PEREZ: WHEN AURA MEETS POWER

CHAPTER TWELVE: LIES OF THE HEART

PRESENT DAY

Victoria’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 leaned back calmly “I read your article”

Victoria nodded “Thank you, for reading it"

Then almost casually “You didn’t mention that we’ve met before" he added, just like that.... He remembered?

Victoria smiled nervously. The air changed immediately.....

Perez exhaled then chuckled "It's fine...."

Victoria could feel it, the distance between “billionaire CEO” and “person” felt more overwhelming than ever.... Perez rose to his feet.... “I have a proposal” he said

Victoria straightened “Yes?”

“I want you as Aurex’s private journalist"

“I want your perspective on the company and on San Cordova. Not just me"

Victoria blinked “…Private journalist?”

Perez nodded “Yes I don’t want controlled narratives, I want observation.... yours"

Victoria nodded nervously.....

Perez didn't look at her again “This is business" he turned from his chair "Get to work"

Victoria stared for awhile "Understood"

Victoria had always believed that every person carried two stories. The first was the story the world saw and the second was the story hidden beneath everything else and as a writer, she had built her life around discovering the second ones. Perez was quickly becoming a difficult story she ever tried to understand.

**********

The elevator doors opened onto the executive floor of Aurex. Victoria adjusted the notebook tucked beneath her arm. It was her first full day as Aurex' Private Journalist.... Staffs were busy, focused, too focused

"Miss Carter"

She turned.

Perez stood a few feet away.

"Good morning, Mr. Perez, I was just heading to...."

Perez' eyebrow lifted and his lips curved into a small smile "Come with me" he cut in and started walking ahead. She followed him through the building.

The next few hours became occupied with meetings, presentations, discussions, and project reviews and Victoria just watched all of it.... It was her job. To watch and to observe and gather details, she watched him... Clear, simple, never demeaning, not quite arrogant, at one point, an engineer accidentally projected the wrong presentation onto a screen during a meeting, Victoria glanced at Perez, she expected irritation but instead he simply folded his arms "We'll wait" he said, no anger

There, another note for her article.... And by lunchtime, her notebook was filled.

"You're staring"

Suddenly her head snapped upwards, Perez was standing beside her desk... Her eyes widened "No sir I wasn't staring"

He crossed his arms.

"I was just taking notes"

"You've been writing the same sentence for almost three minutes"

Heat rushed into her cheeks, she quickly closed the notebook.... Perez chuckled lightly until their little moment was interrupted by a call "Excuse me" he answered the call and walked away. Victoria watched him disappear into his office then opened her notebook again..... She wrote four words 'The boss is nice'

She stared at it for a minute, then quickly crossed it out and sighed. This assignment was going to be more difficult than she thought.

THE APARTMENT

Ruby was curved up on the couch when Victoria walked through the apartment door.

"Finally!"

Victoria dropped her bag onto a chair

"Damn I'm exhausted"

Ruby sat upright immediately "Forget exhaustion. Spit it out"

Victoria laughed "There isn't much to tell Ruby"

"Liar"

"I'm serious"

Ruby folded her arms in doubts "You spent an entire day following the most talked-about man in San Cordova. Start talking"

Victoria disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a bottle of water "He's different"

Ruby immediately pointed at her "Yes! Okay... different how?"

Victoria leaned against the couch with a slight smile and gave it a thought. How exactly was he different?

"He doesn't act like I expected, I mean from other men"

"Not arrogant, not cold?"

Victoria hesitated "Cold sometimes"

"Rude?"

"No."

"Mysterious?"

Victoria laughed "Definitely"

Ruby smiled "I knew it"

Victoria shook her head "That's not what I mean"

"Then what do you mean?"

She sat closer.... "He's calm.... Too calm to be precise" "He's patient, he actually listens, he thinks before he acts"

Ruby's smile widened "Oh, this is bad"

Victoria grabbed a couch pillow and threw it at her "Stop"

Ruby laughed "Jeez you like him Vicky..... Short notice"

"No, I don't"

"You absolutely do"

"No"

"Victoria...."

"No... Ruby"

Ruby crossed her arms "Fine..... Then continue your little professional analysis"

Victoria rolled her eyes still smiling..... "He remembers things too" "Like the first time we met.... The notebook incident"

"He remembered"

Ruby bursted into laughter "Oh, you're so in trouble"

Suddenly Victoria's phone buzzed with an email from Aurex.... Tomorrow's schedule begins at eight. Don't be late- Perez. She stared at the message and smiled....

"Oh, this is very, very bad" Ruby laughed

They both bursted into laughter.... And it filled the apartment.