Page 215 of Boss of the Year

“But I thought…” Marie looked like she’d been smacked in the face.

“My personal assets are a bit harder to liquidate in just a few mo, so I’ve had them transferred into both our names instead,” he informed her quietly. “I can still get rid of them if you want, But, like I said, I’d rather not. I just want…” He trailed off, unsure.

“Want what?” Marie asked.

He cupped her face with one hand, running his thumb over the apple-red curve of her lower lip.

“I want to fall asleep at night knowing I can take care of my family,” Lucas replied. “I want you to have all the babies you want and not to have to worry about getting food on the table. I want you to be able to choose to do your job because you love it, not because you have to. And I want us to be able to live andwork wherever we want, in whatever place we choose to make our home. As long as we can keep enough for that, we can dump the rest in the river for all I care.”

Marie looked around at her family—her beloved, chaotic, wonderful family, several of whom shrugged as if to say “take the money”—then turned back at him.

“Can we keep enough to protect our world?” she asked softly.

Lucas felt something tight in his chest finally loosen as he pulled her close. “Yes. We can definitely keep enough to protect as many worlds as we want to build.”

Sometime later, Lucas found himself standing at the window watching Marie’s nephews construct another world of their own out in the snow. She came up behind him, slid her arms around his waist, and lay her cheek on his back until he tugged her around to stand in front of him so he could rest his chin on her shoulder.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “I know today was a lot.”

“It was a lot,” he agreed. “But good just the same.”

“Even after Matthew punched you?”

Lucas chuckled. He was going to have a nasty bruise tomorrow. “Even then, yeah. It means they love you enough to protect you. I never had that, and I’m glad that you and our little one do.”

“You will too,” Marie said quietly. “You’re family now.”

Family. The word settled into his chest, taking root there. It was a small root, but he knew it would grow, just like her promise.

“I love you,” he said, turning her in his arms so he could frame her beautiful face and kiss her again. He couldn’t seem to stop kissing her. He hoped that feeling would never fade. “I love our baby, I’ll probably come to love your crazy family too, and I definitely love the life we’re building together, Marie Zola. My sweet, sweet Marie.”

Her smile made his heart feel ten times bigger. “Even if it’s messier than you planned?”

“Especially because it’s messier than I planned. The best things always are.”

THE END

Thank you so much for reading BOSS OF THE YEAR!

Don’t forget toread the extended epilogue for Marie and Lucashereif you want to meet the baby and see more of their life together in France.

Up next in the Belmont Billionaires is Lea’s story inENEMY OF MY HEART, coming in 2026. For more information about this book, click here.

Nicole also has a BRAND NEW SERIES coming out, starting this November! Get ready to meet the MORALLY BLACK BILLIONAIRES(and keep reading for bonus first chapter).

Need more Zolas? Check out the other books from this family:

Matthew & Nina’s story: The Other Man

He’s a criminal prosecutor with a dark side. She’s the off-limits wife of target of his next investigation. Can he save her from her own husband?

Frankie and Xavier’s story: First Comes Love

Five years ago, he left her with a broken heart and a positive pregnancy test. Now he’s back…and only just found out she’s been raising his daughter without him.

Joni and Nathan’s story: Boyfriend of the Hour

She’s a down-on-her-luck dancer in need of a place to live. He’s a socially awkward doctor in need of a pretend girlfriend. They’re complete opposites, but together, they’re a perfect match.