Page 58 of Her Alien Owner

With the interview wrapped up and the last of the swings secured into place, Ariana and I step back to admire our handiwork. The children can barely contain their excitement as we finally give them the go-ahead.

They rush forward with joyous screams, filling the air with laughter as they climb the new jungle gym and race down slides.

“Look at them,” Ariana murmurs beside me. “They’re so happy.”

“Yeah,” I say quietly. “And they deserve it.”

She turns to face me fully, her expression thoughtful. “So do we.”

Her words hang between us for a moment before I lean down and kiss her softly on the lips.

As we pull apart, a burst of laughter from nearby children fills our ears—a sound more precious than any promise spoken aloud.

For once in my life, surrounded by joy and renewal, I feel like everything might just be okay.

Ariana nudges me with her elbow and whispers, "That's Mayor Colton, he's in charge of this district. But I've never seen him here before."

I glance at the approaching figure. He’s a stout man, dressed in an immaculate suit that contrasts sharply with the dilapidated surroundings of Armstrong. His smile is wide but doesn’t reach his eyes.

"Mr. Valen, a pleasure to meet you," he says, extending a hand. "I’m Mayor Colton."

I grip his hand firmly, noting the sweat on his brow. "Mayor," I reply curtly.

He glances at the children playing, then back at me. "This is quite the project you’ve undertaken here. Truly commendable. I've always said corporations are our most valuable resource on Armstrong."

"Glad you think so," I say, my tone flat. Ariana stands beside me, her presence a quiet reminder of why we’re doing this.

Colton clears his throat. "I wanted to discuss a potential endorsement for my re-election campaign. Your support would mean a great deal."

I raise an eyebrow. "Why did it take so long for someone to create a safe space for these kids? Seems like this park should have been a priority."

His smile falters slightly. "Well, funding and resources have been tight since the war ended..."

"Funny," I cut in, "seems like there’s always money for election campaigns and new office renovations."

Colton shifts uncomfortably. "What exactly are you looking for? A tax break? Special land access?"

"Do right by your community," I say, my voice low but firm. "We’ll see about that endorsement then."

Ariana’s eyes widen slightly as she looks up at me, impressed. She steps forward, her voice steady but tinged with curiosity. "Mayor Colton, what plans do you have to ensure places like this park get the attention they need?"

He fumbles for words before regaining his composure. "We’re looking into several initiatives to allocate more resources to community projects..."

"Looking into?" I echo, crossing my arms over my chest.

Colton swallows hard. "Yes, Mr. Valen. I assure you, we’re committed to making significant changes."

"We’ll hold you to that," I reply, letting the weight of my words hang in the air.

The mayor nods hastily and excuses himself, promising to follow up with detailed plans.

As he walks away, Ariana turns to me, gratitude and admiration in her eyes. "Thank you for standing up for us... for this community."

I give her a small nod. "Someone has to."

Her hand finds mine briefly before she pulls away with a shy smile. The warmth of her touch lingers as we watch the children play in the park—a small victory in a world still healing from its scars.

Back at the estate, Ariana and I settle into the grand library. The scent of old books mingles with the faint aroma of freshly brewed tea. Ariana paces, her brow furrowed in thought.