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Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 - The Boardroom

Jay's POV

The morning sun cut across the skyline like liquid gold, reflecting off the glass walls of SE Tower. From the top floor, the city looked smaller — manageable, predictable — unlike the chaos it really was. I had always found comfort in that illusion. From up here, everything obeyed my command.

I sipped my coffee, the one Samy had brought precisely at 7:10 AM, just the way I liked it — strong, unsweetened, and steady. Much like me.

The large window behind my desk overlooked New York's heartbeat — fast, impatient, ambitious. It reminded me of myself when I first arrived. Lost, broke, and carrying nothing but a suitcase, a scholarship, and the remnants of a promise I had buried long ago.

But now… now I owned the skyline.

Still, even with the empire beneath my feet, there were mornings when I felt that same echo — a ghost of a heartbeat from years past.

"Jay?"

Coel's voice snapped me back. He entered the office, carrying his ever-present tablet. Samy trailed behind him, a confident smile brightening the sleek minimalism of the room.

"Investors' packets are ready," Coel said, laying them out neatly on the glass table. "You'll meet them at eleven. Main representatives from three major corporations, one of them new to the table."

"New?" I asked, flipping through the first few pages.

"Yes," Coel confirmed. "A foreign firm expanding operations into the U.S. Their name's not revealed in the documents, but they've shown aggressive investment patterns."

Samy chimed in, excitement flickering in her voice. "Whoever they are, they're offering huge capital. You should see the projections, Jay — they could fund SE's global expansion threefold."

I arched a brow. "Sounds tempting. But you know my rule — we don't rush into partnerships we can't control."

"Understood," Coel said. "That's why I want you to see their lead negotiator personally. The deal could change everything."

I nodded, sliding the last document into place. "Then we'll make sure it changes on our terms."

Samy grinned. "As always."

The next few hours were a blur of movement and precision. I reviewed proposals, adjusted pitch lines, and ran through every possible negotiation angle. My office buzzed like a hive, yet inside, my mind was calm — centered.

This was my world. My battlefield. And I didn't lose.

Coel stood by the projector, syncing slides to the large digital screen. "Numbers ready. No flaws. If they try to corner us, we have alternative profit charts prepared."

"Good," I said. "If they think they're walking into an easy deal, they'll learn who they're dealing with."

Samy entered moments later, her phone pressed to her ear. "Jay, the investors are downstairs. The reception's guiding them up."

"Perfect timing," I murmured, standing to smooth my blazer.

It was a deep charcoal gray — power wrapped in simplicity. I tied my hair up, adjusted my silver wristwatch, and caught my reflection in the mirror.

Jasper Jean Mariano, CEO of SE Corp. Calm. Controlled. Unshakable.

No one from your past exists anymore.

I told myself that often. Maybe one day, I'd believe it.

When the clock struck eleven, the boardroom doors opened.

The air shifted.

The investors entered one by one — polished, confident, a blend of familiar faces from the global finance world. I shook hands, exchanged practiced smiles, and guided them toward their seats.

But the moment the last man stepped in, I felt something unfamiliar.

Not fear. Not yet. But a faint crack in the stillness I lived in.

He wore a tailored black suit, the kind that spoke of old money and newer ambition. His presence commanded attention — not loud, but magnetic. He lingered near the door, his gaze sweeping the room before it landed on me.

For a heartbeat, I froze.

No. It couldn't be.

But before my thoughts could catch up, Coel began his introduction. "Everyone, thank you for being here. We'll begin shortly. SE Corp welcomes all our partners — and our new potential investor, representing Watson Holdings."

Watson.

The name struck like glass against marble — sharp, breaking something quiet inside me.

I blinked, hiding the jolt behind the faintest smile. Watson Holdings.

Of course. It had to be.

I turned slightly, careful not to let my composure slip. The man at the end of the table had just taken his seat. His hand brushed against his cufflink, his lips curving — not in arrogance, but in recognition.

Mark Keifer Watson.

After all these years, he was sitting in my boardroom.

The meeting began. Numbers, charts, profits — words I had mastered — filled the air. But all I could hear was the steady rhythm of my own heartbeat.

I kept my eyes on the screen, my voice steady as I presented SE Corp's growth projections. Every syllable was calculated. Every pause deliberate.

I didn't let myself look at him. Not once.

At least, not until I felt the weight of his stare.

It wasn't aggressive or demanding. It was… familiar. Searching.

And I hated that a part of me still recognized it.

When the presentation ended, the boardroom erupted into applause. I nodded politely, thanking the investors for their time.

Then, finally, I turned.

"Mr. Watson," I said, my voice as even as the marble floor beneath us. "Welcome to SE Corp."

His lips curved, slow and sure. "It's been a long time, Jasper Jean."

The room went silent. Coel looked up sharply. Samy's eyes darted between us, confused.

I held my ground. "It's Jay now," I said coolly. "And I prefer we keep this meeting professional."

Something flickered in his gaze — amusement? Sadness? I couldn't tell. "Of course," he said softly. "Professional."

But the way he said it told me he remembered everything.

When the investors finally left, I stood by the glass wall again, staring at the city that had once made me feel invincible.

"Jay…" Samy began, hesitant. "Do you… know him?"

I inhaled slowly, forcing the air to steady the tremor in my chest. "We've crossed paths. A long time ago."

Coel stepped forward, always perceptive. "He recognized you."

"He did," I said quietly. "And I recognized him."

For a moment, the silence in the room was heavier than the sound of any deal closing.

Samy's voice was small when she spoke again. "Is he dangerous?"

I looked out the window. "Not in the way you think. But yes — he's dangerous."

Coel frowned. "You want us to dig into him?"

I shook my head. "No. Leave it."

"But—"

"No, Coel." My tone sharpened. "I'll handle this."

Because this wasn't just business. It was history walking back into my life wearing a tailored suit and a promise I once believed in.

That night, I couldn't sleep.

The city glowed below me, but my thoughts stayed fixed on the name I'd spent years erasing — Mark Keifer Watson.

The boy who used to walk me home.The man who now wanted a stake in my empire.

Fate had a cruel sense of timing.

And though the world saw me as unshakable, I could already feel the cracks forming beneath my calm surface.

For two days, my world had been in perfect order. Now, everything I'd built was about to be tested.

By the one person who knew the real me

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