Rumors and New Beginnings
The morning sun filtered through the blinds of Lou's restaurant, casting warm shadows over the tables and chairs. But Aelira was already bracing herself as she glanced at a fresh magazine lying on one of the tables. The cover caught her eye, featuring a picture of her and Arthur from the news the previous day, both captured mid-conversation outside the restaurant. The headline read, "New York's Most Eligible Bachelor and the Mysterious Girl: A New Romance?"
Her eyes widened, and she sighed. A romance? She didn't even fully understand Earth relationships, much less one with Arthur, who didn't even seem to like her.
As the day went on, she tried to brush off the rumors, but whispers followed her as she walked down the street. By midday, Astron showed up at the restaurant, a warm smile on his face.
"Aelira!" he greeted her. "Mind if I sit?"
She nodded, gesturing to a chair.
Astron sat, leaning in slightly. "I saw the magazine," he said, giving her a sympathetic look. "It must be uncomfortable to have your name tied to someone like Arthur in the press, especially when things are... complicated."
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Aelira laughed nervously. "It's strange, yes. I just want to help Lou and retrieve something important to me." She hesitated, deciding to keep the details vague. "I didn't expect… this," she admitted, gesturing toward the magazine.
Astron smiled kindly. "That's actually why I'm here. I was hoping to ask if you'd consider joining my team at Langston Enterprises."
She blinked in surprise. "You… want me to work with you?"
"Yes! As my personal secretary. I could use someone sharp and capable like you. Plus," he added, leaning back, "it might help take the focus off those ridiculous rumors. People will see you as a colleague rather than a mystery on the magazine cover."
Aelira bit her lip, considering the offer. This could be her chance to finally search for her lost device, to get closer to Arthur's office and the areas she needed access to. But a new thought made her hesitate.
"Your brother," she murmured, looking down. "Arthur doesn't… particularly like me. Won't he have a problem with me working in his company?"
Astron shrugged, a playful glint in his eye. "Don't worry about Arthur. I'm a partner in the company, which means I have hiring authority. No one, not even my brother, can change my decision once you're on my team."
He smiled, clearly confident in his offer. "You don't have to answer right now, Aelira. But I think you'd be a perfect fit for the role—and you'd have a friend in me, no matter what the rumors say."
Aelira looked into his earnest eyes and felt a surge of gratitude. Astron had been kind from the start, supportive and warm-hearted, unlike his reserved and often skeptical brother.
"Thank you, Astron," she said, her voice soft but sincere. "I… I'd like to accept."
He grinned, clapping his hands together. "Perfect! You'll start tomorrow. I'll have my assistant set up everything you need. We're going to make a great team, Aelira."
As they finalized her new role, Aelira felt a strange combination of excitement and trepidation. She would be working at Langston Enterprises—Arthur's world, a place he valued deeply. But in accepting Astron's offer, she was also choosing to embrace a new path in her search.
And somewhere in her heart, she knew this decision would draw her and Arthur closer—whether he liked it or not.