New Beginnings, New Challenges

Aelira arrived at Langston Enterprises with a spring in her step, carrying the official authorization letter Astron had provided her. She approached the building, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves, but as she neared the security desk, the guards blocked her path.

"Sorry, ma'am," one of the guards said, glancing at her with mild suspicion. "Arthur Langston gave strict orders. You're not allowed in without clearance."

Aelira held up her appointment letter, speaking confidently. "I'm here as Astron Langston's personal secretary. I have my appointment papers right here."

The guard looked at her doubtfully, then shook his head. "Look, ma'am, papers or not, we can't let you in."

Just as Aelira was about to protest further, Astron himself strode into the lobby, his voice ringing out, "Hey! What's going on here?" He shot a glare at the guards. "She's with me. Let her in."

Reluctantly, the guards stepped aside, and Aelira gave them a triumphant smile as she walked through with Astron at her side.

They reached the elevator, and Astron chatted lightly about her new role, trying to make her feel comfortable. But the elevator doors slid open on another floor, and there stood Arthur, his expression a mix of confusion and irritation as he caught sight of Aelira beside his brother.

"Aelira? How did you get into my office?" Arthur's gaze shifted between her and his brother. "Who authorized this?"

Astron stepped forward, grinning with an air of nonchalance. "I did. She's my personal secretary now. I thought you'd be happy for me, Arthur."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, giving his brother a pointed look. "Happy? You don't even take your job seriously, Astron. And now you've hired her?"

Astron shrugged, refusing to be baited. "Whatever you think, bro. She's here to stay. So maybe you should focus on your own responsibilities."

Arthur's mouth twisted into a sarcastic smile. "Sure, sure. But just so you know, if she's working here, she'll need company ID—and that's up to me." He cast a glance at Aelira, almost daring her to react. "Hope you're ready for the paperwork."

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Astron scoffed. "Oh, don't worry about that, Arthur. I'll get her everything she needs."

Arthur turned away, a smirk on his face as he walked off. Aelira watched him go, her heart pounding in a mix of frustration and admiration, unable to shake her fascination with him despite his arrogance.

In her daydream, she barely noticed as Astron led her to his office. Once there, he handed her his ID so she could access the company resources, smiling. "Let's give you a quick tour and introduce you to the team."

As they walked through the department, Astron stopped to greet a few familiar faces. They glanced curiously at Aelira, whispering amongst themselves.

"Wait, isn't that the delivery girl from Lou's?"

"Yes, but now she's Astron's personal secretary!" another colleague chimed in.

Astron chuckled, overhearing them. "Yeah, she was delivering food before. Now, she's helping me get this place in shape. Any questions?"

They fell silent, nodding in respect as Astron guided Aelira further. However, little did they know that Arthur was watching them both from his office, his eyes narrowed in suspicion as he observed their laughter and easy conversation on the CCTV.

Frowning, he left his office, making his way to Astron's room. He opened the door, catching them mid-laugh.

"What exactly is going on in here?" Arthur asked, folding his arms, his gaze icy.

Astron and Aelira exchanged a glance, then grinned. "Oh, just work," Astron replied smoothly, gesturing to the paperwork on the desk. "We're being very productive, right, Aelira?"

She nodded, barely suppressing a smile. "Very productive."

Arthur's eyes narrowed as he looked at them, the corner of his mouth twitching in annoyance. "Right… because sitting around joking is the real secret to productivity. Must be something only you know, Astron."

Ignoring his brother's jab, Astron leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed confidently. "If you're so curious, Arthur, you're welcome to stay and help us. Or, you know, go back to whatever it is you do."

Arthur gave a tight smile, masking his irritation. "Actually, I think I'll just give your 'personal secretary' here a proper introduction to Langston Enterprises—starting with a few real tasks. Let's see how long she lasts."

Aelira looked up, meeting his gaze with a spark of determination. "Bring it on."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Oh, don't worry. I intend to."

Later that Morning

Arthur returned to his office, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. He thought through a list of projects and upcoming deadlines, mentally organizing an overwhelming set of tasks that would have any new hire scrambling.

Meanwhile, back in Astron's office, Aelira settled into her desk, but her mind drifted to Arthur's intense gaze, his dismissive attitude, and the challenge he seemed so determined to impose.

Astron noticed her lost in thought and nudged her. "Thinking about my charming brother, aren't you?"

Aelira blinked, flustered. "What? No, I—"

Astron chuckled. "Hey, don't worry. Arthur acts tough, but deep down, he's… well, let's just say there's a heart somewhere under all that cynicism."

Aelira looked down, fiddling with a pen. "He certainly doesn't make it easy to see."

Astron leaned back, sighing. "It's not easy. He's had a rough time, especially since our mom died. That was… hard on all of us."

Aelira looked at him, curiosity piqued. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Astron shrugged, his usual levity dimming. "Yeah. I think he uses work to keep himself from feeling too much. But don't let his attitude get to you. He's always looking for someone he can trust—he just doesn't know how to show it."

Aelira smiled, her heart softening. "Thanks for the advice, Astron."

He returned her smile, standing up. "Anytime. And hey, good luck with those 'real tasks.' You're going to need it."