Fated Love

Chapter 4

After several drives and too many stops, I finally located the estate. One glance, and I understood why it was ranked among the best in London—it truly lived up to the hype.

Security at the main gate was tight. Residents and their staff had their details registered, including in the system.

So, there I was, standing outside the security house, admiring the serenity that enveloped the place. After collecting my pass, I stepped out and began strolling through the estate, trying to locate the exact building I was supposed to report to. The problem? Every building looked identical—same structure, same design, same everything.

As I wandered, I discovered the estate had its own gym, a mini-mall, and even an indoor sports complex. It was like a small city. The owner was definitely rolling in money.

Okay, enough sightseeing, I scolded myself. Find the building before you lose your new job, before it even starts.

But frustration began to creep in. The address card Erika gave me—Cheval Three Quays, Lower Thames Street—wasn’t helping. Just when I was about to give up, one building caught my attention.

Unlike the others, it was a high-rise building that could easily pass for a five-star hotel. Something about it felt right. A glance at the signboard confirmed the address. Relief flooded me, followed by regret that I didn’t ask for directions earlier.

As if the universe heard my thoughts, I heard footsteps approaching. I needed to confirm what I already knew.

"Hello, good morning," I greeted, moving closer to a young woman who’d just looked up from her phone.

She was stunning—cute face, effortless style, the kind of casual grace that screamed fashionable without trying.

"Good morning." She smiled, slipping her phone into her pocket. "You look lost. Need help?"

She was nice, and it gave me courage. "Yeah, actually. I'm looking for this address." I showed her the card.

She glanced at it, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and pointed to the very building in front of us. "That’s the one."

"Oh!" I smiled, a little embarrassed. "Thank you."

She nodded and walked ahead. I followed her inside the building‘s expansive reception area. The space was a mix of marble, glass, and understated elegance—the work of someone with taste and a big budget.

If this is just the lobby, I thought, I can’t imagine what the apartments look like.

I was still gawking when I nearly stumbled into her again. She turned, tilting her head slightly, a knowing smile on her lips. She had dimples on her cheeks.

“Beautiful, yeah?”

I gave a nod, still looking around as we waited for the elevator.

“Wait till you see the inside.” She grinned. “I haven’t seen you before. Are you a new occupant or something?”

"Something else," I replied quickly.

"House manager?" She guessed, eyes twinkling.

I nodded, surprised. “Yeah. How’d you know?”

She shrugged, amused. "Lucky guess. I’m Roxanne—fashion stylist, resident, and occasional elevator companion."

“Kiara.” I introduced myself softly, pressing for the twelfth floor.

"I think there's a celebrity on that floor." She said casually, slipping in her Bluetooth earpiece. “Anyway, welcome to the building.”

Roxanne was effortless—friend, funny, and confident. The kind of person you instantly liked.

"Sorry if I seem weird,” she said suddenly. “I just find you… captivating. You have this calm energy.”

“Captivating and calm?” I repeated, laughing. “That’s a first.”

“Really.” She laughed, the sound light and infectious.

“Yeah,” I replied.

She shook her head, and we eventually fell into a comfortable silence. The only sound I heard was that of the elevator and her occasional giggles.

She was truly beautiful, even with less makeup she wore. She had purple-coloured hair braided on the left side and clipped midway, leaving the rest to fall over her shoulders. She was dressed in blue Jeans, a cream-coloured camisole paired with a black leather jacket.

When the elevator chimed open, I looked at the time on my watch and I realized I was already ten minutes late. Great—first day, and I was about to make the worst impression.

"So, Kiara," Roxanne said gently. “This is me. I’ll see you around.”

I nodded, managing a small smile. “See you around.”

Her smile lingered even after the doors slid shut.

Moments later, my phone rang. It was Erika.

"Good morning, Kiara. Did you find the place?” she asked breathlessly over the background noise.

"Yes, though it took a while." I stepped out of the elevator, having reached my destination.

"I'm so sorry, deal. I should’ve sent a driver.”

"It's okay," I said.

I heard her issuing out orders seems she was in a meeting so I waited quietly for her to finish.

“Are you inside the building now?”

"Yes, I'm on the twelfth floor, but there are two doors. Which one’s the right one?”

"Door 1201,” she replied quickly. “Good luck, and again, my apologies.”

I ended the call, took a deep breath, straightened my blouse, and squared my shoulders.

I think I'm going to need a lot of luck.