“Well, you should have. It’s your fault, and...” She smiled. “That actually makes me feel better for some reason.”
“I have no idea why that could be, but returning to your grandfather’s will, he left your mother twenty-five percent of Mason Mines and a bequest of ten million dollars.”
Eunice blinked. “That’s a nice chunk of change.”
“The twenty-five percent of the company is far greater than ten million, considering that Mason Mines is worth over one hundred million dollars—and that’s without the Green farm being mined yet.”
Curiosity had Eunice sitting forward. “The business was worth seventy million seven years ago. How did it increase so rapidly with no clear leader at the helm? I find it difficult to believe that Great-Uncle Raymond was capable of taking the business in hand, let alone getting it to thrive without my grandfather guiding him.”
“On the day of your grandfather’s funeral, Raymond asked me to manage the business. He was, at that time, seventy-five yearsold and knew he wasn’t capable of taking up the reins for such a vast enterprise. Because I’d given your grandfather my word to look after your interests, I didn’t hesitate to agree to Raymond’s proposition.”
“Did Uncle Raymond have you assume the role of president of Mason Mines?”
“He kept that title for himself, though it’s just an honorary title because he doesn’t have anything to do with the copper mines.”
“And you agreed to that?”
Arthur shrugged. “I’ve been well compensated for running the mines—or for ‘consulting,’ as Raymond calls it. I negotiated a deal with Raymond where I get a percentage of any profits I’m able to make.”
“That could have been a bad decision on your part if the mines didn’t yield a profit.”
He smiled. “I was determined that wasn’t going to happen.”
“What percentage did you negotiate?”
“Twenty-five percent. And since Mason Mines has seen a thirty-million-dollar profit since I began consulting, that’s—”
“Seven and a half million dollars.”
“And that you were able to calculate that on the spot suggests you’re a businesswoman at heart.”
“It merely suggests that I had a more than capable tutor—Mr. Vincent Wagner, if you remember him. He drilled me endlessly about profit margins, different types of ores, and the most up-to-date managerial practices used in the mining industry.”
“And because you’ve had that extensive mining education, I would imagine if you don’t return to claim your inheritance, you’re always going to wonder ifyoucould have increased profitability at your grandfather’s mines. That’s something I’m sure your grandfather would have expected you to do. In case you’ve forgotten, I saw firsthand the relationship you shared with him, and even though he was the worst kind of tyrant, you held your own with him, which was something he respected.”
“I’m immune to guilt, Arthur, and it’s not well done of you totry and use the complicated relationship I had with my grandfather as a way to get me to return home.”
“I thought it was worth a try. I’m beginning to run out of ideas.”
“I would think you’re actually out of ideas at this point. But to return to our earlier conversation, how were you able to achieve that level of profitability at Mason Mines in such a short amount of time?”
“The fact that you’re curious about that suggests to me you’re not completely opposed to returning to Montana.”
She settled back into the seat. “We’ll have to agree to disagree.”
“You realize age has not diminished how incredibly annoying you can be, don’t you?”
“Something that seems to be a mutual problem between us, so ...?”
Arthur shrugged. “Increasing profitability wasn’t difficult. I realized from the moment your grandfather gave me a tour of one of his most productive mines that profitability could be significantly increased if steps were taken to improve the conditions in the mine. After I took over managing the mines, I began to put new and stringent safety guidelines in place, while also increasing the miners’ pay and shortening their hours. We saw an immediate increase in productivity and word got out about the higher pay, which means Mason Mines is never without enough miners these days.”
“Grandfather would have fought you tooth and nail about increasing wages.”
“I’m sure he would have, but he would have been wrong since my theory about increasing productivity and profitability through better conditions and better pay for the miners was on point.”
“I’m beginning to understand why Grandfather brought you to Montana,” Eunice admitted. “You obviously know what you’re about when it comes to mining, which is why Grandfather should have simply brought you on as a partner instead of trying to convince you to marry me.”
“That’s what I thought he intended when he extended me an invitation to visit him. It wasn’t until I reached Montana that Ilearned he had something else in mind.” He smiled. “To say I was taken aback when he broached the matter is an understatement. He was adamant about having me join his family through marriage, though, which was why I might have...”
