Is this destiny?

As she entered from the back, she saw Oscar urgently exit through the main door. The door closed behind him, and a bodyguard blocked it. He didn't let JoAnna follow outside.

"Don't worry, security will take care of it." Elanor's voice from behind made JoAnna look back.

JoAnna didn't like that Elanor's concerned expression didn't match her words. "What is going on?"

"Timothy Cox is on the property." Elanor didn't know more than that.

JoAnna felt that her heart is about to jump out of her chest. "Is Jeff out there?"

Elanor responded with a small nod, worry was obvious on her face.

JoAnna was upset that she does not know what is going on. How can she stay inside, out of the way if Jeff is maybe in danger? But even if she forces her way out, she will only be in the way. She needs to know what is going on. She needs to know that Jeff is safe.

Suddenly, JoAnna remembered, when Jeff took her to the roof to shoot. It had a good view of the front of the villa, driveway and also quite a bit of property on other sides.

JoAnna rushed up the stairs.

…

Outside, security caught Timothy and they were bringing him toward the house when Jeff showed up.

Jeff was upset that it took them so long to catch the intruder. He almost reached the villa! Jeff took a mental note that amount of lush plants in the area that can be used for hiding needs to be reduced, and some of these men will get fired. Security needs improvement. If a man like Timothy came all the way here, what would happen if it was someone with training? What is the point of hundreds of bodyguards if all of them are useless?! No matter what his father says, some of these men will be fired.

Jeff plans to talk with Felix and see if he is willing to help with security improvements.

Thought crossed Jeff's mind that Timothy might not be alone. He sent number of bodyguards to keep on searching the area.

Jeff observed Timothy who was standing about twenty feet away, or maybe a bit less. Two bodyguards were holding his arms behind his back. His hair was messy, clothes crumpled, and he had leaves stuck in his hair and on the jacket.

"Why are you here?" Jeff asked Timothy.

"I came here to talk." Timothy was looking at Jeff in the eyes. He was angry.

Jeff assumed that Timothy was angry because he was being held by the bodyguards and didn't give it much thought. Jeff looked at him with a cold expression and spoke in voice that matched his aloof appearance. "Well… talk."

"Can you tell them to let go of me?"

Before Jeff responded, he was interrupted by Oscar, who came out from the villa. Oscar gave a supporting nod to Jeff and then his gaze focused on Timothy.

Security notified Jeff that JoAnna is inside house, and his heart was at ease knowing that she is safe even if there are more intruders.

"Did you come alone?" Jeff knows that Timothy might lie. But he still wanted to ask.

"Yes. Can you tell them to let go of me?" Timothy looked like he is in pain as he repeated his question.

Jeff looked at Timothy, man in his late fifties, early sixties. He didn't look like a threat. Jeff can definitely take him on. He nodded to the bodyguards and they let him go before taking two steps back. Dozen more bodyguards surrounded Timothy about ten feet away from him. If he even thought about rushing at Jeff, or Oscar, they would pounce on him.

Jeff waited for Timothy to start talking. The man glared at him without a word before speaking. "Why did you target my company? Why my family?"

"There is a misunderstanding." Jeff calmly explained. "You are the one who targeted my family. What we did was only retaliation."

Timothy gritted his teeth. "We only hoped that our families can join. How can that be targeting?"

Jeff didn't allow any emotion to resurface. He was calm and composed as he spoke, at least on the outside. "Will you deny all the things which your wife and both daughters did, and we didn't respond? We pretended that it didn't happen and let it go. But when your daughter wanted to kill my fiancée, that was when you really crossed the line." As he finished talking hint of anger escaped Jeff, and he was not able to conceal it.

Timothy's face darkened. "You took away my company and everything I have because women are fighting?"

Jeff was furious that Timothy classified making JoAnna fall off a horse as 'women are fighting'. That was very dangerous, and he was there to witness it! Jeff took a deep breath and managed to maintain his composure. "I bought shares of your company because it seemed like a good investment. But I was wrong, so I decided to cut my losses." Jeff responded calmly. He will never admit openly why he did it. He knows very well that their conversation might be recorded. Someone might be hundreds of feet away and recording them. He is not reckless to give a confession openly.

"You are lying!" Timothy squeezed through his teeth.

"You have the right to your own opinion." Jeff shrugged.

"You scheming bastard!" Timothy reached to his back and in next instant he held a gun into Jeff's face.

The bodyguards didn't have time to react. Few of them took a step toward Timothy.

"Stay away! Or I will shoot! At this distance I will not miss!" Timothy screamed. "Back! Go back!"

Bodyguards were not sure how to react. About half of them took a step back, and other half just stood in place. They wanted to go and grab the weapon, but they feared that he might shoot.

Oscar stepped forward trying to come between Timothy and Jeff, but Jeff extended his arm and pushed him to the back. He can't let his father get in danger.

Jeff saw that Timothy lost it, there was no more reasoning with him. Timothy's eyes were red from rage, and his face contorted in anger.

Jeff took a deep breath and did his best not to show any fear while facing barrel of the gun. His only comforting thought at this moment is that JoAnna is inside, safe. "What do you think you will achieve with this? Even if you shoot me, do you think you will leave this place alive?"

"I don't care! You took everything away from me! Why would I let you enjoy your life?" Timothy's eyes were crazy. He is completely out of his mind. He didn't care what will happen to him. He already lost everything. His money, company, family, pride. The only thing left was a blinding desire for revenge.

Oscar tugged Jeff's shirt, wanting to come in front of him, but Jeff pushed him back and gave him a stern look. He was clear that he wants him to stay away.

"If you kill me, do you think that your problems will go away? Or will you add more to them?" Jeff's voice was calm. He surprised even himself how calm he sounded.

"Do you think I care?! I don't! I don't! If I can wipe you away from this world, I will be happy!" Timothy saw Jeff as the source of all his problems. If he gets rid of him, problems will be gone as well. Or maybe not… but he was not able to think clearly. He only wanted revenge. And revenge means getting rid of the man who caused it all.

Timothy enjoyed holding Jeff at a gunpoint. He enjoyed wielding the power of deciding if he will live or die… or maybe just cripple him. The gun was pointing at Jeff's head. He will not miss. Crazed smile bloomed on Timothy's face as he slowly applied pressure on the trigger, anxiously waiting for that gunshot which will remove source of all his problems.

Deafening silence fell over White property while everyone present was caught in their own thoughts. Should they do something? Should they move? Will the man shoot? Will he hit his target? What if…?

BANG!