Chapter 8 - The Offer He Thought I Would Take
Three days later, Derek asked to meet.
Nora wanted it done formally, in her office, with a court reporter available if necessary. Derek agreed only after sending a message that said, This is a courtesy to Chloe because I still care what happens to her.
When he arrived, he wore a navy suit and the face of a man trying to appear gracious while standing on a sinkhole.
He didn’t look at my stomach at first.
He looked at Nora. Then at the conference room camera. Then finally at me.
“Chloe,” he said, “this has gotten out of hand.”
Nora didn’t even blink. “State your proposal.”
He slid a packet across the table.
A settlement offer.
He would pay me back the original $250,000 principal, plus a token premium.
In exchange, I would release all claims, acknowledge no current equity, and sign a confidentiality agreement barring discussion of Channing Capital’s internal documents.
Nora almost laughed.
I didn’t.
I looked at Derek and asked, “Why would you offer this if I have no claim?”
His jaw shifted.
“Because I’m trying to be humane.”
There it was again—his favorite disguise for self-interest.
I leaned back in my chair.
“Humane would’ve been not mocking a pregnant woman in public.”
His face hardened. “You’re letting powerful people use you.”
The room went still.
Nora wrote something down.
I understood the subtext immediately. Derek believed Dante was pushing me. He could not imagine that I might actually decide to stop being easy to manage.
Then he made the mistake that mattered.
“I built that company,” he said. “Your money was just fuel.”
Just fuel.
Not partnership.
Not risk.
Not sacrifice.
Fuel.
I saw Nora’s pen pause.
She looked up and said mildly, “Thank you. We’ll note your characterization.”
Derek realized too late that he had just admitted the capital existed, came from me, and materially supported the company’s formation.
He stood up two minutes later and walked out with his settlement packet still on the table.
As the door closed, Nora said, “He’s getting sloppier.”
May you like
I looked at the empty chair.
“No,” I said quietly. “He’s getting scared.”
