Chapter 41: Croatia… And A Crisis
Jay's POV
I knew something was off the moment the plane landed.
Maybe it was the weirdly suspicious smile plastered on Alex's face… like he just committed a federal crime, won the lottery, and fell in love in the span of five minutes.
Actually, knowing Alex, that last one might be true.
We got out of the airport and—BOOM—Croatia. White beaches, clear blue water, pretty people, pretty buildings. Meanwhile I looked like I escaped a business meeting, a breakdown, and a tornado all in the same day.
Jay's vacation aesthetic: haunted corporate survivor.
Great.
Alex whirled around. "Boss! Isn't it gorgeous?!"
Me: "It's… bright."
Alex: "You need vitamin D."
Me: "I need sleep."
He rolled his eyes like a disappointed mother and dragged both our suitcases like some rom-com protagonist.
Suspicious. Suspicious. Suspicious.
Two weeks of flowers, sticky notes, and emotional whiplash and NOW a sudden vacation?
Alex was definitely hiding something.
He practically skipped into the hotel lobby (I swear, SKIPPED) while I dragged behind him like a traumatized snail.
And then—
Then I saw her.
Honey.
Keifer's terrifyingly perfect assistant.
Pretty. Confident. With notebook in hand and wearing glasses that said "I will ruin your life politely."
She turned when she heard Alex's voice.
Her: "Oh. Hi… again."
Alex froze like his soul left his body.
Alex: "Oh. Uh. Hi. I— I— uhm— luggage?"
Honey raised an eyebrow. "You already have luggage."
Alex: "Right. Yes. I do. Because. I brought it. From Bangladesh."
Me internally: My God… they're both idiots.
Honey came toward us, heels clicking like judgment.
Honey: "Ms. Mariano. I didn't expect to see you here."
Me: "Same. Actually… why are you here?"
Honey blinked. Looked away. Looked back.
Something was definitely off.
Honey: "Business errand."
Lie.
She said it too fast.
Too smooth.
Too "Keifer definitely sent her to spy on me."
Before I could expose her, my phone buzzed.
Unknown Number:
"Welcome to Croatia, Jay."
– K
I nearly threw the phone into the sea.
---
Later – Hotel Room
I opened the door and screamed.
Because sitting on the table were—
Pink tulips.
Again.
With a sticky note taped like it was 2017 and he was still the boy writing little messages to me between classes.
"Rest well.
Don't overthink.
You're safe here.
– K"
I threw myself face-first onto the bed.
"Overthink? OVERTHINK?" I yelled into the pillow. "That's my entire personality!"
Alex came in behind me.
Alex: "Boss—"
Me: "Not now, I'm mourning my peace."
Alex hesitated. Then:
Alex: "…Do you think Honey likes green or blue better?"
I lifted my head slowly.
Me: "Alex. Sweetie. This is not the time to ask about your crush—"
Alex: "CRUSH?? I don't have a crush. She hates me. I hate her. We hate each other. Mutual hatred. Very professional hatred."
Me: "Sure. Did she look at you today?"
Alex: "…Yes."
Me: "Did you look at her?"
Alex: "…Yes."
Me: "Shut up. You like her."
He groaned like I kicked him.
---
Keifer's POV – Same Time
She's here.
Jay.
In Croatia.
Walking on the same beach I'm standing on, a few meters away, looking like she's seconds away from running back to the airport. Her hair tied up messily, sunglasses almost falling off.
She didn't know I was here yet.
And I didn't plan the timing—it was supposed to be later, with dinner, flowers, something gentle.
But seeing her now…
My heart didn't get the memo.
Honey walked up beside me. "Sir?"
"Don't call me sir."
She sighed. "Keifer, you asked me to make sure everything goes smoothly. She arrived early."
My eyes didn't leave Jay.
"I know."
Honey paused. "She looks scared."
"She is," I whispered. "She has every right to be."
Honey didn't respond. She just stood next to me, watching Jay walk barefoot in the sand.
"She's not ready," I added, voice low.
Honey nodded. "Then wait."
"I will."
But my chest still ached because waiting for someone you hurt…
That's the hardest kind of waiting.
---
Jay's POV – Beach
I needed air.
And space.
And possibly a new identity.
So I walked along the beach, trying not to cry, trying not to think, trying not to do anything except exist.
Cold wind. Warm sand. Waves. And me, overthinking like an Olympic sport.
Then—
I felt it.
That weird, unmistakable pressure.
Like someone was watching me.
I turned my head—
And froze.
Heart stopped.
Breathing stopped.
Everything stopped.
Because there he was.
Keifer.
Standing near the rocks.
Hands in pockets.
Sun behind him.
Eyes on me.
Not approaching.
Just watching.
Waiting.
My stomach dropped.
My brain exploded.
My heart did something stupid.
And then—
--