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CHAPTER FIVE: ENVY AND DOUBT
last update2026-10-20 05:54:32

Success usually didn't come easily for Perez.... Sometimes it started with doubts, envy, jealousy, from other people who never really knew what he was really capable of. Nevertheless he always had his way of proving it to them.

THE TOOL ROOM

The doors slid open... everything felt familiar. Not the people, but the environment.... Perez stepped inside slowly, eyes scanning the room. Machines were lined up properly.... disassembled parts waiting to become something functional again, he moved closer to the workstation, brushing his fingers on one equipment... Understanding its weight and its balance. Then he quickly corrected a misalignment.

A nearby worker paused and watched him.... Then another and it didn't take long, the others noticed him.... Not because he was trying to stand out, but he wasn't hesitating.

One of the workers frowned and stepped forward

“Hey! You new here?”

Perez didn’t look up “Something like that"

More eyes turned to him... Few of them exchanged questioning looks, then footsteps approached.

The Head of Staff, Stanton Grey. An older, more experienced kind of man who didn’t waste words on guesses “Where did you learn that?” he asked

Perez turned to him “I picked it up"

Stanton studied him. Then he reached out for his tablet  and pulled up something “This project.... For Lockwood’s next public display"

That immediately got attention. Stanton turned the screen to Perez “A system integration prototype. Still unstable, will need refinement"

Perez’ eyes moved over it and nodded

“You’ll work on it" That changed the room

“No!” another worker stepped forward

“He just got here" The murmurs started.... “He’s not even...”

"This isn’t something you hand over to someone like that"

There were agreements, there were disapprovals....

Tension began.

Perez didn’t react to them.... He looked at Stanton instead "Leave it to me"

The room went quiet.... Stanton raised his brow in surprise.... "I guess you understand what this is"

“Yes"

“Deadline is two weeks, this would be big" Stanton said

“That’s fine"

Somewhere behind Perez, someone scoffed, another shook his head, another whispered to the other

"So unreal....."

“Guy just walked in…”

“Thinks he can....”

But Perez didn’t turn, he didn't acknowledge any of it, he didn't let it bother him.... But he could feel the energy shifting around him.

Doubt.

Envy.

***********

DOWN THE HALLWAY

Two weeks. The number followed him out of the tool room.... two weeks to prove something they don't think he can do.... Perez exhaled slowly.... If they expected him to fail, then they were finally looking at him.

Just as he turned a corner, he walked straight into Amara.... A soft impact made them stepped back quickly away from each other.... Amara steadied herself "Alejandro" she brightened up by the sight of him

“Perez” he corrected, calmly

Something about that made her smile.

“Perez" she repeated.... “I was actually coming to see you, I wanted to ask if you’d join me for dinner"

They gazed at each other for a second.... Amara's eyes shifted to his lips.... Lockwood's voice immediately echoed faintly in Perez' mind 'You should understand where you stand here'

“I can’t" he replied

Amara blinked, she wasn't offended though

“I have a deadline” Perez added “I’ve been assigned a prototype, for the Lockwood display?"

Her brows lifted “That was fast. Impressive"

“Two weeks.... I was given two weeks" Perez added

She nodded slowly “Okay.... another time, then?”

Perez hesitated. Not because he wanted to say no.... he didn’t know what yes meant yet. He just shrugged..... “Uhmm goodbye, Amara"

And just like that, he walked past her. No second glances, just distance.

Amara stood there still smiling.... Until she wasn't. Her smile was replaced by something more curious.... "Hmmm" how uncomfortable he acted.

*********

OUTSIDE

The sun was high... It wasn't even two seconds of feeling the relief from the tension inside Lockwood.... Perez collided into someone again "Ah!" Both of them stumbled backwards.... Perez let out a sharp annoyed breath “Why is it always me...?”

“I’m so sorry... I wasn’t looking” the young lady apologized, hurriedly picking up her scattered notepads from the floor

“It’s.... Fine” Perez said, though his tone carried leftover frustration, then, unexpectedly “I’m sorry too"

He paused after saying it. Why did he say that?

She finally looked up at him “It’s okay”

Perez gave a small nod and walked away.... The lady clutched her notepad to her chest, then another voice called after her....

“Victoria!”

Her friend, Ruby, came rushing towards her “What happened? Saw you from the distance packing those fallen notes...."

Victoria glanced in the direction Perez had gone, he was halfway down "It's fine, Ruby... I just bumped into someone coming out of Lockwood... That guy"

Ruby frowned “You’re always in your head, I swear"

Victoria smiled and chuckled “Maybe, I mean I wasn't even looking"

They started walking together. Victoria glanced back at that direction.... She exhaled slowly and turned to Ruby, then they finally walked away. Something about that moment didn’t feel like something that would just pass.

On the other hand, Perez slowed his steps.... Then stopped, turned his head.... Actually looked back.... Caught a glimpse of Victoria walking away with Ruby.... Nothing dramatic, he shook his head. Right now he needed focus.... Just two weeks.

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