✧ Keifer ✧
"Say it again."
Keigan doesn't even look surprised.
"The photos are trending," he says calmly, scrolling through his phone.
"Media picked them up faster than expected."
My jaw tightens.
"Who approved it?"
A pause.
Then—
"I did."
Silence.
The room feels colder.
"You used my name," I say slowly.
"I used your image," Keigan corrects.
"There's a difference."
I let out a quiet breath.
Wrong move.
Very wrong move.
"Take it down."
"No."
I look at him.
For the first time—
really look at him.
"Fix it," I repeat.
Keigan finally meets my eyes.
"And ruin everything we've built?"
My grip tightens.
"You call this building something?"
"It's control," he says simply.
Control.
Of course.
Everything with him is about control.
"She's part of the deal," Keigan adds, casually.
Ion.
I scoff lightly.
"She's part of your plan," I correct.
"Not mine."
Keigan raises a brow.
"You're involved whether you like it or not."
I step closer.
"And if I don't play along?"
A small pause.
Then—
"Then you lose more than just business."
There it is.
The threat.
Quiet.
Clean.
Expected.
I don't react.
I've learned not to.
But inside—
something shifts.
Because this time—
it's not just about business.
It's about her.
Jay.
The image flashes in my mind—
Her smile.
Her voice.
And then—
that photo.
What she must have seen.
What she must be thinking.
My chest tightens.
"She thinks it's real."
The words slip out before I can stop them.
Keigan tilts his head slightly.
"Does it matter?"
Yes.
It does.
More than it should.
I exhale slowly.
"You should've told me."
"You wouldn't have agreed."
He's right.
I wouldn't have.
"That's exactly why," he adds.
Silence.
Heavy.
Controlled.
I look away for a second.
Thinking.
Not about the deal.
Not about the company.
Just—
her.
"…Fix the narrative," I say finally.
Keigan studies me.
"Interesting," he murmurs.
"You're choosing carefully."
"I'm choosing correctly."
A small smile appears on his face.
Dangerous.
"Careful, Keifer," he says.
"Personal feelings tend to ruin good decisions."
I don't respond.
Because this time—
I don't care.
I grab my coat.
"Where are you going?" he asks.
I pause at the door.
Then—
"I'm done staying here."
A beat.
Then I add—
"…I have something to fix."
And for the first time—
it's not about business.
✨ END OF CHAPTER