A Moment to Remember

Aelira left the office after a grueling day. As she reached the crosswalk, she hesitated, watching the endless stream of cars zooming by. The evening traffic was heavy, horns blaring and lights flashing. Her eyes widened as she struggled to find an opening, her feet planted firmly on the sidewalk. Aelira wasn't one to admit fear, but Earth's chaotic traffic was a challenge she hadn't quite mastered.

Across the street, Arthur was in his car, caught in the same traffic. As he glanced out the window, his gaze landed on her, and he couldn't help but be captivated. The way she was cautiously shifting from one foot to the other, a slight crease of worry on her face—there was something oddly endearing about it. He found himself smiling, entertained by this surprising glimpse of her softer side.

Just as he decided to get out and offer to help her cross, everything around him went eerily silent. The sound of engines and honking horns faded away, and Arthur blinked in confusion. The entire world seemed frozen. His eyes darted around, and he saw Aelira standing on the other side of the road in an instant.

He blinked, feeling as if he'd just witnessed something impossible. One second she'd been on his side of the street, and the next… she was across it. A shiver ran through him, and he wondered if his mind was playing tricks on him.

Feeling unsettled, Arthur returned to his car, pulling out his phone as he drove away. He dialed his doctor friend, Dr. Wells, his heartbeat still quickening.

"Hey, Arthur," Dr. Wells greeted. "Everything okay?"

"Uh, yeah… I think." Arthur rubbed his temples. "I… I had another one of those episodes. I was looking at someone across the road, then… everything just stopped, and suddenly she was on the other side. It doesn't make sense."

There was a pause on the other end, and then Dr. Wells replied, "Arthur, it's probably just stress. You've been handling the company alone for so long, and you don't give yourself much of a break."

"Maybe, but it felt so real." Arthur's voice was low, uncertain. "Could it be my memory issues getting worse?"

"Listen, I'll run some tests, but from what I can tell, this sounds more like fatigue than anything else. You need balance in your life. You've been so focused on business—you need something… or someone to help ground you."

Arthur let out a soft, mirthless laugh. "Is that your way of saying I need a relationship?"

"Maybe. You'd be surprised what a difference it could make."

Arthur sighed, glancing out the window as he ended the call. Dr. Wells's advice lingered with him. Aelira's face flashed in his mind, and he shook his head, trying to push away the thought.

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The next morning, Arthur arrived at the office, feeling a little more composed but still somewhat on edge. He sought out Aelira to give her another task, only to find that she wasn't at her desk. Instead, his assistant informed him she was in Astron's office. Mild irritation flickered through him. Why was she with Astron again?

He pulled up the CCTV feed, watching the two of them in Astron's office. He saw Astron talking to her, animated and smiling.

"Aelira, I'm going to participate in the annual art competition this weekend," Astron was saying with a grin. "I need a muse, and you're perfect for it. Could you sit here and strike a pose for me?"

Aelira's laughter echoed softly through the monitor. "Really, Astron? You're going to draw me?"

"Absolutely," Astron said, pulling out a sketchpad. "Come on, sit and try not to laugh. Think of something serious."

Arthur's jaw tightened as he watched Astron sketch Aelira, her expression softening as she held the pose. The sight of them laughing together, sharing that comfortable closeness, made him clench his fists. A pang of possessiveness crept up on him—a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time.

After Astron finished his sketch, Arthur immediately summoned Aelira to his office.

When she walked in, he handed her a stack of files without looking up. "I need these documents organized by department," he said curtly.

Aelira nodded, and as she reached for the files, she miscalculated her step. Her heel slipped on the smooth tile, and she felt herself tipping forward, arms flailing.

In a swift motion, Arthur caught her, pulling her close to keep her from falling. They stood there, mere inches apart, her body pressed against his, his arms firmly around her waist. Their eyes met, and for a long moment, the world around them faded. Aelira felt her heart race, her mind emptying of everything except the warmth of his hold and the way he was looking at her.

Arthur's gaze softened, lingering on her face. His hand moved gently to her cheek, and he leaned in, their faces so close their breaths mingled. Their eyes locked, lips almost touching, caught in a moment of pure, unspoken connection.

Just as their lips were about to meet, a loud, annoyed throat-clearing broke the silence. "Ahem."

They sprang apart like they'd been shocked, both glancing to see Luna standing in the doorway, her arms crossed, an expression of barely concealed irritation on her face.

"Oh, am I interrupting something?" Luna's voice was cold, her eyes flicking disdainfully between them. Her gaze settled on Aelira, narrowing. "I didn't realize you were hiring... so diversely, Arthur."

Aelira took a small step back, feeling the weight of Luna's disapproval. Arthur straightened, his expression shifting back to his usual businesslike demeanor.

"No, Luna. We were just… finishing up some work," Arthur replied smoothly, though his tone was a bit more clipped than usual.

Luna rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Well, I came to invite you to my family's art exhibition. It's this weekend, and we're expecting all of our close partners to attend."

Arthur nodded, though his attention was still drifting back to Aelira. "Of course. I'll be there."

Luna's eyes sharpened. "Great. And just so we're clear—you don't have any other plans, do you?" There was an edge in her voice, a subtle warning.

Arthur hesitated, but he knew he couldn't refuse her invitation. Luna's father was a key business partner, and maintaining that relationship was crucial for their company.

"Yes, I'll be there," he said, trying to hide his reluctance.

Satisfied, Luna turned her gaze back to Aelira, her tone dripping with condescension. "I assume you won't be in attendance. It's a… private event."

Aelira met Luna's stare calmly, unfazed. "I wouldn't want to intrude," she replied with a polite smile, masking her own annoyance.

"Good," Luna said with a smirk. "Arthur, I'll see you Saturday." With that, she swept out of the room, leaving a chill in her wake.

The silence that followed felt thick with tension. Aelira turned to hand Arthur the documents, her fingers brushing his for a brief moment.

"Thank you," Arthur murmured, his gaze lingering on her as she left his office, the earlier moment still fresh in his mind.

As she walked down the hallway, Aelira's heart raced, replaying that almost-kiss in her mind. She barely noticed where she was going, feeling a strange warmth, a spark that both confused and intrigued her.

In his office, Arthur sat back, rubbing his temples, still unsettled by Luna's interruption and the intensity of his moment with Aelira. He tried to refocus on his work, but the memory of her in his arms, her lips so close to his, was impossible to shake.

For the first time in a long while, he found himself wondering if Dr. Wells's advice had some merit.