Monday morning. 8 am. Watson Enterprises.
The elevator doors opened.
Jay stepped out first. Heels clicking. Hair perfect. Coffee in hand.
Keifer followed. Suit sharp. Face calm.
Normal, right?
Then Jay stopped. Turned. Fixed his tie. Just a little.
"Your tie was crooked," she said.
"Was it?"
"Yes. Can't have the CEO looking messy."
"You fix it every time."
"Because you need me."
He almost-smiled. "I do."
She kissed his cheek. Quick. Casual.
Then they walked toward his office.
Employees froze.
Did they just... see that? Jay Mariano fixing Keifer Watson's tie? Kissing his cheek? Keifer almost-smiling?
Honey stood at her desk. Jaw dropped.
Percy was beside her. He'd come with Jay. His jaw dropped too.
"Did you see that?" Honey whispered.
"Saw what?"
"THEY'RE BEING NICE TO EACH OTHER."
Percy blinked. "They're always nice to each other now."
"IN PUBLIC? AT WORK? IN FRONT OF EVERYONE?"
"Oh." Percy paused. "Oh. OH. This is new."
Honey grabbed her phone. Texted the family group chat.
Honey: CODE RED. JAYFER BEING CUTE AT WORK.
Keizer: ELABORATE.
Honey: She fixed his tie. Kissed his cheek. He almost-smiled. IN FRONT OF EVERYONE.
Mama Reycee: STOP I'M AT THE GROCERY STORE
Jasfer: MY BABY IS GROWING UP
Serina: Keifer never lets anyone touch his tie.
Keigan: I'm recording everything from now on.
Aries: This is weird. But also cute.
Ella: Let them be happy!!
Keiren (via Serina): Kuya's girlfriend is the best!!!
Inside the office, Jay sat on the edge of Keifer's desk.
"So," she said. "Big day. Final merger signing tomorrow."
"I know."
"Nervous?"
"Never."
"Liar."
He looked at her. "A little."
She smiled. "Me too."
He reached out. Took her hand.
"Together," he said.
"Together."
They stayed like that. Holding hands. Ignoring the world.
Then the door opened.
Honey walked in with coffee. Froze.
"Oh. Sorry. I'll come back."
Jay laughed. "It's fine, Honey. We're being professional."
Honey looked at them. Keifer sitting. Jay on his desk. Hands linked.
"Professional," Honey repeated.
"Yes."
"Sure."
She set the coffee down. Left quickly.
Outside, she grabbed Percy's arm. "THEY'RE HOLDING HANDS."
"At work?"
"AT WORK."
Percy grinned. "Love wins."
Later that morning, a meeting.
Conference room. Both companies' teams.
Jay and Keifer at the head. Side by side.
The meeting started normal. Numbers. Projections. Deadlines.
Then Jay's pen ran out of ink.
She frowned. Shook it. Nothing.
Keifer noticed. Without a word, he pulled a pen from his pocket. Handed it to her.
She blinked. "Thanks, baby."
Baby.
In front of everyone.
The room went silent.
Keifer didn't react. Just nodded. "You're welcome, love."
Love.
The teams exchanged looks.
Did the ice king just call someone love? In a meeting?
Jay continued like nothing happened. "Okay, next point. Marketing timeline."
The meeting continued.
But everyone was distracted.
Honey, taking notes, typed with shaking hands.
Percy, sitting in the back, recorded everything.
By the end of the meeting, the group chat was exploding.
Honey: HE CALLED HER LOVE. IN THE MEETING.
Percy: SHE CALLED HIM BABY FIRST.
Keizer: MY SON IS SOFT
Jasfer: MY DAUGHTER IS LOVED
Mama Reycee: I'M SOBBING
Serina: He's never called anyone love before.
Keigan: I need to update the archives.
Aries: Okay. Fine. He's perfect for her.
Ella: TOLD YOU.
After the meeting, Jay and Keifer walked to the elevator.
Employees watched from their desks.
At the elevator, Jay pressed the button. Turned to Keifer.
"Lunch later?"
"Can't. Meeting with lawyers."
"After?"
"Yours or mine?"
"Mine. Percy's making his famous pasta."
"He can't cook."
"He tries."
Keifer almost-smiled. "Okay. Yours. 7."
"Good."
The elevator opened.
Jay stepped in. Keifer didn't move.
"You're not coming?" she asked.
"I have work."
"Right." She smiled. "Miss you already."
He stepped forward. Kissed her. Quick. But real.
"Miss you too."
The elevator doors closed.
The office was dead silent.
Then chaos.
"DID HE JUST—"
"IN FRONT OF EVERYONE—"
"THE ICE KING KISSED HER—"
Honey leaned back in her chair. Smiling.
Percy high-fived her.
"Love," he said.
"Love," she agreed.
By 5 pm, both families had gathered at the Mariano house.
Waiting.
Jasfer paced. "They're coming at 7. Percy's making pasta."
Percy yelled from the kitchen. "I'M AN EXCELLENT COOK."
"You burned water last week."
"THAT WAS ONE TIME."
Mama Reycee set the table. "I can't believe he called her love."
Serina smiled. "He's never been like this. Ever."
Keizer was emotional. "My little boy. In love."
Aries sat on the couch. "You guys are dramatic."
Ella elbowed him. "You cried when they held hands."
"I had something in my eye."
"For an hour."
"ALLEGIES."
Keiren ran around with his teddy bear. "Kuya's girlfriend is coming! Kuya's girlfriend is coming!"
Keigan filmed everything. "This content is priceless."
The doorbell rang at 7pm exactly.
Everyone rushed to the door.
Jay and Keifer stood there. Hand in hand.
"Hi," Jay said. "Why is everyone staring?"
Mama Reycee pulled her inside. "We heard about today."
"Heard what?"
"THE TIE. THE LOVE. THE KISS."
Jay's face went red. "Oh. That."
Keifer walked in calmly. "It's not a big deal."
"NOT A BIG DEAL?" Keizer yelled. "YOU CALLED HER LOVE. IN PUBLIC."
Keifer looked at Jay. "Because she is."
The room melted.
Percy dropped a spoon. "I CAN'T. THIS IS TOO MUCH."
Honey, who'd arrived earlier, hugged him. "Stay strong."
Dinner was chaos. But good chaos.
Jay and Keifer sat together. Close. Hands touching.
At one point, Jay reached over. Wiped a smudge of sauce from Keifer's lip.
He let her. Didn't move.
Then kissed her finger.
The table lost it.
"THEY'RE DOING COUPLE THINGS."
"THAT WAS SO SOFT."
"KEIFER WATSON KISSED HER FINGER."
Keifer ignored them. Just looked at Jay.
She smiled. "You're making them crazy."
"I know."
"Good."
"Good."
They kissed. Quick. Sweet.
The families screamed.
Keiren covered his eyes. Then peeked. "Are they doing it again?"
"Yes, baby," Serina laughed. "They're in love."
"Oh." He nodded. "Okay. Love is weird."
Jay laughed. "It is, kid. It really is."
Keifer squeezed her hand under the table.
"Worth it," he murmured.
"Yeah." She squeezed back. "Worth it."
Later that night, after everyone calmed down, Jay and Keifer sat on the back porch.
"Today was insane," Jay said.
"Every day is insane."
"True." She leaned on him. "But I like it."
"Me too."
"Even with our families losing their minds over every little thing?"
"Especially that."
She laughed. Looked up at him.
"I love you, Keifer Watson."
"I love you, Jasper Jean Mariano."
"Our kids are gonna be so loved."
"So loved."
"And so weird."
"The weirdest."
"Perfect."
"Perfect."
He kissed her. Soft. Slow.
Inside, both families watched through the window.
Keizer wiped his eyes. "They're so beautiful."
Jasfer nodded. "Our kids."
Mama Reycee hugged Serina. "We did good."
Serina smiled. "We really did."
Keiren tugged his mom's sleeve. "Mommy, when can I get a girlfriend?"
Everyone laughed.
"Soon, baby," Serina said. "Soon."
Percy put his arm around Honey. "We're next."
Honey rolled her eyes. But she smiled.
Aries held Ella. "This family is crazy."
Ella kissed his cheek. "But it's ours."
"Yeah." He smiled. "It is."
Outside, Jay and Keifer watched the stars.
Hand in hand.
Home.