In ballroom, after a few more exchanges with te guest and business acquaintances, he excuses himself from the group, offering polite but brief farewells as he makes his way toward the back of the hotel. The evening feels like it's moving too quickly, but he's determined to have a quiet moment with her before the night takes over completely.
He steps outside, his shoes clicking on the stone path, and soon enough, he sees Marilena by the edge of the pool. The soft light from the water reflects in her eyes as she gazes out, lost in thought.
Christian spots her almost immediately—Marilena standing near the edge, her gaze far away. Her posture seems relaxed, but Christian can tell by the way she's holding herself that something is on her mind.
He approaches slowly, not wanting to startle her, but when he's close enough, he says, "I thought you might be hiding from me."