The night of the Annual Business Excellence Awards arrived like a storm of glitter and tension.
The grand ballroom was packed. CEOs. Investors. Media. Cameras everywhere.
Jay and Keifer arrived separately.
Not by choice—by schedule.
Jay represented J&S Enterprises. Keifer represented Watson Enterprises.
Two companies. Two stages. Two speeches.
Jay stepped out of her car first.
Blue gown. Elegant. Powerful.
Serina waited inside. Jasfer beside her.
Serina: "You look stunning, anak."
Jay: "Thanks, Mom."
Jasfer: "My daughter. CEO. Award nominee. I'm crying."
Jay: "Dad, you're not crying."
Jasfer: "I'M CRYING INSIDE!"
Percy appeared with Honey. Percy: "JAY! YOU LOOK AMAZING! DOCUMENTING!"
Honey: "You look beautiful."
Jay: "Thanks, both of you."
Aries and Ella arrived. Aries: "Ready?"
Jay: "Ready."
Ella: "Nervous?"
Jay: "Never."
Aries: "Liar."
Jay: "Maybe."
Across the venue, Keifer arrived.
Navy suit. Confident. Composed.
Serina hugged him. "My son. CEO. Award nominee."
Keifer: "Mom."
Serina: "I'm allowed to be proud."
Jasfer: "I'm proud too! You're basically my son!"
Keifer: "Basically?"
Jasfer: "OFFICIALLY! Once you marry Jay."
Keifer: "Tss."
Jasfer: "Did you just—"
Keifer: "Maybe."
Jasfer: "I love this family."
Percy appeared. "KEIFER! HANDSOME! DOCUMENTING!"
Honey: "You look good."
Keifer: "Thanks."
Aries: "Nervous?"
Keifer: "No."
Ella: "Liar."
Keifer: "Maybe."
The awards began.
Category after category. Applause after applause.
Then—
"Next up, the Rising Star Award. Nominees include Keifer Watson of Watson Enterprises."
The crowd applauded.
Keifer walked to the stage. Calm. Confident.
Jay watched from her seat. Heart pounding.
Serina watched. Eyes glistening.
Jasfer watched. Puffed up with pride.
Percy recorded. Honey smiled.
Aries nodded. Ella squeezed his hand.
Keifer reached the podium.
Keifer: "Thank you. This award isn't just mine. It belongs to my mother, Serina Watson, who built this company from nothing. To my future wife, Jay Mariano, who believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. And to our family—chaotic, loud, and absolutely perfect."
The crowd cheered.
Jay's eyes filled with tears.
Keifer found her in the audience. Smiled.
Keifer: "Jayfer forever."
The room melted.
Later—
"Next up, the Young CEO of the Year Award. Nominees include Jay Mariano of J&S Enterprises."
Jay walked to the stage.
Blue gown. Head high. Radiant.
Keifer watched from his seat. Heart full.
Serina watched. Pride radiating.
Jasfer watched. Already crying.
Percy recorded. Honey held his hand.
Aries watched. Ella whispered: "That's your sister."
Aries: "I know."
Ella: "You're proud."
Aries: "I tolerate her."
Ella: "Liar."
Aries: "Maybe."
Jay reached the podium.
Jay: "Thank you. This award represents something bigger than me. It represents family. The family I was born into—Jasfer Mariano, my dad, who taught me to dream. The family I chose—Section E, my chaotic, wonderful friends. And the family I'm building—with Keifer Watson, my future husband, my partner, my everything."
The crowd cheered.
Keifer's heart stopped.
Jay: "Jayfer forever."
She walked off stage. Floating.
Then—
A man approached.
Suit. Smile. Confident.
Man: "Jay Mariano? I'm Marcus Reyes. VP of Reyes Holdings."
Jay: "Nice to meet you."
Marcus: "I couldn't help but notice you up there. You're incredible."
Jay: "Thank you."
Marcus: "I was wondering—are you single?"
Across the room—
Keifer heard.
Every word.
His jaw tightened.
Percy: "OH NO."
Honey: "Oh YES."
Aries: "I'll handle this."
Ella grabbed his arm. "No. Watch."
Serina: "This should be interesting."
Jasfer: "POPCORN! WHERE'S THE POPCORN?"
Percy: "DOCUMENTING!"
Honey: "This is better than TV."
Jay smiled. Polite. Controlled.
Jay: "Single? Me?"
Marcus: "Yes. You're brilliant. Beautiful. Accomplished. I'd love to take you out."
Jay: "That's flattering."
Marcus: "So?"
Jay: "So—no."
Marcus: "No?"
Jay: "I'm taken."
Marcus: "By who?"
Jay: "By him."
She pointed.
Across the room. Keifer. Standing. Watching.
Jay: "Keifer Watson. My future husband. The man I've loved since I was seven. The man who just gave a speech about me. The man who's probably trying very hard not to come over here right now."
Marcus looked at Keifer.
Keifer's expression said everything.
Marcus: "I see."
Jay: "I hope you do."
Marcus: "Good luck to you both."
Jay: "Thank you."
He walked away.
Keifer's family watched the whole thing.
Serina: "That's my daughter-in-law."
Jasfer: "That's my daughter."
Percy: "THAT'S MY BABY SISTAH!"
Honey: "She's amazing."
Aries: "She's scary."
Ella: "She's perfect."
Aries: "Same thing?"
Ella: "Same thing."
Jay walked toward Keifer.
Every step confident. Every step his.
She reached him.
Jay: "Hey."
Keifer: "Hey."
Jay: "You heard?"
Keifer: "Every word."
Jay: "And?"
Keifer: "And I was about to break something."
Jay: "Really?"
Keifer: "Really."
Jay: "Is my hubby jealous?"
Keifer: "Your hubby is proud."
Jay: "Proud?"
Keifer: "Of you. Of us. Of the way you shut him down."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "That's my thing."
Jay: "OUR thing."
Keifer: "Same thing?"
Jay: "Same thing."
She kissed him.
Right there. In front of everyone. Cameras flashing.
Keifer froze for half a second.
Then kissed her back.
The room ERUPTED.
Cameras captured everything.
Serina: "THAT'S MY SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW!"
Jasfer: "THAT'S MY DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW!"
Percy: "DOCUMENTING! FROM THREE ANGLES!"
Honey: "This is going viral."
Aries: "I need to sit down."
Ella: "I need a replay."
Aries: "Same thing?"
Ella: "Same thing."
They pulled apart. Foreheads together.
Jay: "Jayfer forever?"
Keifer: "Jayfer forever."
He kissed her forehead.
The cameras kept flashing.
Neither cared.
Later that night.
Fernandez house. Patio.
Jay: "Tonight was wild."
Keifer: "Tonight was you."
Jay: "Is that good?"
Keifer: "It's everything."
Jay: "Smooth."
Keifer: "Honest."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her.