Jay POV
The launch party was louder than I expected.
Music filled the ballroom, lights glowed across the stage, and the giant screen behind us displayed the new program Byte JC had just released.
Everyone was celebrating.
Felix and Ci-N were arguing about who danced worse.
Carlos and Miguel were checking the tech screens even though the launch had already succeeded.
Hannah and Rory were laughing near the dessert table.
Nathan and Yuri were talking with some investors.
For once…
Everything felt normal.
I stood near the balcony with Hex beside me.
He looked a lot better than he had in the hospital a few days ago, though the bandage on his hand was still there.
"You're staring again," Hex said casually.
"At what?"
"At nothing," he replied, shrugging. "Which means you're thinking too much."
I rolled my eyes.
"Maybe I'm just enjoying the fact that nobody is trying to blow up a warehouse tonight."
Hex smirked.
"Give it time."
Before I could respond, someone approached us.
Jeana.
My mother.
She wore a bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Jay," she said warmly. "What a wonderful event."
I forced a polite smile.
"Thank you."
Andy stood behind her quietly, watching everything.
Jeana lifted two glasses of champagne from a tray nearby.
"A toast," she said. "To your success."
She handed one glass to me.
For a second…
I hesitated.
Something inside me felt wrong.
But everyone was watching.
So I took the glass.
"To success," she said, raising hers.
I lifted mine too.
Our glasses touched.
Clink.
I raised the drink to my lips.
Took a small sip.
But I didn't swallow.
Instead, I smiled politely and excused myself.
"Restroom," I said.
Then I walked away calmly.
Only when I reached the restroom did my expression change.
I immediately leaned over the sink and spat everything out.
Every drop.
Then I rinsed my mouth again.
And again.
My heart was pounding.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
"She really tried it…" I whispered.
The door opened behind me.
Keifer walked in first.
Aries followed.
Both of them looked serious.
"Jay," Keifer said quietly. "What's wrong?"
I wiped my mouth with a towel.
"Jeana gave me a drink."
Their expressions darkened instantly.
"Did you drink it?" Aries asked.
I shook my head.
"I sipped… but I didn't swallow."
Keifer exhaled slowly.
"Good."
I leaned against the counter.
"She thinks I did."
Aries crossed his arms.
"Then we move to the next step."
I looked at them both.
"You know the plan."
Keifer nodded.
"Yes."
For a moment the three of us spoke quietly.
Discussing something new.
Something different.
Something better.
But if anyone had been listening…
They wouldn't have understood a word.
Because the details of the plan stayed between us.
After a minute, Aries straightened.
"Alright."
Keifer looked at me.
"You ready?"
I nodded.
We walked back into the ballroom.
The party was still alive.
Music.
Laughter.
Glasses clinking.
Nobody suspected anything.
I walked back to the center of the room.
Hex noticed immediately.
"Where did you—"
Suddenly my vision blurred.
I grabbed the edge of a nearby table.
Then another.
My body shook.
Hex's eyes widened.
"Jay?"
My knees buckled.
The glass slipped from my hand and shattered against the floor.
Then I collapsed.
Everything went quiet.
Someone screamed.
"JAY!"
Hex dropped to his knees beside me.
Felix rushed over.
"WHAT HAPPENED?"
Ci-N pushed through the crowd.
Carlos and Nathan followed.
Within seconds everyone was surrounding us.
Hex shook my shoulder.
"Jay! Jay, wake up!"
Angelo rushed forward too, his face pale.
"What happened to her?!"
Across the room…
Jeana stood frozen.
Her expression unreadable.
And the entire ballroom had fallen into chaos.
The party…
Was over.