One More Taste (One and Only Texas #2)(71)
But if the investors sided against Knox, then they’d all be out on the streets before Christmas.
“I see your point, but I’d like you to consider mine. I’ve given this a lot of thought.” More than any of you will ever know. “Here’s my plan. Vote me in as the new CEO. Ty will retire quietly, immediately. After we have the value of the business reassessed to reflect these new hydrological and geological issues, Ty will sell me his shares at that new, lower price. He’ll walk away a rich enough man, with his reputation intact, and I’ll be the majority stakeholder in Briscoe Ranch. I’ll shoulder the costs of repairing the damage, and then our plan to expand the resort will be back on track.
“I’ll take care of everything. All the risk will be on me. All you have to do is hang tight. We’ve done that before, too, when deals went sour. In this case, your headache goes away, and the original plan, with the original profit projections, still stands. May I remind you that we have potential buyers already lined up, but they’re no more ready to buy today than we are to sell at a loss. We’ve done this before, gentlemen. We know how to turn a sinking business into profit. The only difference now is that this business is quite literally sinking.”
The joke earned him a few halfhearted chuckles around the room. Other than Healy and Yamaguchi, most of the investors and lawyers seemed to warm to Knox’s plan.
Ty braced his hands on the table and made a show of standing, his speech face in full force. “This business has been in my family for generations. There is so much more at stake than a bunch of millionaires adding to their bank accounts. This is my family’s ancestral home. My grandparents and my father are buried on the property. My wife and I, my daughters, and my mother all live there. Our blood has been soaked into the very ground on which the resort stands. Don’t do this.”
It was unbearable, hearing this once great man, the ruler of a kingdom, beg for mercy. Knox hoped his dad really was watching on High, because this was it. Justice achieved. Knox couldn’t stomach any more. The thirst for revenge had completely left him.
He stood in a show of solidarity with Ty. “If the investors will give me a chance, then the property will stay in the family, at least for a few more years until I can make it even greater than it ever was in its prime. As for the chapel and the family burial plot, I’ll bequeath that land to you and your daughters as a gift. That’s always been my plan, so you don’t have to worry about the graves of your—our—family being desecrated.”
Ty was composed.
Healy frowned, but Sandomir nodded. “I’m going to trust you on this, Knox. Like I’ve done so many times in the past, and you’ve always come through. Besides, our investment in Briscoe Ranch is already a sunk cost, so what’s the harm in a few more years? Especially if you’ll take the burden of the extra expenses on yourself.”
“Thank you, Boris,” Knox said.
“I’m with Sandomir,” Richard Gorman said. To Ty, he added, “Retire. Enjoy your family. The business will be in good hands with Knox.”
The skin of Ty’s face tightened like he was holding back a grimace. “And if I decline your offer to retire?”
Knox clapped him on the back. “Then you can still be a part of this company in some capacity. I’m sure we’ll find a suitable role for you.” As long as it didn’t involve any decision making or managing. Maybe he could be chaplain. HR was just telling Knox that they were in the market for a new one.
Ty shifted to square a look directly at Knox. “You can’t do this to me.”
You did this to yourself, Knox considered saying. But he was over the urge to turn the screws any harder. “It won’t be so bad.”
Ty huffed at that. “Then I guess you leave me with no choice. I accept. I’ll sell you my shares. And I’ll retire. On one condition.” He swallowed hard. From his pocket, he pulled a handkerchief that he used to wipe his brow. “Nothing we discussed here today leaves this room. And I’ll be the one to break the news to my family.”
“Of course,” Knox said. Disquiet tugged at his conscience. Not guilt or regret. Just … this didn’t feel as satisfying as he’d thought it would. Especially given the euphoria he’d initially felt at pulling the rug out from under Ty with that structural engineering report. Healy took control of the meeting again. “We’ve got to take an official vote about making Knox CEO and staying the course, and the lawyers have to draw some contracts up. For the record, I don’t like this, but I’ll cede to the wishes of the room.”
“Excellent. Make me CEO and you won’t regret it. I promise you that. In the meantime, I hope you received my email this morning about coming to the resort for a dinner party next weekend to celebrate.”
“There’s not much to celebrate,” Healy grumbled.
“A show of force, then. Once you see the resort firsthand, you’ll see what I mean about it being a special place, worth all the effort we’re putting into it. I’ll have more details for you on my plans, so you can rest assured that I’ve got everything under control.”
Ty gave a huff of protest that Knox ignored. He thrust out his hand for Ty to shake. “Uncle Ty, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”
Ty glared at Knox’s outstretched hand. “What happened with Clint and Linda and me, it was the darkest time in our family. I have regrets. A lot of them. But bringing you to Briscoe Ranch wasn’t one of them until now.”