But before I could, news spread that Alex had
fired a senior executive and cut ties with two
friends who’d criticized me. He complained to
me, indignant. “They’re just jealous! I finally
found a competent CEO so I can relax, and
they try to sabotage me!” He concluded,
“They just want you for themselves! They
want me to fire you so they can poach you!”
Terrified of me leaving, despite my
reassurances, he couldn’t sleep for a week. He was usually so cheerful, it was strange to
L
see him worried.
I offered a solution. “I liquidated my shares in Ethan’s company. I could invest that money in yours. Then I’d be a shareholder, and you wouldn’t have to worry about me leaving.”
I don’t know if it was dumb luck or what, but despite his lack of business acumen, Alex had an incredibly talented team. Apparently, he’d headhunted several key executives from competing companies.
Alex loved the idea and had his legal team draw up the contracts immediately, making me sign them on the spot. But it was a win- win situation. Why would I back out?
Months later, during the Lunar New Year
holiday, I finally heard the details of Ethan’s
downfall from Chloe. He’d had a falling out
with a senior executive, who, in retaliation,
exposed his affair with Tina and reported the
company for tax fraud. Two scandals, right
before the IPO, had tanked everything. Ethan and Tina had broken up, messily. She was
telling everyone he’d used her as a rebound
for his “one true love.”
Chloe sighed. “Ethan’s life’s been a mess since you left.”
