Page 101 of Prelude To You

ISABEL

Iwoke to the sound of a Zen bell gently humming. The room gradually got lighter.

The first thing that hit me was the delicious ache between my thighs. And then the exquisite memories of my night floated to the surface. I turned around expecting to find Roman there. But he wasn’t. A different ache washed over me. After the night we had, he just left?

I found a small gift bag on the pillow, with a note beside it.

Isabel my sweet,

You and this night will stay with me forever.

Until we meet again one day.

R

The card was beautiful and meant to soothe me. Still, he chose to disappear and leave me to wake up alone, swallowed by utter misery.

The wall inside the suite was still closed as if whatever happened in the bedroom was meant to stay there. Our own private world, safe from prying eyes. Outside, the city lightswere ablaze and life went on. I had no idea how to make this incredible longing I felt inside go away.

I knew this aftermath was waiting for me. I’d weighed that and freely chosen this path. But still, I wasn’t prepared to feel this kind of pain. I read the note again.

Until we meet again one day.

What did that mean? Was it a figment of the moment, with Roman still riding on the high of our spectacular night? The worst part was me clinging to that sentence like it offered real hope.

I looked inside the gift bag, and my heart stopped: it was the velvet box, with the cameo inside. The one that turned my world upside-down. The catalyst that launched this spectacular night. I didn’t even try to stop the tears.

The room phone beeped. I picked up, thinking it might be Roman. “Hello?”

But it was a woman’s voice on the other end. “Isabel, this is Kayla, Roman’s assistant. It’s currently 2 AM. When you’re ready, there will be a car outside the hotel to take you home.”

“Oh, okay.”

“There’s an overcoat in the closet for you,” she continued. “It’s cold outside.”

“Thank you, but how do I get it back to you?”

“It’s yours,” she said gently. “Is there anything else you need?”

Yes, please I need Roman to come back.

“No, everything is fine, thank you.”

My throat hurt from holding back my tears. This woman definitely didn’t need to hear how miserable I was. There was a short silence.

“If that’s all, then goodnight, Isabel.”

“Goodnight, Kayla.”

So, was this all in a day’s work for Kayla? Seeing off the conquests Roman left in his wake?

Until we meet again one day.

It wasn’t like Roman to lead me down a path of lies, so why would he feel it necessary to even write that? Promising a vague dream to patch my shattered hopes.

A long black cashmere overcoat waited in the closet where his jacket used to hang. It was perfectly oversized and soft to the touch. And absolutely gorgeous. How did Roman get hold of this in the middle of the night? He was apparently a man who had access to things few others did.

I needed to get away from this place. It was filled with memories that were all suffocating me right now. I slipped my dress on and put some order in my hair, trying for a look that didn’t quite scream “one-night stand.” There was still the Belmont Hotel foyer to trek through before I could finally escape. And before I completely fell apart.

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