Is this destiny?

JoAnna and Bridgette stepped out of the stable while following Al and Miss Das and saw eight people in dark brown suits all dirty and messed up, busying themselves with moving around hay bales. JoAnna almost laughed when she saw that there are machines for that, but these people did everything manually. Later JoAnna found out that people who usually do this work didn't want to show them how to do it, so they went to keep busy with something else, leaving these eight to figure out by themselves how to accomplish their tasks.

One woman even had a tear on her skirt. Upon closer look, JoAnna saw that woman is Janet. Their hairstyles were not sleek and tidy as usual, they were very messy. It was obvious that those eight people worked hard dirty jobs last few hours. And they all looked exhausted and unhappy.

JoAnna was pleased with this sight.

"Al, when can we stop doing this?", Mr. Luck grumbled when he saw Al approaching them.

Mr. Luck was not happy. He is a manager! A low level manager who didn't really have reports, but he still managed schedule of four people who were tasked to greet and entertain wealthy customers. Those four people are now working next to him, dirty and smelly. Even the horses are cleaner than them!

"When the owner says so." Al responded to Mr. Luck. He didn't like him, and he didn't feel any pity. Al remembered that more than once Mr. Luck would call him dirty and smelly because he works with horses. But look who is smelly and dirty now!

"Why would Mr. Halley send us to clean stables?", another young man asked.

"It's not Mr. Halley. Resort has new owner." Miss Das responded.

Eight people paused and looked at Bridgette and JoAnna. Those are new faces. Well-dressed ladies. Probably owners.

JoAnna really enjoyed watching Mr. Luck, Janet and the receptionist lady whose name she never heard. But the name was not important. They were pulled down from their imaginary pedestals. And they were dirty, and they were unhappy. They got their dose of being mistreated without knowing why.

Mr. Luck cleared his throat and approached them. In an instant four bodyguards stood between him and JoAnna, and he froze. He looked at Al. "Is this the new owner?"

"Yes. This is Miss Hill." Al confirmed.

At the mention of the name, receptionist stared at JoAnna and her mouth hang open. She recognized the name immediately.

Janet and Mr. Luck didn't recognize the name. They would never remember names of someone who is not important, and yesterday 'Miss Hill' was not important.

"Hi Miss Hill", Mr. Luck spoke humbly. "I'm Paul Luck… I'm the manager in charge of customer satisfaction." He was confident that him being here doing these dirty jobs was a mistake. Now that the owner is here, he will be courteous, and she will probably even apologize.

He wanted to extend his hand for a handshake, but then he noticed that he is dirty, and he kept his hand behind his back and only bowed slightly. And he could not shake hands with her anyway because bodyguards were in the way.

"Yes, I know who you are. We met.", JoAnna slightly tilted her head and gave him a minute to think about what she said.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize that we met already. How reckless from my side. I don't know how it is possible that I forgot a person magnificent like yourself." Mr. Luck flashed a charming smile.

JoAnna could only praise his brown-nosing capabilities.

"Your memory must be quite bad. You should go and check it out. After all, we met yesterday." JoAnna smiled and removed her sunglasses.

It took him few seconds to realize who she is. His expression was priceless: eyes wide open, and his mouth moved open-close without making any sound. His complexion paled and his cheeks twitched as if he is having some seizure.

Other seven people didn't see Mr. Luck expression because his back was facing them. But they glanced among each other and they observed that receptionist has an expression full of horror. Janet also seemed to understand something, and her eyes were wide open as well. Other five people didn't know what is going on.

JoAnna watched eight people and thought that their expressions are entertaining. It was a sweet moment of revenge. She wanted to take a picture… and why not? She got her phone and snapped few.

"As you all know now, I am the new owner. And you are all fired.", JoAnna smugly said. She could not hide that she is enjoying this. "Those clothes belong to resort. How much I can see, they are unusable. You have one week to pay the resort for the clothes you are wearing, and you have half an hour to leave resort grounds."

…

"You should have seen their faces… that shock… that disbelief…", JoAnna laughed while telling Jeff over video chat from her office. "And then I said: 'you need to pay for those clothes'…"

Jeff laughed with her. "I'm glad you are enjoying."

"Yes, yes! And it's all thanks to you! Thank you!" She sent few flying kisses to the camera.

Jeff gestured as if he is catching them, and he blew few kisses back to her.

JoAnna laughed while catching his kisses.

"Let's celebrate! How about dinner? My treat!"

"Will you cook?", Jeff was excited.

JoAnna frowned. "No time for that. I'm a busy woman. I have a lot of things to do… How about you come here? We can have dinner in the restaurant, food is really good. I recommend chocolate cake for dessert. And you can see this place… Just bring some clothes, I've got five bedroom apartment upstairs where we can freshen up and relax..."

"OK." Jeff accepted. He wanted to see the apartment. "I will bring clothes for you as well… I will let you know when I head out."

…

JoAnna was going through list of things to do with Bridgette. They wanted to meet the employees, learn about resort and how it operates, as well as challenges it's facing.

"If we have a good pace, it will take us three days to settle things here. Then we can focus on the wedding.", JoAnna concluded.

JoAnna admitted that she has a lot to learn.

"How much do you want to be involved in running this resort?", Bridgette was curious.

"I don't know." JoAnna shrugged. "At this point it's new, so I'm interested to find out about it. Later I might hire someone to be in charge while I focus on my things... But it's early to tell. I might end up liking this… I admit, I enjoyed today. Meetings, talking about important stuff, making decisions and firing people. This position of power is something that I'm liking more than I thought I would."

"Whatever you decide I'm here to help out.", Bridgette reminded her.

JoAnna was happy that Bridgette is considerate. She told Bridgette that Jeff is coming for dinner.

"Will you stay here overnight?"

"Maybe…?", JoAnna grinned.

Bridgette felt the need to explain herself. She does not want to appear to be too nosy. "I'm only asking so that I know if I'm going back by myself or with your company… but since Big Boss is coming, I guess I should not count on your company."

"Ah, do you think Jeff will come without Steve, knowing that you are here?" JoAnna winked. "Don't worry. We will talk during dinner. If we stay overnight, I will make sure you get the best room in the resort. Or… you are welcome to stay with us in the penthouse; it has five bedrooms. How does that sound? Then… in the morning, guys can go to work, and we save time on commute."

Bridgette approved. "We will go with room in the resort, please. I will call Steve to make sure he gets clothes for us."

Bridgette thought that there is NO WAY they will stay overnight in the same apartment with Big Boss and Lady Boss.