THREE YEARS AGO
Rain cut through the alley like broken glass.
A young man in a hoodie ran.
Footsteps thundered behind him.
Man 1:
"Don't let him escape!"
Gunfire exploded.
Man 2 fired wildly.
Bullets shattered a streetlight.
The young man slid behind a rusted dumpster, breathing steady — not panicked.
Man 1 stepped into view, gun raised.
Man 1:
"Hey, puta. Where's my fucking money?"
The young man peeked out and smiled.
Young Man:
"Tranquilo, jefe. You're not getting anything if you keep shooting like a child."
Man 1 spat.
Man 1:
"Drop it."
The young man stepped out slowly, hands half-raised.
Young Man:
"Three hundred million dollars is a lot of money."
(beat)
"But there's a problem."
Man 1:
"What problem?"
Young Man (smirking):
"There is no money."
Man 2 lifted his gun.
Man 2:
"What?"
Man 1 cocked his weapon.
Man 1:
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
Young Man:
"Someone you should've killed earlier."
He tapped something on his wrist.
Click.
Every light on the block went dead.
Screams.
Confusion.
Footsteps running.
The young man sprinted.
Up fire escapes.
Through doors.
Onto the rooftop.
Men were waiting.
Man 3:
"You really thought you'd escape?"
Young Man (grinning):
"Actually… yeah."
He touched a dot on his backpack.
The fabric burst open.
A black wing-like chute deployed.
He leapt.
The city swallowed him.
Later — Base
He entered a dark room.
Undressed.
A woman sat on his bed.
Silk robe.
Bare legs crossed.
Lady (soft, amused):
"You really outdid yourself tonight, Jordan."
His smile faded.
Present Day
Jordan jerked awake.
Nadia:
"Jordan?"
Johnson tapped his shoulder.
Adrian:
"Man, you were dead asleep."
Jordan rubbed his forehead.
Zoey:
"That never happens to you."
Jordan:
"How long?"
Nadia:
"Three hours."
Jordan:
"…Damn."
His voice was distant.
(Intern dialogue continues as you wrote — it works well tonally and structurally.)
After Work Hours — The Bar
Jordan didn't go to the bar to drink.
He went to drown memory.
Low ceiling.
Amber lights.
Old jazz.
Bartender:
"J.B. Usual?"
Jordan:
"Yeah."
The glass arrived.
He didn't touch it.
His eyes stared through the wall.
Gunshots echoed in his skull.
Then he heard it —
A man's voice.
Man:
"Hey, pretty woman. Let me take you home."
The woman didn't respond.
She lifted her drink calmly.
The man touched her thigh.
She slapped him.
Hard.
The bar froze.
Man:
"How dare you—"
He raised his hand.
Jordan was already standing.
Jordan caught his wrist mid-air.
Jordan (quiet):
"You don't touch women like that."
Man laughed and shoved him.
Man:
"Mind your business."
Jordan exhaled.
Man swung again.
Jordan dodged.
Twisted both arms.
A sharp crack.
The man screamed.
Jordan drove his knee into his stomach.
The man collapsed.
Silence.
Jordan sighed, pulled cash from his wallet, placed it on the bar.
Jordan:
"Sorry for the trouble."
Then he turned to the woman.
The First Collision — Psychological Cut
Jordan:
"Ma'am, are you okay?"
She finally looked at him.
Slow.
Measured.
Not grateful.
Not shaken.
Her eyes scanned him like data.
Vivienne Cross.
Vivienne:
"Quite vicious, aren't you?"
Jordan blinked.
Jordan:
"What?"
Vivienne tilted her head.
Vivienne:
"You didn't hesitate."
"You didn't threaten."
"You didn't posture."
"You calculated."
Jordan felt exposed.
Jordan:
"I just did what anyone would."
Vivienne smirked faintly.
Vivienne:
"No."
"Most men fantasize about being heroes."
"You executed."
A dangerous silence.
Jordan shifted uncomfortably.
Jordan:
"Have a good night."
She stood.
Close enough for him to smell her perfume.
Vivienne:
"Goodnight… Jordan."
His spine stiffened.
Jordan:
"…You remember my name?"
She paused.
Vivienne (without turning):
"You wear your ID badge."
Then she walked away.
Vivienne —
Alone in the Car
Vivienne sat in the driver's seat.
Hands trembling.
Not from fear.
From adrenaline.
Her mind replayed everything.
His eyes.
His control.
His lack of mercy.
Vivienne (thought):
That boy is pretending to be harmless.
And he's lying to everyone.
Including himself.
Her lips parted.
Vivienne (thought):
Jordan Blackwood…
What are you hiding inside my company?
The engine started.
But her pulse didn't slow.