THE STORY OF WAR IN HEART
PHASE 1 – The sweet introduction ..
🌟 *Greetings, fellow dreamers. I am Ani, the narrator of this tale.*
Today is an extraordinary day—one that will be etched in my heart forever. My closest friends and I have gathered to celebrate the unshakable bond we've nurtured for over a decade. Time has sculpted us into who we are, forging our paths through triumphs and tribulations. But here we stand, together, in the heart of **Eldoria**, the luminous capital of **Veridion**, our beloved homeland.
💎 **Binaya**—or as I fondly call her, *Pookie*—has been my rock since our high school days. A force to be reckoned with, she now reigns as the **Director of Global Finance at Zenith Bank**, shaping economic policies that impact nations. And standing beside her is **Nayab**, a man as formidable as he is brilliant—a **Lead Aeronautical Engineer at the Astralis Space Agency**, spearheading humanity's next leap into the cosmos. (*I smirk, watching her beam with pride as she glances at him.*)
🌿 **Mapria**, my unwavering confidante—better known as *Kutty*—has walked this journey with me since our university days. (*I close my eyes for a moment, reminiscing…*) Kutty, you've weathered storms few could endure, yet here you are, a beacon of resilience. Now, as a **Senior Humanitarian Affairs Officer at the United Nations of Veridion**, you stand at the frontier of global change. And by your side, Robert, the sharp-witted **Chief Legal Strategist at the International Court of Justice**, ensuring justice prevails in a world fraught with chaos. (*A power duo if there ever was one!*)
🍷 And of course, how could I forget my two incorrigible partners-in-crime, **Muuhmi and Mamitha**? (*The three of us embrace, laughter bubbling between us.*)
Muuhmi, the once-reckless dreamer, now commands her domain as the **Head of Geospatial Intelligence at the Federal Ministry of Earth Analysis**, shaping the way nations perceive our ever-changing world. And her husband, Rivaan, a **Cybersecurity Architect for the Central Intelligence Bureau**, watches over the digital underbelly of Veridion, keeping threats at bay.
Mamitha, my fiery-hearted sister, has found her match in Eryx (*poor guy, I almost feel for him!*). She thrives as a **Chief Innovation Officer at VirtuTech**, redefining design and creativity in a world consumed by automation. Meanwhile, Eryx, ever the genius, leads the **Quantum Machine Learning Division at NovaCorp**, wielding artificial intelligence like an artist wields a brush.
✨ And then there's me—Ani. I carve my own legacy as the **Chief Technology Strategist at Imperium Tech Holdings**, a key player in the digital renaissance of Veridion.
This is more than a reunion—it is a testament to our journey, a story of war and peace, love and sacrifice, victories and defeats. And as the night deepens in Eldoria, with city lights shimmering like distant galaxies, I know that our story is only just beginning…
# **Phase 2 – The Present**
🔔 *Ding-dong!*
The sharp chime of the doorbell shattered the silence.
"*Ani! Hey!*"
A groggy voice groaned from inside. "*Stop shouting, I'm coming...*"
Ani dragged herself out of bed and flung open the door. "*Merets? What the hell are you doing here?*"
Merets leaned against the doorframe, smirking. "*I'm here to serve you, madam.*"
"*Liar. I just want to sleep—leave!*"
"*You're insane!*" Merets scoffed. "*Don't you ever reflect on your mistakes? Or are you just going to ignore everything?*"
Ani narrowed her eyes. "*My mistake? No way. Just get lost.*"
"*Ani... I'm sorry.*"
Her expression darkened. "*Who sent you? Do they actually think I'll apologize to that bastard? Not happening. I'm resigning tomorrow anyway.*"
Without another word, she shoved Merets out of her house and slammed the door.
"*What a relief…*" Ani sighed, crawling back into bed.
But before she could find peace, the doorbell rang again. And again. And again.
Her patience snapped. "*Do you want me to kill you?!*"
Storming towards the door, she yanked it open, ready to unleash hell—but the moment her eyes met the figure standing before her, her breath hitched.
"*Why are you here?*" she whispered, her voice laced with apprehension. "*Please leave, sir. If someone sees you, this will turn into a scandal. Just go.*"
But **Badzz** stepped forward, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. Without a word, he grasped her wrist.
"*Do you want me to start now, Ani?*" he murmured, his voice dripping with something dark and teasing.
Ani yanked her hand away. "*I can't bear you, Badzz!*"
But he didn't stop. The door clicked shut behind him as he moved closer. She stepped back, but he followed—inch by inch.
"*Let's settle this now, shall we?*" he said, his breath warm against her skin.
"*No!*" Ani gasped. "*You can't just—*"
"*Coincidence?*" He smirked, tilting his head. "*You think this is just a coincidence?*"
His eyes darkened with an unreadable emotion as he loomed over her.
"*Who were you drinking with last night, princess?*" he asked, his tone laced with both jealousy and curiosity.
Ani's heart pounded. "*Are you drunk?*"
Badzz's lips curled into a dangerous grin. "*Not without you.* 🍷*"
He stepped even closer, trapping her between the wall and his towering frame. "*Now let's see how you'll pay the price, my beautiful one.**"
Before she could protest, he lifted her effortlessly and threw her onto the bed. Her pulse raced as he grabbed a strip of fabric from her bedside and tied her wrists.
"*Badzz, stop—*"
He silenced her with a finger against her lips. "*Babe,*" he whispered, his voice turning husky, "*you'd better get ready… or we'll be here all day.* 🔥*"
She clenched her fists. "*Fine. Just let me go first.*"
Satisfied, he untied her. As soon as she was free, Ani darted towards the bathroom, locking herself inside. She stood under the shower, hot water cascading down as silent tears mixed with the droplets.
Outside, Badzz sighed. "*Damn it, Ani... you leave me no choice.*" He pulled out his phone. "*Prepare the car,*" he instructed his assistant.
An hour later, Ani stepped out of her room, momentarily forgetting that **he** was still there.
"*Oh no—how did I forget about him?!*" she muttered under her breath, rushing to grab some clothes.
Badzz, lounging on the couch, lifted an eyebrow. "*What's taking so long?* Where? When?*"
Startled by his sudden exclamation, Ani hurried to him. "*What happened?*"
He hung up his call abruptly and looked at her. "*Anu, are you okay?*"
She blinked. "*Who the hell is Anu?*"
His gaze dropped to her towel-clad body. "*Are you sure you're dressed?*"
Ani glanced down—and let out a horrified gasp. "*Wha—?!*"
Turning on her heels, she bolted back into her room. "*You brat! How dare you?!*"
Badzz chuckled. "*What did I do? Just dress already.*"
She yanked open her wardrobe—only to find it empty. Her frustration peaked.
And then, as if summoned by fate, **he** walked in, a neatly folded dress in hand.
For a moment, she just stood there, blinking.
"*Take it,*" he said.
Silently, she snatched it from him.
When she emerged, fully dressed, Badzz was waiting with a cup of warm milk and breakfast.
"*Eat,*" he ordered.
Ani sat down, absentmindedly nibbling at her food.
He reached out, running a hand through her damp hair, gently drying it.
"*What's your intention, Badzz?*" she muttered.
He smirked. "*Get in the car, or do you need a princess treatment?*"
She huffed but obeyed, stepping into the sleek black vehicle.
With a subtle hand gesture from Badzz, the driver started the engine. They drove through the towering skyline of Eldoria, the capital city of Veridion.
Halfway through, Ani suddenly gasped. "*Wait—I forgot my shoes!*"
Badzz didn't even glance at her. "*You think I'll turn around for that?*"
"*You—!*"
"*Make another sound, and I'll have to find another way to keep you quiet, princess.* 😏*" His smirk was pure arrogance.
The car rolled to a stop in front of **Imperium Tech Holdings**.
Ani exhaled sharply. "*Alright. Let's just get this over with.*"
As they stepped inside, whispers and murmurs filled the air.
"*It's her...*"
"*She's back...*"
Ani squared her shoulders.
No matter what they said—she would not crumble.
Not today.