Bella went straight to Lala's house after work. Ever since she'd joined the new office, she hadn't found time to catch up with her best friend, and she knew Lala was probably annoyed with her.
Lala's house sat near her shop, right beside the lake, framed by a cozy garden and fairy lights hanging along the porch. Bella rang the bell, clutching a familiar parcel in her hand. When Lala opened the door, Bella held the parcel up to her face like a peace offering.
"Guess what I brought you?" Bella asked with a grin.
Lala raised an eyebrow, keeping a deadpan expression. "What, a bomb or something? Because it better be good if you think you're getting back on my good side."
Bella laughed, waving the bag in front of her. "Better than a bomb—it's your favorite… pani puri."
Lala's expression melted instantly, her face lighting up as she grabbed the bag. "Ugh, you know my weaknesses. Alright, you're forgiven," she declared, pulling Bella inside.
As they walked into the living room, Lala peeked inside the bag eagerly. "If you hadn't brought these, I might have slammed the door on you. Just saying."
Bella grinned. "I know—I figured I'd come prepared for any hostile reception."
Lala shot her a teasing glare, popping a pani puri in her mouth. "You're lucky I'm easily bribed with food," she said, pretending to be annoyed but already chewing happily.
Bella chuckled, settling onto the couch. "Noted. So, tell me, how bad was it? How many voicemails did you leave?"
Lala sighed dramatically. "Only seventeen. But who's counting? And don't think you're off the hook just because of these!" She wagged a finger at Bella, though the smile on her face gave her away.
Bella held her hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright, I'll make it up to you. Let's have a full gossip session tonight. I'll spill everything."
Lala raised an eyebrow, popping another pani puri into her mouth. "Oh, you better. I want every single detail."
The two burst into laughter, the tension forgotten as they dove into their usual chatter, catching up like no time had passed at all.
Bella leaned forward, her eyes alight with excitement. "You remember Veena and Fatish? Those two insufferable rich brats I told you about? They tried to corner me today, assuming I'd just take it like I used to. But not this time. I stood my ground and told them exactly what I thought."
Lala's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wait, you talked back to them? Bella, I'm shocked… but so impressed! You've really changed."
Bella gave a small, proud smile. "I had to, Lala. You can't let people like that push you around forever. And honestly? It felt incredible to finally speak up."
Lala shook her head, still amazed. "I don't know who this bold Bella is, but I like her! So, what's next? Any more surprises?"
Bella's smile deepened, her excitement bubbling over. "Actually, yes. Big news—I've decided who I want to play the lead in my drama adaptation."
Lala leaned in, intrigued. "Who's the lucky star?"
"Jennifer Aniston," Bella declared, her voice firm. "She's perfect for the role."
Lala's jaw dropped. "Jennifer Aniston? Are you serious? Bella, that's huge! But… do you even have a way to get in touch with her?"
"I do," Bella said confidently. "I have one shot at a meeting with her to pitch the project. If I can convince her to say yes, it could change everything for the drama."
Lala leaned back, shaking her head in awe. "Wow. You know Jennifer is notoriously selective, right? She only picks scripts that resonate with her. But…" She paused, her expression softening into a supportive smile. "If anyone can impress her, it's you. Your passion is impossible to ignore."
Bella's smile grew warmer as she pulled Lala into a quick hug. "Thank you, Lala. You're the best friend anyone could ask for. That means so much. I'm going to give this everything I've got."
Lala laughed, patting Bella's back. "I know you will. And I can't wait to see you pull this off."
The next day, Bella and Vicky arrived at the management office of Jennifer Aniston in Ernakulam. They parked their scooter and made their way into the sleek, modern building. Vicky had already secured an appointment with Mohan, Jennifer's manager, but after a long wait in the lounge, they were finally called in.
Inside the office, Bella extended her hand with a warm smile. "I'm Bella Sebastian, and this is my colleague, Vicky. We're with Victoria Productions."
Mohan shook her hand and gestured for them to take a seat. "Nice to meet you both. So, tell me about the project."
Bella leaned forward, her voice steady yet passionate as she described her drama adaptation. She emphasized how meaningful the role was and how Jennifer's talent could bring it to life in an unforgettable way.
When she finished, Mohan nodded thoughtfully. "It sounds like a significant project. Jennifer would definitely gain from taking on a role like this. It's high-impact and has a lot of heart."
Bella and Vicky exchanged an optimistic glance, feeling a surge of excitement.
Mohan's expression softened as he continued, "But there's a challenge. Jennifer's already committed to another project, and she has a strict principle of not taking on two projects at the same time."
Bella's face fell slightly, but she took a breath and asked, "Is there any way I could meet her? Just to share my vision for this role… I truly believe it's something she'd connect with."
Mohan regarded her for a moment, then reached into his drawer, pulling out a small card. "Here—this is her address. I have to say, I'm really taken with your project, too. I'd love to see her in a role like this. Go and talk to her; perhaps she'll make an exception."
Bella's eyes lit up as she took the card. "Thank you so much, Mohan. We'll do our best."
He gave them a nod, a small smile on his face. "Good luck, Bella."
As they climbed onto the scooter, Vicky glanced at Bella, doubt flickering in his eyes. "Do you really think this will work?" he asked, settling in behind her.
Bella looked ahead, determination firm in her gaze. "Nothing is impossible if you're willing to work for it," she replied, starting the scooter with a confident smile. "We'll give it everything we've got."
Vicky chuckled, his worries easing a bit. "Alright, let's do this."