The taxi dropped Alyssa in front of her apartment building, the familiar brick façade and the small iron gate a strange comfort after the chaos of the hotel. She climbed out, heels clicking against the pavement, but her mind wasn't on her surroundings. It was still trapped in that room, still on him.
She shook her head, trying to push the memory away. She didn't want to think about it. Not now. Not ever. The man in the hotel bed wasn't part of her life, and she had no intention of letting him become part of it. Not when she had a job interview in a few hours, a new start waiting for her, and the fragile sense of independence she had fought so hard to build.
Yet, every step toward the door felt heavier because she couldn't erase the image of him. Broad shoulders, dark hair falling into his eyes, calm and unbothered as if the world didn't touch him. It made her pulse quicken, though she tried to convince herself it was just fear or maybe shock.
Alyssa unlocked her apartment door and stepped inside. The quiet was a relief, almost a balm. She dropped her bag on the small table in the entryway and kicked off her heels, letting the soft carpet under her feet bring her back a little to reality. She leaned against the door for a moment, closing her eyes, and tried to breathe normally.
She couldn't.
Not yet.
Her mind replayed the night in fragmented flashes the darkness of the hotel, the soft touch of sheets, the overwhelming sense that she had made a mistake she couldn't take back. But she had to take it back. She had to move forward. She had survived so much already her parents, Ethan, the loneliness and she wasn't about to let one night undo her.
Focus Alyssa, she whispered to herself. Job interview. New city. New life. Not him.
She forced herself to shake off the thoughts and turned toward her bedroom. She had planned this morning carefully. She had chosen her outfit yesterday evening: a simple but elegant navy blazer over a white blouse, tailored pants, and a pair of low heels. Nothing too flashy. Professional. Smart. Confident. She had to make a good impression.
As she laid out her clothes, her eyes fell on the small stack of notes she had scribbled the night before, reminders about Hale International Group. She had researched the company thoroughly enough to feel prepared, though she doubted any amount of preparation could calm her nerves completely.
Hale International Group. In her mind, it sounded imposing, like the kind of company that could swallow someone whole if they weren't careful. But she also knew it was exactly the kind of place she wanted to be. A place with stability, with ambition, with opportunity. She had applied for a position in the marketing department, hoping to finally put her skills and hard work to use, to prove to herself that she could succeed without anyone else dictating her life.
From her research, she knew that Hale International Group was one of the most successful companies in the city. Darren Hale, the CEO, had built it into a powerhouse, expanding into several industries technology, real estate, and finance. Their marketing campaigns were bold, innovative, and highly respected. People either admired the company or envied it. Alyssa had heard whispers of its perfection from friends and online forums. Everyone who worked there either thrived or burned out trying to keep up.
She straightened her blazer on the hanger, imagining what it would feel like to walk into that building, to sit in an interview and convince them that she belonged. She had done her research, memorized key projects the company had launched, and even practiced answers to possible questions. She could do this.
Her apartment was small, but it felt like hers. Safe. Familiar. And for the first time that morning, Alyssa let herself feel that sense of control again. She walked to the bathroom to freshen up, splashed cold water on her face, and stared at her reflection. Pale skin, wide eyes, messy hair she didn't look perfect, but she looked like someone who was capable. Someone who could survive.
She ran a hand through her hair and tugged at it, taking a deep breath. "You've survived worse," she muttered. "You can do this too."
The thoughts of last night, the hotel, the man, the fear resurfaced. She clenched her fists, pushing the images deep down where they couldn't interfere. She would not let herself think about him. Not now. Not ever. He was irrelevant. A stranger. Nothing more.
After a few more minutes of preparation, Alyssa dressed, straightened her blazer, and looked around her apartment one last time. The sunlight spilling through the window made the room feel warm, almost hopeful. She grabbed her bag and checked her reflection in the hallway mirror. Deep breath. Focused mind. Calm.
She stepped outside into the city streets, the energy of the morning buzzing around her. Cars honked, people rushed past, and she walked confidently among them, heels clicking on the pavement. She reminded herself that she was here for herself, for her future, for the life she was finally reclaiming.
Even as she walked, she couldn't completely ignore the nagging thought at the back of her mind: what if he showed up? What if the man from the hotel, the one she had fled from, was somehow going to be a part of this new life she was trying to create?
She pushed it away again. Not now.
She arrived at the building housing Hale International Group and paused at the entrance, looking up at the towering glass façade. It gleamed in the morning sunlight, sleek and powerful. She took a deep breath, held it, and reminded herself: this was her chance. Her fresh start. She had worked too hard and lost too much to let fear stop her.
Inside, the lobby was modern and minimalistic, with polished floors and glass walls that made her feel small in the best possible way. She had imagined it in her mind so many times, but standing here in reality, she realized it was even more intimidating than she had expected. People walked past briskly, dressed in suits and smart dresses, moving with purpose and confidence. She adjusted her blazer and lifted her chin.
You belong here, she told herself.
The receptionist smiled politely as she approached. "Good morning," she said. "I have an interview with the marketing department."
"Of course," the receptionist replied. "Please take a seat. Someone will be with you shortly."
Alyssa sat down, crossing her legs and placing her bag neatly on her lap. She tried to calm her racing heart, but the memory of the hotel refused to leave her mind entirely. She shoved it back down, deeper this time, forcing herself to focus on the present: the interview, the opportunity, her new beginning.
She closed her eyes briefly and pictured herself in the role she was about to interview for. Confident. Smart. Capable. Independent. She could do this. She had to do this.
Because she couldn't let fear, or shame, or the memory of a night she couldn't remember, control her anymore.
Not today.
Not ever.
And yet, as she opened her eyes and watched employees pass by, Alyssa couldn't shake a single thought:
Somewhere in the city, the man she had run from was out there. And maybe… just maybe, their paths were about to cross again.