Page 100 of A Diamond Deal
He closed his eyes.
The camera zoomed in.
Poppy wanted to reach through the screen—drag him into her arms.Hold him.
He opened his eyes. So dark, so black.So vulnerable.
He looked into the camera. And she felt he looked at her.Only her.
‘I love my wife.’
The camera zoomed out.
‘I know you have something to share with us,’ Anna said. ‘Would you like to share that now?’
‘I would.’ Konstantinos swallowed. ‘Going live tomorrow is a new foundation. The Ariti Group will be funding it.Iwill fund it,’ he corrected. ‘It is called Isaak’s Foundation. It is for those who have lost—for those who still love. It will help families stay together in their grief. It will give them the tools to…to grieve. It will be Isaak’s legacy.’
The crowd burst into applause.
Poppy stood. Her mind buzzed with too many incoherent thoughts. Too many threads she couldn’t connect. He’d gone on telly and shattered his reputation. The image he wanted everyone to believe. That he was unbreakable.
He was breaking right there on the television. He was grieving. Allowing himself to admit their baby was someone. His death meant something. It meant something to him. And she wasn’t with him. She was not there. Holding his hand.Holding him.
She should never have left the island.
She should have stayed and just been there.For him.
He loved her.
‘The car is waiting for you outside.’
‘What?’ she breathed. She’d forgotten about Léon.
‘The car will take you to him.’
Her heart raced.
‘It’s a live recording near to here. Save your marriage, Poppy. Family, it is all we have. All that matters. Love him. Let him love you.’
Love. It was all she ever wanted.
She leant down and kissed Léon’s cheek.
He reached for her hand. Squeezed it. ‘Go,’ he said. ‘Now.’
Poppy ran.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Konstantinos was shattered.
Internally, it was as if everything was shredded. Ripped apart. And they could all see it. He was exposed.Hehad exposed himself. And yet, he didn’t feel vulnerable. He did not feel weak before all those eyes now watching him leave his dressing room.
He almost felt…reborn.
He hadn’t gone on the show as a businessman. He’d left behind his suit. He had gone as a man. A husband. A father.A son.And he hoped if there was a little boy out there watching him, he understood what he hadn’t when he was a child. Not even when he was a man.
There were different types of strength.
