Chapter 5
Howard said, "What's yours? I built this company from the ground up."
"Yes, you built the company." My voice was calm and steady. "But the core technology is mine."
He paused, caught off guard. "What core technology? You mean that pile of useless code?"
"That pile of useless code helped apply for seven patents."
"So what?"
"So, without those seven patents, your products are infringing products."
There was a long silence on the other end. "Sarah, come on." Howard's voice softened. "Don't make things messy. Let's talk like adults."
"I'm not making things messy. I'm following the legal process."
"Come on. You're my wife."
"Ex-wife," I corrected him.
"Alright. Ex-wife." Howard took a deep breath. "Sarah, what do you want? Money? The house? Shares? Name your price. I'll give it to you."
"Don't bother."
"Don't act all high and mighty." His voice was getting desperate again. "You want money, right? Fine. I'll give you 2 million dollars, and you sign over the patents to me."
"Not happening."
"4 million dollars."
"Not happening."
"7 million dollars." Howard's voice was trembling now. "Sarah, don't force my hand."
"Howard."
"What?"
"You still don't get it, do you?" I sat down on the couch. My voice was calm and unhurried. "Those seven patents are the backbone of your company's value. Without them, it is nothing but an empty shell."
"What?"
"You think you're selling your connections, your ability to wine and dine clients?" I let out a cold laugh. "Let's be real, Howard. What you're actually selling is my technology."
"So what? You're my wife. What's yours is mine."
"We're divorced."
He froze.
"And," I said slowly, "those patents were never yours, not once."
"What do you mean?"
"It means, for eight years, you've been using my patents and never gave me a penny."
"Bullshit. You helped start the company. You owned shares."
"I gave up all my shares when we divorced."
"That was your own choice."
"Yeah," I said with a faint smile. "So now, I'm an outsider. I have nothing to do with your company. I'm someone who owns the patents."
Howard was silent. I could hear his heavy, shaky breaths on the other end.
"Howard, do you know what happens when you mess with someone's patent?" I asked.
He kept silent.
"Stop using my patents and pay up for the damages," I said, with my tone calm as ever. "Every single product your company sells is an infringement."
"Sarah, don't go too far."
"What?" I stood up and looked out the window. "Howard, did you care about whether you'd gone too far when you were cheating on me?"
"That's not the same thing."
"Did you ever think you went too far when you said I could do nothing?"
"I—" Howard stammered, totally thrown off.
"Did you ever think you went too far when you kicked me out with nothing?"
Howard fell silent.
"Howard, I don't want anything from you."
"Then why the hell did you sue me?"
"Because what I ask for isn't your stuff." My voice turned icy. "But those patents belong to me."
With that, I hung up.
I stood by the window, watching the sun sink lower and lower.
After eight years, the day I'd been waiting for had finally come.