Missteps and Second Chances
Aelira had successfully made her way into Arthur's home, her plan falling perfectly into place. Arthur, though still suspicious, grudgingly allowed her to stay the night in the guest room, under the watchful eye of his staff. But as midnight settled over the house, Aelira slipped quietly from her room, determined to resume her search for the device.
Silent as a shadow, she crept into Arthur's bedroom, glancing around for any sign of her lost technology. Her heart pounded with each step, knowing she had to be quick and cautious. Just as she was about to open a desk drawer, the door swung open. Arthur stood there, his expression a mix of shock and anger.
"What are you doing in my room?" he demanded, his voice sharp and unyielding.
Caught off guard, Aelira's mind raced for an excuse. Desperately, she put on a bold smile, hoping to disarm him. "Arthur... you're so cute. I like you," she blurted out impulsively, hoping to distract him from her intrusion.
Arthur's face hardened with distaste. "I'm not interested in games," he replied coldly. Without hesitation, he called for security, instructing them to escort her out of the compound immediately.
Aelira found herself standing outside, humiliated and frustrated. Her plan had failed, her chance had slipped away, and her device remained out of reach.
The next morning, Astron woke up and immediately asked about Aelira. "Where's she gone?" he asked Arthur, confusion in his voice.
"I had security remove her from the house," Arthur said curtly, clearly uninterested in discussing the matter further. "And as for you, get back to your drawing," he added before heading off to his office.
Meanwhile, at Lou's restaurant, the morning rush was in full swing when a new order came in from Arthur's company. This time, Arthur's assistant had placed the request, ensuring everything was professionally arranged.
Nancy, Lou's daughter, decided that Aelira would handle the delivery. "Why don't you take the scooter?" she suggested with a smile. Aelira nodded, though she'd never driven one before. But her determination to make up for her mistakes outweighed her hesitation.
Navigating the scooter through the city streets was harder than she'd anticipated, and as she neared Arthur's office, she lost control, skidding off the road. The delivery tumbled into a drainage pathway, the food ruined. As she sat by the side of the road, tears welled up in her eyes. The disappointment and frustration of her repeated failures felt overwhelming.
Just then, a familiar car approached. Arthur, who happened to be passing by, noticed her and instructed his driver to stop. Stepping out, he walked toward her, his expression softer than before, a mix of concern and surprise.
"What happened?" he asked, his tone gentler than usual. "Why are you crying?"
Aelira looked up, her cheeks flushed as she explained, "I was delivering food to your office, but I lost control of the scooter... and the food fell into the drainage. I messed it all up."
Arthur watched her for a moment, sensing her genuine sadness and frustration. Despite his lingering suspicion about her, there was something about her vulnerability and honesty that caught him off guard.
Aelira returned to Lou's restaurant with her head hung low, explaining to Lou what had happened. Lou, though visibly irritated, sighed and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Alright," he said, his tone resigned but understanding, "if you want to make this right, go back to Arthur's company and get the entire order again. This time, no mistakes."