Jay stepped out of Keifer's cabin with an easy, curious smile.
Since he had left her alone for a few minutes, she decided to explore properly.
So this is the legendary executive floor…
She walked slowly, reading the small department nameplates, stopping once to admire a huge city-view window.
"Wow… he really works in a movie set," she muttered.
She reached the coffee corner and pressed the machine button confidently.
The machine hummed.
That's when she heard it.
Behind her.
Soft laughter.
"Is that her?"
Jay didn't turn.
She calmly picked up a cup.
Another girl replied, amused,
"Yes. The fiancée."
Jay almost laughed.
At least they got the title right.
One of them spoke again.
"She doesn't look like someone who belongs on this floor."
Jay stirred her coffee slowly.
Still unbothered.
A third girl smirked.
"Too simple for him."
Jay finally turned around.
Not sharply.
Not defensively.
Casually.
She leaned her hip against the counter.
"Hi."
All three froze for a moment.
Jay smiled.
"Yes. I can hear you."
Their faces stiffened.
One of them recovered quickly.
"We weren't talking to you."
Jay nodded calmly.
"I know."
That answer threw them off.
Another girl crossed her arms.
"You know, this area is restricted."
Jay lifted her cup and took a slow sip.
Then smiled.
"Good thing my fiancé owns it."
Dead silence.
The first girl scoffed.
"Does he?"
Jay tilted her head.
"Want me to call him and check?"
The third girl narrowed her eyes.
"You really think you match Mark Keifer Watson?"
Jay's smile didn't fade.
She shrugged lightly.
"I don't."
They blinked.
Jay continued, relaxed,
"I don't want to match him."
She tapped her ring finger gently.
"I chose him. He chose me. That's enough."
One of the girls laughed mockingly.
"You think love survives here?"
Jay stepped closer.
Not aggressively.
Confidently.
"Love doesn't survive everywhere," she said calmly.
"But it survives very well with the right man."
The first girl smirked.
"You sound very sure."
Jay met her eyes.
"I am."
A quiet voice cut through the space.
Amused.
Warm.
Dangerously familiar.
"She always is."
All heads turned.
Keifer stood a few steps away, watching Jay — not the girls.
Pure pride in his eyes.
He walked over slowly.
He stopped beside Jay and casually slipped an arm around her waist.
Possessive.
Unapologetic.
"Enjoying your first tour?" he asked her softly.
She smiled up at him.
"Your coffee is terrible."
He laughed.
Out loud.
"You went for it anyway?"
"Of course."
He leaned closer to her ear.
"Bold choice."
She whispered back,
"I learned from you."
He laughed again.
Then, and only then, he looked at the girls.
His voice was calm.
Perfectly controlled.
"Is there something you needed?"
The girls stiffened.
"No, sir."
He nodded once.
"Good."
Then he looked at Jay again.
Not them.
"Ready to come back?"
She lifted her cup.
"Let me finish my terrible coffee first."
He chuckled.
"I'll survive."
She turned back to the girls with a gentle smile.
"Nice meeting you."
It wasn't fake.
It was final.
Keifer watched her with open amusement.
When she finally walked past them and headed back toward his cabin, he followed her without even waiting.
The three girls stood frozen.
Because they didn't just meet the CEO's fiancée.
They met a woman who didn't need permission to belong.