Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles, Mediterranean villa ~

October 3, 8:24 AM

JoAnna woke up and stretched lazily in the bed. Jeff is not by her side. Her guess is that he woke up and is working secretly. She wanted to find him and give him a scolding because technically, they are still on their honeymoon. Why is he sneaking out to work? But after she spent most of the day yesterday in LA Medical Center, she feels that she does not have the right to talk about working less.

JoAnna thought about previous day…

Surgery went well. She is proud of how she completed her part. JoAnna\'s only hope is that healing goes well, and Charlie gets back to his feet. When that happens, it will serve as a badge of honor to her, especially because so many other surgeons told him that he has no chances to walk again. 

JoAnna remembered that during dinner, Sarah and Aiden enthusiastically asked silly questions like: \'Will Charlie be able to jump two stories high with his new legs? Are there any secret weapons hidden inside?\' Really… those two need to stop playing games. Their imagination is running wilder by the day. And she didn\'t expect to see Felix deep in thoughts after hearing those questions.

As soon as they returned from their honeymoon, Jeff and JoAnna found out what Madison did, and how that triggered the chain reaction with their parents. It is scary what those four can do when they work together.

Last night JoAnna confirmed her guess: Sarah and Aiden went to Austin to finish off the culprits. JoAnna is happy that Sarah and Aiden came out of it unharmed, and she noticed changes in their behavior. Two of them are much clingier to each other, if that is even possible. But she is happy for them. It\'s good that those people didn\'t get their way.

JoAnna was shocked when after dinner, Jeff told her about underground fighting clubs and that Sarah is officially some kind of a champion there. Well, good thing is that when she needs to vent some anger, she can go there and beat up people. Since ranking is specific to the club, and she is a champion in only one, Sarah has several other clubs where she can go and fight her way up the ranks. She always liked to win.

Everyone was eager to hear about their pirate adventure. 

JoAnna smiled when she remembered sparkles in Felix\'s eyes at the mention of jewels that he will receive soon. Courtesy of Mexican pirates.

Sarah was happy to hear that JoAnna likes private island where Aiden proposed. Both of them agreed that gazebo is the best feature of the island, and the poolside bar, and the glowing beach...

JoAnna remembered that Sarah told her how Jasper asked about Ellie\'s previous relationships and called her difficult. What was that about? Knowing how Ellie runs away from guys who are interested in her romantically, JoAnna decided to call her.

"Hey, you are back?", Ellie cheerfully asked JoAnna when she picked up the call.

"Yes. Back. Are you busy?"

"No. It\'s around ten thirty here…" Ellie pointed out two hours difference between Chicago and Los Angeles. "I\'m in the cab going to my design studio. Tell me."

"I was about to ask you… how are things with Jasper?"

JoAnna wants to hear what is going on because she knows that Ellie likes Jasper, even if Ellie does not know it. Based on what Sarah told her, JoAnna concluded that Jasper is doing the right things by being patient… but unless someone shakes things up, Ellie might take too long to warm up to Jasper and accept her feelings toward him.

"OK, I guess." Ellie vaguely responded.

"You guess? Or you know?" JoAnna has no intention to leave it at that. She called to find out the details!

"It\'s all fine. I\'m here six days now, and we\'ve been on five dates… I\'m not sure if I will see him tonight, I have a lot of work, but we are good."

JoAnna is not happy that her bestie is not telling her anything relevant. "Come on, don\'t be stingy on the details! I told you so many things when I started dating Jeff!"

"Ugh… don\'t remind me. I\'m still trying to forget about your fetish with office desks." Ellie laughed. "But really, there is nothing much to tell."

"Really? You are dating the most eligible bachelor in Chicago and there is nothing much to tell? Does he know how to please you? How about any jealous girls? Give me something!"

"Please me?" Ellie was very uncomfortable talking about it. Of course, this JoAnna… no filter. Ellie knows that JoAnna will not stop until she gets something. But in reality, there is nothing to tell. "We are not there yet. We only kissed. And for jealous girls, there was one, but he fired her."

JoAnna paused. "OK. Wait a minute… Did you say that after the wedding, you spent with him five evenings and you only kissed?"

"Six actually, day after the wedding he stayed in Los Angeles and we spent that afternoon and evening together... Is that strange?"

"Yes! Jeff was like a monk before we met, and he didn\'t last that long! I can\'t imagine how many cold showers Jasper is taking." JoAnna was implying that with Jasper\'s extensive history with women, it\'s strange that he is courting Ellie so long without success, and without moving on.

"Cold showers?"

JoAnna rolled her eyes and started explaining: "You know, when they get aroused…"

"I know why guys take cold showers!", Ellie interrupted JoAnna. "You don\'t need to go into details, please…"

"Is there something wrong with him?" JoAnna mused. "How much Jeff told me, besides his father giving him a hard time, Jasper is a cool guy. OK, a bit on the womanizing side, but if after all this time he is still a gentleman, it means that he really likes you…"

Ellie ignored the womanizing comment. There was something else that caught her attention. "What was that about his father?"

"Per Jeff: Jasper\'s father is a controlling person, and he uses his influence in the company to control Jasper. Whenever Jasper does something his father does not approve, there is a topic of Jasper potentially losing his position as the CEO. Jeff offered to help him out, but Jasper said how that is something he needs to deal with by himself. In front of everyone his father is someone who believes in his son and gave him the CEO position graciously, however in reality, his father froze his assets, and made sure he still controls the company as well as any other resources, so Jasper\'s hands are practically tied."

Ellie was surprised to hear this. Jasper mentioned his father, but not with so many words. She is sorry that he is in such a situation. She is one of people who know how unfortunate it is that you can\'t pick your family. "I see…"

JoAnna can tell that Ellie is worried about Jasper and decided to probe further. "Ellie, how do you feel about him?"

"I\'m not sure what to think…"

JoAnna smirked. "I didn\'t ask you what you think. I asked you how you feel."

"What?"

"I want to know: do you like him? Do you think about him first thing in the morning, and last thing in the evening? Does he pop up in your mind during the day?..."

"Miss, we are here.", cab driver told Ellie.

"Uhm, Anna, let\'s continue this some other time. I reached my destination and I need to get out of the cab."

JoAnna puffed her cheeks in frustration. She just got to the good part!

"Sure, no problem. Think about what I said and take care!" JoAnna ended the call.

"Awake?", Jeff peeked into the bedroom.

JoAnna narrowed her eyes when she remembered that he sneaked out to work. Because of that she missed her morning cuddles! "Yes. What are you up to?"

Jeff grinned. "I got breakfast. Your choice: downstairs or do you want breakfast in bed?"

JoAnna scolded herself silently for thinking that he was working. He went to get breakfast. Ah, her husband is the best!

"Downstairs, but I\'m lazy to walk." She stretched her arms toward him, indicating him to carry her.

"My services are available.", Jeff scooped JoAnna in his arms and walked downstairs, unaware that he dodged the bullet.

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