Jay Jay's POV
And that scared me almost as much as everything.
—
The front door opened.
I turned instinctively.
Percy.
Finally.
He walked in, loosening his tie slightly, looking tired—but the moment his eyes landed on me, something in his expression softened.
"You're awake."
I frowned. "Obviously."
He huffed a small laugh, walking in further.
Jass straightened slightly beside me. "How was it?"
Percy ran a hand through his hair. "Messy."
That one word was enough.
My stomach tightened.
"What's going on?" I asked, looking between them.
Percy glanced at Jason.
A silent conversation.
Then he looked back at me.
"We need to talk."
I groaned softly. "Why does everyone keep saying that today?"
"Because," Percy said calmly, "everything is changing today."
Great.
Just great.
I crossed my arms. "Okay, say it."
He stepped closer, his tone turning more serious.
"You'll have to start getting involved in the business."
I blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
"The Mariano Group," he continued. "You can't stay out of it anymore."
I let out a short laugh. "Percy, I don't even know half the things that go on there."
"Exactly," Jason spoke this time.
I looked at him.
"And that's a problem," he added.
My brows furrowed. "How?"
Percy answered this time.
"Because your aunt can use that against you."
Silence.
My expression slowly changed.
"What do you mean?"
Jason leaned forward slightly, voice calm but firm.
"She can prove that you don't know anything about the business," he said. "That you're unprepared. Unworthy of handling the Mariano legacy."
That word again.
Unworthy.
My fingers curled slightly.
"And with Uncle Jules gone…" Percy added quietly, "there's no one left to defend your position from inside."
The room felt heavier.
"So," Jason continued, "we step in before she does."
I looked between them.
"And by 'we'…?"
"All three of us," Percy said.
Silence.
Then I pointed at myself.
"Me?"
"Yes, you," Jason said.
I stared at him.
"I have school."
Both of them went quiet for a second.
"I've already missed so many days," I continued. "Now you want me to just… what? Stop going completely?"
Percy immediately shook his head.
"No."
I paused.
"You won't be at the company all the time," he explained. "Only when it's necessary. Important meetings, decisions… things that matter."
I narrowed my eyes slightly. "And the rest?"
Jason answered this time, like he had already planned it.
"I'll come pick you up when you're needed."
I blinked.
"You're what?"
He smirked slightly. "Driver duties. Don't get used to it."
"Who said I want that?"
"You didn't have to."
I rolled my eyes.
"Unbelievable."
Percy sighed softly. "Jay, listen… this isn't optional."
That made me go quiet.
"I know," I muttered.
Because I did.
I hated it.
But I understood it.
I let out a slow breath.
"Fine," I said finally. "But if my grades drop, I'm blaming both of you."
"Fair," Jason said immediately.
Percy nodded. "Accepted."
I crossed my arms again.
"This is so annoying."
"You'll survive," Jason said.
"Unfortunately."
—
The door burst open.
"HELLOOO PEOPLE—"
I flinched.
"Mia," Percy muttered.
She walked in dramatically, dropping her bag on the couch like she owned the place.
"I MISSED YOU ALL—oh wait, why does everyone look like a business meeting just died here?"
I snorted.
"Because it did."
Mia narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What did I miss?"
Jason leaned casually against the counter. "Your best friend is now officially a businesswoman."
Mia gasped.
"WHAT—"
I groaned. "Don't start."
"YOU'RE JOINING THE COMPANY??" she practically yelled.
"Sometimes," Percy corrected.
Mia looked between all of us, then pointed at me.
"This is what happens when you disappear for ONE DAY?"
"She didn't disappear," Jason said calmly. "You did."
Mia froze.
Then turned slowly to Percy.
"You told them?"
Percy raised his hands slightly. "I didn't have to. You announced it yourself."
I smirked.
"Ohhh, caught."
Mia narrowed her eyes at me. "You—don't act smart."
Jason stepped in, clearly enjoying this.
"Also," he added, "she's getting engaged."
Mia's jaw dropped.
"EXCUSE ME??"
I smacked Jason's arm. "WHY WOULD YOU SAY IT LIKE THAT—"
Mia looked between us like she just witnessed a scandal.
"YOU TWO—"
"It's fake," I said quickly.
"It's strategic," Jason corrected at the same time.
Mia blinked.
Then blinked again.
Then pointed at both of us.
"You two are INSANE."
Percy rubbed his forehead.
"That's what I said."
Mia looked at him.
"You KNEW?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't tell me??"
"You were busy disappearing."
I snorted again.
Mia turned dramatically toward me. "Wow. Betrayal everywhere."
Jason leaned slightly closer to me. "She'll survive."
"I will not survive," Mia shot back. "My best friend is getting fake engaged and joining a company and I find out like this??"
I crossed my arms, smirking now. "Skill issue."
She gasped. "YOU DID NOT—"
Percy chuckled under his breath.
Mia turned to him immediately.
"And YOU—why are you laughing??"
"I'm not," he said, still smiling.
"You are!"
Jason added, completely unhelpful, "He is."
I nodded. "He is."
Mia looked between all three of us.
Slowly.
Suspiciously.
Then crossed her arms.
"Wow."
A pause.
Then—
"Wow."
Another pause.
Then dramatically—
"YOU THREE TEAMED UP AGAINST ME."
I burst out laughing.
Jason grinned.
Percy shook his head.
Mia pointed at us.
"I leave for ONE DAY and suddenly it's Jay-Jason-Percy alliance??"
"Sounds powerful," Jason said.
"Sounds annoying," I added.
"Sounds unfair," Mia shot back.
Percy finally laughed properly.
Mia turned to him again.
"And YOU—stop enjoying this!"
He raised his hands. "I'm not doing anything."
"Exactly! That's suspicious!"
I leaned slightly toward Jason.
"She's spiraling."
"A little," he agreed.
Mia groaned loudly, throwing herself onto the couch.
"I hate all of you."
I walked past her casually.
"No, you don't."
Jason followed.
"You really don't."
Percy added the final blow—
"You love us."
Mia grabbed a cushion and threw it at him.
"SHUT UP."
—
And just like that—
The chaos was back.
And somehow…
That made everything feel a little less heavy.
Even if nothing actually got easier.
The cushion hit Percy straight in the face.
He didn't even move.
Just slowly pulled it down… and looked at Mia.
"…You done?"
Mia pointed at him like she was ready to file a case. "No, I am NOT done. You all betrayed me emotionally."
I snorted. "Emotionally?"
"Yes, emotionally," she snapped. "Mentally, physically, spiritually—"
Jason cut in, completely serious, "Financially too?"
I choked.
Percy turned away, hiding a laugh.
Mia gasped. "YOU—don't joke about finances in THIS house right now."
Jason leaned slightly toward me, lowering his voice just enough—
"Noted. She's sensitive."
I elbowed him lightly. "Shut up."
But I was smiling.
Again.
Annoying.
—
Mia narrowed her eyes at us.
"Oh wow," she said slowly. "Wow."
"What?" I asked.
She pointed between me and Jason.
"This."
Jason blinked innocently. "This… what?"
"This whole—whatever this is," she waved dramatically. "You two teaming up?? Smirking?? Whispering??"
Percy added casually, "Concerning."
"VERY concerning," Mia agreed immediately.
I rolled my eyes. "Relax. He's just annoying."
Jason tilted his head slightly, looking at me.
"Just?"
I ignored him. "Extremely annoying."
"Hmm," he hummed, stepping a little closer. "Yet you keep standing next to me."
I didn't move.
"…Coincidence."
"Of course," he said softly.
Too softly.
I looked at him.
Bad idea.
Because he was already looking at me—
That same calm, confident expression.
Like he knew exactly what he was doing.
Which he probably did.
I looked away first.
Obviously.
—
Mia clutched Percy's arm dramatically.
"Do you see this??"
Percy nodded. "Unfortunately."
Jason smirked. "Jealous?"
"DISGUSTED," Mia corrected.
"Same thing," I muttered.
"I AM NOT JEALOUS—" she paused, then looked at Percy, "…okay maybe a little, but that's not the point."
Percy raised an eyebrow. "A little?"
"Shut up."
—
Jason leaned against the counter again, completely relaxed.
"So," he said casually, "what exactly is your problem?"
Mia looked at him like she wanted to throw another cushion.
"My problem is—you came back and immediately started acting like you own her."
I blinked.
Jason didn't even hesitate.
"I do."
Silence.
I turned my head so fast I almost got whiplash.
"JASON—"
Mia's jaw dropped.
Percy actually coughed.
Jason looked completely unbothered.
I stared at him. "We talked about this—"
"Fake engagement," he said calmly.
"Yes."
"Public image."
"YES."
He nodded once.
"Still counts."
I grabbed the nearest thing—this time a spoon—and pointed it at him.
"Take that back."
He stepped closer instead.
Of course he did.
"Make me."
My brain stopped working for a second.
Just a second.
Which was one second too long.
—
"OH MY GOD," Mia whispered loudly to Percy, "they're flirting."
"We can see that," Percy muttered back.
"I feel like I'm third wheeling in my own house."
"You are."
"SHUT UP."
—
I finally found my voice. "You are unbelievable."
"And yet," Jason said, lowering his voice slightly again, "you haven't walked away."
I crossed my arms.
"Maybe I just don't want to give you the satisfaction."
He leaned in just enough to be annoying.
"Or maybe you like this."
I shoved him back lightly. "In your dreams."
"Careful," he murmured. "Those dreams might come true."
I blinked.
Why does he say things like that so casually??
I turned away immediately. "You're impossible."
"Still here though."
—
Mia let out a dramatic scream into a cushion.
"I CAN'T DO THIS."
Percy laughed this time. "Do what?"
"WATCH THIS," she pointed at us again. "This is illegal. This is harassment. This is—this is ROMANCE."
I made a face. "Relax. It's not romance."
Jason tilted his head slightly. "Debatable."
I glared at him. "Not debatable."
"Very debatable."
"JASON."
He smiled.
Not smirk.
Not tease.
Just… smiled.
And somehow—
That was worse.
—
Mia looked at Percy again, betrayed.
"Say something."
Percy shrugged. "I think it's entertaining."
"YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT ME."
"I am. Emotionally."
"USELESS."
—
Jason walked past me toward the fridge, then paused right beside me again.
Of course.
"By the way," he said casually, "we should probably practice."
I frowned. "Practice what?"
He looked down at me slightly.
"This."
Before I could react—
He gently took my hand.
My brain—
Stopped.
Again.
"JASON—"
"For the act," he said calmly. "Remember?"
My heart did something stupid.
Very stupid.
I tried to pull my hand back.
He didn't tighten his grip—
But he didn't let go either.
"Relax," he murmured. "You'll have to get used to it."
I looked at him.
"You're enjoying this too much."
"Maybe," he said quietly. "Or maybe I'm just getting used to something I've wanted for a while."
My breath caught.
Just for a second.
Again.
I hated that.
—
"PERCY," Mia whispered aggressively, "HE'S HOLDING HER HAND."
"I can see."
"DO SOMETHING."
"Why?"
"I DON'T KNOW—PROTECT HER??"
"From what?"
"FROM HIM."
Jason glanced at them.
"Too late."
Mia gasped.
I finally pulled my hand back.
Fast.
Too fast.
"Enough practice," I muttered.
Jason didn't react.
Just watched me.
That same look again.
Calm.
Certain.
Dangerous.
—
I turned away quickly. "You're so annoying."
"And you're flustered."
"I am NOT—"
"Left eyebrow," he said.
I immediately covered my face.
"SHUT UP."
He laughed.
—
Mia threw another cushion.
"THIS IS UNFAIR."
Percy caught it this time.
"Violence runs in this house."
"BECAUSE OF YOU PEOPLE."
—
And just like that—
We were all arguing again.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Messy.
But underneath all of it—
Something had shifted.
Because this time…
When Jason looked at me—
It didn't feel fake.
And that was the most dangerous part of all.
The chaos slowly settled—
—or at least reduced to background noise.
Somehow.
—
Jason stretched slightly. "Alright, I'm hungry."
"Same," I said immediately.
He looked at me.
Then at the kitchen.
Then back at me.
"No."
I blinked. "No what?"
"You're not cooking."
I gasped. "Excuse me??"
"I want the food to be edible."
"Rude."
"Accurate."
I grabbed a towel and threw it at him.
He caught it.
Of course.
"I can help," I insisted, walking toward the counter.
"You can sit," he corrected.
"I am not useless."
"You are in the kitchen."
I narrowed my eyes. "Say that again."
He smirked. "You are dangerous in the kitchen."
"Wow."
"Last time you almost burned water."
"THAT WAS ONE TIME."
"It was boiling, Jay."
"It was confusing!"
He laughed, already starting to cook.
I crossed my arms but stayed.
Obviously.
"Fine," I muttered. "I'll supervise."
"Please don't."
"I'll talk."
"That's worse."
"I'll judge."
"That's expected."
—
And just like that—
I ended up sitting on the counter, swinging my legs slightly—
while he actually cooked.
Properly.
Annoyingly well.
"You're doing that wrong," I said.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"Add more salt."
"I already did."
"Add more."
He looked at me. "Do you want to kill us?"
"Maybe."
He chuckled, shaking his head.
—
After a while—
The food was actually ready.
I looked impressed.
I didn't say it.
Obviously.
"Not bad," I said.
"High praise," he replied.
—
I looked around.
"Where are Percy and Mia?"
Jason shrugged slightly. "Upstairs, probably."
I frowned.
"They didn't come down for dinner?"
"Nope."
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
I hopped off the counter.
"I'll call them."
Jason didn't stop me.
Big mistake.
—
I walked upstairs casually.
No thoughts.
No expectations.
Just dinner.
That's it.
—
I reached Percy's room.
The door wasn't locked.
I knocked lightly.
No response.
I frowned.
"Percy?" I called, pushing the door open slightly.
And then—
I froze.
—
For a second—
My brain didn't process it.
Like it just… stopped.
Percy had Mia pressed gently against the wall near the bed—
one hand resting at her waist, pulling her close—
the other lightly holding her face.
Mia's hands were gripping his shirt—
pulling him closer—
like she didn't want even an inch of distance.
Their faces were close.
Too close.
And then—
They kissed.
Not soft.
Not shy.
But not… inappropriate either.
Just—
Intense.
Real.
Like they forgot the world existed.
Like nothing else mattered.
The kind of moment you're not supposed to walk into.
Ever.
My eyes widened.
My brain screamed.
OH MY GOD.
I couldn't move.
Couldn't speak.
Just—
Stood there.
In shock.
—
And then—
A voice behind me.
"…I think we should go."
I flinched.
Jason.
Of course.
He had come up.
Of course he had.
He saw it too.
Of course he did.
I nodded quickly.
"Y-yeah."
We both slowly stepped back—
quietly—
carefully—
like we just witnessed something illegal.
—
And then—
"WHAT THE—"
We froze.
They saw us.
Of course they did.
Of course this day wasn't going to be normal.
—
"RUN," Jason muttered.
We ran.
Actually ran.
Down the stairs.
Straight into the kitchen.
I grabbed the counter, trying to breathe.
"OH MY GOD."
Jason was laughing.
LAUGHING.
"Did you see—"
"YES I SAW—WHY WERE THEY—"
"IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM—"
"DOORS EXIST FOR A REASON—"
We both looked at each other—
And burst out laughing.
—
A few minutes later—
Footsteps.
Slow.
Awkward.
We turned.
Percy and Mia walked in.
Both—
Red.
Very red.
Mia refused to look at me.
Percy cleared his throat.
Jason leaned casually against the counter like nothing happened.
"Oh," he said calmly, "you guys are here."
Mia snapped. "DON'T ACT NORMAL."
I crossed my arms. "YOU DON'T ACT NORMAL."
"You walked in!"
"YOUR DOOR WAS OPEN!"
"YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOCKED!"
"I DID!"
"NOT ENOUGH!"
"LOCK THE DOOR NEXT TIME!"
"DON'T COME NEXT TIME!"
"HOW WOULD I KNOW YOU WERE HAVING A MOMENT??"
Silence.
Jason turned away, clearly trying not to laugh.
Percy rubbed his forehead. "Can we not do this?"
"No," Mia said immediately.
"Yes," I said at the same time.
We glared at each other.
—
Finally—
We all sat down for dinner.
Awkward.
Very awkward.
For about 5 seconds.
—
Then Jason spoke.
"So," he said casually, "interesting evening."
Percy glared at him. "Don't."
"I'm just saying," Jason continued, "good… teamwork."
Mia choked. "JASON—"
I joined in immediately. "Yeah, coordination was impressive."
"JAY—"
"Very synchronized," Jason added.
Percy dropped his fork. "I'm leaving."
"No, no," I said sweetly. "Sit. Eat."
Mia hid her face. "I hate all of you."
"You love us," I said.
"Not today."
"Especially today," Jason added.
—
Percy sighed. "Can we just eat in peace?"
"No," me and Jason said together.
We looked at each other.
Then smirked.
—
Mia pointed at us.
"WOW."
I leaned back slightly. "You started it."
"I DID NOT—"
"You definitely did," Jason added.
Percy shook his head. "This is a nightmare."
I grinned.
"No, this is entertainment."
—
And just like that—
The teasing continued.
The chaos stayed.
And somehow—
Even after everything—
The house felt alive again.
Messy.
Embarrassing.
Loud.
But alive.
And maybe—
Just maybe—
That's exactly what we needed.
----------------------------------
So guyss I'm running out of ideas so pls drop your Ideas in comment so that I can write that
Plss helpp 😭