Natalie’s eyes bulged, and her mouth dropped open. She closed it and gulped. “What?”
“You heard me loud and clear. I’m leaving the company for good. Permanently. No questions asked, no turning back. I’m giving up my place as the heir to the Rothschild fortune.” I stopped a few inches away from her—close, but not too close. “I don’t need it. I’m walking away from all of it.”
“You are?”
I nodded. “Effective tomorrow morning.” Then I laughed. The decision to take this leap felt so liberating, so true. It might have been the first real thing I’d ever done. “In fact, I never really did need it.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.” I squeezed her shoulder. “I wouldn’t joke about something like this. You might not believe me, but I wouldn’t lie to you. I never have, and I never will. I am deadly serious.”
She frowned. “You’re telling me that you’re willing to walk away from a ten-billion-dollar fortune.” She swallowed again. “Ten billion.”
The way Natalie said the word “ten billion” reminded me just how much money I’d decided to leave behind, and she was right. It was more money than most people could fathom. Still, I didn’t care.
“Money isn’t everything.” With my thumb, I pointed behind my shoulder at the blue folder on the couch “Besides, I think I found a workaround.”
“You did?”
I moved my hand from her shoulder and traced her hairline, pushing a few wayward strands away from her face. “You want to have a seat and hear me out on this one?”
She bit her luscious bottom lip and stared at me for a moment before nodding. “Okay.” She moved away from the door and took a seat on the couch. “I’m listening.”
“What I’m about to tell you, I haven’t told anyone.” I took a deep breath as I regarded the woman across the room from me. I had her full attention. “Over the last few years, I’ve done a decent job of saving money and living below my means—despite what it looks like on the outside. I’ve socked money away.”
Natalie settled further into the sofa. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but I could hope.
“I never had any idea what I’d do with the money, but now I know.” Keeping my gaze on her, I picked up the folder and opened it. “I have a hundred thousand in liquid cash and another two hundred fifty grand in a brokerage funds that Aaron set up for me a few years ago. Lately, the market has been…good.” I glanced down at the first paper in the folder, a graph of the assets I’d printed just before driving to her apartment. “I also have some fine art at the house worth about fifty grand, and I think I can get a buyer for the McLaren.” I looked up at Natalie again. “In all, about four hundred thousand. And I think it’s enough. More than enough.”
“What are you saying?” she whispered.
“I can pay off your debt. All of it…we can start over. Together. Just us. Free and clear.”
Natalie’s body suddenly started trembling. She got to her unsteady feet and stumbled into a graceless, backward spider walk across the couch until she found herself against the molding that rimmed the small opening between the living room and kitchen of the apartment. “T-together? W-walk away?”
“Yes.” I followed her. “No one has ever made me feel the way that you do. No one. You stir emotions I never thought I had.” I grasped her hand and glanced down at her quivering fingers, which had entwined with mine. “And even your cute little nerves are worth it. You’re worth it, baby.”
“Y-you’d give it all up—b-b-billions with a capital B—just for me?”
“We’ll have enough money to open up a new yoga studio. A chain of them, if you want,” I teased with a smile. “So, what are you waiting for? Say yes.”
“Your father will never agree to this, Luke. You’re his son. His heir.”
“I’ve never been what my father wanted. And he has Marcus to give the company to.” I trailed my free hand up her leg. “So, what are you waiting for? Say yes.”
She stared at me for a long moment. I tried to read her expression, tried to get a handle on her thoughts. Would she agree? Did she understand what I was offering her? She had to…
“But I could never do that,” she finally said. “I can’t take money from you. It’s not right.”
“You’re not taking, and it’s not a gift. It’s a partnership. Us. Together.” I tightened my hand on her knee. “I never wanted anything until I met you. I took it all for granted. But now… I can’t stand it if you’re not in my life, Natalie. I have to have you.”
“But how would we—?”
“You can bring Helen into it.” I stood, and pulled her up with me. The folder fell to the floor, but I disregarded it for a moment. “I don’t care. We’ll do franchises. Whatever you want…we can…just say yes.” I wrapped my hands around her upper arms. “Say you’ll do it—with me.”
“You really mean this, don’t you?”
“Every word,” I whispered.
She furrowed her brow, and then a smile crept across her face. “A partnership, huh?”
“Whatever you want.” Keeping my gaze on hers, I leaned forward and put my forehead against hers. “But I haven’t heard you say yes yet.”
She laughed once. “Yes. Yes, Luke Rothschild. Yes!”
My lips found hers and I pulled her toward me. I tasted everything in her kiss—the promise of the future, a chance at something new, and a love I’d never allowed myself to feel. I had it. I’d come home. I was finally whole.