Millionaire Booked a Cruise to Forget Heartache. He Never Imagined Love Would Greet Him Onboard
A Chance Encounter at Sea
Felix Naland dropped his leather duffel onto the marble floor of the penthouse suite. He walked straight to the balcony, yanking the glass door open like it had personally offended him. The Miami sun scorched his face, but he didn’t blink.
All he saw was the cruise ship docked below, gleaming in the harbor like a floating monument to distraction. That’s all he wanted—something to make him forget that his fianceé had dumped him three weeks before their wedding.
He’d planned Bora Bora; she’d planned to marry his best friend. Felix exhaled sharply, gripping the railing with both hands.
“Forget her,” he muttered. “Easier said than done.”
He was supposed to be untouchable. Felix Nalan, thirty-two, was a private equity wizard with a net worth north of twenty million. He was the guy who could close a nine-figure deal before his second espresso.
None of that power had protected him from heartbreak. So he booked an eight-day luxury cruise through the Caribbean alone. He wasn’t looking for love, which was why he didn’t expect to nearly crash straight into it while boarding.
“Whoa, sorry,” he started.
He grabbed the shoulder of a woman who had stumbled as she turned around too quickly, nearly knocking over her rolling suitcase. The woman turned, chest rising and eyes wide.
“No, that was my fault. I wasn’t watching where—”
Her voice froze just like him. She had a wild mess of honey-brown curls pinned on top of her head. Strands were slipping free like they had a mind of their own.
Her lips were parted, and her eyes, startlingly green, were locked on his.
“Are you okay?” he asked, still holding her steady.
“I… yeah. I’m fine. You just caught me off guard.”
Felix let go of her shoulder slowly, his hand reluctant to move.
“I’m Felix.”
She hesitated.
“Olivia. Olivia Park.”
He smiled faintly.
“Nice to meet you, Olivia Park.”
She blinked, then gave a quick smile and started wheeling her bag past him.
“You too.”
He should have kept walking, but something about her tugged. Maybe it was the way she didn’t bat her lashes or look at him like he was some golden ticket.
Maybe it was the fact that he felt like he could breathe for the first time in weeks. He watched her disappear into the crowd of boarding passengers.
Later that night, Felix stood on the upper deck nursing a whiskey while soft jazz floated through the air. The sun had just dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in deep shades of orange and violet.
He hadn’t planned on attending the welcome event, but he found himself drawn to the music and the hope that he’d see her again. He didn’t expect her to be the one walking straight toward him, looking like she belonged in a movie.
She wore a simple navy dress that hugged her curves without trying too hard. Her heels clicked softly on the deck. Her hair was down now, cascading in loose waves around her shoulders.
“I didn’t think I’d run into you again,” she said, standing beside him at the railing.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” he said, offering her a slow grin.
She tilted her head.
“Is this your first cruise?”
Felix looked out at the open sea.
“First one I’ve taken by choice.”
She laughed softly.
“So running from something?”
He glanced at her, surprised by the bluntness.
“You could say that.”
She didn’t press. Instead, she leaned on her elbows and looked out at the water.
“I needed to get away, too. Work’s been a mess. Life’s been a mess. So I cashed in my savings and bought a last-minute ticket.”
He studied her.
“Last minute?”
She nodded.
“I’m a painter. Or I was. I haven’t painted in months.”
Felix raised a brow.
“Why not?”
“Creative block? Or maybe just real life kicking in.”
She gave him a sideways glance.
“You don’t look like someone who runs away from things.”
He chuckled.
“I don’t usually. I fix them or throw money at them until they disappear.”
“So what did you throw money at this time?”
Felix looked down at the glass in his hand, then back at her.
“This cruise.”
She nodded slowly.
“It’s not a bad choice.”
They stood in silence for a while, the ocean stretching endlessly in front of them.
“Would you have dinner with me tomorrow?” he asked suddenly, turning to face her.
Olivia blinked.
“Dinner?”
“There’s a six-course tasting menu at the captain’s table. I have a reservation. You’d enjoy it.”
She hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“You don’t even know if I like seafood, do you?”
“I do.”
He smiled.
“Then say yes.”
She bit her lip, then finally nodded.
“Yes.”
The next evening, Olivia stepped into the private dining room, and Felix nearly lost his footing. She wore a wine-colored dress, low-cut but elegant, with a slit that revealed just enough without giving anything away.
Her skin glowed in the soft candlelight. She looked like trouble, and he wanted every kind of it.
“You clean up well,” she said as he pulled out her chair.
“You look like art,” he murmured without thinking.
Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she looked away for a second.
The dinner was luxurious: lobster risotto, seared scallops, and champagne that cost more than some used cars. Felix barely tasted any of it.
He was too caught up in the way Olivia laughed, the way she leaned in when she was curious, and the way she rolled her eyes when he said something sarcastic but still fought a smile.
Halfway through dessert, she set her fork down and looked at him.
“So what’s your story, Felix Nalin?”
He considered lying, but something about her made him want to be honest.
“My fianceé left me last month for my best friend.”
Her face tightened.
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. I caught them together in my apartment.”
She winced.
“Double ouch.”
“Booked this cruise that night. Figured I’d spend the week drinking alone and trying to forget.”
She nodded slowly.
“And now?”
He met her gaze.
“Now I’m not thinking about her at all.”
Her breath caught just slightly. Neither of them said anything for a long moment. Then she whispered.
“I wasn’t expecting this.”
“Neither was I.”
The lights dimmed slightly, and soft music started playing again in the background. Felix stood and offered his hand.
“Dance with me.”
She hesitated, then slid her hand into his.
They danced under the stars, the ocean breeze tugging at her hair. His hand rested on her waist, and hers curled around his shoulder.
Their bodies moved like they’d always known each other. When the song ended, he didn’t let go.
“I think I’m in trouble,” she whispered.
Felix leaned in, brushing his lips against her forehead.
“Me too.”
