Is this destiny?

JoAnna gave up on protecting last few desserts, and Aiden and Sarah finished them with gusto. To her surprise, Aiden volunteered to go and get more.

"Start from the right side of the table!", JoAnna advised him since she didn't pick up sweets from that end.

"So, what are we doing here, besides stuffing ourselves with sweets?", Sarah asked JoAnna when Aiden disappeared between people toward the table with desserts. "Do we have a plan?"

JoAnna started explaining: "I want to find out why Blanca told Enrique when we are visiting the property…"

Sarah rolled her eyes and interrupted JoAnna. "Why is that important? She sold you out. Either because of money or some feelings she has toward Jeff."

"How do you know?"

"Because those two make world go around…" Sarah gave a meaningful look to JoAnna and continued: "Jeff said he didn't do any business before with her, so money is probably not the reason. It's a safe guess that she has some feelings toward Jeff and the deal is that Enrique takes care of you, and she comes to console him."

"What makes you think so?" JoAnna was not convinced. She didn't like the idea that she was used to get to Jeff, no matter how obvious that was.

Sarah understands JoAnna's feelings, but they will not change what happened. "The fact is that Jeff got only one message from Enrique notifying him that he has you. He never made any demands. So, Enrique either didn't have a plan in place, or the plan was to hurt Jeff by using you as a revenge for his bankruptcy… I'm finding it hard to believe that Enrique came from Venezuela with desire to get revenge and no plan. Do you know how freaked out Jeff was when he saw your picture, tied up, on the floor… and no way to confirm if you are hurt… or alive? I'm sure his life got shorter by a decade from the shock... And because there was no follow up like 'give me five million dollars in next three hours or else…' I have a feeling that Enrique didn't really take you away because of the money. He lost his business, for a man that is the same as if he lost his pride. He wanted to hurt Jeff, and there is no better way than through you… If my guess is right, that one photo was just the beginning… he wanted to torture Jeff and he would take his sweet time doing it… eventually, you would be out of the picture, and Jeff would be broken… at that time Blanca comes at him with an excuse that she feels guilty because it happened at the property she recommended and comforts him. She gets a chance to be close to Jeff, and Enrique gets his revenge."

JoAnna was holding her breath while listening to Sarah. "That's a wild story."

"Maybe… but it fits into everything we know so far. Do you have a better version?"

"No…" JoAnna admitted.

"Let's scratch all that. All speculations aside, she sold you out. And that demands revenge." Sarah's eyes flashed as she glanced over people present. "Say… this is Blanca's party. If something goes wrong, it might hurt her reputation. Depending on how big scandal comes out of it, even her business might suffer."

"Do you have something on your mind?" That question was not necessary. Sarah's expression told JoAnna that Sarah thought of something.

"Do you have some of that truth-telling medicine on you?" Sarah saw JoAnna nod and continued. "I saw a large punch bowl on the table in that area…" Sarah gestured with her chin and a mischievous smile bloomed on her face. "What if these guests suddenly start telling no-lies?"

JoAnna laughed. "In this setting? That will ruin the party." 

She could not deny that Sarah's idea is good. The medicine has no side effects, so the only thing that will happen is that people might embarrass themselves by saying what is on their mind. And that will happen on Blanca's party, so it will be connected to her. Blanca's reputation will suffer, and she will lose clients… JoAnna likes where this is going.

"You two are in good mood." Aiden approached them with two plates full of desserts.

"We decided to have some fun." Sarah responded and glanced around. "Hey, where is Jeff?"

"I'm here", Jeff's voice reached them two seconds before he did.

Jeff faced Sarah and flashed a smile. "Thank you for noticing my absence." He refused to look at JoAnna.

JoAnna saw that Jeff is sulking and tried to understand why. She realized why, when she remembered what he told Sarah. "Ah… are you mad at me for leaving you there?"

Jeff pretended he didn't hear her.

"I thought you are doing some business talk, so I came to look for my sister…" JoAnna tried to coax him.

Jeff didn't buy her excuse.

JoAnna knows that he can tell that she is not fully truthful. But how is she supposed to tell him that she got aroused because he looked goddamn sexy, and she needed to distance herself to cool off? "Fine, there was something else as well… I will tell you later, in private. OK?"

"No. Tell me now." Jeff demanded stubbornly.

JoAnna rolled her eyes and tugged on his collar to come closer.

Sarah and Aiden observed JoAnna whispering something to Jeff and a smile bloomed on his face. He was happy with whatever she told him.

Jeff kissed JoAnna few times and she giggled when he whispered back.

By the time they finished with their public display of affection, Aiden and Sarah were busy with desserts and did their best to ignore Jeff and JoAnna.

"You two, watch the deserts…" JoAnna told Jeff and Aiden. "I'm going on a mission with my sister. We will be back in a bit." She grinned and pulled Sarah with her.

Two of them returned few minutes later.

"These are good." Jeff praised the desserts.

"You think so too?" JoAnna approved. "I was thinking we should get this pastry chef for our wedding."

"It will happen as you wish…", Jeff dotingly said before asking: "What mission did you two do?"

"We did something naughty…" JoAnna made a meaningful pause before continuing: "This party will turn into a game of truth or dare, with a slight modification where everyone picks the truth."

"If someone offers you a punch, don't take it.", Sarah added.

Aiden and Jeff understood what girls did.

They watched people who were taking the punch. It seems that it was good, because they could see many guests carrying glasses with punch as they walked around. Sarah and JoAnna regretted not tasting the drink before they laced it with medicine.

"Are you sure you put enough?" Sarah asked JoAnna. "It's five minutes already and nothing happened."

Just as she finished her sentence there was a resounding slap sound and a woman screamed: "HOW DARE YOU!"