"What are you doing here, Aron?" she snapped, her irritation finally boiling over.
[A/N: Yes, it's the same Aron from chapter 5, Helga's husband.]
The mer—unfazed and still grinning—leaned casually against the desk, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh, Esme," he said smoothly, "you didn't think I'd let you handle all this on your own, did you?"
Esme's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "You're interfering," she hissed, her voice low but filled with frustration.
The mer just smirked, clearly enjoying her anger. "Interfering? No, love," he said with a wink. "I'm helping. Even if you won't admit it."
"Helping, huh?" Esme shot back, her voice tinged with barely contained anger. She took a few deliberate steps, pacing from one side of the room to the other, attempting to keep herself in check. She turned and faced Aron, her eyes flashing with frustration.
