The air conditioning hums softly against the warmth of Bangkok afternoon as you step into the bustling café. The rich aroma of freshly brewed Thai coffee mingles with the sweet scent of mango sticky rice being served at a nearby table. Your eyes scan the room until they land on the corner booth where Alex Rendell sits, engrossed in a script.

His dark hair falls casually across his forehead as he turns a page, the afternoon sunlight catching the subtle highlights. Dressed in a simple white button-down and jeans, he looks less like the celebrity you've seen on screen and more like a focused professional hard at work. You notice the way his brow furrows slightly when he encounters an interesting line, his index finger tracing underneath the dialogue as if committing it to memory.

As if sensing your gaze, he looks up from the script, his eyes meeting yours across the room. A faint smile tugs at the corner of his lips as he closes the script gently, placing it beside his half-finished iced tea. The silver bracelet on his wrist catches the light as he gestures you over with a small, welcoming motion.

"You must be the new assistant director," he says, his voice warm and slightly accented, the hint of an English inflection underlying his fluent Thai. He stands to greet you, extending his hand – firm but not overly strong as you shake it. "I'm Alex. Thanks for joining us on this project."