Jay's POV]
The brunch chaos had finally settled into a lazy afternoon hum. We were back in the library—my favorite place in the mansion—but the "merger" was long over. Now, we were facing the most complex project yet: The Honeymoon Protocol.
Keifer was sitting on the leather sofa with his ultra-slim laptop, while I was buried in a pile of travel brochures and a globe that Lia had "donated" (after marking all the party islands with neon pink highlighter).
Analysis, Jay," Keifer said, his eyes scanning a spreadsheet of private island coordinates. "We need a location with a $0\%$ chance of paparazzi, a $100\%$ security rating, and a climate that matches your current 'Glow' levels."The Squad InfiltrationNaturally, the door didn't stay closed for long. The "Consultants" arrived without being summoned.
Calix strolled in, followed by David and Ci N. "I heard 'Honeymoon.' If you don't go to Ibiza and rent a yacht that has its own zip line, are you even a Watson?"
Lia bounced in next, throwing a handful of brochures for the Maldives onto Keifer's lap. "No! They need a private villa over the water where the floor is glass! That way Keifer can watch the sharks while Jay watches Keifer!"
Mica and Freya were already looking at luxury shopping maps for Paris. "Fashion Week is coming up, Jay! Think of the photos!"
Kuya Angelo leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "Actually, I think they need somewhere they can disappear. I've got a contact in the Swiss Alps—a private chalet that's literally off the grid. No phones. No CEOs. Just snow and a fireplace."
The Keiran Confusion (Again)
Keiran wandered in, holding a magnifying glass for some reason. He looked at the globe and then at Keifer.
"Kuya, why are you going on a 'Honey' moon?" Keiran asked, totally serious. "Is there a specific moon made of honey? And if there is, how will the rocket ship stay sticky-free? Is that why Jay was shouting? Was she worried about the bees?"
The room went silent. Keigan walked in behind him and just put his hand over Keiran's mouth. "It's a vacation, Keiran. A long, very quiet vacation where they don't have to talk to us."
"Oh," Keiran mumbled through Keigan's fingers. "But I like bees."
The CEO's Decision
Keifer ignored the chaos, his eyes never leaving mine. He closed the laptop with a definitive click. He stood up, walked over to the globe, and spun it. He didn't look at Paris, Ibiza, or the Alps. He stopped it at a tiny, unnamed coordinate in the middle of the Amalfi Coast.
"We aren't going to a party island, Calix," Keifer said, his voice dropping into that deep, 'Final Decision' tone. "And we aren't going to a shopping mall, Freya."
He looked at me, a soft, private smile playing on his lips. "I've already acquired a private estate in Ravello. It has a cliffside garden, a private cove, and the fastest satellite uplink in the Mediterranean—strictly for emergency use, Jay, I promise."
"Ravello?" I whispered, the "Glow" warming up. "Just us?"
"Just us," he confirmed. "And maybe a private chef. But mostly, just the Constant and the System, offline from the rest of the world."
The Final Approval
Mamma Serina walked in, holding two glasses of sparkling juice. "I think that sounds perfect. A place where my son can finally learn that the world doesn't end if he doesn't check the stock market for seven days."
Pappa Keizer nodded from the doorway. "The jet is fueled and ready for a 4:00 AM departure. I suggest you two start packing. Or, knowing Keifer, just bring the Empress and buy the rest when you land."
Keifer pulled me into his side, his arm wrapping around me with that 100%possessive grip. "The packing is already being handled. The only thing I'm bringing is the only thing I need."I leaned my head on his shoulder, ignoring the squad's "Oooohs" and whistles. The honeymoon wasn't just a trip; it was the final integration.