Chapter 3 - He Had Asked Me to Sign Something in July
In July, Ethan brought home a document.
I remembered it only because I had refused to sign.
He said it concerned his executive compensation.
“Company housekeeping.”
I was making dinner.
Caleb had a fever.
Grace needed a ride.
I glanced at the packet.
It contained references to equity units, spousal acknowledgment, transfer restrictions, and a new holding structure.
“I’m not signing this without reading it.”
Ethan sighed.
“Rachel, every executive spouse signs.”
“Then every executive spouse can read it first.”
He became irritated.
“It doesn’t give away anything.”
“Great. Then waiting twenty-four hours shouldn’t matter.”
He took the packet away.
Never brought it back.
At the time I thought the argument was insignificant.
Natalie did not.
“That document may be important.”
Through formal discovery, we later obtained a draft.
Ethan held restricted equity in Meridian.
As part of the acquisition, executives were being offered an opportunity to roll some interests into a new management holding company.
The spousal acknowledgment would not magically erase my marital rights.
But it acknowledged restrictions and certain transfer arrangements that could complicate later disputes.
Ethan wanted it signed.
I refused.
So he proceeded with other structures instead.
One structure was Monroe Strategic Consulting.
The LLC receiving money from our HELOC.
“What was it buying?” I asked.
Natalie turned a page.
“A minority investment in Lauren Pierce’s new Nashville venture.”
I stared.
“They’re starting a company?”
“Apparently.”
Together.
Affair partners.
May you like
Business partners.
Using money secured against the house where their children slept.
