Jay POV
The chaotic, grease-stained madness of the lunch rush had finally bled into a quiet, cool evening. The harsh afternoon sun had vanished, replaced by the amber glow of the streetlights filtering through the front windows of Eman's restaurant.
Right now, the cafe was mostly empty. The constant roar of demanding customers had dwindled down to the soothing, rhythmic hum of the dishwasher in the back and the quiet scrape of Cin's broom.
Cin was still sweeping the exact same corner near the counter. I honestly think he had polished that specific patch of tile down to the subfloor, but nobody had the energy to stop him.
I leaned heavily against the front counter, my muscles aching, resting my chin in my hands. Beside me, Keifer was leaning back against the pastry display, his long legs crossed at the ankles.
He had his shirt back on—thankfully—though he hadn't fully buttoned the top two buttons, leaving his collarbone visible.
Every time I accidentally looked at him, my brain flashed back to the hallway incident from earlier.
"Why do you care so much, Jay? Are you jealous?"
His smug, teasing voice kept echoing in my head, making my face flush all over again. I mentally slapped myself. I was not falling for him. I was just tired. Yes, that was it. Just standard, retail-induced exhaustion.
Suddenly, the chimes above the heavy glass entrance doors rattled violently. The door swung open with an aggressive, loud thud that shattered the peaceful evening quiet.
I didn't even have to look up to know who it was. The sheer aura of unearned arrogance radiating into the room was a dead giveaway.
Aries walked in first, leading the pack like he owned the sidewalk outside. Right behind him trailed Ella, Freya, Mykle, Ben, and Kiko. It was the ultimate convention of people I absolutely despised, all crammed into one miserable lineup.
I didn't just roll my eyes; I rolled them so hard I nearly saw the back of my own skull.
"Oh, great," I muttered under my breath, my voice dripping with pure exhaustion. "The circus is in town, and they forgot their route."
Beside me, Jane moved closer, her shoulders stiffening instantly. She looked at the group, then leaned toward me, her voice a barely audible, panicked breath. "Jay... This is going to be really bad."
"Relax," I whispered back, my eyes narrowing as the group sauntered over to the largest booth in the center of the room. "They bleed just like anyone else. If they start anything, I'll just use the heavy frying pan."
The group dragged out the chairs with unnecessary noise, creating a loud screech against the floor that made Cin stop sweeping for a fraction of a second. They settled into their seats, smirking and looking around the modest restaurant with visible disgust.
Freya immediately began fanning herself with a napkin as if the very air in Eman's establishment was beneath her. Aries wrapped his arms around ella waist , leaning back and staring directly at Keifer with a cold, mocking glare.
Mykle didn't waste a single second. He leaned across the table, propping his elbows up, and looked straight at Keifer with a nasty, venomous grin.
He didn't try to hide his voice at all as he whispered loudly, "Wow. The Watsons are completely bankrupted, right, Keifer?"
The entire table chuckled, a chorus of mean, mocking snickers.
Keifer didn't flinch. His expression didn't change at all, remaining a mask of absolute boredom, but I saw his jaw tighten slightly. He adjusted his stance against the counter, looking down at Mykle like he was looking at an annoying bug on the windshield.
"None of your business," Keifer said, his voice smooth, low, and completely dismissive.
Ben leaned forward next, a fake, pitying smile plastered across his face. He patted the table. "Oh, come on. Don't be shy, man. Share with us. Tell us how it feels to go from the top straight down to the gutters."
My blood boiled instantly. Nobody gets to come into our workplace and talk down to us, especially not a bunch of pathetic, trust-fund parasites who hadn't worked a day in their lives.
Before Keifer could even open his mouth to respond, I stepped out from behind the counter. I crossed my arms over my apron, glaring directly at Ben.
"Yeah," I said, my voice echoing clearly through the quiet cafe. "They're bankrupted enough to buy your soul. And honestly? With how cheap and worthless you are, they'd probably get some change back."
The entire table went dead silent. Ben's smug, punchable smile dropped so fast it practically hit the floor. His face turned an ugly, mottled shade of bright red, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air.
Mykle's eyes widened in shock, completely stunned that someone had just shut them down so casually.
I felt a sudden shift beside me. Keifer was looking down at me, a massive, genuine smirk breaking across his handsome face. The dark irritation that had briefly clouded his eyes vanished completely, replaced by pure amusement.
Without looking away from the stunned group, Keifer slowly raised his hand, his fingers curling into a loose fist. I looked at his hand, a small smirk growing on my own face, and raised my own hand. We joined our fists together slowly, a quiet, synchronized bump of absolute victory right in front of their faces.
Score one for Section E, I thought, feeling a triumphant rush in my chest.
Freya, clearly desperate to break the embarrassing silence and shift the power dynamic back to her crew, turned her sharp, judgmental gaze away from us.
She scanned the room until her eyes landed on Mica, who was quietly wiping down a table a few feet away, trying her best to remain invisible.
Freya scoffed loudly, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Girl, you are also here?" she asked, her voice dripping with condescension as she stared at Mica.
Mica froze, her fingers tightening around her cleaning cloth, her cheeks turning pink.
I rolled my eyes for the second time in five minutes. I stepped into Freya's line of sight, completely blocking her view of Mica. "No, actually," I said, deadpan, my voice completely flat. "It's her hologram. The real Mica is currently at a luxury spa, but we kept the hologram here just to see if your IQ was low enough to try and hold a conversation with it. Looks like we got our answer."
From behind me, Keifer let out a sudden, loud chuckle. The sound was deep and rich, vibrating through the small space. Once again, without a single word needed between us, he extended his arm. I raised my hand again, and our fists joined together perfectly a second time. The seamless teamwork felt intoxicatingly good.
Before the situation could escalate into a full-blown shouting match, Jane quietly stepped in. She passed me, giving me a subtle, warning nudge with her elbow. Her face was calm, professional, and completely neutral—the perfect mask of a seasoned waitress. She slid a stack of menus onto the center of their table.
"Order what you want," Jane said quietly, her tone leaving absolutely no room for arguments.
Aries didn't even look at the menus. He kept his eyes locked firmly on Keifer, his expression dark and dangerous. A nasty, controlling smirk pulled at the corner of his lips. "We want Jay and Keifer to serve us," he said, his voice loud and demanding.
Jane stopped. She paused for a moment, then slowly turned her head to look back at me. She gave me a long, heavy look that spoke volumes. Don't cause trouble, her eyes pleaded. We need to help eman not to cause trouble for him.
I sighed heavily, the triumphant energy draining out of me, replaced by pure annoyance. Keifer and I exchanged a brief, miserable glance. Together, we let out a synchronized, loud exhale.
"Fine," we muttered in unison.
Before I could even take a step forward to grab a notepad, Keifer suddenly moved. He stepped up right beside me and lazily wrapped his arm completely around my neck, pulling me back against his side in a loose, casual embrace.
I froze instantly, my heart jumping violently into my throat. My entire body went rigid. I was completely shocked by the sudden, intense physical contact.
The warmth of his arm through his sleeve pressed firmly against my skin, and the faint scent of his cologne filled my nose, completely throwing off my internal compass.
What the hell is he doing?! I thought, my mind racing in a panic.
I snapped my head up to glare at him, ready to elbow him directly in the ribs, but the words died in my throat when I saw his expression.
Keifer wasn't looking at me. He was staring directly at Aries. His eyes were narrowed, sharp and incredibly provocative, a challenging smirk playing on his lips.
I followed his gaze and looked across the table. Aries was glaring at us—specifically at Keifer's arm wrapped around my neck. His fists were clenched so tightly on top of the table that his knuckles were turning white. The veins in his neck were pulsing with visible, violent rage.
In that split second, a wave of understanding washed over me. Keifer was playing a game. He was deliberately using me to rile Aries up, poking at the guy's massive ego.
And honestly? I love Aries face way more than I minded Keifer's arm around me. Two could play this game.
I leaned my weight directly back into Keifer's side, completely melting into his hold as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Keifer felt the shift and looked down at me, a brief flash of surprise crossing his features. I looked up into his eyes, giving him a slow, deliberate wink.
The temperature at the table seemed to drop below freezing. Aries looked like he was about to flip the heavy wooden table over and strangle both of us on the spot.
"What can I get for you all?" Keifer asked, his voice dripping with smooth, unbothered arrogance as his arm remained securely anchored around my neck.
One by one, the group angrily rattled off their respective food orders. They ordered complex, annoying dishes just to be difficult, speaking quickly and aggressively.
I quickly scribbled everything down on my small notepad, my fingers flying across the paper.
Once the last order was snapped out, I flipped my notepad shut. "Got it," I said smoothly, tapping the pen against the paper.
I pulled myself out from under Keifer's arm, though my skin still felt tinglingly warm where his sleeve had been resting.
I turned around and was about to walk away toward the kitchen when Freya's voice cut through the air like a rusty saw.
"Wait. Repeat the entire order," Freya commanded loudly, crossing her arms and looking up at me with a smirk. "Because I think you were distracted looking at my beauty instead of doing your job properly."
I stopped dead in my tracks. I slowly turned around on my heel, staring at her. I didn't even need to look at the notepad. I cleared my throat and repeated every single item, customization, and side order they had just listed, flawlessly, without tripping over a single syllable.
When I finished, I gave her a sugary-sweet, entirely fake smile. "There. And do you want me to order some manners for you too? I hear they're running a special discount for people who desperately need them."
Freya's face twisted into a furious, insulted scowl. She looked completely pissed off, her chest heaving with anger.
I didn't wait for her to yell. I quickly showed her my tongue, sticking it out at her in a completely childish, petty gesture, and turned on my heel, marching straight into the kitchen area.
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Keifer's POV
I couldn't help the massive grin that stretched across my face as I watched Jay stick her tongue out at Freya before disappearing behind the kitchen doors.
God, she was incredible. Most people would have been intimidated or flustered by a group like that, but Jay just stood there and completely dismantled them with a few sentences. Seeing Mykle and Ben look like absolute idiots the second she opened her mouth was the most satisfying thing I had experienced all week.
And then, when she had leaned into my side and winked at me? My heart had done a weird, violent flip in my chest that had absolutely nothing to do with our little act to piss off Aries. She was sharp, quick-witted, and completely unpredictable.
"I'll take the order tickets to the kitchen," I told Jane, who was still standing nearby looking relieved that the restaurant hadn't been torn apart yet.
I grabbed the slip Jay had written and walked through the swinging doors into the back kitchen. The air inside was hot, thick with the smell of sizzling oil and spices. I handed the ticket to the line cooks. "Table four. They're going to be looking for any excuse to complain, so make sure it's perfect," I warned them.
I lingered in the kitchen for a couple of minutes, grabbing a tray and setting up the silverware, giving Jay some space to cool down after dealing with those snobs. After about five minutes, I pushed the swinging doors open and walked back out into the main dining area.
Jay wasn't at the tables. She was standing behind the front counter, leaning against the register, looking over the evening inventory sheets.
But she wasn't alone.
Kiko had left the booth. He was standing right in front of the counter, leaning over it slightly, invading her personal space. His hands were shoved into his pockets, and he had this pathetic, desperate look on his face that instantly made my stomach churn with intense irritation.
What the hell did he think he was doing?
I stopped a few feet away, shadow-stepping near the edge of the espresso machine where they couldn't see me clearly. I narrowed my eyes, my muscles tensing up as I listened closely to their conversation.
"Hey, Jay," Kiko said, his voice dropping into a low, trying-to-be-smooth tone that made me want to punch him. "Can I talk to you?"
Jay didn't even look up from her inventory sheet. She flipped a page, her pen clicking rhythmically. "We are already talking," she said, her voice completely flat and uninterested.
Kiko shifted his weight from one foot to the other, looking nervous but determined. He took a deep breath, leaning in a little closer. "I want to court you."
Jay froze. Her pen stopped clicking. She slowly raised her head, blinking at him once, twice, as if trying to process whether he had just spoken a foreign language.
"You what?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowing in deep confusion. "Isn't Freya your girlfriend?"
Kiko scoffed, waving his hand dismissively as if his relationship status was just a minor detail. "She cheated on me," he said, trying to sound like a tragic, wronged victim.
Jay's expression didn't soften at all. If anything, she looked even more annoyed. "Then it's none of my business," she said, lowering her eyes back to her paperwork, clearly trying to end the conversation right there.
But Kiko didn't take the hint. He reached out, placing his hand flat on the counter near her papers. "But I really want to court you, Jay. Give me a chance."
A dark, heavy wave of pure fury slammed into my chest. Fucking asshole, I thought, my hands clenching into tight fists at my sides. He's literally sitting at a table with his friends and his girlfriend, and he has the nerve to wander over here and confess to my girl?
Wait. My girl?
My brain stalled for a fraction of a second at the thought, but the boiling jealousy running through my veins completely drowned out any internal confusion.
I wanted to march over there, grab Kiko by his expensive collar, and drag him out into the alleyway. I would make sure he regretted even looking in her direction. Nobody touches her. Nobody talks to her like that.
Before I could move, Jay spoke up again. She looked at Kiko's hand on the counter, then looked up at his face, her lips curling into a sharp, viciously sarcastic smile.
"Court me?" Jay asked, her voice dripping with mockery. "Kiko, the only thing you should be courting is a dictionary so you can look up the definition of 'loyalty' and 'self-respect.' If you think I'm going to be your rebound prize just to get back at Freya, you're dumber than you look. Go back to your table before I use this stapler to attach your lips together."
I let out a quiet breath, a smirk cutting through my anger. God, she was brutal. She absolutely destroyed him without even rising from her chair.
Kiko's face flushed an intense crimson. He looked completely humiliated, opening his mouth to try and salvage his dignity, but before he could say another word, David stepped out from the back hallway.
David's large, imposing frame instantly brought a heavy authority to the space. He walked up to the counter, his sharp eyes darting between Kiko's flushed face and Jay's annoyed expression.
He crossed his arms over his chest. "Any problem here, Jay?" David asked, his deep voice carrying a clear, unspoken threat to Kiko.
Jay sighed, rolling her shoulders. "No, David," she said, slamming her inventory folder shut. "Just some trash that needs to be cleared out. Let's go in."
She didn't look at Kiko again. She stepped out from behind the counter and walked straight toward the back employee area, with David following closely behind her. Kiko stood there for a second, looking like a whipped dog, before slinking back to his booth with his head down
I turned around and beat them back into the kitchen, leaning against the heavy stainless-steel prep table just as the swinging doors pushed open.
Jay walked in first, her face flushed with lingering annoyance, her breathing a little fast. David walked in right behind her, adjusting his apron.
I watched her closely, my mind still racing with a toxic mix of intense jealousy and deep admiration. Her roasting skills were genuinely a work of art. She didn't need anyone to fight her battles; she possessed a tongue sharper than any kitchen knife in this room.
But the absolute audacity of Kiko still made my blood boil. The thought of that guy even imagining himself next to Jay made me want to break something.
David grabbed a clean towel from the shelf, looking over at Jay with a puzzled expression. "Jay, why does Kiko want to court you?" he asked bluntly, completely genuinely confused by the random interaction.
Jay threw her hands up in the air, her voice exploding in pure frustration. "How the fuck will I know?!" she replied, pacing a few steps across the linoleum floor. "The guy is completely out of his mind!"
I straightened up from the prep table, stepping directly into her path. I crossed my arms, looking down at her, forcing my voice to sound casual and teasing despite the possessive roar screaming in my head.
"Do you like him? " I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jay stopped pacing. She looked up at me, her dark eyes flashing with irritation as she threw her hands on her hips. "No. I rejected him!" she snapped, her voice sharp. "Or what? Do you want me to go out with him? Do you want me to say yes to that idiot?!"
Before I could answer, she let out a loud huff, turned around violently, and marched right past me, heading toward the back storage racks to grab more napkins. "Unbelievable," she muttered to herself as she went.
I stared after her, my jaw tight. No, I thought, the dark jealousy flaring up again. I don't want you anywhere near him. Ever.
I turned my head and saw Cin standing near the dishwashing station, holding a stack of clean plates. He had been quietly watching the whole exchange.
"Cin," I called out, my voice low and completely serious.
He looked up, blinking.
"Keep an eye on Jay," I commanded, my tone leaving no room for argument. "If that asshole Kiko tries to approach her again, or if anyone from that table starts bothering her, you let me know instantly."
Cin nodded once, his expression turning serious as he set the plates down. He understood completely.
Yuri stepped out from the walk-in freezer, holding a crate of fresh produce. He set it down on the table with a heavy thud, his sharp eyes looking toward the swinging doors that led to the dining room. He wiped his hands on his apron, his expression unusually dark."Kiko is planning something," Yuri said, his voice quiet but full of certainty. "People like him don't just walk away quietly after being humiliated like that. He's going to try something petty."
I leaned back against the counter, my fingers digging into the edge of the metal table. A cold, dangerous smile spread across my face, my eyes narrowing into slits. Let him try.
"Let him try," I whispered, the jealousy in my chest turning into pure, protective malice. "That fucking asshole had the nerve to confess to my girl while sitting with his own girlfriend. If he thinks he can play games with Section E, or if he even touches a single hair on Jay's head..." I let out a sharp, dark laugh. "I will personally make sure he regrets every single life choice that brought him into this restaurant tonight."
Yuri looked at me, a subtle, knowing smirk appearing on his face, but he didn't say anything. He knew exactly what was driving my anger.I turned my eyes back toward the storage area where Jay was currently working.
My chest felt tight, a heavy, possessive weight settling deep into my bones. She didn't realize it yet, and she was still desperately denying her own feelings, but she was mine to protect. And anyone who dared to get in the way of that was going to find out exactly why the Watsons, bankrupted or not, were never people you should cross.
The bell above the kitchen pass chimed sharply, breaking the tense silence that had settled between Yuri and me. Eman placed three large trays onto the metal counter.
"Table four, everything is ready."
I exhaled sharply, rolling up my sleeves. The lingering anger from watching Kiko corner Jay was still burning hot in my chest.
I welcomed the task. Carrying a heavy load of hot food out there gave me the perfect excuse to stand over their table, look down at Kiko, and remind him exactly who he was dealing with.
I stepped forward and placed my hands on the edges of the largest tray, ready to lift it.
"Wait."
Jay's sharp voice cut through the air. Before I could pick up the tray, she stepped right in front of me, planting her hand firmly on my chest to stop me.
The sudden contact made my heart do that annoying, unpredictable skip again, but her eyes weren't on me. They were locked onto the three drink glasses sitting on the side of the tray—the iced coffees and sodas meant for Mykle, Ben, and Kiko.
I blinked, looking down at her. "Jay? The food's going to get cold."
She didn't answer. Instead, a slow, dangerously wicked smirk began to curl the corners of her lips. She reached deep into the front pocket of her restaurant apron and pulled out a small, unmarked plastic packet filled with a fine white powder.
Without saying a single word, she ripped the corner of the packet with her teeth. She leaned over the tray, carefully splitting the powder into three equal portions, and dumped them directly into Mykle's iced coffee, Ben's soda, and Kiko's drink.
She grabbed a spoon from the counter and swirled the liquids around with practiced efficiency until the powder vanished completely into the dark beverages.
I watched the entire process in absolute fascination, my eyebrows shooting up toward my hairline. "I asked what is it," I murmured, leaning down slightly so only she could hear me over the roar of the kitchen fans.
Jay tapped the spoon against the rim of the glass to shake off the excess liquid, then slipped the empty plastic wrapper back into her pocket.
She looked up at me, her eyes sparkling with pure, unadulterated mischief.
"You will know soon," she smirked, giving me a tiny, conspiratorial nod.
An amused smile tugged at my lips. Whatever she was planning, I knew those three idiots were about to have a terrible evening.
I lifted the heavy trays, balancing them effortlessly on my forearms. "Alright then. Let's deliver the food."
I pushed through the swinging kitchen doors, my expression instantly morphing back into a mask of polite, professional boredom. As I walked out into the dining area, I could feel Aries' eyes tracking me across the room like a hawk.
I didn't care. I calmly approached their booth and began setting down the heavy plates of complex, overly specific dishes.
"Your orders," I said smoothly, placing Mykle's plate down first, followed by Ben's, and finally sliding Kiko's meal right in front of him. I picked up the modified drinks, setting them precisely next to their respective owners.
I made sure to give Kiko a lingering, icy stare as I placed his glass down. He looked away instantly, clearing his throat nervously and refusing to meet my eyes. Good. He should be terrified.
"Enjoy your meal," I added, my voice dripping with fake hospitality. I turned on my heel and walked back toward the kitchen, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of making any petty complaints to my face.
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Jay's POV
The second Keifer walked back through the kitchen doors, I clapped my hands together quietly to gather the rest of Section E around the dishwashing station.
"Everyone, come here, be quiet," I whispered, waving my hands frantically to bring them into a tight huddle.
Jane, Ava, Felix, Eman , Blaster Rory, Cin, and Yuri all crowded around, their eyes wide with curiosity. David leaned against the prep table a few feet away, crossing his arms and watching us with an amused expression.
"Well look at Aries' table," I commanded, pointing a single finger through the small, circular glass window embedded in the kitchen door.
Ava instantly gasped, a massive grin breaking across her face. She practically threw her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly from the side. "Baby, you did something, didn't you?" she squealed softly, her eyes bouncing between me and the dining room window.
I crossed my arms, leaning back against the metal counter, trying and failing to hide the massive smirk stretching across my face. "Maybe," I replied code-word style, winking at her.
Through the glass window, we all watched the scene unfold like a live theater performance.
Mykle was the first to reach for his glass. He took a massive, greedy gulp of his iced coffee, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Right on cue, Ben picked up his soda, draining half the glass in one go, while Kiko took several long sips from his own drink to wash down his food.
For the first two minutes, nothing happened. They sat there eating, laughing, and gesturing arrogantly.
And then, the magic struck.
Mykle froze mid-sentence. His fork hovered inches from his mouth. His face suddenly drained of all color, turning a bizarre shade of pale green. He slowly lowered his fork, his eyes widening in sheer, primal terror.
A second later, Ben let out a strange, choked gasp, dropping his napkin and grabbing his stomach with both hands.
Kiko wasn't far behind. He let out a low groan, his shoulders hunching forward as he gripped the edge of the table so tightly his knuckles turned white.
All three of them suddenly held their stomachs, their faces twisted in absolute agony. The cramps had clearly hit them like a freight train.
Without warning, Mykle leaped out of the booth so fast his chair nearly flipped over backward. He didn't say a word to Aries or the girls; he just bolted down the hallway toward the restrooms like his life depended on it.
Ben scrambled out a millisecond later, tripping over his own feet in his desperation to follow.
Kiko was the last one up, practically bent double as he ran, clutching his midsection and practically diving down the corridor toward the washroom doors.
The kitchen burst into absolute chaos. Ava was covering her mouth, shaking with silent laughter, while Edrix leaned against the wall, snickering loudly.
Keifer stepped up right beside me, leaning his shoulder against mine. He was looking down at me, a massive, brilliant chuckle vibrating in his chest. "What did you add?"
he asked, his voice full of pure amusement.
I looked up at him, my smirk growing wider.
"Laxative," I stated completely matter-of-factly. "A double dose , to be exact."
Keifer chuckled loudly, shaking his head in disbelief as he looked back through the window toward the empty seats at table four.
"You are cruel, Jay," he said, though his eyes were full of absolute admiration. He looked completely delighted by the chaos I had caused.
I shrugged my shoulders, completely unbothered, my expression shifting into a proud, triumphant scowl
"Who told them to message with me?" I said sharply. "They come into Eman restaurant, insult us, look down on Mica, and then that idiot Kiko thinks he can just corner me at the register? They deserved every single bit of it."
The rest of Section E broke out into open chuckles. Cin let out a rare, low laugh, shaking his head,Yuri was smirking , while David actually let out a small, satisfied sniff before returning to his broom.
Even Jane, was standing near the salad station with a massive, undeniable smirk plastered across her face. She caught my eye and gave me a subtle nod of approval.
Nobody messes with Section E, I thought, watching the empty chairs at the troublesome table. And nobody messes with my people.
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A/n
I hope you all like this chapter. Let me know your favourite part. And yeah next chapter is locked 🔐
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