(Author's POV)
The strategy room was unusually peaceful that morning.
Luna sat in front of the main screen, working through the remaining files recovered from the warehouse.
Alex stood beside the table, studying the map of New York.
Cora was going through the equipment list while Deniel was doing absolutely nothing useful with a pen he had been spinning between his fingers for the past five minutes.
Jay sat quietly beside Cora.
She listened whenever someone spoke.
She nodded when she agreed.
She occasionally smiled at Deniel's ridiculous comments.
She wasn't upset.
She wasn't angry.
She was simply quieter these days.
There were too many thoughts in her head.
Too many things she hadn't said.
And nobody forced her to.
"Okay," Luna suddenly murmured.
Everyone looked toward her.
She leaned closer to the screen.
"That's strange."
Alex immediately walked over.
"What?"
Luna opened another window.
A flight-tracking system appeared.
One aircraft was highlighted.
She entered the identification details.
Her expression changed.
"Alex…"
He looked at the screen.
"What is it?"
Luna hesitated for a second.
Then—
"Keifer's private jet."
The room went silent.
Jay's fingers stopped around the pen she was holding.
Her heart gave one hard beat.
Keifer.
Here?
She slowly looked at the screen.
MANILA → NEW YORK
Her eyes stayed there.
For a moment, everything else seemed to fade into the background.
He was coming.
He was actually coming.
After everything…
After she had left him.
After she had spent days convincing herself that staying away from him was the safest thing she could do…
He was coming to her.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the pen.
Cora noticed.
"Jay?"
Jay immediately looked toward her.
"I'm fine."
Her voice was soft.
Cora studied her face for a second.
Then nodded.
Luna continued.
"He left less than an hour ago."
Deniel sat up straight.
"Wait, so he's actually coming to New York?"
"Yes."
"Does he know Jay is here?"
Nobody answered.
Jay looked back at the screen.
Of course he knew.
He wouldn't come all the way to New York without knowing.
Alex's expression had already become serious.
"If we can track his flight…"
He looked at Luna.
"…Kyle can too."
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Cora's smile disappeared.
Deniel put the pen down.
Luna nodded.
"That's what I was thinking."
Jay listened quietly.
She knew they were right.
Kyle already knew too much.
And if Kyle got to Keifer before they did—
No.
She didn't even want to finish that thought.
Her breathing became slightly quicker.
Not enough for anyone else to notice.
She lowered her gaze.
Tried to steady herself.
Don't.
Not now.
She took a slow breath.
But the thoughts kept coming.
What if Kyle reached him?
What if Keifer got hurt because of her?
What if—
"Jay?"
Alex's voice pulled her back.
She looked up.
He was watching her.
"You okay?"
Jay gave him a small smile.
"Yeah."
She paused.
Then quietly added,
"I just need to use the restroom."
She stood.
Cora started to rise.
"I'll—"
Alex gently stopped her with one look.
"Let her go."
Cora understood immediately.
Jay gave them a tiny nod.
Then walked out.
The door closed softly behind her.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Deniel looked toward Alex.
"You noticed too?"
Alex nodded.
"She's anxious."
Cora frowned.
"But she said she's fine."
"I know."
Luna glanced toward the door.
"She doesn't want us to worry."
Alex sighed quietly.
"Then don't make her."
He turned back toward the map.
"We'll deal with the problem first."
Deniel leaned forward.
"So…"
He pointed toward the airport.
"What exactly are we doing?"
Alex looked at everyone.
"We're bringing Keifer here."
Cora raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
Alex's mouth curved slightly.
"That's what we're going to figure out."
Deniel blinked.
"Wait…"
"Are we kidnapping a billionaire?"
Luna looked at him.
"Protective extraction."
"That sounds like a fancy word for kidnapping."
Cora laughed.
"You're not wrong."
Alex shook his head.
"No one is hurting him."
"Obviously."
"We intercept him before he leaves the airport."
Luna immediately pulled up the airport layout.
"I can track his arrival."
Alex pointed at the screen.
"Cora, you're with me."
Cora nodded.
"Deniel, prepare the vehicles."
"Already doing it."
"Luna, keep his location on the screen the entire time."
"Got it."
Alex paused.
"And nobody tells him where the base is."
Everyone nodded.
The plan slowly began taking shape.
Meanwhile…
Jay stood alone in the restroom.
She placed both hands against the sink.
Looked at herself in the mirror.
She wasn't crying.
She wasn't falling apart.
She was simply…
Overwhelmed.
Keifer was coming.
The person she had tried so hard to stay away from was suddenly going to be only a few hours away.
She closed her eyes.
Took one slow breath.
Then another.
"Okay."
Her voice was barely audible.
"Just stay calm."
She looked at herself again.
She could handle this.
She had handled worse.
After a few moments, she straightened her jacket and walked back toward the strategy room.
When she opened the door—
Everyone was already gathered around the map.
Jay looked from one face to another.
"What happened?"
Deniel grinned.
"We're kidnapping your boyfriend."
Jay stared at him.
"…What?"
Cora immediately corrected him.
"Protective custody."
Jay looked at Alex.
He nodded.
"Keifer can't stay exposed."
Jay's eyes moved to the airport map.
Then to Luna's screen.
She was quiet for a moment.
Finally, she nodded.
"…Okay."
Alex looked at her.
"We'll bring him here before Kyle gets to him."
Jay's fingers curled gently around the edge of the table.
She looked at Keifer's flight path.
And somewhere beneath all the fear and anxiety…
A tiny part of her felt something she hadn't allowed herself to feel in weeks.
Relief.
He was coming.
And this time…
She wasn't going to let Kyle take him away from her again.