Capítulo 424: Running away

"Here you go" said Lulu with a bright smile as she handed Natasha a cup of hot chocolate.

"Thanks Lulu" said Natasha as she smiled.

"You don't need to thank me, it's my pleasure" said Lulu as she smiled happily and sad down on Natasha bed beside her with her own cup of hot chocolate in her hands.

"So Romanoff is currently in police custody?" asked Lulu as she continued where they left off before she went to go get them some hot chocolate.

"Yes... he is" replied Natasha sadly as she sipped her hot chocolate.

"But he wasn't supposed to be there in the first place?? Oh you must feel so awful right now" said Lulu with a frown.

"Tell me about it, you don't know half of how bad I feel" replied Natasha with a sigh.

"I'm sorry Natasha, but it wasn't your fault... I mean so many things taken into account were beyond your control, that's what Dom told me, and I totally agree with him" said Lulu as she patted Natasha on the shoulder.

"I really don't care what that brother of yours says, he doesn't understand, he on the other hand is busy focused on the image of the company, and of the family" said Natasha as she scoffed.

"He thinks that Romanoff is an unstable, crazy criminal who is not to be trusted" she said with a scoff.

"But I mean... can you blame him though?? The man has a reputation, for one, just because he wanted to track the cargo he started to ask you about work things..." said Lulu.

"I know he's no saint, but he can be trusted..." said Natasha.

"Maybe for you, but Dom doesn't see that, in the end he's looking out for the best outcome here, I know you don't think that he is, but he is" said Lulu.

"I know what your brother wants, and that's for me to cut all ties, but what you don't understand is that I can't do that... Romanoff is... *sigh* Romanoff is the closest person that I have to my family" said Natasha.

"Even though we are not related, he's the one who can tell me what my mother was like, what my father was like... he's like my family, the last one that I have" said Natasha.

"My mom is long gone, my dad is gone... sometimes I just feel so alone that I have no one to run to, no one to call my parents, I just miss them so much" said Natasha as Lulu felt her heart break.

"Oh Natasha, I'm so sorry for being insensitive, I didn't know that you felt that way" said Lulu apologetically as she hugged Natasha.

"It's not your fault, but yes, I do feel like that sometimes" said Natasha as Lulu broke their hug.

"I mean, I cannot say that I understand, I still have both my parents" said Lulu as Natasha smiled.

"And you should be happy that you do, enjoy them while they are still here... because when they are gone, all you will be wishing was that if only you had more time..." said Natasha as she smiled.

"Anyway, enough of that, I do care for Romanoff, it's not like I trusted him just like that when we first met, but I started to build trust in him after everything that happened" said Natasha.

"And sure, he might be a criminal, but he's still a good man, and if I am being honest, I would say that he started to get soft, especially when he found out about his daughter, he wasn't as harsh and ruthless as he used to be" said Natasha.

"Which is why I do feel bad right now that he's going to end up spending the rest of his life behind bars" said Natasha.

"And it's still sad, even though he says he deserves it" said Natasha as she shook her head.

"But don't you think that Agent Dians will go digging for more information?" asked Lulu.

"That's exactly what's scaring me right now actually, that man is... he's not to be trusted to say the least, he's definitely not a foe, but he isn't an ally either" said Natasha.

"Now I'm worried, what if he comes across something that he shouldn't??" asked Lulu in worry.

"That won't happen... I hope... all this is honestly just so tiring" said Natasha with a sigh.

"I can imagine... but you know what my mom always says, enjoy the hectic days because once they are gone you will miss them terribly in your boredom" said Lulu as she smiled and Natasha laughed.

"That is true isn't it?" asked Natasha as she laughed and Lulu laughed.

"I mean yes, let's be honest, our lives have kind of been boring for a while now, and even though this isn't the kind of spice that we want, but it's still spice" said Lulu as she laughed and Natasha shook her head.

"Of course only you would think that Lulu" said Natasha as she smiled.

"What can I say? I have the mind of a child, in a good way" said Lulu with a smile and Natasha yawned.

"Well I can see that you are tired, and it is very late, so let me leave you to rest while I go trouble Benji!!" said Lulu as she stood up and Natasha shook her head and yawned.

"Benjamin is going to end up running away from you soon" she said as she laughed.

"He doesn't stand a chance, he can't get rid of me, goodnight my sweet Natasha, and try to get some rest" said Lulu as she smiled happily and Natasha laughed.

"Goodnight to you too Lulu, and I will try to" replied Natasha as she smiled and Lulu smiled before winking at her and closing the door behind her.

Natasha finished drinking her hot chocolate, Lulu was right, she did really need to get some rest, she still had to go to work in the morning.

...

The next morning.

Natasha walked out the front door to her car when her phone suddenly rang, she brought out her phone from her back pocket and answered the call while getting into her car.

"Hi Chloe, how are you?" asked Natasha as she smiled and she closed the door to her car.

"I'm good Natasha, and how are you?" asked Chloe with a smile.

"I can't say that I am bad, so what's up?" asked Natasha with a smile.

"Well I'm at the store right now, the designers are currently putting in the last touches with the colours and all, they are doing a great job" said Chloe.

"I am glad that they are" replied Natasha.

"Yes, so I was wondering if you were going to stop by today to check on their progress?" asked Chloe.

"I'm actually on my way over there now" said Natasha.

"Oh that's great because I really need your input over here just to make sure that everything is perfect" said Chloe as she laughed and Natasha laughed.

"I trust your judgement, I really don't see a need to be there when you are over there" replied Natasha.

"Thank you Natasha" said Chloe with a smile.

"It is only the truth, anyway, I want to know how we are doing time wise? How close are we to the schedule?" asked Natasha.

"Well we are perfectly on schedule, the store should be completely finished inside and out this week, and we will open in two weeks time because that's when all the crops that were planted will be harvested" said Chloe.

"That all sounds good" said Natasha.

"I know right, it's so surreal to think that everything is almost done, I can't even believe it myself... *gasp*" said Chloe as she suddenly gasped out of nowhere.

"What happened Chloe??" asked Natasha in confusion.

"I just realized that despite all the planning we forgot something very important" said Chloe.

"What??" asked Natasha as she couldn't even begin to think of what Chloe might have been talking about.

"We still don't have a name for the store..." said Chloe as she sighed and Natasha laughed.

"Wait... that is true" replied Natasha as she laughed, it was funny, truly after all the careful planning and money that they had put into this project, they didn't have a name for the store yet.

"You would think it would be the first thing we think of" said Chloe as she laughed and shook her head.

"True, but I can't think of a name right now, do you have any ideas?" asked Natasha as she smiled.

"I am just as blank as you are, because this name needs to be perfect, it needs to match with the brand that we have created" said Chloe with a sigh, this was such a dilemma, she chose the worst time to remember that they were yet to come up with a name.

"Well don't stress yourself, I will be there soon, and we can discuss possible names" said Natasha as she smiled.

"Alright Natasha, see you soon" said Chloe as she smiled.

"See you" replied Natasha as she smiled and ended the call while shaking her head as she put her phone down.

Natasha grabbed her keys on the passenger's seat and she put it into the ignition, she was about start her car when her phone suddenly rang again and she picked it up with a frown on her face wondering who it could be, but her frown disappeared when she saw Pete's name and she answered the call.

"Hi Pete, what's up?" asked Natasha with a smile.

"Nat, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Romanoff has just been trialed" said Pete as he went straight to the point.

"What??" asked Natasha in surprise.

"What do you mean trialed?" asked Natasha.

"He was taken to court" said Pete.

"So soon??" asked Natasha as this didn't make sense to her.

"I am afraid so" replied Pete.

"But doesn't that take several weeks before you can be charged to court?" asked Natasha.

"Well usually yes, but in this case... I don't know what to tell you Nat, Dians pulled some major strings to get this done" said Pete as Natasha sighed.

"I only just found out myself, Morales told me that the trial was held early this morning and that Romanoff had been transferred to the regional prison" said Pete.

"Wait a minute, that's a lie, this is happening too quickly?? How could he be charged just like that??" asked Natasha as this made no sense to her.

"Nat, It's not a lie, he was found guilty of several crimes, he got several counts" said Pete.

"What about his lawyer?" asked Natasha.

"He refused to get a lawyer, from what I heard, he pleaded guilty to all charges without a fight at all" said Pete as Natasha sighed, that was all she could do, she couldn't even believe what she was hearing right now.

"I...this is just too much..." said Natasha as she took a deep breath.

"I know Nat, I know" said Pete.

"What's his sentence?" asked Natasha as she held her breath.

"65 years, he should consider himself lucky that he didn't get a life sentence, but then again, there is not enough proof against him for the other crimes that he committed" said Pete as Natasha remained silent.

"Nat are you still there?" asked Pete as he didn't hear Natasha say anything at all.

"Can I go see him Pete?" asked Natasha.

"Nat... I don't think that's a good idea" said Pete.

"I want to see him Pete, I mean there's nothing I can do, I just want to talk to him" said Natasha.

"Nat, you know my answer and advice to you would be no" said Pete as Natasha sighed.

"Pete... please" said Natasha as she pleaded with him.

"*Sigh*, Fine, I can arrange for you to see him, but I beg you, let this be the last time you have any contact with this man" said Pete as he sighed.

"You have my word to my best intent" said Natasha as Pete sighed.

"Thanks Pete" said Natasha.

"You know I have your back, just be careful Nat" said Pete.

"I will be Pete thank you" replied Natasha as Pete ended the call and Natasha quickly texted Chloe that she would be running late before she started her car and drove away.