Friendship torched after a guy persuades his childhood friend to leave a stable job to help launch a construction business, ends up firing him via mail, then ghosting him: ‘My role has been eliminated due to 'streamlining''

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
May 19, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Not many friendships could withstand an epic betrayal like the one in this next story. After leaving a plushy 401k-type job for a Fortune 500 company for the promise of partnership with his buddy's infantile construction business, this loyal childhood friend found himself dumped on the street like last week's garbage. 

Not many of us can brag that we have a 401k or a pension with our jobs, and for many, even simply boasting about your healthcare benefits is a big flex in today's job market. So when someone scores a job that's plushy and secure—WITH BENEFITS—it would take a whole tsunami of reasons to leave that stability. However, if you're a loyal friend, a homie's request could just be the push out of the comfortable nest of your last job—but in this guy's case, he did not learn to fly. 

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  • If you've ever been broken up with over a text, you can probably understand the pain this dude felt when he got fired with a mail-in letter from his best friend. After getting ghosted about company questions for weeks, working 60+ hours per week to keep things afloat, and wondering how your partnership turned into a solo act, this man got fired via letter. 

    No explanation. No apology. Just a meager severance check and a kick in the keester.

  • Cheezburger Image 10505831680
    via ljubaphoto

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • AITA for cancelling on my friends wedding after he derailed my career and caused me financial hardship?
    via Different-Truck-3808
  • "Mark" and I have been friends since we were kids, we've been in the same industry, working similar roles for 25 years. He started a contracting business in 2016. Four
    via Different-Truck-3808
  • years ago I brought him in as a vendor at the Fortune 500 where I was working. Mark's business grew rapidly (5x employees and 10x revenue in a short time) due to this. He'd often asked me to come
    via Different-Truck-3808
  • work with him, and in 2023, he was overwhelmed and needed help, he convinced me to be his partner. The role was Director of Operations, I'd run things; he'd grow the business. My
    via Different-Truck-3808
  • compensation included earning equity in the business. I left my secure job of 5 years, with stock options, 401k match, etc based on this offer. I emphasized my need for stability, knowing replacing the
    via Different-Truck-3808
  • job that I left behind would take a long time and a lot of effort. For two years, I worked 60+ hr weeks, traveled extensively, while Mark did nothing to grow the
    via Different-Truck-3808
  • business. He was hard to reach, and often missed meetings. His leadership was a complete disappointment. When I saw he wasn't holding up his end, I tried to secure new customers and projects, but he rejected every opportunity.
    via Different-Truck-3808
  • Cheezburger Image 10505831936
    via Khwanchai

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This year he's refused to take on new projects with existing customers to the point that we've lost all of our employees. Last Friday, he called saying he had decided to completely shut down
    via Different-Truck-3808
  • the business. My email access was cut off, and Monday I was offered 2 weeks severance and nothing for my earned share of the company. The letter states that my role has been eliminated due to
    via Different-Truck-3808
  • "downsizing and streamlining." I now think the promise of ownership was all a lie to convince me to run his business. His lies and actions have derailed my career and put me in a position of financial hardship.
    via Different-Truck-3808
  • He won't answer my questions in text or email and insists that I call him, but I want a paper trail. I was in Mark's first wedding and am a groomsman in his 2nd
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  • wedding this July. I cancelled the "bachelor party" fishing trip, AITA? WIBTA if I also drop out of the wedding? I'm too hurt by his betrayal to stand with him and pretend this is ok.
    via Different-Truck-3808
  • TL;DR: My 35-year friend got me to quit my stable job for partnership with promised equity. He didn't grow the business, shut it down suddenly, ignored the equity, and
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  • laid me off with minimal severance. Now I'm questioning being in his wedding after cancelling the fishing trip. AITA? WIBTA if I skip the wedding?
    via Different-Truck-3808
  • lilolememe NTA He's not a friend, and you need to stop calling him that. Walk away from this man and stop investing in the relationship because he's shown you exactly who he is and what he thinks of you.
    via lilolememe
  • If he insists on phone calls, either record the conversations or get a witness or two to listen in. Hopefully, you had a contract or some sort of documents in
    via lilolememe
  • writing you can show a lawyer. If he closes down the business, he doesn't just get to transfer the money to his personal bank account. I also wonder if his ex-wife might be able to help you in some way. Good luck finding a job.
    via lilolememe
  • Appel... Forget about the wedding, you need to sue this guy
    via Appel
  • Solrackai NTA, but let's be honest, you left a fourtune 500 company for a brand new business. That's your fault
    via Solrackai
  • Shy_guy_Ras NTA thats not a friend, that is a snake. Have you talked with a lawyer about this? It basically sound like he took the money and ran tbh.
    via Shy_guy_Ras

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friendship family drama boss worker employee fired manager job work coworkers childhood friend friends working Annoying Childhood Friend ceo employees supervisor workplace unprofessional company coworker business
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