Jay's POV]
The sunlight streaming into the Blue Suite was too bright, too cheerful, and far too persistent. I shifted under the heavy silk duvet, feeling the weight of Keifer's arm draped possessively over my waist. Even in his sleep, he was holding onto me like I was a high-value asset he couldn't risk losing.
I looked at the clock: 11:00 AM. "Keif," I whispered, poking his shoulder. "The system is overdue for a startup. We've missed breakfast."
Keifer groaned, pulling me closer instead of letting go. His eyes flickered open, dark and heavy with a lazy, satisfied heat. "Let the world wait, Jay. The CEO is currently on a private sabbatical."
"Your Mamma is going to send a search party," I teased, but before I could finish, he leaned in for a slow, lingering morning kiss that made me forget what time it was entirely.
The Walk of Honor
Eventually, we made our way downstairs. I was wearing one of Keifer's oversized white dress shirts over leggings, and Keifer looked unfairly handsome in just a pair of dark trousers and a half-buttoned shirt.
As we reached the grand dining hall, the sound of clinking silverware stopped instantly. The entire Squad, Kuya Angelo, Lia, and the Watson parents were gathered around a massive brunch spread
Calix was the first to break the silence. He slowly lowered his fork and checked his watch with dramatic flair. "Oh, look! The royals have descended from the tower! 11:30 AM... a new record for the 'Cold Prince.'"
Mica and Freya immediately started giggling into their mimosas. "Jay, your 'Glow' is a bit... messy today," Freya teased, pointing to a very obvious dark mark on my neck that Keifer had left behind. "Did you have a run-in with a vacuum cleaner?"
The Sibling Roast
Kuya Angelo smirked, leaning back in his chair. "I told you, Watson. If you broke her, I'd have to intervene. She looks like she hasn't slept in forty-eight hours."
"The system required extensive recalibration," Keifer replied, his voice cool and utterly unbothered as he pulled out a chair for me. He sat down and immediately rested his hand on my thigh under the table.
Lia leaned across the table, whispering loudly, "Jay-Jay, did he use the 'CEO voice' or the 'Husband voice' last night? Because based on the muffled shouting we heard from the West Wing, someone was definitely losing a negotiation."
"LIA!" I turned bright red, burying my face in my coffee cup.
Even Mamma Serina joined in, a playful glint in her eyes as she poured tea. "Keifer, dear, try the oysters. I heard they're good for... stamina. Not that you seem to be lacking any."
Pappa Keizer didn't even look up from his newspaper, but I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. "I've cleared your schedule for the next three days, Keifer. Try not to destroy the furniture."
The Keiran Glitch
In the middle of all the whistling, winking, and suggestive comments, Keiran sat there perfectly still, looking back and forth between everyone with a face full of genuine confusion. He was chewing on a piece of bacon, his brow furrowed.
"I don't get it," Keiran said, his voice cutting through the laughter. "Why is everyone talking about stamina? And why would Ate Jay be shouting during a negotiation? Is the merger in trouble?"
The table went dead silent for a micro-second.
Keigan facepalmed. "Keiran, shut up and eat your eggs."
No, seriously!" Keiran persisted, looking at Keifer. "Kuya, did you lose the papers? Why did Lia say someone was losing? And why is Jay wearing your shirt? Did she lose her clothes in the move?"
Calix burst into a fit of coughing to hide his laughter. David was shaking his head, and Kuya Angelo was doubled over.
"Keiran," Keifer said, his voice flat but amused. "The 'merger' is 100% successful. The shouting was merely... a high-frequency data exchange."
Oh," Keiran nodded solemnly, turning back to his plate. "Well, you should do that in the office next time. It sounded like someone was being murdered. I almost called the police, but Mamma told me to go back to sleep and mind my own business."
The Final Word
I thought I was going to melt into the floor from embarrassment. I felt Keifer's hand squeeze my knee under the table, his thumb rubbing small, soothing circles.
"Ignore them, Empress," he whispered, leaning in so only I could hear. "They're just jealous because their systems don't have a Constant like mine."
I looked around the table—at the chaotic squad, my protective Kuya, my new parents, and my clueless little brother-in-law. The teasing was loud, the jokes were a bit "hot," and Keiran was still wondering why I was wearing an oversized shirt, but for the first time, I felt like I truly belonged in the middle of the madness.