Page 20 of The Reluctant Billionaire

“The only thing I have to ask you is that you keep everything on the down low until we’ve taken the initial stock offering to market.” John gave him a serious look. “There are a fair number of our senior staff, folks who’ve been with us a long time, who have a stake in the company.”

Jace knew most of the people his father was talking about. He’d grown up around them, called them uncles and aunts, absorbed the business of Hunter Enterprises by learning from their expertise.

“It’s only right to do our best to make those shares worth as much as possible,” Jace agreed. “Of course, Dad. You can count on me.”

“I know.” John clapped a strong hand on his shoulder. “We’re taking Hunter Enterprises straight to the top of the Dow Jones.”

“Just one thing,” Jace said. “That twenty percent share you’re putting into a trust? Could it maybe include complete ownership of Sunfish Island?”

“Of course.” John looked at him curiously. “Sunfish is pretty special to you, eh?”

“It’s a pretty special place.” He wanted to make sure nobody else could ever come in and impose their own wishes on the island, sack staff and change the guest relations policies that gave the resort such a special atmosphere. Wanted to make sure no matter what, that Sunfish would always be Nessa’s refuge.

“It’s yours. Forever. I’ll make sure of it,” John promised, no further questions asked, for which Jace was grateful.

* * *

The news that Hunter Enterprises was going public sent shock waves through the staff at Sunfish Island. They all worried about what it might mean for their jobs, at least until John Hunter phoned Luke personally and told him Sunfish Island was being specifically excluded from the sale.

“Ownership of the island, the resort and everything to do with it has already been transferred into a trust, the sole beneficiary of which is Jace, at the present time, though any heirs of his will also be included at a later date.”

After getting his breath back, Luke had to ask why.

A rich chuckle answered the question. “Seems he fell in love with the place, wanted to make sure no corporate types could come in and ruin it. He has ultimate say over anything that happens on the island now–and he asked me to let you know that he has full confidence in you.” John paused to let that sink in. “You impressed him, Luke. He’ll be in touch soon to let you know that himself, I’m sure, but we’re both up to our eyes at the moment, as I’m sure you can imagine. He’s in London right now.”

Luke was still in a certain degree of shock. “This is so unexpected, Mr. Hunter, but thank you so much for calling to tell me in person. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome. Don’t know what magic you’re working on that island but Jace came back a changed man, determined to follow his own dreams. If it was something you said to him, thank you.”

“I… don’t think it was me.”

“No?” John asked curiously.

Luke said nothing.

There was a brief silence on the line, and then John said, “There was a girl, huh? Jace wouldn’t talk about it, but I read between the lines.”

Luke rubbed his forehead, wondered how much he should say. “He didn’t tell her who he was. I accidentally dropped him in it, and she didn’t take it well.”

“Ahh,” John said. “Well, whoever she is, she made him take a good hard look at himself, and he realized he didn’t like the path he was on. I must ask you to keep this particular tidbit quiet, but after the stock goes to market, Jace is stepping back from his role here. Going back to architecture, and I have to tell you, I couldn’t be happier for him.”

Thanking John, Luke ended the call and sat dumbfounded in his office chair for several minutes, thinking through the implications of what he’d just learned. At last, a broad smile on his face, he pushed himself to his feet. The staff would all be relieved to know their jobs were safe, but there was one person he really should tell first.

***

Nessa had taken a few days off after she broke up with Jace, but knowing he’d left the island, she found herself returning sooner than she had originally planned. Dropping back into her usual routine, she still sometimes found herself looking at the seat he’d always taken at the end of the bar, wishing he was there, looking at her with those steady ice-blue eyes. She’d asked herself a thousand times if she’d done the right thing in ending their relationship.We were ships that passed in the night,she told herself.Now I’m back in my safe harbor and he’s off across the ocean somewhere.

“Hey.” It was Luke who slid onto the bar stool, smiling at her. “Got some news.”

“You’re not saving it for the staff meeting?” She wiped up a small puddle of spilled soda on the bar with a rag, but couldn’t avoid meeting his eyes. It was quiet today, and she had no customers to tend to.

“Thought you might like to hear it first. Turns out Hunter Enterprises no longer owns Sunfish.”

“What?” Nessa’s jaw dropped. “It’s already been sold–before the share offer? Who’s the new owner?”

“Jace Hunter.”

The cloth she’d been using to wipe the bar fell from nerveless fingers. “Jace?”

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