"Ooooh I am so happy that everything went so smoothly" Chloe cooed in delight. She was very jubilant.
Everything went on better than she had anticipated, she was so glad that after many long months of preparation their dream had finally turned into reality. The store was receiving an influx of customers and the store was packed.
This had to be the most productive launch a store in their city had ever received. Like it or not but Dom's presence had definitely been a very good publicity stunt.
"I am really happy about that too Chloe." replied Natasha as she smiled. Chloe frowned, she could feel that Natasha was still being really stale with her. She had thought that maybe it was due to the fact that Dom appeared unexpectedly, but Dom had been gone for a while now and Natasha was still a little bit distant with her.
Chloe did not like this feeling at all, Natasha was her friend, her best friend even and she did not want anything to come in between them.
"Natasha... can we talk?" Chloe asked, her voice soft.
"Sure, but we're talking right now." Natasha replied handing back the clipboard in her hand back to the manager.
"No... I mean I really need to talk to you... in private." said Chloe, Natasha could hear the seriousness in her tone, and she was starting to get worried.
"Okay, that's alright, we can go talk now." she said.
"Thank you." said Chloe as she nodded.
"I'm sure that you can handle everything from here?" asked Natasha speaking to the manager.
"Yes Mrs. White, we can, you don't have to worry, everything is perfectly alright, I will send you a first day sales report as soon as the store closes." replied the manager with a bright smile on her face.
"I trust that you will, goodbye, I will see you tomorrow." said Natasha as she smiled and the manager smiled.
"Goodbye Mrs. White, goodbye Mrs. Chloe, enjoy the rest of your day." replied the manager.
"Thank you." said Chloe as she smiled and Natasha smiled.
Chloe walked ahead as Natasha followed behind her. Natasha wondered if maybe Chloe did not feel too good right and that was why she looked so serious.
They walked out of the store using the back exit and Chloe unlocked her car as they both got in.
"What is it Chloe? You're starting to worry me, is everything okay?" asked Natasha.
"I should be the one asking you that question Natasha, are you okay?" asked Chloe.
"What do you mean?" asked Natasha confused.
"I mean you have been really distant since morning, did I do something wrong to upset you? You don't seem to be happy with me." said Chloe sadly.
"No, what makes you think that Chloe? I am happy with you, nothing is wrong, you did nothing wrong." said Natasha still confused.
"If that's true then why were you so cold to me, especially when Dom was here, it's like you're upset with me for talking to him or something." said Chloe as Natasha felt a prick in her heart.
Chloe was right, she was indirectly upset with her and she didn't even notice it herself, she thought that she could shrug it off and handle her emotions like an adult, but it was clear she was unable to.
"Oh Chloe, I'm so sorry, you're right, I have been cold to you, but I didn't mean to be." said Natasha.
"But why? Is it because of Dom?" asked Chloe as Natasha sighed and nodded.
"Look, I'm really sorry Chloe, very sorry, because you are right, it is because of Dom." she admitted.
"That is understandable, he showed up here unexpected, that would be enough to make anyone upset." said Chloe.
"Yes, but that's not really why I was upset with you, I understood why he was here, what made me upset was how well the two of you were getting along." confessed Natasha.
"Really?" asked Chloe surprised.
"Really." said Natasha.
"But why?" she asked.
"I don't really know, I guess it has something to do with the fact that most of the women I've been friends with have always liked him. Just take Lia as an example, I thought we were like sisters and yet she allowed her obsession with him ruin our friendship."
"Whether I like to admit it or not, Dom is charming, any woman would fall for him, and I know that's not the case with you and him because you love Neil, but I guess it's just an unresolved inner turmoil." said Natasha.
"I have always lost friends because of him, especially female ones, and I guess I was just scared that you would like him more than me... childish I know." said Natasha mocking herself.
"No, don't say that Natasha, it isn't childish, your concerns are reasonable, after all you're right, you guys have been together your entire lives, so you have a valid reason to be uncomfortable." said Chloe as she smiled relieved that it was not something she did that had upset Natasha.
"It doesn't make me uncomfortable, I'm just a little bit jealous..." she admitted as Chloe laughed.
"We all get jealous all the time, it's normal, besides, most of the female friends you've had always liked him a little bit too much." said Chloe as Natasha scoffed.
"You don't even know the half of it, most of my female classmates in high school only wanted to be my friend because of him, I guess that's part of the reason I barely had girls as friends." said Natasha as she laughed.
"I totally get where you're coming from and it's justifiable, but you don't have to worry, I like Dom yet, he's a nice man, but you're my friend, always and forever." said Chloe.
"Oh, I'm not worried, I don't even know why I allowed this silly thing get to me so much. I trust you, you're just a very nice, trusting person, and I also trust him to an extent, I know he wasn't trying to take advantage of your niceness, he really just wanted a tour." said Natasha.
"I'm glad you gave him one so he doesn't have to pester me for another one later." said Natasha as Chloe laughed.
"I'm just glad you're not upset with me." said Chloe.
"No, never, I would never be upset with you, especially when you didn't do anything wrong." said Natasha as she smiled and gave Chloe a hug.
"I'm so glad to be your friend Natasha." said Chloe.
"Me too." replied Natasha as she broke the hug.
"So, was it only me or were you two more chummy than before? I mean he didn't look frustrated and you didn't seem to be unable to stand a single moment of his presence." said Chloe, Natasha knew that she was fishing for some gossip, but the good kind of gossip.
"Well yes... last night we decided to be cordial. Things being icy between us is really hard to maintain, I know we have out differences but we can work through them like mature adults." said Natasha.
"Oooh, I am happy that you guys decided that, even though I do have to admit that sometimes it's tempting to solve our problems like teenagers." giggled Chloe as Natasha laughed.
"Sometimes it's nice to have a little bit of drama in your life." she added laughing happily.
"Why do you seem more excited about this than I am?" asked Natasha.
"Probably because even though you don't want to admit it, you guys look good together, and the rest of the world agrees with me, just look at this headline." said Chloe as she brought out her phone and Natasha sighed shaking her head, seeing the very intimate picture taken of she and Dom this morning during the inauguration.
"They can't be serious, that was like three hours ago, how come it's already an article?!" asked Natasha annoyed.
"Don't you know that the media eats sweet moments of PDA like this?" asked Chloe giggled.
"It isn't PDA, we aren't even doing anything sweet, I was just telling him to leave." said Natasha.
"Well they don't know that, besides, I love this picture, you two really look good, I'm sure Joy will agree with me." said Chloe.
"I would rather Joy never see that picture, it will get the gears in her little mind turning again. And that has been dormant for a long time." said Natasha.
"Honestly Natasha, don't you ever see the possibility of you and him getting back together?" asked Chloe.
"Not a chance Chloe, I have much more important things to focus on right now instead of love." said Natasha.
"Never say never Natasha, never say never." said Chloe as Natasha shook her head.
"Anyway, I have to get going now and pick Ethan from school." said Chloe.
"Alright, I'll see you later Chloe." said Natasha as she smiled.
"See you later." replied Natasha as she got out of Chloe's car and Chloe waved at her before driving away.