Pulled Toward Fate

As Sienna stepped into her new favorite coffee shop early in the morning, she sighed in relief. The rich scent of espresso offered her a moment of comfort as the chaos of London faded away. She had only moved to the city a week ago, and everything still felt overwhelming. But this little coffee shop, known as the Amber Fog, had already become her sanctuary.

She approached the counter and ordered her new go-to drink.

“One oat milk latte, please.”

The barista gave a quick nod, and within moments, she was holding a warm cup in her hands. She had just taken her first sip, savoring the creamy smoothness of the oat milk perfectly blending with the coffee, when a sudden shove from behind sent her stumbling forward. She barely had time to gasp before strong hands caught her, steadying her before she could completely lose her balance.

“Careful,” a deep voice murmured, effortlessly keeping her upright.

Sienna blinked up at him, her breath caught in her throat. He was tall, sharp-featured, with dark brown eyes that held a quiet intensity. His navy suit was crisp, the top button of his shirt undone, as if he had already eased into the day – or perhaps was winding down from a long night.

She barely registered the warmth of his touch before he stepped back.

“This is London – people don’t usually stop for collisions”,he said, his voice smooth yet matter-of-fact.

Sienna gripped her oat milk latte, her heart racing as her thoughts scrambled for a response. But before she could find the words, he had already moved toward the counter.

“Black coffee,” he ordered simply, his voice carrying a quiet confidence.

He didn’t look back at her as he paid and walked out into the morning rush.

Something about this brief encounter, the man’s effortless presence, the way he had caught her without hesitation and moved on just as quickly, left her standing there, latte in hand, feeling something, she couldn’t quite explain.

Attraction? Maybe.

Curiosity? Definitely.

She let out a slow breath before taking another sip of her latte.

London was big, fast-paced, and filled with strangers. Yet, something told her this wouldn’t be the last time she saw him.

****

The moment Sienna stepped outside the coffee shop, a soft drizzle turned into a cascading downpour. Just an hour ago, the sky had been clear, but in true London autumn fashion, the weather had turned in an instant.

She tugged her brand-new raincoat over her head and strode toward the curb. She lifted her hand and called out, “Taxi!” Just then, a black taxi splashed to a stop beside her. She hurried inside, pulling the door shut behind her with a firm, satisfying thud.

“Where to, miss?” the taxi driver asked, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.

“Charterhouse Street 8, please.”

As the taxi eased into the morning traffic, Sienna let out a slow breath, rubbing her hands together in search of warmth.

She had just started her new role as an associate at Solstice Lex LLP, and everything still felt unfamiliar—the office, the colleagues, the weight of expectations, and the long hours that awaited her. She planned to get in early, hoping to go through some of the case files waiting for her at her desk before the day truly began.

By the time Sienna arrived, the lobby was still quiet, the usual buzz of voices and clicking heels not yet filling the space. She took the elevator up to the associate floor, stepping into the warm, brightly lit corridor, where the air already carried the subtle scent of ambition and long hours.

A few colleagues were already behind their desks, heads down, lost in their work. Her gaze landed on Oliver Dorne, a senior associate at Solstice Lex LLP—the one person she had hoped wouldn’t be in this early.

Since day one, he had made it clear that he didn’t take her seriously. Arrogant and insufferably smug, he treated her like some clueless newcomer who had gotten the job because of her looks rather than her qualifications. The way he smirked when she asked questions in meetings, the patronizing way he explained things she already knew—it was infuriating. He clearly believed that she wasn’t built for the relentless demands of life as an associate at the firm. Well, he was in for a surprise.

Sienna squared her shoulders and strode to her desk, ignoring the glance Oliver threw her way. She had more important things to focus on. The case files were waiting for her, and she had every intention of proving, not just to him, but to everyone, exactly why she belonged here.

Fortunately, Sienna’s supervisor, Evander Stewart, was welcoming and quickly recognized her sharp mind and natural talent with clients.

This is precisely why, later that day, Evander invited Sienna to join a high-stakes client meeting.

As she stepped into the boardroom, her breath hitched. The room was packed with the firm’s most formidable legal minds, their sharp gazes and hushed murmurs crackling with intensity. But at the head of the table, eclipsing them all with a presence that was both commanding and unnervingly calm, sat the man—the same mysterious stranger who had caught her as she fell that morning.