Chapter 3: The Catch
Day Twenty-One
Three weeks into the job, and Jay had never been happier.
Waking up was easy now.
Getting dressed felt exciting.
Walking into that glass building made her smile instead of tremble.
All because of him.
Keifer.
They hadn't told anyone about what happened that night in his office. They agreed to take it slow. Keep it professional at work. Figure things out privately.
But "professional" was getting harder every day.
---
The way he looked at her over his coffee cup.
The way his fingers brushed hers when she handed him files.
The way he said her name—Jay—like it meant something more than four letters.
She was falling.
Fast.
Hard.
And she didn't want to stop.
---
Today was chaos.
Big merger.
Important clients.
Keifer had been in back-to-back meetings since 7am.
Jay ran between floors.
Printing documents.
Answering calls.
Coordinating schedules.
Her feet ached.
Her head pounded.
But she kept moving.
Because that's what you did when you loved your job.
And maybe.
Just maybe.
Loved your boss too.
---
At 3pm, Keifer burst out of the conference room.
"Jay, I need the Henderson file.
Now.
They're asking for last year's projections."
Jay nodded.
"I have it.
Printing now.
Be right back."
She hurried toward the printer room.
Heels clicking on the marble floor.
Mind racing through the next ten tasks on her list.
Henderson file.
Then call the client in Tokyo.
Then order lunch for the meeting that won't end until 8pm.
Then—
She didn't see it.
A cable.
Loose from the wall.
Stretched across the hallway exactly at ankle height.
Her foot caught.
Her body lurched forward.
Papers flew from her hands like confetti.
I'm falling.
Time slowed.
She saw the floor rushing up.
Felt the terror of impact.
Braced for pain.
---
Then strong arms wrapped around her waist.
She was caught.
Mid-fall.
Suspended in the air like a dancer in mid-leap.
Her back pressed against something solid.
Warm.
Familiar.
She looked up.
Keifer.
His face was inches from hers.
Those storm-gray eyes wide with alarm.
His arms locked around her waist like steel bands.
Holding her tight against him.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them breathed.
---
"Jay."
His voice was rough.
Breathless.
"Are you okay?"
She couldn't speak.
Could only nod.
Lost in his eyes.
Lost in his arms.
Lost in the way he was looking at her like she was the only thing that mattered.
Around them, papers floated gently to the floor.
The office continued its chaos.
But in this small bubble of space and time, there was only them.
His grip tightened slightly.
Pulling her closer.
"You scared me," he whispered.
"I scared myself."
---
Slowly, carefully, he helped her stand.
But his hands stayed on her waist.
Holding.
Not letting go.
Her hands had landed on his chest.
She could feel his heart pounding through his shirt.
Fast.
Worried.
For her.
"You're shaking," he said softly.
"So are you."
He looked down at her.
Really looked.
Like he was memorizing her face.
Checking for damage.
Making sure she was real and safe and still there.
"I've got you," he murmured.
"I won't let you fall."
---
The words hung between them.
Simple.
But not simple at all.
I won't let you fall.
Jay's heart clenched.
"Keifer—"
"Mr. Watson!"
A voice shattered the moment.
They jumped apart like teenagers caught kissing.
Keifer's hands dropped from her waist.
Jay stepped back.
Both of them flushed.
Celeste appeared at the end of the hallway.
Sharp eyes taking in everything.
The papers on the floor.
Their flushed faces.
The charged air between them.
"Meeting's restarting in two minutes," she said.
Flat.
Professional.
But her eyes lingered on Jay just a moment too long.
Keifer cleared his throat.
"Coming.
Jay, get those files.
Quickly."
His voice was back to business.
But his eyes told a different story.
Warm.
Concerned.
Are you really okay?
Jay nodded slightly.
I'm fine.
He walked away.
Celeste followed.
But she glanced back once.
Eyebrow raised.
Jay bent to gather the scattered papers.
Her hands were still shaking.
Her heart was still racing.
Her waist still burned where he'd held her.
I won't let you fall.
---
Twenty minutes later, a message appeared on her computer screen.
Keifer: You sure you're okay?
Jay smiled at the screen.
Jay: I'm fine. Thanks for saving me.
Keifer: Always.
Jay: Always? That's a big promise.
Keifer: I don't make promises I can't keep.
Jay's heart did a little flip.
Jay: Good to know.
Keifer: Dinner tonight. My place. 8pm. No excuses.
Jay: What about taking it slow?
Keifer: Slow is overrated. I almost watched you hit the floor today. Life's too short.
Jay: That's surprisingly philosophical for a guy who works 80 hours a week.
Keifer: You're rubbing off on me. 8pm. I'll send the address.
Jay: Okay. 8pm.
Keifer: Jay?
Jay: Yeah?
Keifer: You felt good in my arms.
Jay's face went hot.
Jay: KEIFER.
Keifer: What? Just stating facts.
Jay: Go back to your meeting.
Keifer: Yes, ma'am.
She stared at the screen.
Grinning like an idiot.
Her waist still tingled where he'd held her.
You felt good in my arms.
She was in so much trouble.
---
That night, Jay stood outside Keifer's apartment.
Nervous.
Excited.
Terrified.
It was a penthouse.
Of course it was.
Floor 50.
Views of the entire city.
The kind of place she'd only ever seen in movies.
She raised her hand to knock.
The door opened before she could.
Keifer stood there.
No suit tonight.
Just dark jeans and a simple gray sweater.
Hair slightly messy.
Eyes soft.
He looked...
Human.
Approachable.
Hers.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi."
They stood there.
Staring at each other.
The events of the day hanging between them.
Then Keifer reached out.
Took her hand.
Pulled her gently inside.
The door closed behind her.
---
His apartment was beautiful.
Sleek.
Modern.
Expensive.
But cold.
Like no one really lived here.
Jay noticed the little things.
No photos on the walls.
No clutter on the counters.
A single coffee mug in the sink.
Lonely.
"You don't spend much time here, do you?" she asked.
He shrugged.
"I work."
"You should change that."
He looked at her.
Something soft in his eyes.
"Maybe I will."
---
They ordered takeout.
Sat on his couch.
Ate with chopsticks and talked about nothing and everything.
He told her about his brothers.
Keigan, the curious one.
Keiran, the charming one.
How they were nothing like him.
How he loved them anyway.
She told him about Aries and Percy.
How they raised her after their mother died.
How they worked themselves ragged so she could chase her dreams.
"They're good brothers," Keifer said.
"I'd like to meet them someday."
Jay paused.
Chopsticks halfway to her mouth.
"Someday," she agreed.
But her voice was strange.
Tight.
Keifer noticed.
"Jay?
What is it?"
She shook her head.
"It's nothing.
Just...
This is going to sound crazy."
"Try me."
She took a breath.
"My brothers.
Their names.
Aries and Percy.
You said your best friends are named Aries and Percy.
What are the odds of that?"
Keifer frowned.
"Low.
But not impossible.
Lots of people share names."
"I know.
I know.
It's just...
I can't shake this feeling.
Like something's connecting.
Something I don't understand yet."
Keifer set down his food.
Took her hand.
"Hey.
Whatever it is.
We'll figure it out together.
Okay?"
Jay looked at their joined hands.
At his face.
At the man who caught her when she fell.
Literally and figuratively.
"Okay," she whispered.
---
Later, they stood at his floor-to-ceiling windows.
City lights spread below them like a blanket of stars.
Keifer stood behind her.
His arms around her waist.
Exactly where they'd been that afternoon.
Chin resting on top of her head.
"This is nice," she murmured.
"This is everything."
She smiled.
Leaned back against him.
Felt his heartbeat against her back.
Steady.
Strong.
"I'm glad I fell today," she said quietly.
He tensed.
"What?
Why?"
She turned in his arms.
Faced him.
Looked up into those storm-gray eyes.
"Because you caught me.
And I realized something."
"What?"
"That I want you to keep catching me.
For as long as you'll have me."
---
Keifer's breath caught.
His hands tightened on her waist.
"Jay..."
"I know it's fast.
I know we should be careful.
I know there are a million reasons this is complicated.
But I don't care."
She reached up.
Cupped his face in her hands.
"I've spent my whole life being careful.
Working hard.
Never taking risks.
You make me want to be reckless."
He stared at her.
Emotion flickering across his face.
Fear.
Hope.
Wonder.
"I've never done this before," he admitted.
"Never felt like this.
I don't know the rules.
I don't know how not to mess it up."
Jay smiled.
Soft.
Warm.
"Then we make our own rules.
Together."
He kissed her then.
Deep.
Slow.
Like he had all the time in the world.
Like she was the only thing that mattered.
When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless.
"Stay," he whispered.
"Tonight.
Just stay.
I'm not ready to let you go yet."
Jay nodded.
"Okay."
---
They fell asleep on his couch.
Tangled together.
City lights still glowing outside.
His arms still around her waist.
Her head on his chest.
For the first time in years, Keifer slept without nightmares.
For the first time in forever, Jay felt completely safe.
Neither of them knew that across town, Aries and Percy were looking at a photo.
A photo of their boss's new assistant.
A photo of their sister.
Neither of them knew that tomorrow, everything would change.
But tonight?
Tonight they had each other.
And for now, that was enough.
---
End of Chapter 3