Destined

Chapter 1 * Giovanna

I'm sitting in a bar, close to my apartment, contemplating my life choices, what can say? Family will do that to you. Being the daughter of Jared and Camille Hathaway doesn't make anything easy, there was a time in life when I thought they could change but boy was I wrong.

I flag the bartender for another scotch and he nods."Alcohol won't solve your problems, believe me," I turn to the deep voice coming from my left.

I assess the stranger sitting next to me, sharp jawline line, icy blue eyes, he's extremely handsome I'll give him that but I will not engage, the bartender replaces my empty glass and winks, I roll my eyes.

"I'm sorry I didn't want to be intrusive, truly," the stranger says again.

"I don't want to be a bitch so please can you just stop talking to me?" I tell him without looking at him.

"I'm sorry," he says, he throws a few bills on the counter and leaves.

Fuck I didn't want to sound like a bitch but today was hard enough, add my parent's call to the mix and the bitchy side of me surfaces unapologetically and with no filter.

One year ago, today, I lost my brother. Noah and I were twins, he was my best friend and it was always us against the world.

When I told my family I was joining the SEALs my father laughed so hard in my face, when he noticed I wasn't laughing he understood I wasn't kidding so he turned to me and said, "Be honest with yourself Giovanna, no woman ever completed the Naval Special Warfare Preparatory school, what makes you any different? Stop deluding yourself child, just finish college and get married that's what women are good for". I was hurt by his words and I was determined to prove him wrong. I worked hard and was determined to succeed. I eventually joined the SEALs and was successful.

Noah was the only one who supported me "Prove him wrong, use that anger you feel inside you to go through it, it is hard to become a SEAL even for men, but I do know you, and when you put something on your mind, you always make it happen". I did just that. After years of listening to girl jokes and I that I wasn't SEAL material, I worked myself up the ranks, and I proved everyone wrong. I never gave up and kept pushing myself. I was determined to succeed and prove everyone wrong. I eventually made it to the SEALs and I am proud of my accomplishments.

The best day of my life was the day I become Senior Chief, and shove it up Daddy's dearest ass. Becoming a Senior Chief was a moment of great pride for me, and it allowed me to stand up to my father and show him that I was capable of achieving great things. However, when I learned the truth behind my brother's death, it changed everything for me and I could no longer see it as the same so I decided to retire and honor my brother's memory.

I leave the bar and notice someone is following me, I pick up the pace to confirm my suspicions, and the man does too.

I turn left into an alley take my scarf from around my neck and wrap it around my knuckles, as soon as the man turns, I deliver a right fist jab to his throat.

He falls on the floor, and I headlock him "Start talking, what the hell do you want with me?" I ask him.

He tries to turn but I apply more pressure and he squirms, "fuck of bitch" he breathes out, I apply more pressure and he passes out, I dial 911 and wait for the cops to show.

A squad car pulls up near us fifteen minutes later, and two officers climb out and walk towards us.

"What do you have here?" the two share a look after seeing the man unconscious on the floor.

"You did that?" one of them asks me taking in the big man on the floor and then looking me up and down.

"Yes, he should learn not to follow women in the dark of the night in a city like New York".

"You'll have to come down to the station and give your official statement and we need to double-check all of the facts before we can let you go".

For fuck sake, "Sure, to make all of our lives easier, he's been following me since St. Johns's bar, we passed two stores with cameras and an ATM, so you should be able to get clear images of the situation officers".

The man starts regaining consciousness, and they put him in the squad car, after getting my statement and details they ask me to get to the station as soon as I can, a while later, after giving my statement again to a detective, someone goes over the footage, takes the man's prints, and runs them through the system confirming that the man is a serial rapist that just got out of prison.

After, what it feels like forever, I get home, take a shower, and lay down. 

Couldn't sleep much yesterday but time I got ready and got to work. As soon as I get in my boss calls me into his office. I get to his office floor and his secretary greets me "Ms. Hathaway, please go in, he's expecting you" I nod and knock on his door.

"Come in" John calls from the other side of the door.

I opened the door and to my surprise, he was not alone with him there were two men, one I didn't recognize and the man from yesterday.