18

With Amanda gone, Lucas disappeared to the other side of the room, heading for the balcony. The restaurant had a wraparound terrace on the first floor, great for getting some fresh air.

He was thinking about what he would have to do to get Amanda to open up to him when the sound of sobbing reached him.

The lights on the terrace were muted, so he hadn't noticed he had company. He stared into the darkness in the direction the sound was coming from, trying to see who it was.

He caught the glimpse of a glint in the night, then his eyes finally adjusted and made out the woman standing several paces away.

"Hello? What's wrong?" He asked, reaching for his pocket handkerchief as he walked closer. He recognised her. She was the woman who had introduced herself to him in the elevator last week. "Ah, it's you." He pushed the handkerchief towards her. "Here, use this. It's clean."

She took the cloth and wiped below her eyes. "Thank you," she whis