Crossing Lines

Prologue

Prologue

"Lady Diana! Where've you been? I've been looking for you everywhere!" Although his tone gave away how alarmed he was, the relief in his blue eyes was evident at the sight of her.

Trying to ease the hardness of her pounding heart, she offers the man in front of her, who appeared to be her chauffeur, a reassuring smile as she struggled to lace her words with an american accent. "Have I really been away that long?" She laughs it off to make it seem more believable. "Time really flies when you're shopping."

"I could've stayed here all day long, m'lady- as long as you're enjoying your time. Forgive me if I came off as bothered for waiting for you in the car- that's not the case, I promise. I was just starting to get a little bit worried because you've never spent that much time shopping. You'd always get frustrated easily and end up returning after just three hours, so I was just surprised you took that long." He opened the back seat's door of the Mercedes-Benz as he explains.

Trying to remain her cool, she got inside the car, awarding him with a warm smile. "It's nice to know that someone's looking after me." Her eyes take a discreet sneak of his nametag on his suit before she continues smoothly, "Thank you, Benjamin."

With that said, he secured the door back so that it's closed, and it's only then that she felt like she can really breathe.

When the engine of the car roars, her head shoots up to the driver Benjamin. Taking a peek at her in the mirror, which didn't go unnoticed by her, the corners of his lips tug upwards. "If you don't mind me asking, Lady Diana, what's got you so ecstatic today?"

'I'll finally get to see my niece.' She wanted to scream it out to the world, but she refrained from doing so.

Furrowing her eyebrows as a flimsy layer of sweat appeared on her skin as an instinct at hearing his questions, she asks, "What do you mean?"

"Your unusually happy today." At his reply, her heart beats rose.

"Isn't that a good thing?" She inwardly danced with joy when she didn't stutter out her question.

"Of course it is, maam. It's just that- no offense, but you're being awfully nicer to me than usual."

Attempting to come up with a reply, her face heats up from all the pounding her heart is doing and ends up saying what her mom always told her. "Well, being mean and all bitchy consumes a lot of energy. It's relaxing to be kinder to people from a time to the other. Consider it a day off, Benjamin but don't get used to it." She ends her sentence with a strictly constructed tone.

"Ah, there you are again- back to your old self." At his playful words, she felt a victorious grin overtake her face.

"So," she started, "How's everyone back at home doing?"

Sending her a weird look in the mirror that caused her to slightly panick, he inquires, "What do you mean? Didn't you just see them in the morning?"

"Yeah, don't be silly, Benjamin! You know what I mean." She retorted, praying God to save her from having a panic attack. "I just want to know what to expect when I reach the mansion."

"Lady Amara is fine, m'lady." He then shakes his head as he corrects himself. "No, she's not fine; she's furious. She- dare I say- spammed my phone with her calls throughout the day, demonstrating how if I wanted to keep my job, I should hurry up and find you since you weren't answering her phone calls. I'd start asking the Lord to save me from having a nightfull of motherly lectures if I were you."

'A worrying mother is not a good sign.' She silently mumbles a string of curses at the news of what's awaiting her, and she couldn't help but feel her bundling nerves exorcising her body- and soul.