Chapter Five: The Arrangement
The door had barely closed behind Jay when Keifer turned to find three faces pressed against the glass.
He sighed. "You're still here."
Percy pushed the door open, grinning like a maniac. "Of course we're still here. Did you think we'd actually leave?"
"We wanted to see what happened," Yuri added, sliding back into his chair.
Aries crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "So. She's gone. You're still standing there like a lovesick puppy. Explain."
Keifer walked past them to his desk, lowering himself into his chair. "I'm not lovesick."
"You're something," Percy said, dropping onto the couch. "Your face when she walked in. I've never seen that expression on you. Ever."
"What expression?"
"Soft." Yuri supplied. "You looked soft, Keif. It was terrifying."
Keifer was quiet for a moment, staring at the door she'd disappeared through. Then he spoke.
"I'm driving her to work."
Silence.
"From now on," he continued. "And driving her home. Every day."
More silence.
Then Percy exploded. "YOU'RE WHAT?"
"I'm driving her to work. And home. Starting Monday."
Aries pushed off the doorframe, walking toward the desk. "Keif. That's... that's not normal. That's not something bosses do."
"I'm not doing it as her boss."
The words hung in the air.
Yuri leaned forward. "Then as what?"
Keifer met his gaze. "As the man who caught her when she fell. As the stranger she trusted enough to have breakfast with. As someone who wants to make sure she never has to stand on a sidewalk alone again."
Percy's mouth opened and closed like a fish. "Did you just... did you just say something romantic? Did Mark Keifer Watson just say something ROMANTIC?"
"Shut up, Percy."
"No! No, I will not shut up! This is historic! This is unprecedented! Our robot friend is growing a heart!"
Aries held up a hand, silencing Percy's chaos. His eyes were fixed on Keifer, searching. "You're serious about this. About her."
"I am."
"You barely know her."
"I know she faints when she's nervous. I know she skips breakfast before big days. I know she wants to prove herself without help from anyone. I know she has brothers who love her more than anything." Keifer paused. "I know when she smiles, it changes her whole face. And when she laughs, it makes me want to hear it again."
Yuri fanned himself. "Someone get me water. I'm not okay."
Percy was literally bouncing on the couch. "This is the best day of my life. Better than when we launched our companies. Better than anything. Keifer Watson has a CRUSH."
"It's not a crush."
"Then what is it?"
Keifer didn't answer. Because he didn't know. Couldn't name it. All he knew was that since she'd collapsed in his arms that morning, the world felt different. Brighter. More interesting.
Aries moved closer, lowering his voice. "She's been through a lot, Keif. Our parents' death hit her hardest. She was sixteen. Still a kid. She had to grow up fast. We all live together still—me, Percy, Jay, our kuya Michel Angelo, Tita Gemma, and Tito Rachel. It's a full house. She's never alone, never without family around. That's how we've kept her safe all these years."
Keifer absorbed this information. A big family. Protective elders. A kuya—older brother—watching over them all.
"If you do this—if you drive her, spend time with her, get close to her—you're not just dealing with her. You're dealing with all of us. Michel Angelo is worse than me and Percy combined. Tita Gemma will have you over for dinner within a week. Tito Rachel will want to know your intentions."
Percy nodded solemnly. "Tito Rachel doesn't mess around. He once made a guy cry just by looking at him."
Keifer didn't flinch. "I'm not walking away. I don't know what this is. I don't know where it's going. But I'm not walking away."
Percy stopped bouncing. For once, his face was serious. "You mean that."
"With everything I have."
Yuri whistled low. "Wow. Just... wow."
Aries studied him for a long moment. Then, slowly, he nodded. "Okay."
"Okay?" Percy echoed. "That's it? Just okay?"
"She's an adult. She makes her own choices. If she wants to let him drive her, that's her decision." Aries pointed at Keifer. "But if she complains—if she's uncomfortable, if she feels pressured, if anything—"
"You'll kill me. I know."
"Not just me. Michel Angelo. Tita Gemma. Tito Rachel. All of us."
"Understood."
Percy jumped up, clapping his hands together. "Alright! Now that the scary big brother stuff is over, let's talk about the important things. Keif, what's your plan? How are you going to win her over? Candies? Flowers? Private jets?"
Keifer raised an eyebrow. "Private jets?"
"Women love private jets."
"She's not most women."
"Clearly. Most women don't call you a robot to your face and survive."
Yuri chuckled. "He has a point."
Keifer ignored them, pulling up his calendar. "I'll pick her up at seven-thirty Monday. Her apartment is twenty minutes from here. We'll have time for coffee before work."
"Coffee," Percy repeated dreamily. "He's planning coffee dates already."
"It's not a date. It's breakfast."
"Sure. Keep telling yourself that."
Aries shook his head, but there was a small smile on his face. "You're really falling for her, aren't you? Already. After one day."
Keifer didn't answer. Couldn't. Because admitting it out loud would make it real. And if it was real, he could lose her. The thought was surprisingly terrifying.
Yuri stood, stretching. "Well, I'm hungry. Percy, lunch?"
"Absolutely. Aries?"
Aries nodded, still watching Keifer. "Coming?"
"In a minute."
They filed out, leaving him alone. Keifer turned to the window, staring down at the city. Somewhere down there, Jay was probably on her way home. To that big, loud, loving house full of family. To a kuya who would probably hate him on principle. To a tita and tito who would want to feed him and interrogate him in equal measure.
He pulled out his phone and typed a message to an unknown number. Aries had given it to him reluctantly, with threats attached.
Unknown: This is Keifer. Monday, 7:30am. I'll pick you up. Don't argue.
A moment later, his phone buzzed.
Jay: How did you get my number?
Keifer: Aries.
Jay: Of course he did. And no. I can take the bus.
Keifer: The bus is crowded. You faint when you're stressed. I'd rather you faint in my car than on public transportation.
Jay: I don't faint regularly! It was one time!
Keifer: One time too many. 7:30. Be ready.
Jay: You're impossible.
Keifer: So I've been told. Goodnight, Jay.
Jay: ...goodnight, Keif.
He stared at the last message for a long time. His name. She'd used his name. Not Mr. Watson. Not sir. Keif.
His heart did something strange. Something unfamiliar.
Outside his window, the city glittered. But all he could see was her face when she'd walked through his door. Shock. Recognition. That spark of fire beneath the vulnerability.
Monday couldn't come soon enough.
---
Across town, Jay stared at her phone in disbelief.
Goodnight, Keif.
She read it five times. Then ten.
"What is happening," she whispered.
The door to her room burst open.
Percy stormed in, phone in hand. "JASPER JEAN MARIANO. Explain. NOW."
Behind him, Aries leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. Michel Angelo appeared behind them both, his tall frame blocking the hallway light.
"Explain what?" Jay asked innocently.
Percy waved his phone. "Keifer just texted Aries asking for our address. Something about driving you to work??? And then Aries told him and now Keifer knows where we LIVE."
Michel Angelo's eyes narrowed. "The CEO Watson? The one you work for now? He wants our address?"
"It's not like that—"
"Then what is it like?" Aries interrupted gently.
Jay sighed, sinking into her bed. "He wants to drive me to work. And home. Every day."
Silence.
Then Tita Gemma's voice floated up the stairs. "Who wants to drive our Jay to work? Is it a boy? MICHEL ANGELO, IS IT A BOY?"
Tito Rachel's deeper voice followed. "If it's a boy, I'm getting my shoes on."
Jay buried her face in her pillow. "I hate all of you."
Percy grinned. "You love us. Now spill. Every detail. Starting with how you fainted in his arms this morning."
Michel Angelo pushed into the room, crossing to sit on the edge of her bed. His face was serious but kind. "You fainted? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Kuya. I just skipped breakfast. He caught me. Bought me food. Drove me to my interview." She peeked out from the pillow. "I didn't know he was the CEO until I walked into his office."
Tita Gemma appeared in the doorway, Tito Rachel behind her. "He caught her? Bought her food? Drove her? That's not what bosses do."
"I KNOW."
Tito Rachel studied her. "What does he want?"
Jay thought about his eyes. His voice. The way he'd said Goodnight, Jay like it meant something.
"I don't know," she whispered. "But I think... I think he wants to find out."
Michel Angelo exchanged a look with Aries. Percy bounced on his heels. Tita Gemma smiled knowingly.
"Well then," Tita Gemma said. "He's picking you up Monday at 7:30?"
"Yes."
"Good. I'll have breakfast ready. He can eat with us."
"MAMA!"
"What? If he's going to drive my niece, I need to meet him. See if he's worthy."
Tito Rachel nodded. "I'll be there. With my shoes on."
Jay looked at her family—loud, overwhelming, impossible—and felt her heart swell.
"Fine," she muttered. "But you'll be nice. All of you."
Percy grinned. "Define nice."
"Percy."
"I'm kidding! Mostly."
Aries pushed off the doorframe. "Get some sleep, troublemaker. Big day Monday."
They filed out one by one, leaving her alone with her thoughts and her phone.
Jay: My family wants to meet you Monday morning.
Keifer: I expected nothing less.
Jay: They're insane.
Keifer: So am I, apparently. Falling for a girl who fainted on a sidewalk.
She stared at the message.
Falling.
He'd said falling.
Jay: Goodnight, Keif.
Keifer: Goodnight, Jay. Sweet dreams.
She clutched the phone to her chest and smiled into the darkness.
Monday was going to be interesting.
---
End of Chapter Five