Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles, Charlie\'s villa ~

Saturday

11:38 PM

Mike is lying on a bed in one of the guest bedrooms in Charlie\'s villa and staring at the ceiling.

The whole day was very eventful, and he is unable to calm down and sleep, even though it\'s late in the night.

He mentally prepared himself that Emma is doing well, but what he witnessed today was beyond his wildest imagination.

Mike is happy for his sister and he regrets that their communication in the last seven months was reduced to checking on one\'s wellbeing.

Growing up without a father and on a tight budget made all Ronin siblings close. They were forced to rely on one another because their mother was working two jobs and not at home most of the time. Knowing that he practically missed last seven months of Emma\'s life makes Mike feel… sad. He hopes that they don\'t lose touch like that in the future.

From early morning, Mike saw that Charlie takes good care of Emma. Charlie\'s every word and move are a dead giveaway how much Charlie loves his sister, and that earned a seal of approval from Mike (aka the oldest male in the Ronin family).

They went to Sarah\'s place where she lives with Aiden. The property is massive, and everything is amazing. He was drawn to Kitty and enjoyed playing with the panther very much. Mike always wanted a pet, but their mother didn\'t allow it saying that it\'s too much work and that the money they would use on food and a vet can be put to a better use.

Other than providing endless head-scratches, Mike observed people and their interactions and Mike is very happy that his sister is surrounded with so many friends.

That is the purpose of his visit: to make sure his sister is doing well, and the first day left him with a good impression.

After the training at the Cliffside Villa, Emma and Charlie took him to the Smithsonite corp. HQ, to see the building (and Charlie to pick up some documents) and Mike was impressed. He got to peek into a lab where they do different tests and develop prototypes for the next generation of weapons, and Charlie explained to Mike that their main business is weapons development.

"There are many labs in this building, used for different purposes. In this lab engineers do calculations and computer-simulations for navigation of long-range missiles. The prototype production is happening in a factory outside city limits...", Charlie responded to Mike\'s comment how he does not see any weapons around.

Charlie told Mike how on the weekdays the building is bustling with people, and now other than security personnel, cleaners and few people who want to catch up on their tasks, no one else is present. Mike was fascinated by the size of Charlie\'s office. He wondered how big the CEO\'s office is if Charlie has such a big one, but they didn\'t take him there.

After Smithsonite corp., the three of them headed for lunch. The food was amazing, and so was the ocean view. Mike wished to go to the beach, but Emma had different plans, and he promised that he will accompany her, so he kept that desire to himself.

Charlie went to deal with some of his tasks which involved visiting his Uncle, and Mike accompanied Emma to the site where rehabilitation center is being built. They were followed by four bodyguards who didn\'t talk much.

"Miss Ronin, can you approve this layout?...", one man with a hard hat approached Emma as soon as they stepped in front of the building which looked almost done from the outside.

"Miss Ronin, the response for aqua treatment machines arrived. They will be two days late, but it will not impact the overall timelines…", one woman in a business suit spoke while walking down the hallway next to Emma.

Mike watched various people approach his sister and request for her opinion and instructions and he waited patiently for the construction manager to move out of the earshot to ask: "Are you just managing the place, or is it yours?"

Emma smiled. "What makes you ask that?"

Mike is not ignorant. He works in construction, so he noticed: "Why would a mere manager decide on all these?"

Emma\'s smile widened. She touched her nose. "You were always the sharpest one. Can you keep it a secret?"

Mike\'s eyes widened in surprise. "You are kidding me!" He leaned closer and whispered: "Is brother-in-law financing this?"

Emma sighed. She is not surprised that Mike came to that conclusion. But she can\'t tell him that all this started when one gown got stained with red wine. "No. It\'s my money. But without him, it would not be possible. Don\'t worry. Everything is legal. I am the majority owner, and Anna has one third."

Mike noticed gaps in Emma\'s explanation, but he also noticed that she is not willing to say more.

After few hours on the rehabilitation center site, Emma took Mike to LA Medical Center, to show him where she works. Mike observed that everyone they met on the way greeted his sister with smiles, and he concluded that they like working with her. His sister is awesome.

They met with Charlie later in the afternoon and headed to a luxurious restaurant for dinner. The interesting thing is that on their way to the restaurant, they stopped in a styling salon, and Mike got a tuxedo to wear. And keep! He was impressed at the sight of his sister who looked like a million bucks in a light blue gown. But the most dazzling was Emma\'s smile directed at Charlie.

Even though they didn\'t say it, Mike understood that Emma and Charlie would have their dinner at home if Mike is not visiting. The restaurant was amazing, the food was delicious, and he even gets to keep the tuxedo. He never owned anything so expensive in his life (other than the Rolex wristwatch Charlie gifted him). His sister treats him well. Mike wondered if Ryan and Sean are having a good time.

Mike is happy for his sister. She is surrounded with friends, has a doting fiancé who can\'t take his eyes off from her, her job is stable at LA Medical Center and she is growing to own her own rehabilitation center! How Mike sees it, a bright future is ahead of Emma.

He grew up looking up to his older sister who didn\'t date or meet with friends. Since she was a teenager, after school Emma would finish her homework and babysit kids in the neighborhood, to help her family financially. And as she grew older, she started a part time job after school, and saved money so that she can take additional courses and learn about physiotherapy and how to take care of patients. Emma spent her early youth working and studying for the sake of her family, and she should enjoy this. She deserves it.

But… what about him?

Mike remembered how immediately after high school he got a job as a construction worker. He wonders if he was rash to abandon his education.

Seeing how Sean and Ryan were discussing colleges after Emma and Charlie visited them, Mike felt a pang in his chest. He was good at math and physics and engineering and he was thinking about a degree which would allow him to create things. However, when he faced the harsh reality about their financial situation and when he saw how his older sister is working and studying until she would sleep off in random places due to exhaustion, Mike didn\'t dare to speak up and he went to find a job.

Sure, the current job has a decent salary, but it\'s physically demanding and in a hazardous environment. How long can he keep on working as a construction worker before his body gives up? Until his thirties? Forties? He can\'t become a manager without a degree no matter how hard he tries. What if there is an accident and he gets hurt? Then what? He will end up as a cripple without an education.

In his line of work, it is not a matter of \'if he gets hurt\' but it\'s \'when will he get hurt\'.

In the last four years he is working in construction, he saw too many people get into accidents and stay at home, unable to work. And what will he do when that happens to him? Rely on his mother or his sister to pay the bills? Will he be such a useless man?

Mike\'s mind was spinning. His anxiousness was taking over and he realized that he can\'t sleep.

Mike remembered that when Emma showed him the villa, he saw that there is an indoor swimming pool. He checked the time… it\'s almost midnight. Everyone should be sleeping so it\'s OK if he goes to burn some energy. Emma said that he can use the pool anytime.

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