Nope, they were still there.
Mandy leaned forward, breasts resting on the table as she bit her lip. She had very kissable lips, as he remembered. And breasts. “Why would my grandfather think I would ever agree to such a thing?”
Ty sure had no clue what the old man could have been thinking, because not even the promise of additional stock, which surely would be worth a nice chunk of change, would be enough to get him to the altar. Why JM thought either of them would consider such a life-changing step was the wonder.
“Because Ty has a mandate to assess the long-term viability of the business, and according to the provisions of the will, Ty retains the voting rights of the remaining thirty-one percent of shares for up to two years, at his option, if you don’t marry.”
“I don’t understand.”
Ty did, and Mandy wouldn’t like it. But business was business, like JM always said.
Brian cleared his throat as if the words had gotten stuck there. “With fifty-one percent of the stock between what he owns outright and the voting rights JM has assigned over to him, Ty has the votes and the mandate to sell the business if he feels the financials warrant that step. And up to two years to do it. That is, if you don’t marry.”
Mandy’s face turned a chalky shade of pale. The chair she was sitting in seemed to swallow her up as she drew back into its leather embrace. He could see the import of Brian’s words sinking in as her jaw tightened, her eyes rounded, and her lips thinned.
“You wouldn’t.”
Ty hardly felt like giving her an explanation now, but there would be no good time to explain, no time when she’d want to hear what needed to be said.
“Your grandfather was worried about having enough money for the family over the long haul. I think the recent downturn in the economy fueled that concern. He asked me to analyze the rodeo operation and determine if the operation could provide enough income for the family through the coming years, given the investments that would be needed in livestock, and the state of the industry, and…” Ty looked straight into her eyes. Sometimes the only way to say bad news was directly. “And the quality of the leadership. If I think there is too much future risk, I am to sell before Prescott’s reputation can be tarnished.” He took a hard swallow. It was the truth, but no doubt a harsh one for Mandy to accept.
He’d hoped to serve up the idea of selling the company as an opportunity when and if the analysis warranted it. But maybe it was better she knew the truth from the beginning, considering he would be probing pretty deep into Prescott’s business practices.
He watched her face as she processed the news, saw her eyes turn glossy as tears filled them. Hell. He could handle anything but a woman’s tears.
It wasn’t but a heartbeat, though, before she faced him squarely with the fierceness of a warrior ready to battle and with the tears, gratefully, at bay. “Does that include the ranch land?”
It was almost a relief to see her back in fighting mode instead of silenced by an unintended blow. He preferred her like this, he realized. Strong and resilient. JM would have been proud of his granddaughter’s spirit.
“Planned communities are sprouting up here in the West, and though the housing market has been hurt across the country, Wyoming is in better shape than most states,” Brian began. “There could be a small fortune to be had for the ranch. And if the rodeo company is sold, the need for the land will be negligible given the meager return on investment on cattle herds. From the figures I’ve seen, it’s the rodeo company rent that makes the ranch profitable. But selling the deeded land of the ranch would be at your and Tucker’s option. The company would be Ty’s decision.”
She cast her eyes downward and shook her head.
“The ranch piece is something for me to look at, Mandy, and for you and Tucker to consider.” Ty knew from experience that money could do a lot of persuading, and a land deal this size could mean real wealth for the Prescotts. And a coup for him and the new company he planned to form.
“You’re a developer though. That’s what you do. And that must have been why he picked you.” Her monotone couldn’t disguise the cracks of emotion in her voice.
“That was one reason.”
And the other was that JM knew Ty would be objective in his assessment, wouldn’t let sentimentality, or his own interests, interfere with the cold, hard facts. Ty had built his reputation on being cool and detached when it came to making profitable business decisions. And that’s why he was also no longer at the land development firm. Some people didn’t want to know the truth. Some people preferred to make deals based on connections, paybacks, and, worse, gut instead of reason.