Keifer's POV – Boardroom
The silence between us still lingered.
Jay stood in front of me—real, alive, finally here—and yet the world didn't stop for us.
The board meeting.
Reality hit back.
I took a slow breath and straightened.
"Call everyone back," I said to the assistant.
Within minutes, the executives returned, still confused but trying to maintain professionalism.
Jay had already composed herself.
Her expression turned calm.
Sharp.
CEO.
Not the girl I just held.
And somehow… that made me even prouder.
Jay's POV
I walked back to my seat at the head of the K&J side.
My emotions were locked away.
Right now—
I wasn't Jay.
I was CEO Jay Mariano.
"Let's resume," I said firmly.
A senior board member cleared his throat.
"As everyone is aware, Watson Enterprise continues to hold the number one global position…"
Another added, "And K&J Enterprise has secured the second position globally for the third consecutive year."
All eyes shifted between me and Keifer.
The two strongest companies.
The two people who once belonged to each other.
Keifer leaned back slightly, watching me.
"Your expansion in the medical technology sector was unexpected," he said.
His tone was professional.
But his eyes weren't.
"They're strategic," I replied.
"Healthcare innovation has long-term returns."
A board member nodded. "K&J's surgical tech division has outperformed projections by 37%."
Another added, "Watson Enterprise's AI logistics network still dominates global infrastructure."
Keifer smirked slightly.
"We don't plan on losing that position anytime soon."
I met his gaze.
"Neither do we."
The room felt charged.
Not hostile.
Competitive.
Familiar.
Business Tension
"Moving forward," one member said, "there's a proposal for a joint venture between Watson Enterprise and K&J Enterprise."
The room went silent.
I leaned forward slightly.
"A collaboration?"
Keifer's eyes locked with mine.
"Top one and top two companies working together," he said.
"That would change the entire global market."
I crossed my arms.
"Or destroy it."
A few members exchanged nervous glances.
Keifer smiled faintly.
"Still the same."
"And you're still arrogant."
That earned a few shocked looks.
But then—
A small smile appeared on his face.
And mine almost followed.
Meeting Ends
After intense discussions, strategies, projections, and negotiations—
The meeting finally ended.
Everyone slowly started leaving.
But neither of us moved.
Keifer's POV
The moment the last person left, I walked toward her.
"You've changed," I said quietly.
She looked up at me.
"So have you."
I stepped closer.
"But not enough."
Her breath hitched slightly.
"Keifer—"
"Come with me."
She blinked.
"What?"
"Come with me," I repeated softly.
"Just for a while."
Her eyes softened… but then hardened again.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"I need time."
My jaw tightened slightly.
"Jay—"
"I'm not running," she said quickly.
"I just… need to be sure."
"Of what?"
"That I won't hurt you."
I stepped closer, gently holding her hand.
"You won't."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"I need to believe that myself first."
For a moment I said nothing.
Then I sighed softly.
"Fine."
"But I'm not letting you disappear again."
She gave a small smile.
"I won't."
Reunion – Angelo, Aries, Gemma
The moment we stepped out—
Voices echoed.
"JAY?!"
Gemma ran toward her first.
"Oh my god it's really you!"
She hugged Jay tightly.
Jay froze for a second—
Then slowly hugged her back.
"I missed you," Gemma said, almost crying.
Angelo stepped forward, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You disappeared like a ghost."
Jay looked at him.
"I'm sorry."
He pulled her into a quick hug.
"Don't do that again."
Aries stood a little further back.
Quiet.
Nervous.
Jay looked at him.
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
Then she walked toward him slowly.
"I'm sorry," she said softly.
"For what happened back then… and for disappearing."
Aries smiled slightly.
"You don't have to apologize for something that wasn't your fault."
Her eyes softened.
"Still…"
He stepped forward and hugged her.
"I'm just glad you're alive."
Keifer watched everything silently.
His chest felt lighter seeing her with them again.
Goodbye… Interrupted
Jay stepped back.
"I have to go."
"So soon?" Gemma asked.
"I have work."
Just as she turned—
Her phone rang.
Her expression changed instantly.
Cold.
Focused.
She answered.
"Yes."
Her face hardened.
"Age?"
She listened carefully.
"23-year-old male… severe trauma?"
Her tone sharpened.
"External chest injury… suspected pulmonary hemorrhage?"
Everyone froze hearing her.
"I'll be there in ten minutes," she said and cut the call.
She turned around.
"I have a patient."
And just like that—
She changed.
No hesitation.
No emotion.
Only precision.
Keifer's POV
I had never seen her like this before.
Sharp.
Commanding.
Unstoppable.
"I'm coming with you," I said immediately.
"No—"
But she stopped mid-sentence.
She didn't have time to argue.
"Fine," she said quickly.
And we rushed out.
Hospital Scene
The moment we entered—
Jay was already giving instructions.
"Prep the OT."
"Blood units ready."
"Crossmatch immediately."
"Check oxygen saturation levels."
Doctors and nurses moved instantly.
She walked fast, pulling on gloves.
"Severe lung trauma," she said to her team.
"Likely internal bleeding in the pulmonary cavity."
A junior doctor spoke nervously, "There's massive hemothorax—"
"Then we drain it," Jay cut him off sharply.
Her voice was calm but authoritative.
"Insert chest tube. Prepare for emergency thoracotomy."
Keifer stood there watching her.
Proud.
Amazed.
She wasn't just strong.
She was extraordinary.
Outside the OT
Jay disappeared inside.
The red light turned on.
I sat outside waiting.
Minutes felt like hours.
Then I overheard two nurses.
"She's been working non-stop," one said.
"She barely sleeps," the other added.
"She lives on coffee."
"And sometimes she doesn't even eat."
My chest tightened.
That's when I really looked at her.
She had lost weight.
Her face looked sharper.
Tired.
Like she had been fighting alone for too long.
I clenched my fists.
"I'm not letting her do this anymore," I muttered.
After Surgery
Hours later—
The OT doors opened.
Jay walked out.
Exhausted.
But calm.
"The patient is stable," she said.
Relief washed over me.
She removed her gloves slowly.
That's when I walked up to her.
Jay & Keifer – Romance
"You didn't eat, did you?" I asked.
She blinked.
"That's not important."
"It is to me."
She looked at me quietly.
"You haven't changed."
"Good."
I stepped closer.
"You shouldn't push yourself like this."
"It's my job."
"And taking care of yourself is also your job."
She sighed softly.
"You sound like you own me."
"I don't."
I gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"But I care about you."
Her eyes softened.
"Keifer…"
I pulled her slightly closer.
"Come live with me."
She froze.
"I can't."
"Jay—"
"I will," she said quickly.
"But not now."
"Why?"
"I'm still scared."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"But I want to try."
I stayed silent.
"We can meet," she continued.
"You can come to my place… I can come to yours."
"Until I'm ready."
I looked at her for a long moment.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
"But one condition."
"What?"
"You eat properly."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"And you rest."
She laughed softly.
"You're impossible."
"And you love that."
She didn't deny it.
Ending
For now—
We weren't back to how we used to be.
But we weren't broken anymore either.
We were…
Starting again.
Slowly.
Together.