The guests gathered in a wide circle to watch the confrontation unfold.
Whispers spread quickly among the local high society members and corporate directors.
Richard stood tall like an angry wall between his daughter and the young teenager.
Leo took a deep breath and opened his small leather box on the floor.
Inside lay a polished glass sphere resting on a silver frame.
The device belonged to his grandfather who had worked as a gifted nerve specialist.
Leo looked past the rich businessman straight into Chloe's hopeful eyes.
Leo: Your father thinks I am a threat, but you know your feet feel cold.
Chloe: They have felt numb for three years, Leo.
Leo: May I try to warm them up?
Richard: Don't touch her again, kid!
Chloe: Please Dad, let him try!
Chloe looked up at her stubborn father with tears welling in her blue eyes.
Richard hesitated when he saw his daughter's desperate request.
He had not seen a spark of hope in her eyes for many months.
He slowly backed away but kept his hands clenched into tight fists.
Richard: If this is a scam, I will press charges immediately.
Leo knelt down once more upon the bright marble floor.
He gently placed his warm palms beneath Chloe's small golden shoes.
He placed the glass sphere between her feet and activated a small copper switch.
A soft humming sound filled the silent space around the kneeling boy.
A bright golden light began to glow from under Chloe's feet.
The brilliant light illuminated her fancy silk dress with radiant warmth.
Several women in the crowd gasped loudly as the warm glow filled the hall.
Chloe gasped in total amazement and gripped the arms of her wheelchair tightly.
Chloe: I feel something warm!
Richard: What is happening?
Leo: Her nerve pathways are waking up.
Chloe: My toes are tingling, Dad!
Richard dropped his jaw in total disbelief as he watched his daughter smile.
The golden light pulsed gently like a steady heartbeat under the marble floor reflection.
The boy kept his steady hands placed on her shoes without flinching.
An uplifting feeling washed over the entire crowd as the impossible happened before them.