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CHAPTER THREE: TEMPTATIONS AND INTRIGUED
last update2026-10-20 05:53:38

One thing that often affected Perez throughout his past was one of many. Matters of the Heart. After he escaped Natasha's web.... He thought that was the end of it. But it wasn't.

FLASHBACK,

PEREZ' APARTMENT

Perez sat near his window one morning, looking out at San Cordova like it owed him something. Natasha's face still lingered in his mind. He let out a small breath.... Most situations like that were just offerings dressed as opportunities.... Conversationa that always circled back to what he could become if he just agreed to be less of himself. He had tried to be composed and respectful, and this time something felt different.

"Maybe I’ve been trying too hard to survive in rooms I was never meant to shrink inside" he said to himself

He got up, he didn't feel like staying locked in again.... He felt like moving, actually moving, he finally realized that San Cordova was something he needed to understand.

************

The city was alive in so many ways. The honking of cars were heard, people moving through crowds.... To one business or the other. Perez walked without destination, just his footsteps leaving traces behind him, until..... a sudden movement cut across his path.

“Ah!”

A woman stepped out too fast from a parked car, her arms were full of files that eventually collapsed on the floor.... The papers scattered like sand “Argh seriously…” she muttered under her breath,

Perez paused “What the heck…” he sighed, but stepped forward without thinking to help with the papers.Their hands brushed once.... as they both reached for the same file. There was a brief pause, She looked up first and then he followed.... The woman's eyes widened like she hadn't expected to find a stranger like him helping her so casually....

“Careful with your steps” Perez said, handing the last file to her

“Uhmmm... thank you" she smiled shyly "Sorry I wasn't looking properly" "Uhm, do you live around here?"

Perez straightened “No.... I'm just, exploring"

They stared at each other for a moment....

"I'm uh, I'm Amara.... Amara Vale"

Perez nodded "I'm Perez"

She studied him for a while, then reached into her bag and pulled out her phone "Can I get your number"

Perez paused, and blinked at her, why did things always move this fast?

“Why" he asked simply

“I feel like.... I should know you" Amara replied

Perez suddenly glanced at the building behind her. LOCKWOOD ENTERPRISE. Was the name that sat heavy in clean lettering

“You work there?"

Amara nodded “Uh yes"

There was a brief silence between them.... Not awkward but calculating. Perez slowly got her phone and dialed his number.... Her eyebrows lifted in surprise as she quickly saved it.....

“We’ll meet again" she smiled genuinely

Perez didn’t answer, but he gave a slight nod and turned away. Amara breathe in deeply and organized her files again... And went into the building.

***********

When Perez went back home he sat for a long while and reasoned.... First, Natasha, the heiress.... Now, Amara Vale. Two different worlds brushing against him in less than a week, both acting like they had something to offer. He exhaled and leaned back staring at the ceiling.

Temptations. He thought.

Why did everything with him felt like it was speeding up? There was this kind of caution in him that didn’t come from fear but from an experience..... When people suddenly became interested, it rarely stayed simple.

THE NEXT DAY

The continuous phone call woke him forcefully from sleep.... Perez stared at it with half closed eyes....“Hello?”

A voice came through immediately "Coffee?"

He paused "What?"

It was Amara. Perez stood up quickly “I said coffee, get ready?" Amara repeated

Perez leaned back “You know you’re very confident for someone I just met"

“I know” she replied "See you in an hour"

And the line went dead. Perez stared at the screen, mesmerized, he exhaled heavily “San Cordova is insane"

**********

THE COFFEE MEETING

Amara was already there when Perez arrived. "Glad you came" she smiled brightly

"Uhm.... I had nothing better to do" Perez replied and sat slowly

Amara ordered coffee and then waited for the air to settle.... Then she started “So" “Who are you, Perez?”

Perez looked up at her “That... that depends on who’s asking"

Amara chuckled "Fair enough" "Okay.... What do you do?"

Perez hesitated “I... I observe” he said finally

Amara tilted her head “That’s not an answer most people give"

“It’s the only honest one I have"

She nodded slowly, like she accepted that more than she expected it “I can work with that"

Amara set her cup down "Sooo... do you want to meet my partner?”

Perez paused halfway sipping.... That landed differently “…Meet your partner?”

“Uh huh"

His mind immediately shifted, things were going too fast, again.

“For what?” he asked carefully, Perez was always careful with his words... His response to people, his emotions and his approach. But Amara didn't flinch

"Uhm for a start" she replied  “Lockwood Enterprise doesn’t hire people like you through normal channels. You either fit… or you don’t get in at all"

Perez leaned forward, confused “And you think I fit"

“I don’t think" she corrected “I observed"

Smart move.

“And I think you’re trying too hard to act like you don’t need a direction"

Perez looked away briefly, not offended, just in thoughts.... “People usually want something when they do this" he spoke "And you?"

“I want to see what you'd do with a door that isn’t being forced open"

Perez looked at her and exhaled slowly "Hmmmm"

**********

Walking to Lockwood Enterprise

As they walked towards Lockwood Enterprise, the high-rise building that stood tall above San Cordova.... Amara spoke casually about the building, the company, the structure of things inside it..... but nothing she said felt like persuasion, it felt more like introduction. Perez walked beside her, listening, scanning everything, still guarded.

LOCKWOOD ENTERPRISE.

Perez looked up at it, then he looked back at Amara.... Since the heiress.... It was the first time he didn't feel like he was being pulled into something.... Instead he felt he was being invited into it.

And was he ready to accept that invitation?

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