Monday morning arrived like a door closing.
Emma woke before the sun. She lay still for a moment, disoriented — the sheets were too soft, the pillow too firm, the arm across her waist too heavy. Then she remembered.
Nick's bedroom. Nick's bed. Nick's arm.
She turned her head. He was still asleep, his face relaxed, his dark hair falling across his forehead. He looked younger in sleep — less like the Vice Chairman of Vance Corporation and more like the boy from the basement.
Emma watched him for a long time.
Today is my last day.
The thought landed like a stone in her chest. She had been counting down to this day for weeks — dreaming of it, planning for it, rehearsing her goodbye. But now that it was here, she didn't feel ready.
She didn't feel ready at all.
Nick's eyes opened.
He l
