[Jay's POV]
The first day of the countdown officially began with a level of intensity that only the Watsons could pull off. By 10:00 AM, the estate was a hive of activity, but Keifer had carved out a private bubble for us. We weren't just booking a "hall"—we were heading to the Grand Watson Pavilion, a glass-and-marble architectural marvel owned by his family, reserved only for the most elite events in the country.
As we stepped into the sleek, black SUV, Keifer didn't sit across from me. He sat right next to me, his hand immediately finding mine, interlacing our fingers so tightly it felt like a permanent bond.
"Analysis, Jay?" he murmured, his thumb stroking the back of my hand. "Are you ready to see the site where the 'Constant' becomes law?"
"I'm still processing the one-week timeline, Keif," I admitted, leaning my head on his shoulder. "But with you as the lead engineer? I think the project is in good hands."
The Arrival at the Pavilion
When the car pulled up to the Pavilion, I caught my breath. It was a cathedral of glass overlooking the city, surrounded by manicured gardens that were already being transformed by a small army of workers.
We walked through the towering glass doors. The space was vast, empty, and flooded with natural light. The acoustics were so perfect that our footsteps echoed like heartbeats.
"April 25th," Keifer said, his voice deep and echoing in the hollow hall. He turned to the manager, who was standing at a respectful distance with a tablet. "The date is non-negotiable. I want the entire glass ceiling retractable. If the stars aren't visible when we say our vows, the system is a failure."
"Of course, Mr. Watson. We've already begun the mechanical checks," the manager replied, bowing slightly before scurrying away to let us have the space.
A Romantic Calibration
Keifer turned back to me. In the center of the massive, empty ballroom, he looked like a king standing in his future palace. But when he looked at me, the "Cold Prince" vanished. His eyes were soft, filled with a warmth that made the $100\%$ "Glow" inside me surge.He reached out, pulling me into the center of the floor. He placed one hand on the small of my back and the other on my waist, drawing me flush against him.
"There won't be anyone here today, Jay," he whispered, his breath warm against my forehead. "Just us. A preliminary test of the environment."
He began to lead me in a slow, improvised dance. There was no music, only the sound of our breathing and the distant hum of the city below. My head rested against his chest, and for the first time in days, the chaos of the wedding, the jealousy of Bridget, and the stress of the past vanished.
"I can hear your heart," I whispered, closing my eyes. "It's running at a very high frequency, CEO."
"It's because the primary user is in close proximity," Keifer replied, his voice dropping into that low, intimate register. He stopped dancing and lifted my chin with his finger, forcing me to look into those intense blue eyes. "I spent too long looking at screens, Jay. From now on, this is the only view I care about."
He leaned down, and the kiss was slow, deep, and filled with a desperate kind of devotion. In that empty, massive hall, I felt like the most important variable in the universe. I wasn't just a student or an employee; I was his peace.
The Interruption
The moment was broken by the sound of the "Squad" bursting through the front doors. Calix, David, and Erdix were leading the pack, followed by Freya and Mica, who were already carrying rolls of measuring tape and fabric swatches.
"Hey! No kissing on the job!" Calix shouted, his voice bouncing off the glass walls. "We have a floor plan to finalize! David wants to know where the champagne fountain goes!"
"And I need to measure Jay for the train!" Freya added, running toward us. "The designer is arriving in two hours and we need the exact dimensions of the aisle!"
Keifer didn't let go of me immediately. He took a long, slow breath, resting his forehead against mine for one last second. "System interference detected," he groaned playfully.
"But the 'Glow' is stable," I whispered back, smiling as our friends descended upon us with laughter and chaos.
As the boys started arguing about the sound system and the girls began draping lace over the chairs, I looked around. One week. In seven days, I wouldn't just be Jay. I would be Jay Watson. And looking at Keifer, I knew that no matter how fast the world moved, he would always be the constant that kept me grounded.