Is this destiny?

Ellie walked through the winding hallway and stopped every few steps to observe décor and paintings which are hanging on the walls. Everything is luxurious, but not vulgar.

Lily was nowhere in sight. Who knows, maybe she really went home how Mrs. Perri suggested.

Ellie saw an older man enter one room. The door was open already, and he didn't close it fully either.

The man paid no heed to her, and she was looking at the huge painting of a dock with colorful houses in the background. Through the hallway Ellie observed a lot of paintings related to water, someone here likes the seaside.

Voices from the room got Ellie's attention when she walked by the half-open door with intention to go back to the party.

"And what did he say?", the man asked.

"Hmph! Arrogant brat!", Ellie recognized this voice as Norman's and paused. "He thinks there is no use talking about stocks now."

"He is still young and has a lot to learn. I told you that it's too early to give him the CEO position, but you were in a rush to see what he can do." The man sighed loudly. "Luckily I still have my 6% and I will not sell them no matter what tricks they try. They think they can intimidate me? That is not happening…"

This comment made Ellie realize that the man she saw enter the room must be Mr. Stocker who refused to sell his 6% to Ethan. She inched closer to the door and listened attentively.

"Intimidate you?" Norman paused. "You only said someone approached you to buy stocks. What is this about intimidation?"

"Uhm… nothing, nothing.", Mr. Stocker cleared his throat few times. "The man was just stern and gave me unpleasant looks when I refused."

"You are confident that it was not Jasper or someone he hired?", Norman asked.

"I told you already… your son is too innocent. He always plays by the rules and that is why is not competent to lead K Industries. My son on the other hand…"

"Stop that before you get carried away again!", Norman raised his voice. "K Industries is a family company. And it's not like Jasper is calling the shots, anyway."

Both men laughed.

"Right, right.", Mr. Stocker said. "How can I forget when you remind me about that ever so often."

"Because it's the truth. Let's make our way back before someone looks for us."

Ellie panicked. She is right at the door! Ellie dashed toward the opposite door and got inside. She watched through the crack Norman and Mr. Stocker walk down the hallway and exhaled in relief. They didn't see her.

The conversation she overheard replayed in her mind and it made her blood boil. Norman and his buddy Stocker are both mocking Jasper. It will be sweet to see their faces on Monday. She was more than ever resolute to show at that board meeting and make a splash. That Stocker was making it sound like a bad thing that Jasper is playing by the rules. Well… maybe Jasper is a rule-abiding guy, but her… she can twist the rules and make them go her way when needed.

Ellie took few deep breaths to contain bloodlust which started seeping out of her and opened the door to go back to the party. She needs to find Jasper. Based on what she heard, Jasper was talking with Norman and that is why he was absent for so long, but now he is out and probably looking for her.

Before stepping out, Ellie turned around and saw that she is in some sitting room. Large fireplace with oversized off-white stone mantle dominates the luxurious furniture and she saw… photos. Lots of them. Curiosity took over and Ellie went to see them up close. Well, she is already here, she might as well take a look. She will only look.

With a single glance, Ellie saw that photos mostly have Jasper on them. Ha! There is a toddler Jasper! Someone is holding his arms up, probably supporting him while walking, and that someone is a female captured from waist down, but that adorable white-haired blue-eyed toddler is definitely Jasper. Even his dimple on the chin is there! Super-cute! Ah… and there he is, maybe ten years old, holding a baseball bat… Teenage Jasper in a uniform-looking tank top and shorts on an athletic track passing the finish line with his arms wide open and a big smile on his face… and another one, he is throwing a javelin. He is smiling here as well. Behind those photos are several trophies: 1st place 400m… 100m… high jump. It seems that in middle school and high school Jasper was ruling track and field events.

Ellie concluded that photos are chronologically ordered because on each next photo he was older.

There is a photo of Jasper and an older man. They are facing each other and obviously laughing. Older man's hand is resting on Jasper shoulder. Jasper is probably in his late teens. Is that his grandfather, or some older relative? Family friend? Ellie reached out and held the frame carefully to observe closely a candid photo which captured a very happy moment. She never saw Jasper so relaxed, uncontrolled, happy.

"Jasper loved his grandfather.", woman's voice from the door startled Ellie, and she was happy that she didn't drop the photo.

"I'm sorry.", Ellie kept the photo back on the mantle. "I was only looking."

Ellie turned to face the woman and paused.

"Ellie?", woman asked in surprise.

"Lisa?", Ellie was equally surprised at the sight of a woman in her late forties.

Lisa was already next to Ellie and holding onto her hands. "Wow! I know that you are in Chicago because of fashion events, but I didn't think I will see you here!"

Ellie took few seconds to respond with a big smile. "I didn't think I will see you here either!"

Lisa gave Ellie a cryptic look. "Why are you surprised to see me here?"

"You are from Seattle. Right?"

Lisa smiled. "I come to Seattle for our appointments because that is off season for you, so you have enough time for me. I am from Chicago, born and raised. And I would prefer to have my appointments here, it is closer… however, you are here only for fashion events, and always in a rush, and I don't want to impose because I know that your time is precious."

Ellie knows that Lisa always requests at least one hour more than necessary which two of them spend chatting. Lisa is a nice lady, very friendly and easy to talk to. She is one of rare people who know that Ellie is behind EY. How come she didn't ask Lisa from where she is? She just assumed that she is from Seattle. Silly.

Ellie reminded herself to go through details on her regular customers when she gets a chance. Who knows what else she missed?

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