One Month Later – Manila Grand Hotel
The same ballroom where they won their awards. But tonight was different.
Tonight was JJM Enterprises' anniversary party. Five years since Jay started her company.
The room was transformed. Elegant decorations. Soft lighting. Flowers everywhere. A stage with a big screen showing JJM's journey.
Important people filled the room. Business partners. Investors. Celebrities. Media.
Jay stood backstage. Beautiful red gown. Hair perfect. Nervous.
Keifer stood beside her. Handsome black suit. Calm as always.
"Nervous?" he asked.
Jay nodded. "A little. This is my first big event since everyone knows I'm the founder."
Keifer took her hand. "You'll be amazing. You built this. Own it."
Jay squeezed his hand. "Thank you for being here."
Keifer kissed her forehead. "Where else would I be?"
The ballroom doors opened. Section E walked in.
All dressed up. Ci-N in a suit that was too big. Drew counting chandeliers (betting how much they cost). Mayo and Kit matching as always. Rakki in a beautiful dress. Grace and Denzel with baby Grazel (also dressed up). Calix and Mica holding hands. David calm and observing. Edrix and Rory checking the tech. Eman already looking for food. Eren fixing his hair. Josh quiet but clean. Blaster holding a small drum keychain for luck.
Ci-N's jaw dropped. "This is JAY'S party?!"
Rakki nodded. "Our Jay. Boss Jay."
Drew pulled out money. "I bet the cake costs more than my life."
Mayo pointed. "Look! Pictures of Jay on the screens!"
The screens showed JJM's history. Photos of Jay at meetings. Jay launching products. Jay accepting awards. Young. Powerful. Amazing.
Kit whispered, "Our friend is famous."
Grazel cooed. Like she agreed.
The host walked on stage. "Good evening, everyone! Welcome to JJM Enterprises' fifth anniversary celebration!"
Applause.
"Tonight we celebrate five years of excellence. Five years of innovation. Five years of changing the world."
More applause.
"But most importantly, we celebrate the brilliant mind behind it all. The founder and CEO of JJM Enterprises... Jasper Jean Mariano!"
Spotlights hit the stage.
Jay walked out. Red gown shining. Smile bright. Confident.
The crowd cheered. Section E screamed loudest.
Ci-N yelled, "THAT'S OUR JAY!"
Rakki shushed him. "Let her speak!"
Jay stood at the microphone. Looked at the crowd. Found Keifer's eyes. Smiled.
"Good evening, everyone."
Applause died down.
"Five years ago, I was just a girl with a dream. A girl who wanted to build something. Something that mattered."
She paused.
"I didn't have much. But I had determination. I had my grandparent's love. And I had a fire inside me that wouldn't quit."
Keifer watched. Heart full.
"JJM started in a small room. Just me and a laptop. Now look at us." She gestured around. "Look at this room. Look at these faces. Partners. Friends. Family."
Section E waved.
"I couldn't have done it alone. Thank you to everyone who believed in me. Who supported me. Who helped me grow."
She looked at Keifer.
"And thank you to the person who changed everything. Who saw past the CEO. Past the success. Past the smile. And loved the real me."
Keifer's eyes glistened.
"Happy anniversary, JJM. Here's to five more years. And beyond."
The crowd erupted. Standing ovation.
Section E cried. Jane (on video call) screamed. Families cheered.
Jay bowed. Walked off stage.
Into Keifer's arms.
"You were perfect," he whispered.
Jay smiled. "You're perfect."
Music played. People mingled. Champagne flowed.
Jay worked the room. Shaking hands. Thanking partners. Smiling for photos.
Keifer stayed close. Not interfering. Just supporting. Watching with pride.
Business partners approached.
One older man smiled. "Ms. Mariano! Congratulations! And who is this handsome young man?"
Jay took Keifer's hand. "My fiancé. Mark Keifer Watson. CEO of MKW Corporation."
The man's eyes widened. "MKW?! The tech giant?!"
Keifer nodded. "The same."
Another partner joined. "Wait. You two are engaged? The CEOs of JJM and MKW?!"
Jay smiled. "Yes."
More partners gathered. Shocked. Impressed.
A woman spoke. "This is incredible! Two young geniuses! Together!"
Keifer shook hands. Stayed calm. Professional.
Jay leaned close. "They like you."
Keifer whispered back. "They like you more."
Jay laughed. "Impossible."
Ci-N approached a group. "Hi! I'm best friends with Jay!"
The group smiled politely. "Oh? And what do you do?"
Ci-N thought. "I... fall a lot?"
Rakki pulled him away. "Stop embarrassing us."
Drew found rich people. "Anyone want to bet on something?"
Mayo and Kit found the dessert table. "This is heaven."
Eman critiqued the food. "Good. But I could do better."
David predicted someone would propose at the party. No one did. Yet.
Edrix and Rory found the sound system. "Don't touch it," Jay had warned. They touched it anyway. Fixed it actually.
Grace held Grazel. Business partners cooed at the baby. "So cute!" Grazel grabbed a man's tie.
Eren tried to flirt. Failed. Again.
Josh stood in corner. Smiling. Happy.
Blaster found a piano. Played softly. Beautiful.
Later, Keifer stood on stage. Microphone in hand.
Everyone quieted.
"I'm not good at speeches," he started. "Most of you know Jay. You know her as CEO. As founder. As genius."
He looked at her.
"But I know her differently. I know her as the girl who makes me smile when I forget how. I know her as the woman who fights for everyone she loves. I know her as my best friend. My partner. My home."
Jay's eyes filled with tears.
"JJM is amazing because she's amazing. Every success. Every win. Every milestone. It's all her."
He raised his glass. "To Jay. To JJM. To five years of brilliance. And to forever with the woman who owns my heart."
Everyone raised glasses. "TO JAY!"
Jay walked to stage. Hugged him tight. Kissed him.
Cameras flashed. Section E screamed.
Ci-N sobbed. "THAT'S THE BEST SPEECH EVER!"
Rakki wiped her eyes. "They're everything."
Keifer led Jay to the dance floor. Slow music played.
They danced. Close. Just them.
Jay whispered. "That speech. I'll never forget it."
Keifer whispered back. "I meant every word."
Jay looked at him. "I love you."
Keifer smiled. "I love you more."
They kissed. Soft. Sweet.
Around them, everyone watched. Smiling.
Jane (still on video call) cried. "THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL!"
Percy nodded. "Yeah. They are."
Jasfer put arm around Jeana. "Our princess found her king."
Keizer hugged Serina. "Our son found his queen."
Serina wiped tears. "Perfect match."
Guests left. Ballroom quiet.
Jay sat on stage edge. Took off heels. Sighed happy.
Keifer sat beside her. Hand in hand.
"Tired?" he asked.
Jay nodded. "Happy tired."
Keifer kissed her head. "You were amazing tonight."
Jay leaned on him. "We were amazing."
Grazel crawled over. Grace and Denzel behind her.
Grazel reached for Jay. "Ninang!"
Everyone froze.
Jay gasped. "Did she just—"
Grazel smiled. "NINANG!"
Jay screamed. "SHE SAID IT! SHE SAID MY NAME!"
Grace laughed. "First word! Ninang!"
Keifer's heart melted. "She said Ninang."
Grazel turned to Keifer. "Ninong?"
Keifer's eyes went wide. "Did she—"
Grazel grabbed his finger. "Ninong!"
Mayo screamed. "FIRST WORDS! JAYFER!"
Kit cried. "WE'RE AUNTS AND UNCLES!"
Section E lost their minds.
Jay held Grazel. Tears falling. "You perfect baby. I love you."
Keifer kissed Grazel's head. "Love you too, little one."
Grazel giggled. Happy.
Party over. Guests gone. Just family and Section E left.
Jay sat on Keifer's lap. Tired but happy.
"Best anniversary ever," she whispered.
Keifer nodded. "Best everything with you."
Jay looked at her ring. Then at him.
"Five years of JJM. Forever of us."
Keifer kissed her. "Forever."
Around them, family laughed. Section E joked. Grazel slept.
Perfect ending to perfect night.
--------------------
🚨 🚨 NEW BOOK ALERT 🚨 🚨
Guys, I wrote a new book called when Ceo Meets A Doctor-Jayfer. Pls support me there too. Your support means a lot. Thank you so much!