," Mackie teased, raising his glass in mock defiance.

The conversation shifted as Kathryn Bigelow, one of Alex's trusted collaborators and an accomplished director in her own right, joined the group. She extended her hand to Alex, her smile warm and genuine.

"You did it again, Alex," Kathryn said. "Another masterpiece."

"Couldn't have done it without you, Kathryn," Alex replied sincerely. "Your eye for detail and your guidance during those intense scenes were invaluable."

"I'll take that compliment, but let's be honest," she said with a knowing look. "You've set a bar so high, even the sky's jealous."

As the group exchanged stories and relived moments from the production, Alex felt a wave of pride for the people around him. Each cast member, each crew member, had poured their hearts into the film, and seeing them celebrated was as satisfying as the accolades themselves.

"You know," Jeremy Renner said, swirling his drink thoughtfully, "when I first read the script, I thought, 'This is gonna be brutal.' But working on this… it was life-changing. And that's all you, Alex. You make movies that stick with people."

Alex's smile faltered for just a second, a flicker of that persistent doubt surfacing. "It's not just me," he said, shifting the attention back to the group. "It's all of us. Every one of you brought something to this story that I never could have imagined on my own. That's what makes these films work."

"You're too humble for your own good," Mackie said with a laugh. "But hey, we'll drink to that!"

Glasses clinked, and the group's laughter filled the air. As the night wore on, Alex moved through the room, sharing moments with the cinematographer, the production designers, and even the PAs who had kept the set running smoothly.

Still, a part of him felt detached, as though he were watching it all unfold from a distance. The joy was real, the celebration well-deserved, but beneath it all, he felt that familiar itch... the urge to move forward, to find the next story, the next challenge.

As the party raged on, Alex found himself drawn back to the group of actors, their energy contagious. Renner was recounting a particularly grueling day on set when a burst of laughter from Mackie nearly caused him to spill his drink.

"Man, you remember that sandstorm scene?" Mackie said, shaking his head. "I thought I was going to suffocate in that gear."

"Alex wouldn't let us out of there until we got the shot," Renner added with mock exasperation.

"Don't act like you didn't love it," Alex said, grinning.

Renner smirked. "Alright, I'll admit it. You're a pain in the ass, but you're our pain in the ass."

The group erupted in laughter again, and Alex couldn't help but smile.

The party was in full swing, with laughter and chatter filling every corner of the room. Alex had just excused himself from a lively conversation with the cast of The Hurt Locker when he spotted a familiar figure.

Evangeline Lilly was standing by a small cocktail table, her sleek black dress shimmering with the soft light of overhead chandeliers. She sipped red wine while having small conversations with the others.

Alex approached her with a warm smile. "Evangeline," he said, his voice cutting through the din. "Taking a break from the chaos?"

She turned to him, her lips curving into a small smile. "Alex," she greeted, her tone light but laced with familiarity. "You could say that. Sometimes the noise gets a little… overwhelming."

"Tell me about it," Alex replied, gesturing to the bustling crowd behind them. "It's like half of Hollywood is here trying to outshine each other."

Evangeline chuckled softly, swirling her wine. "And yet, here you are, shining the brightest."

Alex rolled his eyes playfully. "Don't start with the compliments. I already got more than my fair share tonight."

She raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of her wine. "You deserve them, you know. The Hurt Locker was extraordinary. Raw, real, and unflinching. It's no wonder you're cleaning up all these awards."

"Thanks," Alex said, his tone softening. "But you know how it is. After a while, it's not about the awards anymore."

Evangeline tilted her head, studying him. "Then what's it about?"

Alex hesitated, glancing out at the city lights visible through the balcony doors. "I guess it's about the work. Telling stories that matter. But sometimes, even that feels… I don't know. Like it's not enough."

She placed her wine glass on the table and leaned slightly closer, her voice quieter. "Let me guess. You're chasing the next thing before you've even enjoyed what you've already accomplished?"

Alex gave her a sheepish smile. "Guilty as charged."

Evangeline nodded knowingly. "You remind me of myself, back when Lost was at its peak. I was so focused on what was next that I forgot to enjoy the present. It took me a while to realize that sometimes, it's okay to stop and take it all in."

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Alex felt an unexpected sense of clarity. He leaned against the table beside her, his shoulders relaxing.

"Maybe you're right," he admitted. "Maybe I should just… breathe for a minute."

Evangeline smiled, her green eyes warm and understanding. "Trust me, the work will still be there tomorrow. But moments like this? They're fleeting."

Alex looked at her, a flicker of gratitude in his gaze. "You're surprisingly wise, Evangeline. When did that happen?"

She laughed, the sound light and melodic. "Somewhere between the end of Lost and the beginning of realizing that life's too short to stay in constant motion."

As the jazz band transitioned into a slower tune, the two stood in companionable silence, the bustling party fading into the background.

"Thanks for the reminder," Alex said after a moment. "I needed that."

"Anytime," she replied, her smile soft but genuine.

Alex raised his glass in a small toast. "To fleeting moments, then."

Evangeline clinked her glass against his. "To fleeting moments."

---

[After party] [Alex's mansion]

Alex stood on the balcony of his big mansion, overlooking the vast, starry night sky and the glittering lights of the city below. It had been a long day, full of emotions and excitement, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was missing.

[Ping!]

"Huh?!"

The sudden System's notification popup shook him out of his reverie. He quickly opened his panel to see what it was about.

[Scenario: Cupcake Business Unlocked]

[Help Max and Caroline start their cupcake business with your help! What could go wrong?]

Alex blinked as he read the scenario. It's been months since a popup quest appeared but they were all to make him better. It gave him some unique skills as a reward too. This was the first main scenario quest related to the main story world of 2 Broke Girls. He was so busy that it slipped out of his mind.

This quest seemed simple enough. Help Max and Caroline start their cupcake business. Easy peasy. And maybe he could finally get to know the two girls better.

---

[The Williamsburg Diner]

Three days later Alex paid a visit to the dinner using one of his skills to hide his real self. It doesn't completely change his face, but simple hide his presence in a magical way to help him go unnoticed by others. [Refer to CH: 1]

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