The knock on the suite door came sooner than Christopher expected. Tyler's voice followed, calm as ever.
"Mr. Malek. Your guest has arrived."
Christopher's pulse jumped. He set his phone aside and rose, bracing himself. When the door opened, Mia slipped in, her dark hair tucked under a knit cap, her coat draped over one arm, still dressed in the Fitzgeralt uniform from her shift.
For a heartbeat she just stood there, scanning the room the way she always did, taking in the polished floors, the sea through the terrace doors, and the untouched breakfast tray. Then her gaze found Chris. Her mouth trembled between a smile and a grimace.
"Chris." She crossed the distance quickly and wrapped her free arm around him before he could decide whether to hug her or not. "You look…" She stopped herself, pulled back just enough to study his face. "You look tired."
