Gerald’s assistant had barely finished explaining the situation when Walter Halbrook appeared in the outer office holding the license agreement open in both hands. He had finally reached the last page—the page containing the condition he had ignored for years. Every right Halbrook Engineering possessed to use Lena’s three patents depended on her remaining a partner in good standing. The moment Walter removed her from the partnership, that permission ended. Now the consequences were arriving all at once. Project managers were calling in panic, clients had received the formal notice Gerald filed with the patent office, and contracts built around Lena’s technology were suddenly uncertain. The company still had employees, offices, and customers, but the foundation beneath everything had disappeared. The designs responsible for its success no longer legally belonged to Halbrook Engineering…. Continue Reading 🔽
