But looks are deceiving. In fact, he’s a former venture capitalist with a reputation as a shark in the finance world. He purchased Seaquest when the travel industry took a wallop during the last recession, and he’s managed to grow it from a regional operation to an international corporation. In fact, Seaquest’s growth has been the largest of any company in the cruise industry over the past ten years.

I’d be naive to buy into Marlen’s laid-back charm. Sustained success at his level requires a hefty dose of determination and hard work, with a dash of ruthlessness for flavor. He’s the man in charge, the one holding my future in his hands. I can’t forget that.

He smiles warmly at me. “You know, your ears must be ringing. Because I just received a letter about you.”

“Oh?” I say, keeping the tremble out of my voice through sheer force of will.

“Yes. Darndest thing.” Beaming at me, he strides over to his desk in his long-legged lope, pant legs just a hair too high, so I catch a peep at his lavender socks.

Lifting stacks of paper until he finds a pair of slim tortoiseshell glasses, he slides them on. “From a guest. By the name of”—he squints at the letter—“Nikolai Kozlov. Ring a bell?”

I nearly choke. “I think so.”

He motions to one of the black leather chairs in front of his desk and I take a seat.

“Well, Mr. Kozlov certainly remembers you. Apparently, you went above and beyond in making his experience with us a memorable one. He had a lot to say…” Marlen flips over not one, not two, but three stapled sheets of paper. “A lot. But what stuck out to me most is how you made him feel like more than a customer. You made him feel like a friend, and now he says he’s a Seaquest Adventurer for life.” Dropping the letter onto his desk, he flashes me a wide, approving smile. “Well done.”

If my insides weren’t frozen with sheer nerves, I might just cry. That sweet, silly Russian did me a solid.

“Thank you, sir.”

“And it looks like he’ll be traveling with us again soon for his honeymoon—to Mexico this time. Let’s arrange something special for him, yes? An upgraded cabin and first-class flights, perhaps. I’ll let you take care of the details.”

He then picks up a three-by-four photo and flashes it in my direction. It’s of Nikolai and his Emily, and they’re wearing matching goofy-in-love grins. I smile to myself. So he got the girl after all. Marlen glances at the photo, then me, then the photo again. “She kind of looks like you.” He shrugs as he settles into his low-backed office chair. “So, Miss Evans. Enough chitchat. What can I do for you today?”