Andy McDermott - The Midas Legacy

They made their way briskly down the hall after De Klerx. The sounds of an ongoing argument reached them as they opened the door. ‘I don’t really see that we have a choice,’ said Lonmore plaintively.

‘Well, you would say that, wouldn’t you?’ snapped Olivia. ‘You were willing to hand over a quarter of everything to Augustine, so I can’t say I’m surprised that you’d try to make a deal with someone else.’

‘So what would you do?’ demanded Petra. ‘Build our own particle accelerator? That would probably cost more than the gold we could make from it.’

‘We’re not cutting in someone else just because they have the facilities we need. That leaves us open to blackmail — or a renegotiation .’ The word dripped sarcasm. ‘Why would someone settle for a quarter of the gold when they could have a third? Or half? And as for your idea of simply selling the Crucibles outright, Ana, that’s every bit as bad, if not worse. A one-off payment in exchange for something of potentially limitless value? That isn’t any kind of legacy; it’s the same short-term thinking that’s ruining the world.’

Anastasia leaned forward in forceful refutation. ‘We’d be in exactly the same position as before. No, we’d be better off, because we wouldn’t just have the Legacy, we’d also have tens of millions more dollars!’

‘Thank you for proving my point. You’re talking about millions, when the Crucibles used properly could make billions ! Yes, it would require a capital investment, but—’ Olivia looked around as she realised that someone had entered the room, seeing first De Klerx lurking near the bar, the Dutchman having entered silently, then Nina and Eddie passing the fountain. ‘Nina!’ she said, standing and going to meet them. ‘You came back. I’m so glad. I wanted to apologise for—’

‘We’re not staying,’ Nina interrupted coldly. She deliberately bypassed her grandmother to address Mikkelsson. ‘You said the plane would take us back to New York when we wanted. Now we want.’

Mikkelsson nodded. ‘Of course. If you will allow us to conclude our discussion, I will make the arrangements.’

‘It doesn’t sound as if you’re going to reach an agreement any time soon, so just get someone to drive us.’

‘Give me the keys if you like,’ added Eddie.

‘It would be preferable if you stayed until we are finished.’ The Icelander was as calm as ever, but something in his tone served notice that he was not open to negotiation. ‘This also concerns you, after all.’

‘I don’t see how,’ Nina replied, growing annoyed. ‘I kept telling you that I don’t want to be a part of the Midas Legacy, and after everything I’ve seen, I’m more certain of it than ever. Keep your gold, spend it on particle accelerators or Lamborghinis or even do some good with it; I don’t care. What I do care about is getting home to my daughter, and also making sure that the Crucibles end up with the right people.’

Anastasia gave her an unfriendly look. ‘And you don’t think we are the right people.’

‘That’s kind of an understatement, yeah.’

Spencer chuckled. ‘See?’ he said. ‘This is what happens when you treat your own family like shit.’ He was addressing Olivia, but the statement was obviously meant for the Legacy as a whole. ‘You shouldn’t be surprised when they get pissed off at you.’

‘I never treated you badly,’ protested Lonmore. ‘I supported you even after the others voted to kick you out! You’re my son, what else could I do?’

‘Not let them. And not let someone else take my place.’

‘Spencer. Nobody ever could.’

The younger man seemed about to make some retort, but his father’s unexpectedly heartfelt words had clearly affected him. ‘I… appreciate that, Dad.’

‘This is all very lovely,’ said Anastasia impatiently, ‘but we need to make a decision.’

‘We do,’ said Mikkelsson. ‘As chair, I am going to call a vote. That is entirely my prerogative,’ he went on as both Olivia and Lonmore objected. ‘There are three proposals. Olivia, you wish to keep the Crucibles and use the Legacy’s remaining funds to construct a particle accelerator in order to produce our own gold. Spencer,’ he turned towards Lonmore, ‘you suggest a similar deal to the one you offered Augustine Trakas, whereby we come to an arrangement with an as yet undetermined third party for use of their particle accelerator. And Ana, you propose selling the Crucibles to an entity or nation state for a large sum of money. Is that correct?’

Nods of assent. ‘Very well,’ said Mikkelsson. ‘First we will vote on Olivia’s suggestion. All in favour?’ Olivia raised her hand, glowering when no one joined her. ‘All against?’ Four other hands went up. Since it was not a tie, Mikkelsson, as chairperson, did not get to vote. ‘The motion is rejected. Next, Spencer’s suggestion. All in favour?’ Predictably, the result was two for and three against. ‘The motion is rejected,’ the Icelander went on. ‘And now, Anastasia’s plan?’

This time, it was again three against two, Olivia and the Lonmores versus Anastasia and Sarah. ‘And no decision is reached,’ said Olivia. ‘As usual.’

‘Democracy in action,’ Eddie joked.

‘Since you can’t decide what to do with the Crucibles,’ said Nina, ‘I’d say that puts the matter in my hands. They’re going to the IHA. Where I should have taken them to start with.’

‘Nina, please,’ said Olivia. ‘There must be something that can persuade you to do what’s best for your family. For Macy, and her future.’

Nina bristled. ‘The best thing I can do for Macy is to set a good example — and that means not lying to her, and not trying to manipulate her!’ She looked past her grandmother at Mikkelsson. ‘Okay, you had your vote. I’m done here. We’re going.’

‘Actually,’ said Mikkelsson, ‘there is one more matter. I have a proposal of my own.’

Lonmore frowned. ‘Anastasia made your family’s proposal. You can’t just pitch another one.’

‘I am making this proposal in my role as chair of the Legacy, not as a representative of my family. It is within the rules.’

‘At a stretch,’ complained Olivia.

‘But still permissible. My proposal is actually very similar to Anastasia’s, but I chose to hold it back in the hope it would not be necessary.’

‘You want to sell the Crucibles?’ asked Lonmore dubiously. ‘We just said no to that.’

‘There is one vital difference. I have already found a buyer.’

The response was vocal disbelief and outrage. ‘You can’t do that!’ cried Lonmore.

‘You took a decision like that without consulting the rest of us?’ Olivia added.

Anastasia huffed sarcastically. ‘You’re in no position to complain about anyone taking unilateral action, Olivia.’

Petra had a different question. ‘For how much?’

‘The agreement is for thirty million dollars in hard currency, and sixty million dollars in gold,’ Mikkelsson told the room, as casually as if he were reciting prices on a menu.

She gasped. ‘Ninety million dollars?’

‘Oh, you can add up at least,’ scoffed Spencer, but he was as taken aback as the others.

‘Thirty million dollars for each family,’ continued Mikkelsson. ‘If you agree to the deal.’

Lonmore appeared shell-shocked. ‘That, ah… that would more than rebuild the Legacy’s funds. But you really shouldn’t have made a deal without the approval of the rest of us.’

‘You were going to make a deal with Trakas,’ said Anastasia.

‘I proposed one — but I would still have brought it to a vote before it was finalised.’

‘And so shall I,’ Mikkelsson said. ‘This arrangement has been agreed in principle, but it will not go ahead until the other members of the Legacy have cast their votes.’