Keifer POV
I woke up, but honestly, I wasn't sure I had slept at all.
The same voice kept replaying in my head.
I had heard it before.
I was sure of it.
But no matter how hard I tried to remember where, the answer stayed just out of reach.
I rubbed my eyes and sat up.
Today was important.
The meeting with MKM.
One of the biggest business deals Watson Empire had worked on in years.
I couldn't afford to be distracted.
After getting ready, I walked downstairs and found Honey already waiting with a folder in her hands.
Keifer: "Honey, you're coming with me, right?"
Honey looked up.
Honey: "Of course. As your assistant, I kind of have to."
I chuckled slightly.
Keifer: "Fair enough."
A few minutes later, we were on our way.
The entire car ride was quiet.
Honey was reviewing documents while I stared out the window.
But no matter how much I tried to focus on the meeting, my thoughts kept returning to that voice.
Something about it felt familiar.
Painfully familiar.
Before I could think further, the car stopped.
We had arrived.
The MKM headquarters towered above us.
Modern.
Powerful.
Impressive.
Just like the company itself.
We entered the building and were immediately escorted to the conference room.
Inside, everything was immaculate.
The room was large and elegant.
A long conference table stretched through the center.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city.
I took my seat while Honey stood beside me.
We waited.
A staff member entered.
Girl: "Sir, Madam CEO will be here shortly."
I nodded.
Then she left.
The room slowly began filling with executives and board members.
One by one, people took their seats.
Then suddenly—
Everyone stood.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
I frowned.
Who exactly was this CEO?
The door opened.
And my entire world stopped.
Her.
Jay.
For a moment I genuinely forgot how to breathe.
She walked into the room with calm confidence.
Her posture was straight.
Her expression unreadable.
Cold.
Professional.
Powerful.
Nothing like the girl I remembered.
She didn't even look at me.
Not once.
Instead, her eyes landed on Honey.
For a brief second, a small smile appeared on her face.
A real smile.
Then it vanished.
As if it had never been there.
She continued walking and sat down in the CEO chair at the head of the table.
My heart nearly stopped.
No.
No way.
MKM's CEO...
Was Jay.
The mystery CEO everyone had been talking about for years.
The woman who built one of the biggest companies in the world.
The woman sitting across from me.
The woman I hadn't seen in nine years.
Jay adjusted the files in front of her.
Jay: "Let's begin."
The room immediately fell silent.
The meeting started.
People presented reports.
Financial forecasts.
Contracts.
Expansion plans.
I heard every word.
Yet somehow none of it registered.
Because all I could focus on was her.
The way she spoke.
The way she carried herself.
The way everyone listened the moment she opened her mouth.
She wasn't just leading the room.
She owned it.
And I couldn't stop wondering how much had happened during those nine years.
Jay: "Any questions?"
Silence.
Nobody spoke.
Jay nodded once.
Jay: "Then are we proceeding with the cooperation?"
Her eyes lifted.
And landed directly on me.
Everything inside me froze.
She was waiting for my answer.
But my mind had completely stopped working.
Jay: "Mr. Watson?"
Nothing.
Honey leaned closer.
Honey: "Keifer."
I blinked.
Honey: "The cooperation?"
Finally, I found my voice.
Keifer: "Yes."
Jay nodded once.
Jay: "Excellent."
The paperwork was signed shortly afterward.
The deal was complete.
Just like that.
Jay stood.
Jay: "Meeting adjourned."
Everyone began leaving.
But I couldn't move.
I just watched her gather her files.
Then she turned and started walking away.
Something inside me snapped.
Before I could think, I stood and grabbed her wrist.
The entire room froze.
Jay stopped.
Slowly looked down at my hand.
Then at me.
Without a word, she removed my hand from her wrist and straightened her sleeve.
Jay: "If you require anything, Mr. Watson, you may contact my assistant."
Mr. Watson.
Not Keifer.
Not even a hint of familiarity.
Keifer: "Jay..."
Her eyes met mine.
Jay: "It's Miss Marino, Mr. Watson."
The words hurt more than they should have.
Miss Marino.
Not Jay.
Not the girl I knew.
A stranger.
That's all I was to her now.
Jay: "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving."
She turned and continued toward the door.
Then suddenly she stopped.
Jay: "Ate Honey."
Honey immediately looked up.
For the first time during the entire meeting, Jay's expression softened.
Jay: "We'll meet soon."
Honey's eyes instantly filled with tears.
Jay smiled faintly.
Jay: "Tell the girls I'll see them soon too."
Then she added,
Jay: "I'll send the hotel address to my assistant."
And just like that—
She was gone.
I stared at the closed door long after she disappeared.
Honey was crying beside me.
Not because she was sad.
Because she was happy.
Relieved.
After nine years, she had finally seen Jay again.
By the time we returned to the hotel, Honey practically ran inside.
I followed more slowly.
The moment I entered, the boys noticed something was wrong.
Aries: "What happened?"
Yuri frowned.
Yuri: "Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
Percy looked toward the hallway.
Percy: "And why is Honey crying?"
I took a deep breath.
Keifer: "Because she saw Jay."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Aries: "What?"
Keifer: "Jay is the CEO of MKM."
The room exploded.
Angelo: "WHAT?!"
Ci-N: "Ate is here?!"
Calix : "Where is she?!"
Keifer: "I don't know."
They immediately crowded around me.
Keifer: "She left before I could talk to her properly."
Angelo clenched his fists.
Angelo: "We'll find her."
Calix nodded.
Calix: "Definitely."
But even as everyone spoke, I couldn't shake the feeling growing inside me.
This wasn't a reunion.
It felt like the beginning of something much bigger.
Something none of us were ready for.
Jay POV
I woke up already regretting the day.
Today was the meeting with Watson Empire.
Of all companies.
Of all people.
It had to be them.
I buried my face back into the pillow.
Gorya immediately pulled it away.
Gorya: "Nice try."
I groaned.
Jay: "I don't want to go."
Gorya laughed.
Gorya: "Unfortunately for you, the CEO of MKM has responsibilities."
Jay: "I hate responsibilities."
Gorya: "Too bad. Get up."
A few minutes later, I was sitting at breakfast with the kids.
They were all excited about tomorrow's tournament.
Talking over each other.
Arguing.
Making impossible promises about winning.
Their energy made me smile.
At least someone was having a good day.
After breakfast, I left for the office.
The entire drive there felt longer than usual.
Not because of traffic.
Because I knew who I'd be meeting.
When I entered the conference room, everyone stood.
I ignored it.
I walked straight to my seat.
Focused.
Controlled.
Professional.
Jay: "Let's begin."
The meeting started immediately.
Everything went smoothly.
At least on the surface.
Because the moment I looked up and saw Keifer Watson sitting across from me—
Nine years suddenly felt like yesterday.
But I refused to let it show.
So I treated him exactly like everyone else.
No special treatment.
No emotions.
No memories.
Just business.
The cooperation was finalized.
The contract was signed.
The meeting ended.
And somehow, I survived it.
Barely.
After leaving the office, I returned to the hotel.
The first thing I saw was the kids practicing for tomorrow's tournament.
I couldn't help smiling.
Their laughter filled the entire floor.
Eventually, I escaped to my room and changed into comfortable clothes.
Then I opened my laptop and buried myself in work.
Hours passed.
By the time I finished, dinner was over.
The kids stumbled into the room afterward.
Completely exhausted.
Yet somehow still excited.
Within minutes, every single one of them had fallen asleep.
Most of them didn't even change clothes.
I covered them with blankets before walking into the living room.
Gorya looked up.
Gorya: "How was the meeting?"
Jay: "The cooperation is sealed."
Thyme leaned back.
Thyme: "You saw him."
It wasn't a question.
I sighed.
Jay: "Yes."
Everyone became quiet.
So I told them everything.
The meeting.
Keifer.
Honey.
Everything.
When I finished, Ren spoke.
Ren: "For now, get some sleep."
Jay: "Ren—"
Ren: "No arguments."
He smiled.
Ren: "You've done enough for one day."
For once, I listened.
I changed into my pajamas and climbed into bed.
The room was dark.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
But something felt strange.
Like tomorrow wouldn't go according to plan.
Like something was waiting for us.
Something important.
I didn't know what.
And I was too tired to care.
So I closed my eyes and let sleep take over.
Completely unaware that tomorrow would change everything.
++++++ END ++++++
one more chapter
bye