The morning air in the Watson mansion didn't just feel different; it felt electric.
Jay was ready, keifer came to her, hold her hand, jay but her lower lip, looking at their hands, he put his finger below her chin, making her looking at him " jay, look in my eyes." He said politely.
She bit her lip harder, look into his eyes, which were full of concern, care and ...maybe....love.
" Jay you will be fearless today." He said. Making her cheeks slight pink.
She didn't say anything, she couldn't, she was lost in those hazel brown eyes.
"Jay!" He snap her out of her thoughts.
"Hmm."
" Seriously?", he held her hands again and said with full confidence and pride, " jay you will be fearless today, you will be confident today, you will not let anyone disrespect you, jay, promise me."
She looked in his eyes, he believe her and she has to do it, if not for herself, then for him, who she found standing at her side in every situation. She nodded with a confidence and said " yes I'll do it."
Keifer smiled and lead her towards the door.
Don Alberto and Cheska were already at the breakfast table, discussing "high-level" logistics of the merger.
When the sound of sharp, confident heels echoed on the marble staircase, they both looked up, expecting the usual soft-spoken Jay.
Instead, Jay descended like a storm wrapped in silk. She wore a tailored, midnight-blue power suit that Elena had curated for her.
Her "Sunshine" mask hadn't just slipped; it had been replaced by a crown of cold, professional poise.
Her hair was pulled back into a sleek bun, and her eyes held a clarity that made Don Alberto's coffee cup pause mid-air.
"Jaspher," Alberto barked, recovering his arrogance. "You're late. Cheska needs her itinerary organized for the afternoon. Sit down and take notes."
Jay didn't sit. She stood at the head of the table, resting her hands on the back of a chair.she was not rude, she was still polite with a small smile, "I'm afraid I have a prior engagement, Don Alberto. My schedule is quite full managing my own assets today."
Cheska scoffed, a mocking smile on her lips. "Your assets? What, a library card and a scholarship fund?"
"The controlling interest of Mariano Corp, actually," Jay replied, her voice as smooth as velvet and just as heavy. "My board of directors is expecting me at 9:00 AM."
The silence that followed was absolute.
Alberto's face turned a ghostly shade of grey. He knew exactly what Mariano Corp was—the silent giant that controlled the very raw material supply chain his own factories relied on.
Keifer stepped out from behind Jay, looking sharper than ever in a charcoal suit.
He wasn't walking ahead of her; he was standing exactly half a step behind her, a clear signal of his role as her support.
He looked at his father with a triumphant, steady gaze.
"I'll be acting as Jay's primary counsel today, Dad," Keifer said. "Don't wait up for lunch."
The lobby of the Mariano Corp headquarters was a cathedral of glass and steel. As Jay walked in, the security and staff straightened their posture.
They had been waiting years for the Mariano heir to claim her seat.
Just as they reached the double doors of the boardroom, Jay's hand trembled slightly.
The weight of the moment—the shift from a girl fighting for a meal to a woman leading a legacy—hit her all at once.
Keifer noticed immediately. He didn't say a word. He stepped in front of her, closing the distance between them.
He wrapped his arms around her in a firm, grounding hug, pulling her into his strength.
"Transferring energy," he whispered into her ear, his voice warm and steady.
"You aren't just a CEO, Jay. You're the strongest person I know. Go in there and show them exactly why this company bears your name."
Jay leaned into him for a heartbeat, soaking in his belief in her.
When she pulled back, the tremble was gone. She looked up at him, her heart overflowing. Before she could think, he step forward and gave her a kiss on her forehead. It was a sweet, short, polite and ful of respect kiss. As Jay turned and pushed the boardroom doors open with both hands.
"Good morning, gentlemen," Jay announced, her voice ringing out with total authority as she walked toward the head of the table. "I am Jaspher Jean Mariano..Watson. Let's get to work."
By the end of the two-hour meeting, Jay had discovered the ultimate leverage: Don Alberto's upcoming merger required a specific mineral patent held exclusively by Mariano Corp.
Without her signature, his "deal of the century" was nothing but a stack of expensive paper.
The cage was officially open, and Jay was the one holding the keys.
The drive back to the Watson mansion was silent, but the air was no longer heavy with dread.
It was thick with the scent of expensive leather.
Keifer kept stealing glances at Jay. She sat with her back straight, looking every bit the CEO, but her expressions were simple, a small smile with kind heart.
As they entered the foyer, Don Alberto was waiting. He wasn't sitting in his study; he was pacing the marble floor like a caged predator.
Cheska stood by the stairs, her arms crossed, her face a mask of bitter disbelief.
"You," Alberto barked, pointing a finger at Jay. "We need to talk about the supply chain contracts for the Alcantara merger. Immediately."
Jay stopped. She didn't flinch, and she didn't show anger. She simply tilted her head, offering a smile that was so polite it felt like a surgical strike.
"I'm so sorry, Don Alberto," she said, her voice melodic and light.
"But as you've often reminded me, business requires substance. My board has instructed me to review all outstanding contracts with a focus on... let's say, reliable partnerships. I'll have my secretary send over a list of requirements for you to meet before we discuss any signatures."
"Requirements?" Alberto's face turned a dangerous shade of red. "You are living under my roof, eating my food—"
"Actually," Jay interrupted, her tone as bright as a summer morning, "per the deeds my mother left, I believe I have more than enough assets to cover my room and board. In fact, I've already authorized a transfer to reimburse the Watson estate for all my expenses to date. I'd hate to be a 'charity case' any longer."
Cheska let out a sharp, jagged laugh. "You think a suit and a title make you one of us? You're still just—"
"Cheska, My name is Jaspher Jean Mariano Watson now."
It was enough for her to understand that jay was not living just anywhere, she is living with her husband.
Don Alberto had retreated to his study in a stunned silence, Keifer turned to Jay.
She was still standing in the foyer, her hands clasped perfectly in front of her, that "Sunshine" mask firmly in place.
Not a hair was out of line.
"Jay," Keifer said softly, stepping into her space. He reached out to touch her arm, but she subtly pivoted to check her watch, maintaining a polite distance.
"It's been a very productive day, hasn't it, Keifer?" she asked, her eyes bright but guarded. "Thank you for your assistance as counsel. It was very professional."
Keifer felt the sting of her retreat. The "CEO" role was just a bigger, more expensive version of her walls. She was using her new power to keep everyone—including him—at arm's length.
"I wasn't being 'professional' when I hugged you, Jay," he murmured, his voice dropping an octave.
"And I don't think that kiss was a business transaction."
Jay's smile didn't waver, but her fingers tightened around her leather portfolio.
"We have a contract to honor, Keifer. And now, I have a company to protect. Let's not complicate things with... emotions that might not survive the year."
She turned and began to walk up the stairs, leaving Keifer standing in the middle of the grand foyer.
He realized then that while he had helped her break her chains, she was still choosing to live inside her cage—only now, she was the one who owned the bars.
A/n :
Hey buddies, I know ending might have hurt you, but still, have patience, keep reading, keep supporting, I promise I will try my best to write a beautiful story.
Words : 1400
You can also follow me, I will make sure, I won't let this jafer journey end easily. ❤️
Bye 👋🫂