Chapter 7: REUNIONS AMD REVELATIONS

Zander received an unexpected call from his best friend from college days, Marco Ramirez – now a successful politician.

"Zander, my friend! I'm finally being sworn into Congress! I'm hosting an inaugural party and would be honored if you and Arianna could attend," Marco exclaimed.

Zander was thrilled to reconnect with his old friend and shared the news with Arianna:

"Marco's inviting us to his inaugural party in Washington D.C.! We should go – it'll be fun to catch up with him and other college friends."

Arianna agreed, and they booked flights and hotel rooms for the weekend event.

Upon arriving at the luxurious party venue, they were greeted by Marco's warm smile and firm handshake:

"Zander, my man! Arianna, you're even more beautiful than I remembered!"

As they mingled through the crowd, Zander introduced Arianna to his college friends:

* Alex Chen – now a famous tech entrepreneur

* Maya Patel – a renowned journalist

* Ethan Hall – a bestselling author

Arianna charmed them with her warmth and intelligence, feeling grateful to see Zander so happy among old friends.

However, as the night progressed, Arianna noticed Zander engaging in intense conversations with Marco – their expressions serious and slightly nostalgic.

She wondered what they might be discussing – old college days or something more?

Meanwhile, Arianna struck up a conversation with Maya Patel, who asked:

"So, how did you meet Zander? He's always been private about his past relationships."

Arianna shared their love story, leaving out the part about Julian's recent message – still a secret in her heart.

Maya listened intently, then said:

"Zander was quite the heartthrob in college. There was someone special back then... but he never talked about what happened."

Arianna's curiosity piqued – what secret could Zander be hiding from his college days?

The inaugural party continued with laughter, music, and nostalgia. Arianna and Zander mingled with his college friends, creating new memories:

* Alex Chen convinced Zander to join him in a hilarious karaoke performance of their favorite college anthem.

* Maya Patel introduced Arianna to her journalist colleagues, discussing everything from politics to pop culture.

* Ethan Hall shared humorous stories about Zander's college pranks, leaving everyone in stitches.

Marco Ramirez took the stage to thank his guests and deliver an inspiring speech about public service and friendship:

"Tonight, I'm surrounded by people who knew me when I was just a dreamer. Zander, my brother, you've been with me every step of the way."

As Marco raised his glass in a toast, Zander's eyes met Arianna's – filled with affection and gratitude for their life together.

The party wound down with exchanging contact information, promises to meet again soon, and heartfelt goodbyes.

As they stepped into the cool Washington D.C. night air, Arianna turned to Zander:

"Tonight was incredible. Your friends are amazing – you're pretty lucky to have them."

Zander smiled, wrapping his arm around her:

"I'm luckiest to have you, though. You charmed everyone – including me, all over again."

Arianna's heart swelled with love as they walked hand-in-hand back to their hotel.

But just as they reached their room door, Zander's phone buzzed with a text from Marco:

"Hey, Zander – we need to talk about something from college. In person. Soon."

Arianna's curiosity sparked again – what could Marco want to discuss?

Back home from Washington D.C., Zander received another text from Marco:

"Meeting me tomorrow lunchtime at Joe's Café downtown? Need to discuss something from college days. Alone, Zander."

Zander agreed, curiosity getting the better of him. He didn't mention the meeting to Arianna, thinking it was probably just old friend chatter.

The next day, Zander arrived at Joe's Café and spotted Marco already seated in a quiet corner booth.

"Thanks for coming, Zander. I've been wanting to talk to you about this for years," Marco said, his expression serious.

Zander's instincts told him this conversation wouldn't be casual. "What's going on, Marco?"

Marco took a deep breath before revealing:

"Do you remember Sophia Patel – Maya's cousin – from college?"

Zander's mind raced back to those days... Sophia was a name he hadn't thought of in years.

"Yes, I remember her. We dated briefly sophomore year. What about her?"

Marco's words dropped like a bombshell:

"Sophia contacted me recently. She's been wanting to reach out to you for years, Zander. About something that happened back then... something you don't know."

Zander's heart sank – what secret could Sophia possibly reveal after all these years?