Is this destiny?

~ Golden Ocean Resort ~

10:43 PM

JoAnna and Jeff are on the beach, near bonfire with their friends from the wedding party.

A large yacht is visible further away. From there fireworks will be launched at 11 PM.

Other guests are not allowed on the beach. Jeff and JoAnna already gave them their afternoon and evening, and they want to spend these last bits of their wedding celebration surrounded with friendly faces.

Grandparents (James, Donald and Richard) enthusiastically wanted to join the youngsters on the beach, but Stella and Elanor denied them that pleasure with an explanation that this is for younger generation and that it\'s their duty to entertain the guests. Neither of elderly men liked that idea, they would rather relax on the sand with \'kids\' but they were unable to oppose these two women, especially when Barbara and Mary joined them.

The atmosphere on the beach is relaxing. They are all sitting, or lying on the sand, chatting and laughing in few groups while waiting for the fireworks.

"Sarah and Aiden are still not back?", Sophia was settled comfortably on the sand between Felix\'s legs and leaning on his chest.

"They are in their room.", JoAnna responded while burying Jeff\'s legs in the sand, ignoring that he is wearing a very expensive custom made suit. "They will have a good view of the fireworks, if they pay attention to it…", she added in a hushed voice.

"How long will you be gone?", Ellie asked JoAnna.

"We will be back in town in two weeks." JoAnna flashed a smile toward Ellie who was leaning on Jasper, and his arm was around her shoulders. "How long will you stay in LA?"

Ellie shrugged indicating that she does not know. "Few days maybe. But I will be back in October for the LA fashion week."

"Don\'t forget that we want tickets. We are also staying in the area.", Sophia reminded Ellie.

"If it\'s not a problem, I want tickets also.", Bridgette added with a shy smile.

"Not a problem. I will get you front row seats.", Ellie responded with a wink.

Bridgette thanked Ellie and went back to her whisper-session with Steve whose chin rested on her shoulder.

"Tickets? What tickets?", Sharon and Millie joined the group.

"For the LA fashion week.", JoAnna responded.

"You can get tickets?", Sharon asked Ellie mockingly. "Only organizers and main designers can get tickets. And it\'s limited availability…"

Ellie smiled while sinking deeper into Jasper\'s embrace. She will not let Sharon rile her up. "You can say that I know people."

"Are you sure it\'s not just empty talk?", Millie has difficulty believing that Ellie can give away tickets which are so difficult to obtain. And she doesn\'t like how Jasper\'s undivided attention is on Ellie.

"Don\'t accuse my queen of doing empty talk!", Brian interjected. He wanted to say that Ellie is a big designer with a lot of privileges, but he knows that his boss likes to keep a low profile.

Sharon was surprised that Brian acted so defensively. She looked at Emma who was next to Brian. "You don\'t mind your date calling another girl his queen?"

Emma shrugged. "Ellie was his queen before we met. Who am I to interfere?" Emma knows that Brian and Ellie are good friends and that Brian is calling Ellie \'queen\' instead of \'boss\'. Emma will not allow Sharon to shake things up.

Sharon wanted to throw jab at Jasper next because another man is calling Ellie \'queen\' but she didn\'t dare to provoke him. He was already glaring at her.

"Enough!", JoAnna snapped and looked at Sharon and Millie sternly. "I understand that you are bitter about Jasper being with Ellie, but don\'t you dare spoil my evening because of that."

Sharon and Millie were surprised that JoAnna is so direct. No filter, as usually. Two of them exchanged glances before walking further away, joining Vincent, Bradley, Christopher and Russel.

JoAnna looked at Jasper. "If you don\'t tell them clearly about your intentions, they will keep on coming back."

"I told them that I\'m interested only in this girl." Jasper defended himself while pulling Ellie closer. He glanced at the guys and saw that Steve, Felix and Jeff are giving him approving nods. Jeff even flashed a quick thumbs up.

Ellie froze. She is not used to Jasper\'s display of affection, and the fact that he did it in front of others only made it more… uncomfortable.

"They will not give up until they find another target." Sophia offered her opinion.

"You can sacrifice Tom." JoAnna suggested.

Ellie sighed and shook her head. Before dinner, Tom told her that he can see that situation between her and Jasper is promising, and he left the wedding.

"There is no need to sacrifice anyone. It all depends on this guy\'s attitude." Ellie tilted her head toward Jasper.

"What is wrong with my attitude?"

Ellie reminded herself that when Jasper is not playing games, he is direct. She should match that if she wants to keep up. "Nothing. Right now, you are doing great. But I don\'t know how long you can keep it up."

"You don\'t have much trust in me, do you?" Jasper remembered that guys told him how with girls is all about the trust.

Ellie held his hand and squeezed it gently. "Trust is earned, not given. But as I said, so far you are doing great."

Jasper smiled. He can live with that… he is doing great.

With a high-pitched whistling sound first rocket was launched in the air and the magnificent aerial fireworks started.

Jeff pulled JoAnna into his embrace and held her tightly as the fireworks started.

JoAnna glanced around… Jill and Trevor were further down the beach, Felix and Sophia are right next to them, Ellie was almost lost in Jasper\'s embrace, Steve and Bridgette were holding each other, Emma and Brian were kissing and didn\'t pay attention to the fireworks, Sharon and Millie were with other groomsmen. Everyone was happily watching fireworks (except Emma and Brian).

"When do you want us to leave?", Jeff\'s breath tickled JoAnna\'s neck.

"As soon as the fireworks end." She could not wait to leave and start their honeymoon. Just the two of them. Well, plus the bodyguards who will be on the other side of the island due to extra security measures they agreed on, but unless they call for them, it will be just the two of them.

Jeff kissed JoAnna\'s temple and tightened his hug. He took a deep breath and enjoyed sight of the colorful explosions in the sky with his wife by his side. WIFE!

The fireworks ended with a three minute long grand-finale which earned a lot of \'Ohs\' and \'Ahs\'.

As promised, Jeff and JoAnna didn\'t linger. As soon as fireworks ended, they bid farewell to the people on the beach and headed toward the helicopter while accepting greetings and well wishes from the rest of their family and guests on the way to the helipad.

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