I was a minority partner in a small business that was hocked off to private equity this year. I received extremely low value for my shares, the owner got 10x, and I was forced to sign an NDA. This happened simply because I could not afford to continue the fight. The lawyer fees were nothing to him, but every hour was a month worth of health insurance for my kids.

Now he has reneged on a very small part of our agreement. A license that I could continue to use and receive a discount on something I purchase. He’s now saying he sold that license, but promised me over Teams in a negotiation that I could have it. Of course I no longer have access to that teams chat, and I don’t have the money to lawyer up. Nor do I think it’s worth my time and energy.

The thing is, I am so furious about this. I am tired of people leveraging their money to take advantage of others. I want to punish him and I want him to suffer or at the very least make it known in our community that he is a piece of shit. But I can do none of these things with the NDA in place and without a lawyer. I know I need to let it go but damn I’m mad. I guess what I’m asking is, what would you do? Let him think he won and move on for your own sanity? Tell everyone in the community what he did even though I signed an NDA? I know there is some life lesson in here, but I’m feeling petty and poor while he sits in his castle, buying Christmas gifts for his 900 grandkids and celebrating his win.