The fifty million dollars could be placed in the controlled closing account without being freely released to Patrick for the acquisition.

Disbursement depended on the conditions being satisfied.

That was the decision I struggled with most.

I had wanted him to believe he had won, sign willingly, and face the consequences of representations he chose to make.

I still wanted that.

But I could not demand that other people put fifty million dollars at risk just to make my revenge resemble the ending I had imagined.

The signed commitments and pledged security could establish obligations and remedies.