Is this destiny?

~ Austin, the White Mansion ~

11:42 PM

In front of the restrooms…

Jesse is standing and waiting for Oni to come out.

"Well, if it isn't handsome Mr. Jesse?", Samara said as she approached him.

Samara's eyes are on Jesse since he left the table. When she saw Jesse and Oni heading toward the hallway where the restrooms are, she hurried after them. This is her chance to talk to him without Oni hovering over them, because even if both of them are going to the restroom, men always finish first. Samara is confident that Jesse is acting indifferent toward her because of his date and because she didn't make her intention clear: she is interested in him. And there is a chance that he does not know who she is.

Jesse was not sure if he should laugh or cry. Why doesn't she give up? But he knows that he needs to play his role of a polite gentleman and also this might be a chance for him to get some information, if this persistent woman has any. The file said that she is rash and impulsive.

He adjusted his mood and looked at her aloofly. "Can I help you, Miss?"

"You should call me Miss White. You know what that means? I am a White.", she smiled smugly.

Jesse cleared his throat. "OK. Can I help you, Miss White?"

"I was hoping that you can accompany me for a dance, and then… who knows?", she giggled suggestively.

"Miss White, I am here with a date. Thank you for the offer, but…"

Samara's eyes widened when she realized that Jesse is rejecting her. Is he out of his mind?

"You dare to reject me?", Samara snapped at Jesse. Her outraged expression turned into a sneer while she spoke: "You are here to suck up to Jeffrey? Right? Well, let me tell you that you made a wrong choice. You just wait… In few weeks when my dad takes over you will be forced to bow to me…"

PAK!

A crisp slap interrupted whatever next words were coming out of Samara. She looked at the person from where the slap came, and her face twisted in anger.

"Jasmine!"

Jasmine's glare would slice open Samara if possible.

She saw Samara going after this young man and she knew that Samara is lacking in the brain department, but this was outside of her expectations. How stupid can she be? Is she Marcus' daughter?

But Jasmine can only make up an excuse and scold her: "What do you think you are doing? Did you forget to take you medications and are talking random nonsense again?"

Jasmine turned to Jesse. "Please, forgive her. She does not know what she is saying."

Jasmine didn't wait for Jesse to respond. She tugged Samara's hand and led her away.

"Wait until I tell Marcus about this. He will ground you for life!", Jasmine squeezed through her teeth while dragging away Samara who was still dazed from the slap and unable to react.

"What was that?", Oni asked when she stood next to Jesse and saw Samara and Jasmine turn down the hallway toward the ballroom.

Jesse shrugged. "I am not sure."

"That woman could not resist your handsomeness?", Oni asked while they walked down the hallway.

Jesse stifled a laugh and shook his head. "You are sixteen. What do you know about handsomeness?"

"I am a young woman!", Oni proudly declared, slightly irked that Jesse sees her as a little girl. "I know what a handsome man is when I see one."

Oni observed Jesse's expression and praised herself internally. Her personal mission for the evening was completed: Jesse smiled again, and she got to see it.

…

It's close to midnight, and the event is drawing to a close. About half of the guests left, but the other half does not seem eager to leave.

Everyone congratulated Jeff and JoAnna for their new roles. And number of well-wishers approached Oscar and Elanor to wish them a restful retirement.

Stella and Edward looked at their three daughters on the dancefloor, each in the arms of the man they choose for themselves.

"What are your thoughts?", Edward asked Stella while pulling her to lean on him.

"I am happy to see them getting along well.", Stella said.

"But?" Edward knows there is more to it.

Stella exhaled and smiled. Her husband knows her best. "Now all three of them got into this White family business, like they don't have enough going on."

"Sometimes, when your plate is full, an additional bite does not make a big difference."

Stella looked at her husband and had to agree with what he said.

"Out of all three, I am worried about Sarah the most.", Stella said after a long silence.

"It is normal, she is the youngest. Remember that she is not by herself.", Edward comforted Stella (and himself).

"Did you decide if you want to meet him?", Edward knows that King requested to meet with Stella more than once.

Stella sighed. "I can't avoid it any longer. I feel that he is running out of patience, and if that happens he becomes… unpredictable."

Edward squeezed Stella's hand gently. "I know that I'm not of much help but bring Owen."

"Don't say that you are not much help. You are my biggest support."

…

Outside in the garden…

Zula and Ron are sitting on a bench. Evening breeze made Zula shiver, and Ron swiftly draped his suit jacket over her shoulders.

"Thanks.", she said shyly while pulling the edges to close around her in front.

Zula found that tonight Ron is very gentlemanly. She got to dance with him, they held hands, she stood by his side when he confronted his father and stepmother, he smiled at her… and he kissed her. Twice. On the lips.

Only yesterday she saw him as one of the boys, and tonight… he is special. And she is confident that he will stay that for a long time.

Zula's heart fluttered at the thought that Ron is sitting next to her on the bench, in a spot of the garden which is not lit up and her whole body jolted when he spoke.

"Where do you want to go?"

She turned to him questionably.

"For a date.", he clarified.

Zula smiled. She likes that he thought about the date. He was serious about it.

"Do you have any ideas?", she asked him.

He looked like he has at least one. "How about Disneyland?"

Zula's face lit up. She never went there, but she knows that is a huge amusement park, and it's not a place where people go for few hours. It's for a whole day!

"I would love that."

He made a hum of approval and his hand wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her to lean on him.

Zula leaned on Ron and felt his hand around her shoulders, and his jacket kept her warm and smelled faintly of his aftershave… and she was sure that this warm and fuzzy feeling inside her is telling her that this is what it means to have a boyfriend. Because she felt like she is floating.

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