Is this destiny?

Miss Sparks, Miss Thompson and Miss Davis (aka Chelsea) stared at Charlie and Emma without moving.

Charlie's words rang in their heads. 'You are not welcome in our home… not welcome in our home… OUR home…???'

They glanced at each other while wondering if Charlie is married to the woman by his side. Not possible, right?

Chelsea wanted to say something to fix the situation, but she was not sure how much Charlie heard. Based on his icy gaze, she knows that he heard enough to understand that they bullied Emma again.

Chelsea clenched her teeth at the sight of Charlie protectively holding Emma. Why is he treating her so kindly? She is a nobody! 

"Are they still here?", JoAnna asked when she entered the living room with Jeff to add another shock to three women who already felt that they can't breathe.

JoAnna looked at Emma. "Did they apologize properly?"

Emma made a sorrowful expression and turned to Charlie who hugged her and patted her back.

"I see…", JoAnna mumbled. "Don't worry, sweetie. I know that you are magnanimous, and you will give them another chance."

"I don't know if it will make any difference. They bullied me again.", Emma spoke in Charlie's chest.

"Again?" JoAnna frowned and pursed her lips. "I believe that everyone deserves a second chance. I'm confident that young ladies from prominent families can come up with creative ways to show their sincerity…" She turned to three women. "How about it, ladies? Do you want another chance, or will you go home to tell your parents that you messed up and made it worse?"

"Speak up!", JoAnna's fierce tone made three women almost jump out of their skin.

"Yes, yes…", Miss Thompson was the first one to recover. "Another chance, please…"

Chelsea dejectedly agreed while Miss Sparks nodded vigorously.

"Good!", JoAnna exclaimed. "Keep in mind that just words will not be enough. I look forward to seeing how sincere you can be. You have 48 hours. If my dear friend is not pacified with tokens of your apology, your families will find out what suffering is by end of the week. Make sure that Miss Lenihan gets the same message as well."

JoAnna smiled and gestured toward the door.

Three women lowered their heads and headed out silently.

"I'm sorry that you had to go through that.", Charlie told Emma softly while rubbing her back.

"Why are you apologizing?", Emma smiled and touched his face. "Their behavior shows how ugly they are on the inside, and it's not affecting me in the slightest."

Charlie smiled while looking at Emma gently and kissed her forehead.

After some time, Emma glanced at JoAnna who was looking at them with a glee.

Emma tried getting out of Charlie's embrace, but he didn't let go. "Charlie, please..."

"I can tell that you are still upset.", he tightened his hold on her.

Emma pinched his waist lightly.

"Hey! I was comforting you." Charlie sulked while rubbing his waist.

Emma looked at the man who got addicted to acting. She barely touched him, and he is complaining like a piece of his skin is missing. "Everyone who needs comforting left the room."

"Do you want me to go and hug them instead?"

Charlie's question earned him another pinch. But this one was more forceful.

Emma ignored Charlie's protests. She didn't know if she can believe him or not considering that he asked for more hugs to make him feel better.

Emma looked at JoAnna. "Is this OK? This is extortion."

JoAnna shrugged. "Bully can be defeated only by a bigger bully." She hugged Jeff and grinned. "And we are the biggest bullies around."

JoAnna saw that Emma is not comfortable and decided to pacify her. "Don't forget that they started it. Being nice will not rub on them and ignoring them will only empower anyone who harbors similar thoughts. You don't need to face them anymore. Accept tokens of their apologies as a compensation for all the emotional distress they put you through."

Emma saw that refusing is not working and she told herself that she should learn from JoAnna. Last year, both of them were employed at the Franciscan Medical Center, and even though JoAnna is a Hill, she had a relatively normal life, similar to Emma's, and now she is Mrs. White who many fear.

Emma thought how knowing JoAnna, this is not over. "What will you do to them?"

"We will not do anything… in next 48 hours.", JoAnna said smugly and she added with a sinister smile: "After that we will use them as an example for what happens to anyone who dares to go against us."

The maid peeked in the living room. "Madam, your medications arrived."

JoAnna frowned. "Medications? Are you sick?" She walked to the maid and took the brown bag from her hand. "It's OK. I am a doctor."

Emma didn't pay attention to JoAnna, her focus was on Charlie. "Can you ask them to stop calling me 'Madam'?"

Emma does not know why is the staff calling her 'Madam' since she woke up. That is not part of the play they set up to get those three misses to incriminate themselves.

Charlie smiled playfully. "They are getting ready for what is inevitably coming in the near future."

Emma shook her head helplessly and her sight fell on JoAnna who inspecting the contents of her bag with medications!

Emma dashed to JoAnna, but she was too late. She was greeted by a full-blown teasing-ready expression from JoAnna. Even her eyes were sparkling.

Emma pressed her lips into a thin line and hoped that JoAnna does not embarrass her too much but knowing that JoAnna has a mouth without a filter, it will not be easy. She can come up with an excuse why she is taking contraceptive pills, but the morning-after pill is a dead giveaway of what happened last night.

"Give me that, please…", Emma said carefully while trying not to provoke JoAnna who looked like a ticking bomb, eager to blow up at any moment.

"Not until you tell me: how was it? And I want details on how it reached to that point.", JoAnna grinned victoriously.

"Anna, please…", Emma grumbled and reached for the bag.

JoAnna jerked her hand, so that the bag is out of Emma's reach. "Not until I hear what I want."

"Anna!", Emma jumped for the bag but JoAnna was faster.

In a second it turned out in a chase through the house with JoAnna's giggles and taunts and Emma's warnings accompanied by occasional curses.

Charlie was entertained by watching two women acting like kids and he was surprised how nimbly JoAnna leaped over the sofa… and Emma didn't have much problems getting over it either. Ah, it seems that there is a lot for him to learn about his future wife.

Jeff shook his head at the silly antics of his wife and took a seat on the sofa when two women dashed out of the living room toward the dining room.

JoAnna is faster and nimbler, but Emma has the advantage of knowing the house layout. Who knows who will win?

Jeff looked at Charlie: "I recommend you to sit. This can take a while."

At this point, Jeff's impression of Charlie improved significantly, and he decided to talk to the man and find out more about him.

Jeff was interested in the status of Charlie taking over Smithsonite corp.

"My Uncle is slowly giving responsibilities to me, but he believes that I am still not ready to take over everything.", Charlie explained.

"I shadowed my father for some time as well. I was confident that I got it, but when he stepped down, I felt the heat and realized how unprepared I am…", Jeff shared his experiences.

Two men bonded while exchanging stories and they discussed some potential collaboration as well.

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