Jayson was lost for a minute at her sudden departure but when he went out to follow her, he saw the elevator door closing. Jayson shook his head and chose to ignore it. Women could be unusual when they wanted to be. Maybe she just remembered something.

His phone vibrated in his pocket and he swiped it open to see a message from his sister.

Jayson smiled at Kiara’s antiques. He remembered a miss call from her few days ago but he forgot to call back.

“I am heading out for a few hours. Call me if anything urgent comes up and free my schedule for tomorrow morning if a call comes from Mr. Banks from the jeweler’s showroom.” Jayson said to his secretary as he left the office.

“I will drive out by myself Peter. Thank you” Jayson said he took the car keys from him.

He parked outside the museum where Kate worked and went inside. The receptionist stood up when she saw Jayson walk. She glanced at her reflection on the laptop screen and put on bright smile.

“How may I help you?” She said as she leaned forward, her breasts ready to spill out of her tight work blouse.

Jayson came here often but she seemed like a new employee.

“I am here to meet Kate Anderson.” Jayson said trying to mask his disgust from the way she was literally hanging over the desk. Didn’t the word professional exist in her dictionary?

Kate was heading towards the main exhibition with a few documents in her hand when she realized she needed half of them to be faxed out. She made a beeline for the reception, the nearest fax machine. As she approached the reception, a smile lit up her face when she saw Jay standing at there. It had been a hectic day and she was glad to see him but the smile turned into a scowl when she noticed the new receptionist openly flirting with her man and Jay had a disgusted expression his face. She quickened the steps and she saw the relief wash over his features when he spotted her.

The receptionist wanted to throw something at Kate but she almost choked when she saw the gorgeous man hug her and kiss her forehead tenderly. Ah well, worth a try.

“Hey love. How was your day?”

“Very busy, I feel so tired.” Kate replied as they moved to one side away from the reception area.

“I was heading over my parents’ place for lunch. I dropped by to ask if you wanted to come.”

“I am so sorry. I still have to fax these out and the samples are coming in for the main exhibition. We still have to finalize those.” Kate said. She leaned up on her toes and kissed his cheek.

“It is your lunch hour Kate. At least eat something”

“I will.”

“I know you won’t” Jayson said he took her hand and lead her towards the small restaurant next to the museum. Kate just laughed as she followed him.

They were almost done with lunch when his phone vibrated again.

Jayson pursed his lips at Kiara’s message.

They finished up and he paid the bill and they went back to the museum.

“Thank you for the mini lunch date” Kate said as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Jayson pulled her close and hugged her petite frame to his side.

“I don’t like you working so hard like this. Don’t they have people to fax out documents and other such tasks?”

“Jay… I want to work my way up” Kate said as she placed her hand on his chest. He had suggested using his contacts to get her a better position but she didn’t like that idea and Jay respected her for that but still he didn’t like her running around in her lunch break.

“I know babe. I will see you tonight. I have to go now.” Jayson gave her quick passionate kiss and walked towards his car. Kate smiled as she watched his car disappear amongst the traffic.

Now as for the new receptionist, that slutty woman needed a lesson and cupboard full of unfiled documents would do the trick. Kate smirked as she headed back inside.

Jayson parked in the driveway and went to the backyard where his father was sitting and reading a book. On his way here he decided his family about his decision to propose to Kate.

"Hey dad!"

Marc looked up from the book he was reading to see his son walking towards him to where he sat in the backyard.

"Finally decided to visit your old man huh?" Marc said as he set the book aside.

Jay sat down opposite to him.

"Come on! You are not old...yet" Jay said trying to control his laughter.

"You are twenty six and have taken over the business. What does that make me?"

"It makes you a very lucky man to retire at the age of forty four."

Marc grumbled in response.

“Dad..” Jay was suddenly cut off by a loud crash from the house followed by screaming.

“What the hell” Jayson muttered as he followed his father towards the house. Jayson entered the kitchen and it looked like it snowed in there. His sister and mother were covered in flour and laughing their heads off. His father helped his mother up and helped her dust off the flour. Jayson smiled at the love that was still so strong amongst their parents even after all these years.

“You!” Kiara said as she stabbed her finger in his chest and winced. It was a bad move and pain shot up her finger.

“Stupid rock” Kiara muttered and Jayson laugh out loud. They all settled down on the dining table for lunch.

“What were you and mom doing with the flour?” Jay asked as he helped himself with pasta.

“Mom was trying to teach me how to bake a cake but we failed miserably. I was telling mom about my college and how it is soooooo different from high school and I don’t like how they decorated my apartment…….”

“Okay! Stop! I get it! And there is still flour on you face” Jay said as he chucked a breadstick at his sister and Kiara stuck out her tongue at him.

“Stop it you both.” Rabia said and both of them looked at their mother.

“What? Just because I can’t see, doesn’t mean I don’t know what you both are up to. Stop playing with your food.”

Marc chuckled and earned a glare from Rabia.

“You spoil them!” Rabia accused Marc

“What did I do?” Marc protested.

“I am going to propose to Kate” Jay dropped the news.

“Way to break the news bro!”

“What?” Rabia asked not sure whether she heard her son right.

Marc just gave the “I knew it” look to his son.

“I said I am going to propose to Kate”

“Oh Jayson! I am so happy for you! Kate is such a charming young lady!” Rabia said as she got up and went to hug Jay.

“Thank you, mom.” Jay said.

“What have you planned for the proposal?” Kiara asked.

“I don’t know yet. I am nervous.”

“Don’t be nervous son. It will all work out. Just make it a proposal to remember so that you both will cherish it for a lifetime” Marc said as he grabbed Rabia’s hand under the table and squeezed it. Rabia blushed at Marc’s gesture.

Jayson’s phone rang.

“Excuse me” Jay said as he stepped aside to answer the phone.

“Now you answer that damn thing” Kiara muttered earning a glare from Jayson

“Hello Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Tribianni said he is in town for some business and he would like to stop by for the marble deal that you discussed previously. “ his secretary informed him.

“Yes tell him I will meet him in an hour.”

“Okay Sir. I will make a quick reservation at the restaurant where you usually hold meeting”

Jayson groaned. He was about to burst. He had lunch with Kate and now with his parents but this deal was important. Their company was getting good quality Italian marble at fewer rates for the renovations of several hotels.

“Okay done.” Jayson said an hung up

“I got to go. There is this deal that needs to be finalized.” He said to his family as he grabbed his suit jacket from the chair.

“The one with that Italian marble company?” Marc asked as he helped Rabia towards the living room.

“Yes. Their CEO is in New York”

“Hey drop me over at Stella’s. I heard she was back from Milan and I messaged her and she said she came back yesterday only.” Kiara said.

“Hurry up” Jayson said as he headed towards the door. His mother leaned up and kissed his cheek.

“Take care Jay. I pray that everything works out well for you and Kate. You both have suffered enough in the past.”

“All is good mom.” Jayson said as he hugged his mom back.

“Kiara hurry the hell up” Jayson hollered and earned a slap on his back from his father.

“Not a way to speak to a lady, especially your sister”

Rabia laughed as Kiara came down and stuck her tongue out at him and marched right past.

“And that is how a lady behaves?” Jayson said and followed her out as his father muttered something about raising hooligans.

Jayson drove her over to Stella’s place and parked outside her house.

“You are not coming in?” Kiara asked as she got out the car

Jayson was about to tell her of Stella’s visit and decided against it. It didn’t matter.

“No I am late for the meeting. Take care” Jayson said as Kiara shut the door and he drove away.

Stella stormed into her father’s study.

“FATHER! WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME KATE AND JAYSON WERE BACK TOGETHER!?” Stella yelled at she threw her handbag on the couch.

“Watch your tone young lady” Andrew said as he watched the tear streaked face of his daughter. He couldn’t believe she was still not over her childish obsession with Jayson Reynolds. He had taken her side for the sake of his love for her as his only child previously when he had told Kate to leave NYC but it had bad consequences. He lost Marc Reynolds as his business associate and a friend and because of that his own business suffered and now Marc’s son Jayson was in charge and even he refused to work things out. He tried to keep Stella away from it and let Kate and Jayson go on with their life but from the looks of it his daughter wasn’t going to back out.

“JAYSON IS MINE” Stella growled.

“Listen to me Stella Marie Campbell. I will no longer tolerate your childish demands. Jayson is in a serious relation with Kate, who is your cousin. So you should respect that and move on. This obsession you have is not healthy. Moreover your mother will be furious. You very well remember that she still hasn’t forgiven me for the previous stunt we pulled with Kate.”

Stella was about to yell about him siding with that stupid stammering bitch but her phone pinged with a message and she pulled it out.

“

Stella smiled when she saw the message, an idea forming in her head.

“I have to go” Stella said to her father as she typed back a reply to Kiara asking her that she would love to meet up and she was at home.

“Game on people” Stella muttered as she hit the send button.