The rest of the settlement became simple because we divided marital assets according to law including the Philadelphia penthouse, investment accounts, artwork, and vehicles.
Caleb insisted on keeping several luxury cars because he needed reminders of the lifestyle he once enjoyed.
I chose to keep my grandfather’s restored pickup truck because it carried history rather than status.
Before the meeting ended Douglas pointed toward the hundred dollar bill.
“My client requests that the insulting cash gesture be entered into the record as evidence of bad faith during negotiations,” he said politely.
The court reporter documented the request.
Six weeks later the company completed its review and Caleb was dismissed for cause.
The board asked me to step forward publicly as chief executive while they searched for a replacement, yet the employees and partners encouraged me to keep the role permanently.
During my first press conference at our headquarters in Charlotte I spoke in front of factory workers and designers rather than executives.
“This company has never belonged to one person,” I told the reporters. “It belongs to the people who build the furniture and keep the promise of quality.”