Brian looked at the assembly. “May I have a moment with Ty and Mandy alone? The major portions of the will have been read. What I have to say really just concerns them. You can get copies of the will from my secretary.”
Harold and Tuck stood up in unison. Apparently neither wanted to be in the room when the bullets started flying. Mandy held on to her mother’s hand even as Sheila rose.
“I’ll be right outside, dear,” her mother whispered. “Hear what Brian has to say.” Mandy felt the warmth of a quick peck on her cheek as Sheila drew her hand away.
Mandy waited for the door to close, her leg jiggling beneath the table. At the click of the latch, she let loose.
“You low-life lizard.” She grounded out the words through a jaw held so tight it ached. “You clawed your way into my grandfather’s good graces so you could steal the company from his family. And in his ailing health, he handed you voting rights to fifty-one percent of the company.”
Her worst fear had come true.
Ty leaned back in his seat, drilling her with his hard, stoic gaze. If he thought he could shut her down with a stare, he was about to find out how mistaken he could be. She’d have her say. By God she would have her say.
“JM made those terms so I can make decisions unimpeded over the next year. And I only bought into the business because he needed capital to acquire more bulls in hopes of getting a supply contract with the American Federation of Bull Riders—an opportunity that could help future prospects of the firm.”
Mandy was well aware of her grandfather’s plan regarding the AFBR, since she had suggested it as a way to improve their bottom line. But she had no inkling he had sold shares in the company to raise capital to buy those five young bulls in their corral—and to Ty Martin, of all people.
“Given the credit crunch, we thought this would be a better way to fund,” Brian offered. “And Ty, who, I’m pretty sure, had no intention of owning a rodeo company anytime soon, agreed. It was generous of him.”
Mandy rubbed a hand across her eyes and wondered if the world had gone mad. Generous of Ty? He was buying into one of the most respected rodeo suppliers in the business and now had the majority vote. How did that make Ty generous?
“As for the time period, this is where your grandfather recently changed the will.” Brian shifted his gaze to include Ty. “And this is where I parted company with him regarding the terms. I want you both to know that up front. I do not approve of these terms. Absolutely I do not.”
Panic rose up inside of Mandy as rapidly as flood water from a hurricane. This was going to be bad. Very bad.
Chapter 2
Ty rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t like the sound of things. JM may have been the smartest businessman he knew and his mentor ever since Ty had won the scholarship, but that only meant JM wasn’t above doing the unexpected now and again. “Why don’t you just tell us what this is all about, Brian?”
Mandy scowled and glared at him, her pretty green eyes narrowed in accusation. She hadn’t always been so pissed off at him. No indeedy.
He still remembered the first time he saw her ten years ago. She’d slipped into the barn and, as he shoveled out an especially large pile of manure, she walked past him. He turned to catch the back of a pair of long shapely legs, a tight butt in cut-off jeans, and a mane of wavy brown hair floating down her back. He’d made a mental note to find out who she was, and find out he did.
“Well, JM has a deal he wants offered to you both.” Brain shifted in his chair as if trying to get comfortable. It was a bad sign when a lawyer squirmed in his seat. “Previously, Ty was to run the company for one year. In that time he would assess the firm’s future prospects and determine next steps. But in accordance with the new will, Ty has the option of extending his stewardship to a total of two years with Ty continuing to have complete authority to determine the company’s future, or whether it even has a future. At the end of Ty’s tenure, if the company isn’t sold, control would revert to you, Mandy.”
Mandy’s gasp was loud and deep as she slapped a hand on the table, creating a distinctive smack.
He could understand her reaction. This two-year amendment was a new wrinkle, even to him. At least the two years was an option. He could still exit after a year. By then he should know what was best for Prescott and what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.