The room held its collective breath as the child reached out and touched Chloe’s leg, then released it on a sigh as the camera recorded the smile that bloomed on her face.
Chloe said something that made the kid laugh, then she got to her feet and held out her hand. The room erupted when the child took it, and together to the sound of applause they walked back up onto the stage.
Nik wasn’t applauding, he was barely breathing... He felt a maelstrom of pride, shame and an aching desire to run up there and take Chloe in his arms, but he knew that even if he had earned the right to do that, which he hadn’t, this was her night.
As the tall, beautiful woman walked onto the stage and turned to face the audience they rose to a man and gave a foot-stamping ovation, which the excited child joined in with...and Nik knew he was looking at tomorrow’s front-page headline.
He also knew he was looking at the love of his life.
And he’d blown it.
For once, no heads turned his way when Nik Latsis left the room.