Is this destiny?

~ Downtown Los Angeles ~

Ellie is working on her dinner slowly while trying to grasp the sequence of events that brought her into Jasper's hotel room.

The note he left her that morning told her to wear red shoes which are comfortable. She spent the second half of the morning in her design studio downtown Los Angeles, and few of her designers who are local to the area told her that LA is known for hidden hiking spots. So even if he gave her a residential address, it can mean anything. They checked the address and saw that it's in the hilly area of an older neighborhood, and general consensus was that Jasper is taking her hiking.

Jasper was unable to hide his amazement when he saw Ellie exit the cab while wearing red running shoes, comfortable t-shirt and shorts.

"I feel overdressed…", he said with a charming smile, and he didn't seem to mock her at all. He looked pleasantly surprised. He wore a dark gray blazer over a white shirt and black fitted jeans. Nothing too fancy, but definitely smart-casual.

Ellie observed with interest when he gave his blazer to the cab driver and asked him to drop it off at a hotel downtown LA. She approved Jasper in that short sleeved shirt which didn't cling onto his body, but it didn't hide much either. She could clearly see that he takes care of his body... by frequenting the gym, probably.

Even with the blazer off, his style was few notches smarter than hers.

Well, she was ready for a day outside with hiking in mind. How was she supposed to know that he is taking her to a landscaped garden filled with art installations inspired by the movie 'The Wizard of Oz'? But the yellow brick road was there, and he was happy that she understood why the red shoes are important. When they reached some point in the garden which he found to be appropriate, he encouraged her to, just like Dorothy from the movie, close her eyes, click her heels together three times and repeat the famous phrase: 'There's no place like home'. Red shoes were very important at that point, because they hold the magic. But she chanted the phrase only two times before his lips locked with hers.

Ellie was not surprised that he has the power to transform almost any situation into a kiss-appropriate one, because since last night's kiss, even when he is not in sight, part of her is thinking about kissing him.

Breathlessly, she reminded herself not to close her eyes when he is close by… unless she wants to give him an opportunity to kiss her. Luckily, it was not a deep kiss, so she was able to stay aware of her surroundings, but it still made her feel like she is walking on the clouds for the next few minutes. Jasper can do that.

They spent the rest of the afternoon on the Venice beach boardwalk. She liked it. Relaxing. They walked and held hands while blending with the colorful crowd around them. Numerous stores offered everything you can wish for. They got hot-dogs and shaved ice and found a bench with a view of a street performer who was balancing on a unicycle while Pomeranian dog did tricks on his shoulders. Both Ellie and Jasper got messy from ketchup and mustard and they wiped each other clean. Jasper proved Ellie's earlier point that he can transform any situation into a kiss-appropriate one, and she was slightly embarrassed that she dropped the napkins. Jasper swiftly picked up few unruly napkins which were carried few feet away by the light wind and other than showing his wicked smile, he didn't tease her about it.

Ellie was checking out one stand filled with handmade necklaces and bracelets when Jasper got into a nearby store. A minute later he came out with two keychains that are shaped like jigsaw puzzle pieces. One had engraved 'perfect', and the other one 'fit'. He handed her the one with 'perfect'.

"Separately, you are 'perfect', and I am 'fit'… and together…", Jasper showed that two pieces can be interlocked, "…we are a 'perfect fit'."

Her eyebrow arched. "Are you saying that I'm not fit?"

"Don't tell me you want to compete with this?", Jasper asked with a straight face while raising his arm and flexing a perfectly shaped biceps.

She laughed. "I give up. You win."

No matter how much she told herself that she needs to keep her defenses up with Jasper, he was plowing through them like they don't exist. Three days ago she convinced herself that he is a player, and that he only wants to get under her skirt and moves on… and she was confident that it's working, because she is immune to his charms. But today he called himself her boyfriend, and she is anticipating eagerly his every next word, and she hopes that he can't hear the thumping of her restless heart… and they even have couple's keychains… and she likes it very much.

She is so vulnerable that she feels exposed. And she hates it. She hates that she can't trust him that he will not hurt her.

Oh, yes… the question was: why is Ellie having diner in Jasper's hotel room?

Jasper said that he made a dinner reservation, but there is a dress code. He offered to buy her a dress, but she refused. Ellie does not want Jasper to buy her clothes. But he didn't let her buy anything herself either, saying that it's his fault for not telling her in advance, and that he has an alternative which does not require change of clothes, so… here she is: at the large dining table, in a presidential suite, downtown Los Angeles, next to Jasper… just the two of them.

Ellie asked about what he does, and Jasper was happy to talk about his work. He started from the beginning by telling her that his grandfather founded the company, and that he took over the leadership after his father. He started working there five years ago, and in last two he has the role of a CEO. His father gradually handed him responsibilities and even though he is still present at most of the meetings, Jasper is the one in charge of decision making.

Jasper told her that since he took over, he is transforming the company's focus from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. They made great progress with solar energy and now are expanding to wind.

Ellie was impressed to hear that with these shifts in the company, he is making sure that people don't lose their jobs, and that his company is helping existing employees get necessary training to transfer to new technologies.

He proudly said that more than 90% of impacted employees successfully acquired necessary skills and stayed in the company, and that in last two years they grew by 32%.

Jasper told her few stories from the board meetings, and she confirmed that he has a gift to make any story interesting. Ellie laughed until her stomach ached when he explained with a straight face how Mr. Dickinson is in favor of fossil fuels because he is a fossil himself (because he is super-old and overdue for retirement… and reminds him of a dinosaur), with a side remark that Mr. Dickinson's attitude does not make sense because he should be against humans using his kin as an energy source.

Jasper was happy to see that Ellie is not bored and that she is asking smart questions.

Jasper sees Ellie as an attractive, young woman with a career, perky personality, sharp mind and tongue. Smart. Definitely smart. He wants to find out more about her, and in the process to figure out why is he so attracted to her.

Jasper silently admitted to himself that his interest in Ellie is not something he experienced before. He actually cares what she thinks about him, and hopes to leave a good impression. There is also an uncomfortable feeling whenever he sees her near another man, and he can't help but wonder if that is jealousy. There is also number of other new things which she stirs inside him, but he can't identify them, yet.

She is dazzling, and the fact that she looked perfectly happy with a simple low-key date sets her apart from many other girls he met… the girls who are practically demanding VIP treatment in their overpriced gowns and fake fingernails. And here he is… sitting at a table and having a pleasant conversation over dinner with a girl who is wearing a simple t-shirt and shorts… and the way her face lights up when she smiles overshadows every gown and fancy updo which usually come with a face covered in layers of luxurious makeup.

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