The Hunt Begins
Arthur couldn't shake the mystery of the delivery girl from his mind. The way she moved through his life, appearing and vanishing, left him more curious—and strangely drawn—than he cared to admit. When he found the delivery bill she'd left behind, a spark of intrigue took hold. Determined to uncover her identity, he sent a few of his assistants to the restaurant listed on the bill, hoping they could learn more.
When his assistants arrived, however, they found his brother, Astron, already there, eagerly waiting for the girl to show up. He'd been meaning to thank her for helping him escape from the office earlier and was telling Lou, the pub owner, all about his "friendship" with her. By the time Arthur arrived to retrieve Astron, he found his brother chatting animatedly with the pub owner and some of the staff, looking more relaxed than he had in ages.
Spotting Arthur, Astron grinned. "Hey! You're here to meet her too, right? She's incredible, Arthur—you've got to meet her properly!"
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Arthur crossed his arms, his stern gaze falling on Astron. "I'm here to bring you back to the office," he said, his voice firm. "And to get some answers."
Just then, Aelira entered, still unaware of Arthur's investigation. She noticed Astron first and greeted him warmly. But the moment she caught sight of Arthur, her smile faltered, and she quickly masked her surprise.
Arthur, sensing the tension, narrowed his eyes. "I've been meaning to ask you something," he said, his tone measured. "What exactly is going on between you and my brother?"
Aelira's mind raced. She needed an excuse to stay close to Astron so she could eventually get back into Arthur's home and locate her lost device. With a confident smile, she boldly replied, "Astron and I are close friends. I won't just 'let him go' so easily."
Arthur raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. But Astron, quick to jump to Aelira's side, nodded enthusiastically. "She's been a great friend, Arthur. Just let us be—we're just hanging out. It's nothing serious."
Unfazed, Arthur's gaze remained fixed on her. "If you're so close," he replied, "then come along. I want to keep an eye on you both."
Aelira's heart raced; her plan was working. She had managed to place herself closer to Arthur—and the device she so desperately needed to recover. All the while, her assistant watched silently, staying alert for the right moment to slip into the mansion undetected. As they headed back, Aelira couldn't help but feel a strange mixture of excitement and anticipation. She was getting closer to her device… and closer to the man she hadn't realized was beginning to mean more to her than she intended.