Chapter 26 - Wow just wow

Jay-Jay's POV

When we arrived at the condo, I just stood there for a second and stared.

No, actually, I gawked.

Because this was not a condo.

This was a whole kingdom disguised as a living space. 😭

The building itself already screamed rich. Glass walls, polished floors, quiet security, and a lobby so fancy I felt like I needed to bow before stepping inside. Then we got to the actual unit, and I nearly forgot how to breathe.

The doors opened into a huge open-plan living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, a sleek kitchen that looked too clean to be real, and furniture so expensive-looking I was scared to even put my bag down. The whole place was modern, bright, and polished in that effortless way rich people somehow always manage to achieve.

I slowly turned in a circle. "Kiefer…"

He was leaning against the counter with his usual annoying calm, watching me like he already knew exactly what I was thinking.

"What," he said.

"This is not a condo," I whispered. "This is a mall with bedrooms."

That made him actually laugh. "You're exaggerating."

"I'm not exaggerating enough."

He smirked and took my bags from me before I could argue. "Your room's this way."

I followed him down a short hallway, still looking around like I might accidentally get lost and end up in another province. The place kept going. More doors. More space. More expensive-looking décor. There were framed photos on the walls, soft carpet under my feet, and lighting that made everything look even fancier than it already was.

Then he stopped in front of one of the doors and opened it.

I froze.

Because this wasn't just a room.

This was a suite.

The bedroom was huge, with a massive bed, a reading nook by the window, soft cream curtains, and a vanity table that looked like it belonged in a celebrity dressing room. But what completely destroyed my brain was the door to the side.

Kiefer pushed it open with one hand.

A walk-in wardrobe.

I just stared.

No, really. I stared so hard my soul might've left my body for a second.

Inside were neatly arranged racks of clothes, shelves, drawers, mirrored panels, and rows upon rows of gowns.

Evening gowns.

Formal gowns.

Party gowns.

Gala gowns.

Sparkly gowns. Dark gowns. Soft pastel gowns. Long gowns. Sleek gowns. Dresses so expensive-looking I was scared to breathe near them.

My mouth dropped open.

"Why are there so many dresses?" I asked, voice coming out small.

Kiefer crossed his arms. "Angelo and my mom handled the wardrobe."

I turned slowly to look at him. "They what?"

"They said you'd probably need options."

"Options?" I repeated. "This is not options. This is a royal collection."

He shrugged like this was completely normal. "You're staying here for a while. They wanted you to have everything you might need."

I stepped into the wardrobe carefully, like I was entering a sacred room. My fingers hovered over the fabrics without touching them at first, because I was genuinely afraid one wrong move would cost more than my entire life savings.

There were labels on some of the garment bags. Sizes. Dates. Events. Notes.

I stared at one gown that looked like it belonged on a red carpet and then turned back to Kiefer. "Were these already here?"

"Yes."

"Before I moved in?"

"Yes."

I blinked. "So you had a whole wardrobe of gala dresses ready before I even said yes?"

He looked slightly too calm. "Basically."

My eyes widened. "That's insane."

He gave me a look. "You're only just noticing?"

"This is next level insane."

He leaned against the doorframe, amused. "You're welcome."

I pointed at the gowns. "Why are there so many?"

"Because apparently one engagement announcement turns into a schedule full of formal events," he said. "And Angelo doesn't do things halfway."

"No kidding," I muttered.

I moved deeper into the wardrobe, stopping in front of a deep blue satin dress that caught the light perfectly. It was stunning. Elegant. Soft but dramatic. The kind of dress that looked like it could make anyone feel like a movie star.

I looked at it for a long moment.

"This one's pretty," I murmured.

Kiefer's gaze shifted to it, then back to me. "That one was picked for you."

My eyebrows lifted. "By who?"

"Serina."

Of course she did.

I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly aware of how weirdly personal all of this felt. Someone had planned my clothes. My room. My wardrobe. My future, apparently. It was still making my head spin.

I turned back to him. "So let me get this straight. You and your mom and my kuya decided I'd move in here, and while I was busy nearly having a breakdown, you were all preparing a fancy dress prison for me?"

He snorted. "Dress prison is a little dramatic."

"It's accurate."

"You haven't even unpacked yet."

"Exactly. I'm already overwhelmed."

He pushed off the doorframe and walked a little closer, glancing around the wardrobe. "You can use any of it."

I frowned. "Why do you sound like you're offering me a castle?"

"Because," he said, very dryly, "this place might as well be one."

I had to laugh at that, even though I didn't want to. He was right, annoyingly enough.

The wardrobe had mirrors on three sides, a center island with drawers, a jewelry tray, and a little padded bench in front of one of the mirrors. The whole thing looked so luxurious it was almost uncomfortable.

Almost.

Because once the initial shock started wearing off, I found myself weirdly drawn to it.

I ran my fingertips lightly over the hanging fabrics and took a breath.

This was real.

I was really here.

Really staying here.

Really about to live in Kiefer's condo.

With him.

That thought alone was enough to make my brain go foggy.

I looked over my shoulder at him. "You really live like this?"

He raised a brow. "Like what?"

"Like an expensive magazine spread."

He shrugged. "I'm used to it."

"I am not."

"That much is obvious."

I glared at him, but I was too tired to put real fire into it. "I hate how calm you are."

"Someone has to be calm. You've been panicking since we got here."

"That's because this is objectively panic-worthy."

He smiled faintly. "Fair."

I dragged my suitcase into the room and set it near the bed. Then I looked back at the wardrobe, still half in disbelief.

There were already hangers ready for my clothes.

Empty drawers waiting.

Space set aside like this had always been planned for me.

That thought made my stomach twist in a strange way.

Not bad. Not good.

Just strange.

"Did they really expect me to just settle in like this?" I asked quietly.

Kiefer went silent for a moment.

Then he said, "Probably."

I gave him a look. "That's not comforting."

"I wasn't trying to comfort you."

"Wow. Rude."

He stepped inside the wardrobe, reached for one of the gown bags, and glanced at the tag before hanging it slightly straighter. "If it helps, I think they overdid it too."

I stared at him. "You do?"

"Obviously." He looked at me like I'd just asked something obvious. "You're acting like this place is a spaceship. Which means they definitely went too far."

That made me laugh again, this time a little more genuinely.

He noticed, of course.

His eyes softened just a bit, though he tried to hide it by turning back toward the room. "Come on. You've got a lot of unpacking to do."

I folded my arms. "You say that like I'm not already emotionally exhausted."

"You'll survive."

"That's what everyone keeps telling me."

"Because it's true."

I wanted to argue, but the truth was I was too overwhelmed to do much besides stand there and take everything in.

So I did.

I unpacked slowly, one item at a time, while Kiefer moved around the room like he actually knew where everything went. My shoes went into the lower shelves. My cosmetics were arranged near the vanity. My bags were set neatly by the closet bench. He didn't touch my actual personal things unless I asked him to pass something, which weirdly made me trust him a little more than I wanted to.

Every so often, I'd glance at the wardrobe and catch myself imagining all the places I'd have to wear those dresses.

All the events.

All the fake smiles.

All the people watching.

I sighed and sank onto the edge of the bed for a second, staring at the gown wall like it might suddenly explain my life to me.

Kiefer noticed right away. "What now?"

I looked up at him. "I feel like I got dropped into some rich people fantasy I didn't agree to."

He leaned against the dresser. "You didn't agree to most of it."

"Exactly."

His expression shifted slightly, like that hit a nerve. "Yeah."

The room got quiet after that.

Not awkward. Just heavy.

I looked around again, then back at him. "So this wardrobe—"

"What about it?"

I pointed at the gowns. "If one of those is for a gala, and another one is for dinner, and another one is for some secret billionaire event, how am I supposed to keep track?"

Kiefer's mouth twitched. "You'll ask me."

I narrowed my eyes. "That sounded suspiciously like you expect me to rely on you."

He looked at me for a second. "Maybe I do."

My heartbeat tripped.

I quickly looked away and stood up so he wouldn't notice. "Well, don't get excited. I'm still mad at you."

"I figured."

"And I'm still not over the engagement thing."

"That one I deserve."

I paused, then looked back at him.

There was something different in his face now. Not teasing. Not smug. Just tired and real and a little guarded.

And maybe that was why, despite everything, the condo didn't feel as cold as it should have.

Because Kiefer was here.

Because he wasn't acting like this was some joke.

Because even if I hated the situation, I didn't feel completely alone in it.

Which was annoying.

And unfair.

And probably dangerous.

I turned back toward the wardrobe and grabbed the blue satin dress I'd noticed earlier, holding it against myself in front of the mirror.

Kiefer watched me for a second.

Then he said quietly, "That one suits you."

I looked at him through the mirror.

"Yeah?" I asked.

He nodded once. "Yeah."

I looked back at the dress, then at my reflection, then at the endless racks of gowns waiting for a life I still didn't fully understand.

"Fine," I muttered. "Maybe this place isn't totally terrible."

Kiefer smirked. "High praise."

"Don't push your luck."

But even as I said it, I could feel something shifting inside me.

The condo was huge. Ridiculous. Over-the-top. Completely unreal.

And the wardrobe full of gala gowns made it all feel even more absurd.

Still…

I was here.

And for now, that had to be enough.