Keifer’s Pov –
Jay had finally calmed down.
She was sitting on the couch holding the glass of water with both hands while the switched-off phone rested beside her.
I looked at her for a moment.
Her fingers were still shaking slightly.The cookie box sat on the table between us.The cookies she made for me.
Even while she was scared…She still thought about me.
That thought bothered me more than it should have.Her phone screen suddenly lit up again.
Unknown Number.
Another message appeared.
I glanced at it.
From Unknown no –
Stay away from Watson.
My expression darkened.So this wasn’t random.Someone wanted her afraid.
Someone wanted her away from me.
Without saying anything, I quickly saved the number in my own phone before switching hers off completely.
Then i glanced back at her she has closed her eyes for a moment and rested her head against the back of the couch, trying to calm the storm still raging inside her chest.
I sat on a chair kept near the couch.
Staring at her face , what is bothering her so much that she has to ran and come to me .
And her question
“What if something happens to me because of her ?
”
How it can be ?
How can someone hurt this beautiful soul.
Just after a while she opened her eyes.
She shook her head and started to look around and when she saw me sitting in front of her .
She said” I am sorry , i should leave now ”
Sorry for what??
She stood up
Before she could take another step, a sudden wave of dizziness hit her.The room spun.Her knees gave way beneath her.
But before she could fall—
I caught her immediately.
One arm wrapped securely around her waist while my other hand caught her wrist, steadying her before she could hit the floor.
“Jay!”
For a second she couldn’t even answer.
Her fingers instinctively grabbed onto the front of my shirt as she tried to regain her balance.
“Easy.”
My grip on her tightened slightly when i felt her stumble again.
“I’ve got you.”
Those three words somehow made the panic inside her chest quiet down a little.
Without letting go, i carefully guided her back to the couch.
One hand remained behind her back while the other supported her wrist until she sat down properly.
Only after making sure she wasn’t going to fall again i finally step back.
My eyebrows were furrowed.
“You’re not leaving anywhere in this condition.”
“I’m fine.”
“Jay.”
CEO voice.
Definitely not fine.
I handed her the water glass.
“Drink.”
She obeyed immediately.
For some reason…Arguing felt impossible when i looked at her like that.Like i was genuinely worried.
Like seeing her almost fall had scared me more than i wanted to admit.
The room became quiet for a moment.Too quiet.
She looked down at her hands.
“I’m sorry.”
I frowned.
“There you go again.” I said
She looked up.
“Sorry for coming here like this.”
I stared at her for a second.
“Jay.”
“Hm?”
“You ran here.”
“Out of all places in the city…”
“…you ran here.”
She stayed silent.
“And somehow you’re apologizing for that?”
She looked down again.
“I caused trouble.” She said
I almost laughed.
Her eyebrows raised slightly.
I leaned back in my chair.
“Besides…”
I looked at her.
“I’m glad you came here.”
She looked surprised.
“Why?”
Because if she hadn’t…She would’ve been alone.Instead I said,
“Because I would’ve been very annoyed if you collapsed somewhere else.”
She rolled her eyes.
“CEO humor?”
“The finest kind.”
Another silence followed.Then her eyes landed on my tie still hanging loosely around my neck.
“You just came from work?”
“Unfortunately.”
“You look tired.”
I looked at her.Even now.After everything.
She noticed that.
“Occupational hazard of being rich and successful.”
She laughed again.
“That sounds difficult.”
“It is.”
I pointed at the cookie box.
“Luckily I have cookies now.”
Her lips curved into a smile.For a moment.The fear disappeared from her face.Then she suddenly looked at me.
“Did you really not eat lunch?”
Traitorous face expression.I looked away.
“…maybe.”
“Keifer.”
“What?”
“That’s unhealthy.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“The person who almost fainted five minutes ago is lecturing me about health.”
She looked offended.
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“I have reasons.”
“So do I.”
She opened her mouth to argue.Then stopped.Because she knew she had lost.
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
Another silence.
Then—
“So…”
She looked at me suspiciously.
“What?” I asked
“How bad was the meeting?” she asked
I looked at her.
Most people asked:
Did the deal work?
Did the company win?
She asked:
How bad was it?
For some reason…
That felt different.
“It was bad.”
“Really bad?”
“Seven hours of listening to people tell me the world is ending.”
She winced.
“Ouch.”
“Exactly.”
“Then eat another cookie.”
I looked at her.
“Doctor’s orders?”
“Cookie baker’s orders.”
I took one.
“These are better than therapy.”
She smiled proudly.
“Obviously.”
And for the first time that day…The problems at the company didn’t feel quite as heavy.
After a while the door opened and Mom , Dad and keigan walked in.
Jay Jay was about the stand up
But i gestured her not to.
“When did you came jay jay ?
” Mom asked
“I just came to delivery the cookies” jay jay said
Really???
Just cookies or running too ??
“Ma’am i should go now ” jay jay stand up .
“Easy” i said to her while she was getting up.
She froze cause she didn’t wanted to let everybody know as her expression says .
“What happened to you ?” Mom asked to jay jay
“Nothing ma’am I am just a little bit unwell” jay jay replied
“Come let’s have dinner together” mom said
“I should lea—”
“No” me and mom both said at the same time.
Jay Jay looked at me
“You too ??” She asked me
“Yess” i replied
“COOKIE SISTER IS STAYING FOR DINNER WOWW” keigan said while running towards jay jay.
Keigan hold her hand and took her to the dinning table .
We all sat down .
Ate the food and then jay jay was leaving but i can’t let her go alone after I saw her panicking.
She bid bye to everyone and was going out .
I went to mom.
“Mom she fainted when she came here , let me drop her to her house ”
Mom smiled and said” Okay ”
I took my car keys and went out .
“Jay” i said she looked back.
“Wait a min ” i went and started the car and went towards her .
I opened the gate for her .
“Sit i will drop you ”
“No keifer I can go ” she said
“After what happened before i can’t let u go alone , just sit ” i said.
She nodded and sat on the passenger seat.
The car slowly pulled away from Watson Mansion.For a while neither of us spoke.The city lights passed by outside the window while soft music played quietly in the background.
She told me the address.
I glanced at her for a moment.She looked tired.Not physically.Emotionally.
Her head rested against the seat as she quietly looked outside the window.
After a few minutes she spoke.
“You really didn’t have to drop me.” She said
“I know.” I said
“Then why did you?” She asked
I kept my eyes on the road.
“Because I wanted to.”
She stayed quiet.
A few seconds later I added,
“And because after today’s performance I don’t trust you not to faint in the middle of the road.”
She immediately looked at me.
“I wasn’t that bad.”
“Jay.”
“Okay maybe a little.”
“A little?”
“Fine.
A lot.”
I laughed softly.
Victory.
After some time I noticed her rubbing her eyes.
“Tired?”
“A little.”
“You should sleep early tonight.” She looked at me.
“Only if you eat breakfast tomorrow.” I raised an eyebrow.
“Excuse me?”
“You skipped breakfast and lunch today.”
“Who told you that?” I asked
“Your family betrayed you.” She replied
“Unbelievable.”
She smiled a little.
“You should eat properly.”
I looked at her.
“The girl who almost fainted an hour ago is giving me health advice.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
She opened her mouth.Then closed it again.
“I don’t know.”
I laughed.
“Interesting argument.”
She crossed her arms.
“I still win.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Absolutely yes.”
For some reason…Talking to her felt easy.
Comfortable.
Like i know her from very long .The kind of normal conversation I didn’t realise I missed.
After some time I looked at her again.Her eyes were closed now.She had fallen asleep.
the exhaustion had finally won.
A small smile appeared on my face.
Even while sleeping…She looked peaceful.No fear.
No pretending.Just Jay.
A few minutes later we reached her house.
I parked the car outside.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked around.
“We’re here?”
“Unfortunately.”
She smiled softly before looking at me.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For dropping me home.”
I looked at her for a moment.
“Anytime.”
She smiled again before opening the door.
Then she looked back at me.
“Good Night Kiki.”
I sighed.
“One day you’ll stop calling me that.”
She immediately shook her head.
“No I won’t.”
I laughed.
“Fair enough.”
“Good Night Jay”
She got out of the car and walked towards her house.
I waited until she safely entered inside.Only then…I drove away.
Towards Watson Mansion.
But instead of going inside immediately..I took my phone out.I opened my contacts.
Ethan Hayes
Head of Cyber Security at Watson Group.
The call connected almost immediately.
“Mr Watson.”
“I need information on a number.”
His voice immediately became serious.
“Understood, sir.”
I read the number out loud.
“And I want it quietly.”
There was a short pause.
“Is this company related?”
I looked at the number once more.
“No.”
“It’s personal.”
That was enough for him.
“I’ll update you as soon as possible, sir.”
The call ended.
I looked at the screen again.
Whoever sent those messages had made one mistake.
They involved her.
And now…
They involved me.
When I entered the mansion, I found Keigan sitting on the sofa.
“CEO kuya!”
I looked at him.
“Why are you still awake?”
He grinned proudly.
“Tomorrow is holiday of my university”
Of course holiday for him.
“Give me your phone ” i asked
His eyes widened.
“Why?”
“Phone, Keigan.”
Two minutes later…
I had the number.
I stared at it for a few seconds before pressing call.
The phone rang twice.
Then—
“Hello?”
“Aries?”
There was a pause.
“Yes , and who are You?
He asked
“Keifer Watson ” i replied
“Oh” he said
Interesting.
He recognised me immediately.
“Yes.” He said
Another pause.
Then his voice became serious.
“Did something happen to Jay?”
Straight to the point.
I respected that.
“She’s okay.”
I heard him let out a breath.
“Thank God.”
For a moment neither of us spoke.
Then I finally said,
“She came to my house tonight.”
Silence.
“She was terrified.”
Another silence.
“She couldn’t breathe properly.”
“She was shaking.”
“She almost collapsed.”
His voice changed immediately.
“She had a panic attack?”
I frowned slightly.
“You know about this?”
Another silence.
Then—
“She gets them when she’s overwhelmed.”
My grip on the phone tightened.
“How long has this been happening?”
“A while.”
His voice became quieter.
“Jay doesn’t tell people when she’s hurting.”
“I noticed.”
Because I already had.
The smiles.The pretending.
The constant “I’m okay.”
Aries sighed softly.
“She probably told you she was fine.”
“Several times.”
“That’s her favourite lie.”
For a moment neither of us spoke.
Then Aries suddenly asked,
“Did she run to your house?”
“Yes.”
Another silence.
Then he laughed softly.
“That sounds like Jay.”
I frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“Jay only goes to people she feels safe with.
That’s means she feels safe with me.
I stayed silent.
Aries continued,
“She told me about your family yesterday ”
My eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“She did?”
“Yes.”
There was amusement in his voice now.
“Apparently you’re caring.”
I froze.
“Excuse me?”
“Her words, not mine.”
For some reason…My chest felt strangely lighter.
Aries spoke again.
“She doesn’t trust people easily, Keifer.”
His voice became serious again.
“So if she trusts you…”
“Please don’t let her down.”
I looked towards the stairs…Towards the empty living room where she had been sitting earlier.
“I won’t.”
The answer came immediately.Without hesitation.Because somehow…
I already knew that.
The call ended a few minutes later.
Later that night, I walked into my room.
My eyes landed on the cookie box sitting on my desk.
Cashew cookies.
My favourite.
A lucky guess, she had called it.
I picked one up and smiled.
She noticed I was tired.She noticed I skipped lunch.
She noticed things nobody had noticed in years.
Meanwhile…I had only just started noticing how much she hid behind her smile.
That didn’t seem fair.
Maybe.It was my turn to start paying attention too.
Then another thought crossed my mind.
Apparently…
I was caring.
I almost laughed.
If someone had told me a few months ago that Mark Keifer Watson would be called caring…
I would’ve assumed they had the wrong person.But if Jay thought that…
For some reason…I didn’t mind it.
Not at all.
For the first time in a very long time…
The company problems weren’t the last thing on my mind before sleeping.
She was.
Sorry Byeee!!
Good Night My Readers