---
It was supposed to be a simple business event.
That was the lie everyone told themselves.
Especially Keifer.
---
He stood near the edge of the hall, suit sharp, expression controlled—like always.
Except his eyes kept betraying him.
Again.
And again.
Because Jay was laughing.
Not at him.
With someone else.
---
A junior investor—confident smile, too comfortable, too close.
He was talking. Jay was listening.
And worse…
She was smiling like it wasn't forced.
Like she was enjoying it.
---
Keifer's jaw tightened.
"…Who is that?" he asked someone beside him.
"New partner from the West branch," they replied casually. "He's been trying to impress Jay all evening."
Keifer didn't respond.
But something in his silence shifted.
---
Across the Room
Jay tilted her head slightly.
"You don't have to keep explaining the same proposal," she said politely.
The man laughed. "I just want to make sure you understand it fully."
"I do," she replied simply. "I helped design it."
"Oh—I didn't realize you were that involved."
Jay smiled. "I usually am."
---
That should've been the end of it.
But then—
He leaned in slightly.
Too close.
"Maybe after this, I could take you out to dinner? Just to—"
"Busy."
A voice cut in.
Cold.
Clean.
Final.
---
Keifer stepped beside Jay like he had been there the whole time.
Except he hadn't.
His hand lightly rested near her chair.
Not touching.
But claiming space anyway.
---
The man blinked. "Oh—I didn't know you two were—"
"Working," Keifer said flatly.
Jay looked up at him.
Just slightly surprised.
Not uncomfortable.
Not annoyed.
Just… aware.
---
The man cleared his throat. "Right. Of course. I'll leave you two to discuss—"
"You don't need to leave," Jay said calmly.
Keifer glanced at her.
That was not the answer he expected.
---
The man hesitated. "I just thought—"
"You thought wrong," Keifer said.
Jay finally looked at him fully now.
"…Keifer."
Soft warning.
---
He exhaled slightly.
Not apologizing.
Just adjusting.
"I mean," he corrected, "the proposal is already approved. There's nothing left to discuss."
A pause.
Then:
"Except boundaries."
---
Silence.
The man smiled awkwardly and walked away quickly.
Too quickly.
---
Jay turned to Keifer.
"…Boundaries?" she repeated.
Keifer didn't look at her at first.
"I didn't like how close he was standing."
"That's called networking."
"That's called unnecessary proximity."
She blinked.
Then laughed softly. "Are you jealous?"
---
That finally made him look at her.
"No."
Immediate.
Too immediate.
---
Jay raised an eyebrow.
Keifer exhaled through his nose.
"…Maybe a little."
---
She leaned back slightly, amused. "You're unbelievable."
"He was unnecessary."
"He was being professional."
"He was being too comfortable."
Jay smiled now.
Slow.
Knowing.
---
"You know," she said softly, "you don't get to claim me in boardrooms."
Keifer stepped a little closer.
Voice lower now.
"I didn't claim you."
A beat.
"I just reminded him you were never available in the first place."
---
That made her stop.
Just for a second.
---
Then she shook her head slightly, smiling to herself.
"You're ridiculous."
"And you're still here," he replied.
Soft.
Certain.
---
Jay looked at him properly now.
The chaos of the room faded again.
Just like it always did when it was him.
---
"…You were jealous," she repeated.
Keifer finally allowed it.
"Yeah."
Pause.
"And?"
Jay smiled slightly.
"Nothing," she said. "Just… noted."
---
He raised an eyebrow.
She turned away, hiding her smile.
But before she walked off—
She said quietly:
"You still don't like sharing."
Keifer watched her go.
Then replied under his breath:
"I never learned how."
---
And somehow—
That never changed.
Even years later.
Even after everything.
---