Jade stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, carefully applying the finishing touches to her makeup. Tonight was her much-anticipated night out with Mia, and she’d gone all out—her fitted black dress hugged her curves perfectly, and her silver heels sparkled whenever they caught the light. She smiled at her reflection, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
She heard the sound of the front door opening and the familiar deep voices of Milan, Enzo, and Thiago filling the house. They were home earlier than she expected, and she figured they must have wrapped up their meetings sooner than planned.
“Jade!” Thiago’s voice called up the stairs, cheerful and loud.
She rolled her eyes fondly, grabbing her clutch and stepping out of the bedroom. “What is it? I’m trying to get ready!”
“Just come down here,” Enzo added, his tone amused but insistent.
Curiosity piqued, Jade made her way down the sweeping staircase. She found the three men standing in the living room, their expressions smug and barely-contained, as though they were hiding something. Milan was holding a small box wrapped in a soft blanket, and Enzo’s dark eyes sparkled with mischief.
“What’s going on?” Jade asked, narrowing her eyes as she approached them.
Thiago grinned, stepping aside to reveal the box Milan held. “We’ve got a surprise for you.”
Jade’s brows furrowed, her curiosity growing. “What kind of surprise?”
Without a word, Milan carefully tilted the box toward her, pulling back the blanket to reveal a tiny kitten nestled inside. Its soft, gray fur was accented by white patches on its paws and chest, and its big green eyes blinked up at her sleepily.
Jade gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. “Oh my god! Is that…?”
“A kitten,” Enzo finished for her, smirking. “For you.”
She stared at the kitten, her heart melting. “You got me a kitten?” Her voice was a mixture of disbelief and delight.
“You’ve been through a lot lately,” Milan said, his voice calm but warm. “We thought you could use a little company when we’re not around.”
Jade reached out carefully, scooping the tiny creature into her hands. It was so small and warm, its tiny body fitting perfectly in her palms. The kitten mewed softly, nuzzling against her fingers.
“I can’t believe this,” Jade said, her voice thick with emotion. “It’s adorable.”
Thiago chuckled, leaning against the back of the couch. “Adorable, yes. But it’s also trouble. So don’t let that cute face fool you.”
Jade laughed, holding the kitten close to her chest. “Trouble or not, I love it already.”
“What are you going to name it?” Enzo asked, crossing his arms and tilting his head curiously.
Jade thought for a moment, stroking the kitten’s soft fur. “Hmm… How about Luna? She looks like a little moonbeam.”
Milan nodded approvingly. “Luna it is, then.”
Jade beamed, cradling Luna as the kitten purred softly against her chest. “Thank you. Really. This is the best surprise ever.”
Thiago grinned. “We knew you’d like it. But there’s one condition.”
Jade raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What’s that?”
“You’re on litter box duty,” Thiago said, earning a laugh from everyone in the room.
“Fair enough,” Jade replied, still smiling. “I think I can handle that.”