Jay's POV
Yesterday's incident on the dock...
Was so stressful.
I somehow managed to let Keifer go to his home.
Even though he kept insisting on driving me back.
"Let me take you home."
"I'm fine, Keifer."
"I'm still driving you."
If Percy hadn't stepped in, he probably would've argued with me for another thirty minutes.
In the end...
Percy drove me home.
And Jason...
He's in the living room.
I know he didn't want to create a scene.
I know he doesn't want to force himself on me.
He respected my feelings for Keifer earlier also.
And I know it all happened because he really cared for me.
Urrrrrrrrrr...
The loud sound coming from my stomach echoed through my room.
I stared at the ceiling.
"...Seriously?"
I covered my face with a pillow.
"Ugh... cut the crap, Jay."
I groaned.
"Jay... eattt. I'm hungry."
I dragged myself out of bed and walked out of my room.
And well...
Looks like the vacation period is over.
And now...
I have to work.
Percy and Jason were sitting on the sofa with piles of files, documents, and papers spread across the center table.
Of course...
My birthday is near.
And we can't trust anyone with the paperwork.
Not after everything.
Victoria buys people to destroy me and Percy.
Like seriously...
She uses Mariano money to destroy the heir and heiress of the Mariano family.
And when someone doesn't sell their loyalty for money...
She either blackmails them using the people they love...
Forcing them to do things they never wanted to do...
Or...
She kills them.
My hands slowly clenched into fists.
I will never let her take my inheritance.
She already took Percy's.
Just because he's not Mariano by blood.
She took advantage of that loophole so he wouldn't receive much from the Mariano family...
So she could continue ruling everything herself.
But I won't let that happen.
I'm the daughter of my father...
Jaspher Mariano.
And my mom...
Reycee Mariano.
Once I have my inheritance...
I'll take revenge for my father...
My mother...
And my—
"Hey, Darling. Good morning."
Jason's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I blinked.
"...Uhh... morning, Jass."
I sat down on the sofa.
"Jay, you must be hungry... wait, I'll get you something. Otherwise, you might eat me," Jason said.
I glared at him.
He just laughed before walking towards the kitchen.
"Jay, I want to talk to you," Percy said.
"Yeah... say," I replied, turning my attention to him.
He closed the file in his hands and looked at me seriously.
"Your birthday is in a few weeks."
I nodded.
"And now we need to do two things."
His tone became even more serious.
"First... from now on, you have to be at the company here in the Philippines."
I frowned slightly.
"You need to prove that you're worthy of it."
"That you can handle it."
"That you can make it successful."
I listened quietly.
"And second..."
He paused.
"We all have to be very careful."
His expression darkened.
"She knows your weak point, Jay."
"...She knows."
"She can hurt anyone who's close to you so that you'll have to choose between them... and your inheritance."
My heart sank.
"This whole week we have many important meetings where your presence..."
"...and your decisions..."
"...are very important."
He looked straight into my eyes.
"I think you'll only be able to attend one or two classes per day."
"Or maybe none."
He quickly added,
"Don't worry about the attendance."
"I'll take care of it."
"Okay, Percy."
For a moment, I stayed silent.
Then the question that had been bothering me since yesterday finally escaped my lips.
"Umm... Percy..."
"Is Keifer... and Section E's life... also in danger because of all of this?"
Percy's expression fell.
A sad smile appeared on his face.
"Yeah, Jay."
"They're in danger."
Those three words made my chest tighten.
I lowered my gaze.
I'll do anything to protect them.
I silently promised myself.
"One more thing, Jay."
I looked back at Percy.
"Grandpa and Grandma want your eighteenth birthday ceremony to happen here in the Philippines."
I nodded slowly.
"Um... Jay..."
Percy hesitated.
"Because Victoria has a very huge network and control in NYC."
"Last time you were in London, that's why you were safe."
"But I've got to know from some sources..."
"...that she has connections with someone in London too."
"Someone who has a lot of control there."
A chill ran down my spine.
"Who could it be, Percy?"
He sighed.
"I don't know, Jay."
Before either of us could say anything else—
"Here's the breakfast from the beauty to the beast."
Jason's voice interrupted us as he placed a plate in front of me, carefully moving the papers and files aside.
I looked up at him.
"Call me beast one more time..."
I narrowed my eyes.
"And I'll become one just to actually kill you."
He immediately raised both hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay... sorry, darling."
He smiled innocently.
Percy sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"You two..."
Jason grinned.
"What?"
"You wanted the meeting to be less depressing."
"I fixed it."
I rolled my eyes.
"You're impossible."
"And yet..."
He pulled out the chair beside me with a smug smile.
"You still haven't thrown your spoon at me."
I picked up the spoon.
Jason's smile slowly disappeared.
"...Jay?"
I smiled sweetly.
"Run."
His eyes widened.
"Oh shi—"
He immediately jumped away from the sofa as I threw the spoon in his direction, making Percy let out the most tired sigh of the morning.
"Can I have just... one peaceful day?"
Neither Jason nor I answered.
Because by then...
We were already arguing again.