Missteps and Second Chances
Aelira had made it into Arthur's home, her plan falling perfectly into place. Arthur, though still wary of her, grudgingly allowed her to stay the night in the guest room, under the watchful eye of his staff. But as midnight settled over the house, Aelira slipped quietly out of her room, determined to continue her search for the device.
Silently, she crept into Arthur's room, glancing around as she looked for any sign of her lost technology. Her heart raced with each step, knowing she had to be quick and careful. But just as she was about to check a desk drawer, the door swung open, and there stood Arthur, his expression a mix of shock and anger.
"What are you doing in my room?" he demanded, his voice sharp.
Caught off guard, Aelira tried to mask her nervousness. She put on a bold smile, hoping to deflect his anger. "Arthur… you're so cute. I like you," she said impulsively, hoping it might distract him.
Arthur's brow furrowed in distaste. "I'm not interested in games," he replied coldly. Without a second thought, he called security, instructing them to escort her out of the compound immediately.
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Aelira found herself back on the street, humiliated and frustrated. Her chance had slipped away, and her device was still out of reach.
The next morning, Astron woke up and immediately asked about his new friend. "Where's she gone?" he asked Arthur, looking puzzled.
"I had security take her out of the compound," Arthur replied curtly, unwilling to discuss it further. "And as for you, get back to your drawing work," he added, hurrying off to his office.
Meanwhile, back at Lou's restaurant, the morning rush was in full swing when a new order came in from Arthur's company. This time, however, it was Arthur's assistant who had placed the request, ensuring that everything was professionally arranged.
Nancy, Lou's daughter, decided Aelira would handle the delivery. "Why don't you take the scooter?" she suggested with a smile. Aelira nodded, though she'd never driven one before. Still, her determination overrode her hesitation.
Riding the scooter to Arthur's office proved challenging, and as she neared the building, she lost control and skidded, sending the entire delivery tumbling into a drainage pathway. The food was ruined, and as she sat by the side of the road, tears began to well up. The disappointment and frustration of repeated failures weighed heavily on her.
Just then, a familiar car approached, and Arthur, who happened to be passing by, noticed her and instructed his driver to stop. Stepping out, he walked toward her, his expression a mix of concern and surprise.
"What happened?" he asked, his tone softer than before. "Why are you crying?"
Aelira looked up, her cheeks flushed as she explained, "I was delivering food to your office, but I lost it in the drainage… I messed it all up."
Arthur watched her for a moment, noticing her genuine sadness and frustration. Though he still found her mysterious and unconventional, there was something about her honesty that caught him off guard.
She returned to Lou's restaurant with her head down, explaining to Lou what had happened. Lou, though visibly irritated, sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Alright, if you want to make it right, go back to Arthur's company and get their entire order again. This time, no mistakes."