The day wound down in a blur of panels and endless handshakes. By the time the conference wrapped, Clara’s body ached, her mind overloaded. She excused herself, and went to her room.
The day wound down in a blur of panels, endless handshakes, and the constant pressure of eyes that seemed to weigh her every move. By the time the final session wrapped, Clara’s body ached in places she didn’t know could ache, her head buzzing with names, titles, and snippets of conversations that felt half like business and half like veiled tests.
When Nicholas dismissed the last cluster of investors with a firm handshake and a clipped smile, Clara slipped quietly away. She needed air, space—anything but another sharp suit and another carefully crafted compliment. The hotel suite welcomed her with its soft
