It happened again.
But this time… it was different.
The boy who stopped Jay near the long table wasn't confident.
He looked barely out of training.
Clutching his laptop like it might fall apart in his hands.
"Um… excuse me, ma'am… I—I'm really sorry to disturb you…"
Jay turned instantly.
"It's okay. What is it?"
His voice dropped even lower.
"My sheet keeps crashing. I think I broke the formula…"
Jay smiled the way she always did.
The soft one.
The safe one.
"You didn't break it. Show me."
She pulled a chair closer and leaned beside him.
Not touching.
Not flirting.
Just… helping.
Her fingers moved lightly over the trackpad.
"Oh. See? This cell is referencing itself. It loops."
She fixed it in seconds.
"There. Try now."
The boy's eyes widened.
It worked.
"Oh—wow. Thank you so much."
Jay nodded shyly.
"You're welcome."
That should've been it.
And it was innocent.
Completely.
But across the floor—
Behind the glass—
Keifer saw it.
Not the boy.
Not the laptop.
Jay.
Leaning.
Smiling.
Existing in a space that wasn't his.
The familiar tightening crawled into his chest.
But this time…
He didn't deny it.
He didn't suppress it.
He didn't hide it.
The boy stood up.
"Thanks again, really. You saved me."
Jay laughed softly.
Before she could reply—
Keifer was already there.
Not fast.
Not angry.
Just inevitable.
He stopped beside her.
Close enough that she felt him before she saw him.
The boy stiffened.
"Sir."
Keifer didn't look at him.
Not even once.
His eyes were only on Jay.
"Done helping?"
She blinked.
"Yes… I just—"
He nodded slowly.
Then, quietly—
Not cold.
Not sharp.
Honest.
"I was jealous."
The word hit her harder than any glare ever had.
Her breath stalled.
The boy froze.
The desks around them went unnaturally still.
Jay whispered,
"…you were?"
His gaze softened.
Completely.
Painfully.
"Yes."
And before her mind could catch up—
Before the office could breathe again—
Keifer lifted his hand and gently cupped her cheek.
Not rough.
Not hurried.
Like she was something he had memorized.
And then—
He kissed her.
Right there.
In the middle of the floor.
Not deep.
Not rushed.
Just a slow, certain press of his lips to hers.
A promise.
A claim.
A comfort.
Time stopped.
Someone dropped a pen.
Somewhere, a chair squeaked.
The boy in front of them forgot how to blink.
Keifer pulled back only a fraction.
His forehead brushed hers.
Low enough that only she could hear—
"I don't deny it anymore."
Jay's hands curled into his shirt.
Her voice came out breathless.
"Keifer… everyone is watching."
He didn't even glance around.
"Let them."
Then he finally turned his head.
Just slightly.
Enough for the entire floor to understand.
The room was frozen.
Dozens of employees.
Silent.
Wide-eyed.
Witnessing something none of them had ever seen.
Their Keifer.
Soft.
Human.
In love.
The boy swallowed hard.
"Uh—sorry—I didn't mean to—"
Jay turned quickly.
"No, no. You didn't do anything wrong."
She smiled at him again.
Just as gentle.
Keifer placed his hand at the small of her back.
Anchoring her.
Possessive.
But not unkind.
The boy nodded fast.
"Thank you, ma'am. Sir."
And disappeared like he had just walked through a miracle and a warning at the same time.
The moment he was gone—
the office was still silent.
Jay whispered,
"You traumatized him."
Keifer's thumb moved once against her waist.
Barely.
"He'll survive."
She looked up at him.
Eyes soft.
Curious.
"You really kissed me… in front of everyone."
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No embarrassment.
No regret.
Her heart thudded stupidly.
"…why?"
He leaned closer again.
Not kissing this time.
Just close.
"So they stop guessing what you are to me."
A pause.
Then, quietly.
"So you never have to wonder either."
The floor slowly came back to life.
But no one forgot it.
Not the kiss.
Not the stillness.
Not the way their boss had looked at Jay like the entire building existed only around her.