Babe… Keifer changed after that day.
At the office.
Completely.
Jay noticed it first during the afternoon briefing.
She was explaining a report at the small meeting table when Keifer suddenly pulled a chair and sat right beside her.
Too close.
His knee brushed hers.
Once.
Then again.
Jay stopped talking for half a second.
No one noticed.
Except him.
He leaned closer and whispered,
"Continue. You sound cute when you're serious."
She glared at him.
Quietly.
Deadly.
He only smiled.
Later, when she went to place files on his desk, he didn't even look at the papers.
He looked at her.
"You forgot something."
Jay blinked.
"What?"
He slid a small sticky note toward her.
On it, written in his handwriting:
Lunch. With me. No excuses.
Her lips twitched despite herself.
"You're impossible," she muttered.
He leaned back in his chair.
"I'm romantic."
When she walked past his cabin an hour later, he gently caught her wrist.
Just for a second.
Just long enough to make her heart jump.
"Still sulking?"
She tried to pull away.
"Office, Keifer."
He lowered his voice.
"So?"
She froze.
He leaned closer across the desk.
"You were jealous," he said softly.
"So now… I'm fixing it."
Jay whispered angrily,
"By flirting with me in your own office?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
That evening, when everyone was busy packing up, Jay found a coffee cup waiting on her table.
Exactly how she liked it.
No sugar.
Extra foam.
She looked up.
Keifer stood across the floor.
He didn't wave.
Didn't smile openly.
He only mouthed—
Mine.
Jay's ears burned.
And when they finally walked out of the office together, side by side like nothing special—
Keifer brushed his fingers against hers.
Once.
Light.
Hidden.
A silent promise.
Office romance had officially started.
And it was entirely his fault.