Chapter 9 - THE BUSINESS ERIC SAID EVERYONE OWED HIM
Eric’s company collapsed two months later.
Not because Jenna refused him.
Because the numbers were bad.
Miller Site Services owed:
taxes,
equipment leases,
supplier debt,
private lender notes.
Assets sold.
Employees found other jobs.
Eric blamed the economy.
Then his former office manager, Sarah Klein, contacted Jenna.
She had records.
Eric had used company funds to pay:
country club dues,
travel,
whiskey subscriptions,
personal vehicle upgrades.
Not huge compared with total debt.
Enough to show pattern.
Then one invoice.
$14,000 from the family roof project.
Fake.
Miller Site Services billed Linda for “structural consultation” it never performed.
Linda paid it from the reserve two years earlier.
Eric had already profited from the house before asking to refinance.
Linda stared.
“I signed that.”
“Yes,” Jenna said.
“He told me it was required.”
“He lied.”
Linda closed her eyes.
Then Sarah added:
Eric used Jenna’s company name once in a proposal to imply partnership.
Jenna froze.
No signed agreement.
No money.
Just reputation.
She sent cease-and-desist.
Eric called.
“You really need lawyers for everything?”
“Yes.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Dad would hate what you became.”
Jenna looked at Frank’s letter on her desk.
“No.”
Then hung up.
The roof project finished.
New shingles.
Rebuilt deck.
Dry attic.
Linda stood outside and looked up.
“It’s ugly.”
Jenna laughed.
“It’s gray.”
“I liked the old color.”
“You can complain after it survives ten winters.”
That was almost normal.
Then Daniel told them the final repair reimbursement interest was $63,500 after additional structural work.
Linda could pay it over time or leave it secured against future sale.
She chose the latter.
No more reserve money.
Then Eric’s creditors learned of his future trust interest.
They investigated.
Could not seize Linda’s occupancy.
Could potentially attach Eric’s eventual distribution.
For the first time, Eric realized future inheritance was not a guaranteed rescue.
It might go directly to creditors.
He panicked.
Then asked Jenna to buy his future interest now for $120,000.
Its likely value was much higher.
But legally complex.
Jenna refused.
Again.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want your crisis becoming my investment.”
May you like
He stared.
That sentence ended the call.
