The Fall of a Proud Princess

Chapter 10- Natasha freaking Black!

DANIELLAH

“i***t!” I slam my hands on sink counter in the bathroom.

I spent all day in a foreign country and shopped and hunted for lingerie so uncomfortable it feels like I’ll have an infinity wedgie if I wear it. I planned to dress conservatively so we are able to have dinner and talk about his comfortability since it is important he feels okay about all this and gives consent.

But Conrad though...

When I arrive home after lunch, I find my‘adoring’ husband (yes that sarcasm), laughing in the dining area with Miss Natasha freaking Black.

A sexy, 6ft Asian goddess with perfect fair skin and chic clothes that make her look likes she just walked out of the runway.

I’m 5’11 so her height doesn’t intimidate me but her black, long sleeve square neckline dress that pushes her boobs up does.

I'm 22 and at best a B-cup.

She paired the bodycon dress with knee-high brown boots and a Rolex watch so blinged out it glisters. Her brown hair held back in a messy high ponytail that shows her perfectly make upped face.

“Honey?” Conrad taps on the door and I flush the toilet before splashing water on my face.

And of course he brought her in the one day I didn’t wear makeup and look like an overworked soccer mom.

I have a goddess in my room flirting with my husband and I look like a mom.

Power to all mothers but I really don’t want to look like a Karen who drives a mini-van right now.

But I do in very loose jeans that make it look like have a saggy butt and a white turtleneck to hide my hickeys and worst of all Toms.

Funny thing is, I hate Toms but walking up and down uptown Tokyo needed comfortable shoes and they were the only shoes I recognized in the store.

And Miss Natasha was quick to point out that her mom had the same turtleneck like the one I’m wearing and did I mention how touchy she is.

Every time she laughs, she just has to touch Conrad.

“Dans?” He taps again and I forcefully remove the shoes from my feet and toss them in the bin under the sink. “Dani??”

“Coming!” I re-hold my hair up with the claw clip as few strands fall over my face.

I look like a child and I dressed like a mom, this can’t get any worse.

After washing my hands again and splashing more water on my pale baby face, I open the door with fake a smile.

“Yes?” I walk past him and into the tiny closet in search of any flat shoes.

“Natasha invited us to dinner at her dad’s mall, there’s a restaurant there.” He follows me as I open my suitcase and look through it. “The grand opening is next month but the restaurant is ready for guests.”

Do I want to have dinner with Natasha and her father? No, I don’t want to watch her eye-f**k Conrad all night while her daddy boasts about their money and riches.

“Honey?” He calls as I throw my black, red bottoms into the closet.

“Yes Hugh.” I decide to wear the black loafers I actually got for Emily.

I’ll get her another pair before we leave.

“Dinner? Natasha? We’re almost done with our meeting, so she wanted me to ask the Mrs.”

Of course she did.

“Sure.” I zip up the suitcase and roughly push it under the bed, “I’d love to.”

I release a heavy breath that makes my hair strands move.

“Great but can you come out here. We need your opinion on something,” Conrad stretches out his hand.

I contemplate slapping it away but I’m not sure if Natasha can hear us or not so I just take it and smile once more.

“Ellie girl, there you are!” Natasha squeals when Conrad and I appear hand in hand.

“Here I am!” My voice imitates hers and she claps her manicured hands.

They ask for my opinion on the new hotel’s couches, Natasha says since I’m a housewife I must have a lot of knowledge.

Yep another back handed compliment from her and her jiggly t**s.

Bitch.

“Well, I’ll see you guys at 8pm?” Natasha gives me a swift hug before turning to Conrad and pulling him in tight, “and don’t think you’re getting away with not showing me your dance moves tonight mister.”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

Conrad is swamped with calls after Natasha leaves so I decide to get a head start on getting ready but since I have hickeys all over my chest and one on my neck my dress options are limited.

So I wear one of my new buys from today. A white high neck bodycon dress that stops just above my knees. I liked it for its triangle exposed back and puffy sleeves.

I curl my hair and keep the makeup simple and end with a nude glossy lip. For shoes I decide since I look so vanilla to wear emerald, green strappy sandal heels that match my wing eyeliner. Completing the look with a tennis bracelet, a white F shoulder Fendi bag and 4 carat white gold emerald drop earrings.

Conrad is in a light grey button down, dark grey dress pants, black Gucci loafers and a black trench long coat.

Dressed fully for Natasha’s funeral, I assume because I will no doubt kill her if she pushes me tonight.

“You okay?” Conrad asks as the car move, “you’ve been quiet all day.”

So he's noticed? Interesting...

“Yeah, jetlag.” I adjust my wedding band and he smiles, his hand cupping mine in the middle seat.

“Well you look absolutely gorgeous Mrs Hilton, white and emerald are definitely your colors.”

I can’t help but smile at that.

Dinner is just how I expected. Mr. Black talks about all his fancy toys and money investments while Natasha practically kisses the ground Conrad walks on and touches him every time a dry joke is said.

She traded her black dress for a red latex cocktail dress that shows off her long legs and she has on red lipstick to match the perfect make up and a sleek updo that shows off her neckline.

I basically want to shoot myself, mostly her as the night continues.

It gets worse when my boring conversation with Mrs Black takes a bad turn. She's been talking about her daughter the entire time but it's not the bad turn I'm referring to, it’s when she says something else that I nearly chug my drink at Natasha.

“I don’t think I understand the question.” I struggle not to grit my teeth.

“I said, don’t you think Conrad and Natasha make a cute couple?” She actually repeats making my face turn red with anger.

“Couple?” I sip my wine and she nods. “Exactly who do you think I am Mrs Black?”

“His sister? Assistant?” Her answer makes me stumble and my wine glass falls over my plate and table.

Did she just call me his assistant?

Everything happens in slow motion as the waiters quickly clean up and the Black family all ask if I am okay. But I don’t answer as my eyes stay on my husband who is sitting across from me and next to her.

I finally see her hands on his arm and how he is urged close to her.

I realize that this entire dinner he has barely said two words to me and how it took a glass falling over for him to even see me.

“Excuse me.” I push my chair back and stand up.

I check my dress for any stains, but I find none so I walk to the overly decorated bathroom and wash my shaking hands.

We’re getting a divorce.

I told him he could sleep with anyone he wanted to, several times too.

And we’re getting a divorce so what is my deal?

Why does my chest feel like an elephant is sitting on it. Why do I feel like crying because my husband is giving his attention to a gorgeous woman that is not me?

“Ellie?” Natasha walks in holding my bag, “are you okay?” She places it on a stack of towels on the counter.

Her fake nice act is really making it hard to eat the food in this overpriced restaurant.

“I’m great.” I grab my bag and walk into a stall.

“Mother told me what she said. Her English is not good so when I said the Hiltons will be joining us for dinner she assumed siblings since you guys are so young.” She continues as I sit on the toilet and run my hands through my hair. “So I apologize on her behalf, Connie wanted to check on you, but I insisted I come clear the air.”

Did she just call my husband Connie?

“So I hope you come back and we can continue this great night.”

“Great night?,” I flush the toilet and step out to find her re-applying her lipstick. “Of course Natasha, consider the air cleared.” I open the faucet and wash my hands.

I feel her eyes on my ring and when it catches light and practically sparkles something in me dies.

I am acting like how I did when I was in high school before I started dating Aiden.

I was meek, quiet and a pushover.

I let people insult me and worst of all take me for granted. I wanted so bad to fade in the background forgetting that I’m princess and that we are not meant to fade, especially in this poorly decorated background.

“Good,” she turns as I wipe my hands.

Natasha is Conrad’s age which means she’s at best 2years older than me. From the way her parents talk to her I can see she’s used to getting everything she wants.

She was clearly queen-bee growing up and had people at her beck and call. Her coming from money means she had the best toys and the best surgeons that gave her the perfect nose.

But there’s one thing Natasha doesn’t have. One thing her money can’t buy and one thing that I have over her.

Experience.

She didn’t watch her family fall apart.

She didn’t see her father go from her hero to becoming a monster as the humanity slipped from him.

She didn’t watch pain unravel her baby brother.

Or watched as her mother go from a beloved queen to a ghost. She didn’t listen to the man she thought she’d spend rest of her life with tell her everything was a lie.

Natasha had a good childhood. She didn’t stop smiling at 14. She didn’t cry herself to sleep for 3months after she got engaged.

And she didn’t get sold for a hotel.

All that experience though gut wrenching painful has turned me in to the woman I am.

A strong and powerful woman.

I am not meek or a pushover.

I stood up to my father, a king all my life.

I found my mother after they practically buried her. I broke my baby brother out of Paris and gave him and his friends a sense normalcy.

I graduated from Yale, early.

I can hack the freaking government.

I am a freaking Princess and married to the heir to a whole hotel fortune for fuckssake.

So I will be damned if I let a spoiled socialite bully me and steal my husband.

“Natasha,” I open my bag and remove my gloss.

“Yes?” Her white straight teeth show a smile.

“Don’t call my husband Connie or me Ellie,” I don’t even bother to look at her as I re-gloss my lips. “If Mr. and Mrs Hilton don’t work then Daniellah and Conrad should be fine.”

“I wasn’t trying—”

“Yes you were.” I turn to face her. “You have undermined me since we’ve met. You see me as just a trophy wife, eye candy for the cameras. You think I sit at home choosing furniture and making dinner for Connie-bear?”

All the color drains from her face. “I didn’t mean—”

“I don’t care. You’re not the first woman to throw themselves at my husband and probably not the last.” I close my bag, “most of them are subtle about it but you have been pushing to see how far I’d let it go. Well we have arrived at my limit.”

“Ellie—I mean Daniellah, I wasn’t trying to—”

“Stop. Don’t insult me by lying to my face.” I put the strap on my shoulder and go toe-to-toe.

She’s tall in her 6inches heels but I’m proud which means she can’t look down on me.

“I get it, he is stupid handsome, smart, filthy rich and the perfect gentleman.” I shrug as she bites her lower lip. “And let me save you the curiosity, he’s crazy good in bed too.”

I take a step forward and immediately she steps back.

“But don’t get it twisted sweetie. I might be a princess but that doesn’t mean I won’t check you.” I put my hand in the counter to show her my huge ring. “If I see your pretty little hand touching anything of mine again and that’s husband included, well let’s just say I won’t behave like a princess this time.”

I lock eyes with her and see a flash of fear.

Good.

After grade 9, I decided needed show people the one thing our father gave Kai and I. The one thing we fight daily not to let people see even a glimpse of.

The one thing not even years of therapy will cure.

Tangible darkness.

The warning label on our anger should be, careful if you touch—you will burn. Le Chasseur style.

“Now I just wanted to clear the air,” I push hair behind my ear. “Now let’s continue our great night,” I imitate her fake chipper voice from earlier.

And that ladies and gentlemen, is how you bury a thirsty b***h.

Natasha returns to the table a few minutes after I return. I choose to talk to her 10year old sister the rest of dinner as she has been more ignored than me.

Mrs Black tries to talk to me but gives up after my 3rd nod reply. I can pretend but not with this lot, so I choose the ignorance is bliss route.