The restaurant was eerily quiet, a shadow of its former bustling self, as Lou prepared to temporarily close its doors. The once-lively atmosphere felt suffocating under the weight of rumors and fake news. Lou placed the last chair atop a table, letting out a weary sigh. Aelira watched him, her heart heavy with guilt and sadness.
"Lou…" she started, unsure how to express her feelings.
Lou offered a faint, exhausted smile. "Aelira, this isn't your fault. It's the world we live in—one headline, one rumor, and everything can fall apart. I just need some time to think and clear my head. I think it's best if we close the restaurant for a little while."
"But Lou," Aelira protested, determination sparking in her eyes, "we can't just give up like this."
Lou shook his head, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Sometimes, it's best to step back. Just for a while." With that, he picked up his jacket, gave her one last reassuring nod, and walked out of the restaurant.
Aelira's heart ached as she watched Lou leave. She had grown attached to the place, and seeing it fall apart hurt more than she could express. Her shapeshifting assistant, now in his canine form, sat beside her, watching Lou disappear down the street.
"What do we do now?" Aelira murmured, feeling lost.
The assistant barked softly, his words ringing in her mind: "If we want to set things right, we need to talk to Arthur. Apologize and see if he can help."
Aelira's eyes brightened with renewed resolve. "You're right! Maybe if I explain everything, Arthur will understand. Maybe he'll even help us clear Lou's name."
With determination, Aelira marched to Arthur's office. But when she reached the sleek building, the security guards blocked her way.
"Sorry, miss," one of the guards said firmly. "You don't have an appointment, and Mr. Langston has instructed us not to let anyone disturb him."
"But I need to see him. Please, it's important!" she insisted.
The guard crossed his arms, unmoved. "Without an appointment, there's nothing we can do. You'll have to leave."
Frustrated and defeated, Aelira turned and left. Back at the restaurant, she paced outside the door, wringing her hands. She couldn't let it end like this. Then, an idea struck her—if Arthur wouldn't see her, maybe she could clear Lou's name herself.
"I say we reopen the restaurant for one day," her assistant suggested. "We'll serve the food ourselves and prove that it's safe."
Aelira's eyes sparkled with determination. "Yes! We'll get Nancy to help, and we'll show everyone Lou's food is perfectly safe."
Later that day, Aelira, her assistant, and Nancy threw open the restaurant's doors, inviting curious passersby inside. Aelira stood confidently in front of a small crowd, speaking passionately.
"Look! I'm eating the same food that people say is dangerous, and nothing's happening to me!"
Nancy nodded in support. "Lou's food is as safe as ever! This whole scandal was a misunderstanding."
As Aelira boldly took a bite of the seafood dish, cameras flashed. Reporters arrived, broadcasting the event live. Aelira held up her plate with a smile, making her point clear.
"See? There's nothing wrong with Lou's food. It's safe, and this scandal has been blown out of proportion."
Back at his office, Arthur glanced at the TV, surprised to see Aelira standing up for Lou. A flicker of admiration crossed his face, mingled with guilt. Without hesitation, he grabbed his coat and rushed to the restaurant.
When Arthur entered, Aelira was surprised. The cameras turned to him as he approached, his expression composed yet resolute.
He addressed the reporters. "I want to clarify something. The seafood incident was my fault. I'm allergic to seafood and mistakenly ate it without realizing. Lou's restaurant isn't to blame for what happened."
Aelira looked at him, her gratitude unspoken but deeply felt.
Arthur nodded toward her, his tone softening. "And thank you, Aelira, for standing up for Lou. Not everyone would have done that."
With that, he left the restaurant quietly, leaving behind a wave of relief and hope. The news coverage shifted to praise Lou's restaurant and the courage of its staff.
That evening, as Aelira and Nancy closed up, Nancy smiled warmly. "We did it, Aelira. Lou's restaurant will survive."
The morning sun streamed through the blinds of Lou's restaurant, casting warm shadows over the tables. Aelira glanced at a magazine lying on one of them, the cover catching her eye. It featured a photo of her and Arthur from the news the previous day, both mid-conversation outside the restaurant. The headline read, "New York's Most Eligible Bachelor and the Mysterious Girl: A New Romance?"
Aelira's eyes widened, and she sighed. A romance? She barely understood Earth relationships, much less a romance with Arthur, who didn't even seem to like her.
As the day wore on, she tried to brush off the rumors, but whispers followed her wherever she went. By midday, Astron appeared at the restaurant, his warm smile easing her nerves.
"Aelira," he greeted, "mind if I sit?"
She nodded, gesturing for him to join her.
Astron leaned in slightly, giving her a sympathetic look. "I saw the magazine. It must be uncomfortable to have your name tied to someone like Arthur, especially when things are… complicated."
Aelira laughed nervously. "It's strange. I just want to help Lou and find something important to me. I didn't expect this," she admitted, gesturing toward the magazine.
Astron smiled kindly. "That's actually why I'm here. I was hoping to ask if you'd consider joining my team at Langston Enterprises."
She blinked in surprise. "You want me to work with you?"
"Yes! As my personal secretary. I could use someone sharp like you. Plus," he added with a grin, "it might help shift the focus away from these silly rumors."
Aelira bit her lip, thinking. This could be her chance to get closer to Arthur's office and search for her lost device. But a new thought made her hesitate.
"Your brother," she murmured, "Arthur doesn't… particularly like me. Won't he have a problem with me working at his company?"
Astron shrugged, a playful glint in his eye. "Don't worry about Arthur. I'm a partner at Langston Enterprises. Once you're on my team, no one—not even my brother—can change that."
He smiled, confident. "You don't have to answer right away, but I think you'd be perfect for the job. And you'll have a friend in me, no matter what the rumors say."
Aelira met his kind gaze, gratitude welling up inside her. Astron had been warm and supportive, unlike his often distant and skeptical brother.
"Thank you, Astron," she said softly. "I… I'd like to accept."
He grinned. "Perfect! You'll start tomorrow. My assistant will set everything up. We're going to make a great team, Aelira."
As they finalized her new role, Aelira felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. Working at Langston Enterprises brought her closer to Arthur's world—and to her goal. Yet, somewhere deep down, she knew this decision would draw her closer to Arthur in unexpected ways.