A Disguise and a Close Encounter
The following morning, Aelira arrived at the grand corporate building once again, tasked with another food delivery for the same company. Standing at the entrance, she waited patiently, explaining her purpose to the guards, who eyed her warily. Her attire was simple—casual clothes that she'd pieced together with Nancy's help—but it still made her stand out among the suit-clad professionals who frequented the building.
Just as she was about to enter, a familiar voice caught her off guard. Arthur had arrived at the office entrance, and his sharp gaze landed on her. He frowned, clearly displeased. "Why are you letting delivery workers like her inside?" he asked the security guards, his tone clipped and unimpressed.
Aelira felt a pang of embarrassment but also an odd flicker of irritation. With a quick glance around to ensure no one was watching, she used a subtle suggestion power to convince the guards to let her pass. They nodded, suddenly agreeable, and she slipped inside, smiling slightly at Arthur's baffled expression as she moved out of sight.
Later that day, another delivery request came in from the same company, but this time it was a special order made by Arthur's younger brother, Astron. She arrived at the office, and a young man with tousled hair and an exasperated expression greeted her. Astron introduced himself and quickly explained his predicament.
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"My brother, Arthur, is convinced I should spend all day here doing something creative like drawing," he muttered. "I mentioned it once, years ago, and now he thinks I'm some artist at heart. The truth is, I'd rather be doing anything else. Can you help me get out of here for a while?"
Aelira, always ready to help, nodded. With Astron's guidance, she quickly dressed in a hoodie and baseball cap he handed her, completing the disguise. She settled in at the desk, pretending to be engrossed in sketching as Astron slipped out.
Minutes later, Arthur himself entered the room, glancing at "Astron" to check if his brother was indeed focused on his "creative work." Aelira kept her head down, pretending to concentrate as she doodled random shapes on the paper. But she sensed Arthur's suspicion growing; his eyes narrowed, and he slowly walked toward her.
In a bold move, Arthur reached out and tapped her shoulder. Startled, Aelira looked up, meeting his gaze for a split second before realizing her cover was blown. Arthur's eyes widened as he recognized her, his expression shifting from surprise to confusion.
Without missing a beat, Aelira grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the door, muttering, "Sorry, but I need to go!" She led him out of the room, her heart racing as she tried to think of a way to make a quick exit.
In a flash, she slipped out of his grip, darted down the hallway, and teleported to a safe distance outside the building. Her heart was pounding, both from the close call and the undeniable thrill of being so near Arthur again. She couldn't shake the feeling that her life on Earth was becoming increasingly intertwined with his, and she wondered how much longer she could keep her true identity a secret.
Meanwhile, Arthur stood in the hallway, thoroughly bewildered by the mysterious delivery girl who seemed to appear and vanish at the most unexpected moments.