Is this destiny?

~ Northern Ireland ~

Saturday

7:48 PM

In a mansion, close to Belfast…

Matthew Young is looking at the driveway of a villa located just outside Belfast. He is doing his best to hide his excitement because Ellie is coming for a visit! She didn't visit this place in more than fifteen years, and today, she is coming. His baby Ellie is coming!

Matthew remembers how three days ago he was in the meeting with four other underground bosses. They were discussing potential shifts in territories when his personal phone rang. He had to take a second (and a third) look to make sure his eyes are not playing tricks on him… the call was from his daughter, Ellie Young! She didn't call him since his wife passed away.

"Yes?", he did his best to sound cool. He does not want Ellie to know how elated he is that she called him, but still apprehensive while thinking what is the cause for this unsuspected treat.

"I will come to visit you with Jasper if you promise to treat him well and not to intimidate him.", Ellie went straight to the point.

"What?", Matthew thought that he is dreaming.

"Is it a problem?", Ellie curtly asked.

"No, no…", he said after few seconds of silence.

"Do we have a deal?", Ellie asked impatiently.

"Yes, yes.", Matthew is not crazy to say 'no' to this. "When should I expect you?"

"Saturday. I will send you the itinerary. Send someone to pick us up at the airport.", she ended the call.

Matthew stood frozen in the spot for some time, and other four bosses wondered if he had a stroke because he was non-responsive.

Back to present…

Ellie and Jasper are in the back of a car which just passed a heavy iron gate.

Jasper observed guards stationed from the gate onward, each holding onto a machine gun which is hanging over his shoulder. Ellie told him that her father is not simple and that there will be guns, but this… he braced himself. He is here on a mission. He can't marry Ellie without asking her father for blessings, and blessings he will get. That is why he is here. Ellie did so much for him, it's time for Jasper to show her that he has a backbone and that he is not a weakling, and is there a better way to prove that than to face her father? The scary one… Jasper was silently giving himself a pep talk while observing armed people speckled through the property. Why do they look like they are ready for a war and that the attack is coming any minute now?

Jasper glanced at Ellie and saw that she is not paying attention to her surroundings at all. She is checking something on her phone… he craned his neck to see what… wedding dresses! Jasper smiled. Yup. That is why they are here. He wants to ask for blessings and to personally invite Matthew to the wedding like a true man who is not afraid of the scary father-in-law.

Ellie and Jasper alighted out of the car and staff lined up greeted her as Young Miss in unison while nodding to Jasper.

Jasper looked up at the impressive white villa and thought how all this looks like a scene from an old gangster movie. The only thing missing is a big Boss with a Cuban cigar in a suit, like Marlon Brando in the Godfather movies. And then they entered the reception room and he saw Matthew… he didn't have the cigar, but everything else was there, and the tattoo on his neck which disappeared under the collar of his shirt made him look scarier than the Godfather.

That stern face with a scar broke into a warm smile for Ellie. "You are finally here…", he stood up and pulled her into his embrace.

Ellie stiffly patted sides of his torso. "That's enough, dad."

Matthew turned to Jasper. "And this is…" Matthew scrutinized Jasper. Of course, he knows who Jasper is, he saw many photos and reports about him.

"This is Jasper.", Ellie said while moving to stand by Jasper's side. "My fiancé."

Matthew cleared his throat and extended his hand for a handshake. "Matthew, nice to meet you."

Ellie saw that Matthew said this while struggling. If not for Ellie's warning to treat Jasper nicely, Matthew would probably punch Jasper in the face.

"Nice to meet you too, sir.", Jasper responded enthusiastically.

Matthew paused while thinking that Jasper addressed him as 'sir'. He likes that. Jasper scored a point. A thousand more to go and he might accept him as an almost-good match for his daughter.

They entered inside and a maid showed Ellie and Jasper to their rooms. Jasper looked at Ellie and gave her eye signals in protest. Are they going to stay in separate rooms?! Is that why she packed their clothes separately in two suitcases?! Jasper didn't see this coming.

Ellie smiled and pretended that she didn't notice his displeasure. Jasper was the one who insisted to come here thinking that he can easily win over her father. Now Jasper needs to deal with Matthew, and as much as she does not want to forgive her father or let him close to her, she looks forward to seeing who comes out as a winner after this weekend.

They are not staying long anyway, only one night. Jasper can survive by himself in a room for one night. Maybe.

…

During dinner…

"I look forward to show you the garden and the pool I added, just how you wished.", Matthew was smiling at Ellie.

Ellie sighed. She mentioned that when she was ten years old, but this old man still remembers it.

"We are planning to get married in May.", Ellie told Matthew while switching the topic to the reason they are here.

"And we wish that you attend the wedding.", Jasper added.

"Send me an invitation and I will see if I'm available.", Matthew responded coldly.

He would not miss it for anything in the world. But at the same time, he was sulking because he was hoping to have a bigger role in planning and organizing and whatever is needed for the wedding. Is his role reduced to a guest only? He is a big boss and Ellie is his only daughter, damnit!

"We hope that you will bless our union.", Jasper said cautiously. Matthew is polite, but Jasper can sense murderous glares directed his way occasionally.

Matthew snorted while thinking: 'Why do you need my blessings? It seems you got it all figured out without me!' Matthew didn't voice out his grievances because he promised Ellie that he will be nice and not bully this fiancé person. Even without the promise, he knows that Ellie made her mind and that if he gives any hard time to Jasper, he will only anger his daughter, and he does not want that. Not now that she is finally here. But, can he really pretend that he is fine to give his precious daughter to this man?

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