The Watson Enterprises conference room was too cold. The air conditioning was always on full blast, just like Keifer liked it.
He sat at the head of the long, polished table, his face a blank mask. His eyes, the color of a winter sky, scanned the documents in front of him. He didn't look up when the door opened. He never did.
His father, Keizer Watson, stood by the window, his loud voice bouncing off the glass. "This merger is going to be huge! Watson and Mariano, together! Can you feel it, son?"
Keifer didn't answer. He just turned a page.
Across the table, his younger brother Keigan, 17, rolled his eyes at their dad. The little one, Keiren, was busy trying to draw on a notepad with a stolen pen.
Then, the door swung open again.
And the room got a little warmer.
Jasper Jean Mariano walked in like she owned the place. She was sharp in a cream-colored blazer, her dark hair pulled back. Her eyes, quick and intelligent, scanned the room just as fast as Keifer's ever did. They landed on him.
Her dad, Jasfer, was right behind her, all smiles. "Sorry we're late! Jay-Jay here was finishing up a deal that will make this meeting even sweeter."
Her stepmom, Mama Reycee, beamed. "Our little CEO!"
Her big brother, Aries, gave a protective nod to the room, his girlfriend Ella on his arm. And her step-brother, Percy, immediately started bragging. "Jay closed it in under an hour. A new record for Mariano Enterprises, obviously. She's good, but she's got me to guide her, of course."
Jay ignored him. Her eyes were locked on the guy at the head of the table.
Keifer finally looked up.
Click.
It was like a camera shutter went off in his head. For a single, silent second, the world stopped. The loud dads, the annoying brothers, the cold air—it all faded. All he saw was her. The fire in her dark eyes. The slight challenge in the way she held her chin. His heart did a weird, unfamiliar thump in his chest.
Damn.
Jay felt it too. A jolt, like static electricity. She saw his cold eyes, the sharp line of his jaw. He was handsome, annoyingly so. And he was staring right at her. For a second, something warm flickered in those icy eyes. Then, it was gone.
"Ms. Mariano," he said, his voice flat.
"Mr. Watson," she replied, her tone just as cool.
She took her seat across from him. The air between them was suddenly thicker than the tension in the room.
Keizer Watson clapped his hands, oblivious. "Alright! Let's get this show on the road! Jay, sweetheart, you're even prettier than the photos!"
Jay forced a polite smile. "Thank you, Mr. Watson."
"Please, call me Keizer! And this handsome, quiet guy is my son, Keifer. The CEO." He gestured grandly. "Keifer, be nice."
Keifer didn't even look at his dad. He was looking at the file in front of him. "The projected revenue from your last quarter is lower than expected," he said, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. "It makes me question the stability of Mariano Enterprises for a merger of this size."
The room went silent. Jasfer's smile tightened. Aries straightened up.
Jay's eyes narrowed. So that's how it was going to be.
She leaned forward, a small, sharp smile on her lips. "And your company's customer satisfaction rating dropped two points last month. It makes me question if Watson Enterprises knows how to keep the clients my company would be bringing."
Keifer's pen stopped moving. He slowly lifted his head. His eyes met hers again. This time, the cold was gone. In its place was a spark of something else. Respect? Annoyance? Interest?
"I'm simply stating a fact," he said.
"And I'm simply stating one back," she shot back, her voice sweet as honey but sharp as a tack. "Isn't that what this meeting is for? Facts?"
Keizer Watson burst out laughing. "Oh, I like her! Jasfer, I like her a lot!"
Jasfer grinned, winking at Mama Reycee. "Told you she could handle herself."
Keigan leaned over to Percy. "Is your sister always like this?"
Percy puffed out his chest. "Only when she's right. Which is always."
Keifer and Jay were still staring at each other. The rest of the family watched, some with popcorn-worthy enjoyment (the dads), some with protective alertness (Aries), and some with pure amusement (Keigan and Mama Reycee).
"You think you can run this merger better than me?" Keifer asked, his voice low.
"I think I can run anything better than you," Jay replied, without missing a beat. "But this merger? Definitely."
For the first time, the corner of Keifer's mouth twitched. It wasn't a smile. It was the start of one. A challenge.
"We'll see about that, Ms. Mariano."
"Oh, we will, Mr. Watson."
The conference room wasn't cold anymore. It was on fire. And both families sat back, watching the sparks fly, loving every second of it.