The golden morning in the Black Box had officially transitioned from a quiet romantic recovery into a full-scale tactical operation. The mission: Shopping for Alexander. In a house filled with the world's most powerful CEOs, surgeons, and elite Section E specialists, a simple trip to the mall was never going to be "simple."
POV: Jay (Jasper Jean Mariano)
I stood in the grand foyer, adjusting my watch while Keifer—my Mark Keifer Watson—stood beside me, looking like he was preparing for a hostile takeover rather than a trip to buy toddler clothes. He was dressed in a crisp black polo that hugged his frame, his eyes scanning the driveway as the fleet of cars was brought around.
"Keif, it's just a mall," I teased, leaning my head against his shoulder. "We don't need the entire armored division."
"It's a Saturday, weify," Keifer responded, his voice that low, gravelly hum I loved. "The mall is a high-density civilian environment with unpredictable variables. Plus, Alexander is currently in a 'running away' phase. I'm not taking chances."
The doors burst open, and the chaos arrived.
Alexander came sprinting out, wearing a miniature leather jacket that Keigan had bought him, followed closely by Percy and Aries (Horoscope).
We're going to the toy store! Pa! The big one!" Alexander cheered, jumping into Keifer's arms.
"The toy store is the final objective, kid," Keifer said, ruffling his hair. "First, your mom wants to get you actual clothes that aren't tactical vests or suits."
The Convoy
The departure from the mansion was a sight only the Watsons and Marianos could pull off. Keifer, the second richest person in the world, and Angelo, the fourth, didn't do "understated."
Lead Car: Erdix and Rory in a black SUV, clearing the path.
The Royal Carriage: Keifer drove a custom Rolls Royce with me in the passenger seat and Alexander in the back, flanked by his uncles Keigan and Keiran.
The Family Wing: Lia (the first richest) arrived in her own sleek vehicle with Kurav, followed by Ion and Angelo.
As we pulled into the elite shopping district, the security detail from Section E—C in, Denzel, Calix, and Felix—discreetly blended into the crowd, though it was hard to miss a group of men who looked like they were carved out of granite.
The Mall Takeover
The moment we stepped into the high-end children's boutique, the atmosphere shifted. The staff looked like they were about to faint seeing the Watson brothers and the Mariano heirs all in one room.
"I want that one! And that one!" Alexander pointed to a display of miniature designer sneakers.
"He has ten pairs of shoes, Alexander," I said, trying to be the voice of reason.
But Ma, these have lights!" he countered, looking at me with those wide eyes he inherited from Keifer—the ones that always got him what he wanted.
"Get them," Keifer said immediately, reaching for his black card.
"Keifer, don't spoil him," I warned.
"I'm not spoiling him, Jay. I'm investing in his... visibility," Keifer deadpanned, though the smirk on his face gave him away.
Keigan and Keiran were no help either. They were currently across the store, picking out miniature suits. "He needs to look like a Watson when we go to London next month," Keigan argued, holding up a tiny pinstripe blazer.
Percy leaned against a display rack, his blue eyes twinkling. "You guys are amateurs. He doesn't need suits. He needs a hoodie with 'Section E Junior' on the back. Honey and I already looked into it.
If you put my son in a Section E hoodie, Percy, you're paying for his bail when he inevitably tries to 'infiltrate' the school kitchen," I laughed.
Chaos in the Toy Aisle
After three hours of clothes shopping—which mostly involved Lia and Ion picking out the finest silks for the boy while Tita Gemma and my mother, Jeena, doted on him—we finally reached the "Final Objective."
The toy store didn't stand a chance.
Alexander was a whirlwind of energy. He had Moya and Kit carrying a mountain of LEGO sets, while Denzel and Calix were testing out a remote-controlled drone that was definitely too powerful for a three-year-old.
"Pa! Look! A dinosaur!" Alex shouted, pointing to a life-sized T-Rex.
Keifer looked at the price tag, then at the manager. "I'll take two. One for here, one for the London mansion."
Keifer Watson!" I hissed, grabbing his arm. "Where are we going to put a life-sized T-Rex in the Black Box?"
"In the foyer," he replied simply. "It'll improve security. Intimidate the visitors."
Aries (Horoscope) walked up, holding a stuffed lion. "I think he just wants this, Keif. Let's start small."
The shopping trip ended with the "Section E" boys carrying dozens of bags back to the cars. Rakki and Freya were laughing with Mica and Ella, carrying the smaller bags of treats, while Grandma Lora and my father, Jasper, watched the sunset from the mall's garden terrace, satisfied with the family's day out.
The Return to Peace
As we drove back toward the Black Box, the energy in the car finally dipped. Alexander was fast asleep in his car seat, his small hand clutching the stuffed lion Aries had bought him, his new "light-up" sneakers discarded on the floor.
I leaned my head on Keifer's shoulder as he navigated the winding Tagaytay road. The sunset was painting the sky in shades of violet and orange—the same colors as our night together.
"You spent a fortune today, Mark Keifer Watson," I whispered.
He reached over, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles. "I'd spend it all every day if it kept that look on his face. And yours."
The "Monster" was nowhere to be seen. In the quiet of the car, with our son dreaming of dinosaurs and our family following in a trail of headlights behind us, he was just my husband.
We had everything: the cars, the mansions, the wealth that could last lifetimes. But as we pulled through the gates of the mansion, I realized the only thing that mattered was the weight of his hand in mine and the steady breathing of the little boy in the back.
The shopping trip was over, but the life we were building—this loud, expensive, chaotic, and beautiful life—was just beginning.