Doctor Luke's POV
My office was quiet.
Too quiet.
Which meant my brain had time to replay this morning's entertainment.
Keifer's face when I lifted him?
Priceless.
The way he tried not to react?
Adorable.
I leaned back in my chair, spinning it slightly.
"Mark Keifer Watson," I muttered to myself. "Protector. Husband. Dramatic volcano in human form."
I chuckled.
Teasing him was dangerously enjoyable.
There's something about poking a lion with a stick and watching it try to stay dignified.
Knock. Knock.
I stopped spinning.
"Come in," I called casually.
The door opened.
A girl walked in.
Elegant. Cold. Expensive perfume that announced her before her footsteps did.
Two bodyguards followed behind her like matching furniture with guns.
I smiled politely. "How may I help you?"
She didn't sit.
"I need you to help me with something."
"With?" I asked lightly.
She looked directly at me.
"Create a fight between Keifer and Jayjay."
Silence.
Then she added calmly, "I'll give you twenty million dollars."
I blinked once.
Twenty million.
"In dollars?" I asked. "Or emotional damage?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"And why," I continued pleasantly, "would I help you?"
She tilted her head. "Because I said so."
I stared at her for a second.
Then I laughed.
"That's it? That's the pitch? 'Because I said so'?" I leaned forward slightly. "That works on toddlers and underpaid assistants. I'm neither."
One of the bodyguards suddenly stepped forward.
Cold metal pressed against my forehead.
A gun.
I looked up at it.
"Ah," I said calmly. "We've escalated."
The girl's voice remained calm. "You think this is a joke?"
I tapped the barrel gently with my finger. "Please don't smudge it. Very unprofessional."
The bodyguard's grip tightened.
I sighed dramatically. "If you're going to threaten me, at least be creative. Maybe a monologue? A villain speech? I enjoy theatrics."
Her patience thinned.
"If you don't help me," she said softly, "I'll have my men kill your mother."
Everything in the room shifted.
I stopped smiling.
"What do you mean?" I asked quietly.
She smiled now.
"I've had my men watch you for a while. We always see you with your mother. Grocery shopping. Sunday lunches. You're very… devoted."
My hands curled slowly under the desk.
No jokes came out immediately.
That irritated me.
"No," I said. "Please don't hurt her."
Her smile widened.
"That's more like it."
I looked down for a second, pretending to process it.
Twenty million.
Two days.
Mother threatened.
Interesting.
"Okay," I said finally, voice steady. "I'll help you. Just… don't touch her."
She straightened. "You have two days."
I exhaled slowly, then smiled again.
"Two days? That's all? For twenty million and emotional chaos? Efficient."
Her eyebrow twitched.
I continued casually, "Do you want tears? Misunderstandings? Accidental overheard conversations? I have packages."
"Just do it," she snapped.
"Of course," I said politely. "Customer satisfaction is important."
She turned to leave.
The bodyguards lowered the gun but didn't take their eyes off me.
As they reached the door, I called out, "Oh, and next time, maybe try 'please.' It builds character."
The door slammed shut.
Silence returned to the office.
I waited.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Then I leaned back slowly in my chair.
Spun once.
Twice.
Then I laughed.
Soft at first.
Then louder.
"What a fool," I muttered.
My eyes darkened slightly as the chair kept spinning.
You threaten my mother?
I dont even have a mother.
Two days, huh?
I clasped my hands behind my head, staring at the ceiling.
Twenty million dollars.
Create a fight between Keifer and Jay.
How interesting.
Very interesting.
I smiled.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
And the chair kept spinning.
End of Chapter.