Chapter: The Day Keifer Got Sick
Nobody expected Keifer Watson to get sick.
Not Jay.
Not Ryan.
Not even Keifer himself.
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It started during a morning meeting.
Jay was presenting their latest project updates when she noticed something strange.
Keifer was quiet.
Very quiet.
Suspiciously quiet.
Normally, he'd interrupt at least three times with a joke.
Today?
Nothing.
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Jay narrowed her eyes.
"Keifer."
"Hm?"
"You okay?"
"Yep."
His voice sounded rough.
Jay immediately didn't believe him.
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Ryan looked over.
"Oh my God."
"What?" Keifer asked.
"You're sick."
"I'm not sick."
"You sound like you swallowed sandpaper."
"I'm fine."
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Two minutes later, Keifer sneezed.
The entire room went silent.
Ryan slowly pointed.
"Evidence."
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"I hate all of you."
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The Collapse of Professional Keifer
By lunchtime, things had gotten worse.
Keifer was pale.
His eyes looked tired.
And he was somehow even more dramatic than usual.
Which was saying something.
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Jay found him sitting alone in a conference room.
He had a coffee in one hand and a stack of reports in the other.
"Absolutely not."
Keifer looked up.
"What?"
"You look terrible."
"Thanks."
"It wasn't a compliment."
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He tried to stand.
Immediately sat back down.
Jay crossed her arms.
"You are going home."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Keifer."
"I'm working."
"You can barely stay awake."
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Ryan appeared in the doorway.
Took one look at Keifer.
Then immediately turned around.
"Nope."
"What?" Jay called.
Ryan pointed.
"He's got the look."
"The look?"
"The sick rich-boy look."
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Keifer glared weakly.
Ryan continued.
"The one where they think they're invincible until they pass out."
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Intervention
An hour later, Jay had somehow managed to drag Keifer back to his suite.
Mostly by threatening him.
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"You didn't have to do this," Keifer mumbled.
"Yes, I did."
"You have work."
"So do you."
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Jay handed him water.
He accepted it reluctantly.
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Then she felt his forehead.
His eyes widened.
"Jay."
"What?"
"You just checked my temperature."
"And?"
"I feel like I'm five years old."
"Good."
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Keifer groaned dramatically.
"This is humiliating."
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The Caretaking Begins
The next few hours were spent with Jay trying to make sure Keifer rested.
And Keifer trying to convince her he didn't need rest.
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He lost.
Repeatedly.
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At one point, she caught him opening his laptop.
"No."
"I just need to answer one email."
"No."
"Half an email?"
"No."
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She took the laptop.
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"You are very bossy."
"You are very stubborn."
"Fair."
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Ryan Visits
That evening Ryan showed up carrying snacks.
He walked into the room.
Saw Keifer wrapped in a blanket.
Saw Jay organizing medicine.
Immediately took out his phone.
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"No."
Ryan grinned.
"Too late."
Click.
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"Delete that."
"Never."
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The photo was sent to the group chat within seconds.
Caption:
Corporate prince defeated by common cold.
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Alexa replied:
Incredible.
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Keifer looked offended.
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A Quiet Moment
Eventually Ryan left.
The room became quiet.
The city lights glowed beyond the windows.
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Jay sat in a chair nearby reading project notes.
Keifer looked over.
"You stayed all day."
She didn't look up.
"You would've done the same."
"Yeah."
He smiled softly.
"Probably."
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For a while neither spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward.
Just comfortable.
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Finally Keifer broke it.
"Jay?"
"Hm?"
"Thanks."
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She looked up.
His voice was sincere.
No teasing.
No jokes.
Just honest gratitude.
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Jay smiled.
"Aren't you supposed to be resting?"
"Probably."
"Then stop talking."
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He laughed weakly.
"Bossy."
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A few minutes later, Jay glanced over.
Keifer had fallen asleep.
The reports were forgotten.
The laptop was closed.
For once, he wasn't trying to carry the entire world.
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Jay shook her head fondly.
Then pulled a blanket higher over him.
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"Idiot," she whispered.
But she was smiling when she said it.
And somehow, even asleep, Keifer smiled too.
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Outside, the internship competition continued.
The pressure continued.
The chaos continued.
But for one evening, none of that mattered.
Because sometimes taking care of someone was its own kind of victory. ❤️
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Next chapter ideas:
* 🏆 The competition finals arrive
* 😳 Keifer learns Jay stayed up all night helping him
* 🎂 Jay's birthday surprise
* 💥 A rival team tries to sabotage their project
* ✈️ The team goes on a company retreat together