Ch 4: “Who Even Is He?”

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The next morning in Milan arrived with a lavender sky, golden café lights, and the unmistakable smell of espresso and ambition. Anivitha, however, was battling another war.
A war of denial.
She sat at a corner table in the hotel café, stabbing her croissant with a tiny fork like it had committed high treason.
Her phone pinged.
[Drama Llamas 🦙]
Deepika Rao (fl bff)
Deepika Rao (fl bff)
“So… did he snore?”
Meghana Reddy (fl bff)
Meghana Reddy (fl bff)
“Or sleep shirtless 👀?”
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
“He slept on the couch like a decent human being.”
Deepika Rao (fl bff)
Deepika Rao (fl bff)
“You sound disappointed.”
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
“I’m drinking black coffee, not bloodthirsty.”
Meghana Reddy (fl bff)
Meghana Reddy (fl bff)
“Coffee doesn’t explain the blush.”
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The Conference Venue, Later That Day
The morning keynote had just ended, and the massive digital screen flashed a familiar name.
Morris Group of Industries – Platinum Sponsor Meet the CEO: Jayden Morris
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
(choking on her water) “Wait—what now?!”
Deepika Rao (fl bff)
Deepika Rao (fl bff)
(smirking) “And the truth surfaces.”
Meghana Reddy (fl bff)
Meghana Reddy (fl bff)
(wide-eyed) “You ROOMED with THE Jayden Morris?”
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
(hissing) “I didn’t know! I thought he was some arrogant tech bro, not Mr. Billion-Dollar Cheekbones!”
Deepika Rao (fl bff)
Deepika Rao (fl bff)
(pulling out her phone) “Google says he’s 31. Fluent in 4 languages. Built a startup at 19. Also, his abs have a fan page.”
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
“WHY are you stalking him?!”
Meghana Reddy (fl bff)
Meghana Reddy (fl bff)
(giggling) “Because YOU lived with him and didn’t notice the abs, so now it’s our civic duty.”
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Hotel Room, Later That Night
Back in the suite, Jayden was lounging on the couch again, casually typing emails and humming to himself.
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
(glancing up) “Productive day, Miss Hacker?”
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
(narrowing her eyes) “So you’re Jayden Morris.”
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
(grinning) “You finally Googled me. Took you long enough.”
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
(sarcastically) “I was busy trying not to smother you in your sleep.”
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
(tilting his head) “You’re not the first woman to say that.”
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
“You’re disgusting.”
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
“And yet, you brought me coffee.”
She had. Without thinking. One cappuccino. No sugar. Just like he liked it.
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
(mumbling) “It was charity. Don’t make it weird.”
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
(softly, without teasing) “Too late.”
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Group Chat: “Drama Llamas 🦙”
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
“So he’s the Jayden Morris. Big whoop.”
Deepika Rao (fl bff)
Deepika Rao (fl bff)
“Big whoop?! That’s like saying Mount Everest is a slightly tall hill.”
Meghana Reddy (fl bff)
Meghana Reddy (fl bff)
“And he FLIRTED with you. In a towel. In a room. In ITALY.”
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
“He’s annoying. Arrogant. Obnoxious.”
Deepika Rao (fl bff)
Deepika Rao (fl bff)
“And hot.”
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
Anivitha Nanduri (fl)
“Fine. Infuriatingly hot.”
Meghana Reddy (fl bff)
Meghana Reddy (fl bff)
“You’re doomed.”
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Matteo & Luca’s Sibling Call
Matteo Romano (ml younger brother)
Matteo Romano (ml younger brother)
“So… what’s her name?”
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
(sipping wine) “Anivitha. She codes like she breathes fire and glares like I stole her laptop.”
Luca Romano (ml elder brother)
Luca Romano (ml elder brother)
“Sounds like your soulmate.”
Matteo Romano (ml younger brother)
Matteo Romano (ml younger brother)
“Are we invited to the wedding or nah?”
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
Jayden Morris Romano (ml)
(laughing) “You two are insane.”
Luca Romano (ml elder brother)
Luca Romano (ml elder brother)
“And yet, you’re smiling.”
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Cherrie
Cherrie
Chapter 4 gave us a glimpse into the slow unraveling of curiosity. Anivitha’s friends know something’s brewing, and even Jayden’s family can see the sparks from miles away. Who knew sarcasm and software would make such a combustible mix?
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