Chapter 14 - MICHAEL’S FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES
Michael’s $7.8 million guarantee did not vanish.
Neither did it destroy him overnight.
The preliminary lender negotiated.
No construction loan had fully funded.
Costs incurred:
Architecture.
Engineering.
Legal.
Deposits.
Planning.
Approximately $2.6 million.
Coleman Heritage could pay part.
Michael personally settled exposure using:
Investment accounts.
Sale of a vacation property.
A negotiated payment plan.
He remained financially comfortable.
Less wealthy.
No bankruptcy.
The failed project also ended his development-company expansion.
Two employees lost jobs.
Not their fault.
He paid severance.
I insisted?
No.
He did it himself.
That mattered.
Then he asked me:
“Does any of this change us?”
“No.”
“Nothing?”
“It changes what I know about you.”
He looked at me.
“What do you know?”
“That you can become decent after consequences.”
“That sounds cruel.”
“It isn’t.”
“Then what?”
“It’s not the same as being safe before them.”
He cried.
May you like
I did too.
We remained separated.
