JAY'S POV —
I look up—and for a second, I don't recognize him.
Not because he's changed too much—but because my brain refuses to connect this man standing in a tailored suit, composed, confident, very much in control… to the boy I once dated at thirteen who panicked over holding my hand in public.
And then—
"Jay… Jay Jay?"
That voice.
That exact tone—half disbelief, half softness—And it clicks.
My eyes widen just slightly before I can stop it.
"…Chris?" I breathe out, the name slipping out before the professionalism can catch it, before the room, the people, the situation can matter.
He laughs under his breath, like he can't believe it either, running a hand through his hair. "No way—no, there's no way—Jasper Jean Mariano is that you?"
"Oh my God," I let out a small, disbelieving laugh, shaking my head as I take a step forward. "Christian Willow? You're C. Willow? Are you serious right now?"
"Hell yeah the dark queen of HSS..." he grins, opening his arms slightly in that same familiar way, like no time has passed.
And I hesitate—Just for half a second because this isn't supposed to happen like this.Not today. Not here.
But then—
"Oh shut up," I mutter under my breath and step in anyway, hugging him quickly, the moment brief but real, warm in a way I didn't expect.
Behind us, the room is dead silent.
Of course it is.
When I pull back, I clear my throat lightly, composure snapping back into place like it never left.
"You cleaned up well,but you still have those beautiful eyes of yours..." he says, eyes scanning me with a teasing grin. "and they are also like… really terrifyingly too. Should I be scared?"
"Ohh,you should be very scared," I reply dryly, adjusting my blazer. "I sue people for a living now."
He winces playfully. "Dully Noted. I'll behave.I promise.."
"And you," I tilt my head slightly, studying him properly now. "CEO? Industrialist? You actually followed through you're dreams???"
He shrugs, a little proud. "Turns out I wasn't all talk."
"It is so impressive," I nod once, softer. "I'm so happy for you..."
There's a flicker of something genuine there—but I don't let it sit too long because the room still exists.
The meeting still exists and I don't get to blur lines like that anymore.
"Alright," I say, turning slightly toward the table, voice shifting—cool, structured, controlled. "As much as this is… unexpected, we'll save the reunion for later."
Chris lets out a quiet chuckle. "yeah, let's get back to business shall we??"
We take our seats and just like that—the world resets.
"Welcome to The Mariano Industries...I'm Jasper Jean Mariano," I state clearly, hands folding neatly in front of me. "Co-CEO of Mariano Industries and Head of Legal Operations. First and foremost, we extend our formal apology for the legal discrepancies caused by our London branch."
I gesture lightly. "This is Attorney Jeremy Sinclair, my assistant and legal associate, along with the rest of my team."
Introductions follow—names, roles, acknowledgments.
Chris's assistant takes over briefly, formal tone replacing familiarity.
And then—We begin.
The next hour is controlled chaos—but the kind I thrive in.Contracts spread. Clauses dissected. Liability mapped out line by line.
"This clause here," I tap the document lightly, voice sharp but composed, "creates a direct conflict with your exclusivity agreement. That's where the breach originated."
Chris leans forward slightly, scanning it. "So your team authorized this without cross-verification?"
"My London team," I correct smoothly. "And yes—which is why we're here taking accountability."
There's a pause.
Then he nods slowly. "I'm listening..."
Jeremy slides a revised draft across. "We've restructured the compensation terms and proposed a revised partnership model moving forward."
Chris picks it up, reading through it carefully and the thing is—He's good.Not just "CEO by title" good.
Actually sharp.Actually paying attention.Which makes this easier.Smoother.
Less combative than it could've been.
By the time we reach the final terms—loss coverage, revised clauses, timeline corrections—the tension that should exist… doesn't.
Instead, there's mutual understanding.
A quiet professionalism layered with something older—but controlled.
"Alright," Chris says finally, setting his pen down after signing. "I think we're good here.Thank you Attorney Mariano for your assistance...."
"It's all my pleasure, Mr.Willow..," I nod, closing the file neatly.Chairs move. Papers gather.
People started leaving a nd just as I'm about to follow—
"Jay,hold up!!"
I pause.Turn slightly.Chris is still seated, watching me with a small, familiar smile.
"Do you wanna grab lunch with me??" he asks casually. "I mean we've got the next meeting together anyway… and I feel like we skipped about twelve years of conversation...so do you want too???."
I glance at Jeremy.
He doesn't even try to hide his grin this time—just gives me a slow nod and a very obvious go ahead look.
I roll my eyes faintly.
Then look back at Chris.
"…fine," I sigh lightly. "But if this turns into emotional interrogation, I'm leaving."
He raises his hands. "It will be strictly food and maybe minimal trauma."
"Highly doubtful but let's go...," I mutter—but I'm already picking up my bag.
The car ride starts a little awkward.Not uncomfortable—just… adjusting.
"So," he glances at me sideways. "ex-girlfriend.... How's life been??"
I choke slightly. "ex-girlfriend??We were thirteen..."
"That still counts!"
"You came out to me mid-relationship, Chris."
He winces. "Okay, in my defense—I was figuring things out."
"You told me I kissed like a 'confused straight person,'" I deadpan.
"You were confused!"
"I was thirteen!"
He laughs loudly. "God, you're still the same."
"I'm really not," I say quietly.
There's a small pause after that.Then he nods.
"…yeah," he admits softly. "You're not."
Lunch smooths things out again.Wine. Food. Familiarity slipping back in pieces.
Stories from school. Dumb memories. That one time I almost slapped him for being friends with my crush—before finding out he was flirting with him,and not just playing football....
"It was an ICONIC moment," he grins.
"I almost committed a crime that day just because you weren't clear enough with your actions."
"It was Worth it....anyway I still remember you terrorising almost everyone no not almost...everyone in holy saints school was actually terrified of you...you were the dream girl back there before you and Cyrus came in a relationship..which went so wrong for you in so many ways..."
"I know,but there were good things as well in being in a relationship with him,my broody nature was eased up,by the time we actually had to breakup I was less terrored among the school members and it brought out the best in me...."
"Yeah...sure whatever" he then laughs it off but then—It shifts.
"So Jay Jay,why did you leave Phillipines? I mean wasn't it your dream to be the biggest attorney in all of Manila??"
He asks and I know this part won't stay light.So I don't make it.
"My dad found me," I say simply. "Seven years ago and I left with him to nyc..," I continue. "I couldn't stay back because there was nothing for me to hold on to in Manila...."
He watches me then he spoke and I stilled...
"…that's not the whole story.is it?"
I sigh.
Of course it isn't.
"Fine...High school got complicated," I admit. "Wrong people. Wrong choices. Things… turned bad when I trusted wrong people around me..."
"Section E?" he asks slowly.
I freeze for half a second.
"…yeah,but how do you know it?"
"Well our school's were neighbours and hvis had a reputation for its section e boys and that being said I heard something about that," he says. "Your class president was involved with a Mariano girl—what was his name—Kegen??"
I sighed and then finished for him....
"Mark Keifer Watson."
Silence.Then—
"Yeah,but WAITT YOU'RE KIDDING."
I close my eyes briefly. "I wish I was."
"That Keifer Watson?" he leans forward. "As in the one we're meeting in—what—like "
"Forty-five minutes," I finish flatly."And not just him," I add. "some other members of section e too....who I haven't seen in about seven years...."
He stares at me.Then—
"Jay," he breathes out. "Your life is insane."
"Thank you," I say dryly. "Very comforting."
"No, like—this is cinematic."
"I will throw this glass at you."
He laughs. "Okay, okay—sorry.But damnn Jay,you need all of god's support today....."
I knew he meant well and that it was true I actually did need all the support I could get.....
By the time we head back—I'm quiet again or at least trying to be.
Chris drops me off downstairs, already getting pulled into his own team discussions.
"See you upstairs," he says with a grin.
"Unfortunately," I reply—but there's no bite to it.
Back in the conference room—Everything is set.My team. Files. Screens.
Jeremy leans in slightly. "You ready?"
"No," I answer honestly.
He nods. "Good. Means you care."
"I hate that."
"I know."
People start entering.Voices fill the space.
Chairs move.Energy builds.And then—
The door opens.
I don't look up.
I don't need to.
Because I feel it.
The shift.The weight.The past walking in like it never left.
My fingers tighten slightly around the pen.
My spine straightens.My expression stays unreadable.
But inside?
It's loud.
Too loud.
Seven years of distance—and somehow—
It all comes rushing back in one breath and this time—There's no walking away.