15. Emily

Chapter 15

Emily

"Do not leave, mi vida ." His breath fans across my cheek as he strokes his fingers through my hair. "I do not want you to go."

"I can't stay. I have to get back to work, back to my life in the states." I snuggle into his chest, fighting back tears. "I will come back to visit as soon as I can. Or you could come to visit me."

"That is not enough." His fingers stop moving.

I freeze at the bitterness clinging to his words. "What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I said. It is not enough."

My heart drops. He's never spoken to me this way. Maybe this is the real Alejandro. Does he think he owns me because of what he's done for me? We lay beside each other, not saying a word.

The only sound in the room is a faint grinding which I swear is his teeth. Finally, I can't take the silence anymore. It's killing me.

"I don't like your tone," I whisper into the dark.

"I don't like your answer," he growls.

Confused, crushed, hurt…I roll away, tucking the sheet tightly around my body. "Please go." I do not want things to end this way. But I will not let him growl at me like a rabid dog.

"Emily…"

"No." I shake my head. "I'll make this easy for you. We've had fun. And I honestly could never repay you for what you've done for me, Alejandro. But it's time for us to get back to our lives." I tug the ring from my finger and place it into his palm. "I've had a really good time. Thank you for everything."

"You do not understand…"

"You're wrong. I understand everything. And honestly, it's okay. I had to climb down off my fairy tale cloud at some point. There are no hard feelings, only appreciation because without you, I wouldn't have had the best week of my entire life. So, I thank you, Alejandro. From the bottom of my heart, I truly thank you." I fake a yawn. "My flight is early. I need to get some sleep."

Without saying a word, putting up a fight, or telling me I was wrong, Alejandro gets up and leaves.

As soon as the door closes, I catch a glimpse of my naked hand. I sob until there are no tears left to cry.

It's over.

And I'm never going to be the same.

My chin quivers while I begin to pack.

To maintain my sanity, I stop looking at my phone every two seconds. Alejandro hasn't knocked on my door. He hasn't called. And he hasn't sent me a text.

Our fairy tale is over.

There isn't going to be a happy ending.

I'm so sad, so pitifully heartbroken I can't shed another tear.

I knew all along our vacation love affair would come to an end. But deep down, I secretly harbored hope that I would be proven wrong.

But I was right all along.

I walk into the bathroom, snake my arm out, and push everything on the counter into a zippered pouch. Normally, I would take my time to pack things right. However, nothing about this situation is normal. I need to get out of here fast. I make one last check of the drawers and the walk-in closet. With my suitcases packed and my passport safely in my purse, I think about writing Alejandro a note. But I quickly change my mind.

There is nothing left to say.

His silence has said enough already.

So, with my luggage in tow, I quickly rush out of the penthouse, walk through the lobby with sunglasses covering my swollen eyes, climb into a waiting cab, and leave my wolf and the magic of Madrid behind me.