“Thank you, Mr. Kensington,” said Ashley, gazing at Vance’s face as he held her hand. The tension that had gripped her slowly began to ease.

The warm lighting also helped Ashley relax, while the gentle clinking of crystal glasses around them added to the calm atmosphere.

They had already moved into the exclusive VIP room, quiet and far from the media frenzy. After conquering the red carpet with a decisive victory from the PR team, Ashley and Vance retreated into privacy to celebrate ...