Chapter 59 BONUS CHAPTER #3

"I am sorry, Ma"am but we don"t have another pair of this pendant," the jeweller apologized. "A gentleman bought the other one just minutes ago," she informed.
Dr. Natalie, Hazel"s daughter, looked down at the pendant with the letters, M" and N" intertwined in a heart and debated with herself if she should get through the whole ordeal of proposing Marcus or not ?
Marcus was Dmitri and Audrey"s son.
A lot was on stake, not only their relationship as colleagues at the hospital but also as best friends !
It felt like history was repeating itself just like Hazel and Dmitri. However, the next generation had learnt from their mistakes and given a chance to flirt with destiny.
"Ah well, I love this pendant. I will buy just this one then," Natalie replied.
At least if he rejects me, I can keep this one with me, although I pray to all the gods above that I get to see that symbol of love wrapped around his neck, she fervently prayed while making the expensive purchase that hardly made a dent in her savings.
She was a young, successful doctor who worked in the hospital at the other end of the Town Hospital where Dmitri and Hazel worked.
The best friends found their niche at that place together and it had been years since Natalie nestled a crush on her best friend but could not pluck her courage to confess. Watching the kind and gentle soul day in and day out, had strengthened her crush for him and soon enough, she found herself entrapped in his love.
As she headed back to the hospital for her afternoon appointments, she got a message on her phone from the hospital administration.
"Good Afternoon Dr. Natalie Hughes ! Our guest speaker suddenly fell ill. We request you to kindly substitute for him and go with Dr. Marcus for the charity event. Please confirm as soon as you get the message."
Natalie"s heart raced when she read the message. She had to prepone her proposal plans sooner than planned ! This was the perfect opportunity to propose to Marcus in an informal setting at a work event !!
She felt the whole universe conspiring to let this proposal happen so she laid all her inhibitions and fears to rest. She swung into motion and planned her night ahead.
However, she started by informing her father of her intentions and getting his blessing.
She laughed when Calvin, in turn, whined about not getting enough time to date his own wife. She suggested an impromptu dinner date at home itself and forwarded the recipes for homemade, exotic dishes.
"Thanks princess. Now go and get your man ! If he says no, then you let know. I will come with my guns and dogs," Calvin replied.
Natalie laughed and felt better after talking to her Dad, who kept assuring her that no matter the result, she was his princess and she was the second best thing that happened to him.
"Second best !" Natalie exclaimed. "Dad !!"
"Oh princess, your mother stole my heart first. She is the best thing that happened to me," Calvin chuckled.
"You are so whipped, Dad," Natalie giggled before they said their goodbyes and Calvin wished her the best of luck. "You are my warrior princess. Go get your prince," he said the last word before they disconnected the call.
The evening came sooner than Natalie imagined and everything was a blur for her once she dashed from the hospital and went home to get ready.
She had no idea how she got to the venue or how she ended up in the front seat, watching the sinfully handsome doctor make his speech. For her, the world ceased to exist and only the man of her dreams existed.
She was too nervous and enthralled at watching him speak that her ears only caught the deep, soothing tone of his voice but could not comprehend the words.
" .... thank you and I hope that the world becomes a better place to live in !" Marcus ended his speech and got a standing ovation. Natalie couldn"t help but feel proud of her best friend as she stood up and applauded along with the crowd.
Marcus got off the podium with a disarming smile and joined Natalie at her table where they were served their drinks.
"When will they open the cloches for dessert ?" Marcus impatiently said as he looked around and noticed that dinner time had not started yet.
Natalie rolled her eyes and hissed, "You better behave like a gentleman who got a standing ovation instead of a kid with sweet tooth lost in Disneyland."
Marcus huffed a breath and replied, "I want to eat that cake," he threw his thumb behind his back to point at a three layered cake of creamy goodness that was waiting to be cut by the sponsors. "I tasted the cream on the way and it was marvelous !" He added and the glare Natalie threw his way was more scorching than his mother"s whenever she caught him with candy.
"I just don"t know you for tonight," Natalie declared. "I don"t know how you stay in shape with the amount of sugar you eat," she added as a waiter came with appetizers.
"It"s in the genes," Marcus shrugged before asking the waiter to get him something that Natalie couldn"t make out. "Plus you sound like your mom whenever Dad drinks coffee," he grinned.
Natalie chuckled and nodded her head, "Yeah, you are right. Mom keeps grumbling that Uncle Dmitri does not have blood but coffee running through his veins !"
The waiter was back as the friends bantered with each other and placed ice-cream in front of them.
Natalie was about to tease Marcus when she remembered that this was what he ate only when he felt stressed out. When she tried to ask him if everything was alright, she was called on stage.
"Now I request Dr. Natalie Hughes to come on stage and say a few special words."
Marcus clutched the box in his pocket and cursed the timing. Just when he had gathered his nerves, the universe had taken away his lady at the spur of the moment.
Utter silence descended in the hall, however, his head spun around so fast when he suddenly heard Natalie say his name in front of everyone !
"Marcus, I will keep it short, unlike the long period of time I have kept my feelings a secret from you. We grew up together as best friends but I don"t know when that deep bond turned into something more special for me but I do know that I love you more than your love for chocolates and cakes," Natalie said and everyone in the audience chuckled. Marcus, however, looked on with an open jaw. He was too shocked to react.
When Natalie saw no change in his expression or body language to give away his feelings, she felt her jittery nerves overpower. However, she remembered her mother"s words to never be afraid when your intention was right and pure.
And hence, Natalie stepped down from the high platform and glided her way to Marcus before she showed him the pendant with the letters M" and N".
Marcus" fingers clutched around the object in his pocket even tighter before Natalie proposed.
"Marcus, I, Natalie Hughes propose you to become mine and only mine forever. Will you do me the honor of becoming my boyfriend ?" She asked.
Marcus slowly got up and walked towards the love of his life before he took out a similar pendant to Natalie"s, with the letters M" and N" enjoined.
Natalie"s hand flew towards her mouth when everything fell into place and she understood who had bought the pendant before her and why the nervous doctor had ordered ice-cream ! Maybe the doctor meant to go with Marcus was not sick after all !!
He had pre-planned everything ! The feelings were mutual !!
"And Natalie Hughes, will you be my girlfriend ?" He proposed amidst great cheers and wolf-whistles.
A speechless, teary-eyed Natalie fervently nodded her head and let Marcus clasp the pendant around her before she said, "Yes, a thousand times yes, Marcus !"
"Then it is a yes from me too, dear," Marcus softly said before Natalie put the symbol of their love around him and secretly thanked her parents for giving her the courage to carry this out proposal.
The thunderous applause from the spectators echoed throughout the hall while the couple hugged each other.
The curtains closed for a new story and legacy to unveil !
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