CHAPTER 4
Wanda ran as fast as she could until she reached the place. It was still early to open, but all the employees were already there. They had been preparing the big party for the next night. An important tycoon had booked the venue for a private party for all his partners. Natasha had not agreed, but when the man doubled his initial proposal to rent the place, she couldn't do anything. That was not good for the business. Everyone should be clear that they were just anyone else or everything would go down. She was not amused to have to close the doors to other clients much more convenient, so that a new comer presumed before all. The guy had not even deigned to face it. He had only said that he liked the criticism he had heard of the place and wanted the doors closed to the public. Natasha could not refuse and since she would have to do it, she decided to do it right, so she planned an evening that no one would forget.
Natasha was arguing for the fifteenth time with the dancers to explain that they couldn't do their normal dance. It was a party, she couldn't get on a stage and dance for those guys! It was not an alternative bar! She wanted to show the style that characterized the place. The girls were there to cheer up the party, but if there were only men or most of them, she didn't pretend to show them as meat. She had prepared a show, sexy but elegant. She would encourage the party but it would not be said that it was in bad taste.
Wanda immediately approached Natasha and told her about the meeting with the boys. Natasha smiled to ease her nervousness and reassured her.
"You didn't say anything to find out. I'll make something up. Don't worry!" exclaimed Natasha with a tender smile. "Now go up with the others to rehearse, you are late.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry ..." said Wanda in distress.
"Don't be silly. Nothing happened. Go up and get in." she ordered softly, her tone nonchalant.
If it was not enough trouble now, Natasha thought.
But the stress of work was superior to any nonsense that could be caused by two little boys who were bored and had nothing better to do than interrogate a nervous girl.
The girls were rehearsing as they should, and the few men who were there were loading the material in the direction she had indicated.
The party would be private so they wouldn't need all the staff, so she had dispensed with the male cast. Only those necessary for the security of the door, so that no one who was not invited, as well as the clients and the girls, would go. And she didn't like that either. Not only would it hurt the business being one day with the closed doors, but it would also leave many employees without a day's salary.
Angry and furious Natasha wanted to get away from everyone before ending up paying with an innocent her frustration.
James and Steve were stunned by the image of the place. They waited to see Wanda go out again or something to explain what she was doing there. Not that it was very rare to see her in a place like that, but Steve didn't agree with what she had said about meeting Natasha.
"What is she doing there?" Steve asked aloud.
"Looks like she works at that place," James said, looking at the sign. "The Ritual." I've heard of him.
"And who hasn't? It is the hot spot of the rich and famous. And no matter how much money my father has, as I am not famous, they never let me in." Steve snapped angrily.
"But wasn't she going to meet with Natasha?" James asked confused.
"I think it was an excuse or something, because she was late to work and was ashamed to say it was here." Steve speculated.
"You know how much do these girls win just to serve you a drink or dance an hour on a stage? I can assure you that no one is ashamed. Don't you choose anyone for that job? Didn't you saw what she was wearing? Her clothes are from a designer that only a rich girl can afford." remarked James seriously. "These girls don't go around naked as in any dump. In that kind of place, the girls dress demurer and in clothes more elegant than the own clients." explained James convinced.
"You seem to know this place." Steve said.
"That particular site I don't. But there are many others of equal fame." said James without regard.
"Well, I do not see the grace of seeing a girl that dress as my mother." said Steve, frowning.
"They look elegant but they are still very sexy. And there is grace. They don't need to go half-naked to be the sexiest women you've ever met in life." James said with a smile.
"Shit! I want to come in now," growled Steve.
"Someday we'll go in. But this weekend I can't. Remind me of it next week and we will go." James promised with a half smile.
Steve was happy and impatient. At least he could enter that damn place, which had been so resisted. He knew he would end up disappointed. But it was a matter of pride. Nothing had ever resisted him so much. And if all the girls who worked there were like Wanda, he would be happy to know the place. The place should be given a chance if everyone spoke so well of it. And although it still seemed very strange that Wanda worked there, he did not find any relation with Natasha. So he didn't care at all. Besides, he was going to go to the place where he had been waiting for months. Nothing was more important than that at that time. Not even Natasha!
The image of Natasha smiling erased everything and every one of the thoughts that surrounded his head. Damn it! There was no way that scene was forgotten. But a place crowded with the most beautiful and sensual women in the city could do it. Steve harbored that hope. There he would find the solution to his present problem. Although he didn't stop repeating that it was nothing, it did not stop tormenting him.
James was about to turn and leave the place. Steve seemed immersed in his thoughts and that corner didn't seem more interesting than any other until he saw the door of the room open. He was confused and very surprised he could only hit Steve in the arm so he could see the same as him.
"What's Nat doing here?" he asked in astonishment.
"What?" Steve replied immediately.
Natasha needed air before she killed someone, so she went out for a few seconds. She wore a pair of jeans that she didn't care to throw on the floor and lean against the wall. She had stained the beautiful fitted blouse she wore, so one of the guards had left her a shirt of his, it was pretty big so it could fit three like her. It reached her knees so no one could see her tight jeans more than the flared. She had learned from other days and had not put on makeup and had a tail. No one saw her so she wanted to be comfortable for the hard work. If someone came and she had to give a good impression she would only loose her tail, since she was well dressed - before staining - and didn't care that they saw her without makeup.
Natasha was cursing the world when the owner of the shirt she was wearing sat next to her. T'challa was a cocky fellow, but he had always treated her well. He respected her and made her laugh easily. He could be a charm when he wanted to. It was a pity that it didn't happen often.
"What's going on with you?" he asked, looking around distractedly, crouching down beside her.
"I have a crazy desire to go through this weekend." Natasha said, snorting.
"It's going to be a unique party," T'challa said, smiling.
"Don't tell me about the happy party."
"Don't be negative. Think of the good side. You may have to be an event planner but at least you will not have to smile at a handful of snobs from three to four. You can go from them. And who knows ... " continued T'challa with a mischievous smile. "maybe I will allow you to delight yourself with my charms, some other time."
"Good joke." Natasha said without ceasing to laugh. "You're the only one capable of making me laugh in a moment of stress like this.
"I should feel hurt in my self-esteem, but to see you smile makes up for it." T'challa said with a huge smile.
T'challa saw her burst into laughter and took her as if she was a bag of potatoes. On his shoulder he began to turn her around and order her animatedly:
"Say that I am the most wonderful man in the world." T'challa commanded her.
"I won't!" Natasha denied, still laughing.
"Say it!" he grunted amusedly.
Steve and James saw the scene astonished. They didn't understand what Natasha could be possibly doing there and they prepared to approach to ask, until the 4x4 got out and sat next to her. Then they could only look at each other and wait for the other to give it a coherent meaning. But none said anything. And they went on like this, stunned at Natasha, as if they had never seen her before. Chatting with a big man who smiled coquettishly and then dared to take her in his arms and throw her on his shoulder.
Steve could not believe what he was seeing. It was starting to seem absurd that he'd have worried that Natasha would look at a guy like James now that they saw her with that bear. And he didn't know how to react. Until he heard what he least expected.
"You are the most wonderful man in the world!" Natasha shouted before T'challa left her on the floor.
The boys watched as he released her in front of him, kissed her forehead and entered the room again. They could see that she was saying something but didn't listen to what, only saw her open her eyes wide and stared at the floor as he left.
Steve didn't like the trusts that the guy took, much less his friend's confession. That guy was not for her. Although what man would it be? He could not imagine her with a fashionable little boy, those always went with barbies. Nor with a big man like that. Although if he was sincere with himself, it was more logical than a girl so ... of his own tastes, to end with a Neanderthal like that. Nothing to do. She had to be with someone who shared her hobbies and if she dressed like a boy, then at least the guy should do it the same. And he did not say it because she dressed in his clothes, Steve affirmed himself trying to convince himself that he wasn`t hurt to see how his friend frolicked with who was probably her boyfriend.
Natasha was assimilating what T'challa had just said, "Two guys were watching them from the corner." It was clear that it was Steve and James. They had followed poor Wanda after she had been on her nerves with questions. Shit! One more problem to add to the list.
She was not one of those who were paralyzed by difficulties, much less fled from them. So she looked up from the floor, drawing a smile and walked towards them.
She thanked the clumsy boy who brought the coffees for spilling the chocolate over her blouse and being able to look like she used to dress in front of her friends. She grimaced with displeasure. No, she didn't thank him. The blouse had cost her a fortune, and the chocolate was hot. She evaded her thoughts and addressed her friends with the greatest serenity and normality that could be observed.
"Hi, what are you doing here?" Natasha said in greeting rather than curiosity. She knew what they didn't need to ask.
"We were on our way ..." Steve interrupted, thinking he could not say that he was going to him house because Natasha knew it wasn't in that direction – "to Bucky's house!" he concluded with satisfaction of his rapid recovery.
"Ahh!" Natasha said with a tender smile. As if she were going to swallow such stupidity, she thought.
"And you? What are you doing here?" interrupted James.
"I work here." Natasha confessed. "There's a big private party tomorrow and they needed a lot of help cleaning, assembling, picking up and hauling junk." She smiled relaxed at how sincere her own words sounded. What a liar she could become. And how proud she was of it. She had achieved so many things thanks to her inventiveness that she could never deny her. "You know," she continued, "to lend a hand and earn me a little extra money. As Wanda works here ... she has plugged me in."
"Oh!" Steve tried to pretend surprise. "Your friend works here?"
"Yes. My friend, whom you interrogated and overwhelmed with silly questions, works here. Though I suppose you deduced it by following her." Natasha said, dismissing the accusation. She couldn't avoid a wave of satisfaction at seeing them turn pale and immediately get nervous.
"We did not ..." Steve could not lie. And James followed his example from before.
"If you wanted to meet my friend, just say so. You did not have to harass her."
Natasha knew full well that this was not the reason for the questions or that they should follow. But she had managed to give an excuse, to get rid of further explanations, and also, on the way, had made them blush. When it was bad, it was the best. And how much fun! But she had to be cautious and she did not want to talk about it. So being the one who gave an excuse for their behavior was a good idea. She didn't think they could invent anything believable. Surely they would end up telling the truth and that would make her keep talking about why she is there or her friendship with Wanda. It was not convenient. But it was clear that her friends would be too busy thinking whether to rectify it or follow the farce, as if to deal with something else.
Steve had been perplexed by his friend's comment. It had been a relief to know why she was there, but when she pointed out that she knew why they were standing on that corner, he wanted a place to sink in and die of embarrassment. Luckily she thought it was to spy on such a Wanda. He thought about denying it but corrected quickly. If she thought badly it was not his fault. He hadn't lied to her, she had made poor deductions. He smiled, satisfied not to be in trouble.
The smile of Steve disappeared instantly, when he saw T'challa briefly appear to yell hurriedly to Natasha.
"Natasha! move your precious ass inside that the girls are pulling their hair. And honestly, as a man I am, I refuse to separate them and miss the spectacle." he snarled falsely and immediately went in to revel in the scene.
Steve and James waited for her reaction. It was obvious that this guy had too much confidence. It was the boyfriend, mentally corroborated both.
Natasha was growing tired of the party and of all those who would work on it. One more problem and it would end up dismembering someone. She was frustrated and tired, and there was no way it would all end in a short enough time to safeguard her mental health. T'challa's words had put her on the alert again, forgetting that her friends were still present.
"And why tell me then?" irritated Natasha whispered. "For me they can kill each other. Im sick of the…" She saw the confused face of her friends and explained something more calmly. "I have to go back. You've heard, the men refrain from getting in and it's just me left to separate them before they go bald." she joked with a huge smile. Though they were likely to be decapitated when she came in, Natasha thought.
"Hey!" Steve called her before she left. "Is that guy ... something of you?" He ask seriously.
"T'challa?" she said as if trying to remember who he was talking about. "He's the local thug. One of the porters. Why?" she asked in surprise.
"We were surprised to see you so close together before. That's why we stop." said James.
"Oh no! I went out for some air because I'm very stressed with so much work and he kept me company and wanted to cheer me up a bit. That's all." she smirk.
Natasha's word didn´t calm Steve. He was sure it was her boyfriend. And she was hiding it. The rage was growing more and more. If it was bad enough that there was a guy who occupied a more important position in his life, above she did not trust him to tell him. He did not believe the lie and he was going to discover it.
"Catching you in the arms and telling you to move "your precious ass"? A stranger, is not it?" said Steve with obvious anger.
"I didn't say I didn't know him," she said calmly. "He's a good friend. I have more friends than you, Steve. And if that irritates you, I'm sorry." said Natasha sarcastically. "Being sincere, it bothers me that you are again jealous." she continued despite his exasperated face. "You occupy the position you occupy, regardless of whether there are more people in me life or not." she said as if reading his mind. "Shit!" She lost her patience." "As if I was yours so you could always hide me from everyone." she whispered irascibly.
She didn't understand why she was creating such scenes. From childhood, if he saw her playing with another child or dared to approach him, he would frighten him and throw a tantrum. He was a possessive with his things. But she was not an object.
Steve wanted to scream. He didn't give a damn about who that guy was, where she worked or if she was hiding something from him, but he was not going to let what they had be treated as if it was "nothing." He had been a part of her life since he had reason.
It was one of the most important reasons why he returned to his father's house. His mother was unbearable and selfish, but she already knew Natasha and like her. However, his father was almost a stranger when he moved with him. But the calls were not enough to keep in touch with her. He needed her so much that he returned to the city without thinking about it. And now she despised his friendship?
"Nothing? Don't make me angry, Natasha" said Steve, approaching dangerously. "Don't say that you are not nothing of me. If you're angry, we'll talk about it." he said more calmly, "but do not say that our friendship is worth more than any other."
"That wasn't my intention" Natasha answered watching him hurt. "I'm just saying that I can't stand when you act like my big brother or my dad, and you want to lock me up so no one will come near me." she explained with a huge, tender smile. "Don't de mad baby, you know that you can't be angry for a long time with me." she said, dazzling him with a mischievous smile.
"Tasha" Steve said, pressing her harder against him. "Not even five seconds." He sighed and pulled her away. "Come on, go! You are expected to work as a referee in a close combat. If there is mud, I want photos."
"Pig!" she snapped giggling on his neck and kissed his cheek. "I'll call you when I get home. Bye." She waved them both with a soft gesture, before running off into the room.
Steve watched her walk away and smiled. That was his friend. Hard and strong with others but sweet and affectionate with him. Only with him. Although after seeing her with the big man, she probably would not behave like that alone with him. But at that moment he was not going to think about it. He still had remnants of Natasha's effects when he hugged her, and he wanted to savor them. Natasha was his home. There was no place in the world where he found himself more comfortable than in her arms. She was a great friend who could comfort him with a simple smile, said Steve.
Author note:
Hey! I hope you guys like it! if you did, please send me a coment! thank you everyone!
I don't own anything, marvel does.