The cold evening breeze brushed Ari’s skin as she made her way toward the exit, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. The competition was over, and she had done her part—announcing the winners, handing out the prizes, and keeping her emotions in check. Now all she wanted was to retreat into the quiet comfort of her home, away from the flashing lights and expectant faces.
Her assistant, Natalie, followed closely behind, murmuring something about her father’s positive comments on how she handled the evening, but Ari wasn’t really listening. Her mind was somewhere else—on the man she had just handed a future to. Leonard Quin. Leo.