Once upon a time, there was a 21-year-old girl named Charlotte. She was a professional artist a lovely young woman with a big dream: to visit Paris. Nothing excited her more than the thought of walking the romantic streets of Paris!
One day, Charlotte finally booked a flight to Paris, France. She arrived at Paris-Orly Airport at 12:30 A.M. She had reserved a room at the Novotel Hotel, near the Eiffel Tower. The next evening, at 7 o’clock, she went to see the Eiffel Tower. Charlotte was mesmerized by its beauty and grand height. She whispered to herself, “How did they build this? Gustave Eiffel was truly a genius!”
Suddenly, a lively band appeared, playing beautiful music. Charlotte, enchanted by the melody, pulled out her phone and started recording. Without realizing, she followed the band through the streets. It wasn’t long before she realized…
she was lost.
Charlotte didn’t know how to get back to her hotel. She tried asking for directions, but most of the people around her were locals and spoke only French. She regretted not choosing French as her second language in school. It was now 11:00 P.M. The temperature dropped, and snow began to fall. Cold and alone, Charlotte sat on a bench, her heart sinking. She felt helpless.
People passed by wearing warm coats and scarves. Some looked at her, others ignored her. A few even mistook her for a beggar. Tears welled up in Charlotte’s eyes. She whispered, “Why did I follow that band?” It was now 12:50 A.M., and by 1:00 A.M., she had been on the bench for nearly four hours hungry, cold, and alone.
Then, out of nowhere, a kind girl named Chloe appeared. She noticed Charlotte shivering and rushed to her. Chloe took off her warm shawl, wrapped it around Charlotte, hugged her tightly, and asked gently, “Do you need help, darling?” Charlotte broke down in tears and replied, “Yes! Please help me… I’ve been sitting here in the cold, starving and alone for four hours!”
Chloe, deeply concerned, helped Charlotte into her car. She quickly bought her a hot meal and took her to her apartment. Charlotte had fainted from exhaustion and cold. She later woke up on a plush, soft couch under a warm red blanket decorated with floral embroidery. The room was elegant, cozy, and welcoming. It was 1:35 A.M.
A woman stood near the window, sipping tea from a beautiful mug. She turned and smiled, “Oh, you’re awake!”
Charlotte asked, “Who are you? Where am I?”
“I’m Chloe Luis, CEO of the French fashion and accessories brand Alice & Olivia,” she said, showing her company badge with a proud smile.
Charlotte introduced herself, “I’m Charlotte Middleton, a professional artist from New York. My paintings are displayed in museums, and I’ve received several awards for my work.”
Chloe was impressed. “Wow, that’s amazing! You must be very talented. I got you this meal because you looked so hungry.” Charlotte gratefully thanked her and began eating the hot spicy ranch pizza and rice, washing it down with a bottle of water.
As she ate, Charlotte noticed family photos on the walls, tables, and above the fireplace. She smiled and whispered to herself, “Chloe looked so adorable as a kid… I’m dying from the cuteness!” Then she asked softly, “Chloe, where are your parents?”
Chloe’s expression turned somber. “They passed away when I was 13,” she said quietly.
“Oh no, I’m so sorry!” Charlotte exclaimed.
“It’s okay,” Chloe replied gently.
Charlotte smiled and said, “We’re having such a nice conversation — an artist and a businesswoman!”
Chloe chuckled. “Yeah. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Charlotte, a little shy, asked, “Could you drop me off at the Novotel Hotel near the Eiffel Tower?”
Chloe replied, “Of course! No problem.”
They got ready to leave. Charlotte pushed the warm blanket aside and stood up. As they walked through the hallway to the elevator, Charlotte was amazed. The corridor was like one from a luxury hotel — shining walls, colorful carpets, vintage artwork, and a fresh, expensive fragrance. The elevator had golden doors and a cooling fan inside. Everything screamed elegance
In the parking garage (P4), Charlotte asked, “Chloe, are these rented apartments?”
Chloe smiled at her innocence. “No, this is my property. That apartment is on the 25th floor, number 2506. This entire area is called Les Quartier City — it’s a private neighborhood.”
As they drove, Charlotte noticed the names of nearby buildings: Celestia, Pearl, Ruby, and Serenita. Chloe lived in the third building — Ruby. The area offered many facilities: gyms, swimming pools, playgrounds, and more. It was now 2:40 A.M., and the car ride was eerily quiet.
Charlotte, feeling the silence, awkwardly said, “Umm… Chloe, you’re really good at driving!”
“Thanks,” Chloe replied without taking her eyes off the road.
Charlotte wanted to ask something important — something personal. She thought Chloe was everything she’d ever wanted in a friend: caring, kind, honest, loyal, and beautiful.
When they reached the hotel, Charlotte stepped out and nervously asked, “Hey… do you want to be friends?”
Chloe smiled warmly, “Of course! Here, take my number
Charlotte beamed with happiness, waved goodbye, and headed to her room. It was 3:25 A.M. Tired but fulfilled, she changed clothes and picked up a book — something she always did before sleeping, no matter how late. At 4:35 A.M., she finally closed the book and drifted off to sleep, excited for her pancake-and-coffee meetup with Chloe at Kozy Café later that morning.
TO BE CONTINUED……..
Written by Anam Aaima
Leave a Reply