Ceo Couple-Jayfer-Chapter 26 - 25: The New Girl

Monday morning. Watson Enterprises.

Keifer walked in at 8am. Coffee in hand. Mind on meetings.

Honey greeted him. "Morning, sir. New marketing associate starts today. Chloe Chen. She’s in the conference room."

Keifer nodded. "Fine. I’ll meet her later."

He went to his office. Forgot about it.

An hour later, a knock.

"Come in."

The door opened. A woman walked in. Late twenties. Pretty. Dark hair. Bright smile. Fitted dress.

"Mr. Watson? I’m Chloe Chen. The new marketing associate. I just wanted to introduce myself."

Keifer looked up. "Welcome. Honey will get you set up."

"I actually had a question about the quarterly projections. Maybe we could go over them together? Over coffee?"

Keifer blinked. "I don’t do coffee meetings."

Chloe laughed. "Okay. Lunch, then? My treat."

"I have meetings."

"Another time?" She smiled. Hopeful.

Keifer’s face was blank. "Honey will answer any questions. Close the door on your way out."

Chloe’s smile faltered. Just slightly. "Of course. Thanks, Mr. Watson."

She left.

Keifer went back to work. Didn’t think twice.

But Chloe wasn’t giving up.

Day two: She brought him coffee. "Just because!"

Keifer: "I have my own."

Chloe: "But mine’s better."

Keifer: "I doubt that."

She laughed like he was joking. He wasn’t.

Day three: She "accidentally" bumped into him in the hallway. Touched his arm. "So sorry! Clumsy me."

Keifer: "Okay."

He walked away.

Day four: She showed up at his office. Asked about a "work emergency." Stayed too long. Laughed too loud. Leaned on his desk.

Keifer was about to tell her to leave when his phone buzzed.

Jay: Coming to see you. 5 minutes.

He almost-smiled.

Chloe noticed. "Who’s that?"

"My girlfriend."

Chloe’s eyes flickered. "Oh. I didn’t know you had a—"

The door opened.

Jay walked in.

Red dress. Heels. Hair perfect. Eyes sharp.

She took in the scene. Chloe leaning on Keifer’s desk. Smiling too much.

Jay’s face went cold.

Not angry cold. Just... ice.

The same ice Keifer used to have. Before her.

Chloe straightened. "Hi! You must be—"

"Who are you?" Jay’s voice was flat.

"Chloe Chen. New marketing associate." She held out her hand.

Jay looked at it. Didn’t take it.

"Chloe," she repeated. Like tasting something bad.

Keifer stood. Walked to Jay. Kissed her cheek. "Hey, baby."

Jay’s eyes softened. Just for him. "Hey."

Then she looked back at Chloe. The ice returned.

"I need to borrow my boyfriend," Jay said. "Work stuff."

Chloe smiled. "Of course! Nice to meet you..."

She waited for a name.

Jay didn’t give one.

She grabbed Keifer’s hand. Pulled him out.

In the hallway, Jay walked fast. Keifer followed.

"Jay."

She didn’t stop.

"Jay."

Nothing.

He grabbed her arm. Gently. Turned her around.

Her eyes were cold. But her lip was trembling. Just a little.

"Who is she?" Jay asked quietly.

"New hire. Marketing."

"She brought you coffee?"

"I didn’t drink it."

"She touched your arm?"

"I didn’t notice."

"She was LEANING on your desk, Keifer."

"I was about to tell her to leave. Then you walked in."

Jay stared at him. Searching.

He stared back. Honest. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"You swear?"

"I swear. On my life. On us." He pulled her closer. "Jay. There’s no one but you. There never will be."

Jay’s face softened. Just slightly.

"I don’t like her," she said.

"I don’t care about her."

"She likes you."

"I don’t care."

"She’s pretty."

He almost-smiled. "She’s not you."

Jay’s lip twitched. "Smooth."

"True."

She sighed. Leaned into him. "I’m being crazy."

"You’re being human."

"I don’t like feeling jealous."

"Then don’t. There’s nothing to be jealous of."

She looked up at him. "Promise?"

"Promise." He kissed her forehead. "You’re it for me, Jasper Jean."

She smiled. Real this time.

"Good."

"Good."

They kissed. Slow. Sweet.

Then Jay got an idea.

"What are you doing for lunch?" she asked.

"Meetings."

"Cancel them."

"Why?"

"Because we’re having lunch together. Here. In your office."

Keifer raised an eyebrow. "Okay?"

"And we’re going to walk around after. Together. Holding hands."

His almost-smile grew. "You’re marking territory."

"I’m reminding people who you belong to."

He pulled her close. "I belong to you?"

"Obviously."

"Good." He kissed her. "I like belonging to you."

"Shut up."

"Make me."

She did.

Lunch was... obvious.

Jay and Keifer ate in his office. Door open.

Chloe walked by. Saw them. Jay feeding Keifer a fry. Keifer letting her. Looking at her like she was the sun.

Chloe’s smile faded. Just a little.

After lunch, they walked through the office. Hand in hand.

Jay made sure to pass Chloe’s desk.

"Hi, Chloe," Jay said. Sweet. Cold. "How’s your first week?"

Chloe looked up. Forced smile. "Good! Really good."

"Great." Jay leaned into Keifer. Kissed his cheek. "My boyfriend’s been helping you, I hope?"

"Oh. Yes. He’s been... very professional."

"Good. That’s what he’s best at." Jay smiled. "Professional."

Keifer hid his almost-smile.

They walked away.

Chloe deflated.

Word spread fast.

Honey texted Percy: YOUR SISTER IS A LEGEND.

Percy: WHAT HAPPENED?

Honey: New girl tried to flirt with Keifer. Jay came in. Went full ice queen. Now she’s parading him around the office. It’s AMAZING.

Percy: I’M COMING OVER.

Within an hour, both families knew.

Group Chat: Jayfer Shipping Department

Keizer: JAY MARKED HER TERRITORY??

Jasfer: MY DAUGHTER.

Mama Reycee: Cold Jay is SCARY but also HOT.

Serina: She learned from Keifer.

Keigan: I need footage. SOMEONE GET FOOTAGE.

Aries: New girl better watch out.

Ella: Jay’s protective mode is everything.

Keiren (via Serina): Kuya’s girlfriend is a superhero!

Percy: I’m at Watson Enterprises. I SEE THEM. She’s holding his hand and glaring at everyone.

Honey: Can confirm. I’m watching from my desk. It’s beautiful.

Keizer: I’M SO PROUD.

The rest of the week, Jay showed up every day.

Not obviously. Just... present.

Coffee runs with Keifer. Lunch in his office. Kisses in the hallway. Hand-holding at meetings.

Chloe watched. Got the hint.

By Friday, she was keeping her distance.

Friday afternoon. Keifer’s office.

Jay sat on his desk. He sat in his chair. Her hand in his.

"She stopped," Jay said.

"Who?"

"Chloe. She doesn’t look at you anymore."

"I didn’t notice."

"You notice everything."

"Not her. Only you."

Jay smiled. "Smooth again."

"True again."

She leaned down. Kissed him.

"You’re mine," she whispered.

"Always."

"And I’m yours."

"The only one."

They kissed again.

The door opened.

Percy walked in. "Hey— OH SORRY."

Jay threw a pen at him. He dodged.

"Learn to knock!"

"I DID knock. You were busy." He grinned. "Honey said the coast was clear. Liar."

Keifer glared. "Out."

"Fine, fine." Percy backed out. "But for the record? Everyone’s talking about how hot it was when you went all ice queen on Chloe."

Jay’s face went red. "I did not go ice queen."

"You totally did. Keifer’s side effects. You’re catching his cold."

Keifer almost-smiled. "She’s right."

Jay threw another pen. He caught it.

"Love you too," he said.

She laughed. "Idiot."

"Your idiot."

"Yeah." She kissed him. "My idiot."

That night, both families gathered at Mariano house.

Jay walked in. Keifer behind her.

Everyone cheered.

"THERE SHE IS!"

"THE ICE PRINCESS!"

"JAYFER FOREVER!"

Jay’s face went red. "You guys are ridiculous."

Keizer hugged her. "We heard everything! The cold stares! The hand-holding! The territory marking!"

Jasfer nodded proudly. "That’s my girl."

Mama Reycee wiped a tear. "She’s becoming him."

Serina smiled. "It’s beautiful."

Aries pointed at Jay. "You’re scary now."

Jay raised an eyebrow. "Good."

Ella laughed. "She’s embracing it."

Keiren ran up. "Kuya’s girlfriend! Did you really make a mean face at a bad lady?"

Jay knelt down. "I didn’t make a mean face. I just... looked at her."

"Was it cold?"

"...Maybe."

Keiren nodded seriously. "Cool. Can you teach me?"

Everyone laughed.

Jay looked at Keifer. He shrugged.

"Sure, kid. Someday."

Keiren pumped his fist. "YES."

Later that night. Jay and Keifer on the porch.

"Today was insane," Jay said.

"Every day is insane."

"True." She leaned on him. "But I liked marking my territory."

He almost-smiled. "I liked being marked."

"Possessive."

"Your possessive."

"Yeah." She kissed his cheek. "Mine."

They watched the stars.

"Hey," she said.

"Mm?"

"I’m sorry I got jealous. It’s not like me."

"Don’t apologize. It’s human."

"Still."

He pulled her closer. "I like it."

"You like me being jealous?"

"I like knowing you care. That you’d fight for me."

She looked at him. "I’d always fight for you."

"I know." He kissed her hair. "That’s why I love you."

"I love you too. Even when you attract random women."

"I don’t attract them."

"Chloe says otherwise."

"Chloe doesn’t matter."

"Good."

"Good."

They sat in silence.

Then Jay laughed.

"What?" he asked.

"Your side effects. Percy said I’m catching your cold."

He almost-smiled. "You are. The ice. The stares. The possessiveness."

"Should I be worried?"

"No." He kissed her. "It’s hot."

She grinned. "Good."

"Very good."

"Our kids are gonna be so cold."

"So cold."

"And so possessive."

"The worst."

"Perfect."

"Perfect."

They kissed again.

Inside, the families watched.

Keizer sighed happily. "They’re perfect."

Jasfer nodded. "Absolutely perfect."

Serina smiled. "Jay’s becoming a Watson."

Mama Reycee wiped her eyes. "Best merger ever."

Keiren tugged his mom’s sleeve. "Mommy, can I have ice cream?"

"Later, baby."

"But I wanna be cold like Kuya’s girlfriend."

Everyone laughed.

Jay heard. Looked through the window. Smiled.

"Your family," she murmured.

"Our family."

"Yeah." She leaned into him. "Our family."

Forever.