Is this destiny?

JoAnna and Jeff left the beach and he was driving his black Maybach S 650 toward the shooting range.

"Who was taking our photos?" JoAnna finally asked when they were on the highway.

"Probably paparazzi. My men will confirm.", Jeff didn't seem to be in the mood to explain. He didn't want to scare her. She already said that she is an ordinary girl, at least that is how she sees herself and he does not want her to dislike him because he is frequently followed by photographers.

"Do you always have security around?" JoAnna didn't realize that there were people guarding them. Even now when she glanced behind, she could not see any cars following.

"Not always... but yes, when I'm in Los Angeles.", Jeff carefully picked his words, again, doing his best not to overwhelm her.

JoAnna pulled her phone and initiated online search for 'Jeffrey White'. She scrolled through results. Pages were mostly something related to business and White corp. She looked at image results. She found a lot of Jeff's photos. Mostly it was only Jeff on the photo, minority of photos was him with some other people, based on the setting, she could assume that it was all business related.

Jeff glanced at her phone. "You can just ask me what you want to know."

"I don't even know what to ask." She responded honestly. "Actually, I do have few things I would like to know, but I'm afraid that I will not like answers no matter what they are, so I will not ask... and for the rest, I believe that you will tell me if it's relevant, without me asking." Just like any woman, JoAnna wanted to know if any woman had a space in his heart before they met. But she was afraid, what if he says 'yes'. JoAnna was not confident that she could handle that without feeling inferior or jealous, or a mix of both. Especially if his previous interest was a popular, successful person. She does not think she is any of those. JoAnna thinks of herself as a normal, average girl. And the more she finds out about Jeff, the more intimidated she feels and out of place.

Jeff's phone rang, he put Bluetooth earpiece in and answered the call. He didn't talk, only few "Mhms" left him during the call.

He removed his earpiece. "I will arrange for some security to follow you when you are not with me... at least in Los Angeles."

"Huh?" JoAnna wondered if she heard him right. Security to follow her?

"That was paparazzi. Waiter from the restaurant tipped them off that we are there, and they came to get the scoop." Jeff explained. "I don't know if you will have any problems because of this, but just in case, I will have someone to look after you when I'm not around."

JoAnna was not sure how to process this information, so she decided not to comment until she understands the situation better. But she is confident that she is not comfortable.

…

They reached the shooting range, and JoAnna could smell the familiar scent of gunpowder from the distance. It is an open shooting range, just outside of city limits to the north-east.

Occasional gunshots could be heard tearing through the silence.

"Well, at least you didn't book the whole place." JoAnna teased him.

"I asked and got a response that they don't provide such service." He admitted with a straight face.

JoAnna silently rolled her eyes.

They entered the building and filled up necessary paperwork before exiting on the other side where shooting range was located.

JoAnna walked excitedly to the table where various pistols were arranged. She took Sig Sauer P220 and Glock 20 before turning to Jeff. "Will you pick some?"

He shook his head. "No. I don't use guns."

She was touched. "Oh, you came here because I asked... well, you need to at least try. Here." She gave him the Glock. "Let me get the bullets."

Jeff held the pistol and looked at it. It was obvious to anyone experienced with guns that he does not know how to hold a gun. He is a businessman, not a hunter or a soldier... He has people who handle guns, while he makes deals and manages corporations.

One older gentleman approached Jeff and observed how he is holding the gun. "First time, a? Don't worry... Hold it how you hold a woman. Firm and steady, take your time, and then slowly increase the pressure while you pull the trigger, and when the tension is right then the bullet will come out..." The man laughed at his own analogy and left.

JoAnna heard the man. "As much as it sounds strange, he is right."

She showed Jeff the basics. He picked up fast and had good results at the target. JoAnna praised him, and Jeff was happy until he saw her shoot a perfect score every time with three full magazines.

She saw him sulk. "Hey, it's your first time. Don't be hard on yourself." JoAnna coaxed him unsuccessfully.

Jeff was not happy with his performance, but still didn't want to leave, seeing that JoAnna is having good results. He wanted her to shoot more, good score will improve her mood which got ruined by those paparazzi, at least that is what he thought...

However, JoAnna didn't feel comfortable staying when he told her that he will not shoot anymore, and he will only watch her shoot.

She thought of how to get them to leave. And then she got an idea.

JoAnna checked time. "We need to head out."

"Where?" He was suspicious.

"I said I will pick dinner..." JoAnna explained. "We are going to get groceries and cook ourselves. We should go now if we want to finish everything in time for the video call."

Jeff liked the idea of two of them cooking together. He was curious what is on her mind and how the end result will turn out.. No matter how he thought of it, if she cooks it, he will eat it… because it will be spiced up with love.