Maya woke up alone.
For a moment, she thought Alexander might be in the bathroom or getting coffee, but his clothes were gone, and there was no sound in the room except her own breathing.
On the nightstand was a note written in bold, decisive handwriting: Thank you for an incredible night. - A
That was it. No phone number, no promise to call, no suggestion that this had meant anything more than a pleasant diversion for a powerful man who could have anyone he wanted.
Maya sat on the edge of the bed, holding the note, and felt something crack inside her chest. She'd known this would happen. She'd known better than to expect anything else. But somehow, in the intimacy of the night, she'd started to hope.
She had a flight to catch in three hours. Time to pack up her conference materials, her business cards from people who would never call, and her memories of the most amazing night of her life.
Time to go back to reality.