Is this destiny?

~ Golden Ocean Resort ~

Jeffrey's birthday celebration is about to start soon.

Jeff requested it to be a small gathering, with only the people they trust. JoAnna agreed and promised that she will deliver on it. An intimate gathering of a handful of people. Well, that was the plan.

They are using the same hall they did for Jeff's and JoAnna's wedding rehearsal dinner.

Vincent, Russel, and Christopher are in the event hall for more than an hour, snacking on appetizers and enjoying drinks. The three of them spent the morning on the shooting range and now they are sulking.

"Bradley is a traitor…", Vincent said dejectedly.

"Yeah, as soon as Paige is here, we don't exist.", Christopher added.

Paige is the girl Bradley is in love with for many years, but his parents don't approve of her due to her family background. That is why for official functions (like the inauguration of the Master of the White family), Bradley went with whomever his parents set him up with, but for private events like Jeff's private birthday, he goes with Paige.

Everyone invited has a suite in the resort from Friday to Monday, and many of guests arrived the previous evening.

Bradley and Paige are sharing the suite. They arrived the previous evening and didn't come out of their suite yet. If not for used plates on the floor in front of their door, no one would know that the room is occupied… by live people.

Vincent, Russel and Christopher don't want to meddle in Bradley's private life, but they all admire Paige who is faithfully waiting for Bradley and believing in him while his photos with other women are surfacing in the media. That woman must have endless love for Bradley, or she is blind. Probably blinded by love. They all know that Bradley loves her, but they also know that he is unable to oppose his parents. How will this end? At this rate, twenty years from now, Bradley will still be single (or forced into a marriage), while sneaking around with Paige who will see him on the news with other women by his side. No matter how they look at it, Bradley is treating Paige like a mistress even though he is not married.

"If that is love, I don't want it.", Vincent said.

Russel and Christopher cheered to that and clinked their glasses before downing them.

As much as they are enjoying their single-camaraderie, they are aware that not so long ago, there was six of them. And now that number is down to three.

No one wants to admit the obvious: Cupid is taking them down one by one.

…

Hill sisters met in JoAnna's office at the resort before lunch. Sarah told them that their mother is meeting with King and they all agreed to stay out of the way and let Stella handle that.

"We will go about our lives, as usually. If mom gets in trouble, Eve will notify us.", JoAnna concluded.

Sophia agreed. "For so many years she is doing everything without us. She can manage."

All three of them believe in their mother, but at the same time, all three are upset that Stella is keeping this information from them since they were born. They chewed on this topic many times, and it always ends up leaving them bitter because they can't forgive Stella for acting like she is protecting them while in reality, their ignorance only puts them in danger.

…

Back to present...

Hill sisters entered the event hall and saw that most of the guests are there.

The seating is preassigned, but it's not strict. Each table is set up for ten people, and has at least two empty chairs, to allow for guests to move around if they wish. Number of sofas is arranged next to the wall to allow people to network in a casual atmosphere.

Oscar, Elanor and Jarred are seated with five other people which Elanor added to the guest list. Jeff didn't like that his mother requested to add people, but she protested saying that she needs some company for herself as well.

Grandparents: Richard, Barbara, Donald, Mary and James are present as well.

Elanor was disappointed to hear that Stella and Edward are unable to join the event but the fact that she didn't ask what prevented them from coming told Sarah and JoAnna that Elanor already knows what Hill parents are up to.

Charlie and Emma are happily chatting with Jasper and Ellie. Penny is with them at the table, feeling slightly awkward to be the only single one (without a date), especially because there is an empty chair next to her.

Steve is talking with Felix and Bridgette is standing next to them while checking on a tablet few last minute things.

On Oscar's urging, Jeff invited ten of his closest business partners who came with their families and JoAnna invited few of her coworkers from LA Medical Center.

Vincent, Russel, and Christopher were joined at the table by Bradley, Paige, Isabella and Leah.

JoAnna also insisted that all the kids from the Cliffside Villa come and attend. "The ones you brought to the White Mansion last weekend did great. Others should also get the experience in handling themselves in these situations… Other than that, we know them well and feel that they should be a part of this. Jeff has the same opinion."

Sarah and Aiden accepted, knowing that their 'security personnel' is much more than that. The kids were delighted.

When everyone gathered together, JoAnna realized that they have over one hundred people present. So much for a small birthday party.

Back to present…

Sarah is looking at twenty three teenagers (including few pre-teens) who are seated at three tables, all dressed in formal suits and cocktail dresses, looking prim and proper for the occasion. For those twenty three kids, it's their first time to attend such an event.

The fourth table is for Jesse, Oni, Haru, Nala, Ron and Zula.

"Six of them attended the event last weekend and they all did great. I want you to observe them and learn.", Sarah instructed 'undercover newbies' who were at the other three tables. "Each of you has a mission to accomplish by end of the day..."

Since JoAnna was nice enough to invite all of them, Sarah and Aiden decided to take this up a notch and treat it as a training. Each of the kids has a mission. Ade has a task to find out Elanor's birthday, Wally has a task to find out Vincent's favorite drink, Daniel needs to get Bradley's cell phone number, etc.

"Boss, is there a chance that we can learn to ride horses?", Bas asked Sarah. He noticed the stables as soon as he arrived.

Sarah nodded in approval. "There are stables with horses and trainers, a shooting range, golf course and a spa that you can use freely AFTER you complete your missions. Keep in mind that at three o'clock the lunch event here will end and people will move onto other areas. Some will go on a boat until dinner time, others will stay here or maybe not…"

"You are saying that we have three hours to complete mission, or risk a failure?", Masika summarized after seeing that it's almost noon.

Sarah confirmed. "It is up to you if you will follow your target or not for the afternoon. But if your target decides to spend the afternoon shopping downtown Los Angeles, it might be more challenging to approach her. After dinner, there will be fireworks. If by then you didn't finish your mission, you failed. Failures will be punished, expect extra homework and restriction for the missions..."

Sarah answered few questions and went to join Aiden who is chatting with Felix, Steve and Bridgette.

The kids were left in a daze. Extra homework might not be so bad, but restriction in missions is a problem...

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