“Sign the deed or I’ll sn:a:p your arm right here!” my brother screamed while slamming me against the truck outside Sunset Lavender Co. as our parents watched without emotion.

I retained complete operational control. Officially, I became Managing Director of the estate under an ironclad contract guaranteeing me a $185,000 annual salary plus a three-percent equity share of all net profits.

I no longer owned the dirt.

A multi-billion-dollar corporation did.

And Verdant’s corporate security division did not tolerate trespassers.continue reading …