Is this destiny?

In a restaurant, downtown Los Angeles…

JoAnna, Sarah, Ellie, Emma, Bridgette and Penny are munching on appetizers while chatting lively.

Ellie was telling them about her wedding preparations.

"It is crazy, but we almost got everything figured out.", Ellie summarized her talk and turned to Sarah: "Did you guys decide what we are doing for Jasper\'s and my pre-wedding party?"

"Yes!", Sarah grinned. "We picked things which will be fun for everyone: an escape room and a dinner with karaoke."

Penny\'s eyes were shining. She never did anything that was not lady-like and approved by her parents. Escape rooms and karaoke would NOT be approved by her parents. She feels lucky that Hill sisters see her as a friend. Because of them Penny got close to Ellie and she is invited to the wedding as well!

Ellie blinked. "I never did karaoke and for the escape rooms... I\'m good with fabrics and chemistry, and Jasper is super-smart and great with gadgets. We have a good chance of winning. I hope there will be prizes included. Ah! I should practice singing so I don\'t scare my guests away!"

"Escape rooms are cool!", JoAnna exclaimed. "I love finding clues and solving riddles to go to the next level. You might be a good team with Jasper, but Jeff and I are the best." JoAnna proclaimed, but then started thinking if Jeff ever went to an escape room, and if he will like it.

"You never did karaoke?", Bridgette asked Ellie.

"I sing under the shower, does that count?", Ellie asked through giggles.

"Is it a solo performance or a duet with Jasper?", JoAnna winked playfully.

They all laughed at Ellie\'s bashful expression while guessing what else Ellie does with Jasper in the shower (other than signing).

Ellie knows that girls can be shameless, but some of the ideas were over the top.

Bridgette whispered into Ellie\'s ear and Ellie gasped: "I need to try that!"

JoAnna was curious. "What, what, what?! I want to know!"

"This requires your man to be strong and big.", Bridgette brushed off JoAnna.

JoAnna\'s fighting spirit lit up. "Are you saying that Jeff is not strong? And he is much taller than me! In what way he needs to be big? I don\'t want to brag, but Jeff is not lacking in that department either. But I need details. I\'m invoking my rights as your employer, and I demand that you tell me!"

Bridgette stuck her tongue out defiantly. "As your assistant, it\'s my duty to watch over your wellbeing. This requires some… acrobatics." Bridgette winked playfully at JoAnna. "I will tell you once those babies come out of your belly and you are cleared for strenuous activity."

All girls laughed at JoAnna\'s outraged expression. Everyone saw that JoAnna is very eager to find out what is behind those words: acrobatics, strenuous activity, man needs to be strong and big, and it all happens in the shower!

Ellie looked at Emma questionably. "What do you mean by sitting on his shoulders and he goes…?"

"Not so loud!", Emma interrupted Ellie, reminding her in an urgent whisper that they are in a public place.

Sarah cleared her throat and leaned closer to Ellie. "You sit facing him with your legs around…", she gestured on the neck and shoulders. "And he holds…", Sarah held her hands in front of her, palms up with spread fingers (indicating that the man is holding onto buttocks).

Ellie inhaled sharply and made a face at Emma. "I didn\'t know that Charlie is so… adventurous."

When they finished teasing each other, their giggles and laughs died down and they moved onto a topic of a honeymoon.

"We should get Ellie some super-sexy lingerie, to spice up their honeymoon.", JoAnna suggested. "Tassels and feathers are a must and less is more!"

"It seems you are talking from experience…", Emma teased.

JoAnna didn\'t deny it.

"Did you decide on a honeymoon destination?", Bridgette asked.

"We agreed on Europe.", Ellie responded. "But we could not pick one place, so as a compromise, we will start with United Kingdom and then head to Germany, France, Italy and end with Spain. But we don\'t have a fixed itinerary. If we like the place we will stay longer, and if we don\'t we will move on to the next. Considering our usually busy schedules, we want to have a schedule-free honeymoon."

"France?", Sarah\'s eyes lit up. "Aiden and I will be in France first half of June. If you are there, we can meet for lunch or something like a double-date! We also have a property nearby Paris, you are welcome to stay there… Ouch!" Sarah glared at JoAnna who pinched her arm. "What was that for?"

JoAnna rolled her eyes at Sarah. "Who has double dates and stays with friends during a honeymoon? It\'s a time of just the two of them, going at it like rabbits. Hehehe…"

Sarah gave JoAnna a side-glance. "If you had the time to find treasure and catch pirates on your honeymoon, Ellie and Jasper can meet with us for lunch."

"Pirates?", Penny\'s eyes lit up. She is always amazed to hear about all the adventures Hill sisters had. Well, it\'s usually Sarah who travels and comes back with amazing stories (and people and pets), but this time it\'s JoAnna.

"Tell us about it!", Ellie demanded.

After JoAnna\'s story about the pirates, the topic moved onto Penny and her as a hotel owner.

Penny thanked Bridgette for her help in terms of business and then turned to Sarah: "Thank you for letting Jesse and Oni stay with me. I was able to move freely knowing that I\'m safe."

"No problem.", Sarah waved her hand telling Penny to drop the topic. "That is what friends are for."

"I know that I might be pushing it too far, but I have another request…", Penny told them about her parents and how she suspects that they will try to approach her with a goal to get money and other benefits. "Based on how they looked at me and Ben, they suspect that Ben is my sugar-daddy."

JoAnna shared her thoughts: "They probably don\'t know that you have the hotels, but that is not something that can be hidden for long, considering that you went there in person and many people saw you. What do you plan?"

"I need security." Penny looked at Sarah. "I was hoping that you can help me with that."

Sarah pointed at JoAnna. "For resources, Anna is the person. I can help training them."

"About that…", Emma interjected into conversation. "Can you train me also?"

"What do you want to learn?", Sarah asked Emma.

"I want not to be useless. Or at least to take care of myself. Charlie is not telling me much about his family, but I\'ve heard stories how they are ruthless, and I suspect that is the reason why he is postponing introducing me to any Smith other than Jarred. He has several cousins who want his position in the family, and I don\'t know what to expect but I know that I don\'t want to be a burden for him."

Sarah saw that Emma\'s mood is dropping and she started talking cheerfully: "Don\'t be gloomy about it. You are looking at an expert. Come to my place and I will evaluate your current condition and we can discuss your preferences before I suggest some things for you. Other than you learning few moves, I recommend that like Penny you also consider hiring few people who will follow you around when you suspect that someone might target you. I know that Charlie has his people, but it\'s safer to have bodyguards who are loyal to you. Also, Anna has a variety of gadgets, and she is good with firearms as well…"

"I want to join also!", Penny demanded.

"You are pregnant.", Sarah rejected her.

"I can show you what I have, and maybe something will work for you.", JoAnna offered to Penny.

"Ah, now I want to join as well.", Bridgette said.

"Sure. We can create a girl-squad. But we need to pick a name first.", Sarah suggested jokingly.

"Our skills are boosted by the pregnancy hormones!", JoAnna exclaimed while looking at Penny.

Ellie grimaced. "Is that a girl-squad name suggestion or your current state?"

Everyone laughed.

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