“Why wouldn't they?”
Ethan pointed toward another section.
“Because this document doesn't guarantee employment.”
Silence.
The room became still.
The sale agreement contained a clause allowing Northstar to restructure operations after acquisition.
That could mean anything.
New management.
New shifts.
New wages.
New equipment.
Or closure.
Six hundred jobs could disappear after the contract was signed.
Ethan looked at Martin.
“Who negotiated this?”
“The board.”
“Who approved it?”
“Walter.”
Ethan stood.
“We need to stop the sale.”
Martin shook his head.
“We can't.”
“Why?”
“Because the company needs financing.”
“For what?”
“To survive until the new contract begins.”
Ethan stared at him.
“How much?”
Martin gave him the number.
Ethan's stomach tightened.
“That much?”
“Yes.”
“And Northstar is offering it?”
“Yes.”
“So they control the financing.”
“Exactly.”
Ethan understood the trap.
Briar Ridge needed money to survive.
Northstar offered the money.
The company would then become dependent on Northstar.
Once the contract was signed, Northstar could buy the company.
The board could call it salvation.
But the workers might call it something else.
Ethan spent the next several hours reviewing every document he could obtain.
By noon, he had found another problem.
The financing agreement contained a condition.
If the acquisition was not completed within a specific period, the loan became immediately payable.
Ethan stared at the clause.
“This is a countdown.”
Martin nodded.
“That's why Walter was willing to give us thirty days.”
“The contract deadline wasn't the real deadline.”
“No.”
“The sale was.”
Martin nodded.
Ethan walked toward the window.
Below him, workers were beginning another shift.
He could almost hear Laura's voice.
Don't let Emma grow up thinking life only takes things away.
He turned around.
“What if we find another investor?”
Martin laughed softly.
“We've tried.”
“Not seriously.”
“We've tried every bank.”
“Private investors?”
“None want a manufacturing plant with this debt.”
“Then we need someone who doesn't see the factory as a liability.”
Martin looked at him.
“Who?”
“The client.”
Martin's expression changed.
The client was one of the largest equipment manufacturers in the country.
They had already offered a premium.
They needed Briar Ridge's production capacity.
If they invested directly, they could secure the supply chain.
Martin slowly nodded.
“That's possible.”
Richard frowned.
“Would they buy us?”
“Maybe not.”
Ethan answered.
“But they might finance us.”
Martin looked at the numbers.
“That could break Northstar's leverage.”
“Exactly.”
The plan was simple.
And extremely difficult.
They needed to convince the client to finance Briar Ridge before Northstar completed the acquisition.
Ethan requested a meeting.
The client agreed.
Two days later, Ethan and Martin flew to Chicago.
The meeting was held in a glass conference room overlooking the city.
The client executive from the earlier meeting was there.
His name was Andrew Cole.
He listened without interrupting.
When Ethan finished explaining the situation, Andrew leaned back.
“You want us to finance your company.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you need our production.”
Andrew nodded.
“We do.”
“And because we know the equipment.”
“Yes.”
“And because we can deliver.”
Andrew looked at Martin.
“Your company has financial problems.”
“Yes.”
“Governance problems.”
“Yes.”
“Potential fraud.”
“Under investigation.”
Andrew looked at Ethan.
“And you expect us to trust you?”
Ethan answered honestly.
“No.”
Andrew raised an eyebrow.
“You don't?”
“You shouldn't trust us because I say we're trustworthy.”
Ethan placed a folder on the table.
“Trust the documents.”
Inside were the maintenance reports.
The revised contract.
The financial investigation.
The employee proposal.
The independent safety plan.
Andrew read them.
Then he asked:
“What do you want?”
Ethan answered.
“A secured production agreement and financing facility.”
Andrew frowned.
“How much?”
Ethan gave him the number.
Andrew was silent for several seconds.
“That is substantial.”
“Yes.”
“You understand that if we do this, we become your largest customer and creditor.”
“Yes.”
“That creates leverage.”
Ethan nodded.
“And we're willing to accept reasonable safeguards.”
Andrew looked at him.
“Such as?”
“Independent oversight.”
“Good.”
“Financial transparency.”
“Good.”
“Long-term supply commitments.”
“Obviously.”
“And employment protection.”
Andrew paused.
“How long?”
“Five years.”
Andrew exchanged a glance with his legal adviser.
“That will be difficult.”
Ethan nodded.
“I know.”
Andrew leaned forward.
“But not impossible.”
Ethan felt a small wave of relief.
Then Andrew added:
“There is one problem.”
“What?”
“The board.”
Ethan understood.
“Walter.”
Andrew nodded.
“We know him.”
“How?”
“Northstar approached us last month.”
Ethan's heart stopped.
“They did?”
“Yes.”
“What did they want?”
Andrew answered:
“Exclusive supply rights.”
Ethan stared at him.
Northstar wasn't simply trying to buy Briar Ridge.
They wanted control over its future customers.
They were building a larger acquisition strategy.
Ethan looked at Martin.
Martin whispered:
“They've been planning this for months.”
Andrew closed the folder.
“I can give you an answer in forty-eight hours.”
Ethan nodded.
“That's all we have.”
Andrew smiled.
“No.”
He checked his watch.
“That's all you have left.”
Chapter 11
The Vote
When Ethan returned to Dayton, the factory was already in turmoil.
A rumor had spread that Northstar would announce the acquisition within days.
Employees were frightened.
Some had already begun applying for other jobs.
Others were asking supervisors whether severance packages existed.
The atmosphere that had briefly felt hopeful became tense again.
Ethan walked into the cafeteria.
Hundreds of employees were there.
Derek spotted him.
“What happened?”
Ethan sat down.
“We may have another option.”
Derek waited.
Ethan explained the meeting.
Derek's eyes widened.
“You think the client might finance us?”
“They're considering it.”
“And if they do?”
“Northstar loses its advantage.”
Derek smiled.
“So we fight.”
Ethan shook his head.
“No.”
Derek frowned.
“What?”
“We don't fight.”
Ethan looked around the cafeteria.