Chapter 5

The following Monday, I walked into the investors' meeting.

Chloe was mid-presentation, Liam by her side, pointing at a PowerPoint slide filled with meaningless marketing jargon.

"...and with this bold new direction, spearheaded by Liam, we project a 40% growth in the next quarter."

The investors, the same ones who' d applauded Liam and Chloe as a "power duo," nodded sagely.

I cleared my throat.

All eyes turned to me.

"Excuse me," I said, my voice calm. "Before you commit further, you should know that I, Ethan, the creator and brewer of your flagship award-winning IPA, the recipe your entire investment is predicated on, will be resigning from Artisan Ales, effective immediately."

Silence.

Chloe' s face went from confident to stunned, then to furious, all in a matter of seconds.

Liam looked like a startled deer.

One of the lead investors, a man named Henderson, frowned. "Resigning? Mr... Ethan, your continued involvement with the signature IPA was a key stipulation in our agreement."

"I understand," I said. "But my position here has become untenable."

Chloe found her voice, sharp and cold. "Ethan is being overly dramatic. This is a private matter he' s inappropriately bringing into a business meeting."

"Is it?" I countered, then turned to her. "Chloe, consider this my formal notice. And also..."

I pulled a set of documents from my briefcase and laid them on the polished conference table.

"...these are for you."

Divorce papers.

Her eyes widened. The color drained from her face.

"You wouldn't dare," she whispered, the arrogance momentarily gone, replaced by a flicker of panic.

"He wouldn't dare what?" Henderson demanded, looking from her to me. "What is going on?"

"Our contract specifically states that Ethan, as the original brewer, must maintain oversight of his signature recipe," another investor piped up, his voice tight with concern. "If he leaves, and that recipe is compromised, our investment is at risk."

The room buzzed with anxious murmurs.

Chloe' s panic escalated. "Ethan, don' t do this," she hissed, grabbing my arm. "We can talk about this. I' ll... I' ll make the announcement. About us. Right now."

Too little, too late.

"It' s beyond that, Chloe," I said, pulling my arm free.

"I' ll tell everyone you' re trying to sabotage the company!" she threatened, her voice rising. "I' ll smear your name in this industry! You' ll never work again!"

"Threats won't work anymore," I said, my gaze steady.

The investors were looking at her, then at me, their initial support for her visibly wavering.

This wasn't the "power duo" they' d signed up for. This was a meltdown.