Ch. He Laughed While I Was Hit 29 He Laughed While I Was Hit 29

“Distributors will demand compensation for stockouts. Employees still need to be paid. And the bank won’t give you a 

loan.” 

“Can you handle any of that?” 

I looked at him. 

“If I can’t, I’ll learn.” 

“But there’s one thing you still haven’t learned after three years.” 

“What’s that?” 

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“How to respect what belongs to other people.” 

Before the meeting ended, I raised a third item. 

David would draft a new patent licensing agreement. 

I would be the licensor. 

The company would be the licensee. 

The company would pay market-rate fees, submit to an annual review, and I would retain the right of unilateral termination. 

This was not a husband and wife’s shared future. 

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This was business, written out in black and white. 

The board visibly relaxed. 

Marco, however, kept staring at the USB drive in my hand. 

“What about the other two formulas?” 

“They have nothing to do with you.” 

“The company is yours now, too. Why are you still holding them 

back?” 

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“Because the company is the company, and I am me.” 

“Even if I’m the controlling shareholder, that doesn’t mean the 

company gets to take my property for free.” 

Marco opened his mouth, then closed it. 

That was a lesson he should have learned three years ago. 

That afternoon, the draft of the new license went to legal. 

But two hours later, we heard back from the bank. 

The credit facility was still on hold. 

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The reason was simple. 

Management had changed, core products had ceased production, and the risk profile hadn’t been resolved. 

Mr. Levin looked pale. 

“Without working capital, the company can survive for one month, at most.” 

Everyone turned to look at me. 

I had the formulas. 

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But formulas couldn’t be turned into cash overnight. 

This was the first real problem Marco had left me. 

I took out my phone. 

I called the number I hadn’t dialed in three years-the one I had only recently contacted. 

“Maria, it’s me.” 

“Can you re-validate the experimental data for the other two formulas my mother left behind?” 

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She didn’t ask why. 

She only said one word. 

“Yes.” 

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