Ward had visited the residential part of this development when it first opened, checking out one of the impressive condos on sale at the time. The real estate agent had taken him to the tallest building and the Edge viewing sky deck, which offered the obligatory panoramic one-hundred-storey views over Manhattan, and a glass ‘floor’ directly over the skyscrapers beneath, which the tourists went crazy for and Ward had to admit was pretty cool.

Tonight’s award ceremony would be held in the same building’s Peak restaurant event space on the 101st floor, allowing sparkling night-time views of the city.

Now in the plaza, onlookers and autograph hunters waving shirts and phones, crammed in for a spot by the velvet rope line. It was organised chaos.

‘OK, deep breath,’ Ward said to himself as much as Shelley. ‘We only have to walk a few yards into that tent right there.’ He pointed. ‘Hannah’s waiting for us in there. The red carpet stuff will be happening inside the building before we head up to Peak for the event. Then everything will be more controlled.’

While he normally hated this stuff, he couldn’t deny that he was incredibly fortunate to be a part of all this, and Shelley’s nervousness had also reminded him that this life of his was nothing to take for granted.

Despite all the confusion he was feeling about Hannah, he had plenty of reasons to be grateful; a healed knee, his professional future assured, and tonight, a beautiful woman by his side.

He and Shelley had become unlikely friends over the last while. She’d been a fantastic support to him, giving the occasional kick in the ass when he needed it, and she deserved a night to remember. So Ward resolved to forget about his stupid personal bullshit and just concentrate on making sure she got one.

His gorgeous companion nodded, gulping a little. ‘OK, cool, just a few yards to the tent. And then … Hannah and control.’

‘Exactly.’ He grinned, still amused at this side of her. ‘You ready then?’

Another high-pitched laugh. ‘As ready as I’ll ever be.’

Ward put a comforting hand on Shelley’s and reached for the door handle. ‘All right then. Showtime.’

Chapter 59

HANNAH

Standing just inside the reception tent erected beneath the foot of the Vessel – the copper beehive structure beautifully illuminated by night – Hannah watched limo after limo and town car after town car pull up outside the plaza by the river; celebrities and sports glitterati emerging from within.