The distance between the office and my apartment building wasn't only a ten minute walk but it was late and I needed to get home to rest before my flight in the morning.

When I opened the door to my apartment moments later, nostalgia hit me like a ton of bricks. I welcomed it as it washed over me as I knew it would be the last time.

The last four years of my life had been spent in this apartment. When I first flew out here, Charles immediately introduced me to a real estate agent he was personal friends with and they found me this place.

With one bedroom, a bathroom, and a large kitchen and living space, it was everything I never knew I needed.

When you stepped through the door, you were immediately greeted by the sight of large bay windows that displayed the city. The apartment had a navy and black aesthetic that I adored.

The stainless-steel, state-of-the-art kitchen stood on your right when you walked in before descending down a few steps into the spacious living area. Two dark leather sofas sat opposite one another as a large TV was mounted on an entertainment centre before them.

It was dark out and as I stepped inside, I approached the large windows without turning the lights on. The city was wide awake outside and the shimmer of lights cast an array of silhouettes across the rug on the floor.

It wasn't much, but it was mine. This was the first time I had ever lived alone. Up until before, I had only ever lived with my parents and in a shared apartment. It was crazy to think I never knew how much I needed this until I had it. This was my apartment and that's all that really mattered.

I took my time showering and eating a quick dinner in the kitchen, soaking in every detail as this was my last night living here. The thought of leaving behind my life here was inconceivable but I knew I could always return.

Climbing into bed, I laid in the darkness as the city continued to glow beyond my window. My eyes dropped heavily with sleep but I refused to close them just yet.

All of my belongings - not that there were many to begin with. I didn't spend a lot of time at home unfortunately - had already been packed into boxes and would be sent over when I left.

The only remaining possession I hadn't packed yet was the last issue of a photoshoot I did for Vanity Fair. Oddly enough, it wasn't for the sake of fashion.

The magazine had wanted to interview me. I'd done numerous interviews for my career before but this time it was different. They didn't want to know my fall schedule or the latest fashion trends. They wanted to know the nitty gritty details of my private life.

Being hounded by the media was something I'd been used to for years. More rumours about my dating life had been spun than shoots I'd ever completed. The press was a zoo and I was unwillingly on display in a cage.

Still, the incessant pestering on the street was nothing compared to the way the journalists had jumped right into fixating on who I'm allegedly dating and not.

There was no way to tell the truth to a reporter. They either spun it or evaded details when it was printed. So, instead I fed them minimal information. The story of a man who had pledged to himself not to date wasn't a story that would sell.

Honestly, I had no regard for their sales rates and what would sound good but it saved me the trouble in the long run of having to announce it every time I was approached by a potential love interest.

They'd ended up running a story that claimed I was focusing on my career for a while. It wasn't exactly a lie, depending on how you looked at it, but I didn't debate them on the excluded details. All people needed to know was that I was focusing on myself for the time being. They didn't yet know this was a permanent gig but they would realise with time.

My family had called me the day the magazine issue was released in the States. They'd know. Of course they would. Mom had demanded to know the truth and Dad was simply curious. Aria sounded confused but asked for my version of the story.

I didn't give it to them. The magazine was only released last month and I knew that this had to be a discussion we had face-to-face. My love life had nothing to do with my parents and sister but our family had always been close and we'd always confided in one another. Our parents had encouraged Aria and I from a young age to voice our thoughts instead of bottling them up and it rung true to this day.

My hand ran over the glossy cover of the magazine. For the cover shot, I was photographed in a classical office setting wearing an expensive navy velvet blazer over a white tee. My body was draped coolly across a vintage sofa and my head was turned to look provocatively at the camera. The lighting choices had caused a shadow to fall across my face that gave the photograph audacious undertones. Radiating charm and success, the photo was an enigma almost as much as the man within it.

My fingers flipped through the pages until I reached the section with my interview. The text spread out across two pages with a handful of detailed questions and minimal responses. It was the first interview I'd done in a year and was the closest to the truth that would ever get out.

I had to give the reporter a little credit. She was ruthless in her efforts to pry the information out of me; flirtatious with a smile full of teeth. Her lips were stained a deep crimson in contrast with her rosy cheeks. Such a tactic was clever and would normally deceive any individual who wasn't media trained, but I'd been learning to navigate the press for years.

Sighing, I placed the magazine back on the nightstand and settled into the sheets. The media exhausted all their tricks trying to get information out of me but I was determined to keep my private and professional life separate. I'd fed the journalist crumbs but it would be enough to put two and two together eventually. Right now I had bigger things to worry about.

It wasn't as though I was ashamed of my decisions, but I didn't feel as though the world had the right to know them just because they'd asked. I'd made this decision a long time ago and knew I could never turn back. I didn't want to turn back. Returning to Los Angeles tomorrow would be one of the hardest things I'd have to do but I wouldn't let it interfere with the promise I'd made to myself. Nothing could change my mind.

Nothing, and no one.