(Jay's POV)
What? For real?...
The silence in our London home was so thick you could cut it with a butter knife. I stared at my phone, my brain short-circuiting like a toaster dropped in a bathtub.
"Jay? Love?" Keifer's voice was cautious, like he was approaching a stray cat that might either purr or bite his finger off. "You look like you've just seen a ghost. Or worse, like Percy came back for his hair serum."
I didn't answer. I couldn't. Angelo's voice was still echoing in my ears: "Aries and Ella are getting engaged. Your big brother wants you and the billionaire puppy-dog home. Now."I slowly turned my head toward Keifer. He was propped up against the pillows, still looking a bit pale from his fever, but his eyes were wide with worry.
Then, the circuit connected."WE ARE GOING TO THE PHILIPPINES!" I screamed, lunging across the bed and tackling him.
I didn't care that he was a recovering patient; the "Tiger" had evolved into a "Caffeinated Squirrel."
"Oof! Jay! Ribs!" Keifer wheezed, catching me mid-air. "The Philippines? Why? Is there a national emergency? Did section e get banned from the country for vanity?"
"No!" I shouted into his neck. "Horoscope is getting married! Well, engaged! He's finally doing it!"
Keifer froze, then a slow, teasing smirk spread across his face. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Horoscope? Jay, please tell me you mean Aries. Only you would nickname your terrifying, overprotective brother after a star sign."
"He's grumpy, unpredictable, and rules my life—he's a total Horoscope," I defended, poking Keifer's chest."Wifey," he chuckled, pulling me closer. "You and your names. I pity the man, truly. But if Aries is finally settling down with Ella, I suppose I should get off my deathbed and start acting like a CEO again."
"Yes! Move! Move! Move!" I scrambled off him, clapping my hands like a drill sergeant. "We leave tomorrow morning. I need dresses. You need... to look like a billionaire who isn't currently sweating out a flu. We are going to the mall!"
Keifer groaned playfully but was already grabbing his laptop. "Fine, fine. I'm booking the tickets now. First class, obviously. I refuse to let my Tiger sit in economy for thirteen hours; you'd probably start a riot near the galley."
While he clicked away—likely spending more on two tickets than I'd spent on my entire life's supply of snacks—I called the university.
"Hello, LSE?
Yes, this is Jay.
Remember Anne's call about our sick leave?
Yeah, extend that.
Why?
Family emergency.
A 'Horoscope' crisis.
No, I can't explain.
Bye!"
I hung up to find Keifer standing behind me, looking significantly more 'CEO' and significantly less 'sick puppy.' Before I could say a word, he scooped me up into his arms.
"Keifer! Put me down!" I shrieked, laughing."Never," he spun me around and around in the middle of our living room. The house blurred into a dizzying mess of beige walls and Percy's leftover hairspray scent.
"We're going to see the 'Horoscope,' we're getting out of rainy London, and I get you all to myself on a plane for half a day. It's a win-win!"
Two hours later, we were at the mall, and I was on a mission. This wasn't just a trip; this was a fashion war.
If I showed up looking like a stressed-out London student, Aries would never let me hear the end of it."Go! Sit!" I pointed Keifer toward a velvet chair outside the high-end changing rooms. "Prepare your eyes. They are about to be blessed."
I grabbed an armful of gowns—sequins, silk, lace, things that cost more than my life. I stepped into the first one: a deep emerald green silk gown that hugged every curve.
I pulled back the curtain.
Keifer's mouth didn't just drop; I'm pretty sure his soul left his body for a second. He just stared, speechless, his phone forgotten in his hand.
"Does it look okay?" I asked, checking the mirror.
"I... uh... words..." he stammered.
"Jay, if you wear that, Aries is going to kill me because I won't be able to keep my hands off my fiancé. Pick it. Immediately."
This happened five more times.
Red dress: Keifer choked on his latte.
Gold dress: Keifer forgot how to breathe.
Midnight blue dress: Keifer tried to buy the entire store just to make sure nobody else ever saw me in it.
Eventually, we settled on a gown that made me look like a literal goddess, and Keifer, being the "aesthetic king," picked out a suit that matched the undertones perfectly. We spent the next hour running through the mall like teenagers, grabbing silk ties, sparkling heels, and enough accessories to make every one in ceremony jealous. Hahaha Power Couple loading!!
By the time we got home, the "sick morning" was a distant memory. The bedroom floor was a disaster zone of tissue paper and shopping bags.
"Okay, strategy," I said, pointing to a sleek, hard-shell suitcase. "Main event outfits and the 'Engagement Emergency Kit' go in the small bag. Everything else goes in the big one. We share."
"We share?" Keifer teased, tossing a shirt at me. "Are you sure you want your hoodies touching my bespoke suits? The fabric might have a personality clash."
"Shut up and pack your socks," I laughed, shoving his fancy shirts aside to make room for my favorite denim shorts.
As we zipped up the final bag, the silence returned—but this time, it was the good kind. The peaceful kind. Keifer collapsed onto the bed and pulled me down with him, our limbs tangling together.
"You're not sick anymore, are you?" I whispered, narrowing my eyes at him. "You've got a lot of energy for someone who was 'dying' four hours ago."
"The thought of seeing you in that green dress in the Philippines gave me a miraculous recovery," he murmured, his voice dropping into that low, shamelessly flirty tone he knew I couldn't resist. "Thank you, wifey . For taking care of me... and for dragging me to the mall."
"Don't get mushy on me, Billionaire," I grumbled, though I was smiling against his chest. "We have a flight to catch in six hours."
"Plenty of time," he whispered, pulling the duvet over us.Tomorrow, we'd deal with the "Horoscope." Tomorrow, we'd face the heat of the Philippines. But for now, it was just us, one shared suitcase, and the promise of a very, very long flight.
(Next morning: Day they will have to fly to Philippines)
The 3:00 am alarm didn't just ring; it screamed like a banshee with a grudge. I buried my head under three pillows, praying that if I stayed still enough, time would simply stop.
"Jay... Love... Tiger... Wakey wakey!"A cheerful, way-too-energetic voice whispered directly into my ear. I felt a finger poke my cheek. Then another.
Then a giggle. A giggle. Who giggles at 3:00 am? Only a billionaire CEO who probably hasn't had to use a normal alarm clock in years."Go away, Keifer," I muffled into the mattress. "The Philippines isn't going anywhere. Neither is the Horoscope. Tell them that I am hibernating."
"But we have a 5:00 am flight! We need to leave in forty minutes!" He was now physically bouncing on the edge of the bed. I felt the mattress dip with every joyous leap.
"Come on, Jay! If we miss this, Aries will personally fly a helicopter here just to drag us back by our toes."I groaned, reaching out blindly to swat him away, but he was too fast. Suddenly, the covers were ripped away. The cold London air hit my skin like a betrayal.
"Keifer Watson, I will end you," I hissed, opening one eye. He just stood there, looking ridiculously handsome even in his messy bed-hair state, grinning like a golden retriever who just found a tennis ball. "You leave me no choice. Tactical maneuvers it is."
Before I could process what 'tactical maneuvers' meant, he scooped me up—pillows and all—and marched toward the bathroom.
"Keifer! No! Put me down! This is kidnapping!" I shrieked, finally awake but mostly out of pure spite."It's called 'assisted hygiene,'' he countered, kicking the bathroom door open. He set me down on the edge of the tub and started running the warm water.
I sat there, a grumpy, sleep-deprived lump, glaring at him while he hummed a tune—probably a song about how much he loves early morning flights just to annoy me.He actually helped me into the bath, and honestly, the warm water felt so good I almost forgave him. Almost.
"You deliberately booked the early flight, didn't you?" I accused, splashing him slightly. "You just wanted to see me suffer. You're a secret morning person, you monster."
"I booked the flight that gets us there before the engagement dinner starts, Jay!" He laughed, wiping a droplet of water off his nose. "And besides, watching you grumble like a tiny thunderstorm is the highlight of my day."
Ten minutes later, the chaos shifted from the tub to the closet. We were moving at warp speed."Where are the cord sets?" I yelled, throwing a stray sock across the room.
"Right here, wifey ! Relax!" Keifer tossed me a soft, lavender-colored cord set. He had a matching charcoal grey one. We looked like those aesthetic couples you see on Pinterest who definitely don't spend their mornings screaming about missing boarding passes.
I scrambled into the comfy fabric—thank God for elastic waistbands—while Keifer did a final sweep of the house .
"Passports? Check.
Wallets? Check.
Engagement gifts? Check.
My sanity? TBD,"
Keifer rattled off, grabbing the suitcases.
"We're going to make it, right?" I asked, suddenly hit with the realization that we were actually doing this.
"Jay, I'm a CEO," he said, pulling me into a quick, firm kiss that tasted like mint toothpaste and excitement. "I don't miss deadlines, and I certainly don't miss flights to see my friend and definitely Horoscope. Let's go!"
We practically tumbled out of the flat, our suitcases rattling loudly against the pavement in the silent London night. By the time we reached the airport, the sun wasn't even thinking about coming up, but my heart was racing.
As we walked through the terminal toward the first-class lounge, Keifer draped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close."Ready to face the Horoscope?" he teased.
I leaned my head against his arm, the lavender fleece of my sleeve soft against my face. "As long as I can sleep for the first eight hours of this flight, I'm ready for anything."
"Deal," he whispered. "But no snoring in first class, Wifey. We have a reputation to uphold." I just stepped on his foot. The flight was boarding, and the Philippines was waiting.
The first-class cabin was basically a five-star hotel with wings, but I couldn't even enjoy the legroom because the air was thick with the scent of "predatory perfume."
Ever since we stepped onto the plane, the flight attendants had been circling our seats like sharks who had just spotted a particularly delicious, billionaire-shaped seal.
And Keifer? He was being absolutely no help. He sat there looking like a pure, innocent lamb, staring at me with those wide, adoring eyes as if I were the only person in the world.
He had no idea he was currently the "Daily Special" on the flight crew's secret menu.
Once we reached cruising altitude, the "Head Shark"—a blonde attendant with her uniform buttoned suspiciously low—sauntered over.
"Can I get you anything to start, Ma'am?" she asked me, her voice as flat as a stale soda."Just some water, please," I said, trying to be polite.
Then, she turned to Keifer. The transformation was instantaneous. Her voice dropped an octave into a sultry purr, and she leaned so far over his seat that I was genuinely worried her buttons were going to fly off and take someone's eye out.
"And how about you, Mr. Handsome?" she cooed, practically hovering over his lap. "Is there anything at all I can get for you? A drink? A snack? A... private tour?"
Keifer didn't even blink. In a move of pure survival instinct, he instantly squeezed his eyes shut and began snoring—the fakest, most exaggerated "CEO sleep" I've ever seen.
He knew. He knew the "Tiger" was about to come out of the cage, and he was choosing peace over war. I felt a vein throb in my forehead. I didn't say a word. Instead, I slowly raised my left hand, making sure the sunlight hit my massive engagement ring just right. I shoved my hand directly between her face and Keifer's, the diamond glittering like a "Do Not Trespass" sign.
"He's good," I said, my voice sweet but sharp enough to cut glass. "My fiancé doesn't need a snack. He's on a very strict diet of 'Not Interested.'"
The attendant froze. She looked at the ring, then at me, then back at the ring. She looked like a toddler who had just been told the lollipop she was eyeing was actually made of broccoli.
With a huff and a very dramatic hair flip, she scurried back to the galley. I watched her go, leaning back in my seat.
Nice try, sister. He's my lollipop, and I don't share.
Keifer opened one eye, saw the coast was clear, and burst into a fit of giggles."Was that necessary, Wifey ?" he whispered, his eyes dancing. "You practically blinded the poor woman."
"Completely necessary," I grumbled, crossing my arms. "I swear, Keifer, I spend fifty percent of my life protecting you from thirsty women. Do you have any idea how exhausting it is? Honestly, I feel like I'm the man in this relationship."
Keifer arched an eyebrow, looking amused. "Oh, really?"
"Yes!" I poked his shoulder. "You're like a delicate, sparkling princess who needs to be guarded in a tower. You're too pretty for your own good. I'm the one out here fighting dragons and flight attendants while you sit there looking 'innocent.' "
Keifer threw his head back and laughed, the sound rich and genuine. He grabbed my hand—the one with the ring—and kissed my knuckles.
"Well," he murmured, pulling me closer so I could rest my head on his shoulder. "As long as I'm your delicate princess, I don't mind the protection. But just so you know, wifey ... the 'princess' has some plans for the 'man' of the relationship once we get to the hotel."
I felt my face heat up. "Shut up, Keifer. Go back to your fake snoring."
"Make me," he teased, and for the rest of the flight, he didn't let go of my hand once.
The thirteen-hour flight had been a blur of first-class snacks, Keifer's head on my shoulder, and me occasionally waking up just to make sure no more flight attendants were trying to feed my "delicate princess" grapes.
As the wheels finally touched the tarmac at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, a wave of heat and nostalgia hit me. I was home. Well, almost. I was back in the land of "The Section E ," and I could already feel my stress levels rising.
"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty," I nudged Keifer, who was currently rubbing his eyes and looking far too gorgeous for someone who had just crossed several time zones.
"We're here. Prepare yourself. The humidity is going to ruin your hair, and my brother is going to ruin your soul."
"I've survived Percy's singing and a high fever, Jay," Keifer yawned, stretching his arms over his head. "I think I can handle one overprotective brother and a little bit of sweat."
We breezed through immigration—perks of traveling with a man who has a passport that basically screams "I own things"—and headed toward the arrivals gate. I expected the usual: a driver holding a sign that said 'WATSON/JAY' or maybe Angelo waving frantically from the crowd.
"There's the driver," Keifer said, pointing toward the exit where a sea of people stood behind the barricades.
But as we walked through the sliding glass doors, the noise of the airport suddenly seemed to muffled. The usual crowd of families and taxi drivers wasn't there.
Instead, the entire VIP arrival lane had been cordoned off by blacked-out SUVs—six of them. And standing in the center wasn't a driver. It was Aries. My Horoscopic brother looked like he was stepped out of a high-stakes action movie.
He wasn't smiling. He wasn't holding a "Welcome Home" sign. He was standing with his arms crossed, flanked by four men in suits who looked like they were part of a specialized security detail, not a wedding party.
Beside him, Angelo was pacing back and forth, his face pale, looking at his watch every two seconds. When he saw us, he didn't run over to hug me. He looked at Aries, then looked at us, and mouthed two words that made my heart drop into my stomach.
"Not now.""Jay,"
Keifer whispered, his hand tightening on the handle of our suitcase. His relaxed, "princess" demeanor vanished in an instant.
"Why is your brother wearing a tactical vest under his blazer?"Aries stepped forward, his eyes locking onto mine, then flickering to Keifer with a look of intense, cold calculation. He didn't say hello. He didn't mention the engagement.
"Get in the car," Aries said, his voice like gravel. "Both of you. Now."
"Aries? What's going on?" I stammered, my "Tiger" instincts screaming that something was horribly wrong.
"Where's Ella? Where's the engagement party?" Aries looked at Angelo, then back at me. "The plans changed. We aren't going to the house."
"Then where are we going?" Keifer asked, stepping protectively in front of me. Aries opened the door to the lead SUV and looked us dead in the eye."To the safe house," he said. "The 'engagement' was a leak. They know you're here."
"They" were the Valderama Syndicate—a rival business family that Aries had been crushing in the local market for years.
Apparently, they didn't take kindly to losing, and they decided that Aries' engagement was the perfect "soft target" to settle the score.
Aries shoved us into the back of the armored SUV, the heavy door thudding shut with a sound like a tomb closing. Angelo scrambled into the front seat, looking like he'd aged ten years since the last time I saw him."Aries, talk to me!"
I yelled over the roar of the engine as the convoy sped away from the airport, ignoring every traffic light in Manila. "What do you mean the engagement was a 'leak'?"
Aries turned around from the passenger seat, his face a mask of cold fury. "The invitation was intercepted, Jay. They thought if they snatched you or Ella, I'd hand over the shipping ports. They've been tracking your flight since you left London Heathrow."
Keifer, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly reached into his laptop bag. His "delicate princess" act was officially dead. He pulled out a sleek, encrypted phone I'd never seen before."
I noticed a black sedan following our taxi to the airport in London," Keifer said, his voice dropping into a deep, chillingly calm tone. "I thought it was just paparazzi. I should have flagged it."
Aries narrowed his eyes at Keifer. "You were followed in London?"
"Briefly," Keifer replied, his thumbs flying across the screen. "I'm pinging my security team in Singapore. They can be here in three hours with a private bird." I stared at my fiancé. "Keifer? Since when do you have a 'security team in Singapore'?"
"Since I became a billionaire with a target on my back, Love," he said, not looking up. "But right now, your brother is the one with the guns. Aries, where is Ella?" Aries' jaw tightened. "She's at the safe house. But we have a problem. The 'Safe House' isn't safe anymore. We just got word that a second convoy is heading there now."
Suddenly, the SUV swerved violently. A loud CLANG echoed through the cabin—the sound of a bullet ricocheting off the armored plating.
"Hang on!" Angelo screamed, clutching the dashboard.I looked out the back window. Two motorcycles and a dark van were weaving through traffic behind us, gaining fast.
"Welcome home, Jay," Aries growled, pulling a handgun from his holster and checking the magazine. "Looks like the wedding is going to have a bit of a body count."
I looked at Keifer, then at my brother. I came here for gowns and champagne, and now I was in the middle of a high-speed chase with a "Horoscope" assassin and a "Princess" who apparently had a secret army.