Chuck proved to be even larger in the flesh than he’d appeared on television. But he was holding his age well, as big men sometimes did. His wife didn’t look a day over thirty. Clearly, she had an excellent plastic surgeon.

Mike actually didn’t mind when Chuck swept him off for a hands-on, man-to-man tour of his pride and joy, leaving Natalie to be shown to their cabin by Mrs Helsinger, who’d swiftly proved she could talk.

Frankly, some time away from Natalie was just what the doctor ordered. Mike still hadn’t totally recovered his equilibrium from the interlude in the limousine. He had never, ever been that carried away before that he hadn’t used a condom. Aside from that, Natalie’s ready agreement to their separating on Thursday did not sit well on him. Which was perverse. Neither did the way she was suddenly acting. As if she was on some kind of high.

Admittedly, she’d downed a tall glass of champagne before they’d pulled up on the pier at Darling Harbour. But that shouldn’t have set her cheeks aglow the way they were glowing.

She’d never looked more beautiful, or more desirable.

Yes, best he keep away from her every chance he got during the next two days. Or at least make sure one of the Helsingers was around when they were together. There’d be no afternoon naps down in their cabin. Or watching movies alone in that incredible home theatre. Mike vowed to stay on deck as much as possible, in full view of the crew.

‘You have to have a look at the bridge,’ Chuck insisted after showing Mike the pool with its swim-up bar and huge spa.

The bridge was amazing, resembling something you might imagine gracing a spaceship. Mike was soon blessedly distracted with boy stuff, chatting away to the captain who pointed out all the electronic gadgets and gismos.

‘So what do you reckon, Mike?’ Chuck asked after they left the bridge. ‘It’s a great boat, isn’t it?’ he added, waving his hands around the deck in an arc as expansive as his waistline.

‘You’re a lucky man.’

Chuck’s laugh was as big as he was. ‘You’re the lucky man, from what I’ve seen. That wife of yours. Wow. She’s a living doll.’

‘Natalie’s a wonderful girl.’

‘How did you meet her?’

Mike looked into Chuck’s far-too-sharp eyes before deciding he wasn’t going to lie. As much as he did want the billions a partnership with Comproware might bring, he couldn’t stand the deception. Or the pretence.

‘Actually, Chuck, Natalie runs an introduction agency called Wives Wanted,’ he said matter-of-factly. ‘When I was told you wouldn’t consider a business partnership with any man who wasn’t married, I decided to find myself a wife, quick smart. So I gave Wives Wanted a call.’