The meeting ended an hour later. No decisions made. Just tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.
Keifer stood by the window, watching the Mariano family pile into their cars. His eyes followed her. Jay. She was laughing at something her brother Aries said, shoving his shoulder playfully. Gone was the sharp girl from the conference room. Now she was just... warm.
His chest did that weird thing again.
"Bro." Keigan appeared beside him, smirking. "Stop staring. It's creepy."
"I'm not staring."
"You're literally staring."
Keifer turned away. "She's annoying."
"Yeah," Keigan laughed. "And you're obsessed. I saw your face when she talked back. You looked like a dog who just saw a steak."
"Shut up."
Keiren ran over, tugging Keifer's pants. "Kuya, that girl was pretty. Is she your girlfriend now?"
Keifer looked down at his five-year-old brother. "No."
"But you looked at her a lot."
Go to your room, Keiren."
Keiren giggled and ran off.
Keizer Watson slapped a heavy hand on Keifer's shoulder. "Son! That girl is fire! I ship it. Me and your mom? We already talked. Jayfer. That's the ship name. Jayfer!"
Keifer pinched the bridge of his nose. "Dad. We're not a ship."
"Not yet." Keizer winked. "But soon."
Across town, Jay flopped onto her bed, screaming into a pillow.
Aries stood at her door, arms crossed, laughing. "That bad?"
She lifted her head. "He's so... so... annoying! Sitting there all cold and perfect with his stupid icy eyes and his stupid sharp jawline—"
"So you noticed his jawline?"
"I NOTICED HE'S ANNOYING."
Aries raised an eyebrow. "Sure, Jay. Sure."
Percy popped his head in. "For the record, I think you handled it well. But maybe don't insult the CEO of the company we're trying to merge with?"
Jay threw a pillow at him. "Get out."
Percy ducked. "Honey would agree with me!"
Jay sat up. "Honey? Who's Honey?"
Percy's face went red. "No one. Just... someone. From Watson's office. A secretary. Whatever."
Aries and Jay exchanged a look. Then they both grinned.
"Percy has a crush!" Jay sang.
"Do not! She's just... efficient. And pretty. And she laughed at my joke once—"
"GET OUT," they both yelled.
Percy fled.
Jay fell back onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her mind drifted back to the conference room. The way Keifer's eyes had flickered when she talked back. Like he was seeing her for the first time.
Stop it, she told herself. He's the enemy.
But her heart didn't listen.
Three days later.
Jay's phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: Meeting tomorrow. 9am. My office. Don't be late. - K.W.
She stared at the message. So formal. So cold.
She typed back: Bold of you to assume I'd be late. Try not to bore me to death. - J.M.
Three dots appeared. Then:
K.W: I'll try. No promises.
Jay snorted. Was that... a joke? From Mr. Ice King?
She didn't realize she was smiling until her stepmom, Mama Reycee, walked in.
"Who's that?" Reycee asked, eyes sparkling.
"No one."
"That smile says someone."
Jay locked her phone. "It's nothing. Just work."
Reycee sat on the bed. "You know, your dad and I saw the way he looked at you. That boy is gone for you already. He just doesn't know it yet."
Jay rolled her eyes. "Mama, he hates me."
"Baby, there's a thin line between hate and love." Reycee patted her cheek. "And you two are dancing on it."
The next morning, Jay walked into Watson Enterprises looking like a dream. Red dress. Heels that clicked with confidence. Hair flowing.
She stepped into the elevator, ready for battle.
Upstairs, Keifer stood at the window, hands in his pockets. He'd been standing there for twenty minutes. Waiting.
Honey, his secretary, peeked in. "Sir? Miss Mariano is here."
He turned. "Send her in."
Honey smiled to herself. She'd never seen her boss this nervous. And he didn't even know he was nervous.
The door opened.
Jay walked in.
And Keifer forgot how to breathe.
She was... stunning. But more than that, she looked ready to fight. Her eyes found his immediately, challenging.
"Nice office," she said, looking around. "Very cold. Fits you."
"And you're very red," he replied. "Fits you too. Like a warning sign."
She laughed. Actually laughed. "A warning sign? That's your best line?"
He shrugged, but the corner of his mouth twitched. "Didn't know we were trading lines. Thought this was a business meeting."
She walked closer, stopping right in front of his desk. "It is. So? What do you want, Watson?"
He met her eyes. "You. I mean—" He froze. His brain short-circuited.
Jay's eyes widened. Then a slow smile spread across her face. "Excuse me?"
Keifer cleared his throat, face burning. "I meant... your company. I want to discuss the merger. Obviously."
"Obviously," she repeated, enjoying his discomfort way too much.
For the first time, Keifer Watson looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
And Jay thought it was the cutest thing she'd ever seen.
Oh no, she realized.
She was in trouble.