Is this destiny?

Most of the females were around the stage, waiting for their turn to sing, leaving guys with plenty of time to sit and chat.

"Can we join?", Charlie asked when he and Steve approached the table where Jeff, Vincent, Russel and Jasper are seated.

"Absolutely.", Jasper gestured to the two empty chairs.

Charlie and Steve took their seats, and all six chairs were occupied.

Jasper raised his glass, initiating another toast, still under the mood of their previous discussion. "To old friendships."

"And the new ones.", Jeff added while glancing at Charlie and Steve.

They all clinked their glasses and downed them.

Steve didn't understand Jeff's point about new friends. Why did he look at him like that? They know each other for years, but then… compared to Jasper, Vincent and Russel, Steve is (almost) new.

Steve froze when a thought hit him: does Jeff know that Steve approached him with ulterior motives, to spy on him? And that only recently he decided that he does not want to work for Longs, and he choose his independence and to stay loyal to Jeff? Is that why he looked at him when he mentioned new friends?

Jeff's next comment made Steve break into a cold sweat: "We should not forget that under the strong enough influence, people can change their minds, for better or for worse."

"Why don't you go and ask her to dance?", Jasper asked Russel.

"Who?", Russel pretended that he does not know that Jasper is talking about Anita.

"She worked as a model, that is how Ellie and Anita met. Anita retired from modeling two years ago, but is still in the fashion industry, just away from the limelight. Her business is doing well, and she is planning to expand to Europe. Maybe she could use some help with financing? I hear that you are leading efforts in branching to Europe...", Jasper said meaningfully. "Anita's background is not shabby and she herself is worth eight digits. I am sure that if you get to the point of introducing her to your family, they will not find faults with her…"

Russel understood that Jasper is giving him topics to start a conversation with the young lady who caught his eye. He listened carefully to every word which came from Jasper.

Russel cleared his throat. "Thanks."

"You are welcome…", Jasper said while watching Russel walk toward Anita. "Good luck."

"If he makes it, then we all have dates for the next event.", Vincent said while looking at Russel who successfully invited Anita to a dance.

Vincent and Jasper followed with their gazes Russel and Anita... they smiled... looks promissing. Next to Russel and Anita are few more couples dancing, including Sophia and Felix and Sarah and Aiden.

Vincent spotted another pair on the dancefloor. He nudged Charlie. "Are you OK with that?"

Charlie glanced in the direction where Vincent pointed and saw Emma and Brian dancing. They were at a respectable distance and talking.

Charlie took a deep breath to calm his emotions. Of course, he does not like it, but Emma told him that she and Brian are friends and Charlie knows that if she wants to go back with Brian, there is nothing he can do about it.

Charlie told the green beast which raged inside him to calm down because Emma loves him, and she does not have any romantic feelings toward Brian. She is an attractive young woman, and it's unreasonable to expect that no one will try to make a move on her. As long as Brian is respectful, Charlie will not meddle. He trusts Emma.

"They are OK.", Charlie responded dryly and reached for his glass.

On the dancefloor…

"Your boyfriend does not mind that you are dancing with another man?", Brian asked Emma.

"My fiancé…", Emma corrected him. "He does not mind when I am dancing with a friend. Should he be worried?"

Brian smiled. "If a handsome man is dancing with you and you are my fiancée, I would be worried."

Emma tilted her head and said teasingly: "Charlie does not think that you are handsome."

Brian's eyebrows shoot up in surprise for a second before a sly smile settled on his handsome lips. "It does not matter what he thinks. What do you think? Am I handsome?"

"I think that you are dangerously close to crossing the line.", Emma warned him in a low voice.

"Sorry…" Brian adjusted his mood. "You know that my feelings toward you didn't change. Even if you marry him, you will still have a space in my heart."

Emma sighed. "Brian, I…"

"It's OK.", Brian interrupted her. "I know that you don't feel the same. But remember that if he ever hurts you, I will not forgive him… also, if you ever get bored of him, I will be waiting."

The song ended and Emma let go of Brian.

"Another dance?", Brian offered.

Emma refused. "I don't want to make my fiancé get the wrong idea. I am already testing his patience by giving you one dance."

Brian pursed his lips in protest. "Stingy."

Emma ignored his childish behavior, she waved him 'bye' and moved to sit next to Penny who was by herself at the moment.

"Are you OK?", Penny asked Emma.

"Yeah, why?"

Penny looked at Emma and thought if she should say something or not.

Emma noticed Penny's reluctance and urged her to speak up. "Tell me."

"Why are you dancing with Brian?"

"We are friends."

"I don't want to meddle but… Brian is not looking at you like you are just a friend."

Emma didn't deny it. "He knows that it's not mutual."

"He is a man. From my experience: he is playing nice only because he thinks that he still has a chance."

 "What do you think he will do when the reality sinks in?"

Penny shrugged. "I don't know. However, the longer you are playing this friendship game, the more heartbroken he will be when he realizes that it's really over."

Emma lowered her gaze while thinking about Penny's words. "You are saying that the longer I wait in cutting off ties with him, I am making it worse?"

Penny responded with a small nod. "And it's not only him… I am aware that Charlie told you that he does not mind you staying friends with Brian, but did you see how he was looking at you? You are creating doubts where there should be none. Don't break his heart."

Emma sighed, feeling defeated. "No matter what, someone's heart will be broken."

"Yes. And you need to decide if that someone will be your ex-boyfriend who still has feelings for you or your fiancé. But make up your mind quickly because the more you delay, the worse it will be."

Emma looked at Penny and smiled before pulling her into a hug. "Thank you for being my friend."

Penny returned the hug. "You are welcome."

Ben returned and didn't interrupt the hug between Emma and Penny.

Emma walked to the other side of the restaurant, toward the table where Charlie is sitting and sat in Charlie's lap.

Charlie was surprised to see this sudden display of affection, but he liked that Emma hugged him and placed her head on his shoulder like there is no one else around.

"When can we go?", Emma asked Charlie.

"Anytime. Dinner is over, and we did our songs." He glanced at Emma. "You want to go now?"

Emma moved higher and whispered in Charlie's ear: "I am thirsty."

It took Charlie few seconds to process her words. That is what he tells her when he goes down on her, does that mean that she wants to go down on him?

"You mean…?", Charlie didn't finish his question. He saw that Emma is giving him a knowing look, and that combined with her smile and a small nod can mean only one thing!

"Let's go and thank our hosts, and we are out of here.", Charlie told Emma with a big smile.

…

In the limousine, Emma and Charlie are heading to their hotel. It's about twenty minute ride, and Charlie thought how that is twenty minutes too much.

When the car started moving, Emma reached for the control panel and pressed the button which lifted a divider between the driver and the back seats.

Emma confirmed that they have the privacy and got on her knees between Charlie's legs.

"Here?", Charlie asked when he saw her unbuttoning his pants.

Emma didn't respond, but she didn't stop her movements either so that answered his question.

Charlie is not sure what happened to get Emma into this state, but he would like if it happens more often. He lifted himself slightly, to allow her to pull his pants and underwear down to his ankles and released a silent hiss when he felt her mouth wrap around his erection. Ah, this will be a great night!

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