Chapter 1: The Interview
The building towered above her like a glass and steel mountain.
Jasper Jean Mariano stood on the sidewalk, clutching a worn folder against her chest. Her best dress—a simple navy blue thing she'd found at a thrift store two years ago—felt too tight in the shoulders. Her flats were scuffed. Her hands were sweaty.
What am I doing here?
Watson Enterprises.
The name alone made people whisper.
The richest company in the world.
Run by the richest family in the world.
And she had an interview for a receptionist position.
---
Jay took a deep breath.
Then another.
Jasper Jean, you got this.
She hated her full name.
Too formal.
Too heavy.
Too much for a girl like her.
Jay.
That's who she was.
Just Jay.
The girl with the guitar.
The girl with two brothers and empty pockets.
The girl who didn't know her father.
She pushed through the revolving door.
---
The lobby was insane.
Marble floors she could see her reflection in.
A chandelier the size of her entire apartment.
Receptionists behind a curved desk who looked like models.
Jay approached the desk.
"Um, hi."
Her voice came out smaller than she wanted.
"I'm here for an interview?
Jasper Mariano?
For the receptionist position?"
The receptionist—blonde, perfect smile—glanced at a screen.
"Mariano... Mariano..."
She frowned.
"I don't see a receptionist interview scheduled for today."
Jay's heart dropped.
Of course.
Of course this was a mistake.
"But," the blonde continued, "I do see a note here.
Mr. Watson requested to see you personally.
Penthouse.
Right now."
Jay blinked.
"Mr. Watson?"
she repeated.
"Like... THE Mr. Watson?"
The blonde smiled.
"Take the elevator to the top floor.
Someone will meet you."
---
The elevator ride was the longest minute of her life.
Floor 10.
Floor 20.
Floor 40.
Her reflection stared back at her from the polished doors.
Messy bun.
Wide eyes.
Lip gloss that was probably wearing off.
Jasper Jean Mariano, what have you gotten yourself into?
Floor 70.
Floor 85.
Floor 99.
The doors opened with a soft ding.
---
A woman in a sharp black suit waited for her.
"Miss Mariano?
Follow me please."
Jay followed.
Down a hallway so quiet she could hear her own heartbeat.
Past offices with glass walls.
Past assistants at sleek desks.
They stopped in front of two massive wooden doors.
The woman knocked once.
Opened the door.
Announced:
"Miss Jasper Mariano, sir."
Jay walked in.
---
The office was bigger than her entire floor.
Floor-to-ceiling windows showed the whole city spread out below.
A desk the size of a boat sat in the middle.
And behind that desk sat a man.
He wasn't looking at her.
He was reading something, frowning slightly.
Dark hair.
Sharp jaw.
Shoulders that filled out his suit like it was made for him—which it probably was.
Then he looked up.
---
Jay forgot to breathe.
His eyes were the color of storm clouds.
Gray.
Intense.
Locked onto hers like he was seeing right through her.
For a long moment, neither of them moved.
Then he stood.
Slowly.
Towering even from across the room.
"Jasper Mariano?"
His voice was deep.
Smooth.
Completely in control.
"Um."
Jay shifted on her feet.
"Actually, I prefer Jay.
Everyone calls me Jay.
Jasper is just... on my birth certificate."
He blinked.
Once.
Like no one had ever corrected him before.
Then the corner of his mouth twitched.
Almost a smile.
"Jay," he repeated.
Like he was testing how it felt on his tongue.
"Okay.
Jay."
He walked around the desk.
Closer.
Those storm eyes never leaving her face.
"I'm Mark Keifer Watson."
He stopped a few feet away.
"But everyone calls me Keifer."
---
Jay swallowed.
"I... I'm sorry, sir.
I think there's been a mistake.
I applied for a receptionist position.
On the first floor.
Not... not this."
Something flickered in his eyes.
Amusement?
Interest?
"No mistake," he said.
"I saw your application.
Your resume.
Your references."
He tilted his head slightly.
"You work three jobs.
You're taking online classes.
You sing at a pub called The Velvet Rope on weekends.
And you still found time to write this."
He picked up a paper from his desk.
Her cover letter.
"It's good," he said.
"Personal.
Honest.
No fancy words trying to impress anyone."
Jay didn't know what to say.
"Why am I here?" she asked quietly.
---
Keifer studied her for a moment.
"My executive assistant quit yesterday.
Right in the middle of a huge project.
I need someone new.
Someone fast.
Someone who can keep up."
He gestured to a chair.
"Sit."
Jay sat.
Her legs felt like jelly.
"I don't have experience as an assistant," she said honestly.
"I've never worked in an office like this.
I'm just... I'm just a girl trying to pay her bills."
Keifer sat across from her.
Elbows on his knees.
Those gray eyes intense.
"I don't need experience," he said.
"I need someone who works hard.
Someone who doesn't quit.
Someone who looks at a mountain and starts climbing instead of crying."
He paused.
"Your application says you've been climbing your whole life, Jay."
Hearing him say her name.
Just Jay.
It did something to her chest.
"Yes," she whispered.
"Yes, I have."
---
Keifer stood.
Walked to the window.
Stared out at the city below.
"My brothers think I'm crazy for this," he said quietly.
"My best friends think I've lost my mind.
They all want me to hire someone with a degree from a fancy school.
Someone with connections.
Someone polished."
He turned back to her.
"But I don't want polished.
I want real."
He walked back to his desk.
Sat down.
Pulled out a folder.
"The job is yours if you want it.
Salary is triple what you're making at all your other jobs combined.
Benefits.
Flexible hours.
One condition."
Jay held her breath.
"You start tomorrow."
---
Jay blinked.
"Tomorrow?"
she repeated.
"Just like that?
You don't want to check my references again?
Ask me more questions?"
Keifer almost smiled.
Almost.
"I've already checked.
And I've asked enough.
You're hungry, Miss—"
He stopped.
Corrected himself.
"You're hungry, Jay.
I can see it in your eyes.
Hungry people work harder.
Hungry people don't quit."
He slid a paper across the desk.
"Contract.
Read it.
Sign it if you want.
Or don't.
Walk out that door and go back to your three jobs."
Jay looked at the contract.
Then at him.
Then at the city sprawled below.
She thought of Aries.
Percy.
The electricity bill.
The guitar with the old strings.
She picked up the pen.
---
Keifer watched her sign.
Watched her hands shake slightly.
Watched her press the pen down like she was signing her soul away.
When she finished, she looked up.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"I won't let you down, Mr. Watson."
"Keifer," he said.
"If I'm calling you Jay, you're calling me Keifer."
She nodded.
Small smile.
"Keifer."
He stood and offered his hand.
She took it.
His grip was warm.
Firm.
Electric.
Neither of them let go right away.
---
"One more thing," Keifer said, releasing her hand.
"My best friends.
They're here a lot.
You'll meet them eventually.
Aries.
Percy.
Yuri."
Jay's heart stopped.
Aries?
Percy?
No.
It couldn't be.
Different names.
Common names.
Lots of people named Aries and Percy.
Right?
Keifer was watching her strangely.
"You okay?"
he asked.
"You went pale."
Jay forced a smile.
"Fine," she said.
"Just... nervous.
First day tomorrow.
And my brothers.
They have those names too.
Aries and Percy.
It caught me off guard."
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
"Small world," he said.
"But probably just a coincidence.
Lots of Aries and Percys out there."
Jay nodded.
Not convinced.
But pretending to be.
"Yeah.
Probably."
---
Keifer walked her to the door.
"Eight tomorrow," he said.
"Don't be late."
"I won't."
She stepped into the hallway.
Turned back for one last look.
He was still watching her.
Those storm-gray eyes unreadable.
The door closed between them.
---
Jay leaned against the elevator wall as it carried her down.
Her heart was pounding.
Her mind was spinning.
Aries and Percy.
Her brothers' names.
Keifer's best friends.
Coincidence?
Had to be.
Right?
She pulled out her phone.
Typed a quick message to the group chat.
Jay: Got the job. Tell you tonight. Weird thing though. Boss's best friends are named Aries and Percy. Crazy, right?
Percy replied immediately.
Percy: lol wait what
Aries: That is strange. What are the odds?
Jay stared at her phone.
What were the odds, indeed.
---
She didn't know that across town, Aries and Percy were sitting in a café with their best friend Yuri.
Didn't know they were laughing about Keifer's crazy decision to hire some random girl.
Didn't know Yuri was about to show them a photo of her.
And she definitely didn't know that when they saw her face, everything would change.
Because Aries and Percy Mariano would recognize their sister anywhere.
Even in a photo on someone else's phone.
Even when they weren't supposed to know her yet.
---
End of Chapter 1