Author's POV
Once jay left with her brothers and dad, section e, the girls, keifer's brothers and keifer turned towards the team with crossed arms.
Keifer: What was that all about?
The team glanced at each other and then pretended to work on the case.
Rakki: R u seriously not going to answer🙄
Mj looked up from his laptop.
Mj: It's not our place to tell.
Alex: Our main concern is to help out jay with her problems.
Aya: And the rest, jay can handle herself.
Freya: Speaking of Jay's problems....what exactly r her problems. I mean other then her mom's case ofc.
No one said anything. The living room went deadly silent.
Keifer: Answer us!
Keifer demanded.
Mason( sighing ): We can't tell u the whole thing, mostly bcz jay would probably kill us if we did but yeah, it's related to the Martinez clan and it's complicated so I would suggest u all stay out of it.
Keifer: No. I won't sit back and watch while someone is troubling jay. Tell us what's going on.
Before anyone could say anything, a voice boomed from the doorway.
" Where the fuck is that bitch! "
They all turned and saw honey storm into the living room, glancing around with angry eyes.
Keifer: Honey? What r u doing here? Why aren't u in london?
Honey: No time for that. Tell me where Angelo's ex is. Now!
Choi: What do u want from ate ion? How did u even know she was here?
Honey: Angelo filled me in. I was already on my way here anyways when he told me what's going on so I rushed here. What the heck is she even doing here? Which one of u brought her here ha?!
She said with murdery eyes.
Keifer: Calm down honey.
Honey( grabbing keifer's collar ): Don't tell me to calm down keifer! I just got to know that MY boyfriend and his EX who he wasn't over for years! were under the same roof for like a day! U don't get to tell me what and what not to do!
She basically roared.
Lia: She's not home. Ion and tita reycee went shopping.
Honey( raising a brow ): In the morning🤨
Iris: Tita wanted to shop and ion was free and besides they had a lot of shopping to do anyways. They might not be back till evening.
Kent: So u might wanna calm down for the time being.
Honey let go of keifer and turned fully toward the others.
Honey: And where's angelo?
Edrix: He went out with jay, aries and tito jaspher.
Honey: Where?
Felix: We don't know.
Keifer: And before u ask, we also don't know when he'll be back.
Honey took out her phone to dial Angelo's number but before she could, thyme spoke up.
Thyme: And don't even think about disturbing them right now. The work they r doing is really important.
Keifer: Now that that's settled. U said that u were already on ur way here when u got to know what's going on here. Why did u come so suddenly without informing me?
Honey: In case u have forgotten, u r still the ceo of watson enterprises and if u want to keep it that way, u might want to actually start focussing on the company.
Keifer: U can handle it for now. I'll be back in a few more days. If there's something important, u can inform me but if there isn't then go back.
Honey( sarcastically ): Sure. Just cut off ur hand and give it to me so I can sign all the necessary documents that have been sitting on UR desk for days collecting dust!
Keifer: I'll sign them once I get back.
Honey: No need. I already brought them here. Who knows how long it will take u to get ur ass to london.
Zia( mumbling ): Why is this fun to watch.
Honey and keifer glanced at her but said nothing.
Keifer: Let's go somewhere private to discuss company matters.
Honey: And there is something I want to talk to u about.
Keifer: If it involves me helping u choose the right way to deal with ion then I'm not gonna talk with u.
Honey: No!....ok fine I did want to ask about that but other than that, I want to talk about the company and ur " family ".
She said and put air quotes around the word family.
Ci-n: There's a private library just down the hallway, the first door on the right if u need a place to talk properly.
Keifer( confused ): How do u know that?
Ci-n( shrugging ): I was bored so I roamed around the whole mansion for a bit. I'm familiar with the whole place now😌
Honey: I'll just go grab the files from the car and meet u there.
Keifer( nodding ): Ok.
A few minutes later, they both disappeared down the hallway.
Choi( typing on his phone ): I need to warn ate ion, kuya aneglo, jay...or anyone at this point! She looked terrifying!😰
Zia: Relax. Text kuya angelo, he'll know what to do and give ion a little heads up.
Ren: Tell jay too. Maybe she'll be able to stop the bloodshed.
Choi nodded, hands flying through the keyboard as he sent text to everyone.
Mj: Ok back to the bigger problem at hand now. Edrix and rory, help me out with the hacking process. I need this done as fast as possible. F4 and the dream team, help out with the files and both the problems, we need to build a big defence and attack strategy as soon as possible. Section e, u will go with the demons of hell to the hospital. And the girls, you're free to do whatever u want, go shopping if u want to.
Ci-n: That's favouritism!🤧
Zia( sulking ): Aww man, I wanted to go shopping☹
Iris: Jay owes us big time for missing out on shopping.
Aya: When this is over, I'm taking her on a shopping spree!
Mj: Other than these three, is everyone ok with the plan?
Rakki: I like it😌
Freya: Let's go shop girls. I need some new heels.
Aum: Boys, u know the deal, credit cards pls😏
Denzel: Not this nightmare again😭
Calix: Just...don't spend too much.
Ci-n: And pls don't go too deep in ur shopping spree😰
Grace: No promises.
They said and left.
Section e and the demons of hell team followed right after, leaving behind the hacker squad and the investigation squad to hopefully crack the case!
Keifer's POV
While the rest were busy crying over credit cards and excited over a shopping spree, keifer had shifted into ceo mode in the private library, busy reading and signing through a mountain of paperwork that felt never ending!
Honey sat infront of him, briefing him on the deals and collaboration requests and projects as keifer listened thoroughly and made the required decisions.
After spending more than two hours going through everything, keifer finally slumped back in his chair, massaging his throbbing temples, the weight of the company pushing down on him but he handled it with ease....atleast that's what he made it look like.
Keifer: Ok. Now back to the real reason u r here. Not the ion and angelo one, I don't care about ur relationship. The one involving the company and the Watson's.
Honey( leaning back in her chair and letting out a deep sigh ): A lot has been going on while u were away.
Keifer: Like what?
Honey: Clyde's trying to make his move to get ur position, trying to convince everyone that he's more worthy of it then u r. Trying to make everyone turn on u and make everyone believe that u r like a poison to the company and he is exactly what everyone needs to thrive and some of the power hungry bastards r buying his crap.
Keifer( jaw tightening ): That son of a bitch.
Honey: That's not all, the Watson elders r trying to trap u trap u in another one of those forced engagements, trying to control u, trying to....trying to drag jay away from u bcz they feel like she's not worthy to be a Watson in the future. And u know that I don't have to repeat there words to make u understand just how they feel towards jay. They've already started narrowing down ur ' wife to be ' list. All rich, spoiled, bitchy brats who would do anything to have connections with the Watson family.
Keifer( Fist clenching ): Let them do what they want to. I'll show them exactly who they're facing if they dared make a move against me or try to do something to jay.
I said, already thinking if ways I would make them regret ever trying to even think they could control me, that they could take what's mine, that they could rise against me without getting crushed with agonizing pain and slow torture.
Honey: U might to come to london soon, tito keir isn't feeling well. He's asking for u....and for jay. I believe his exact words were ' I want to see the one who managed to break through my keifer's coldness and melt his cursed heart. That made him turn into someone only few Watson members managed to achieve, that broke his so called curse that came with a carrying the Watson name and changed his completely in a good way, made him a true gentleman '. I would be lying if I said his words didn't almost made me tear up but u know me, I don't break easily.
Keifer: Except for when it comes to Jay's punches😏
Honey: Don't remind me! I would have dragged her through hell in court for breaking my nose if u hadn't stopped me😒 And if she tries don't that again, I'm warning u, I won't hold back, no matter how much u try to convince me.....but it's all in the past now, we've...moved on. Let's not talk about that right now, just....come back to london quickly and find a way to assure the board, the shareholders and everyone at the company and show them ur real strength. And handle ur elders, their driving me insane by trying to dig out answers and secrets from me, they act like they don't have the power to find out themsleves and that clyde is getting on my nerves too. Deal with them all. I'm tired of this shit!
Keifer: Don't worry about them. Just keep ur mouth shut in the mean time. And the only reason they r coming to u instead of investigating themselves is bcz they know I'll find out instantly if they do. Let them try alm they want, I handle it all later, they have no idea what's coming.
I said and a smirk formed on my face.
Keifer: For now, try not to punch ion or worse! All she wants to do right now is go back to phillipines and try to talk to angelo to ask for forgiveness and explain her side. Don't try to hurt her too much.
Honey: I can't make any promises😒🙄
I sighed and stood up.
Keifer: Don't worry yourself too much with the Watson's, keep looking after the company in my absence. Jay's having some problems, once I find out what they r and erase them, I'll come to london and handle my own problems. Don't speak a word about what's happening with the Watson's to anyone, understood?
Honey: Yes. And if Jay's facing problems, I'm helping too, even though she ruined my face once!
Keifer: Let's go see what's happening with everyone right now.
I said as I walked out of the room.
Jay's POV
We reached our meeting place after a while of driving. There, standing tall and strong infront of us was The Mariano Empire building. Dad's main office and main headquarters of the company.
The thing I wanted to talk about was formal, business related. Sure I was going to tell them about my other problem but one of the solutions is business related. Something I didn't want to happen right now, wanted to wait until I graduated atkeast before doing this but circumstances made me push this to happen quickly.
We strode through the ground floor. Dad walking in front, me beside him, kuya angelo and aries walking behind us protectively, followed by philip and elena. People bowed and greeted dad respectfully as we passed them, stepping into dad's private elevator up to his floor. In a matter of seconds, we reached his floor, 65th floor, the top floor of the building.
The minute we exited the elevator, heads turned, fingers stopping mid type, whispers flowing through the floor, people straightening themselves and bowing respectfully greeting dad, dad greeting them back and headed straight towards his cabin at the far end of the floor.
His cabin was massive. Floor to ceiling glass wall behind and on the left side of his cabin over looking the entire city, a massive table half covered with files ready to be signed, two comfy large sofas with a large centre table on the left side, a door which looked like it lead to a private cr on the right side, big TVs almost covering the entire wall infront of his table, a large clock hung on the pillar beside the sofas, paintings on the wall opposite to it, all white marbled room, sunlight casting a warm golden glow across the room, it all looked...powerful yet warm at the same time.
A throat clearing voice snapped me out of my thoughts as I realized I had been staring around the room the second we entered the cabin.
Papa: Admiring ur future cabin princess.
Jay: It's my first time here. It all looks so....beautiful. Powerful yet somehow warm and soft. U did a good job in decorating it.
Papa( smiling softly ): Well I'm glad u like it bcz I tried to best to decorate it to my taste and soon when it becomes urs, u get to style it however u want.
Jay( quietly ): Yeah....it would look better with percy in it. He knows this company better than me.
Kuya angelo: But u r the true mariano heiress jay. This belongs to u. Percy will be there alongside u, guiding u every step of the way and helping u whenever needed.
Jay: But that's not going to happen. I mean not entirely. I have three empires to handle at once which is exactly why I called for this meeting.
Aries( brows furrowing ): Wasn't this for u to finally open up completely about ur problems?
Jay( sighing ): U might want to take a seat. This is going to be....big.
We moved towards the sofa and sat down. The silence stretched between us for a while until I finally found the courage to speak.
Jay: The problems that I'm facing. They're related to the Martinez clan.
Kuya angelo: Figured.
Jay: The thing is, they never liked me, and absolutely hate the idea of me being their head, the leader if the league that only a member of their family can become and with it becomes the owner of every asset the clan has, indirectly becoming the head of the clan, even with the elders and all, kind of like what's happening with keifer. And so, they're trying to remove me from this position, trying to claim back the family business and the underworld and godfather is trying his best to keep them at bay but...he can't for long. They're aligning against me, trying to bring me down, throw me out of the family and I can't let that happen!
Aries: Why? Why don't u want u? Why r they trying to throw u out? Take ur position? What the fuck is wrong with them!
Jay: Multiple reasons. Bcz I'm a girl. They think I'll make them weak. They don't think I have what it takes to lead them. They don't think I can carry the weight of everything. They let godfather lead bcz that's what their grandfather choose and they had no problem with it bcz he was giving them what they needed most, they're power and money hungry manipulators. And that position was supposed to go to sheen- godfather's son but then he died and penny also died so I was named the head and now they want back the thing they believe was theirs to begin with. They want that position, that power back in the hands of the so called true Martinez blood. But I'm not going to give this up just bcz some old minded bastards think I'm too soft to handle the pressure! I'm not going to give up the very thing godfather worked so hard to build into what it is today. I would never let his legacy go to waste like that!
Kuya angelo: So what do u need us to do?
Aries: Wait...isn't philip and elena from the Martinez clan?
Philip: Yep.
Elena: But as we've said so many times before, it's complicated.
Papa: Complicated how?
Me, elena and philip glanced at each other. They gave me a subtle nod, letting me tell them the story further.
Jay: This revolt against me is led by philip and Elena's father. The eldest one in the family after ryo who turned to the dark side an dended up dead and so did ryo's son, his precious nephew despite being the black sheep of the family, one of the reasons he hates me. He put forth two choices for me to make, one to forfeit my position and transfer everything to him and the second....
I bit my lip, thinking of how to put this....sensitively.
Kuya angelo: Second what?
Jay: The second choice is to....to marry philip and...and bare his heir, a true Martinez member who will get my properties.
The room stilled for a second. Then papa, kuya angelo and aries spring to their feet before I could even blink.
" What the fuck! "
I blinked. Stunned. I expected this from my brothers but not really from my papa, he was always calm and composed, atkeast that's what I saw him as so far but this...this was him being a protective dad, ready to fight any war to protect his daughter, he reminded me of keifer.
Aries grabbed Philip's collar and yanked him up straight.
Aries: Tell me this is a fucking lie. Tell me that ur father isn't putting MY sister in this position!
Philip: It's not my fault. I tried to reason with him. He wouldn't listen to me!
Elena: That's bcz u had a crush on Jay since the first time u saw him at sheen's funeral where tito also revealed that jay will be the next head.
She said, whipping out a bag of popcorn out of nowhere.
Kuya angelo: U what!
Philip: It's not what it looks like. I mean yeah I had a crush on her and still do a little bit but I don't want to force her into marrying me if she doesn't want to! That's why I'm working with her to solve this issue!
Jay: Aries let's him go.
Aries: Jay-
Jay: Let him go.
He clenches his jaw like he was battling between letting him go and killing him and then finally reluctantly, let him go.
Jay: And u.
I said, turning towards elena.
Jay: Stop trying to get ur brother killed.
Elena: He brought it upon himself. If he never had a crush on u or hadn't run to blab about it to dad, none of this would have happened. He dug his own grave girl.
Jay: He's still ur brother.
Elena: Yeah, my idiotic, stupidly dumb brother. And I would be lieing up I said that I didn't enjoy him being scared just now. That's for annoying me philip! 🙄
Philip: Elena!
Elena: Save ur breath. U'll need it to survive. And fortunately for u, I brought medical supplies to treat u after they break u.
Philip( sarcastically ): I'm so happy to have u as my sister😒
Kuya angelo: Enough!
He said with barely contained anger.
Papa( inhaling sharply ): What do u want us to do jay?
Jay: Form a collaboration.
Aries: What?
Jay: Fernandez, mariano and martinez. Three empires. Combined into one. The companies will still work as they r but this collaboration opens up doors to multiple opportunities. All combined to form one big empire. That will give the Martinez clan enough assurance to stand beside me and not against me. They'll get power and money as they desire and I'll maintain my position as everyone wants....but from the shadows.
Papa: What so u mean?
Jay: I've already talked this through with the team and godfather. I didn't want this to happen so early, maybe after a few years when everything was stable but...stuff happens. The fer corp will be handled by aries, the mariano empire will be handled by percy and the martinez empire will be handle by Mason and the dream team will help him handle it. These three companies will form an alliance and pave the way to a new, more powerful collaborated company. The appointed CEOs of thses companies will represent them but I'll be the one pulling the strings from the dark. I'll stay close, with in the company to make it work more efficiently but I won't reveal my identity to world...atleast not yet.
The room went silent again.
Aries: What the fuck r u even talking about?
Kuya angelo: If u do that then you're basically giving up ur position. Is that really what u want?
Papa: And what if this alliance isn't enough for the Martinez clan? What then?
Jay: Ik u all r worried about this and I myself believe it might be a little risky by this collaboration will be used as the last resort in case the other ways fail. And this way I'll be able to handle all three companies at once. Besides, being the queen of the underworld comes with lots if dangers, revealing myself to the public could make me vulnerable to fatal attacks to me and the company and not only me but my loved ones too. I already wanted to do this just not yet but it is what it is. This is what I want. This is what needs to happen.
I let my words hang in the air. Let them process the weight of my words before I continued.
Jay: Besides, they're trying to use every weakness they can find against me. My mom's case, my mental health, my trauma and even what happened in that fucking club that night to deam me unworthy of being the head of bother the underworld and the clan.
Aries: How can anything that happened in that club be used against u?
Jay: They got the footage before my could delete it. They have people everywhere watching my every move. Waiting for me to break and that's exactly what happened that night. I broke, let my trauma take over, just as they wanted and even before that, they believe I seduced yuri. They're trying to throw dirt on me, trying to twist the story exactly how they want, how he wants. It was difficult to recognize me in that club but they saw my mark, my leader of the league mark and now they're using that video to blackmail me but they don't know what's coming for them. Bcz when I return to phillipines, I'll make everyone regret ever standing against me. That's why I need this alliance. I need u to sign the official papers that I've brought. Other than that, the rest relies on my team, on me. I've already gathered the files from the hospital. Percy's to get him a better treatment. Mine to show as proof in court and....Yuri's to show he was drugged, I've got his confession too, philip and elena got it while I was in Percy's room and I've got the footage. And anything else I require, my team will get it.
Aries: That was Yuri's file?!
Jay( calmly): yes.
Kuya angelo: You're beginning to hide too many secrets now jay. U always did but something of this magnitude? U should have told us the second u got to know about this!
Jay: U wanted me to tell u all the truth and i did my best in doing that. I didn't tell u before bcz I don't want to get u guys involved in my mess.
Aries: U don't get to solve other's problems and then expect us not to do the same for u. U just don't!
Papa: U need to tell the others about this jay. They can help u with this. Everything will go smoother with them involved.
Jay( shaking her head ): I don't want to risk anything.
Kuya angelo: Then get keifer involved atleast. He can help u a lot. This collab will be more tempting if he's involved.
Jay( quietly ): I don't want him to think I'm using him, using his connections.
Before anyone could say something, my phone rang in my pocket. I took it out and look at the caller id, then excused myself and went to the cr to talk privately.
( TYSM for 1.1M views and 304 collections🤧💘🙏 )
( Guyssss😫 I wanted to write more, believe me I did but it's already 4600+ words long chapter with too much info to wrap ur head around and I'm too tired and sleepy that I can barely keep my eyes open right now😴 I didn't sleep last night and I I've been awake all day today too....again😅 I keep beating my own records at staying awake the longest and sleeping the longest😆 And soo many of u want to see keifer's jealousy and then Jay's jealousy and then...🌚 like u guys r filling the comment section with scripts about keifer's jealousy and Jay's jealousy and I had thought of adding them in this chapter but then I saw one comment which said to not make it more complicated anymore and a lot of u guys r curious about philip so yeah I half sleepily wrote this chapter and I hope many of ur doubts have been cleared but more things r still yet to come😏😈🤫🤐
Ok I can't think anymore so shut up now😅 I'll just see what I've actually written tomorrow and see if u guys like the chapter that I wrote half asleep and I have no idea why I keep telling u guys these things🤦♀️ I'll just add this to my long list of this I'll regret later I guess🙃 Ok now I have to go eat something otherwise my mom won't let me sleep in peace😖🤧 I've barely eaten all day as usual😅 Don't worry about it😁 And yeah, I don't really know when I'll post next but I'll try to post tomorrow and guys guess what, my school is opening tomorrow😭 But I won't go😂 They'll show the POMT papers na and I'm NOT ready to see my marks😰 My family will end me☠ And for those asking when the chapters will be posted, I post them around 6 pm, give or take a few minuets but today I was late bcz I literally just finished writing. The universe was against me guys🤧 My wifi was acting up and I barely had electricity in my house which meant low battery, so I couldn't write😭 Ok that's enough now! Love u all😘💗 Bye for now👋 )