Chapter 10 - THE SALE PRESSURE
Harbor Dining Partners did not care about the marriage emotionally.
It cared about closing certainty.
Once divorce became active, buyers asked:
Could Claire claim rights affecting shares or proceeds?
Would litigation delay sale?
Was there key-person risk?
Ethan blamed Claire.
“You’re threatening a thirty-six-million-dollar deal.”
Grace corrected him.
“The deal existed before divorce. Claire did not create the need for disclosure.”
Harbor proposed an escrow.
A portion of Ethan’s sale proceeds would be held until marital claims were resolved.
Amount:
$5 million.
Ethan hated it.
But the buyer did not walk.
Closing could proceed.
Again, truth made the transaction more complicated.
Not impossible.
Claire said:
“You taught Lucas I wanted to destroy your company.”
Ethan snapped:
“You’re freezing my money.”
“No. The buyer is protecting itself because you’re getting divorced.”
May you like
He stopped.
That was harder to turn into villainy.
