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CHAPTER TEN: THE COST OF BECOMING
last update2026-10-20 05:58:06

The rich life wasn't as surprising as people said it was.... It was just that you didn't have to worry about resources or welfare.... But when your head is not as aligned with your body the way you need it to be.... Things start getting insane....

FLASHBACK CONT'D

When Perez stepped into Lockwood again after two months, it felt more different... The energy hadn't changed but the way he received it had.... Atleast people glanced with recognition not strangeness.

**********

“Perez"

“Lockwood"

A handshake followed after.... A firm one.... Just as soon, the door opened, Amara walked in quickly like she had been informed that Perez was present.... It had been awhile, of silence. She stepped in until his eyes found hers... And they both caught it.... Something unfinished.

Lockwood gestured "Come in"

Perez looked away, adjusted his shirt, picked up his phone.... Looked at his watch, just to keep his eyes moving..... Lockwood saw it all.

"Amara we were currently about to discuss something"

Amara nodded "I figured... I was just quite surprised that Mr. Perez showed up today"

Perez didn’t look at her again..... Not directly.

"Perhaps if you may join quietly.... We'll also need your opinion on this"

*********

The meeting ended cleanly..... Only for Amara to angrily follow Perez outside the building “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

Perez stopped and turned "What? There was nothing to tell...."

Amara's eyes narrowed "So I don't get a heads up anymore huh"

“There wasn’t meant to be one" Perez shot back

And that came out colder than expected..... "Look I need to go Amara, I wasn't here to cause a scene"

Amara didn't even wait for a completion, she turned on her heels and stormed back inside. Perez stood there for a moment, for the first time, unsure of his how he responded.... He got into his car.... Sighed deeply.... Then a moving figure took his eye to the side mirror, she was focused on her writing, totally unaware of the busy life in the city of San Cordova.... She felt so familiar, well until Perez remembered.... The collision.

Victoria walked past his car still gummed to her note, scribbling and joting in her own world.

"Hope she doesn't run into a streetlight" Perez whispered to himself, he exhaled quietly feeling less heavy now, he started the car and drove off immediately, his mind drifting off once again.

*********

Like the hidden composure wasn't enough.... The obsession began to grow slowly and slowly and so ridiculous and strange for such a situation.... At first, it was curiosity, then awareness, now.... Obsession. Amara stood outside Perez’s penthouse long before she decided to knock, it was 9pm that night.... She had no official reason to be there, no excuse.... Well, she knocked and when the door opened three minutes later, Perez' eyes widened...

"Oh God Amara?"

“What Perez... You can't just ghost me like that because you've suddenly become what I paved way for"

Perez looked at her in confusion.... He stormed right into the house and stubbornly followed.... "So that's what this is? And now you expect me to feel entitled to you?"

"Perez you’ve been different" she said

“Different from what?” he cut in

“From what I expected!” she roared

“You expected something from me? Ahhhh" Perez groaned "I just knew it...mm" "Look when I walked into Lockwood, I didn’t walk in for expectations or affairs... I walked in for work, and what slightly surprised me was the fact that Lockwood was actually your husband when you talked about your partner.... And fuck he knows about all of this already"

Amara shook her head “That’s not what this is about, leave my husband out of this"

Perez looked at her “Then what is?"

That question hung there.

Amara stepped closer “You don’t understand what you do to people"

Perez groaned "Ahhh I don't do anything!" He snapped "I fucking don't!"

Amara grabbed his arm "Perez this tension between us from day one.... Can't you feel it too"

"There is no "us" Amara" he cut in, he brushed her hand off, still trying to remain composed before he starts to remember the dream he had few months ago

“You feel it too.... Or rather you felt it"

Perez stared at her..... Then exhaled “I thought this was business, influence and strategy.... I didn't want to get emotions mixed up with partnership.... I wanted lpurpose, results"

"ENOUGH with your strategy Perez!" Amara yelled

“What I didn’t expect! Was confusion dressed as intent!" He snapped back

"Perez!" Amara rubbed his arm

“Damn you’re married, Amara!" He stepped away from her "I've seen all of this before, a woman appears interested in something and suddenly it becomes something else in her mind, I should've expected this, but you felt different and I let my guard down"

There was a brief silence.

Amara's face twisted, the quiet rejection, the fact he wasn't pulling her closer, stepping into it, defining it.... She stepped back, away from him now, the air between them wasn’t romantic, it wasn't resolved, neither was it soft.... It was something heavier, unfinished. She turned , slowly and then walked out.... The silence returned to Perez..... Not peaceful, but tensed.

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