The days after the date returned to normal.
The kind of normal that felt peaceful.
We went to the office, did our work, came home, had dinner, and spent quiet nights together.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing chaotic.
Just us.
And I loved it.
I loved the peace.
I loved the comfort.
I loved the feeling of being safe.
I felt like I finally belonged.
But that peace was about to be tested.
It started like any other day.
Keifer and I reached the office.
He walked ahead, confident, powerful.
I followed him, calm and quiet.
The morning was normal.
We had meetings.
We had calls.
We had the usual routine.
But around mid-afternoon, I noticed a group of girls whispering near the entrance of the main office.
I tried to ignore it.
I didn't want to get involved.
I didn't want to make a scene.
But I could feel their eyes.
And then I heard it.
A voice.
A sharp, mocking voice.
"Look who it is."
I turned.
And I saw her.
A female employee I had seen before.
She was always dressed perfectly.
Always with a smile.
Always surrounded by people.
She was the kind of woman who seemed harmless.
But I had a bad feeling about her.
She looked at me with a smirk.
Then she walked closer.
She stopped in front of me.
She leaned in like she was going to say something sweet.
But her voice was cold.
"Jay," she said loudly, like she was announcing me to the entire office.
I swallowed.
"What do you want?" I asked calmly.
She laughed softly.
"Oh, nothing," she said. "Just wanted to say… you're not capable of being with Keifer."
My heart sank.
I felt my face heat up.
I opened my mouth to reply, but she continued.
"I mean, look at you," she said, voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "You're just his assistant. You don't deserve him."
I felt the sting of her words.
The humiliation.
The anger.
I wanted to leave.
I wanted to run.
But I stayed.
Because I didn't want to give her the satisfaction.
She stepped closer.
"You should just leave," she said. "You're ruining his image."
My eyes filled.
I tried to stay calm.
But her words kept stabbing me.
"You don't know him," I whispered.
She laughed.
"Oh, I know him," she said. "I love him. And you… you should just get out of his life."
That was it.
That was the moment I couldn't stay quiet anymore.
I was about to respond when I heard a deep voice behind me.
"Is there a problem?"
I turned.
Keifer was standing there.
His face was calm.
But I could feel the tension.
His eyes were dark.
He looked at the girl like he was about to explode.
She looked at him, smiling.
"Oh, Keifer," she said. "I was just telling Jay the truth."
He didn't move.
He just stared at her.
His eyes were cold.
I could feel the air around us becoming heavy.
I didn't know what he was thinking.
But I could feel the danger.
He stepped closer.
His voice was low.
"Say that again," he said.
The girl's smile faltered.
She didn't expect that tone.
She looked at him, confused.
"I… I was just saying…" she started.
Keifer's eyes narrowed.
His voice turned sharp.
"I don't want to hear it again," he said. "Not from you. Not from anyone."
My heart was beating fast.
I could feel the fear.
This wasn't the calm, controlled Keifer I knew.
This was a side of him I had never seen before.
He was in extreme temper.
His voice was louder now.
The people around us were silent.
They were watching.
They were afraid.
The girl tried to speak again, but Keifer cut her off.
"Don't you dare insult her," he said. "Don't you dare disrespect her in front of me."
His voice echoed through the office.
Everyone was silent.
I could feel my eyes filling again.
I didn't know what to do.
I just stood there, trembling.
Keifer turned to me.
His expression changed instantly.
His eyes softened.
He looked at me like I was the only person in the world.
He pulled me close.
He hugged me tightly.
I could feel his heartbeat.
Strong.
Steady.
He whispered in my ear.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded, unable to speak.
He held me tighter.
Then he turned back to the girl.
His voice was cold again.
"You will not disrespect her again," he said. "Do you understand?"
The girl nodded quickly, scared.
Keifer continued.
"She is not just my assistant," he said loudly. "She is my partner."
Everyone looked shocked.
He took a deep breath.
"And I want everyone to understand," he said. "Jay is not just an employee. She is my wife."
The room went silent.
I froze.
My heart stopped.
My eyes widened.
His voice continued, stronger than ever.
"She is Mrs. Watson," he said.
I could feel my body trembling.
I didn't know what to do.
I didn't know what to say.
The girl looked terrified.
She nodded quickly.
"Okay," she whispered. "I'm sorry."
Keifer didn't move.
He just stared at her.
Then he turned to the office.
"Everyone," he said. "Listen carefully."
The entire room was quiet.
He looked at each person.
"If anyone ever crosses the line with her again, you will answer to me," he said. "And I don't want to repeat myself."
His voice was powerful.
His tone was serious.
He was not joking.
Everyone understood.
They nodded silently.
Keifer then turned to me again.
He held my face gently.
His eyes were soft.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that," he whispered.
I shook my head.
"It's not your fault," I said.
He smiled softly.
"I couldn't stand it," he whispered. "Not when someone tries to hurt you."
He kissed my forehead.
Then he led me to his office.
The room was quiet.
He closed the door behind us.
He sat me down on the couch.
He sat beside me.
He looked at me like he wanted to say something.
Then he said, "You don't have to worry about them."
I looked at him.
"Why?" I asked.
He smiled.
"Because I'm here," he said. "And I will always protect you."
I felt my eyes fill again.
I leaned on him.
He wrapped his arms around me.
And I knew, in that moment, that no matter what happened, he would always be mine.
And I would always be his.