The crisp December air carried the scent of salt and sea as Alexander Graves stepped onto the deck of the luxurious Celestial Star cruise ship. He exhaled slowly, pushing down the weight that had settled on his chest for months. The high-rise buildings of Miami faded into the distance, swallowed by the endless blue of the Atlantic. This trip was supposed to be an escape—two weeks away from the chaos of his high-profile life as a billionaire lawyer.

But no amount of distance could erase the bitterness of his past.

His fingers tightened around the tumbler of whiskey in his hand. A year ago, he had been married, successful, and completely in control of his life. Now, he was divorced, heartbroken, and trapped in a holiday getaway planned by his meddling younger sister.

"You need this, Alex. Don't be an insufferable workaholic for once in your life."

Her words echoed in his mind, but instead of appreciating the thoughtfulness, irritation curled in his gut. A cruise filled with wealthy vacationers and couples in love—exactly what he didn't need.

"Excuse me, sir, would you like another drink?"

A soft, feminine voice pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to find a woman standing beside him, dressed in the ship's staff uniform—a fitted white blouse and navy pencil skirt. But it wasn't the uniform that caught his attention. It was her face.

Large, dark eyes framed by thick lashes. A delicate jawline. Full lips slightly parted as she waited for his response. She looked familiar, yet he couldn't quite place where he had seen her before.

"Sir?"

Alexander blinked. "No, I'm fine." His voice came out gruffer than he intended.

The woman gave a polite nod, but as she turned to leave, he caught something in her expression. A flicker of recognition.

He frowned. Had they met before?

"Wait." His own voice surprised him.

She stopped, hesitant. "Yes?"

"Do I know you?"

A second of silence stretched between them before she forced a smile. "No, sir. I just started working on this cruise."

She was lying. He knew it instantly. But before he could press further, another waiter called for her, and she hurried away, leaving him with more questions than answers.

Alexander swirled the remaining whiskey in his glass, his mind racing.

Who was she?

And why did he feel like he should remember her?