Crossing the line

Chapter 1

The moment I landed at the airport, my fingers worked against my phone screen, going to the call logs. I called Natasha seventeen times today— and now eighteen.

The bell rang as I held the phone against my ear. Two bell ranges before I heard Natasha's voice on the call, she sounded annoyed.

"Gal, I'm at the airport." I interrupted her yelling at whoever she was with currently. My voice was slightly whiny as I was exhausted enough from the seven-hour flight I was just in.

"Yeah- I'm on my way," she murmured on the call before hanging up on me.

I walked towards the vip lounge area, my fingers curled around the handle of my valise and my off-white Saint Laurent shoulder bag tucked safely under my shoulder.

I ordered a coffee. As I took a sip of it, the warm liquid hit my tongue and I felt better. Caffeine always makes me feel better. I sipped on my coffee, noticing a man in a suit walking past and flashing me a grin.

I mean, being nice and passing a gentle smile is okay but not that shit-eating grin.

I shook my head with disgust, continuing to sip on my coffee.

My phone rang, and I didn't take more than a few seconds to pick it up. Natasha spoke on the other end of the call, telling me she had reached the airport.

"Kath, I Am waiting outside," she said, her voice much calmer than it was before when I called her half an hour ago.

"Alright, I'm coming," I said, hanging up the call, already on my way out. I quickly cleared all the security checks, making my way out to my bestie.

As I exited the airport, I saw her standing with her phone attached to her ear. The way her expressions were curled, I could tell she wasn't happy with whatever the person on the other end of the call was saying to her, she looked furious. Something was wrong.

As soon as she noticed me, her lips quickly curled upwards in a bright smile and she was already walking towards me, putting her phone back into her purse.

"Bestie!" she exclaimed excitedly, wrapping her arms around me. I hugged her back with the same level of excitement as she had.

It had been almost four years since we last met, how could we not be excited?

"Oh my god, I'm tired," I grunted like a little child, pulling away from the hug.

"Aw poor baby," she says teasingly, before leading me towards her Range Rover. She opened the boot and helped me throw my suitcase in before we both took off to her house.

Within a few minutes, we were at the manor. She pulled in, parking the car right in front of the main doors of the mansion.

I stepped out of the car, the house helpers were already taking my suitcase out of the car boot. Natasha led me in as if I was coming here for the first time and this place was unknown to me.

"I know this is the fucking hallway, nat. Calm down." I said in a reassuring voice, putting my hand on her shoulder.

Natasha sighed dramatically, "You must hate me talking, don't you? That's why you're shutting me up." she murmured, bringing her hand to her chest dramatically, pretending to be hurt by my words.

"Shut up, bitch." I said with a small chuckle, swatting her arm with a gentle force and she burst into a laugh, but even her laugh sounded measured and classy. This whole bitch is classy, and I love it.

Suddenly a sharp, sleek voice cut me off, I turned around to see Mrs. Black standing on the wide, carpeted staircase. A perfect smile played over her red-painted lips as she walked down the staircase.

"Oh dear, I couldn't wait to see you when Natasha told me you'll be coming today."

She walked over to me and greeted me with an air kiss.

"It's so nice to see you again, Mrs. Black."

"Just call me Victoria, dear."

I passed her a small smile, nodding in acknowledgement. My gaze diverted between Victoria and Natasha, the room falling into an awkward silence.

Victoria breaks the silence, looking over at Natasha. "Natasha darling, have you told her about our plans?" she asks, her voice smooth as butter.

I look over at Natasha, a confused look playing on my face. Her face suddenly fell as her mom mentioned something I didn't know much about.

"Well, uhm- I was going to." she stutters.

"It's fine if you haven't, dear. I'll tell her right away." with that elegant smile still on her lips, she looked at me as if about to tell me the happiest news ever.

"Katherine honey, I received a call yesterday and unfortunately, Natasha and I will have to leave soon. We have a flight in the evening,"

She said in a very calm tone as if she hadn't just ruined my mood. Now that smile of hers was giving me an ick and I wanted to yell. But I'm good at self-control, I always have been.

"Oh, I see. When will you be back?" I ask, my tone levelled, the smile still spread across my lips even though I didn't have any reason to smile.

"It's not confirmed. But I hope we'll be back before you leave," she murmured, patting my shoulder before walking away.

I sighed, my face nothing like it was just a second ago. "Nat, what the hell?" I asked, slightly annoyed.

I mean, how would I not be annoyed after her mom just gave me a bomb-dropping news?

"Look, I know, Katherine, it's hard to digest. But I swear I don't have any option. I will have to stick with Mom on that trip. And it's not even a trip, there is some mishap that occurred in Edinburgh and Mom has forced me to come along with her."

Natasha tried to justify her reason for going along with her mom and I realized that she really does not have any option. I know she can't oppose her mom's decision and I don't blame her for that. Victoria is not a bad mom but she does not tolerate someone going against her in this house.

Natasha's father is mostly never at home, he's always on some business trips. And after him, the house responsibility falls on Victoria and Natasha's brother, whatever his name is.

I understand, that Victoria is just doing her part but I think she has lost herself too much in it that she is forgetting she is also supposed to listen to her child's wants.

With a sigh, I threw my arms around Natasha. "It's okay, I understand," I mumble into her shoulder before pulling away.

"But who am I going to stay here with?"

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Word count: 1155