CHAPTER 29: Full Circle
Jay's POV
Being CEO of Mariano Enterprises wasn't something I ever imagined when I was younger, but here I am — handling departments, decisions, problems, people. Every day felt like a test I couldn't afford to fail.
Today, though… something was different.
I sat in the conference room as the board brought in the final list of potential partners for our expansion. Important names. Big companies. High stakes.
Mr. Rivera placed a thick folder in front of me.
"Ms. Mariano, this one is our strongest candidate. They've already sent an offer."
I opened it casually — and my chest tightened.
WATSON ENTERPRISE.
I blinked, forcing myself to keep a straight face.
Of course it had to be them.
Out of every company in the country, it had to be Watson.
It's not him. Stop being dramatic.
The world is huge.
He's probably in another state.
Another country.
Another life.
I swallowed and continued flipping the pages.
"This offer is… impressive," I said, because it was. "They want a direct meeting?"
"Yes," Mr. Rivera nodded. "Their CEO is willing to fly here personally. They want you specifically."
Me specifically.
Weird.
Odd.
But fine.
"Alright," I said, shutting the folder carefully. "Schedule the meeting for tomorrow morning."
"Right away, Ms. Mariano."
When the room emptied, I leaned back in the chair and inhaled slowly.
Watson Enterprise…
Could it be him?
No.
Not possible.
Why would he contact me?
Why now?
Why after all these years?
I shoved the thought down.
This wasn't about him.
This was business.
Strictly business.
Or at least… that's what I told myself.
Keifer's POV
I had been waiting for this moment for years.
People thought I sent Mariano Enterprises an offer because it was good business.
Wrong.
I sent that offer because I finally broke.
Because I finally admitted the truth I'd been running from:
I can't live another year pretending she's not the only person my heart ever chose.
I knew exactly who the CEO was.
I knew the day she got the position.
I knew the day she moved to New York.
I knew everything the public records allowed me to know.
Not because I was stalking — but because avoiding her existence hurt more than seeing her succeed without me.
I sent the partnership offer the second I realized she'd have to look at it.
That she'd have to say my company's name out loud.
That she'd have to see me again eventually.
And she accepted.
She actually accepted.
Daniel stepped into my office.
"Sir… Mariano Enterprises confirmed. The meeting is tomorrow morning."
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow I would see her after all these years.
Not as a boy terrified of ruining things.
Not as a coward who walked out of a hospital.
Not as the guy who broke the girl he loved.
But as Keifer Watson.
CEO.
Grown.
Stable.
Ready.
I closed the file and stood.
"I want the jet ready by 7 a.m.," I said quietly.
Daniel nodded. "Understood, sir."
When he left, I let out a breath I'd been holding for five years.
She doesn't know it's me yet.
She probably thinks it's anyone else.
Good.
Let it stay that way — until she sees me walk through that door.
She rebuilt her world.
And I built an empire.
But I can't take another step forward knowing she exists somewhere without knowing I tried — really tried — to get her back.
Business meeting?
Sure.
But for me?
It's the beginning of getting the one person back that I never should've lost.
And tomorrow…
She'll know.