A Love Restored

Chapter 101

I took a deep breath in the mirror

“Do I look okay?” I asked Tilly. She was sitting on Felix and I’s bed, looking at me doing my hair. It was distinctly reminiscent of we had spent together in our childhood, getting dressed up together, borrowing each other’s clothes.

t of the

numerous nights

I was wearing black pants with a cute crochet top. Tilly had picked it out for me. Today was…a special today. We were throwing a dinner party. For Felix’s friends. He hadn’t told them that I was back in his life. So I was excited to see their faces. While meeting Tilly again had been emotional and overwhelming, meeting Nick and the likes could be fun. I hadn’t seen them in years, and they had been my friends, too. But they had never been what Tilly had been to me,

“I’m feeling a bit awkward about this, to be honest, I confessed to her. “I don’t know…he could have just called them about it or something.”

She grinned. “He’s happy. He’s excited. He wants to show you off. Let him.”

I nodded slowly.

“And you look really cute, ton, Man, your boobs got really hig”

I laughed at that. “Your ass got really big. And your hair got really short,”

She rolled her eyes, “My girl loves it like that. You should meet her soon! She’s hack in Michigan, at our school, but I asked her to visit me, soon.”

“I’d love to meet her.”

Both of us laughing, we didn’t see Felix had joined us, he was leaning against the door and watching us. When Tilly saw him, she raised her hands in surrender, and walked out of the room.

I smiled at Felix as he approached me. His strides toward me were fast and determined. When he neared me, he lightly took my hand and pulled me to him

Nerves fluttered in my stomach, mingling with a newfound sense of anticipation.

“Felix, are you sure this is necessary?” I asked, my eyes meeting his. His eyes sparkled with an intensity that made t

the green look almost emerald.

“Absolutely, baby, “he drawled, his voice brimming with confidence. “You look stunning, Flora. I want everyone to see how lucky I am to have you by my side again. Aren’t you excited to meet my friends again?” he smiled knowingly, “I guess they are my employers now.”

I giggled at that. “Really?”

He nodded, “Nick is my enforcer, now. And Blue is my head of security.”

“I see it for Nick, definitely.”

As he stepped closer, his hand brushed my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine. Tonight is more than just a party,” he murmured, his gaze locking with mine. “Its me marking my claim, Flora, You’re mine, aren’t you?”

A soft smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I nodded, “Yes”

With a gentle squeeze of his hand, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “Alright then,” he said, his voice steady with low. “Let me show you off.”

“Come on, now,” he said, offering me his arm. I gladly took his arm, glad for the support, both physical because of my high heels and emotional because

We went downstairs, and the moment I stepped into the room, my breath hitched at the sight before me. Felix had transformed the space into a haven of elegance and sophistication. Soft, ambient lighting danced across the walls, casting a warm glow over the meticulously arranged decorations.

Tables adorned with crisp white linens stretched out before me, each one adorned with delicate floral centerpieces. Bouquets of roses, lilies, and orchids intertwined with sprigs of greenery, their sweet fragrance filling the air with a sense of serenity.

Overhead, strands of twinkling fairy lights draped from the ceiling, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the room. They shimmered like stars in the night

Chapter 101

sky, adding a touch of magic to the already enchanting ambiance.

In the comer of the room, a vinyl player was playing the perfect music for the setting.

But it wasn’t just the decor that took my breath away. As I made my way through the room, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the tables laden with an array of delectable delights. Platters of hors d’oeuvres lined the tables, offering a tantalizing array of flavors and textures.

There were delicate canapes topped with smoked salmon and caviar, their rich flavors bursting on the tongue. Bite–sized bruschetta, topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, and drizzled with balsamic glaze, offered a burst of freshness with every bite.

But it wasn’t just the savory offerings that caught my eye. A table in the corner of the room was piled high with an assortment of decadent desserts. each one more tempting than the last. Towering cakes adorned with fresh berries and delicate Dowers sat alongside trays of miniature pastries and chocolates, their glossy exteriors beckoning to be tasted.

And as I surveyed the scene before me, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the sheer beauty and opulence of it all. Felix had truly outdone himself. I gaped at him. “Oh my God!”

1 gaped at him, “Oh my

God!

He wore a sheepish expression on his face. “Do you like it?”

“Its amazing, how did you do this?”

He pointed at Tilly, “I had some help. And to be honest, I got a chef to make the food and Tilly was the one who decorated, so…”

“I love it! And oh my god, the food!”

Tilly was the one who laughed at that, “Wait till you see the entrée”

“This is not our usual style of getting to

together,” Felix murmured, “It’s usually beer and some food. But I thought you deserve a nice dinner party.”

“Thank you,” I said, and lay a big, wet kiss on him.

*Brother!” A man’s voice sounded through the house as he entered through the door. The three of us looked toward the door and there was Nick, with bottle of whiskey in his hand.

The shock on his face was evident as his eyes met mine, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Nick slowly made his way to us slowly, his gaze never leaving me. His strides were confident, his presence commanding, a stark contrast to the skinny teenager I once knew. He had transformed into a big, beely man, his stature imposing and his demeanor exuding an air of authority.

“Flora?” he said in a whisper, his voice low and gravelly as he approached me, his expression a mixture of surprise and bewilderment.

I offered him a warm smile, though my own surprise mirrored his. “In the flesh.”

eyes darted to Felix, then back to me, then back to him. “Jesus fucking Christ, bro!”

Felix smirked, “Told you I had a surprise.”

“My fucking God,” he swore again, “How?”

Felix’s eyes darkened. “We’ll talk about that.”

Nick turned to me. “Flora fucking White!

I chuckled, “You look different.”

A wry grin tugged at the corners of his lips as he glanced down at his frame, clearly amused by my observation, “Yeah, well, things change, its been a bit, you know?” he said with a shrug. “I’ve been keeping busy. Heen hitting the gym. And some other things.”

I nodded in understanding. Nick had always been something of an enigma, a shadowy figure lurking in the background of Felix’s world. But now, as I looked at him, I couldn’t deny the sense of power and authority that radiated from him. I had always known he would become an important part of the

Chapter 101

mafia when Felix took over. And I was glad he had.

“It suits you,” I said softly, a note of admiration in my voice. “Your… Job, I mean, You seem to have found your place.”

Nick’s gaze softened, a hint of gratitude flickering in his eyes. “Yeah, well,” he admitted. “It pays the

e bills.

Felix snorted. “You are way overpaid.”

Nick and I chatted for a bit. He asked me about my father, which Felix answered for me, and that they needed to discuss about it. In all the merry making in my life now, I sometimes forgot about the bad parts. But Felix didn’t. He was vengeful like that.

As the evening progressed, I found myself surrounded by Felix’s friends, each one offering warm greetings and genuine smiles. Their surprise at seeing me was evident, but it was quickly overshadowed by their evident happiness at my presence.

Among them was Blue, a longtime friend of Felix’s with a penchant for witty remarks. As we exchanged pleasantries, he couldn’t help but comment on the change he saw in Felix.

“Felix, Boss, you’re positively fucking glowing tonight,” Blue remarked with a grin, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “Looks like you’ve finally found your mojo again.”

Felix chuckled, rolling his eyes playfully at Blue’s observation. “Fuck off, bro,” he countered. “Don’t make me regret inviting you

But as Blue’s comment lingered in the air, Felix’s facade softened, a hint of vulnerability flickering in his eyes. Leaning in close, he whispered in my ear, his voice barely above a breath.

You

know, he’s not wrong. Felix admitted, his tone laced with sincerity. “Having you here, Flora… it feels like everythings fallen into place.”

I smiled up at him. “You have made me so happy. I love you”

“I love you, too.”

Just as Felix whispered his heartfelt admission, a sudden commotion erupted from the other side of the room, drawing our attention away from the Intimate moment.

A crash followed by a chorus of gasps echoed through the air, and we turned to see Blue, arms flailing, knocking over a tray of champagne glasses in his attempt to execute an elaborate dance move.

*Felix! Flora! Look at me! I’m the king of the dance floor!” Blue exclaimed, his face flushed with exertion as he attempted to recover from his impromptu performance.

Felix looked on, unimpressed. “Blue,” he groaned, shaking his head in disbelief. “Why do I even bother?” he caught eyes with Nick, and they both rolled their eyes.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight before me, the absurdity of the moment providing a welcome reprieve from the heartfelt conversation we had just

shared.

“Come on over here, man!” Blue called us. I looked at him and nodded, and we slowly walked over to the boys and Tilly. The dancing had stopped, and we all sat down. I hungrily ate some bruschetta.

As the night progressed and the laughter continued to flow, Felix’s friends couldn’t resist teasing us about the future of our relationship.

“Hey, Felix, when are you finally going to put a ring on it?” one of his friends joked, elbowing Felix playfully.

“Yeah, Flora’s been putting up with you for long enough.” Nick chimed in, grinning mischievously. “And for fuck’s sake, now your whining about her will stop.

Felix shot them a mock glare, though I could see the tips of his cars turn pink.

As Felix and I exchanged amused glances, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of affection for the man standing beside me, I would marry him right now if he asked me to.

“There is stuff to do. My parents want to introduce Flora in the malia circles, first. They’re planning a black tie for that.”

Nick nodded. “Seems smart.”

Chapter 101

Smart, I guess, but it was news to me. A black tie?

“And my Dad is stepping down next month. So maybe we get married after that,” he looked at me, his gaze intense, “Believe, I’m going to lock her down as soon as I can.”

I rolled my eyes in a dramatic fashion. But I loved hearing that. I couldn’t wait to have his ring on my finger. To call him my husband. I’d be his wife! Mr. Flora Consina. Ha! The number of times I had scribbled this name on the backs of notebooks was insane.

He looked toward Nick and Blue, an expression on his face that made them both straighten up, “We need to see to something, first.”

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