Nia finally disentangled herself from the remnants of her New Year's Eve celebration and the relentless affections of Pixel, who seemed to have decided that lounging on her was the best way to start the day.
With a final affectionate pat on Pixel's head, she made her way to the kitchen. The scent of coffee brewing was a small but significant comfort, and she inhaled deeply, letting the rich aroma help shake off the last vestiges of sleep.
The sleek kitchen, with its modern appliances and granite countertops, was a stark contrast to the chaotic state of the living room. She had designed it to be her sanctuary, a place where she could experiment with recipes as a break from the endless lines of code that usually occupied her mind. Nia poured herself a generous mug of coffee, adding just the right amount of cream and sugar, and took a sip, savouring the warmth and flavour.
Her thoughts began to drift towards the day ahead. PixelWave, her startup, had come a long way in the past few years, but it still faced numerous challenges. Securing funding was at the top of her priority list, and today was no exception. She had a meeting later in the week with the Morrison Group, and she knew it could be a game-changer for her company with the upcoming launch.
Just as she was about to settle into her morning routine, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen, the family picture which displayed incoming caller information, had brought a big smile to her face. It was her beloved cousin, Francesco Russo, and his wife, Arlette. Francesco had always been more than just a brother to her, being almost a decade older. He was the reason her love for Technology bloomed at an early age. He was the cybersecurity genius and the new CEO of Russo Enterprises after his father who also happened to be her uncle retired a few years back. It was because of him and his friends she was able to salvage the damage that happened four years ago. Francesco was a handsome man, and his wife, Arlette Pereira, was equally beautiful and badass. Arlette was a Senior VP in her family company, where her brother Jason Pereira was the CEO but she took a break after the birth of their second son and occasionally she helped her brother with the operations of their company. Right now, Arlette's sole focus is to spend time with kids. Speaking of kids, Nia's heart swelled with love; seeing the two young boys in their arms in the picture—her nephew Ryker, who was four years old and extremely enthusiastic, and Theodore, aka her beloved Theo, who was only a year old and the apple of her eyes. Russo's were the only family she had kept in touch with over the past four years. Despite the fallout with her parents, Francesco and Arlette had always supported her unconditionally. He also wanted to invest in her company, but she wanted to do this on her own. However, he insisted on being her fallback plan like the good brother he always is. Her Aunt and Uncle had also welcomed her with open arms. She will always be grateful to them.
"Hey, Franny! Happy New Year!" Nia answered, her voice brightening and a wide smile.
"Happy New Year, little sis!" Francesco's cheerful voice boomed through the phone.
"How's my favourite big brother doing?" Nia replied, her mood instantly lifting.
"Trying to survive the chaos of two hyperactive boys," Francesco laughed and continued. "But we're good. Super good. Actually, we were thinking of swinging by this evening. We are in the Vince City. Arlette and the kids miss you, and we figured we'd start the year with some family time."
Nia's heart swelled with affection. Festivals are a bit hard for her after her fallout with her own parents but she was grateful for Francesco's support.
He and Arlette along with their boys have ensured to make her feel welcome at every celebration. She is having her own room at their Mansion in CentralFord City and they also have their own space in her penthouse. "That sounds wonderful. I miss you guys too. Bring it on!"
There was a brief pause before Francesco spoke again, his tone more serious. "Mom and Dad wanted to come over too, but they have to attend a party your father is hosting. You know, family obligations and all that. Rihanna's getting engaged, after all. They invited me as well, but I'd much rather spend my evening with my real family than mingle with those old gossiping hags. But Mom made a point to tell me she loves you and that she plans to see you later this week. You know they care about you, right? Whatever issues Aunt Marianne and Uncle Frederick have, my parents don't share them."
Nia's faint smile faded as memories of her family flooded back. Her elder sister, Rihanna, had always been the golden child, the pride of their parents. Where Rihanna shone brightly, Nia was the shadow that never quite fit. She had heard that Rihanna was getting engaged to the son of a prominent industrialist, a match carefully chosen by their father. Nia remembered how close they had once been, how they had shared secrets and dreams. But that closeness had shattered the day Nia was thrown out, cast aside like worthless trash. Their father had warned Rihanna that if she tried to reach out to Nia, she would suffer the same fate. And Rihanna, always the obedient daughter, had made her choice. The pain of realizing that she wasn't worth the sacrifice to her sister cut Nia deeply, like a wound that never fully healed. It hurt more than she could admit that Rihanna, who once meant the world to her, could so easily turn her back. Her mother, a renowned socialite, had been no different. She saw Nia's disgrace as a blemish on their family's perfect image, something that would tarnish their reputation in their social circles. For her mother, it was simpler to sever ties, to erase Nia from their lives as if she had never existed. And so, they had all turned their backs on her, leaving Nia to navigate the storm alone.