Aelira arrived at Langston Enterprises with a spring in her step, holding the official authorization letter that Astron had provided. A mix of excitement and nervousness filled her as she approached the towering building, but the feeling quickly soured when she was stopped at the security desk.
"Sorry, ma'am," one of the guards said, eyeing her with mild suspicion. "Arthur Langston gave strict orders. You're not allowed in without clearance."
Aelira held up her appointment letter, speaking confidently. "I'm here as Astron Langston's personal secretary. I have my papers right here."
The guard glanced at her letter but shook his head. "Look, ma'am, papers or not, we can't let you in."
Just as Aelira was about to argue, Astron strode into the lobby, his voice loud and clear. "Hey! What's going on here?" He shot the guards a sharp look. "She's with me. Let her in."
Reluctantly, the guards stepped aside, and Aelira flashed them a triumphant smile as she walked through with Astron beside her.
As they reached the elevator, Astron chatted lightly, trying to make her feel more comfortable in her new role. But the moment the elevator doors opened on the executive floor, they came face-to-face with Arthur. His expression was a mixture of confusion and irritation as he saw Aelira standing next to his brother.
"Aelira? How did you get in here?" Arthur's eyes flicked between her and Astron. "Who authorized this?"
Astron stepped forward, his grin nonchalant. "I did. She's my personal secretary now. I thought you'd be happy for me."
Arthur raised an eyebrow, his skepticism clear. "Happy? You barely take your job seriously, Astron. And now you've hired her?"
Astron shrugged, clearly unfazed. "Whatever you think, bro. She's here to stay. Maybe you should focus on your own responsibilities."
Arthur's mouth twisted into a sarcastic smile. "Sure. But just so you know, if she's working here, she'll need a company ID—and that's up to me." He glanced at Aelira, his eyes daring her to react. "Hope you're ready for the paperwork."
Astron scoffed. "Don't worry, Arthur. I'll handle everything."
Arthur turned on his heel, smirking as he walked away. Aelira watched him go, her heart pounding with a mix of frustration and, to her surprise, admiration. Despite his arrogance, she couldn't help but find him fascinating.
She barely noticed when Astron led her to his office. Once there, he handed her his ID so she could access company resources, smiling warmly. "Let's give you a quick tour and introduce you to the team."
As they walked through the department, Astron greeted a few familiar faces. They glanced curiously at Aelira, whispering among themselves.
"Wait, isn't that the delivery girl from Lou's?"
"Yes, but now she's Astron's personal secretary!" another colleague chimed in.
Astron overheard and chuckled. "Yeah, she was delivering food before. Now she's helping me get this place in shape. Any questions?"
The staff fell silent, nodding respectfully as Astron guided Aelira further. However, they were unaware that Arthur was watching from his office, his eyes narrowed as he observed their easy conversation on the CCTV.
Frowning, Arthur left his office and made his way to Astron's room. He entered, catching them mid-laugh.
"What exactly is going on in here?" Arthur asked, folding his arms, his gaze icy.
Astron and Aelira exchanged a glance before grinning. "Oh, just work," Astron replied smoothly, gesturing to the paperwork on his desk. "We're being very productive, right, Aelira?"
She nodded, barely suppressing a smile. "Very productive."
Arthur's eyes narrowed, his irritation barely concealed. "Right… because sitting around joking is the real secret to productivity. Must be something only you know, Astron."
Ignoring his brother's jab, Astron leaned back, his arms crossed confidently. "If you're so curious, Arthur, you're welcome to stay and help us. Or, you know, go back to whatever it is you do."
Arthur gave a tight smile, masking his frustration. "Actually, I think I'll just give your 'personal secretary' a proper introduction to Langston Enterprises—starting with a few real tasks. Let's see how long she lasts."
Aelira met his gaze with a spark of determination. "Bring it on."
Arthur raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Oh, don't worry. I intend to."
---
Later that Morning
Arthur returned to his office, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. He mentally sifted through a list of projects and upcoming deadlines, organizing an overwhelming set of tasks that would test any new hire.
Meanwhile, back in Astron's office, Aelira settled into her desk, but her mind drifted to Arthur—his intense gaze, his dismissive attitude, and the challenge he seemed eager to impose on her.
Astron noticed her distracted and nudged her playfully. "Thinking about my charming brother, aren't you?"
Aelira blinked, flustered. "What? No, I—"
Astron chuckled. "Hey, don't worry. Arthur acts tough, but deep down, he's… well, let's just say there's a heart somewhere under all that cynicism."
Aelira looked down, fiddling with a pen. "He doesn't make it easy to see."
Astron leaned back, sighing. "It's not easy. He's had a rough time, especially since our mom died. That was… hard on all of us."
Aelira glanced at him, her curiosity piqued. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Astron shrugged, his usual lightheartedness dimming. "Yeah. I think he buries himself in work to avoid feeling too much. But don't let his attitude get to you. He's always looking for someone he can trust—he just doesn't know how to show it."
Aelira smiled, her heart softening a little. "Thanks for the advice, Astron."
He returned her smile and stood up. "Anytime. And hey, good luck with those 'real tasks.' You're going to need it."
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