Jay-jay was never one for subtle investigation. In Section E, if you wanted to know if someone was an enemy, you either shared a bowl of ramen with them or you tripped them in the hallway.
"I'm going over there with a plate of bibingka," Jay-jay announced, sliding a tray of the rice cakes into a designer paper bag.
Keifer, who was currently reviewing a 50-page security audit, nearly choked on his coffee. "You're doing what? Jay, Seraphina Von Heist is trained to detect poisons and psychological triggers. She isn't going to be swayed by Filipino kakanin."
"Everyone is swayed by bibingka, Keifer. It's a scientific fact," Jay-jay replied, adjusting her 'Queen of Section E' hoodie. "Besides, if she's a spy, I need to see her 'lair.' Keep the comms open."
Keifer sighed, clicking his pen. "I'll be listening through your earring. If she mentions anything about Zurich, the Hanamitchis, or a hidden blade, I'm kicking the door down."
Jay-jay knocked on Room 44-B. When the door opened, she wasn't met with a living room, but what looked like a museum of high-tech minimalism.
Seraphina stood there, wearing a silk robe that probably cost more than Jay-jay's first car. "The Mutya. And she brings... starch?"
"It's bibingka! A peace offering," Jay-jay said, flashing her trademark smile. "Can I come in? I figured as neighbors, we should talk. You know, girl-to-girl. No Watsons allowed."
Seraphina's eyes flickered with amusement. "Girl-to-girl? How quaint. Do come in. I was just about to brew some Earl Grey that was harvested by monks who haven't spoken since 1994."
The "tea party" was set on a glass table so clear Jay-jay was afraid to touch it.
"So," Jay-jay started, taking a sip of the tea (which tasted like expensive grass). "You and Keifer. Finishing school? Was he always that grumpy, or did he develop that as a hobby later in life?"
Seraphina leaned back, her movements perfectly calculated. "Keifer was the star pupil. Cold, calculated, and completely unreachable. We were trained to break people, Jay-jay. Keifer was the only one who couldn't be broken. Until he met a girl who smells like street food and trouble."
Jay-jay laughed, though her eyes were scanning the room. She noticed a series of monitors in the corner, partially covered by a silk scarf. "Is that why you're here? To see the 'girl who broke the King'?"
"I'm here because the world is changing," Seraphina said, her voice dropping into a mysterious hum. "The Watsons think they are safe because they have money. But the 'Elders'—the old money families—they don't like it when a King chooses a Mutya over a Dynasty."
Suddenly, Jay-jay's earring let out a sharp, high-pitched feedback sound.
"Jay, don't eat the tart on the left," Keifer's voice crackled in her ear. "It has an abnormally high sugar-to-flour ratio. It might be a sedative."
Jay-jay coughed, trying to cover the sound. "Shut up, Keifer," she whispered under her breath.
"Did you say something?" Seraphina asked, her eyes narrowing.
"I said... 'shut up and eat the bibingka!'" Jay-jay lied, pushing the tray toward her.
Seraphina picked up a piece of the rice cake with silver tongs. She took a tiny bite. For a second, her "Ice Queen" facade cracked. Her eyes widened. "This is... surprisingly complex. The salted egg provides a structural integrity to the sweetness."
"See? I told you," Jay-jay grinned.
The atmosphere changed when Jay-jay "accidentally" knocked her spoon off the table. As she leaned down to pick it up, she took a quick peek under the table. She saw a small, blinking device attached to the underside of the glass.
A jammer.
Jay-jay stood back up, her expression shifting from friendly neighbor to the girl who once stood up to the fiercest gangs in the city.
"Nice jammer, Seraphina. Is that for Keifer's listening device, or are you just afraid of Wi-Fi?"
Seraphina didn't look surprised. She put down her tea cup with a soft clink. "You're faster than I expected. Keifer's earbud has been dead for the last three minutes, by the way. He's probably losing his mind right now."
"Tell me why you're really here," Jay-jay demanded.
Seraphina stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the city. "There is a list, Jay-jay. It's called the 'Black Ledger.' It contains the names of every family the Watsons have stepped on to get to the top. The Elders have authorized its release. If that happens, Keifer doesn't just lose his money. He loses his life. And yours."
She turned back to Jay-jay, her hazel eyes glowing. "I didn't move in to kill you. I moved in to see if you were worth saving."
Before Jay-jay could respond, the front door of 44-B flew off its hinges.
Keifer stormed in, followed by Ci-N (who was wearing a tactical vest over a tuxedo) and Felix (who was holding a fire extinguisher for some reason).
"Get away from my wife!" Keifer roared, his hand already reaching for a concealed weapon.
"Bawk bawk! I mean... FREEZE!" Ci-N shouted, striking a pose.
Jay-jay sighed, standing up and brushing off her hoodie. "Relax, boys. We were just discussing the 'structural integrity' of salted eggs and the impending doom of the Watson Group. You know, typical girl talk."
Seraphina just laughed, a cold, echoing sound. "You have a very loud family, Jay-jay. I hope they're as good at fighting as they are at breaking doors."
As Keifer pulled Jay-jay toward the exit, checking her for scratches, Seraphina called out one last thing.
The first name on the Ledger isn't a Watson. It's a Mariano. Ask your husband about your father's real connection to the Watson Group, Mutya."