Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 808 : The Designer

*Cat*

I was honestly nervous when Olivia said she had set up a meeting between me and the dress designer so quickly. The fact that I was still a little worried about Junior made me that much more unsettled.

Plus, it was nerve-wracking enough going to meet a stranger I’d never met before, but I was worried about asking them to design my perfect wedding dress in only three months.

Still, I hoped they would accept the job.

“I’ve heard of this designer before,” Anna said, excitedly vibrating next to me as she checked out the studio Olivia had led us into.

Olivia was all smiles, happy just to watch Anna and me as we checked out the designer’s past works.

I had to admit, the dresses and outfits she designed looked like they could be a runway–classy and stylish while still holding a good amount of functionality. I was especially a fan of the dresses her assistant showed us.

Her assistant, a blonde college student, proudly showed off the pockets hidden deep within the lining of the dress, ones that looked like they could fit a whole can of soda and then some.

“She’s the best of the best. I’m honestly so lucky to work with her. All my classmates were super jealous when they heard.” Rory was an excitable kid, barely nineteen or twenty as he waved his hands around, showcasing all of the designs his boss had worked on, even showing us the magazine covers they were featured on. “You’re gonna love your dress. I guarantee it.”

“Breathe, Rory,” Olivia reminded him, chuckling to herself as he immediately took a huge gaping breath in.

Anna and I exchanged an amused glance, both remembering how it felt to be a freshman working with our careers in the field.

“Rory! Where are my sequins... the pink and purple ones with the curved edge?”

The loud, domineering voice came from behind one of the doors that led deeper into the studio. Olivia smiled, unfazed by the sharp-sounding tone, while Rory jumped into action.

“Sorry, Simona! Purple cabinet, the right central drawer underneath the heart ones!” Rory yelled back, rushing toward the door. But before he could head inside, a mere inches from the door, the door slammed open, hitting Rory straight in the face. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Domineering was right... and the designer we came here for stood in the center, an impatient look on her face as she tapped her foot furiously. She had short, colorful hair and dark skin, and her ears were dangling with all kinds of jewelry.

“Rory, where are you?” she demanded, searching the room.

I didn’t think she even registered our presence as she searched for her assistant.

“Here!” Rory groaned from behind the door, holding his nose, which was now starting to bleed.

I cringed in sympathy, but there was no sympathy from Simona as she launched forward.

“What were you doing behind the door, Egare? You’re driving me up the ceiling!” Simona Greco spoke with a heavy accent from somewhere I’d never heard before, and it was pretty fascinating to listen to. She spouted out a few lines of whatever language she was speaking, pressing a piece of stray fabric to Rory’s nose as she lectured him.

“Don’t you mean up a wall?” Rory asked, innocently tilting his head, only to get smacked across the side of it.

“Don’t correct me, Estipid!”

I didn’t need to know her language to know that word. I stifled a laugh and Simona must’ve heard us because she turned to us with wide eyes.

“Oh, customers?” She lit up like a firework on the Fourth of July and then spotted Olivia. “Olivia! Dous mwen.” She rushed over to pull Olivia into a huge hug, which my soon-to-be mother-in-law returned with a huge laugh.

“It’s wonderful to see you again! Simona, did you forget about the appointment I set up for today?” she asked with an amused look.

Simona gasped, slapping the side of her head. “I forgot! Rory, why didn’t you remind me?” She whirled on her assistant.

“But I did,” Rory said nasally, now that he held fabric around his nose. “I sent you three messages and two reminders on your pager, Simona!”

“Adot!” Simona waved him off, turning to us with a huge smile. Her smile widened when it landed on me, and she jumped forward to grab my hands in hers. “You must be the lovely bride Olivia has spoken of, her daughter-in-law! My goodness. It will be an honor to design a dress for such a lovely woman!”

I gave her a relieved look and much to my surprise, Simona was a much friendlier woman than she first appeared. Olivia sipped some tea that Rory prepared in the front of the shop while Simona took me and Anna into the back.

It was an utter mess of fabric thrown around with mannequins piled everywhere. Simona showed us her past wedding dress designs and chatted happily with us as Anna and I asked all kinds of questions about how she designed such beautiful and intricate patterns.

“Ah, so what would the bride like, huh? Tell me everything,” Simona said once she’d pushed a cup of hot tea into our hands, relaxing in her studio as she brought out a sketching pad and a pencil. “What makes you tick, Miss Caterina?”

“I go by Cat, actually,” I said with a small smile, and I glanced at Anna, who immediately produced the rough sketch we’d made after trying on dresses. “I want a long train and hopefully a veil that can match it, sort of blend it down like a waterfall. Form-fitting seemed to work best with my shape, or at least I think it did, but I didn’t like the mermaid style at all. I’m too terrified I’ll trip on the aisle.”

“Ah, yes.” Simona laughed, glancing at my flats. “Not very experienced in heels, are you? I’ll make sure to make the skirt nice and flowy so you have nothing to worry about on your special day. Waterfall train and veil? Sounds beautiful. What else?”

I blushed, glancing at Anna before I admitted bashfully, “I was hoping you could add a bit more skin, at least around the back area.”

“Ooh, a bit sexy for your partner, eh?” Simona winked as I turned bright red. “No problem, no problem. Any kind of idea for what material you would like? Tulle for the skirt or silk? Some girls like pure cotton and some like lace or chiffon. It’s up to you.”

“I don’t mind any of it, actually,” I laughed. “So long as it feels nice to the touch, you can be as creative as you’d like with the material.”

“Amazing! My mizik, at last!” Simona beamed, jumping out of her seat to enfold me into an excited hug. She started rambling in her language which I was starting to figure out might be from South America.

We talked a bit more about the dress and what features I would like or not like before she started taking my measurements. It felt a bit weird to be undressed in only my bra and panties in front of Simona, but she had a natural way of making me feel at ease with her light-hearted banter.

Compliments just seemed to flow out of her so naturally. But when we left, I felt good about Simona handling my dress. She had assured me that the time limit would be no problem, not with all the inspiration she’d gotten from me.

She promised to send a few sketches the next day for me to look over. Having free reign on the fabrics had really delighted her.

Rory was still nursing a bruised nose when we left, but he looked no worse for wear, already rushing to help Simona get her designs done.

Anna and I rode back together while Olivia was driven back by a familiar-looking guard. She assured me that Elio took after his father and that Giovani was just as overprotective of her as Elio had been with me.

Once she was gone, Anna and I decided to stop for some frozen yogurt on the way home and we chatted in the car with her desserts about the wedding–the venue and the preparations we’d made and still had yet to make. The florist and caterer had already been booked and menus and bouquets decided on, but I still felt nervous like I was forgetting something.

Luckily, I had Anna by my side to help.

“So, you’re nervous about the guests?” Anna asked me with a raised eyebrow. “It’s just family, right?”

“Well, sort of,” I admitted, giving her a sheepish grin. “Mom’s kind of my only blood-related kin still alive. Mom doesn’t have any family on her side and well. Dad’s family was really just the Valentinos. Well, you’re really the only friend I’ve stayed in contact with, so I guess it’s just you and Mom on my side.”

“Wait a minute, Cat. We printed out like a hundred invitations!” Anna looked at me wide-eyed in shock. “You mean ninety-eight of those are just Elio’s family?”

“Probably more than that, if we’re being honest,” I nodded, a little embarrassed to say it. “Well, his family is kind of huge, and they’ve got a thing where everyone in the mafia is their family. That’s why in Italy they call it ‘the family.’ I’m sure a lot of them considered Dad as family, but since he kept me and Mom such a secret, they never really got to know us. I know a lot of them now but as Elio’s girlfriend, not really family. It’s just... going to be a lot to deal with, you know?”

“Wow, I don’t blame you for being nervous,” Anna said, staring at her cookies and cream froyo. “That’s a lot. No wonder I’m your maid of honor. But still, I’m sure everyone is going to love you.

Me and Matilde will have your backs all the way and so will Elio and Emilia, our sweet little flower girl. That’s what matters, right?”

“Right,” I grinned.

We talked for a bit afterward, finishing up our icy desserts before I dropped Anna off and then went home. I stopped by Mom’s cottage to pick up Emilia, who had somehow gotten a block embedded into the wall. I promised to pay for the wall replacement, but Mom only seemed amused at it, saying she’d frame the T block for a new family heirloom.

I just laughed, holding Emilia on my hip as I handed her the play basket with flower petals we had her practice with. She was a genius at it, though a bit rough when it came to throwing the fake petals.

But it hit me as I watched Mom walk with Emilia, helping her throw fake flowers everywhere, that all of this was real.

The wedding was coming up fast, and Emilia was going to be the cutest flower girl in the world. I, on the other hand, was going to be married.

And I barely stopped myself from tumbling down a rollercoaster of emotions at that sobering, amazing, and beautiful thought.