The hotel lobby was busy that afternoon.
Guests walked in and out, the receptionist answered phones, and quiet music played in the background.
At one of the lounge tables near the window sat Jay, Keifer, Percy, Aries, Jane, Keigan, and Keiren.
They were supposed to be planning.
But Percy and Keigan had already turned it into chaos.
"Okay," Percy said, pointing at the laptop. "The guy was standing right here outside the hotel last night."
Keigan leaned closer. "Which means he's still around."
Keiren nodded. "Probably watching."
Jay sighed and leaned back in her chair.
"Can we not talk about creepy stalkers for five minutes?"
Jane laughed. "You're the one with the stalker, Sugar."
Jay rolled her eyes.
Across the table, Keifer was scrolling through something on his phone. Calm. Focused.
Golden boy lawyer as usual.
And apparently… recognizable.
A woman suddenly approached their table.
She was dressed sharply, holding a microphone and a small camera bag.
She looked directly at Keifer and smiled brightly.
"Excuse me," she said. "Are you Mark Keifer Watson?"
Keifer looked up slightly surprised.
"…Yes?"
The woman's smile widened.
"I'm a reporter," she said. "I've been covering your recent court cases. You're kind of famous right now."
Percy leaned back in his chair, already amused.
"Kind of?" he muttered.
Keigan grinned. "Golden boy."
The reporter stepped a little closer to Keifer.
"Well," she said lightly, "it's rare to see such a talented lawyer this young."
Jay quietly picked up her drink and sipped it.
She was not looking at them.
She definitely wasn't listening.
Not at all.
The reporter leaned her elbow lightly on the table, smiling at Keifer.
"I was actually hoping to ask you a few questions."
Keifer nodded politely.
"Sure."
Jay stared straight ahead.
The reporter laughed softly.
"I heard you also played professional-level basketball in college."
Keifer shrugged slightly. "Something like that."
"That's impressive," the reporter said.
Then her hand brushed against Keifer's arm.
Jay's eye twitched.
Across the table, Percy immediately noticed.
His grin grew wider.
Keigan leaned toward Keiren and whispered loudly:
"Three… two… one…"
Jay suddenly stood up.
"Actually," she said sharply, stepping between them, "he's busy."
The reporter blinked in surprise.
"Oh, I just needed a minute—"
Jay crossed her arms.
"Not today."
The reporter looked her up and down.
"And you are?"
Jay smiled coldly.
"Someone who doesn't flirt with people who are clearly not interested."
The reporter scoffed.
"He didn't say that."
Keifer raised an eyebrow but stayed quiet.
He was very interested in where this was going.
Percy and Keigan Lose It
Percy leaned back laughing.
"Oh this is happening."
Keigan pointed dramatically.
"Ate Jay looks jealous again!"
Keiren nodded.
"Very jealous."
Jay shot them a death glare.
"Shut up."
The reporter smirked.
"Oh… you're jealous."
Jay laughed once.
"Jealous? Of you?"
The reporter shrugged.
"Well you're acting like his girlfriend."
Jay's smile disappeared.
"Maybe because you're acting like you don't understand boundaries."
The reporter rolled her eyes.
"It was harmless flirting."
Jay stepped closer.
"You touched him."
The reporter scoffed again.
"So what?"
The reporter stepped forward.
"You don't own him."
Jay tilted her head slightly.
"No," she said calmly.
"I don't."
Then she added quietly:
"But you're still annoying."
The reporter laughed mockingly.
"Oh please. Who do you think you—"
SMACK.
Jay's fist connected straight with the reporter's face.
The woman stumbled backward in shock.
The entire lobby went silent.
Even Percy froze.
Keigan's mouth dropped open.
Jay stood there calmly, adjusting her sleeve like nothing happened.
The reporter held her nose in disbelief.
"YOU HIT ME!"
Jay shrugged.
"You were asking for it."
Then she leaned slightly closer and said in a cool voice:
"Next time, flirt with someone who actually wants your attention."
Security started moving toward them quickly.
The reporter was yelling now.
Percy whispered to Aries:
"…That was kind of hot."
Aries nodded slowly.
"Very."
Keigan whispered loudly:
"Ate Jay just knocked her out."
Keiren laughed.
But Keifer…
Keifer was staring at Jay with the most amused expression anyone had ever seen on him.
Jay turned toward him.
"What?"
Keifer leaned back in his chair and smirked.
"You said you didn't like me."
Jay crossed her arms.
"I don't."
Keifer grinned wider.
"Sure."