Page 188 of Boss of the Year

Lucas was legitimately dumbfounded. Of everything he expected to come out of his brother’s mouth, that was the last option. “I see. Well. Good for you.”

“What about you?” Daniel’s voice was carefully casual.

Lucas frowned. “What about me?”

“You’ve been working hard. Maybe you need a vacation. Like, I don’t know, maybe to France.”

Lucas nearly dropped his glass. “Why would I do that?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Thought maybe you left something there last time.”

When Lucas finally met his brother’s eyes, Daniel’s eyes twinkled like the water beyond the line as the sunset light hit the waves.

But instead of answering, Lucas found himself standing. Suddenly, he couldn’t bear to be in this house one moment longer. There was no point in waiting until dinner to say whathe’d come here to say. Better get it over with now and get the hell out.

“I have an announcement to make.”

Winnifred looked up from her cards, eyebrows raised, and Emma stopped chattering about swimming with dolphins. Clifford turned in his chair with interest. Daniel set down his drink and leaned forward.

“I know I haven’t been around much the last month,” Lucas began, despite the magnitude of what he was about to say. “It’s because I’ve been putting some things in order. Things about the future of Lyons Corp and my place in it.”

“Oh?” Winnifred’s tone was carefully neutral, but Lucas could hear the sharpness at its edges, as cut as any crystal hanging from the chandelier above them.

“I’m stepping down as CEO.”

The silence was deafening. Winnifred’s gin and tonic stopped halfway to her mouth. Emma’s mouth flopped open like a fish. Even Daniel looked stunned.

Only Clifford went back to calmly dealing his own cards, like Lucas had simply told everyone the next day’s weather forecast.

“What?” Winnifred’s voice shook with barely repressed rage. “Why in God’s name would you do that?”

“Furthermore,” Lucas continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “I’ve made the decision to divest from the company. I’m transferring my shares into a trust that will redirect profits toward nonprofit causes. Mental health initiatives, education programs for underprivileged kids, after-school programs. Starting with a new initiative in the Bronx.”

As he spoke, Marie’s face filled his mind. Her kind strength, her fierce loyalty, the way she’d looked at him all those nights in the onsen. With every quiet conversation, she’d inspired something in him that had nothing to do with quarterly earningsor market shares and everything to do with becoming the kind of man worthy of a woman like her.

Even if he could never have her.

He was tired of being Prince John.

He could play Robin Hood to his own family and fortune.

God knew it was the least he could do.

“Lucas, you can’t be serious.” Winnifred had gone pale beneath her perfectly applied makeup. “This is…this is insane. You’re talking about giving away billions of dollars. The family would loseeverything.”

“We don’t need billions of dollars. No one does,” Lucas said. “And before you worry too much, every person in this room will retain their individual shares.”

“But—but that’s less than a percent of the company each!” Winnifred screeched. “Clifford transferred more thanfiftyto you when he signed over power of attorney!”

It was the most her face had moved in years. Apparently, even Botox and fillers couldn’t stop her rage now.

“Lyons Corp is currently valued at nearly a trillion dollars,” Lucas informed her. “Even one tenth of one percent of that is more than enough to live comfortably for several lifetimes. Hoarding anything more is obscene, and deep down, you know it.”

“But the company—the family—your father’slegacy?—”

“Will continue, just under the stewardship of a trust instead of going straight into our pockets. I’ve already recommended an interim CEO, and the board is likely to confirm her. The business will run exactly as it always has, just with a different purpose.”

Winnifred was on her feet now, pacing. “I won’t allow this. I’ll hire attorneys, I’ll fight this in court?—”