Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 551 -

*Six months later* *Natalia*

Nimble fingers swirled back and forth across the premium stock paper, the glossy finish only elevating the elegant signature as the tip of the pen swirled my name across the front. I hummed softly to the light music on the radio, gently tucking the faded card into the envelope.

It was fastened with a ribbon folded along the sides, a faded silverish red, and a seal of gold on top. I gently placed the invitation on top of a pile of twenty others and then glanced at the massive pile of unfinished ones with a soft sigh. For every one I finished, it seemed like the mountain never decreased. But I kept reminding myself that it would all be worth it. The soft curtains billowed outward from the open French-style window in front of me like fragile butterfly wings just barely caressing the tops of my knees.

The table I sat at was a mess-stationary and letters, envelopes and pens of dozens of sizes all lying around in an organized chaos. In between the loose papers and pens threatening to topple the mountain of invitations still waiting to be signed and sent, were flowers.

Dotted with batches of tiny flowers clustered together under one stem, little yellow centers were the only pop of color from the baby blues of the petals. It brightened up the table but also kept a small smile on my face as I diligently worked. The other flower that had been specifically selected was a dusty pink and white orchid that sprouted from the sturdy but hollowish segmented stems. The pot was a goldish color that complimented the room just as well. Forget-me-nots and bamboo orchids, the two flowers I was debating between to be chosen for the wedding, sat as a reminder of what I worked so hard for, of why I had put so many hours and careful selections into something so simple as invitations.

It was a promise that was set delicately on my finger, a ring of rose gold, three bands meeting around a beautiful inset diamond, petals of diamonds forming around it like a flower, and three petals, each with three miniature diamonds laid inside. The top band was laid with gems all the way around the band, and for every movement, every swish of my hand as I signed my name right under my finance's, I could feel its heavy and expensive promise.

And I knew right under the flower-like diamond were the initials of my soon-to-be husband.

I loved the ring, but I loved the one who gave it to me even more. Tallon had told me of how long he had spent picking out just the perfect one, the cost of it not even in his mind, and as much as I loved him for it, I didn't have the heart to tell him that he could've proposed to me with a ring of candy and it would've been more than enough.

I would have said yes to a dandelion twisted into a ring or one cut out of common printer paper. Price, diamonds, and even the gold used didn't matter to me.

He was.

It had been six months since he had proposed, six long months that were filled with blissful happiness that I would never take for granted again. I had put off planning the wedding for as long as I could and for the past few days, under the guidance of my own mother and Tallon's mother and sister, I had begun the slow and meticulous process.

There were so many decisions to be made that my head spun with all of the advice from those around me. My own mother had gotten married in a courthouse, a simple dress plucked from a thrift store and a ring so cheap it turned her finger green.

Maybe that was why she was so determined to have me have the perfect wedding of my dreams. It had been a bit funny when she'd suddenly thrown a dirty bag covered with fresh soil and mud at Tallon, sending him a very large smirk as she demanded to pay for the wedding.

We were all a little shocked when we saw the piles of cash that poured out. I had no idea how she had hidden it for all these years, and despite the first instinct of illegal cash that passed through all of our minds, she'd reassured both of us that it had just been a crazy night in a casino-the same one where she'd found out she was pregnant with me.

"I vowed then and there that this money would pay for your wedding, Little Sun," my mother had said, a beaming smile on her face as she hugged me tight.

I didn't have the heart to tell her no, nor could I accept it in good conscience, but luckily Tallon had been more than happy to take the money. I only found out later that he had decided to use just enough of it so that she could say she had paid for the wedding, but he had also set up a separate account for my mother for all of the interest she should've accumulated for the money if it hadn't been buried, plus a large chunk from Tallon.

She would never have to work for the rest of her life.

It was a hard-fought battle to get her to accept the money, but eventually, Tallon won with his sheer persistence. I could tell from the smile on my mother's face that she appreciated Tallon's stubborn kindness. "Just like your Papa," she told me, softly, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

Thankfully, except for my mother and my eldest cousin, the rest of my family had yet to show up in front of me.

Despite the truce between our two families, My uncle still held a grudge. I doubted that would go away in his lifetime but luckily, my cousins seemed to be more humbled after the experience with Tallon and his people. My eldest cousin was officially announced as the next leader of the Bratva. I had been shocked when he had come to apologize in his father's stead, for using me, kidnapping me, and then trying to kill me.

I was hesitant, but the guilt in his eyes had been real. Family was important, after all. He vowed to restore our family name, this time in the right way, and Tallon at least seemed satisfied now that my grandfather's cycle of hatred was breaking. For me, however, I didn't want anything to do with that side of my family any longer. Whether it was my uncles or cousins, even my grandfather, I was done with them.

The legacy that had been left to me was over. It was their burden now, and I felt free.

I stretched my arms behind me, yawning loudly as I struggled to keep my eyes open under the warm noon sunbeams that fell through the window. My muscles stretched and my bones cracked after being so stiff for so long. I settled in, a small smile on my lips as I basked in the summer sunlight. It seemed like everything was wrapped up with a nice little bow, all the loose ends cut away, and a sense of peace had descended upon us all.

Fall would be on its way soon and once it came, so would our wedding. I could picture it now-the crispy autumn leaves of reds and golds, the outdoor air as we stood at the altar, only my fiance in my eyes as I exchanged this ring for one that would bind us together forever more.

As quick as the vision came, it faded as I felt a large pair of arms wrap around me from behind, a soft head of curls burying itself into my neck. I could feel the soft breath against my skin as he breathed out, his lips barely touching my skin. "Is your important work done?" I giggled, softly pouring my hands into his hair, gently playing with the ends of his springy and rather long hair-he had grown it out once he realized how much I loved to play with it. "Hm," he mumbled, and I could feel the slight nod as he glanced up and over my shoulder. "What's going on here?"

"Wedding preparations," I told him with a roll of my eyes. "The ones you skipped out on for the past week, babe."

"You look like you have it handled." He smirked, shifting to press a very loud smacking kiss to my cheek. I laughed, my cheeks turning red as he spun me around in the swivel chair, kneeling before me with that mischievous grin I loved. "You could still help, you know," I told him, smiling as I cupped his cheeks in my hands.

There was a bit of a dark outline under his eyes, not anything too bad but just noticeable. I wasn't sure what had him and Vinny as he told me to call him rushing around like chickens without a head, but it was important.

I reached behind me, hoping to take his mind off of whatever they were working so hard about as I grabbed the forget-me-not and orchid in each hand, presenting him with the choices with a big smile.

"Forget-me-not or bamboo orchid, which one do you want at our wedding?" I asked him.

I watched his eyes flicker between the flowers, even raising an eyebrow at me when I thrust them into his face but he nonetheless, obliged and smelled the center of each one.

He frowned, lines on his forehead as he flicked between both rapidly, then finally grinned up at me, a little mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Whichever makes you happier," he said sweetly.

My heart warmed at the honest answer, his sincerity burning in his eyes but I wasn't about to let him get away with this by sweet-talking me, even though I was pretty sure he really didn't care.

"Tallon." I gave up, dropping the flowers on the table as I gave him a pouting look. "It's your day too. I want us to make these decisions together. There's so much to decide, and I want it to be perfect for both of us, not just whatever I want. Please help me?" I gave him the wide puppy dog eyes that I knew he couldn't ignore and he laughed, leaning up to press a kiss to my lips.

"Okay, okay." He laughed, getting to his feet. "But I'm getting my cuddles in the meantime."

"Wait, what?" I frowned, unsure of what he meant until he literally scooped me out of the chair like I weighed nothing.

I yelped, clutching onto him as my whole body was lifted into the air. He held me princess-style, a smug grin on his face as he strides over the loveseat.

Before I could even protest, he dropped me onto the seat sideways and collapsed on my lap, scooting until his head was resting on my chest. I leaned back against the pillows, as he sighed in absolute bliss. "You could've asked," I told him, glancing down at him as I pulled up my phone so both of us could see it.

"But this was more fun," he shot back, quite content and cozy.

I just laughed, leaning down to kiss his forehead like he had done so many times for me. "You're so silly," I whispered to him.

He just smirked, reaching for my phone as I spotted something interesting. I let him take it, my hands automatically burying themselves in his hair as he found the folder I had labeled for venues and cakes. "Ooh, I like this one," Tallon grinned, showing me the photo.

It was the candy-land-themed cake that I had put in there as a joke, just because I knew Tallon had a sweet tooth. I rolled my eyes.

"How did I know you were going to pick that one?" I huffed.

"You love me." He stuck out his tongue playfully.

I just smiled, feeling happier than I had in my entire life just by being by his side.

After everything we'd been through though, we deserved to celebrate and have a little fun.

"Yes," I answered him quietly, watching his face light up as he scrolled through the dozens of cakes I'd saved for him to see. "Yes, I do."