2026-10-21 20:42:34One afternoon, Victoria sat alone in a small café a few blocks away from Aurex' headquarters. Her laptop was open and her notebook laid beside it, several pages were scattered across the table; each filled with crossed-out words, written ideas, unfinished sentences. The article was slowly taking shape, she tapped her pen against the table then began typing again....
"Success changes people or perhaps it simply reveals who they were all along" She stopped, no, deleted it.... "Behind every growing empire is a person learning how to carry the weight of becoming visible" She paused, better but still not on point.... She leaned back in her chair and sighed. Why was this so difficult? She had written dozens of articles before yet this one felt strangely personal. The TV screen lit up and caught her attention, it displayed the past clips on Perez' wonder works at Lockwood.... There was always someone standing beside him in most pictures, her name was boldly casted on the screen, Amara Vale. Victoria continued watching, her standing near Perez, admiring him.... there was something about the way she had looked at Perez and the way Perez had looked back too.... Victoria opened her notebook, she wrote a single word, underlined it and smiled faintly.... Maybe she was also writing about the people orbiting Perez' empire, the people drawn toward it, the people trying to understand the man standing at its center. With this her questions only multiplied. *********** BACK AT AUREX, EVENING Almost everyone had gone home.... The office remained quiet as evening came by.... Victoria sat back in her desk staring at the same paragraph for almost the hundredth time. Five deleted intros, no progress.... She continuously rubbed her eyes and stretched her shoulders, she yawned and continued reading.... The clock on her screen caught her attention. 9:43 p.m Her eyes widened "Seriously?" Shortly, she heard footsteps approaching.... Perez was quite as surprised as she was to still be at work till that time "Woah what are you still doing here?" He questioned He had loosened the cuffs of his shirt and now looked less guarded.... Victoria laughed awkwardly "I think I should be asking you the same question sir" He glanced at her laptop "The article?" She nodded, Perez looked around the nearly empty floor "Everyone left hours ago...." "So I've noticed" Just a few seconds, the smallest smile appeared "You should probably go home Victoria" "I'd say the same to you Sir" Perez shrugged "Well I own the company" She laughed and this time he gave a low chuckle.... It felt so genuine and that changed the atmosphere..... It didn't feel like a billionaire standing in front of a journalist, it just felt... Normal. Victoria finally closed her laptop "Can I ask you something?" "Ask your question" "What did you want to be when you were younger?" Perez turned to her "That's your question?" She nodded "I just wanted peace" Perez concluded "Peace? That's all?" She studied him carefully "What about you?" he asked "I've always wanted to write" "Hmmmm..." Perez folded his arms and with that the conversation continued.... They talked... About life, favourite places to be, little things that brought peace and some how Victoria forgot herself, she forgot she was supposed to be professional, that she was working.... Because with every word she smiled and Perez noticed.... He noticed everything and that exactly changed his expression suddenly.... The smile disappeared, his posture straightened, the distance returned. He looked at his wristwatch "You should get home Miss Carter" Professionalism returned. The shift was so sudden it left Victoria confused "What?" "I meant it's getting late" "Oh" she straightened, slowly gathered her notebook and laptop.... Had she said anything wrong? She wondered "Tomorrow's schedule starts early too" The professional voice. The guarded voice. Victoria's smile faded "Right Sir" His eyes met hers, something softened but then it disappeared "It was a conversation, Miss Carter" The words weren't harsh but it created distance.. "Of course" Victoria replied forcing a smile Perez opened the door and walked ahead "Good night, Victoria" Victoria couldn't speak for a second, but when Perez was out of sight her heart beat slowed.... "Good night "she whispered to herself ******* As Perez walked out to his car, he kept mouthing the words 'Careful.... Focus' Careful. Focus. Because he recognized the signs. He remembered Natasha. He remembered Amara. He remembered every complicated situation he had spent months trying to leave behind. And he wasn't doing this again. Yet he found himself remembering the sound of Victoria's laughter and the she spoke about her writing.... He closed his eyes and shook his head. No. That's all it was. *********** Victoria still smiled slightly when she unlocked the apartment door. Ruby was always waiting for her in the living room... For the final gist of the night. "Oh, no!" Ruby exclaimed Victoria looked up and chuckled "I have no idea what you're talking about" "Sure" "Oh, this is getting worse" Ruby said, then snapped her fingers "The article?" Victoria looked up, then looked away, her smile faded "Oh" "Have you finished it?" "No.... I don't think I'm going to publish it" Ruby's eyes widened "Joker" "Victoria Aurex specifically invited you to write" "I know" "And now you're turning it down?" How could she even explain something, something she didn't fully understand herself? Because the article had stopped feeling like an assignment and started feeling personal. She swallowed, she wasn't looking at him as a story anymore.... She was looking at him as a persona and that was changing everything "Victoria?" Ruby snapped her out of it "I'm listening" As soon as Ruby started talking she zoned out again... Yet Perez didn't seem interested. He had made it clear about business. "Victoria!" She jumped. Ruby laughed "You disappeared again!" "Sorry I mean the article doesn't feel good enough" Victoria replied Ruby narrowed her eyes. Victoria reached for her notebook and showed Ruby her half-finished paragraphs, crossed-out sentences and ideas..... "Oh Victoria" Ruby hugged her "C'mon you'll need some help on this"
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CHAPTER SIXTEEN: DISTANCE IS THE BARRIER
The change was subtle, it wasn't obvious to the people inside Aurex.... But it was to Victoria, Perez no longer stopped by her desk, their conversations after meetings had become shorter, their casual exchange that had somehow become part of her routine vanished... He made it seem completely natural."Miss Carter, Mr. Perez would like you to review these documents"A messenger. Again. Victoria accepted the folder and thanked the assistant.Two weeks ago, he would've brought it himself.Two weeks ago, he would've asked for her opinion.Two weeks ago, he might have stayed for a conversation.She glanced towards the executive floor. His office door was closed, she lowered her eyes and returned to her work.... If that was how he wanted things to be, she could play that game, too.************The following day wasn't much different. One- word answers: "Good morning""Morning""The article has been approved""Okay""Did you receive the updated report?""Yes"And by the end of the week, sh
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: UNSCRIPTED
The days that followed became strangely familiar. Victoria would walk into Aurex and Perez would already be there. Well of course, but then she would turn a cand he'd be walking out of an elevator or she would be reviewing notes in the lounge, and he'd appear beside the coffee machine. It was almost ridiculous and yet neither of them ever mentioned it.They simply exchanged glances, a nod, a greeting, then continued with their day.... Professional and controlled, atleast that's what Perez was telling himself.... Because Victoria was becoming a distraction, a dangerous one. Because unlike Natasha and Amara, she wasn't demanding anything from him, neither was she chasing nor trying to pull him into a complicated situation. She was simply there.*******That evening, Perez walked out of his office with a file tucked beneath his arms, most of the building was empty as the cleaning staff started moving through the hallways..... The lights were switched off in most of the offices then he no
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: BETWEEN THE LINES
The article was finally finished or at least, Victoria had finally convinced herself to stop rewriting it, thanks to Ruby. It took three days, seven drafts and countless edits.... Plus an unhealthy amount of coffee. She finally sat at her desk staring at the final version of the article, her finger hovered over the mouseSubmit.Her eyes scanned the first few lines one last time, finally she inhaled deeply and then clicked the button. The article was officially published and there was no taking it back*********Response was immediate, employees started discussing about it, most praised it and the media team circulated it..... People started sharing it, this should've made Victoria happy but it left her nervous instead because one person hadn't read it. Few hours later, her phone vibrated.... 'Mr. Perez would like to see you in his office'Victoria's heart skipped..... She quickly stood up and headed right away. Before she reached she had already imagined at least twenty different wa
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE QUIET EXPLORER
One afternoon, Victoria sat alone in a small café a few blocks away from Aurex' headquarters. Her laptop was open and her notebook laid beside it, several pages were scattered across the table; each filled with crossed-out words, written ideas, unfinished sentences. The article was slowly taking shape, she tapped her pen against the table then began typing again...."Success changes people or perhaps it simply reveals who they were all along"She stopped, no, deleted it.... "Behind every growing empire is a person learning how to carry the weight of becoming visible"She paused, better but still not on point.... She leaned back in her chair and sighed.Why was this so difficult? She had written dozens of articles before yet this one felt strangely personal.The TV screen lit up and caught her attention, it displayed the past clips on Perez' wonder works at Lockwood.... There was always someone standing beside him in most pictures, her name was boldly casted on the screen, Amara Vale.
CHAPTER TWELVE: LIES OF THE HEART
PRESENT DAYVictoria’s article had spread faster than she expected. Virally, within days, Aurex Systems was no longer just another rising tech name in San Cordova, it had become the name people associated with the City’s newest wave of powera and attached to it Alejandro Perez. By this time Natasha and Amara had become history enough to make him put on layers by layers.The invitation came directly from Aurex Media Division, it was access to Aurex itself.... Victoria stepped inside following the staff towards the interview room.... Where Perez himself sat with fellow broadcasters. When she stepped in their eyes met briefly.... Briefly not noticeable, not even enough to recognize.... “Miss Carter” someone from the media team said, gesturing for her to sit.She did, across from Perez..... And the interview began.... Victoria spoke clearly about her writing, her perspective, how she found stories in patterns people ignored and how she found a voice in Aurex systems itself....Perez lean
CHAPTER ELEVEN: ECHOES OF ATTRACTION
There's always a time when everything should be put to a stop.... Every desire, temptation, history, and conflict. Perez couldn't let his guard down by falling for any of it, despite the dreams he had. He had to put a stop to its matters.FLASHBACK CONT'DIt just took a notification to make him realize what would have thrown him off guard if it were months ago.... A message from his unfinished past, the heiress.... He stared at his phone screen which glowed with a message from Alex.... Natasha's driver "She wants to speak with you? Mr Perez""Time to put an end to this for good" Perez whispered to himself *********An hour later, he was sitting across from her in a quiet lounge. Natasha hadn't changed... She still remained the smug, seductive and irresistible young lady who could pull the strings of any young man she wanted."You've done well for yourself...." she saidPerez almost smiled, he leaned back in his chair "what made you reach out? Is it because you've probably seen me on
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