Is this destiny?

Jasper looked at Ellie with an unreadable expression. He has to acknowledge that what she said makes sense. If something can impact their relationship, both of them should be aware of it.

Jasper does not want to admit that his father can decide whom he will date, because if it comes to the point where Jasper needs to choose between his position in the company and Ellie… it will be a difficult choice. But even without going to that extreme, Norman is using his power over Jasper to make his life more challenging. "Are you sure you want to bother with this?"

"Since when it\'s a bother to understand troubles of a person you like?"

Jasper held his breath. Did she just say that she likes him? Or did he imagine it? "Say that again."

Ellie blinked few times and her breath hitched when she realized what she said. She cleared her throat before speaking: "I don\'t see it as a bother to understand your troubles."

"You missed the important part." Jasper frowned with a pout.

Ellie laughed at his silly antics. "Maybe we have a different opinion on what is important."

She has to admit that it\'s a lot of fun to spend time with Jasper.

Jasper took a deep breath and started explaining the situation in the company. First few sentences seemed forced, but after they came out, it was like a dam opened and Jasper found an outlet where he can pour his griefs and there was someone who will actually listen and care about it.

Jasper told her how as soon as he started showing interest in the company, his father froze all his other assets and sealed access to resources saying that only like that he can focus fully on the company.

Jasper didn\'t mention what those assets and resources are, but that doesn\'t matter.

That was more than five years ago, and at that time Jasper thought that there might be some logic behind his father\'s actions, but he was too naïve to question him. Jasper was excited to start working and making his ideas come true, and he didn\'t notice anything else. And by the time he realized that his father cut him off from advancing, it was too late.

"It all boils down to who controls the company.", Jasper explained. "By cutting of access to what I had, my father prevented me from getting more stocks. Right now, he has 30%, and I have 25%. Mother has 10%, but she is not active. Her instructions are that if we disagree, mother\'s shares gets split up between me and my father equally, and that brings us to 35% and 30%. So, I am still at a 5% disadvantage. To accept the proposal, I need 51%. Each of us has number of constant supporters…" Jasper went into details and even wrote down on a piece of paper percentages and names of shareholders who have 3% or more stocks and are attending meetings, marking the ones who always vote for him, and the ones who always support Norman.

Ellie looked at the paper where he scribbled while talking. She recognized last name Dickinson. It\'s the dinosaur-man (how Jasper called him) who is in favor of fossil fuels. Last names Stocker and Bally didn\'t sound familiar. "Why do these three always vote with your father?"

"Over the years my father made them a lot of money, and he has their blind trust. No matter what he wants, they will vote with him. I tried talking to them more than once. They will not change their allegiance no matter how unreasonable my father gets."

"I see… and in case you oppose your father, with his 35% and 18% that those three carry, he already has the majority needed to shut you down."

"Correct. And he uses comments like \'what if shareholders don\'t think of you as a good CEO\' more than I wish to admit. When he feels that I am crossing some line he imagined, he does not shy to threaten with a CEO vote, and I know that if he calls for that vote I will lose my position." Jasper rubbed his head anxiously. "He already has my other assets, if I lose this I\'m down to nothing. Yesterday he pulled that line about shareholders being unhappy even for re-hiring Lilian."

"Oh…", Ellie frowned.

Jasper looked at Ellie and felt that he overshared. He got so much into talking about his problems that he forgot that Lilian is a sensitive topic. "Don\'t worry, I will not let her get back."

Ellie was touched that next to all these problems he is facing, he is concerned about not hurting her feelings. "I am not worried. So, he is pressuring you to give her the job back?"

"Few times a day.", Jasper admitted.

"Thank you for telling me all this."

"Thank you for listening."

Jasper knows that just talking about it does not solve anything, but he felt lighter. Like she took some part of that weight on herself. For the first time in a long time, he felt… not alone.

Ellie thought how him sharing his troubles, brought them closer. She feels that he is treating her like an equal, and she likes that. She is happy that he trusts her enough to tell her with so many details how his father is controlling him. It\'s not easy for a man to admit that he has a weakness. All guys want to appear perfect, invincible. And Jasper exposed himself.

Jasper remembered that she came to his apartment for a date. "Clothes should be done drying soon. Did you decide what you want to do?"

Ellie thought what she wants to do. And other than spending time with Jasper, nothing else came to her mind. She realized that they would not have this conversation where Jasper told her what is weighing on his mind if they were in a public place.

Just the two of them, in his apartment, feels nice.

"Can we stay here? How about we watch a movie?", she gestured toward the TV. "And for dinner we can reheat leftovers."

Jasper held his breath. She does not want to go anywhere… she wants to spend time with him. Only him. Just the two of them. Thinking that two of them will be together in the privacy of his apartment for the rest of the afternoon, and evening, and… he started imagining the possibilities…

\'Be cool about it, don\'t make it look like it\'s a big deal!\', he smiled.

"Sounds good. Here…", Jasper handed her the remote. "Pick something to watch."

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