My employer forced me to sign a non compete agreement but then fired me the next day after 2.5 years of outstanding performance for no cause. When asked to sign non compete, I asked if they were trying to get rid of me. He told me no, it was nothing like that and then, I get let go the next day. I asked why I was being let go and he said that I didn’t do anything wrong. He just told me that it was time for me to go open my own business because the owner wanted to get back into managing his own business again instead of being an absentee owner.

I have the opportunity to buy an existing business here in my town. The non compete I signed says that I can’t work anywhere else in my field of expertise within 20 miles of his business for 2 years.

I feel like he tricked me into signing it, because I asked him if he was trying to get rid of me and he said no! Then I can let go anyways?

Please advise. It feels like fraudulent inducement.